KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

Investigators determined a Ford F150 was making a left turn from northbound Blue Ridge Boulevard onto westbound 99th Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

A southbound Honda CBR motorcycle that was traveling at a very high rate of speed struck the pickup.

 The operator of the Honda was ejected off the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and the four juvenile occupants of the Ford were uninjured in the collision. 

This is fatality #70 compared to #65 at this time last year, according to&nbsp; DiMartino. The accident remains under investigation. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.Investigators determined a Ford F150 was making a left turn from northbound Blue Ridge Boulevard onto westbound 99th Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.A southbound Honda CBR motorcycle that was traveling at a very high rate of speed struck the pickup. The operator of the Honda was ejected off the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and the four juvenile occupants of the Ford were uninjured in the collision. This is fatality #70 compared to #65 at this time last year, according to&nbsp; DiMartino. The accident remains under investigation. Police have not released the name of the victim.

Motorcyclist dies after crash with pickup in Kansas City

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man is now facing a murder charge for the police chase that led to the death of an officer.

Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer, 23, was originally charged with aggravated fleeing a stop or detention resulting in death after the chase on Aug. 31. Prosecutors on Tuesday added a charge of second-degree murder.

Wehmeyer fled when an Osage Beach officer tried to stop him for speeding on U.S. 54, police said. Another Osage Beach officer, 33-year-old Phylicia Carson, joined the pursuit before skidding off the road into a tree. Her squad car burst into flames. Carson, a mother of six, died from her injuries.

Messages were left Wednesday with Wehmeyer's attorney.

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Missouri police officer died in a crash and fire while chasing a suspect on Saturday in Camden&nbsp; County.

Just after 1:30a.m., sheriff's&nbsp;deputies responded near the Richland area to assist Osage Beach Police Department - City of Osage Beach, Missouri with a vehicle pursuit.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Osage Beach&nbsp;Police Officer 33-year-old Phylicia Carson was southbound on Route A just east of Toronto Springs Park Road.

The SUV crossed the center of the road while in pursuit of a suspect and began to skid.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, struck a tree and caught fire.&nbsp; Officer Carson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Hedges Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton.

The vehicle involved in the chase also crashed and the suspect was taken into custody, according police.

&nbsp;Carson is survived by her husband and six children. She had been with the city since June 2023, according to Osage Beach Police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725222612236.png" alt="Wehmeyer-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Wehmeyer-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man is now facing a murder charge for the police chase that led to the death of an officer.Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer, 23, was originally charged with aggravated fleeing a stop or detention resulting in death after the chase on Aug. 31. Prosecutors on Tuesday added a charge of second-degree murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725156364558.png" alt="Officer&nbsp; Carson is survived by her husband and six children. She had been with the city since June 2023, according to Osage Beach Police." />
 <figcaption>Officer&nbsp; Carson is survived by her husband and six children. She had been with the city since June 2023, according to Osage Beach Police.</figcaption>
 </figure>Wehmeyer fled when an Osage Beach officer tried to stop him for speeding on U.S. 54, police said. Another Osage Beach officer, 33-year-old Phylicia Carson, joined the pursuit before skidding off the road into a tree. Her squad car burst into flames. Carson, a mother of six, died from her injuries.Messages were left Wednesday with Wehmeyer's attorney.--------------CAMDEN COUNTY —A Missouri police officer died in a crash and fire while chasing a suspect on Saturday in Camden&nbsp; County.Just after 1:30a.m., sheriff's&nbsp;deputies responded near the Richland area to assist Osage Beach Police Department - City of Osage Beach, Missouri with a vehicle pursuit.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Osage Beach&nbsp;Police Officer 33-year-old Phylicia Carson was southbound on Route A just east of Toronto Springs Park Road.The SUV crossed the center of the road while in pursuit of a suspect and began to skid.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, struck a tree and caught fire.&nbsp; Officer Carson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Hedges Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton.The vehicle involved in the chase also crashed and the suspect was taken into custody, according police.&nbsp;Carson is survived by her husband and six children. She had been with the city since June 2023, according to Osage Beach Police.

Man faces murder charge for police pursuit crash that killed officer

RILEY COUNTY—Three drivers and students on a school bus avoided injury in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Scott Alan Sheely, 61, Clyde, was westbound on U.S. 77 just west of Crooked Creek Road.

The semi rear-ended a 2012 Buick Regal driven by Merlin Benson&nbsp;Chestnut, 69, Clay Center, who braked suddenly when he noticed the red stop sign activated on a school bus stopped on the south shoulder to let kids out at a home.&nbsp;

 After impact the Buick struck the bus driven by Robert Deemie, 69, of Manhattan, with 26-students on board.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.&nbsp; All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY—Three drivers and students on a school bus avoided injury in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Scott Alan Sheely, 61, Clyde, was westbound on U.S. 77 just west of Crooked Creek Road.The semi rear-ended a 2012 Buick Regal driven by Merlin Benson&nbsp;Chestnut, 69, Clay Center, who braked suddenly when he noticed the red stop sign activated on a school bus stopped on the south shoulder to let kids out at a home.&nbsp; After impact the Buick struck the bus driven by Robert Deemie, 69, of Manhattan, with 26-students on board.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.&nbsp; All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. school bus driver, 26 students avoid injury after 3-vehicle crash

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

Just after 4p.m. September 15, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed an individual with warrants for his arrest in the 6700 block of SW Briarmeade Lane in the Topeka area, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy arrested Jeramie J. Morrissey, 37, of Topeka, on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Morrissey also had the warrants for his arrest and were for Speeding and driving while license suspended and&nbsp;Topeka bench warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726418665460.png" alt="Morrissey-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Morrissey-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 4p.m. September 15, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed an individual with warrants for his arrest in the 6700 block of SW Briarmeade Lane in the Topeka area, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy arrested Jeramie J. Morrissey, 37, of Topeka, on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Morrissey also had the warrants for his arrest and were for Speeding and driving while license suspended and&nbsp;Topeka bench warrants.

Kansas man wanted on warrants was transporting drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-teamsters-trump-endorsement-union-labor-aed9b5cbe74b8db105ef1c87ea522837">International Brotherhood of Teamsters</a>&nbsp;declined Wednesday to endorse&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;or Donald Trump for president, saying neither candidate had sufficient support from the 1.3 million-member union.

“Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business,” Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. “We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries — and to honor our members’ right to strike — but were unable to secure those pledges.”

The Teamsters' rebuff reflected a labor union torn over issues of political identity and policy, one that mirrors a broader national divide. Vice President Harris has unmistakably backed organized labor, while former President Trump has appealed to many white blue-collar workers even as he has openly scorned unions at times. By not endorsing anyone, the Teamsters are essentially ceding some influence in November's election as both candidates claimed to have support from its members.

Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt noted in an emailed statement that more than three dozen retired Teamsters spoke last month in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention, having endorsed Harris. Their pensions were saved through the 2021 passage of the Butch Lewis Act that President Joe Biden and Harris championed.

“While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” Hitt said. “The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor.”

The Teamsters said Wednesday that internal polling of members showed Trump with an advantage over Harris, a fact that the Republican's campaign immediately seized upon by sending out an email that said the “rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for President.”

Harris met Monday with a panel of Teamsters, having long courted organized labor and made support for the middle class her central policy goal. Trump also met with a panel of Teamsters in January and even invited O'Brien to speak at the Republican National Convention, where the union leader railed against corporate greed.

In an interview Wednesday on Fox News, O'Brien said lack of an endorsement tells candidates that they have to back the Teamsters in the future. “This should be an eye opener for 2028,” he said. “If people want the support of the most powerful union in North America, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, start doing some things to support our members," he said.

The Teamsters' choice to not endorse came just weeks ahead of the Nov. 5 election, far later than endorsements by other large unions such as the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-endorse-harris-biden-trump-uaw-71b3228411a677514100cf0407522ede">United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;that have chosen to devote resources to getting out the vote for Harris.

