By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.

Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.

Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.

This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.

Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.

They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.

After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”

“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”

Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”

“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”

Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.

Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.

Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.

Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.

Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.

“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”

Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.

Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.

“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”

Sen. Usha Reddi, a first-term Democrat from Manhattan, has worked to advance legislation on behalf of survivors. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/02/15/secrets-in-our-culture-victims-of-child-sex-abuse-urge-lawmakers-to-take-action/1699685007/">testified in support of similar legislation</a>
 in 2020, when she revealed her father had abused her as a child. At the
 age of 53, she had been able to pursue criminal charges in Virginia.

In an interview for this story, Reddi said she and her brother went 
to her mother’s house when her father was getting arrested, thinking 
they would take her home to live together.

“First thing she said is, ‘Get your dad out of jail.’ So that’s when 
you know, wow, if I did this when I was 8, 9 years old, it would not 
have been very different,” Reddi said. “So I think if that’s happening 
within my own family, how does the Legislature address any of this?

“They still make the person coming out feel like, well, why are you 
doing it now? What are you going to gain from it? Are you going to write
 a book? How are you going to get rich? They see all these ulterior 
motives, even if there isn’t any. And I think that’s what pushes the 
actual conversation aside.”

Reddi said the KBI’s clergy abuse report, which identified 188 
suspects of “criminal acts,” helped create momentum behind legislation 
this session because it showed widespread abuse. She has tried to make 
it clear that this isn’t just about clergy — children can be preyed upon
 by coaches, teachers and others.

“They’re not creepy old men in the woods,” Reddi said. “These are 
people that we work with and trust. And I think that’s the piece that 
people can’t get past.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it has been difficult to build support from lawmakers for the bill.

“This isn’t necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking 
about,” Holscher said. “We’ve had to bring it forward, the survivors 
coming every week talking to legislators.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496524262.png" alt="Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.They are frustrated.This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496591564.png" alt="Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496629215.png" alt="Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen. Usha Reddi, a first-term Democrat from Manhattan, has worked to advance legislation on behalf of survivors. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/02/15/secrets-in-our-culture-victims-of-child-sex-abuse-urge-lawmakers-to-take-action/1699685007/">testified in support of similar legislation</a>
 in 2020, when she revealed her father had abused her as a child. At the
 age of 53, she had been able to pursue criminal charges in Virginia.In an interview for this story, Reddi said she and her brother went 
to her mother’s house when her father was getting arrested, thinking 
they would take her home to live together.“First thing she said is, ‘Get your dad out of jail.’ So that’s when 
you know, wow, if I did this when I was 8, 9 years old, it would not 
have been very different,” Reddi said. “So I think if that’s happening 
within my own family, how does the Legislature address any of this?“They still make the person coming out feel like, well, why are you 
doing it now? What are you going to gain from it? Are you going to write
 a book? How are you going to get rich? They see all these ulterior 
motives, even if there isn’t any. And I think that’s what pushes the 
actual conversation aside.”Reddi said the KBI’s clergy abuse report, which identified 188 
suspects of “criminal acts,” helped create momentum behind legislation 
this session because it showed widespread abuse. She has tried to make 
it clear that this isn’t just about clergy — children can be preyed upon
 by coaches, teachers and others.“They’re not creepy old men in the woods,” Reddi said. “These are 
people that we work with and trust. And I think that’s the piece that 
people can’t get past.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it has been difficult to build support from lawmakers for the bill.“This isn’t necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking 
about,” Holscher said. “We’ve had to bring it forward, the survivors 
coming every week talking to legislators.”

Survivors of child sex abuse eager for Kan. legislative hearing

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop.

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Tuesday that Joshua Rocha could qualify under Missouri law for the punishment because the July 2022 killing of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez was "wantonly vile,” the victim was a law enforcement officer and Rocha was seeking to avoid arrest.

Rocha is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing.

According to a probable cause statement, Rocha told police after his arrest that he shot the 32-year-old officer because he didn’t want to go to jail or have his vehicle towed.

