WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;laid the groundwork to try to overturn the 2020 election even before he lost, knowingly pushed false claims of voter fraud and “resorted to crimes” in his failed bid to cling to power, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">a court filing</a>&nbsp;unsealed Wednesday that offers new evidence from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">landmark criminal case</a>&nbsp;against the former president.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">Click here to read the new</a>&nbsp;motion ref. presidential immunity

The filing from special counsel Jack Smith's team offers the most comprehensive view to date of what prosecutors intend to prove if the case charging Trump with conspiring to overturn the election reaches trial.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">Although a months-long congressional investigation</a>&nbsp;and the indictment itself have chronicled in stark detail Trump's efforts to undo the election, the filing cites previously unknown accounts offered by Trump's closest aides to paint a portrait of an “increasingly desperate” president who, while losing his grip on the White House, “used deceit to target every stage of the electoral process.”

“So what?” the filing quotes Trump as telling an aide after being advised that his vice president, Mike Pence, had been rushed to a secure location after a crowd of violent Trump supporters stormed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, 2021, to try to prevent the counting of electoral votes.

“The details don't matter,” Trump said, when told by an adviser that a lawyer who was mounting his legal challenges wouldn’t be able to prove the false allegations in court, the filing states.

The brief was made public over the Trump legal team’s objections in the final month of a closely contested presidential race in which Democrats have sought to make Trump’s refusal to accept the election results four years ago central to their claims that he is unfit for office. The issue flared as recently as Tuesday night’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-walz-vice-presidential-debate-election-66ff2e5e45a8dda55b0a2242fc238fdc">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, lamented the violence at the Capitol while a Republican opponent, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, refused to directly answer when asked whether Trump had lost the 2020 race.

The filing was submitted, initially under seal, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">Supreme Court opinion</a>&nbsp;that conferred broad immunity on former presidents for official acts they take in office, a decision that narrowed the scope of the prosecution and eliminated the possibility of a trial before next month's election.

The purpose of the brief is to persuade U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that the offenses charged in the indictment were undertaken in Trump's private, rather than presidential, capacity and can therefore remain part of the case as it moves forward. Chutkan permitted a redacted version to be made public,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-jan-6-jack-smith-f29a81ddd995b15afe95fcc00e928465">even though Trump's lawyers argued</a>&nbsp;that it was unfair to unseal it so close to the election.

Though the prospects of a trial are uncertain, particularly if Trump wins the presidency and a new attorney general seeks the dismissal of the case, the brief nonetheless functions as a roadmap for the testimony and evidence prosecutors would elicit before a jury. It is now up to Chutkan to decide which of Trump's acts are official conduct for which Trump is immune from prosecution and which are, in the words of Smith's team, “private crimes” on which the case can proceed.

“Although the defendant was the incumbent President during the charged conspiracies, his scheme was fundamentally a private one,” Smith’s team wrote, adding, “When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office.”

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the brief “falsehood-ridden” and “unconstitutional” and repeated oft-stated allegations that Smith and Democrats were “hell-bent on weaponizing the Justice Department." Trump, in a separate post on his Truth Social platform, said the case would end with his “complete victory.”

The filing alleges that Trump “laid the groundwork” for rejecting the election results before the contest was over, telling advisers that in the event he held an early lead he would “declare victory before the ballots were counted and any winner was projected.”

Immediately after the election, prosecutors say, his advisers sought to sow chaos in the counting of votes. In one instance, a campaign employee described as a Trump co-conspirator was told that results favoring Democrat Joe Biden at a Michigan polling center appeared accurate. The person is alleged to have replied: “find a reason it isnt” and “give me options to file litigation.”

Prosecutors also alleged that Trump advanced claims of fraud despite knowing they were false, recounting how he conceded to others that allegations of election irregularities made by attorney Sidney Powell were “crazy” and referenced the science fiction series “Star Trek.” Even so, days later, he promoted on Twitter a lawsuit she was about to file.

In demonstrating his apparent indifference to the accuracy of the election fraud claims, prosecutors also cite an account of a White House staffer who after the election overheard Trump telling his wife, daughter and son-in-law on Marine One: “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell.”

The filing also includes details of conversations between Trump and Pence, including a private lunch on Nov. 12, 2020, in which Pence “reiterated a face-saving option” for Trump, telling him, “Don’t concede but recognize the process is over.”

In another lunch days later, Pence urged Trump to accept the election results and run again in 2024.

“I don’t know, 2024 is so far off,” Trump told him, the filing states.

Prosecutors say that by Dec. 5, the defendant was starting to think about Congress’ role in the process.

“For the first time, he mentioned to Pence the possibility of challenging the election results in the House of Representatives,” it says, citing a phone call.

But, prosecutors wrote, Trump “disregarded” Pence “in the same way he disregarded dozens of court decisions that unanimously rejected his and his allies’ legal claims, and that he disregarded officials in the targeted states — including those in his own party — who stated publicly that he had lost and that his specific fraud allegations were false.”

Pence chronicled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-donald-trump-14a7cef45932a38a57f2ed98601a7acd">some of his interactions with Trump</a>, and his eventual split with him, in a 2022 book called “So Help Me God.” He also was ordered to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-grand-jury-2020-jan-6-9dac6db37ab8923ff1b0f09f3a9a32c8">appear before the grand jury</a>&nbsp;investigating Trump after courts rejected claims of executive privilege.

Prosecutors also argue Trump used his Twitter account to spread false claims of election fraud, attacking “those speaking the truth” about his loss and exhorting his supporters to travel to Washington for the Jan. 6, 2021, certification.

They intend to use “forensic evidence” from Trump’s iPhone to provide insight into Trump’s actions after the Capitol attack.

Of the more than 1,200 Tweets Trump sent during the weeks detailed in the indictment, prosecutors say, the vast majority were about the 2020 election, including those falsely claiming Pence could reject electors even though the vice president had told Trump that he had no such power.

That “steady stream of disinformation” culminated in his speech at the Ellipse on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, where Trump “used these lies to inflame and motivate the large and angry crowd of his supporters to march to the Capitol and disrupt the certification proceeding,” prosecutors wrote.

His “personal desperation was at its zenith” that morning as he was “only hours from the certification proceeding that spelled the end,” prosecutors wrote.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727719069573.png" alt="File photo Former President Trump during a visit to Georgia on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>File photo Former President Trump during a visit to Georgia on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;laid the groundwork to try to overturn the 2020 election even before he lost, knowingly pushed false claims of voter fraud and “resorted to crimes” in his failed bid to cling to power, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">a court filing</a>&nbsp;unsealed Wednesday that offers new evidence from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">landmark criminal case</a>&nbsp;against the former president.</p><p><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">Click here to read the new</a>&nbsp;motion ref. presidential immunity</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727903830272.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The filing from special counsel Jack Smith's team offers the most comprehensive view to date of what prosecutors intend to prove if the case charging Trump with conspiring to overturn the election reaches trial.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">Although a months-long congressional investigation</a>&nbsp;and the indictment itself have chronicled in stark detail Trump's efforts to undo the election, the filing cites previously unknown accounts offered by Trump's closest aides to paint a portrait of an “increasingly desperate” president who, while losing his grip on the White House, “used deceit to target every stage of the electoral process.”</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727958885785.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“So what?” the filing quotes Trump as telling an aide after being advised that his vice president, Mike Pence, had been rushed to a secure location after a crowd of violent Trump supporters stormed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6, 2021, to try to prevent the counting of electoral votes.</p><p>“The details don't matter,” Trump said, when told by an adviser that a lawyer who was mounting his legal challenges wouldn’t be able to prove the false allegations in court, the filing states.</p><p>The brief was made public over the Trump legal team’s objections in the final month of a closely contested presidential race in which Democrats have sought to make Trump’s refusal to accept the election results four years ago central to their claims that he is unfit for office. The issue flared as recently as Tuesday night’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-walz-vice-presidential-debate-election-66ff2e5e45a8dda55b0a2242fc238fdc">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, lamented the violence at the Capitol while a Republican opponent, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, refused to directly answer when asked whether Trump had lost the 2020 race.</p><p>The filing was submitted, initially under seal, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">Supreme Court opinion</a>&nbsp;that conferred broad immunity on former presidents for official acts they take in office, a decision that narrowed the scope of the prosecution and eliminated the possibility of a trial before next month's election.</p><p>The purpose of the brief is to persuade U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that the offenses charged in the indictment were undertaken in Trump's private, rather than presidential, capacity and can therefore remain part of the case as it moves forward. Chutkan permitted a redacted version to be made public,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-jan-6-jack-smith-f29a81ddd995b15afe95fcc00e928465">even though Trump's lawyers argued</a>&nbsp;that it was unfair to unseal it so close to the election.</p><p>Though the prospects of a trial are uncertain, particularly if Trump wins the presidency and a new attorney general seeks the dismissal of the case, the brief nonetheless functions as a roadmap for the testimony and evidence prosecutors would elicit before a jury. It is now up to Chutkan to decide which of Trump's acts are official conduct for which Trump is immune from prosecution and which are, in the words of Smith's team, “private crimes” on which the case can proceed.</p><p>“Although the defendant was the incumbent President during the charged conspiracies, his scheme was fundamentally a private one,” Smith’s team wrote, adding, “When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office.”</p><p>Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the brief “falsehood-ridden” and “unconstitutional” and repeated oft-stated allegations that Smith and Democrats were “hell-bent on weaponizing the Justice Department." Trump, in a separate post on his Truth Social platform, said the case would end with his “complete victory.”</p><p>The filing alleges that Trump “laid the groundwork” for rejecting the election results before the contest was over, telling advisers that in the event he held an early lead he would “declare victory before the ballots were counted and any winner was projected.”</p><p>Immediately after the election, prosecutors say, his advisers sought to sow chaos in the counting of votes. In one instance, a campaign employee described as a Trump co-conspirator was told that results favoring Democrat Joe Biden at a Michigan polling center appeared accurate. The person is alleged to have replied: “find a reason it isnt” and “give me options to file litigation.”</p><p>Prosecutors also alleged that Trump advanced claims of fraud despite knowing they were false, recounting how he conceded to others that allegations of election irregularities made by attorney Sidney Powell were “crazy” and referenced the science fiction series “Star Trek.” Even so, days later, he promoted on Twitter a lawsuit she was about to file.</p><p>In demonstrating his apparent indifference to the accuracy of the election fraud claims, prosecutors also cite an account of a White House staffer who after the election overheard Trump telling his wife, daughter and son-in-law on Marine One: “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell.”</p><p>The filing also includes details of conversations between Trump and Pence, including a private lunch on Nov. 12, 2020, in which Pence “reiterated a face-saving option” for Trump, telling him, “Don’t concede but recognize the process is over.”</p><p>In another lunch days later, Pence urged Trump to accept the election results and run again in 2024.</p><p>“I don’t know, 2024 is so far off,” Trump told him, the filing states.</p><p>Prosecutors say that by Dec. 5, the defendant was starting to think about Congress’ role in the process.</p><p>“For the first time, he mentioned to Pence the possibility of challenging the election results in the House of Representatives,” it says, citing a phone call.</p><p>But, prosecutors wrote, Trump “disregarded” Pence “in the same way he disregarded dozens of court decisions that unanimously rejected his and his allies’ legal claims, and that he disregarded officials in the targeted states — including those in his own party — who stated publicly that he had lost and that his specific fraud allegations were false.”</p><p>Pence chronicled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-donald-trump-14a7cef45932a38a57f2ed98601a7acd">some of his interactions with Trump</a>, and his eventual split with him, in a 2022 book called “So Help Me God.” He also was ordered to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-grand-jury-2020-jan-6-9dac6db37ab8923ff1b0f09f3a9a32c8">appear before the grand jury</a>&nbsp;investigating Trump after courts rejected claims of executive privilege.</p><p>Prosecutors also argue Trump used his Twitter account to spread false claims of election fraud, attacking “those speaking the truth” about his loss and exhorting his supporters to travel to Washington for the Jan. 6, 2021, certification.</p><p>They intend to use “forensic evidence” from Trump’s iPhone to provide insight into Trump’s actions after the Capitol attack.</p><p>Of the more than 1,200 Tweets Trump sent during the weeks detailed in the indictment, prosecutors say, the vast majority were about the 2020 election, including those falsely claiming Pence could reject electors even though the vice president had told Trump that he had no such power.</p><p>That “steady stream of disinformation” culminated in his speech at the Ellipse on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, where Trump “used these lies to inflame and motivate the large and angry crowd of his supporters to march to the Capitol and disrupt the certification proceeding,” prosecutors wrote.</p><p>His “personal desperation was at its zenith” that morning as he was “only hours from the certification proceeding that spelled the end,” prosecutors wrote.</p>