With O’Brien facing a backlash from some Teamsters’ members after speaking at the Republican National Convention, it’s no surprise that the union decided not to make an endorsement, said Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University.

Trump’s praise of Tesla CEO Elon Musk for firing workers who supposedly went on strike really made a Trump endorsement very unlikely, Wheaton said. “The members were not in total agreement,” he said.

Marick Masters, a business professor emeritus at Wayne State University in Detroit who follows labor issues, said the Teamsters lack of an endorsement suggests a realignment within the union's membership.

For many workers, issues such as gun control, abortion and border security override Trump’s expressions of hostility to unions, Masters said.

The Teamsters detailed their objections to the candidates in a statement, starting with their objection to a contract implemented by Congress in 2022 on members working in the railroad sector.

The union wanted both candidates to commit to not deploying the Railway Labor Act to resolve contract disputes and avoid a shutdown of national infrastructure, but Harris and Trump both wanted to keep that option open even though the Teamsters said it would reduce its bargaining power.

Harris has pledged to sign the PRO Act, which would strengthen union protections and is something the Teamsters support. Trump, in his roundtable with the Teamsters, did not promise to veto a proposal to make it harder nationwide to unionize.

Other unions have shown trepidation about endorsing either presidential candidate. The United Electrical, Radio &amp; Machine Workers of America on Friday ultimately endorsed Harris with a caveat that “the manner in which party leaders engineered Biden’s replacement at the top of the ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris was thoroughly undemocratic,” union leadership said in a statement.

But the Teamsters lack of endorsement also suggests an indifference to the Biden-Harris administration, which signed into law a measure that saved the pensions of millions of union retirees, including many in the Teamsters.

As part of its 2021 pandemic aid, the administration included the Butch Lewis Act to save the underfunded pensions of more than 1 million union workers and retirees’ underfunded pensions. The act was named after a retired Ohio trucker and Teamsters union leader who spent the last years of his life fighting to prevent massive cuts to the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-teamsters-trump-endorsement-union-labor-aed9b5cbe74b8db105ef1c87ea522837">International Brotherhood of Teamsters</a>&nbsp;declined Wednesday to endorse&nbsp;Kamala Harris&nbsp;or Donald Trump for president, saying neither candidate had sufficient support from the 1.3 million-member union.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TEAMSTERS RELEASE PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT POLLING DATA “For the past year, the Teamsters Union has pledged to conduct the most inclusive, democratic, and transparent Presidential endorsement process in the history of our 121-year-old organization—and today we are delivering on… <a href="https://t.co/CnFNN9uosx">pic.twitter.com/CnFNN9uosx</a>&mdash; Teamsters (@Teamsters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Teamsters/status/1836463348269092918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business,” Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. “We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries — and to honor our members’ right to strike — but were unable to secure those pledges.”The Teamsters' rebuff reflected a labor union torn over issues of political identity and policy, one that mirrors a broader national divide. Vice President Harris has unmistakably backed organized labor, while former President Trump has appealed to many white blue-collar workers even as he has openly scorned unions at times. By not endorsing anyone, the Teamsters are essentially ceding some influence in November's election as both candidates claimed to have support from its members.Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt noted in an emailed statement that more than three dozen retired Teamsters spoke last month in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention, having endorsed Harris. Their pensions were saved through the 2021 passage of the Butch Lewis Act that President Joe Biden and Harris championed.“While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” Hitt said. “The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor.”The Teamsters said Wednesday that internal polling of members showed Trump with an advantage over Harris, a fact that the Republican's campaign immediately seized upon by sending out an email that said the “rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for President.”Harris met Monday with a panel of Teamsters, having long courted organized labor and made support for the middle class her central policy goal. Trump also met with a panel of Teamsters in January and even invited O'Brien to speak at the Republican National Convention, where the union leader railed against corporate greed.In an interview Wednesday on Fox News, O'Brien said lack of an endorsement tells candidates that they have to back the Teamsters in the future. “This should be an eye opener for 2028,” he said. “If people want the support of the most powerful union in North America, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, start doing some things to support our members," he said.The Teamsters' choice to not endorse came just weeks ahead of the Nov. 5 election, far later than endorsements by other large unions such as the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-endorse-harris-biden-trump-uaw-71b3228411a677514100cf0407522ede">United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;that have chosen to devote resources to getting out the vote for Harris.With O’Brien facing a backlash from some Teamsters’ members after speaking at the Republican National Convention, it’s no surprise that the union decided not to make an endorsement, said Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University.Trump’s praise of Tesla CEO Elon Musk for firing workers who supposedly went on strike really made a Trump endorsement very unlikely, Wheaton said. “The members were not in total agreement,” he said.Marick Masters, a business professor emeritus at Wayne State University in Detroit who follows labor issues, said the Teamsters lack of an endorsement suggests a realignment within the union's membership.For many workers, issues such as gun control, abortion and border security override Trump’s expressions of hostility to unions, Masters said.The Teamsters detailed their objections to the candidates in a statement, starting with their objection to a contract implemented by Congress in 2022 on members working in the railroad sector.The union wanted both candidates to commit to not deploying the Railway Labor Act to resolve contract disputes and avoid a shutdown of national infrastructure, but Harris and Trump both wanted to keep that option open even though the Teamsters said it would reduce its bargaining power.Harris has pledged to sign the PRO Act, which would strengthen union protections and is something the Teamsters support. Trump, in his roundtable with the Teamsters, did not promise to veto a proposal to make it harder nationwide to unionize.Other unions have shown trepidation about endorsing either presidential candidate. The United Electrical, Radio &amp; Machine Workers of America on Friday ultimately endorsed Harris with a caveat that “the manner in which party leaders engineered Biden’s replacement at the top of the ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris was thoroughly undemocratic,” union leadership said in a statement.But the Teamsters lack of endorsement also suggests an indifference to the Biden-Harris administration, which signed into law a measure that saved the pensions of millions of union retirees, including many in the Teamsters.As part of its 2021 pandemic aid, the administration included the Butch Lewis Act to save the underfunded pensions of more than 1 million union workers and retirees’ underfunded pensions. The act was named after a retired Ohio trucker and Teamsters union leader who spent the last years of his life fighting to prevent massive cuts to the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund.

Teamsters union releases presidential endorsement poll data

JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 11a.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Wyatt Edward Lee&nbsp;Shields, 16, Holton, was eastbound on 190th Road crossing U.S. 75 Highway.

The driver failed to yield and pulled out in front of a northbound 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Allison Renee Lee, 26, Effingham.&nbsp; The two vehicles collided at the intersection.

A passenger in the van identified as Scott Edward&nbsp;Reaka, 52, Topeka, was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Responding fire departments and EMS extricated Lee from the van, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;Lifestar Air Ambulance transported her to K.U. Medical Center. EMS treated Shields at the scene.

All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 11a.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Wyatt Edward Lee&nbsp;Shields, 16, Holton, was eastbound on 190th Road crossing U.S. 75 Highway.The driver failed to yield and pulled out in front of a northbound 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Allison Renee Lee, 26, Effingham.&nbsp; The two vehicles collided at the intersection.A passenger in the van identified as Scott Edward&nbsp;Reaka, 52, Topeka, was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Responding fire departments and EMS extricated Lee from the van, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;Lifestar Air Ambulance transported her to K.U. Medical Center. EMS treated Shields at the scene.All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dead, woman hospitalized after crash with teen driver

FINNEY COUNTY—Police and school district officials in southwest Kansas are investigating another threat to schools in the region.

Early Wednesday, the Garden City Police Department was made aware of a circulating social media post containing warnings of potential school safety-related incidents and immediately began an investigation, according to a media release.

Through the investigation, it was learned that the social media post originated in Colorado and contained statements implying a school threat. The post then spread to schools and students in southwest Kansas including USD 457 Garden City and USD 443 Dodge City.