Rocha told police he was on his way to buy ammunition for a rifle he had in the vehicle when he was stopped.

Vasquez’s dashcam video shows Rocha shooting the officer once in the face after partially opening the car door, then stepping out and firing two more shots at Vasquez, who was lying on the ground, according to the statement.

The prosecutor’s office has not pursued the death penalty for a defendant since 1994, about 28 years ago, Thompson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658339821213.png" alt="Rocha-photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Rocha-photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop.Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Tuesday that Joshua Rocha could qualify under Missouri law for the punishment because the July 2022 killing of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez was "wantonly vile,” the victim was a law enforcement officer and Rocha was seeking to avoid arrest.Rocha is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658265015795.png" alt="Daniel Vasquez-photo North Kansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Daniel Vasquez-photo North Kansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a probable cause statement, Rocha told police after his arrest that he shot the 32-year-old officer because he didn’t want to go to jail or have his vehicle towed.Rocha told police he was on his way to buy ammunition for a rifle he had in the vehicle when he was stopped.Vasquez’s dashcam video shows Rocha shooting the officer once in the face after partially opening the car door, then stepping out and firing two more shots at Vasquez, who was lying on the ground, according to the statement.The prosecutor’s office has not pursued the death penalty for a defendant since 1994, about 28 years ago, Thompson said.

Prosecutor to seek death penalty in Kansas City officer's death

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident and have identified 2-year-old&nbsp;as Ximena Perez of Topeka as the child who died.&nbsp;

The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. 

A vehicle struck the girl and she died from the injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Topeka Police Department made contact with all individuals involved and no arrests have been made. Upon conclusion of the investigation, police will present the accident findings to the District Attorney’s office for any charging consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679425013324.png" alt="First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident and have identified 2-year-old&nbsp;as Ximena Perez of Topeka as the child who died.&nbsp;The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. A vehicle struck the girl and she died from the injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department made contact with all individuals involved and no arrests have been made. Upon conclusion of the investigation, police will present the accident findings to the District Attorney’s office for any charging consideration.

Investigation of accident that killed 2-year-old Kan. girl continues

MIAMI &amp; LINN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Osawatomie Police Department, and the Pleasanton Police Department arrested six individuals in Miami and Linn counties for distribution of methamphetamine and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.

The investigation began in December of 2022, when the Osawatomie Police Department developed information about area drug sales. Then, on Wednesday, March 22, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., KBI agents and investigators executed search warrants and arrest warrants at a residence in rural Osawatomie, Kansas, and at two residences in La Cygne, Kansas. 

During the searches, law enforcement located methamphetamine and over $12,000 in cash. During the joint investigation, over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine was seized, some of which is believed to contain fentanyl.

Bernie E. Stuteville, 60, of La Cygne, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles Eslick Jr., 49, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution or possession of a controlled substance using a communication facility.

Deanne Burkhart, 55, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Julia R. Spears, 50, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Danny R. Harper, 58, of Osawatomie, was arrested&nbsp;on a requested charge of of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cindy M. Ballou, 45, of Osawatomie, was arrested during the search warrant for having outstanding warrants for driving while suspended with no proof of insurance.