Read the special counsel's new unsealed allegations against Trump 

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City&nbsp; man has been charged in federal court with possessing hundreds of homemade devices to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, according to the United State's Attorney.

“Law enforcement agencies in our area and nationwide report a disturbing increase in the number of machine gun conversion devices that quickly and easily transform a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “Machine gun conversion devices are often cheap and homemade, just a small piece of metal or plastic that converts a run-of-the-mill firearm into a weapon of war. These dangerously lethal and illegal weapons pose a threat to both public safety and the safety of law enforcement officers.

“Using these devices is illegal. Selling these devices is illegal. And being in possession of these devices is also illegal,” added Moore. “The Department of Justice is making it a priority to combat the spread of these deadly weapons as a focus of our strategy to drive down violent crime.”

Dalton R. Johnston, 27, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Sept. 24. That complaint was unsealed and made public today following Johnston’s arrest.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Johnston used his 3-D printer to manufacture machine gun conversion devices, which he sold in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Machine gun conversion devices, or MCDs, also known as a “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law.

“In support of the DOJ’s newly established Action Network to Terminate Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices, ATF will continue to work nonstop to disrupt the manufacturing and possession of machine gun conversion devices,” said Bernard G. Hansen, ATF Special Agent in Charge, Kansas City Field Division.

“What ATF saw 10 years ago with the emergence of the ghost gun phenomena,” said Hansen, “is now what ATF is seeing with the emergence of machine gun conversion devices. These highly dangerous devices can transform a street corner into a combat zone, devastating entire communities and the brave members of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day. Machine gun conversion devices are now the most frequently recovered type of illegal firearm. If you are manufacturing or in possession of these deadly devices, we will identify you and arrest you; we will not let up. ATF’s mission is to protect the public from violent crime, and getting these devices off the streets does just that.”

On Aug. 2, 2024, Johnston allegedly sold 10 Glock conversion devices and an AR-type conversion device for a total of $70 to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At the time of the transaction, the affidavit says, Johnston told the undercover agent the devices were incomplete as he did not manufacture the selector rod for them (though he later provided those to the undercover agent).

Johnston agreed to manufacture and sell 100 AR-type conversion devices for $250 after the undercover agent said he would be trafficking the devices to Chicago and selling them for a large profit. Johnston stated that he printed the machine gun conversion devices himself and it would take him approximately a week. Johnston also explained that he could manufacture AR-type firearms as well, but it would take him weeks to complete them.

On Aug. 15, 2024, Johnston met the undercover agent in a gas station parking lot on Blue Ridge Cutoff and gave him a clear vacuum-sealed package that contained 100 AR-type machine gun conversion devices. The undercover agent paid Johnston $250 for the devices. Johnston allegedly told the undercover agent he could manufacture and sell 300 AR-type conversion devices within the next two weeks for $750.

On Aug. 30, 2024, Johnston met the undercover agent in the same gas station parking lot on Blue Ridge Cutoff for the transaction. The undercover agent told Johnston he/she wanted to purchase 500 AR-type conversion devices in the next few weeks. Johnston said he could manufacture that many in approximately a week. Johnston explained that he can 3-D print 45 AR-type conversion devices at one time, and can print up to three batches per day. Johnston also told the undercover agent he could produce silencers, which he sells for $20, and agreed to manufacture a silencer for the undercover agent.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727549301701.png" alt="Johnson is being held in Kansas City" />
                        <figcaption>Johnson is being held in Kansas City</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City&nbsp; man has been charged in federal court with possessing hundreds of homemade devices to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns, according to the United State's Attorney.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727548909076.png" alt="Photo U.S. Department of Justice" />
                        <figcaption>Photo U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“Law enforcement agencies in our area and nationwide report a disturbing increase in the number of machine gun conversion devices that quickly and easily transform a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “Machine gun conversion devices are often cheap and homemade, just a small piece of metal or plastic that converts a run-of-the-mill firearm into a weapon of war. These dangerously lethal and illegal weapons pose a threat to both public safety and the safety of law enforcement officers.</p><p>“Using these devices is illegal. Selling these devices is illegal. And being in possession of these devices is also illegal,” added Moore. “The Department of Justice is making it a priority to combat the spread of these deadly weapons as a focus of our strategy to drive down violent crime.”</p><p>Dalton R. Johnston, 27, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Sept. 24. That complaint was unsealed and made public today following Johnston’s arrest.</p><p>According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Johnston used his 3-D printer to manufacture machine gun conversion devices, which he sold in the Kansas City metropolitan area.</p><p>Machine gun conversion devices, or MCDs, also known as a “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law.</p><p>“In support of the DOJ’s newly established Action Network to Terminate Illegal Machine Gun Conversion Devices, ATF will continue to work nonstop to disrupt the manufacturing and possession of machine gun conversion devices,” said Bernard G. Hansen, ATF Special Agent in Charge, Kansas City Field Division.</p><p>“What ATF saw 10 years ago with the emergence of the ghost gun phenomena,” said Hansen, “is now what ATF is seeing with the emergence of machine gun conversion devices. These highly dangerous devices can transform a street corner into a combat zone, devastating entire communities and the brave members of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day. Machine gun conversion devices are now the most frequently recovered type of illegal firearm. If you are manufacturing or in possession of these deadly devices, we will identify you and arrest you; we will not let up. ATF’s mission is to protect the public from violent crime, and getting these devices off the streets does just that.”</p><p>On Aug. 2, 2024, Johnston allegedly sold 10 Glock conversion devices and an AR-type conversion device for a total of $70 to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. At the time of the transaction, the affidavit says, Johnston told the undercover agent the devices were incomplete as he did not manufacture the selector rod for them (though he later provided those to the undercover agent).</p><p>Johnston agreed to manufacture and sell 100 AR-type conversion devices for $250 after the undercover agent said he would be trafficking the devices to Chicago and selling them for a large profit. Johnston stated that he printed the machine gun conversion devices himself and it would take him approximately a week. Johnston also explained that he could manufacture AR-type firearms as well, but it would take him weeks to complete them.</p><p>On Aug. 15, 2024, Johnston met the undercover agent in a gas station parking lot on Blue Ridge Cutoff and gave him a clear vacuum-sealed package that contained 100 AR-type machine gun conversion devices. The undercover agent paid Johnston $250 for the devices. Johnston allegedly told the undercover agent he could manufacture and sell 300 AR-type conversion devices within the next two weeks for $750.</p><p>On Aug. 30, 2024, Johnston met the undercover agent in the same gas station parking lot on Blue Ridge Cutoff for the transaction. The undercover agent told Johnston he/she wanted to purchase 500 AR-type conversion devices in the next few weeks. Johnston said he could manufacture that many in approximately a week. Johnston explained that he can 3-D print 45 AR-type conversion devices at one time, and can print up to three batches per day. Johnston also told the undercover agent he could produce silencers, which he sells for $20, and agreed to manufacture a silencer for the undercover agent.</p>

KC man accused of illegally making machine gun conversion devices 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jury found a man guilty of kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old who was rescued from a closed in Wichita.

This week, 37-year-old David Roark of Wichita was found guilty of kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, criminal sodomy and sexual exploitation of a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after midnight Dec. 14, a detective with the White County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office contacted Wichita Police requesting assistance locating a missing child from their jurisdiction, according to Wichita Police Officer Chad Ditch.

&nbsp; A 14-year-old girl had left her home in Arkansas in early November and not returned.&nbsp; A follow-up investigation by White County detectives revealed she had been&nbsp;seen in a convenience store&nbsp;with a man before leaving in a vehicle with the same man later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp;David E. Roark of Wichita. Police also learned Roark was wanted on two warrants from the state of Kentucky.

Additional information provided by White County suggested that Roark was possibly in the Wichita area.

The Wichita Police Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating and located an address in the 1800 block of N. Litchfield in Wichita, where they believed Roark was staying.

Police observed Roark leaving the home and took him into custody. Officers then found the missing girl in a closet inside the house. Police took both of them for additional interviews, where it was discovered further crimes had occurred in Wichita.