Law enforcement has determined that there were no credible threats to the students, staff, or schools. While there is no connection to any schools in Garden City, the Garden City Police Department has worked alongside school officials to notify parents and community members of this incident.

"The Garden City Police Department and Garden City Public Schools take every threat seriously and will continue to partner to ensure the safety of students and staff and the community."&nbsp; " We encourage parents to remind your child to immediately report information about any school safety-related incident(s) to administrators/staff and/or police.

FINNEY COUNTY—Police and school district officials in southwest Kansas are investigating another threat to schools in the region.Early Wednesday, the Garden City Police Department was made aware of a circulating social media post containing warnings of potential school safety-related incidents and immediately began an investigation, according to a media release.Through the investigation, it was learned that the social media post originated in Colorado and contained statements implying a school threat. The post then spread to schools and students in southwest Kansas including USD 457 Garden City and USD 443 Dodge City.Law enforcement has determined that there were no credible threats to the students, staff, or schools. While there is no connection to any schools in Garden City, the Garden City Police Department has worked alongside school officials to notify parents and community members of this incident."The Garden City Police Department and Garden City Public Schools take every threat seriously and will continue to partner to ensure the safety of students and staff and the community."&nbsp; " We encourage parents to remind your child to immediately report information about any school safety-related incident(s) to administrators/staff and/or police.

Police investigate new social media threat to schools in SW Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-jackson-wyoming-economy-prices-2158fcfcb5ef0073a4dfb00f791f59bc">high rates</a>&nbsp;that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for American consumers.

The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market, which has shown clear signs of slowing. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote.

The central bank’s action lowered its key rate to roughly 4.8%, down from a two-decade high of 5.3%, where it had stood for 14 months as it struggled to curb the worst inflation streak in four decades. Inflation has tumbled from a peak of 9.1% in mid-2022 to a three-year low of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">2.5% in August</a>, not far above the Fed’s 2% target.

The Fed’s policymakers also signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, in November and December. And they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026.

In a statement, the Fed came closer than it has before to declaring victory over inflation: It said it “has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.” Wall Street initially welcomed the news, with stock prices rising modestly and bond yields falling.

“We know that it is time to recalibrate our (interest rate) policy to something that’s more appropriate given the progress on inflation,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.

Though the central bank now believes inflation is largely defeated, many Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-federal-reserve-interest-rates-consumers-4fe068e15d27fad11419e1cc6a8ed943">remain upset</a>&nbsp;with still-high prices for groceries, gas, rent and other necessities. Former President Donald Trump blames the Biden-Harris administration for sparking an inflationary surge. Vice President Kamala Harris, in turn, has charged that Trump’s promise to slap tariffs on all imports would raise prices for consumers even further.

Rate cuts by the Fed should, over time, lead to lower borrowing costs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-8570c997a844845d08eb123ab7aac5c2">for mortgages</a>, auto loans and credit cards, boosting Americans’ finances and supporting more spending and growth. Homeowners will be able to refinance mortgages at lower rates, saving on monthly payments, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rates-loans-consumers-borrowing-6127436dd3e6d8af48825aca6d3a7715">even shift credit card debt to lower-cost personal loans</a>&nbsp;or home equity lines. Businesses may also borrow and invest more. Average mortgage rates have already dropped to an 18-month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-8570c997a844845d08eb123ab7aac5c2">low of 6.2%</a>, according to Freddie Mac, spurring a jump in demand for refinancings.

In an updated set of projections, the Fed’s policymakers now collectively envision a faster drop in inflation than they did three months ago but also higher unemployment. They foresee their preferred inflation gauge falling to 2.3% by year’s end, from its current 2.5%, and to 2.1% by the end of 2025. And they now expect the unemployment rate to rise further this year, to 4.4%, from 4.2% now, and to remain there by the end of 2025. That’s above their previous forecasts of 4% for the end of this year and 4.2% for 2025.

The Fed’s next policy meeting is Nov. 6-7 — immediately after the presidential election. By cutting rates this week, soon before the election, the Fed is risking attacks from Trump, who has argued that lowering rates now amounts to political interference. Yet Politico has reported that even some key Senate Republicans who were interviewed expressed support for a Fed rate cut this week.

The central bank’s officials fought against high inflation by raising their key rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023. Wage growth has since slowed, removing a potential source of inflationary pressure. And oil and gas prices are falling, a sign that inflation should continue to cool in the months ahead. Consumers are also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumers-economy-spending-federal-reserve-c69408f05baeffac0023ceb76b747999">pushing back</a>&nbsp;against high prices,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">forcing such companies</a>&nbsp;as Target and McDonald’s to dangle deals and discounts.

The Fed’s decision Wednesday drew the first dissent from a member of its governing board since 2005. Michelle Bowman, a board member who has expressed concern in the past that inflation had not been fully defeated, said she would have preferred a quarter-point rate cut.

After several years of strong job growth, employers have slowed hiring, and the unemployment rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">has risen</a>&nbsp;nearly a full percentage point from its half-century low in April 2023 to a still-low 4.2%. Once unemployment rises that much, it tends to keep climbing. Fed officials and many economists note, though, that the rise in unemployment this time largely reflects an influx of people seeking jobs — notably new immigrants and recent college graduates — rather than layoffs.

“The labor market is actually in solid condition," Powell said at his news conference. "Our intention with our policy move today is to keep it there.”

At issue for the Fed is how fast it wants to lower its benchmark rate to a point where it’s no longer acting as a brake on the economy — nor as an accelerant. Where that so-called “neutral” level falls isn’t clear, though many analysts peg it at 3% to 3.5%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-jackson-wyoming-economy-prices-2158fcfcb5ef0073a4dfb00f791f59bc">high rates</a>&nbsp;that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for American consumers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;Today, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to reduce the degree of policy restraint by lowering our policy interest rate by a half percentage point.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/dQiuwPUvz6">pic.twitter.com/dQiuwPUvz6</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1836474518862172521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market, which has shown clear signs of slowing. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote.The central bank’s action lowered its key rate to roughly 4.8%, down from a two-decade high of 5.3%, where it had stood for 14 months as it struggled to curb the worst inflation streak in four decades. Inflation has tumbled from a peak of 9.1% in mid-2022 to a three-year low of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">2.5% in August</a>, not far above the Fed’s 2% target.The Fed’s policymakers also signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, in November and December. And they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026.In a statement, the Fed came closer than it has before to declaring victory over inflation: It said it “has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.” Wall Street initially welcomed the news, with stock prices rising modestly and bond yields falling.“We know that it is time to recalibrate our (interest rate) policy to something that’s more appropriate given the progress on inflation,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.Though the central bank now believes inflation is largely defeated, many Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-federal-reserve-interest-rates-consumers-4fe068e15d27fad11419e1cc6a8ed943">remain upset</a>&nbsp;with still-high prices for groceries, gas, rent and other necessities. Former President Donald Trump blames the Biden-Harris administration for sparking an inflationary surge. Vice President Kamala Harris, in turn, has charged that Trump’s promise to slap tariffs on all imports would raise prices for consumers even further.Rate cuts by the Fed should, over time, lead to lower borrowing costs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-8570c997a844845d08eb123ab7aac5c2">for mortgages</a>, auto loans and credit cards, boosting Americans’ finances and supporting more spending and growth. Homeowners will be able to refinance mortgages at lower rates, saving on monthly payments, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rates-loans-consumers-borrowing-6127436dd3e6d8af48825aca6d3a7715">even shift credit card debt to lower-cost personal loans</a>&nbsp;or home equity lines. Businesses may also borrow and invest more. Average mortgage rates have already dropped to an 18-month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-8570c997a844845d08eb123ab7aac5c2">low of 6.2%</a>, according to Freddie Mac, spurring a jump in demand for refinancings.In an updated set of projections, the Fed’s policymakers now collectively envision a faster drop in inflation than they did three months ago but also higher unemployment. They foresee their preferred inflation gauge falling to 2.3% by year’s end, from its current 2.5%, and to 2.1% by the end of 2025. And they now expect the unemployment rate to rise further this year, to 4.4%, from 4.2% now, and to remain there by the end of 2025. That’s above their previous forecasts of 4% for the end of this year and 4.2% for 2025.The Fed’s next policy meeting is Nov. 6-7 — immediately after the presidential election. By cutting rates this week, soon before the election, the Fed is risking attacks from Trump, who has argued that lowering rates now amounts to political interference. Yet Politico has reported that even some key Senate Republicans who were interviewed expressed support for a Fed rate cut this week.The central bank’s officials fought against high inflation by raising their key rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023. Wage growth has since slowed, removing a potential source of inflationary pressure. And oil and gas prices are falling, a sign that inflation should continue to cool in the months ahead. Consumers are also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumers-economy-spending-federal-reserve-c69408f05baeffac0023ceb76b747999">pushing back</a>&nbsp;against high prices,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">forcing such companies</a>&nbsp;as Target and McDonald’s to dangle deals and discounts.The Fed’s decision Wednesday drew the first dissent from a member of its governing board since 2005. Michelle Bowman, a board member who has expressed concern in the past that inflation had not been fully defeated, said she would have preferred a quarter-point rate cut.After several years of strong job growth, employers have slowed hiring, and the unemployment rate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">has risen</a>&nbsp;nearly a full percentage point from its half-century low in April 2023 to a still-low 4.2%. Once unemployment rises that much, it tends to keep climbing. Fed officials and many economists note, though, that the rise in unemployment this time largely reflects an influx of people seeking jobs — notably new immigrants and recent college graduates — rather than layoffs.“The labor market is actually in solid condition," Powell said at his news conference. "Our intention with our policy move today is to keep it there.”At issue for the Fed is how fast it wants to lower its benchmark rate to a point where it’s no longer acting as a brake on the economy — nor as an accelerant. Where that so-called “neutral” level falls isn’t clear, though many analysts peg it at 3% to 3.5%.