Following their arrests, the subjects were each booked into the Miami County Jail. Formal charges are pending. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Also assisting in this investigation were Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the La Cygne Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department, and the Paola Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679566267770.png" alt="Stuteville has four previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Stuteville has four previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI &amp; LINN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Osawatomie Police Department, and the Pleasanton Police Department arrested six individuals in Miami and Linn counties for distribution of methamphetamine and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.The investigation began in December of 2022, when the Osawatomie Police Department developed information about area drug sales. Then, on Wednesday, March 22, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., KBI agents and investigators executed search warrants and arrest warrants at a residence in rural Osawatomie, Kansas, and at two residences in La Cygne, Kansas. During the searches, law enforcement located methamphetamine and over $12,000 in cash. During the joint investigation, over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine was seized, some of which is believed to contain fentanyl.Six subjects were arrested.Bernie E. Stuteville, 60, of La Cygne, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Charles Eslick Jr., 49, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution or possession of a controlled substance using a communication facility.Deanne Burkhart, 55, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Julia R. Spears, 50, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Danny R. Harper, 58, of Osawatomie, was arrested&nbsp;on a requested charge of of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Cindy M. Ballou, 45, of Osawatomie, was arrested during the search warrant for having outstanding warrants for driving while suspended with no proof of insurance.Following their arrests, the subjects were each booked into the Miami County Jail. Formal charges are pending. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Also assisting in this investigation were Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the La Cygne Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department, and the Paola Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.

KBI: Drug operation finds meth with fentanyl, $12,000 cash

DENVER (AP) — A body found in the Colorado woods near an abandoned car was that of a 17-year-old student accused of wounding two administrators in a shooting at his Denver high school, a coroner's office said.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered Wednesday not far from the student's car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.

Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle. The Park County coroner's office confirmed in a Facebook post that the body was that of Lyle's. Cause of death wasn't released, pending the completion of an autopsy.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-east-high-school-denver-b7db159105dcaea44a816a8841ffd965">shooting occurred at East High School</a>&nbsp;in Denver, not far from downtown, while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.

It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">prompted East High School students to march</a>&nbsp;on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.

“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.

Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.

The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second was in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.

Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.

In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.

After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.

In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”

“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.

Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.

Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.

“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.

Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.

Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.

But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.

“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”

Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.

In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-guns-mass-shooting-monterey-park-uvalde-489c236fd6ed12ab5d74a67ce5ecd501">President Joe Biden’s calls for stricter gun laws</a>, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.

Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

DENVER (AP) — A body was found Wednesday night in the Colorado woods near the abandoned car that belonged to a 17-year-old student accused of shooting two administrators at his Denver high school earlier in the day, a sheriff said.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered not far from the car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.

But, authorities said they have not yet identified who it was and McGraw declined to say if it was a man or reveal the cause of death.

Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle.

The shooting occurred at East High School in Denver while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.

It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.

East High School, not far from downtown, was locked down as police investigated the shooting, and hundreds of parents lined up along a road outside the school.

Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.

At the edge of the crowd, a man said the city's school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a nearby officer “I just want you to be able to do your job.”

In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s called for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679508065013.png" alt="The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.-photo courtesy KMGH-TV" />
 <figcaption>The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.-photo courtesy KMGH-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A body found in the Colorado woods near an abandoned car was that of a 17-year-old student accused of wounding two administrators in a shooting at his Denver high school, a coroner's office said.Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered Wednesday not far from the student's car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle. The Park County coroner's office confirmed in a Facebook post that the body was that of Lyle's. Cause of death wasn't released, pending the completion of an autopsy.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-east-high-school-denver-b7db159105dcaea44a816a8841ffd965">shooting occurred at East High School</a>&nbsp;in Denver, not far from downtown, while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">prompted East High School students to march</a>&nbsp;on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second was in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-guns-mass-shooting-monterey-park-uvalde-489c236fd6ed12ab5d74a67ce5ecd501">President Joe Biden’s calls for stricter gun laws</a>, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.---------------DENVER (AP) — A body was found Wednesday night in the Colorado woods near the abandoned car that belonged to a 17-year-old student accused of shooting two administrators at his Denver high school earlier in the day, a sheriff said.Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered not far from the car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.But, authorities said they have not yet identified who it was and McGraw declined to say if it was a man or reveal the cause of death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679518079688.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle.The shooting occurred at East High School in Denver while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.East High School, not far from downtown, was locked down as police investigated the shooting, and hundreds of parents lined up along a road outside the school.Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.At the edge of the crowd, a man said the city's school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a nearby officer “I just want you to be able to do your job.”In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s called for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.__

Denver high school shooting suspect dead, coroner confirms

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of vision loss linked to eyedrops tainted with a drug-resistant bacteria.