A search warrant for the residence was completed, and David Roark was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;

Roark is scheduled for sentencing on November 18.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671221717558.png" alt="Roark photo Sedgwick Co." />
                        <figcaption>Roark photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jury found a man guilty of kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old who was rescued from a closed in Wichita.</p><p>This week, 37-year-old David Roark of Wichita was found guilty of kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, criminal sodomy and sexual exploitation of a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671545735044.png" alt="Original charges -image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney" />
                        <figcaption>Original charges -image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Just after midnight Dec. 14, a detective with the White County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office contacted Wichita Police requesting assistance locating a missing child from their jurisdiction, according to Wichita Police Officer Chad Ditch.</p><p>&nbsp; A 14-year-old girl had left her home in Arkansas in early November and not returned.&nbsp; A follow-up investigation by White County detectives revealed she had been&nbsp;seen in a convenience store&nbsp;with a man before leaving in a vehicle with the same man later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp;David E. Roark of Wichita. Police also learned Roark was wanted on two warrants from the state of Kentucky.</p><p>Additional information provided by White County suggested that Roark was possibly in the Wichita area.</p><p>The Wichita Police Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating and located an address in the 1800 block of N. Litchfield in Wichita, where they believed Roark was staying.</p><p>Police observed Roark leaving the home and took him into custody. Officers then found the missing girl in a closet inside the house. Police took both of them for additional interviews, where it was discovered further crimes had occurred in Wichita.</p><p>A search warrant for the residence was completed, and David Roark was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;</p><p>Roark is scheduled for sentencing on November 18.</p>

Jury: Kansas man guilty of abducting girl rescued from closet

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

TOPEKA — Emporia State University continues to lose students while the rest of the higher education system in Kansas reports enrollment increases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/Fall_2024_Preliminary_Census_Day_Tables.pdf" target="_blank">data released Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The annual headcount for the fall semester shows enrollment at four-year state universities is up 2.3% overall, and systemwide enrollment — which includes two-year institutions and Washburn University — is up 4% from 2023.

But ESU, which fired tenured professors as part of plans to reshape the university’s offerings two years ago, showed a 2.2% enrollment decline. ESU’s enrolment is now down 22.5% over the past five years, while enrollment at other four-year schools is down 2.8% from pre-pandemic numbers.

The enrollment figures are based on preliminary data from the 20th day of fall classes.

Enrollment is up 5.6% at the University of Kansas, 2.8% at Kansas State University, 0.9% at Wichita State University, 0.7% at Pittsburg State University and 0.3% at Fort Hays State University. Washburn posted a 6.5% increase.

“For the second consecutive year, all sectors of the Kansas higher education system are experiencing growth,” said Kansas Board of Regents chairman Carl Ice. “These increases are an indicator that our system is improving affordability and access for Kansas families.”

The university, with Board of Regents approval, fired 30 tenured and tenure-track professors in September 2022 under the pretense of a financial emergency. The university eliminated programs and added new ones but never provided an explanation for how the moves aligned with what students want or businesses need. An American Association of University Professors investigation described ESU’s motives as “shifting and incoherent,” but the Legislature rewarded the “ESU model” with $9 million bailouts in 2023 and 2024.

ESU president Ken Hush, in emails to students and staff last month, touted the university’s efforts to recruit new students and add scholarships. He said the university’s enrollment decline would be smaller than anticipated a year ago, when the number of students dropped by 12.5%.

“As a result of lower birth rates, fewer students pursuing higher education, migration to online education and short workforce, competition for new students is at an all-time high,” Hush said.

The university awarded 2,936 scholarships for the fall semester, up from 1,216 a year ago, and extended efforts to get high schoolers enrolled in classes. ESU, the smallest state university, now has 3,325 full-time students and 4,557 total students.

KU, the largest state university, now has 23,465 full-time students and 26,887 total students, having added about 3,000 in two years.

Wichita State University reported record enrollment figures for the second year in a row. WSU now has 11,530 full-time students and a total headcount of 17,700.

“This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our steadfast dedication to student success and achievement,” said Wichita State president Rick Muma. “It is a direct result of our relentless focus on access and affordability and our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. By aligning our resources and efforts, we are equipping students with the skills and opportunities they need to lead in their careers and drive progress across Kansas and on the global stage.”

Community colleges reported a 5.9% increase in fall enrollment figures, while technical colleges reported a 5.3% increase.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727903097510.jpeg" alt=" Plumb Hall, the administration building at Emporia State University, shown in June 2023. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption> Plumb Hall, the administration building at Emporia State University, shown in June 2023. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a></p><p>TOPEKA — Emporia State University continues to lose students while the rest of the higher education system in Kansas reports enrollment increases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/Press/Fall_2024_Preliminary_Census_Day_Tables.pdf" target="_blank">data released Wednesday</a>&nbsp;by the Kansas Board of Regents.</p><p>The annual headcount for the fall semester shows enrollment at four-year state universities is up 2.3% overall, and systemwide enrollment — which includes two-year institutions and Washburn University — is up 4% from 2023.</p><p>But ESU, which fired tenured professors as part of plans to reshape the university’s offerings two years ago, showed a 2.2% enrollment decline. ESU’s enrolment is now down 22.5% over the past five years, while enrollment at other four-year schools is down 2.8% from pre-pandemic numbers.</p><p>The enrollment figures are based on preliminary data from the 20th day of fall classes.</p><p>Enrollment is up 5.6% at the University of Kansas, 2.8% at Kansas State University, 0.9% at Wichita State University, 0.7% at Pittsburg State University and 0.3% at Fort Hays State University. Washburn posted a 6.5% increase.</p><p>“For the second consecutive year, all sectors of the Kansas higher education system are experiencing growth,” said Kansas Board of Regents chairman Carl Ice. “These increases are an indicator that our system is improving affordability and access for Kansas families.”</p><p>ESU continues to be an outlier.</p><p>The university, with Board of Regents approval, fired 30 tenured and tenure-track professors in September 2022 under the pretense of a financial emergency. The university eliminated programs and added new ones but never provided an explanation for how the moves aligned with what students want or businesses need. An American Association of University Professors investigation described ESU’s motives as “shifting and incoherent,” but the Legislature rewarded the “ESU model” with $9 million bailouts in 2023 and 2024.</p><p>ESU president Ken Hush, in emails to students and staff last month, touted the university’s efforts to recruit new students and add scholarships. He said the university’s enrollment decline would be smaller than anticipated a year ago, when the number of students dropped by 12.5%.</p><p>“As a result of lower birth rates, fewer students pursuing higher education, migration to online education and short workforce, competition for new students is at an all-time high,” Hush said.</p><p>The university awarded 2,936 scholarships for the fall semester, up from 1,216 a year ago, and extended efforts to get high schoolers enrolled in classes. ESU, the smallest state university, now has 3,325 full-time students and 4,557 total students.</p><p>KU, the largest state university, now has 23,465 full-time students and 26,887 total students, having added about 3,000 in two years.</p><p>Wichita State University reported record enrollment figures for the second year in a row. WSU now has 11,530 full-time students and a total headcount of 17,700.</p><p>“This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our steadfast dedication to student success and achievement,” said Wichita State president Rick Muma. “It is a direct result of our relentless focus on access and affordability and our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. By aligning our resources and efforts, we are equipping students with the skills and opportunities they need to lead in their careers and drive progress across Kansas and on the global stage.”</p><p>Community colleges reported a 5.9% increase in fall enrollment figures, while technical colleges reported a 5.3% increase.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/plugins/sn2/republisher/assets/img/ccwhite.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure>

Emporia State continues enrollment slide while other Kansas universities post gains

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident involving a dump truck and two other vehicles just before noon Wednesday in Johnson County.

The Shawnee, Kansas police reported a dump truck was&nbsp;northbound on Kansas 7 at West 47th Street. The dump truck rear-ended a sedan making a left turn. The impact pushed the sedan into another southbound vehicle.

EMS transported one person to a local hospital for treatment.

The Shawnee Fire Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Johnson County MED-ACT assisted Shawnee Police at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727902220497.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident involving a dump truck and two other vehicles just before noon Wednesday in Johnson County.</p><p>The Shawnee, Kansas police reported a dump truck was&nbsp;northbound on Kansas 7 at West 47th Street. The dump truck rear-ended a sedan making a left turn. The impact pushed the sedan into another southbound vehicle.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727902746332.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>EMS transported one person to a local hospital for treatment.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727902277402.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The Shawnee Fire Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Johnson County MED-ACT assisted Shawnee Police at the scene.</p><p>The cause of the crash is under investigation.</p>

1 injured in 3-vehicle Kansas crash involving a dump truck

On Wednesday, President Biden announced 1,000 active-duty troops will be immediately deployed to assist with response and recovery efforts&nbsp;for those areas affected Hurricane Helene.

President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to mobilize an intensive Federal response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Administration is prioritizing life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in impacted communities, as well as ensuring people displaced from the storm have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding, according to a statement from the White House.

As part of this coordinated response, Biden announced he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The announcement is effective immediately, and these forces will be available for deployment starting today. This action will provide additional manpower and logistics capabilities, enabling FEMA and other interagency partners to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.

This comes as the President is traveling to North Carolina and South Carolina. He will take an aerial tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, receive operational briefings, and meet with first responders and local officials. He will also engage with first responders and officials in South Carolina. The President will also visit Florida and Georgia in the coming days. The Vice President will travel to Georgia today. She will receive operational briefings, meet with residents impacted by the storm, and provide updates to local officials on actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia. She will also travel to North Carolina in the coming days.

Yesterday, President Biden received a briefing from his Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and leaders across his Administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer LTG William H. (Butch) Graham Jr., Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed, Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell.

Additional updates on the Administration’s response efforts include:

Mobilizing Defense Department Resources to Support Prompt and Effective Hurricane Response

Today, the President is announcing he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support response efforts. These soldiers are part of an Infantry Battalion Task Force, based out of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, which includes a Forward Support Company with the necessary support structure (fuel, water, mechanics, etc.) to conduct operations.

These soldiers are in addition to the support the Department of Defense is already providing to FEMA for the response to Hurricane Helene including:

At the President’s direction, the Department of Defense has activated 22 helicopters to aid in search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles. The National Guard, in its state capacity, is also aiding these efforts. 700 National Guard from North Carolina are supporting debris removal, air lifts, and search and rescue. They are accompanied by National Guard from eight additional states under Emergency Mutual Assistance Compacts, with helicopters and rescue vehicles to further assist with road clearance, commodities, transport, and search and rescue.

Although not operating under Department of Defense authority, over 6,000 National Guard personnel from 12 states are spearheading the response effort across the impacted region in support of their Governors, providing critical life-saving and life-sustaining support to the victims of this unprecedented natural disaster.

Supporting On-The-Ground Response and Emergency Efforts

More than 4,800 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting state-led response efforts across the region. FEMA and other agencies have more than 1,200 personnel in North Carolina, with more resources and staff arriving daily.

Search and rescue efforts by state, local, and Federal partners are ongoing, and nearly 600 additional personnel are arriving in the region in the coming days, increasing the total number of Urban Search and Rescue personnel to over 1,250.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared Public Health Emergencies for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. These declarations give the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services’ health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS has established a National Disaster Medical System medical treatment site at the Mission Hospital campus in Asheville and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pines, North Carolina. HHS Health and Medical Task Force Teams are supporting state medical needs shelters in Hickory and Mills Springs, North Carolina. An HHS Incident Management Team is working closely with state officials to identify health care needs including in rural communities and areas which may be cut off from transportation systems. HHS has also deployed two Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team (DMAT) to assist state mortuary services in mortuary care of victim identification. HHS has made 9 DMAT teams available nationwide. Additionally, 200 Federal ambulances have been provided to North Carolina.