🎥Historic move:  Fed cuts interest rates for first time in four years

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight on Tuesday in Kansas City.

A Ford Focus was northbound at 11725 Grandview Road in Kansas City, according to KDPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The car traveled off the roadway to the right, struck a raised sewer cover located in front of a business. After impact, the vehicle then traveled westbound across the roadway into an empty parking lot and caught fire.

The driver and sole occupant of the Ford was pronounced deceased at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. The name of the driver has not been released.

This is fatality #69 compared to #65 in Kansas City, Missouri at this time last year, according to DiMartino.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight on Tuesday in Kansas City.A Ford Focus was northbound at 11725 Grandview Road in Kansas City, according to KDPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The car traveled off the roadway to the right, struck a raised sewer cover located in front of a business. After impact, the vehicle then traveled westbound across the roadway into an empty parking lot and caught fire.The driver and sole occupant of the Ford was pronounced deceased at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. The name of the driver has not been released.This is fatality #69 compared to #65 in Kansas City, Missouri at this time last year, according to DiMartino.

KCPD: Driver dies after crash into raised sewer cover and fire

Inspector general points to staffing problems, chronic mail delivery delays

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Three Missouri and two Kansas members of Congress serving constituents in the greater Kansas City area forwarded a joint letter Tuesday to the U.S. Postal Service demanding action to rectify problems with missing or delayed mail and protracted periods in which no mail was delivered at all.

Republicans Sam Graves and Mark Alford, both of Missouri, and Jake LaTurner of Kansas as well as Democrats Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Sharice Davids of Kansas forwarded the letter to USPS postmaster general Louis DeJoy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/audit-reports/kansas-missouri-district-delivery-operations" target="_blank">They pointed to the July federal audit</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Kansas City Postal and Distribution Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and stations in Hickman Mills in Missouri as well as in Mission and Kansas City on the Kansas side of the border.

Deficiencies at the distribution center touched on mail clearance times,&nbsp;delayed mail, late cancellations and dock scanning during an inspection period in May, USPS auditors said. The report said challenges at the three stations included document scanning, delayed mail and property conditions.

The inspector general concluded USPS ought to address problems with employee staffing and recommended supervisors prepare better for staff absences in the Kansas City region.

“The audit makes clear that the&nbsp;USPS&nbsp;must do more to ensure Kansans receive reliable, timely mail delivery,” said Davids, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd District of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. “I will keep working across the aisle with my colleagues in the KC area to help fix these issues and ensure our&nbsp;postal&nbsp;service&nbsp;meets the needs of our communities.”

In recent months, the letter said, all five congressional offices received a growing number of complaints regarding inadequate mail service.

“It is unacceptable that these facilities … are failing to keep up with the USPS standard of service,” the bipartisan letter from U.S. House members said. “We wholeheartedly urge the leadership of the Postal Service to roll out the recommendations of the USPS office of the inspector general immediately.”

The federal lawmakers said USPS ought to implement strategies to mitigate mail delays, ensure compliance with processing procedures, improve delivery logistics, and upgrade safety and security policies for staff at the mail facilities.

The representatives said residents of communities across Kansas and Missouri relied on consistent mail service and deserved better support from USPS management.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598029796323.jpeg" alt="A bipartisan group of two Kansas and three Missouri members of Congress sign a joint letter urging the U.S. Postal Service to address&nbsp;persistent problems with mail delivery in the greater Kansas City area. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A bipartisan group of two Kansas and three Missouri members of Congress sign a joint letter urging the U.S. Postal Service to address&nbsp;persistent problems with mail delivery in the greater Kansas City area. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Inspector general points to staffing problems, chronic mail delivery delays</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Three Missouri and two Kansas members of Congress serving constituents in the greater Kansas City area forwarded a joint letter Tuesday to the U.S. Postal Service demanding action to rectify problems with missing or delayed mail and protracted periods in which no mail was delivered at all.Republicans Sam Graves and Mark Alford, both of Missouri, and Jake LaTurner of Kansas as well as Democrats Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Sharice Davids of Kansas forwarded the letter to USPS postmaster general Louis DeJoy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/audit-reports/kansas-missouri-district-delivery-operations" target="_blank">They pointed to the July federal audit</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Kansas City Postal and Distribution Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and stations in Hickman Mills in Missouri as well as in Mission and Kansas City on the Kansas side of the border.Deficiencies at the distribution center touched on mail clearance times,&nbsp;delayed mail, late cancellations and dock scanning during an inspection period in May, USPS auditors said. The report said challenges at the three stations included document scanning, delayed mail and property conditions.The inspector general concluded USPS ought to address problems with employee staffing and recommended supervisors prepare better for staff absences in the Kansas City region.“The audit makes clear that the&nbsp;USPS&nbsp;must do more to ensure Kansans receive reliable, timely mail delivery,” said Davids, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd District of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. “I will keep working across the aisle with my colleagues in the KC area to help fix these issues and ensure our&nbsp;postal&nbsp;service&nbsp;meets the needs of our communities.”In recent months, the letter said, all five congressional offices received a growing number of complaints regarding inadequate mail service.“It is unacceptable that these facilities … are failing to keep up with the USPS standard of service,” the bipartisan letter from U.S. House members said. “We wholeheartedly urge the leadership of the Postal Service to roll out the recommendations of the USPS office of the inspector general immediately.”The federal lawmakers said USPS ought to implement strategies to mitigate mail delays, ensure compliance with processing procedures, improve delivery logistics, and upgrade safety and security policies for staff at the mail facilities.The representatives said residents of communities across Kansas and Missouri relied on consistent mail service and deserved better support from USPS management.

Five Kansas, Missouri members of Congress send tough critique of troubled mail service to D.C.

TOPEKA— Authorities with the Kansas Turnpike Authorities are alerting the public of a new scam.

This new smishing text campaign using DriveKS images surfaced Tuesday, according to the Kansas Turpike Authority.