The eyedrops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recalled</a>&nbsp;in February and health authorities are continuing to track infections as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2320289a358e9fe6fa7d38a1fc5f19f7">investigate the outbreak.</a>

In the latest government tally, 68 people were diagnosed with infections from the bacteria, which has now caused a total of three deaths and eight cases of people losing their vision, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. That's up from one death and five cases of permanent vision loss reported last month.

The CDC said four people have undergone surgery to remove an eyeball due to the infections.

The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it is resistant to standard antibiotics.

The CDC has now identified cases in 16 states, including California, New York, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania. Most of the cases have been linked to four regional clusters and Ezricare's drops are the only product used by patients in each of those groups.

The recalled drops were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India, where the bacteria — Pseudomonas aeruginosa — is commonly linked to outbreaks in hospitals. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675357768410.png" alt="Photo -Ezri care" />
 <figcaption>Photo -Ezri care</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of vision loss linked to eyedrops tainted with a drug-resistant bacteria.The eyedrops from EzriCare and Delsam Phama were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recalled</a>&nbsp;in February and health authorities are continuing to track infections as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2320289a358e9fe6fa7d38a1fc5f19f7">investigate the outbreak.</a>In the latest government tally, 68 people were diagnosed with infections from the bacteria, which has now caused a total of three deaths and eight cases of people losing their vision, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. That's up from one death and five cases of permanent vision loss reported last month.The CDC said four people have undergone surgery to remove an eyeball due to the infections.The outbreak is considered particularly worrisome because the bacteria driving it is resistant to standard antibiotics.The CDC has now identified cases in 16 states, including California, New York, Illinois, Texas and Pennsylvania. Most of the cases have been linked to four regional clusters and Ezricare's drops are the only product used by patients in each of those groups.The recalled drops were manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare in India, where the bacteria — Pseudomonas aeruginosa — is commonly linked to outbreaks in hospitals. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment.___

CDC: More deaths, injuries linked to recalled eyedrops

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of TikTok made a rare public appearance Thursday before a U.S. Congressional committee, where he faced a grilling on data security and user safety while he makes his own case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn't be banned.

<a href="https://fb.watch/js6hfEAuaY/">Click here to&nbsp;</a>watch a replay of the hearing

Shou Zi Chew's testimony comes at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

In her opening statement, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, assailed the social platform's trustworthiness because of its close ties to Beijing.

“Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security,” McMorris Rodgers said. "TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation.”

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, will tell the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and deny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">allegations that the app is a national security risk</a>, according to his prepared remarks released ahead of the hearing.

“There are many misconceptions about our company and I’m very proud to come here and represent them and all our users in this country,” Chew told reporters before entering the hearing.

On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform. It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that tout promises of securing users data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.

TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's Communist leaders.

“We understand the popularity of Tiktok, we get that,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “But the President’s job is to make sure again that the Americans, national security is protected as well. ”

For its part, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying that 60% percent of its parent company ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group. ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing in 2012.

“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Chew said.

A U.S. ban on an app would be unprecedented and it’s unclear how the government would go about enforcing it.

Experts says officials could try to force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new users from downloading it as well as preventing existing users from updating it, ultimately rendering it useless.

The U.S. could also block access to TikTok’s infrastructure and data, seize its domain names or force internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to filter TikTok data traffic, said Ahmed Ghappour, a criminal law and computer security expert who teachers at Boston University School of Law.

But a tech savvy user could still get around restrictions by using a virtual private network to make it appear the user is in another country where it's not blocked, he said.

To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-us-news-business-ap-top-news-hong-kong-4eab38c608901de16e92facc1ed5debd">$1.5 billion plan called Project Texas</a>, which routes all U.S. user data to domestic servers owned and maintained by software giant Oracle. Under the project, access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which employs 1,500 people, is run independently of ByteDance and would be monitored by outside observers.