In total, FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, 150 generators and over 220,000 tarps to aid response efforts for this historic storm.

Restoring Power and Communications to Impacted Communities

Power outage numbers are improving as restoration teams from across the nation gain access to communities and debris is removed, although much more work remains to bring power back to badly impacted areas across the region. As of this morning, approximately 1.6 million customers are still without power, which is a reduction of more than 65% from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27.

In addition to intensive efforts to restore power, crews are working around the clock to restore cell service and communications to impacted communities. FEMA, the FCC, and private telecommunications providers are working together to help restore temporary communications as quickly as possible by establishing temporary cell sites and allowing for roaming where possible, where a resident can connect to any network available, even if they aren’t subscribed to that network.

FEMA has provided 50 Starlink satellite systems to help with responder communications and 65 satellite phones have been shipped to assist with communications.

The Department of Transportation activated&nbsp;its 24-hour toll-free Routing Assistance Hotline to provide routing assistance for first responders conducting relief missions. The Hotline supports the movement of Federal, state, local, Tribal, and Territorial response personnel and contractors, equipment, and goods by providing recommended safe routes using a variety of data sources. To reach the&nbsp;Hotline, responders can call 511 from their mobile phones or 833–99-ROADS (833-997-6237). &nbsp;The Department of Transportation also announced that with the President’s approval of Emergency Disaster Declarations it has initiated a 14-day period of emergency regulatory relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, including maximum driving time for property- and passenger-carrying vehicles from the date of declaration. This allows truck drivers to get essential supplies to affected areas.&nbsp;

Extending Housing Aid to Impacted Families

Following President Biden’s approval of a Major Disaster declaration in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began implementing supplemental assistance, which includes a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured mortgages and mortgages guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program, as well as an automatic 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages.

Anyone whose home has been destroyed or severely damaged&nbsp;is also eligible to apply for HUD&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/ins/203h-dft">mortgage insurance</a>. HUD is also enabling homeowners to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k/203k--df">finance</a>&nbsp;rehabilitation and repairs for damaged homes.

To support households and communities through disaster recovery, HUD will provide Housing Counseling assistance and offer waivers and additional flexibilities to Public Housing Agencies, Tribes, and recipients of designated federal funding to allow&nbsp;communities to use existing resources to aid in response and recovery efforts.&nbsp;Additionally, HUD offered a suite of waivers and alternative requirements to allow impacted communities to use existing community development and homelessness assistance funds to aid in response and recovery efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Approving Additional Emergency Assistance

President Biden has now also approved Major Disaster Declarations for Georgia and Virginia, allowing individuals in 41 counties in Georgia and 6 in Virginia to apply for FEMA assistance. Administration officials are in touch with Georgia emergency management officials, and based on their ongoing assessments of impacts on the ground, FEMA is in the process of approving federal assistance for additional counties. This is in addition to approving Major Disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina earlier in the weekend.

To date, more than $10 million in Individual Assistance has been provided to survivors who have been affected by Hurricane Helene, and we expect that number to increase over the coming days. In North Carolina, through the expedited Serious Needs Assistance program, FEMA has paid out more than $1 million to over 1,400 households in less than 24 hours.

FEMA assistance in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia can include a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. After registering for disaster assistance, individuals may also qualify to receive disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are deployed to Florida and North Carolina to help survivors register for disaster assistance, visiting shelters and going door to door to help people get Federal assistance where they need it as quickly as feasible.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727896281695.png" alt="Photo courtesy FEMA" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy FEMA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>On Wednesday, President Biden announced 1,000 active-duty troops will be immediately deployed to assist with response and recovery efforts&nbsp;for those areas affected Hurricane Helene.</p><p>President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to mobilize an intensive Federal response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Administration is prioritizing life-saving and life-sustaining response efforts in impacted communities, as well as ensuring people displaced from the storm have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding, according to a statement from the White House.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727895882663.png" alt="Photo&nbsp;Urban Search and Rescue Team from Fairfax County Virginia" />
                        <figcaption>Photo&nbsp;Urban Search and Rescue Team from Fairfax County Virginia</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>As part of this coordinated response, Biden announced he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical commodities to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The announcement is effective immediately, and these forces will be available for deployment starting today. This action will provide additional manpower and logistics capabilities, enabling FEMA and other interagency partners to reach the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible.</p><p>This comes as the President is traveling to North Carolina and South Carolina. He will take an aerial tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, receive operational briefings, and meet with first responders and local officials. He will also engage with first responders and officials in South Carolina. The President will also visit Florida and Georgia in the coming days. The Vice President will travel to Georgia today. She will receive operational briefings, meet with residents impacted by the storm, and provide updates to local officials on actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia. She will also travel to North Carolina in the coming days.</p><p>Yesterday, President Biden received a briefing from his Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and leaders across his Administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer LTG William H. (Butch) Graham Jr., Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed, Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell.</p><p>Additional updates on the Administration’s response efforts include:</p><p>Mobilizing Defense Department Resources to Support Prompt and Effective Hurricane Response</p><p>Today, the President is announcing he has directed the Department of Defense to deploy up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support response efforts. These soldiers are part of an Infantry Battalion Task Force, based out of Fort Liberty, North Carolina, which includes a Forward Support Company with the necessary support structure (fuel, water, mechanics, etc.) to conduct operations.</p><p>These soldiers are in addition to the support the Department of Defense is already providing to FEMA for the response to Hurricane Helene including:</p><ul>
                        <li>US Army and US Navy helicopters, soldiers, and sailors to provide critical capability to move personnel and supplies in areas where access via roads is not available or viable.</li><li>US Air Force aircraft, helicopters, and airmen to provide search-and-rescue capabilities.</li><li>US Army soldiers and high wheeled vehicles to move personnel and supplies over roads and terrain damaged or impassable to normal vehicles.</li><li>The Army Corps of Engineers is supporting with response efforts with Temporary Power Teams and subject matter experts to support for debris removal, water and wastewater management, and bridge inspections.&nbsp;</li>
                    </ul><p>At the President’s direction, the Department of Defense has activated 22 helicopters to aid in search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles. The National Guard, in its state capacity, is also aiding these efforts. 700 National Guard from North Carolina are supporting debris removal, air lifts, and search and rescue. They are accompanied by National Guard from eight additional states under Emergency Mutual Assistance Compacts, with helicopters and rescue vehicles to further assist with road clearance, commodities, transport, and search and rescue.</p><p>Although not operating under Department of Defense authority, over 6,000 National Guard personnel from 12 states are spearheading the response effort across the impacted region in support of their Governors, providing critical life-saving and life-sustaining support to the victims of this unprecedented natural disaster.</p><p>Supporting On-The-Ground Response and Emergency Efforts</p><p>More than 4,800 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed and supporting state-led response efforts across the region. FEMA and other agencies have more than 1,200 personnel in North Carolina, with more resources and staff arriving daily.</p><p>Search and rescue efforts by state, local, and Federal partners are ongoing, and nearly 600 additional personnel are arriving in the region in the coming days, increasing the total number of Urban Search and Rescue personnel to over 1,250.</p><p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared Public Health Emergencies for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. These declarations give the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services’ health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS has established a National Disaster Medical System medical treatment site at the Mission Hospital campus in Asheville and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pines, North Carolina. HHS Health and Medical Task Force Teams are supporting state medical needs shelters in Hickory and Mills Springs, North Carolina. An HHS Incident Management Team is working closely with state officials to identify health care needs including in rural communities and areas which may be cut off from transportation systems. HHS has also deployed two Disaster Mortuary Assistance Team (DMAT) to assist state mortuary services in mortuary care of victim identification. HHS has made 9 DMAT teams available nationwide. Additionally, 200 Federal ambulances have been provided to North Carolina.</p><p>In total, FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, 150 generators and over 220,000 tarps to aid response efforts for this historic storm.</p><p>Restoring Power and Communications to Impacted Communities</p><p>Power outage numbers are improving as restoration teams from across the nation gain access to communities and debris is removed, although much more work remains to bring power back to badly impacted areas across the region. As of this morning, approximately 1.6 million customers are still without power, which is a reduction of more than 65% from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27.</p><p>In addition to intensive efforts to restore power, crews are working around the clock to restore cell service and communications to impacted communities. FEMA, the FCC, and private telecommunications providers are working together to help restore temporary communications as quickly as possible by establishing temporary cell sites and allowing for roaming where possible, where a resident can connect to any network available, even if they aren’t subscribed to that network.</p><p>FEMA has provided 50 Starlink satellite systems to help with responder communications and 65 satellite phones have been shipped to assist with communications.</p><p>Restoring Road Access</p><p>The Department of Transportation activated&nbsp;its 24-hour toll-free Routing Assistance Hotline to provide routing assistance for first responders conducting relief missions. The Hotline supports the movement of Federal, state, local, Tribal, and Territorial response personnel and contractors, equipment, and goods by providing recommended safe routes using a variety of data sources. To reach the&nbsp;Hotline, responders can call 511 from their mobile phones or 833–99-ROADS (833-997-6237). &nbsp;The Department of Transportation also announced that with the President’s approval of Emergency Disaster Declarations it has initiated a 14-day period of emergency regulatory relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, including maximum driving time for property- and passenger-carrying vehicles from the date of declaration. This allows truck drivers to get essential supplies to affected areas.&nbsp;</p><p>Extending Housing Aid to Impacted Families</p><p>Following President Biden’s approval of a Major Disaster declaration in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began implementing supplemental assistance, which includes a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured mortgages and mortgages guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program, as well as an automatic 90-day extension for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages.</p><p>Anyone whose home has been destroyed or severely damaged&nbsp;is also eligible to apply for HUD&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/ins/203h-dft">mortgage insurance</a>. HUD is also enabling homeowners to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k/203k--df">finance</a>&nbsp;rehabilitation and repairs for damaged homes.</p><p>To support households and communities through disaster recovery, HUD will provide Housing Counseling assistance and offer waivers and additional flexibilities to Public Housing Agencies, Tribes, and recipients of designated federal funding to allow&nbsp;communities to use existing resources to aid in response and recovery efforts.&nbsp;Additionally, HUD offered a suite of waivers and alternative requirements to allow impacted communities to use existing community development and homelessness assistance funds to aid in response and recovery efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Approving Additional Emergency Assistance</p><p>President Biden has now also approved Major Disaster Declarations for Georgia and Virginia, allowing individuals in 41 counties in Georgia and 6 in Virginia to apply for FEMA assistance. Administration officials are in touch with Georgia emergency management officials, and based on their ongoing assessments of impacts on the ground, FEMA is in the process of approving federal assistance for additional counties. This is in addition to approving Major Disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina earlier in the weekend.</p><p>To date, more than $10 million in Individual Assistance has been provided to survivors who have been affected by Hurricane Helene, and we expect that number to increase over the coming days. In North Carolina, through the expedited Serious Needs Assistance program, FEMA has paid out more than $1 million to over 1,400 households in less than 24 hours.</p><p>FEMA assistance in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia can include a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. After registering for disaster assistance, individuals may also qualify to receive disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.</p><p>FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are deployed to Florida and North Carolina to help survivors register for disaster assistance, visiting shelters and going door to door to help people get Federal assistance where they need it as quickly as feasible.</p>

Biden sending troops to aid hurricane Helene relief effort

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Vice presidential nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz met on the the debate stage Tuesday night in New York.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used his social media account to share his opinion of the outcome and a portion of his national television interview.