 If you receive a text like this image do not click link or respond in any way. Remember, the Kansas Turnpike Authority does not send unsolicited text messages and does not charge fees like those mentioned in the image.

In July, the Kansas Turnpike converted to cashless tolling. Those fees are collected by mail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726663482830.png" alt="Text scam image from the KTA" />
 <figcaption>Text scam image from the KTA</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Authorities with the Kansas Turnpike Authorities are alerting the public of a new scam.This new smishing text campaign using DriveKS images surfaced Tuesday, according to the Kansas Turpike Authority. If you receive a text like this image do not click link or respond in any way. Remember, the Kansas Turnpike Authority does not send unsolicited text messages and does not charge fees like those mentioned in the image.In July, the Kansas Turnpike converted to cashless tolling. Those fees are collected by mail.

New scam targets those drivers who use the Kansas Turnpike 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair announced Wednesday that this year's event attracted 328,714 attendees over ten days, highlighting its continued success in celebrating Kansas culture, agriculture, and entertainment. The number of gate scans was slightly below the 2023 total of 330,044.

The first Saturday saw an impressive turnout of more than 51,000 visitors, the highest in six years, followed by over 56,000 on the second Saturday. This solid attendance reflects the fair’s enduring appeal, bringing in visitors from across Kansas and beyond to enjoy the diverse activities, exhibits, and food.

"I think the vibe at the Fair was phenomenal," said General Manager Bryan Schulz. "The weather was amazing. People seemed very happy. There really wasn't any major issues on the grounds. Overall, I think everything went fantastic."

This year’s Nex-Tech Grandstand concert series also saw its highest attendance since 2015, featuring acts including Wynonna Judd, Goo Goo Dolls, Casting Crowns, Riley Green, and The Oak Ridge Boys. The Demo Derby set a new attendance record with 2,947 fans. The Riley Green concert alone brought around 8,000 to the Grandstand.

The 2024 fair offered a wide array of attractions, including the 25th anniversary of the Grand Drive Junior Livestock Show, live free stage music, midway rides, and a variety of food and commercial vendors. Guests explored Kansas' history through agricultural displays and educational exhibits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725972052496.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Fair Midway-Photo by Pat James" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Fair Midway-Photo by Pat James</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair announced Wednesday that this year's event attracted 328,714 attendees over ten days, highlighting its continued success in celebrating Kansas culture, agriculture, and entertainment. The number of gate scans was slightly below the 2023 total of 330,044.The first Saturday saw an impressive turnout of more than 51,000 visitors, the highest in six years, followed by over 56,000 on the second Saturday. This solid attendance reflects the fair’s enduring appeal, bringing in visitors from across Kansas and beyond to enjoy the diverse activities, exhibits, and food."I think the vibe at the Fair was phenomenal," said General Manager Bryan Schulz. "The weather was amazing. People seemed very happy. There really wasn't any major issues on the grounds. Overall, I think everything went fantastic."This year’s Nex-Tech Grandstand concert series also saw its highest attendance since 2015, featuring acts including Wynonna Judd, Goo Goo Dolls, Casting Crowns, Riley Green, and The Oak Ridge Boys. The Demo Derby set a new attendance record with 2,947 fans. The Riley Green concert alone brought around 8,000 to the Grandstand.The 2024 fair offered a wide array of attractions, including the 25th anniversary of the Grand Drive Junior Livestock Show, live free stage music, midway rides, and a variety of food and commercial vendors. Guests explored Kansas' history through agricultural displays and educational exhibits.

Kansas State Fair attendance down slightly in 2024

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left one person dead in Wyandotte County.

Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City, Kansas&nbsp; officers were dispatched to the area of N. 7h Street and Parallel Parkway on reports of a person lying in the street. 

First responders discovered a man, the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. Police have not released the name of the victim or reported an arrest.

 This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that left one person dead in Wyandotte County.Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City, Kansas&nbsp; officers were dispatched to the area of N. 7h Street and Parallel Parkway on reports of a person lying in the street. First responders discovered a man, the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. Police have not released the name of the victim or reported an arrest. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward

Homicide: Kansas man found lying in the street

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday made his first public appearance since Sunday’s second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;against him, speaking to an crowd chanting “God bless Trump!” and “Fight, Fight, Fight” as U.S. Secret Service agents surrounded the stage to protect him.

“It’s been a great experience,” the Republican presidential nominee said in an evening town hall in Flint, Michigan, about holding events with thousands of supporters. But he also went on to call running for president “a dangerous business” akin to car racing or bull riding.

“Only consequential presidents get shot at,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;struck a measured tone, even steering clear of mentioning Trump by name in an interview with Black journalists that starkly contrasted with the former president’s own highly contentious appearance before the same group.

The two candidates briefly put their differences aside in a phone call Trump described as “very, very nice” even as crowds booed when he mentioned Harris by her first name. Harris said earlier in the day that she told Trump “there’s no place for political violence in our country.”

Both sides are ramping up campaigning with no changes to Trump’s calendar despite the apparent assassination attempt at one of his Florida golf courses, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-2024-election-assassination-attempt-836523f3bbecf4a183dc46fbefd8230a">renewed accusations by Republicans</a>&nbsp;that Democrats’ criticism against Trump is inspiring violent attacks. Democrats have accused Trump in the past for his long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-wisconsin-election-economy-a6923d6c5758dabb6d959417ea9d7d12">jailing or prosecuting his political enemies</a>. But Harris was treading more carefully in the aftermath of the latest incident.

Her session with the National Association of Black Journalists was one of the few extensive sit-down interviews Harris has done since replacing President Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket in July. She repeatedly criticized Trump on issues including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and opposition to abortion access, but was careful to refer to him as the former president and in other ways that avoided naming him directly.

Trump re-upped his past retaliation threats against election workers, donors and others as he tries to stoke fears about the integrity of the upcoming 2024 election.

He posted Tuesday on his social media site, “Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before.”

The Michigan town hall was billed as focusing on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-auto-industry-tariffs-false-chinese-factories-0f024d98e25a361db35761b2fb740e3b">the auto industry</a>, a pillar of the battleground state. Trump alleged Democrats would undercut American car manufacturing by pushing for the adoption of electric vehicles and repeated false claims that Chinese automakers are building large factories across the border in Mexico to flood the U.S. with vehicles.

Trump has appearances later in the week in New York, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina.

Harris has her own stops in Washington as well as Michigan and Wisconsin in the coming days, with the two candidates overlapping in concentrating on the industrial Midwest, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — all swing areas that could decide an election expected to be exceedingly close.

Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-nabj-black-voters-trump-philadelphia-election-vance-walz-f40ec2b5833155562463efa05df6a03f">answered questions from three association journalists</a>&nbsp;at a small, relatively quiet venue at the Philadelphia studios of public radio station WHYY. That was very different from Trump’s addressing the NABJ conference in Chicago in July, when he was antagonistic to the moderators and sparked an uproar by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-1e96aa530e88013ed6f577feaf89ccb6">questioning the vice president’s racial identity</a>.

Her manner was a departure from her campaign rallies, where Harris often receives some of her loudest applause by declaring that her professional background as a prosecutor means, “I know Donald Trump’s type.”

Pressed about reports of eroding support among Black male voters, Harris said she wasn’t “assuming I’m gonna have it because I’m Black.” She ducked a question about whether she’d support efforts by some congressional Democrats for reparations from the government to compensate descendants of slaves for years of unpaid labor by their ancestors. Biden has backed the idea of at least studying reparations.

So far, Biden and Harris have tried to avoid politics in their responses to Sunday’s incident, instead condemning political violence of all kinds. The president also urged Congress to increase funding to the Secret Service.

Trump has claimed, without evidence, that months of criticism against him by Harris and Biden, who call him a threat to American democracy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-2024-election-assassination-attempt-836523f3bbecf4a183dc46fbefd8230a">inspired the latest attack</a>.