As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed later this year, Chew said.

Generally, researchers have said TikTok behaves like other social media companies when it comes to data collection. In an analysis released in 2021, the University of Toronto’s nonprofit Citizen Lab found TikTok and Facebook collect similar amounts of user data, including device identifiers that can be used to track a user and other information that can piece together a user’s behavior, all valuable information for advertisers.

To block such tracking, Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have banned the use of the app from official devices.

But wiping away all the data tracking associated with the platform might prove to be difficult. In a report released this month, the Cybersecurity company Feroot said so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance, which collect user information, were found on 30 U.S state websites, including some where the app has been banned for official use.

Other countries including Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, along with the European Union, have already banned TikTok from devices issued to government employees, citing cybersecurity concerns.

David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones because they might contain sensitive military information or other confidential material. A nationwide ban, however, might be too extreme, he said. He also wondered where it might lead.

“We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?" Kennedy said. “It could escalate very quickly.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of TikTok will make a high-profile appearance Thursday before a U.S. Congressional committee, where he'll face a grilling on data security and user safety while he makes his own case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn't be banned.

<a href="https://fb.watch/js6hfEAuaY/">Click here to </a>watch the hearing

<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Shou_Chew_Bio_fd1abc17e1.pdf?updated_at=2023-03-21T23:58:13.616Z">Shou Zi Chew</a>'s testimony comes at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, is making a rare public appearance to counter the volley of accusations that TikTok has been facing. On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">to lobby lawmakers</a>&nbsp;to preserve the platform. It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that tout promises of securing users data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.

<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Written_Testimony_of_Shou_Chew_c07504eccf_084e8683f3.pdf?updated_at=2023-03-22T03:10:22.760Z">Chew plans to tell </a>the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and deny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">allegations that the app is a national security risk</a>, according to his prepared remarks released ahead of the hearing.

A number of Western countries including Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, along with the European Union,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">have already banned TikTok from devices</a>&nbsp;issued to government employees, citing cybersecurity concerns.