Marshall said. "JD Vance walked into the debate last night with a handful of aces and queens to share Donald Trump’s accomplishments, from the economy to the southern border."

"Tim Walz came with twos and threes and could barely defend Kamala’s failed policies."

<p>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Vice presidential nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz met on the the debate stage Tuesday night in New York.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used his social media account to share his opinion of the outcome and a portion of his national television interview.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> walked into the debate last night with a handful of aces and queens to share Donald Trump’s accomplishments, from the economy to the southern border. <br><br>Tim Walz came with twos and threes and could barely defend Kamala’s failed policies. <a href="https://t.co/ujuVNKJ9KK">pic.twitter.com/ujuVNKJ9KK</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1841522065611849800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Marshall said. "JD Vance walked into the debate last night with a handful of aces and queens to share Donald Trump’s accomplishments, from the economy to the southern border."</p><p>"Tim Walz came with twos and threes and could barely defend Kamala’s failed policies."</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> was a true class act - he won tonights debate by a landslide. 🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate2024</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1841311773397303420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> graduated from the school of hard knocks AND Yale. There’s no beating that combo- he’s lived the American Dream and no one better than him and Trump to keep it alive. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1841286609536225380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It almost seems like <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> did interviews to prepare for this… <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate2024</a></p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1841306293950202210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Election Day is November 5.</p>

🎥Kansas U.S. Senator shares opinion of VP candidate debate

KANSAS CITY— Emergency crews were on the scene of a large gas leak in a Kansas City neighborhood that prompted evacuations.

Just after 10a.m. Wednesday, crews responded&nbsp;&nbsp;to a reported natural gas leak in the area of 69th Terrace and Oak, according to Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders reported that a large diameter natural gas line had been struck by crews performing construction in the area. Spire Gas was ordered to the scene to mitigate the problem. 

KC Fire crews using their four-gas meter checked the school and surrounding structures for elevated gas levels and found zero readings. 

As a precaution the school administrators at&nbsp;Académie Lafayette Oak Campus,&nbsp;6903 Oak Street,&nbsp; Kansas City, made the decision to evacuate their students from the structure. This order was not given by KCFD. 

After multiple checks zero readings have been noted in the school or surrounding structures. Due to an 8 mph wind out of the south multiple calls to the north have been made for the smell of gas. 

The Spire gas dig team was on the scene and working to correct the ruptured line. No injuries have been reported. KCFD remains on the scene and will until the flow of natural gas is stopped.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727887655326.png" alt="Students and staff were evacuated from Académie Lafayette Oak Campus, 6903 Oak Street,  Kansas City- Google image" />
                        <figcaption>Students and staff were evacuated from Académie Lafayette Oak Campus, 6903 Oak Street,  Kansas City- Google image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY— Emergency crews were on the scene of a large gas leak in a Kansas City neighborhood that prompted evacuations.</p><p>Just after 10a.m. Wednesday, crews responded&nbsp;&nbsp;to a reported natural gas leak in the area of 69th Terrace and Oak, according to Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.</p><p>First responders reported that a large diameter natural gas line had been struck by crews performing construction in the area. Spire Gas was ordered to the scene to mitigate the problem. </p><p>KC Fire crews using their four-gas meter checked the school and surrounding structures for elevated gas levels and found zero readings. </p><p>As a precaution the school administrators at&nbsp;Académie Lafayette Oak Campus,&nbsp;6903 Oak Street,&nbsp; Kansas City, made the decision to evacuate their students from the structure. This order was not given by KCFD. </p><p>After multiple checks zero readings have been noted in the school or surrounding structures. Due to an 8 mph wind out of the south multiple calls to the north have been made for the smell of gas. </p><p>The Spire gas dig team was on the scene and working to correct the ruptured line. No injuries have been reported. KCFD remains on the scene and will until the flow of natural gas is stopped.</p>

School, homes evacuated after gas leak in KC neighborhood

LAWRENCE — It’s a record year for the University of Kansas.

KU has its largest freshman class and its highest overall enrollment in history, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://aire.ku.edu/enrollment">annual data released Wednesday</a>

The record-setting freshman class includes 5,323 new Jayhawks — an increase of 1.2% from last year’s class, which at the time was the largest in KU history, according to a media release from the university.

Beyond the freshman class, KU’s overall enrollment has grown 4.8% to 30,770, eclipsing the previous all-time mark of 30,102 set in 2008. This increase includes a 5.6% jump at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses (which are counted together) and a 0.1% decrease at the KU Medical Center campuses.

“This is a special year for the University of Kansas,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “We are pleased to welcome this historic freshman class and to have grown our overall enrollment to the highest level in the 159-year history of the institution. These numbers confirm that talented students from across Kansas and the world see the value of attending a leading research institution like KU. Additionally, these enrollment numbers speak to the work our faculty and staff do to recruit talented students and support them as they earn their degrees.”

Freshman class size, talent and diversity

In addition to its historic size, this year’s freshman class is talented and diverse. The class boasts a record-high average high school GPA of 3.68. Minority students comprise 26.5% of the class, while out-of-state students account for a record-high 45% of the class.

Moreover, these first-year Jayhawks are entering fields that benefit the Kansas economy and strengthen Kansas communities, with all-time high numbers of freshmen enrolled in the School of Business, School of Education &amp; Human Sciences and School of Journalism.

“While we are pleased to have grown the size of our freshman class,” Girod said, “we are especially proud to have grown with talented, diverse students who are poised to address Kansas’ workforce needs in high-impact fields. Kansas employers look to KU as an engine of economic growth, and these freshmen will help us fulfill that role.”

KU leaders attribute the historic class to the university’s academic reputation and course offerings, recruitment strategies, nationwide network of donors and alumni, athletics profile and financial support from Kansas lawmakers.

Today’s data also include record-setting retention and graduation rates. This year, KU retained a record-high 86.5% of last year’s freshmen while also notching record-high four-year, five-year and six-year graduation rates.

“The number of new freshmen is the metric that often grabs the headlines, but equally important to our mission and overall enrollment is ensuring that we retain and support existing students as they work toward their degrees,” Girod said. “That’s why we are so proud of this year’s record-setting retention and graduation rates, and that’s why we must remain committed to improving the student experience through teaching, curriculum, advising, health care and other areas that matter to students.”

Girod said KU must continue working to overcome challenges facing higher education.

“This is a historic year for the University of Kansas, and we should all pause to celebrate and be proud of the work we’ve done,” he said. “That said, we must continue our work to recruit and retain top students and create a university they want to attend. Higher education continues to face challenges, and enrollments nationally are projected to continue dropping in the coming years. That’s why we must continue to improve our university through our&nbsp;<a href="https://strategicplan.ku.edu/">strategic priorities</a>&nbsp;in alignment with the Kansas Board of Regents’ strategic plan, the needs of Kansas businesses and communities, and our aspirations as one of the nation’s leading research institutions.”

<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: After using headcount as the unit of measure for many years, the Board of Regents in 2018 transitioned to a full-time equivalency metric. KU continues to use the headcount metric for the convenience of media, policymakers and others who are tracking KU’s year-over-year enrollment progress and want to make an apples-to-apples comparison with previous years’ data.</i>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569013305712.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>LAWRENCE — It’s a record year for the University of Kansas.</p><p>KU has its largest freshman class and its highest overall enrollment in history, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://aire.ku.edu/enrollment">annual data released Wednesday</a></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG news. ❤️ This year’s first-year students have broken the record for the largest incoming class in KU history! 💙 Their addition to our community brought the total number of enrolled students to 30,770, setting another historic record. 💛 Rock Chalk! <a href="https://t.co/Guz5jbIHFi">pic.twitter.com/Guz5jbIHFi</a></p>&mdash; University of Kansas (@UnivOfKansas) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivOfKansas/status/1841508743550308509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The record-setting freshman class includes 5,323 new Jayhawks — an increase of 1.2% from last year’s class, which at the time was the largest in KU history, according to a media release from the university.</p><p>Beyond the freshman class, KU’s overall enrollment has grown 4.8% to 30,770, eclipsing the previous all-time mark of 30,102 set in 2008. This increase includes a 5.6% jump at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses (which are counted together) and a 0.1% decrease at the KU Medical Center campuses.</p><p>“This is a special year for the University of Kansas,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “We are pleased to welcome this historic freshman class and to have grown our overall enrollment to the highest level in the 159-year history of the institution. These numbers confirm that talented students from across Kansas and the world see the value of attending a leading research institution like KU. Additionally, these enrollment numbers speak to the work our faculty and staff do to recruit talented students and support them as they earn their degrees.”</p><h2>Freshman class size, talent and diversity</h2><p>In addition to its historic size, this year’s freshman class is talented and diverse. The class boasts a record-high average high school GPA of 3.68. Minority students comprise 26.5% of the class, while out-of-state students account for a record-high 45% of the class.</p><p>Moreover, these first-year Jayhawks are entering fields that benefit the Kansas economy and strengthen Kansas communities, with all-time high numbers of freshmen enrolled in the School of Business, School of Education &amp; Human Sciences and School of Journalism.</p><p>“While we are pleased to have grown the size of our freshman class,” Girod said, “we are especially proud to have grown with talented, diverse students who are poised to address Kansas’ workforce needs in high-impact fields. Kansas employers look to KU as an engine of economic growth, and these freshmen will help us fulfill that role.”</p><p>KU leaders attribute the historic class to the university’s academic reputation and course offerings, recruitment strategies, nationwide network of donors and alumni, athletics profile and financial support from Kansas lawmakers.</p><h2>Retention and graduation rates</h2><p>Today’s data also include record-setting retention and graduation rates. This year, KU retained a record-high 86.5% of last year’s freshmen while also notching record-high four-year, five-year and six-year graduation rates.</p><p>“The number of new freshmen is the metric that often grabs the headlines, but equally important to our mission and overall enrollment is ensuring that we retain and support existing students as they work toward their degrees,” Girod said. “That’s why we are so proud of this year’s record-setting retention and graduation rates, and that’s why we must remain committed to improving the student experience through teaching, curriculum, advising, health care and other areas that matter to students.”</p><h2>Additional highlights</h2><ul>
                        <li>Minority student enrollment is now at an all-time high in terms of total count (7,960 students) and percentage of overall enrollment (25.9%).</li><li>KU has 17,402 in-state students (the most of any university in Kansas) representing all 105 counties in Kansas, as well as 13,368 out-of-state students (the most of any university in Kansas) from 50 states and 116 countries. Surveys show approximately one-third of out-of-state students join the Kansas workforce after graduation, making KU the state’s predominant net importer of talent to address Kansas’ workforce needs.</li><li>KU has a record-high 2,258 veterans, active-duty and military-connected students. This is an increase of 17.4% from last year.</li>
                    </ul><h2>Looking ahead</h2><p>Girod said KU must continue working to overcome challenges facing higher education.</p><p>“This is a historic year for the University of Kansas, and we should all pause to celebrate and be proud of the work we’ve done,” he said. “That said, we must continue our work to recruit and retain top students and create a university they want to attend. Higher education continues to face challenges, and enrollments nationally are projected to continue dropping in the coming years. That’s why we must continue to improve our university through our&nbsp;<a href="https://strategicplan.ku.edu/">strategic priorities</a>&nbsp;in alignment with the Kansas Board of Regents’ strategic plan, the needs of Kansas businesses and communities, and our aspirations as one of the nation’s leading research institutions.”</p><p><i>EDITOR'S NOTE: After using headcount as the unit of measure for many years, the Board of Regents in 2018 transitioned to a full-time equivalency metric. KU continues to use the headcount metric for the convenience of media, policymakers and others who are tracking KU’s year-over-year enrollment progress and want to make an apples-to-apples comparison with previous years’ data.</i></p>