“I really believe that the rhetoric from the Democrats” is “making the bullets fly. And it’s very dangerous. Dangerous for them. It’s dangerous for both sides,” Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post.

Authorities say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ukraine-f76ed09f256f6bd21727a10901d92af7">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;camped outside the golf course in West Palm Beach, where Trump was playing Sunday, for nearly 12 hours with food and a rifle but fled without firing shots when a Secret Service agent spotted and shot at him. He was subsequently arrested as he drove on the highway.

Routh’s past online posts suggest he has not been consistent about his politics in terms of supporting Democrats or Republicans. The attack came barely two months after Trump was wounded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-trump-assassination-attempt-city-8c62803f8a57f569a2a5639172a6c783">during a rally in Pennsylvania</a>.

Trump also met Tuesday with sheriff’s office deputies who activated the highway traffic stop that took Routh into custody.

Trump’s running mate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kemp-faith-freedom-c808cd8c56b63cba44fe0e0349d432e3">Ohio Sen. JD Vance</a>, said at a Georgia Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition event on Monday that “it’s popular on a lot of corners of the left to say that we have a both sides problem.” But “no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris in the last couple of months, and two people now have tried to kill Donald Trump.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing with reporters Tuesday that there should be zero tolerance for violence-inciting rhetoric. She bristled at the suggestion that Biden and Harris have stoked division by calling Trump a threat to democracy, saying there were concrete examples of the former president being that — such as when he helped incite an attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In response to Vance’s comments, Jean-Pierre said, “When you have that type of language out there it’s dangerous. It’s dangerous because people look up to that particular national leader, and they listen to you.” She said such comments open the door for “people to take you very seriously.”

Dan Curry, 44, of Saginaw, Michigan, attended the town hall Tuesday and said he is worried about the prospect of more violence against Trump.

“They say the Republicans are the gun-crazed lunatics trying to shoot people, but you don’t see us going after them,” said Curry, while adding these attacks may mobilize more support for Trump.

“It energizes his base,” he said. “How could it not?”

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday made his first public appearance since Sunday’s second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-gunshots-florida-f62f8378d3a8ce7b2e99d6a8fb40aba9">apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;against him, speaking to an crowd chanting “God bless Trump!” and “Fight, Fight, Fight” as U.S. Secret Service agents surrounded the stage to protect him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> says she spoke with former President Trump today: &quot;I checked to see if he was OK. I told him what I have said publicly, there is no place for political violence in our country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/sS1hffXE5O">pic.twitter.com/sS1hffXE5O</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1836127462868082714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s been a great experience,” the Republican presidential nominee said in an evening town hall in Flint, Michigan, about holding events with thousands of supporters. But he also went on to call running for president “a dangerous business” akin to car racing or bull riding.“Only consequential presidents get shot at,” he said.Earlier in the day, Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;struck a measured tone, even steering clear of mentioning Trump by name in an interview with Black journalists that starkly contrasted with the former president’s own highly contentious appearance before the same group.The two candidates briefly put their differences aside in a phone call Trump described as “very, very nice” even as crowds booed when he mentioned Harris by her first name. Harris said earlier in the day that she told Trump “there’s no place for political violence in our country.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Donald Trump on assassination attempt this past Sunday: &quot;Secret Service did a hell of a job. They really did.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7earysPTMb">pic.twitter.com/7earysPTMb</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1836201443922936266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Both sides are ramping up campaigning with no changes to Trump’s calendar despite the apparent assassination attempt at one of his Florida golf courses, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-2024-election-assassination-attempt-836523f3bbecf4a183dc46fbefd8230a">renewed accusations by Republicans</a>&nbsp;that Democrats’ criticism against Trump is inspiring violent attacks. Democrats have accused Trump in the past for his long history of inflammatory campaign rhetoric and advocacy for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-wisconsin-election-economy-a6923d6c5758dabb6d959417ea9d7d12">jailing or prosecuting his political enemies</a>. But Harris was treading more carefully in the aftermath of the latest incident.Her session with the National Association of Black Journalists was one of the few extensive sit-down interviews Harris has done since replacing President Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket in July. She repeatedly criticized Trump on issues including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and opposition to abortion access, but was careful to refer to him as the former president and in other ways that avoided naming him directly.Trump re-upped his past retaliation threats against election workers, donors and others as he tries to stoke fears about the integrity of the upcoming 2024 election.He posted Tuesday on his social media site, “Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before.”The Michigan town hall was billed as focusing on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-auto-industry-tariffs-false-chinese-factories-0f024d98e25a361db35761b2fb740e3b">the auto industry</a>, a pillar of the battleground state. Trump alleged Democrats would undercut American car manufacturing by pushing for the adoption of electric vehicles and repeated false claims that Chinese automakers are building large factories across the border in Mexico to flood the U.S. with vehicles.Trump has appearances later in the week in New York, Washington, D.C., and North Carolina.Harris has her own stops in Washington as well as Michigan and Wisconsin in the coming days, with the two candidates overlapping in concentrating on the industrial Midwest, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — all swing areas that could decide an election expected to be exceedingly close.Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-nabj-black-voters-trump-philadelphia-election-vance-walz-f40ec2b5833155562463efa05df6a03f">answered questions from three association journalists</a>&nbsp;at a small, relatively quiet venue at the Philadelphia studios of public radio station WHYY. That was very different from Trump’s addressing the NABJ conference in Chicago in July, when he was antagonistic to the moderators and sparked an uproar by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-black-journalists-convention-nabj-1e96aa530e88013ed6f577feaf89ccb6">questioning the vice president’s racial identity</a>.Her manner was a departure from her campaign rallies, where Harris often receives some of her loudest applause by declaring that her professional background as a prosecutor means, “I know Donald Trump’s type.”Pressed about reports of eroding support among Black male voters, Harris said she wasn’t “assuming I’m gonna have it because I’m Black.” She ducked a question about whether she’d support efforts by some congressional Democrats for reparations from the government to compensate descendants of slaves for years of unpaid labor by their ancestors. Biden has backed the idea of at least studying reparations.So far, Biden and Harris have tried to avoid politics in their responses to Sunday’s incident, instead condemning political violence of all kinds. The president also urged Congress to increase funding to the Secret Service.Trump has claimed, without evidence, that months of criticism against him by Harris and Biden, who call him a threat to American democracy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-2024-election-assassination-attempt-836523f3bbecf4a183dc46fbefd8230a">inspired the latest attack</a>.“I really believe that the rhetoric from the Democrats” is “making the bullets fly. And it’s very dangerous. Dangerous for them. It’s dangerous for both sides,” Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post.Authorities say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ukraine-f76ed09f256f6bd21727a10901d92af7">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;camped outside the golf course in West Palm Beach, where Trump was playing Sunday, for nearly 12 hours with food and a rifle but fled without firing shots when a Secret Service agent spotted and shot at him. He was subsequently arrested as he drove on the highway.Routh’s past online posts suggest he has not been consistent about his politics in terms of supporting Democrats or Republicans. The attack came barely two months after Trump was wounded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-trump-assassination-attempt-city-8c62803f8a57f569a2a5639172a6c783">during a rally in Pennsylvania</a>.Trump also met Tuesday with sheriff’s office deputies who activated the highway traffic stop that took Routh into custody.Trump’s running mate,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kemp-faith-freedom-c808cd8c56b63cba44fe0e0349d432e3">Ohio Sen. JD Vance</a>, said at a Georgia Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition event on Monday that “it’s popular on a lot of corners of the left to say that we have a both sides problem.” But “no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris in the last couple of months, and two people now have tried to kill Donald Trump.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing with reporters Tuesday that there should be zero tolerance for violence-inciting rhetoric. She bristled at the suggestion that Biden and Harris have stoked division by calling Trump a threat to democracy, saying there were concrete examples of the former president being that — such as when he helped incite an attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.In response to Vance’s comments, Jean-Pierre said, “When you have that type of language out there it’s dangerous. It’s dangerous because people look up to that particular national leader, and they listen to you.” She said such comments open the door for “people to take you very seriously.”Dan Curry, 44, of Saginaw, Michigan, attended the town hall Tuesday and said he is worried about the prospect of more violence against Trump.“They say the Republicans are the gun-crazed lunatics trying to shoot people, but you don’t see us going after them,” said Curry, while adding these attacks may mobilize more support for Trump.“It energizes his base,” he said. “How could it not?”<h2>___</h2>

🎥Harris describes phone call to Trump following 2nd assassination attempt

LOS ANGELES (AP) — John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.