In the U.S., the federal government, Congress, the armed forces and more than half of states have banned the app from official devices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679580195331.png" alt="Shou Zi Chew during Thursday's hearing -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Shou Zi Chew during Thursday's hearing -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of TikTok made a rare public appearance Thursday before a U.S. Congressional committee, where he faced a grilling on data security and user safety while he makes his own case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn't be banned.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCSPAN%2Fvideos%2F212799924761754%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://fb.watch/js6hfEAuaY/">Click here to&nbsp;</a>watch a replay of the hearingShou Zi Chew's testimony comes at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.In her opening statement, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, assailed the social platform's trustworthiness because of its close ties to Beijing.“Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security,” McMorris Rodgers said. "TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation.”Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, will tell the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and deny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">allegations that the app is a national security risk</a>, according to his prepared remarks released ahead of the hearing.“There are many misconceptions about our company and I’m very proud to come here and represent them and all our users in this country,” Chew told reporters before entering the hearing.On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform. It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that tout promises of securing users data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's Communist leaders.“We understand the popularity of Tiktok, we get that,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “But the President’s job is to make sure again that the Americans, national security is protected as well. ”For its part, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying that 60% percent of its parent company ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group. ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing in 2012.“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Chew said.A U.S. ban on an app would be unprecedented and it’s unclear how the government would go about enforcing it.Experts says officials could try to force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new users from downloading it as well as preventing existing users from updating it, ultimately rendering it useless.The U.S. could also block access to TikTok’s infrastructure and data, seize its domain names or force internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to filter TikTok data traffic, said Ahmed Ghappour, a criminal law and computer security expert who teachers at Boston University School of Law.But a tech savvy user could still get around restrictions by using a virtual private network to make it appear the user is in another country where it's not blocked, he said.To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-us-news-business-ap-top-news-hong-kong-4eab38c608901de16e92facc1ed5debd">$1.5 billion plan called Project Texas</a>, which routes all U.S. user data to domestic servers owned and maintained by software giant Oracle. Under the project, access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which employs 1,500 people, is run independently of ByteDance and would be monitored by outside observers.As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed later this year, Chew said.Generally, researchers have said TikTok behaves like other social media companies when it comes to data collection. In an analysis released in 2021, the University of Toronto’s nonprofit Citizen Lab found TikTok and Facebook collect similar amounts of user data, including device identifiers that can be used to track a user and other information that can piece together a user’s behavior, all valuable information for advertisers.To block such tracking, Congress, the White House, U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have banned the use of the app from official devices.But wiping away all the data tracking associated with the platform might prove to be difficult. In a report released this month, the Cybersecurity company Feroot said so-called tracking pixels from ByteDance, which collect user information, were found on 30 U.S state websites, including some where the app has been banned for official use.Other countries including Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, along with the European Union, have already banned TikTok from devices issued to government employees, citing cybersecurity concerns.David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones because they might contain sensitive military information or other confidential material. A nationwide ban, however, might be too extreme, he said. He also wondered where it might lead.“We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?" Kennedy said. “It could escalate very quickly.”-------WASHINGTON (AP) — The CEO of TikTok will make a high-profile appearance Thursday before a U.S. Congressional committee, where he'll face a grilling on data security and user safety while he makes his own case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn't be banned.<a href="https://fb.watch/js6hfEAuaY/">Click here to </a>watch the hearing<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Shou_Chew_Bio_fd1abc17e1.pdf?updated_at=2023-03-21T23:58:13.616Z">Shou Zi Chew</a>'s testimony comes at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from U.S. officials. TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, is making a rare public appearance to counter the volley of accusations that TikTok has been facing. On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">to lobby lawmakers</a>&nbsp;to preserve the platform. It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that tout promises of securing users data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Written_Testimony_of_Shou_Chew_c07504eccf_084e8683f3.pdf?updated_at=2023-03-22T03:10:22.760Z">Chew plans to tell </a>the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the safety of its young users and deny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">allegations that the app is a national security risk</a>, according to his prepared remarks released ahead of the hearing.TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government or that it could be used to promote narratives favorable to the country's Communist leaders.“We understand the popularity of Tiktok, we get that,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “But the President’s job is to make sure again that the Americans, national security is protected as well. ”For its part, TikTok has been trying to distance itself from its Chinese origins, saying that 60% percent of its parent company ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group. ByteDance was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs in Beijing in 2012.“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Chew said.A U.S. ban on an app would be unprecedented and it’s unclear how the government would go about enforcing it.Experts says officials could try to force Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new users from downloading it as well as preventing existing users from updating it, ultimately rendering it useless.The U.S. could also block access to TikTok’s infrastructure and data, seize its domain names or force internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to filter TikTok data traffic, said Ahmed Ghappour, a criminal law and computer security expert who teachers at Boston University School of Law.But a tech savvy user could still get around restrictions by using a virtual private network to make it appear the user is in another country where it's not blocked, he said.To avoid a ban, TikTok has been trying to sell officials on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-us-news-business-ap-top-news-hong-kong-4eab38c608901de16e92facc1ed5debd">$1.5 billion plan called Project Texas</a>, which routes all U.S. user data to domestic servers owned and maintained by software giant Oracle. Under the project, access to U.S. data is managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity called TikTok U.S. Data Security, which employs 1,500 people, is run independently of ByteDance and would be monitored by outside observers.As of October, all new U.S. user data was being stored inside the country. The company started deleting all historic U.S. user data from non-Oracle servers this month, in a process expected to be completed later this year, Chew said.A number of Western countries including Denmark, Canada, and New Zealand, along with the European Union,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">have already banned TikTok from devices</a>&nbsp;issued to government employees, citing cybersecurity concerns.In the U.S., the federal government, Congress, the armed forces and more than half of states have banned the app from official devices.David Kennedy, a former government intelligence officer who runs the cybersecurity company TrustedSec, agrees with restricting TikTok access on government-issued phones because they might contain sensitive military information or other confidential material. A nationwide ban, however, might be too extreme, he said. He also wondered where it might lead.“We have Tesla in China, we have Microsoft in China, we have Apple in China. Are they going to start banning us now?" Kennedy said. “It could escalate very quickly.”