KU sets all-time marks for freshman class size, overall enrollment

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

Just after 10:30a.m. Sept. 30, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at milepost 139 on U.S. 75 highway for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

 During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy took 35-year-old Caleb M. Kidd of Abilene into custody and transported him to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727833412319.png" alt="Kidd photo Osage Co." />
                        <figcaption>Kidd photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.</p><p>Just after 10:30a.m. Sept. 30, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at milepost 139 on U.S. 75 highway for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.</p><p> During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy took 35-year-old Caleb M. Kidd of Abilene into custody and transported him to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.</p>

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of selling methamphetamine

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. ports from Maine to Texas shut down Tuesday when the union representing about 45,000 dockworkers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-strike-ila-dockworkers-begins-e5468e760f46a64e4322d1702beb1f72">went on strike</a>&nbsp;for the first time since 1977.

Workers began walking picket lines early Tuesday, picketing near ports all along the East Coast. Workers outside the Port of Philadelphia walked in a circle and chanted, “No work without a fair contract.”

A lengthy shutdown could raise prices on goods around the country and potentially cause shortages and price increases at big and small retailers alike as the holiday shopping season — along with a tight presidential election —&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%9CFirst%20and%20foremost,%20we%20can%20expect%20delays%20to%20market.%20And%20those%20delays%20depend%20on%20really%20what%20the%20commodities%20are%20and%20priorities%20at%20the%20ports%20and%20how%20quickly%20things%20move,%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mark%20Baxa,%20president%20of%20the%20Council%20of%20Supply%20Chain%20Management%20Professionals.">approaches</a>.

What are the issues in the dockworkers strike?

The International Longshoremen’s Association is demanding significantly higher wages and a total ban on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">automation of cranes, gates and container-moving trucks</a>&nbsp;that are used in the loading or unloading of freight at 36 U.S. ports. Those ports handle roughly half of the nations’ cargo from ships.

The contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, expired Tuesday. Some progress was reported in talks late Monday, but the union went on strike anyway.

The union’s opening offer was for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract</a>, 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.

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

While any port can handle any type of goods, some ports are specialized to handle goods for a particular industry. The ports affected by the shutdown include Baltimore and Brunswick, Georgia, the top two busiest auto ports; Philadelphia, which gives priority to fruits and vegetables; and New Orleans, which handles coffee, mainly from South America and Southeast Asia, various chemicals from Mexico and North Europe, and wood products such as plywood from Asia and South America.

Other major ports affected include Boston; New York/New Jersey; Norfolk, Virginia; Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-port-strike-threat-longshoremen-savannah-georgia-d80689a9ab83fb3345df029e91b0abc8">Savannah, Georgia</a>; Tampa, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Houston.

If a strike were deemed a danger to U.S. economic health, President Joe Biden could, under the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, seek a court order for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ports-strike-biden-longshoreman-buttigieg-2d62f1ffd8fe686bc7dc0f6d6001f0a5">80-day cooling-off period</a>. This would suspend the strike.

But Biden, during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene to plan a potential work stoppage impacting East Coast ports.

“Because it’s collective bargaining, I don’t believe in Taft-Hartley,” Biden said.

The strike could last weeks — or months. If the strike is resolved within a few weeks, consumers probably wouldn’t notice any major shortages of retail goods. But a strike that persists for more than a month would likely cause a shortage of some consumer products, although most holiday retail goods have already arrived from overseas. Shoppers could see higher prices on a vast array of goods, from fruit and vegetables to cars.

Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-prices-66e5f5612c0a56c18ac218425e2cd20a">major supply chain disruption in 2021</a>&nbsp;caused by pandemic bottlenecks, retailers have adapted to supply chain disrupters being “the new norm,” said Rick Haase, owner of a mini-chain of Patina gift shops in and around the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

“The best approach for Patina has been to secure orders early and have the goods in our warehouse and back rooms to ensure we are in stock on key goods,” Haase said.

Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun, a Boca Raton, Florida-based maker of such toys as Care Bears and Lincoln Logs, has been monitoring the port situation for months and planned for it by shifting all of its container shipments to the West Coast ports, primarily Los Angeles and Long Beach, away from ports in New York and Newark, New Jersey. But he said the shift added anywhere from 10% to 20% extra costs that his company will have to absorb. He noted that Basic Fun’s prices for the next 10 months are locked in with retailers, but he could see raising prices during the second half of 2025 if the strike is prolonged.

Daniel Vasquez, who owns Dynamic Auto Movers in Miami, which specializes in importing and exporting vehicles, increased inventory, specifically for vehicles that take longer to ship, in anticipation of a strike.

He has also stopped relying on one port or shipping partner and has expanded his relationship with smaller ports and shipping companies that can bypass congested&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%9CThis%20move%20provides%20us%20with%20an%20edge%20%E2%80%94%20having%20backup%20partners%20in%20place%20means%20we%20can%20reroute%20shipments%20efficiently%20if%20the%20strike%20hits%20hard,%E2%80%9D%20Vasquez%20said.">areas</a>.

How will a strike affect holiday shopping?

Jonathan Gold, vice president of the supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, said the strike arrives with the supply network continuing to face challenges from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-israel-hamas-war-2faa48176d4f773003b6a4a3ad5ca73d">Houthi attacks on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;that have essentially shut down the use of the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

The uncertainty over the supply chain is taking place at the peak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holiday-shopping">holiday shipping season</a>&nbsp;for retailers, which traditionally runs from July through early November. Many big retailers, anticipating a strike, started shipping their goods to U.S. distribution centers in June, and Gold said that the majority of products ordered are already in the U.S.

But retailers will have a hard time replenishing items and are incurring extra warehouse costs to store goods longer. Gold also noted that carriers are already announcing surcharges on containers to address potential disruptions.

Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, the nation’s leading toy trade group, noted that a strike would happen at an extremely critical time for toy sellers and makers — up to 60% of a toy company’s annual sales come during the fourth quarter.

The holiday shipping window for the toy industry is anywhere from six to eight weeks and started in July, though some toy companies tried to ship earlier or add more toys to shipments, Ahearn said.