Souther, who collaborated on some of the Eagles' biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love," “James Dean,” "New Kid in Town," and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.

He also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more, and also found success as a solo artist. He was about to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.

When he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters.”

Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle.

“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me,” Souther said in a statement after Frey died in 2016. “His amazing capacity for the big joke and that brilliant groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, in this loss and sorrow. ... The music and the love are indestructible.”

Souther described his start with Frey at The Troubadadour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”

“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. "It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university.

"It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.

On his own, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Other duets he had recorded with her include “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”

His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name.

Other songs he wrote include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues" for Ronstadt. He collaborated with James Taylor on “Her Town Too."

Among the artists he worked with as a singer were Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.

He appeared as an actor on television in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and in the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726663812459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — John David “JD” Souther, a prolific songwriter and musician who helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s with his collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, has died at the age of 78.Souther, who collaborated on some of the Eagles' biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love," “James Dean,” "New Kid in Town," and “Heartache Tonight,” died Tuesday at his home in New Mexico, according to an announcement on his website.He also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more, and also found success as a solo artist. He was about to start a tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix, now canceled.When he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013, Souther was described as “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters.”Souther was born in Detroit and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, where he met Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist of the Eagles. The two began a longtime partnership, starting with a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle.“Our first year together will always seem like yesterday to me,” Souther said in a statement after Frey died in 2016. “His amazing capacity for the big joke and that brilliant groove that lived inside him are with me, even now, in this loss and sorrow. ... The music and the love are indestructible.”Souther described his start with Frey at The Troubadadour, the popular West Hollywood music club, as “the best study in songwriting I can imagine.”“So many great songwriters came through — Laura Nyro, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman, Elton John, James Taylor, Tim Hardin, Carole King, Rick Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Tim Buckley, Gordon Lightfoot, Taj Mahal and more,” he said in a statement on his website. "It seems impossible now to imagine that much music in a year and a half or so, but that was my life and the Troubadour was our university."It’s also where I met Linda Ronstadt and where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met to form this little country rock band called Eagles that would go on to make musical history,” Souther wrote.On his own, Souther recorded his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort in 1976, Black Rose, included a duet with Ronstadt, his one-time girlfriend, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” Other duets he had recorded with her include “Prisoner in Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against the Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name.Other songs he wrote include “Run Like a Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues" for Ronstadt. He collaborated with James Taylor on “Her Town Too."Among the artists he worked with as a singer were Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison.He appeared as an actor on television in “thirtysomething,” “Nashville” and “Purgatory” and in the films “Postcards from the Edge,” “My Girl 2,” and “Deadline.”

J.D. Souther, songwriter behind country-rock hits by the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, dies

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a violent attack on a&nbsp;25-year-old babysitter at a park in Lawrence on Tuesday.

Just after 12:30p.m. the woman was attacked at Centennial Park, 2124 W 9th Street in Lawrence, while she was holding a 4-year-old child. 

Witnesses told police that a woman, who is believed to be living in the park, angrily approached a small group of people supervising children on the playground. 

The victim, worried for the safety of the child, picked her up and attempted to get away from the 33-year-old suspect, but the suspect allegedly struck the victim in the back with a dumbbell multiple times. 

The victim was able to run away from the suspect, get into her vehicle with the child, and leave the area while calling police. 

The suspect was located in the park and arrested on a requested charge of aggravated battery and child endangerment. 

The victim declined medical treatment at the scene and will be physically ok, but was clearly shaken. Officers were unable to determine a motive for the attack but said the suspect's behavior with them was very erratic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726654684422.png" alt="Centennial Park, 2124 W 9th Street in Lawrence-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Centennial Park, 2124 W 9th Street in Lawrence-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a violent attack on a&nbsp;25-year-old babysitter at a park in Lawrence on Tuesday.Just after 12:30p.m. the woman was attacked at Centennial Park, 2124 W 9th Street in Lawrence, while she was holding a 4-year-old child. Witnesses told police that a woman, who is believed to be living in the park, angrily approached a small group of people supervising children on the playground. The victim, worried for the safety of the child, picked her up and attempted to get away from the 33-year-old suspect, but the suspect allegedly struck the victim in the back with a dumbbell multiple times. The victim was able to run away from the suspect, get into her vehicle with the child, and leave the area while calling police. The suspect was located in the park and arrested on a requested charge of aggravated battery and child endangerment. The victim declined medical treatment at the scene and will be physically ok, but was clearly shaken. Officers were unable to determine a motive for the attack but said the suspect's behavior with them was very erratic.

Babysitter attacked with dumbbell while caring for child at Kan. park

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have blocked for a second time this year legislation to establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization, arguing that the vote is an election-year stunt after Democrats forced a vote on the issue.

The Senate vote was Democrats’ latest attempt to force Republicans into a defensive stance on women’s health issues and highlight policy differences between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in the presidential race, especially as Trump has called himself a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivf-fertility-trump-republicans-election-harris-2f831b0a37dad02d9d5b9affb1f0a8de">leader on IVF</a>.”

The 51-44 vote was short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the bill, with only two Republicans&nbsp;Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting in favor. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the measure.&nbsp;

 Democrats say Republicans who insist they support IVF are being hypocritical because they won't support legislation guaranteeing a right to it.

“They say they support IVF — here you go, vote on this,” said Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bill's lead sponsor and a military veteran who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ivf-access-abortion-alabama-bill-ruling-7f68248f36900d4583d9b181f3b4e380">used the fertility treatment</a>&nbsp;to have her two children.

The Democratic push started earlier this year after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-ivf-treatments-embryos-law-7f706015308a5dfbc06abce511834d49">Alabama Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Several clinics in the state suspended IVF treatments until the GOP-led legislature rushed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-ivf-clinic-lawsuit-immunity-things-know-0d16d3be139f42c96bc3ab35c4467f55">enact a law</a>&nbsp;to provide legal protections for the clinics.

Democrats quickly capitalized, holding a vote in June on Duckworth's bill and warning that the U.S. Supreme Court could go after the procedure next after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the right to an abortion in 2022</a>.

The bill would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies and a right for doctors and insurance companies to provide it, an effort to pre-empt state efforts to limit the services. It would also require more health insurers to cover it and expand coverage for military service members and veterans.

In a statement after the vote, Vice President Harris said Republicans in Congress “have once again made clear that they will not protect access to the fertility treatments many couples need to fulfill their dream of having a child.”

Republicans argued that the federal government shouldn’t tell states what to do and that the bill was an unserious effort. Only Republican&nbsp; Collins and Murkowski voted with Democrats to move forward on the bill both times.

Meanwhile, Republicans have scrambled to counter Democrats on the issue, with many making clear that they support IVF treatments. Trump last month announced plans, without additional details, to require health insurance companies or the federal government to pay for the fertility treatment.

In his debate with Harris earlier this month, Trump said he was a “leader” on the issue and talked about the “very negative” decision by the Alabama court that was later reversed by the legislature.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said that Democrats are trying to create a political issue “where there isn't one.”

“Let me remind everybody that Republicans support IVF, full stop,” Thune said just before the vote.

The issue has threatened to become a vulnerability for Republicans as some state laws passed by their party grant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-constitutions-93c27f3132ecc78e913120fe4d6c0977">legal personhood</a>&nbsp;not only to fetuses but to any embryos that are destroyed in the IVF process. Ahead of its convention this summer, the Republican Party adopted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-party-platform-trump-rnc-5561e857c5501df9864ab8ca666d8bc5">policy platform</a>&nbsp;that supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. The platform also encourages supporting IVF but does not explain how the party plans to do so.