🎥TikTok CEO faces off with Congress; social media giant faces U.S. ban 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a motorcycle, pickup crash and fire.

Just before 7:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to an injury accident at the intersection of Pawnee and Hiram in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. 

First responders located the motorcycle rider who had been ejected from his motorcycle after colliding with a Dodge Ram, driven by a 15-year-old male.

EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to the motorcycle rider and transported him to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The rider sustained burns to a large portion of his body after the pickup caught on fire due to the impact.

Investigators learned that the victim was westbound on Pawnee when he collided with the Dodge Ram, which was attempting to make a left turn from southbound Hiram onto eastbound Pawnee. The driver of the pickup truck was able to exit the vehicle unharmed. Police did not release names of those involved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679507570746.png" alt="First responders at the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a motorcycle, pickup crash and fire.Just before 7:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to an injury accident at the intersection of Pawnee and Hiram in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. First responders located the motorcycle rider who had been ejected from his motorcycle after colliding with a Dodge Ram, driven by a 15-year-old male.EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to the motorcycle rider and transported him to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The rider sustained burns to a large portion of his body after the pickup caught on fire due to the impact.Investigators learned that the victim was westbound on Pawnee when he collided with the Dodge Ram, which was attempting to make a left turn from southbound Hiram onto eastbound Pawnee. The driver of the pickup truck was able to exit the vehicle unharmed. Police did not release names of those involved.

Kan. man critically burned in motorcycle, pickup crash and fire

WILSON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office have identified the woman whose remains were discovered by hunters on March 16, in rural Wilson County.

The woman has been identified as Stephanie M. Willard, 43, of Fredonia, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

On March 16, out-of-state hunters called 911 after encountering human remains in a pasture. Deputies from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location, approximately a mile south of Coyville, Kansas, near Decatur Road. Upon arriving, deputies observed the human skeletal remains.

If you have information about this investigation, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 378-3622. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

WILSON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office have identified the woman whose remains were discovered by hunters on March 16, in rural Wilson County.The woman has been identified as Stephanie M. Willard, 43, of Fredonia, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.On March 16, out-of-state hunters called 911 after encountering human remains in a pasture. Deputies from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location, approximately a mile south of Coyville, Kansas, near Decatur Road. Upon arriving, deputies observed the human skeletal remains.If you have information about this investigation, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 378-3622. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

Human remains found by hunters identified as Kan. woman

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a large quantity of fentanyl pills found in rural Kansas.

On Wednesday, Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade reported sheriff's detectives were informed earlier this month that an individual located a PVC pipe full of blue pills at their place of work in the Coffeyville, Kansas area.

 Detectives contacted the individual and made arrangements to take custody of the PVC pipe containing the blue pills. After careful examination, detectives determined the pills to be fentanyl.  These pills are commonly referred to as “Dirty-Thirty” pills.  These pills are made to look like oxycodone pills.  Detectives, along with Kansas Bureau of Investigations counted a total of 5,354 fentanyl pills. 

 The rough street value of these pills is estimated at $321,240.00.  Further testing will be conducted on the fentanyl pills.  Sheriff&nbsp; Wade said, “I want to thank the individual that located this PVC pipe laying on the ground, and calling the Sheriff’s Office.  This individual probably saved multiple lives and definitely hurt someone’s illegal business.” 