“It hits many ways,” he said. “From a consumer perspective, it starts with delays in availability and then starts to surface as product shortages within toys. At retail for the toy industry, it results in potentially higher prices based on scarcity and increased costs.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727829433100.png" alt="Photo courtesy ILA" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy ILA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. ports from Maine to Texas shut down Tuesday when the union representing about 45,000 dockworkers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-strike-ila-dockworkers-begins-e5468e760f46a64e4322d1702beb1f72">went on strike</a>&nbsp;for the first time since 1977.</p><p>Workers began walking picket lines early Tuesday, picketing near ports all along the East Coast. Workers outside the Port of Philadelphia walked in a circle and chanted, “No work without a fair contract.”</p><p>A lengthy shutdown could raise prices on goods around the country and potentially cause shortages and price increases at big and small retailers alike as the holiday shopping season — along with a tight presidential election —&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%9CFirst%20and%20foremost,%20we%20can%20expect%20delays%20to%20market.%20And%20those%20delays%20depend%20on%20really%20what%20the%20commodities%20are%20and%20priorities%20at%20the%20ports%20and%20how%20quickly%20things%20move,%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mark%20Baxa,%20president%20of%20the%20Council%20of%20Supply%20Chain%20Management%20Professionals.">approaches</a>.</p><h2>What are the issues in the dockworkers strike?</h2><p>The International Longshoremen’s Association is demanding significantly higher wages and a total ban on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">automation of cranes, gates and container-moving trucks</a>&nbsp;that are used in the loading or unloading of freight at 36 U.S. ports. Those ports handle roughly half of the nations’ cargo from ships.</p><p>The contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, expired Tuesday. Some progress was reported in talks late Monday, but the union went on strike anyway.</p><p>The union’s opening offer was for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract</a>, 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.</p><p>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 alliance also said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.</p><h2>Which ports are affected?</h2><p>While any port can handle any type of goods, some ports are specialized to handle goods for a particular industry. The ports affected by the shutdown include Baltimore and Brunswick, Georgia, the top two busiest auto ports; Philadelphia, which gives priority to fruits and vegetables; and New Orleans, which handles coffee, mainly from South America and Southeast Asia, various chemicals from Mexico and North Europe, and wood products such as plywood from Asia and South America.</p><p>Other major ports affected include Boston; New York/New Jersey; Norfolk, Virginia; Wilmington, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-port-strike-threat-longshoremen-savannah-georgia-d80689a9ab83fb3345df029e91b0abc8">Savannah, Georgia</a>; Tampa, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Houston.</p><h2>Can the government intervene?</h2><p>If a strike were deemed a danger to U.S. economic health, President Joe Biden could, under the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, seek a court order for an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ports-strike-biden-longshoreman-buttigieg-2d62f1ffd8fe686bc7dc0f6d6001f0a5">80-day cooling-off period</a>. This would suspend the strike.</p><p>But Biden, during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene to plan a potential work stoppage impacting East Coast ports.</p><p>“Because it’s collective bargaining, I don’t believe in Taft-Hartley,” Biden said.</p><h2>How will this affect consumers?</h2><p>The strike could last weeks — or months. If the strike is resolved within a few weeks, consumers probably wouldn’t notice any major shortages of retail goods. But a strike that persists for more than a month would likely cause a shortage of some consumer products, although most holiday retail goods have already arrived from overseas. Shoppers could see higher prices on a vast array of goods, from fruit and vegetables to cars.</p><h2>Businesses are making contingency plans</h2><p>Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-business-prices-66e5f5612c0a56c18ac218425e2cd20a">major supply chain disruption in 2021</a>&nbsp;caused by pandemic bottlenecks, retailers have adapted to supply chain disrupters being “the new norm,” said Rick Haase, owner of a mini-chain of Patina gift shops in and around the Twin Cities in Minnesota.</p><p>“The best approach for Patina has been to secure orders early and have the goods in our warehouse and back rooms to ensure we are in stock on key goods,” Haase said.</p><p>Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun, a Boca Raton, Florida-based maker of such toys as Care Bears and Lincoln Logs, has been monitoring the port situation for months and planned for it by shifting all of its container shipments to the West Coast ports, primarily Los Angeles and Long Beach, away from ports in New York and Newark, New Jersey. But he said the shift added anywhere from 10% to 20% extra costs that his company will have to absorb. He noted that Basic Fun’s prices for the next 10 months are locked in with retailers, but he could see raising prices during the second half of 2025 if the strike is prolonged.</p><p>Daniel Vasquez, who owns Dynamic Auto Movers in Miami, which specializes in importing and exporting vehicles, increased inventory, specifically for vehicles that take longer to ship, in anticipation of a strike.</p><p>He has also stopped relying on one port or shipping partner and has expanded his relationship with smaller ports and shipping companies that can bypass congested&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%9CThis%20move%20provides%20us%20with%20an%20edge%20%E2%80%94%20having%20backup%20partners%20in%20place%20means%20we%20can%20reroute%20shipments%20efficiently%20if%20the%20strike%20hits%20hard,%E2%80%9D%20Vasquez%20said.">areas</a>.</p><h2>How will a strike affect holiday shopping?</h2><p>Jonathan Gold, vice president of the supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, said the strike arrives with the supply network continuing to face challenges from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-israel-hamas-war-2faa48176d4f773003b6a4a3ad5ca73d">Houthi attacks on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;that have essentially shut down the use of the Red Sea and Suez Canal.</p><p>The uncertainty over the supply chain is taking place at the peak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/holiday-shopping">holiday shipping season</a>&nbsp;for retailers, which traditionally runs from July through early November. Many big retailers, anticipating a strike, started shipping their goods to U.S. distribution centers in June, and Gold said that the majority of products ordered are already in the U.S.</p><p>But retailers will have a hard time replenishing items and are incurring extra warehouse costs to store goods longer. Gold also noted that carriers are already announcing surcharges on containers to address potential disruptions.</p><p>Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, the nation’s leading toy trade group, noted that a strike would happen at an extremely critical time for toy sellers and makers — up to 60% of a toy company’s annual sales come during the fourth quarter.</p><p>The holiday shipping window for the toy industry is anywhere from six to eight weeks and started in July, though some toy companies tried to ship earlier or add more toys to shipments, Ahearn said.</p><p>“It hits many ways,” he said. “From a consumer perspective, it starts with delays in availability and then starts to surface as product shortages within toys. At retail for the toy industry, it results in potentially higher prices based on scarcity and increased costs.”</p><p>___</p>

Expect shortages, higher prices if a dockworkers strike drags on

BARTON COUNTY — The Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to discussion about an arrest made on September 30 and released body camera video of the encounter.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office in a social media report said much of that information discussed in the community is incorrect.

 Just after 2a.m. Monday, a deputy with the Barton County Sheriff’s office observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street in the city of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

The driver failed to stop behind the stop line at the intersection of 10th and Main.  The deputy initiated a traffic stop and the driver pulled into a convenience store at 10th and Morton.

The deputy approached the vehicle and politely identified himself and his agency as well as the reason for the stop. The driver was asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. 

The driver refused to give the deputy his driver’s license in violation of KSA 8-244. This statute is a misdemeanor and an arrestable offense. The driver was arguing about the reason for the traffic stop as well as stating he did not have to show the officer his license. 

The deputy opened the car door to place the driver under arrest at which time a struggle ensued. During the course of the struggle the deputy warned the suspect “I will tase you."&nbsp;

 The suspect was able to escape the deputy’s grasp and attempted to flee on foot, at which point the deputy deployed a Taser. The suspect was running away from the deputy and fell striking his face on the pavement when the effects of the Taser took place.

The deputy had called for assistance and officers from the Great Bend Police Department arrived at the scene and assisted in securing the suspect. 

The Great Bend Fire Department EMS service was called and examined the suspect. He was later transported to University of Kansas Health Systems for medical treatment and released at which time he was transported to the Barton County Jail.

The suspect was identified as Daniel Zuniga, 18 of Hoisington.  Zuniga was booked on requested charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, interference of a law enforcement officer and the traffic charges. He has since posted a $2500 bond and was released. The incident has been reviewed by the administrative staff at the Sheriff’s Office. We find no violations of department policy or Kansas Statutes.

<p>BARTON COUNTY — The Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to discussion about an arrest made on September 30 and released body camera video of the encounter.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office in a social media report said much of that information discussed in the community is incorrect.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=311&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbtsokansas%2Fvideos%2F1895057217654838%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=37" width="560" height="311" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><p> Just after 2a.m. Monday, a deputy with the Barton County Sheriff’s office observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street in the city of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.</p><p>The driver failed to stop behind the stop line at the intersection of 10th and Main.  The deputy initiated a traffic stop and the driver pulled into a convenience store at 10th and Morton.</p><p>The deputy approached the vehicle and politely identified himself and his agency as well as the reason for the stop. The driver was asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. </p><p>The driver refused to give the deputy his driver’s license in violation of KSA 8-244. This statute is a misdemeanor and an arrestable offense. The driver was arguing about the reason for the traffic stop as well as stating he did not have to show the officer his license. </p><p>The deputy opened the car door to place the driver under arrest at which time a struggle ensued. During the course of the struggle the deputy warned the suspect “I will tase you."&nbsp;</p><p> The suspect was able to escape the deputy’s grasp and attempted to flee on foot, at which point the deputy deployed a Taser. The suspect was running away from the deputy and fell striking his face on the pavement when the effects of the Taser took place.</p><p>The deputy had called for assistance and officers from the Great Bend Police Department arrived at the scene and assisted in securing the suspect. </p><p>The Great Bend Fire Department EMS service was called and examined the suspect. He was later transported to University of Kansas Health Systems for medical treatment and released at which time he was transported to the Barton County Jail.</p><p>The suspect was identified as Daniel Zuniga, 18 of Hoisington.  Zuniga was booked on requested charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, interference of a law enforcement officer and the traffic charges. He has since posted a $2500 bond and was released. The incident has been reviewed by the administrative staff at the Sheriff’s Office. We find no violations of department policy or Kansas Statutes.</p>

🎥Sheriff releases video after criticism on arrest of Kansas teen

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice presidential hopefuls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;focused their criticism on the top of the ticket on Tuesday as they engaged in a policy-heavy discussion that may be the last debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?538521-1/simulcast-cbs-news-vice-presidential-debate">Click here to watch a full replay of the debate&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>via CSPAN courtesy CBS&nbsp;

It was the first encounter between Minnesota’s Democratic governor and Ohio’s Republican senator, following last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-debate-tuesday-6ad8c03f6bf1ae88870b7db26276236e">debate</a>&nbsp;between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. It comes just five weeks before Election Day and as millions of voters are now able to cast early ballots.

Tuesday’s confrontation played out as the stakes of the contest rose again after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">Iran fired missiles</a>&nbsp;into Israel, while a devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rainfall-helene-carolina-tennessee-georgia-climate-change-flood-fcba634e14a0ffa1a8e1fa85d7e2b390">hurricane</a>&nbsp;and potentially debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dockworkers-strike-ports-ila-longshoremen-91703e4798dbc9ee82185e983f31a3f6">port strike</a>&nbsp;roiled the country at home. Over and again, Walz and Vance outlined the policy and character differences between their running mates, while trying to introduce themselves to the country.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s debate.

With Mideast in turmoil, Walz promises ‘steady leadership' and Vance offers ’peace through strength'

Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Tuesday elicited a contrast between the Democratic and Republican tickets on foreign policy: Walz promised “steady leadership” under Harris while Vance pledged a return to “peace through strength” if Trump is returned to the White House.

The differing visions of what American leadership should look like overshadowed the sharp policy differences between the two tickets.

The Iranian threat to the region and U.S. interests around the world opened the debate, with Walz pivoting the topic to criticism of Trump.

“What’s fundamental here is that steady leadership is going to matter,” Walz said, then referenced the “nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes” and responding to global crises by tweet.

Vance, for his part, promised a return to “effective deterrence” under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-north-america-donald-trump-iran-nuclear-politics-6c7bbec22af14e03b85daa568b46533d">Trump against Iran</a>, brushing back on Walz’s criticism of Trump by attacking Harris and her role in the Biden administration.

“Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years and the answer is your running mate, not mine,” he said. He pointedly noted that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas attacks on Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, happened “during the administration of Kamala Harris.”

Vance and Walz punch up rather than at each other

Vance and Walz trained the bulk of their attacks not on their onstage rivals, but on the running mates who weren’t in the room.