Republicans have tried to push alternatives on the issue, including legislation that would discourage states from enacting explicit bans on the treatment, but those bills have been blocked by Democrats who say they are not enough.

Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, said in a floor speech then that his daughter was currently receiving IVF treatment and proposed to expand the flexibility of health savings accounts. Republican Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas have tried to pass a bill that would threaten to withhold Medicaid funding for states where IVF is banned.

Cruz, who is running for reelection in Texas, said Democrats were holding the vote to “stoke baseless fears about IVF and push their broader political agenda.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726604617334.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center in the red tie) casting his no vote on Tuesday- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center in the red tie) casting his no vote on Tuesday- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have blocked for a second time this year legislation to establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization, arguing that the vote is an election-year stunt after Democrats forced a vote on the issue.The Senate vote was Democrats’ latest attempt to force Republicans into a defensive stance on women’s health issues and highlight policy differences between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in the presidential race, especially as Trump has called himself a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivf-fertility-trump-republicans-election-harris-2f831b0a37dad02d9d5b9affb1f0a8de">leader on IVF</a>.”The 51-44 vote was short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the bill, with only two Republicans&nbsp;Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting in favor. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the measure.&nbsp; Democrats say Republicans who insist they support IVF are being hypocritical because they won't support legislation guaranteeing a right to it.“They say they support IVF — here you go, vote on this,” said Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bill's lead sponsor and a military veteran who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ivf-access-abortion-alabama-bill-ruling-7f68248f36900d4583d9b181f3b4e380">used the fertility treatment</a>&nbsp;to have her two children.The Democratic push started earlier this year after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-ivf-treatments-embryos-law-7f706015308a5dfbc06abce511834d49">Alabama Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Several clinics in the state suspended IVF treatments until the GOP-led legislature rushed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-ivf-clinic-lawsuit-immunity-things-know-0d16d3be139f42c96bc3ab35c4467f55">enact a law</a>&nbsp;to provide legal protections for the clinics.Democrats quickly capitalized, holding a vote in June on Duckworth's bill and warning that the U.S. Supreme Court could go after the procedure next after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the right to an abortion in 2022</a>.The bill would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies and a right for doctors and insurance companies to provide it, an effort to pre-empt state efforts to limit the services. It would also require more health insurers to cover it and expand coverage for military service members and veterans.In a statement after the vote, Vice President Harris said Republicans in Congress “have once again made clear that they will not protect access to the fertility treatments many couples need to fulfill their dream of having a child.”Republicans argued that the federal government shouldn’t tell states what to do and that the bill was an unserious effort. Only Republican&nbsp; Collins and Murkowski voted with Democrats to move forward on the bill both times.Meanwhile, Republicans have scrambled to counter Democrats on the issue, with many making clear that they support IVF treatments. Trump last month announced plans, without additional details, to require health insurance companies or the federal government to pay for the fertility treatment.In his debate with Harris earlier this month, Trump said he was a “leader” on the issue and talked about the “very negative” decision by the Alabama court that was later reversed by the legislature.South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said that Democrats are trying to create a political issue “where there isn't one.”“Let me remind everybody that Republicans support IVF, full stop,” Thune said just before the vote.The issue has threatened to become a vulnerability for Republicans as some state laws passed by their party grant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-constitutions-93c27f3132ecc78e913120fe4d6c0977">legal personhood</a>&nbsp;not only to fetuses but to any embryos that are destroyed in the IVF process. Ahead of its convention this summer, the Republican Party adopted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-party-platform-trump-rnc-5561e857c5501df9864ab8ca666d8bc5">policy platform</a>&nbsp;that supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. The platform also encourages supporting IVF but does not explain how the party plans to do so.Republicans have tried to push alternatives on the issue, including legislation that would discourage states from enacting explicit bans on the treatment, but those bills have been blocked by Democrats who say they are not enough.Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, said in a floor speech then that his daughter was currently receiving IVF treatment and proposed to expand the flexibility of health savings accounts. Republican Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas have tried to pass a bill that would threaten to withhold Medicaid funding for states where IVF is banned.Cruz, who is running for reelection in Texas, said Democrats were holding the vote to “stoke baseless fears about IVF and push their broader political agenda.

Moran, Marshall vote to block bill on women's rights to IVF

NEOSHO COUNTY —Law enforcement and school districts across Kansas are investigating school threats and several individuals have been taken into custody.

On Tuesday, the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a social media post that mentions St. Paul school along with a couple of other schools outside of Neosho County as being on an alleged list, according to a media release.&nbsp; Law Enforcement in those jurisdictions have been notified and Neosho County investigators are currently following&nbsp; leads as the post is being treated as a criminal threat.

On Tuesday,&nbsp;The Dodge City Police Department reported they were aware of two circulating Snapchat messages that contain threats to Comanche Middle School and Dodge City Middle School, according to a media release. "We are actively working to identify the individuals responsible, and officers are increasing patrols around the schools to ensure student safety."

The Liberal Police Department reported they were also aware of a recent threat regarding a potential school shooting. After following several leads, the police department determined that the threat is non-credible.

Law enforcement are investigating a surge of reports of a vague school shooting threat circulating online about the USD 230 Spring Hill school district, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;To be proactive, the sheriff's office has increased their presence at schools in Spring Hill and adjacent districts in Johnson and Miami counties.

Junction City Police and Geary USD 475 investigated school&nbsp;threats made on TikTok against Junction City Middle School.

NEOSHO COUNTY —Law enforcement and school districts across Kansas are investigating school threats and several individuals have been taken into custody.On Tuesday, the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a social media post that mentions St. Paul school along with a couple of other schools outside of Neosho County as being on an alleged list, according to a media release.&nbsp; Law Enforcement in those jurisdictions have been notified and Neosho County investigators are currently following&nbsp; leads as the post is being treated as a criminal threat.On Tuesday,&nbsp;The Dodge City Police Department reported they were aware of two circulating Snapchat messages that contain threats to Comanche Middle School and Dodge City Middle School, according to a media release. "We are actively working to identify the individuals responsible, and officers are increasing patrols around the schools to ensure student safety."The Liberal Police Department reported they were also aware of a recent threat regarding a potential school shooting. After following several leads, the police department determined that the threat is non-credible.Law enforcement are investigating a surge of reports of a vague school shooting threat circulating online about the USD 230 Spring Hill school district, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;To be proactive, the sheriff's office has increased their presence at schools in Spring Hill and adjacent districts in Johnson and Miami counties.Junction City Police and Geary USD 475 investigated school&nbsp;threats made on TikTok against Junction City Middle School.On Friday, September 13th, officers in Junction City were alerted to additional social media activity, which included a list of names of students and staff from USD 475 posted on Snapchat. On Tuesday, the Junction City Police Department identified a juvenile believed to be responsible for the post. Police arrested the juvenile, charged them with Aggravated Criminal Threat, a Level 5-person felony, and later released them to their parents.In Hays, police&nbsp;received a report of a written threat of a bomb inside Hays Middle School, 201 W 29th Street, Hays, according to a statement from Police Chief Don Scheibler.The Hays Police Department worked with members of the USD 489 staff to fully investigate the reported threat. The school and the grounds were searched by members of the Hays Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol Emergency Service Unit (canines), Scheibler said.The school was determined to be safe.During the investigation, the Hays Police Department also identified and located the person who made all the threats against Hays Middle School, Scheibler said.A 37-year-old Salina man was arrested September 13, after he allegedly made alarming statements about plans to "shoot up a school" while standing in line at a local Casey's convenience store.Police recommend that parents talk with their children about the consequences of making threats. We would also ask that parents educate children not to re-share social media posts but rather contact law enforcement immediately.