Both vice presidential nominees sought to convey a genial mien as they lobbed criticism at Harris and Trump, respectively.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727831426274.png" alt="Image courtesy CBS via CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy CBS via CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice presidential hopefuls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;focused their criticism on the top of the ticket on Tuesday as they engaged in a policy-heavy discussion that may be the last debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.</p><p><a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?538521-1/simulcast-cbs-news-vice-presidential-debate">Click here to watch a full replay of the debate&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>via CSPAN courtesy CBS&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> on abortion: &quot;This is about health care. In Minnesota we are ranked first in health care for a reason. We trust women. We trust doctors.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/3YZpr6jrbz">pic.twitter.com/3YZpr6jrbz</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841298078038438056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> on abortion: &quot;My party, we&#39;ve got to do so much better of a job at earning the American people&#39;s trust back on this issue where they, frankly, they just don&#39;t trust us...I want us as a Republican Party to be pro family is the fullest sense of the word.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/l1GE9Qfhzx">pic.twitter.com/l1GE9Qfhzx</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841298293181038670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/margbrennan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@margbrennan</a>: &quot;The audience can&#39;t hear you because your mics are cut.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/2BNCEhcK3l">pic.twitter.com/2BNCEhcK3l</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841293277384856041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> on his past comments on Donald Trump: &quot;I was wrong on Donald Trump.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/EmbDyD6dER">pic.twitter.com/EmbDyD6dER</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841297881279467778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> on building new homes: &quot;We don&#39;t want to blame immigrants for higher housing prices. But, we do want to blame Kamala Harris for letting in millions of illegal aliens into this country which does drive up costs.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/eeIrIPhXZM">pic.twitter.com/eeIrIPhXZM</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841302412025327877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">During exchange on gun violence: <br><br>Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a>: &quot;We have to empower law enforcement...our schools, we&#39;ve got to talk about more security.&quot;<br><br>Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a>: &quot;I sat in that office with those Sandy Hook parents. I&#39;ve become friends with school shooters. I&#39;ve seen it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/idFExcHbef">pic.twitter.com/idFExcHbef</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841308417744425458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a>: &quot;Did he lose the 2020 election?&quot;<br><br>Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a>: &quot;Tim, I&#39;m focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?&quot;<br><br>Walz: &quot;That&#39;s a damning non-answer.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/v0PXnbuewL">pic.twitter.com/v0PXnbuewL</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841309223096897957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gov. <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> closing statement. <a href="https://t.co/iyjc6DT8Mu">pic.twitter.com/iyjc6DT8Mu</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841312345404182981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> closing statement. <a href="https://t.co/E4q4WtYkNu">pic.twitter.com/E4q4WtYkNu</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841312447740739940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>It was the first encounter between Minnesota’s Democratic governor and Ohio’s Republican senator, following last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-debate-tuesday-6ad8c03f6bf1ae88870b7db26276236e">debate</a>&nbsp;between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. It comes just five weeks before Election Day and as millions of voters are now able to cast early ballots.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727835042038.png" alt="Image courtesy CBS via CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy CBS via CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Tuesday’s confrontation played out as the stakes of the contest rose again after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">Iran fired missiles</a>&nbsp;into Israel, while a devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rainfall-helene-carolina-tennessee-georgia-climate-change-flood-fcba634e14a0ffa1a8e1fa85d7e2b390">hurricane</a>&nbsp;and potentially debilitating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dockworkers-strike-ports-ila-longshoremen-91703e4798dbc9ee82185e983f31a3f6">port strike</a>&nbsp;roiled the country at home. Over and again, Walz and Vance outlined the policy and character differences between their running mates, while trying to introduce themselves to the country.</p><p>Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s debate.</p><h2>With Mideast in turmoil, Walz promises ‘steady leadership' and Vance offers ’peace through strength'</h2><p>Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Tuesday elicited a contrast between the Democratic and Republican tickets on foreign policy: Walz promised “steady leadership” under Harris while Vance pledged a return to “peace through strength” if Trump is returned to the White House.</p><p>The differing visions of what American leadership should look like overshadowed the sharp policy differences between the two tickets.</p><p>The Iranian threat to the region and U.S. interests around the world opened the debate, with Walz pivoting the topic to criticism of Trump.</p><p>“What’s fundamental here is that steady leadership is going to matter,” Walz said, then referenced the “nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes” and responding to global crises by tweet.</p><p>Vance, for his part, promised a return to “effective deterrence” under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-north-america-donald-trump-iran-nuclear-politics-6c7bbec22af14e03b85daa568b46533d">Trump against Iran</a>, brushing back on Walz’s criticism of Trump by attacking Harris and her role in the Biden administration.</p><p>“Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years and the answer is your running mate, not mine,” he said. He pointedly noted that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Hamas attacks on Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, happened “during the administration of Kamala Harris.”</p><h2>Vance and Walz punch up rather than at each other</h2><p>Vance and Walz trained the bulk of their attacks not on their onstage rivals, but on the running mates who weren’t in the room.</p><p>Both vice presidential nominees sought to convey a genial mien as they lobbed criticism at Harris and Trump, respectively.</p><p>It was a reflection of the fact that most voters don’t cast a ballot based on the vice president, and on a vice presidential nominee’s historic role in serving as the attack dog for their running mates.</p><p>Walz pointedly attacked Trump for failing to meet his pledge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-mexico-473c8491da5061e8632a4dd5593ad3d4">building a physical barrier</a>&nbsp;across the entire U.S.-Mexico border at the country’s southern neighbor’s expense.</p><p>“Less than 2% of that wall got built and Mexico didn’t pay a dime,” Walz said.</p><p>Underscoring the focus on the top of the ticket, during a back-and-forth about immigration, Vance said to his opponent, “I think that you want to solve this problem, but I don’t think that Kamala Harris does.”</p><h2>It was a wonky policy debate, with talk of risk pools, housing regulations and energy policy</h2><p>In an age of world-class disses optimized for social media, Tuesday’s debate was a detour into substance. Both candidates took a low-key approach and both enthusiastically delved into the minutiae.</p><p>Walz dug into the drafting of the Affordable Care Act when he was in the House in 2009, and pushed Vance on the senator’s claim that Trump, who tried to eliminate the law, actually helped preserve it. Vance, defending his claim that illegal immigration pushes up housing prices, cited a Federal Reserve study to back himself up. Walz talked about how Minneapolis tinkered with local regulations to boost the housing supply. Both men talked about the overlap between energy policy, trade and climate change.</p><p>It was a very different style than often seen in presidential debates over the past several election cycles.</p><h2>Vance stays on the defensive on abortion</h2><p>Walz pounced on Vance repeatedly over abortion access and reproductive rights as the Ohio senator tried to argue that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">state-by-state matrix of abortion laws</a>&nbsp;is the ideal approach for the United States. Walz countered that a “basic right” for a woman should not be determined “by geography.”</p><p>“This is a very simple proposition: These are women’s decisions,” Walz said. “We trust women. We trust doctors.”</p><p>Walz sought to personalize the issue by referencing the death of Amber Thurman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/georgia-abortion-ban-amber-thurman-death">waited more than 20 hours</a>&nbsp;at the hospital for a routine medical procedure known as a D&amp;C to clear out remaining tissue after taking abortion pills. She developed sepsis and died.</p><p>Rather than sidestep the reference, Vance at one point agreed with Walz that “Amber Thurman should still be alive.”</p><p>Vance steered the conversation to the GOP ticket’s proposals he said would help women and children economically, thus avoiding the need for terminating pregnancies. But Walz retorted that such policies — tax credits, expanded childcare aid, a more even economy — can be pursued while still allowing women to make their own decisions about abortion.</p><h2>Both candidates put a domestic spin on climate change</h2><p>In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Vance took a question about climate change and gave an answer about jobs and manufacturing, taking a detour around Trump's past claims that global warming is a “hoax.”</p><p>Vance contended that the best way to fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change">climate change</a>&nbsp;was to move more manufacturing to the United States, because the country has the world’s cleanest energy economy. It was a distinctly domestic spin on a global crisis, especially after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the international Paris climate accords during his administration.</p><p>Walz also kept the climate change focus domestic, touting the Biden administration’s renewable energy investments as well as record levels of oil and natural gas production. “You can see us becoming an energy superpower in the future,” Walz said.</p><p>It was a decidedly optimistic take on a pervasive and grim global problem.</p><h2>Walz, Vance each blame opposing presidential candidate for immigration stalemate</h2><p>The two running mates agreed that the number of migrants in the U.S. illegally is a problem. But each laid the blame on the opposing presidential nominee.</p><p>Vance echoed Trump by repeatedly calling Harris the “border czar” and suggested that she, as vice president, single-handedly rolled back the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration</a>&nbsp;restrictions Trump had imposed as president. The result, in Vance’s telling, is an unchecked flow of fentanyl, strain on state and local resources and increased housing prices around the country.</p><p>Harris was never asked to be the “border czar” and she was never specifically given the responsibility for security on the border. She was tasked by Biden in March 2021 with tackling the “root causes” of migration from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and pushing leaders there and in Mexico to enforce immigration laws. Harris was not empowered to set U.S. immigration policy — only the president can sign executive orders and Harris was not empowered as Biden’s proxy in negotiations with Congress on immigration law.</p><p>Walz advanced Democrats’ arguments that Trump single-handedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">killed a bipartisan Senate deal</a>&nbsp;to tighten border security and boost the processing system for immigrants and asylum seekers. Republicans backed off the deal, Walz noted, only after Trump said it wasn’t good enough.</p><h2>Both candidates leaned on tried-and-true debate tactics — including not answering tough questions</h2><p>Asked directly whether Trump’s promise to deport millions of illegal immigrants would remove parents of U.S.-born children, Vance never answered the question. Instead, the senator tried to put his best spin on Trump’s plan to use the military to help with deportations and pivot to attacking Harris for a porous border. Asked to respond to Trump’s having called climate change a “hoax,” Vance also avoided a response.</p><p>The debate kicked off with Walz being asked if he’d support a preemptive strike by Israel against Iran. Walz praised Harris’ foreign policy leadership but never answered that question, either.</p><p>And at the end of the debate, Vance would not answer Walz’s direct question of whether Trump indeed lost the 2020 election.</p><h2>Walz has stumbles and lands punches in uneven night</h2><p>Walz had several verbal stumbles on a night in which he admitted to “misspeaking” often. In the debate’s opening moments, he confused Iran and Israel when discussing the Middle East.</p><p>At one point he said he had “become friends with school shooters,” and he stumbled through an explanation of inaccurate remarks about whether he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. (&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-china-tiananmen-square-protests-8d433bf7184e8c430aa31d1f5460fe87">He was not</a>.)</p><p>But the governor noticeably put Vance on the defensive over abortion and, near the end of the debate, with a pointed question about whether Trump won the 2020 election.</p><h2>Vance stays on a limb on Jan. 6 insurrection</h2><p>The candidates went out of their way to be polite to each other until the very end, when Vance refused to back down from his statements that he wouldn’t have certified Trump's 2020 election loss.</p><p>Vance tried to turn the issue to claims that the “much bigger threat to democracy” was Democrats trying to censor people on social media. But Walz wouldn’t let go.</p><p>“This one is troubling to me,” said Walz, noting that he’d just been praising some of Vance’s answers. He rattled off the ways Trump tried to overturn his 2020 loss and noted that the candidate still insists he won that contest. Then Walz asked Vance if Trump actually lost the election.</p><p>Vance responded by asking if Harris censored people.</p><p>“That is a damning non-answer,” said Walz, noting that Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, wasn’t on the debate stage because he stood up to Trump on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6, 2021,</a>&nbsp;and presided over Congress’ certification of the former president’s loss.</p><p>“America,” Walz concluded, “I think you’ve got a really clear choice on this election of who’s going to honor that democracy and who’s going to honor Donald Trump.”</p>