 Wade said, “We have roughly 31,000 citizens in Montgomery County.  We just took possession of 5,354 fentanyl pills, which potentially could have killed almost 18% of our population in Montgomery County, if it had ended up in the wrong hands.”  Wade said, 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679505541603.png" alt="photo Montgomery County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Montgomery County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a large quantity of fentanyl pills found in rural Kansas.On Wednesday, Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade reported sheriff's detectives were informed earlier this month that an individual located a PVC pipe full of blue pills at their place of work in the Coffeyville, Kansas area. Detectives contacted the individual and made arrangements to take custody of the PVC pipe containing the blue pills. After careful examination, detectives determined the pills to be fentanyl. These pills are commonly referred to as “Dirty-Thirty” pills. These pills are made to look like oxycodone pills. Detectives, along with Kansas Bureau of Investigations counted a total of 5,354 fentanyl pills. The rough street value of these pills is estimated at $321,240.00. Further testing will be conducted on the fentanyl pills. Sheriff&nbsp; Wade said, “I want to thank the individual that located this PVC pipe laying on the ground, and calling the Sheriff’s Office. This individual probably saved multiple lives and definitely hurt someone’s illegal business.” Wade said, “We have roughly 31,000 citizens in Montgomery County. We just took possession of 5,354 fentanyl pills, which potentially could have killed almost 18% of our population in Montgomery County, if it had ended up in the wrong hands.” Wade said, ”

Sheriff: 5,354 fentanyl pills found in PVC pipe in rural Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas proposal based on the disputed claim that providers leave infants to die after they're born during certain types of abortions is nearing legislative approval, as Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">pursue limited anti-abortion measures</a>&nbsp;following a decisive statewide vote last year protecting abortion rights.

The Kansas House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230322112750_777056/">voted 88-34</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2313_00_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;declaring that when there's a live birth during an abortion procedure, medical personnel must take the same steps to preserve the newborn’s life as “a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births. The law would apply to any “complete expulsion or extraction” of a fetus from the mother, including labor and delivery abortions during which a doctor induces labor. The measure is similar to a proposed Montana law that voters there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November</a>&nbsp;and laws in 18 states, including Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Texas.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court declared in June</a>&nbsp;that states can ban abortion, and the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has long had strong anti-abortion majorities in both chambers. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;protected abortion rights and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to the state constitution to overturn that decision and give lawmakers the power to greatly restrict or ban abortion.

Supporters of the “born-alive infants protection” bill argued during a House debate Tuesday that the measure would survive a court challenge because it doesn't limit abortion itself. But a few Republicans touched on their moral opposition to abortion as a reason for backing the bill.

“If you truly want to hold effective conversations about the indiscriminate and brutal acts of violence in our society today, we must teach others to hold life as precious and sacred," state Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, a Republican from northeastern Kansas, said during a debate Tuesday before voting for the bill Wednesday.

Abortion providers and abortion rights advocates contend measures like the ones in Kansas and Montana are designed only to give abortion care a false and negative public image. They also argue that current state laws against homicide and child neglect, as well as laws on doctors’ duties, are sufficient to address any real problems.

House passage sent the measure to the Senate, where GOP leaders have also signaled that they see it as a priority.

“I pray for the day where we would stop killing our own children and ask God for forgiveness and mercy,” said southeastern Kansas Rep. Trevor Jacobs, explaining his “yes” vote along with six other GOP conservatives.

Supporters of the bill portrayed it as saving infants born during unsuccessful or botched abortions. But it would apply to cases in which doctors induce labor to deliver a fetus that won't survive outside the womb, often because of a severe medical issue, with the expectation that the newborn will die within minutes or even seconds.

Like the laws in the 18 other states, the Kansas measure would require the hospitalization of infants born during unsuccessful abortions and impose criminal penalties for doctors who don’t try to save them. In Kansas, failing to attempt to save such a newborn would be a felony, punishable by a year's probation for a first-time offender.

“This bill takes away the right of a mother to make her own private medical decisions in the most complicated and heartbreaking of cases,” state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, a Kansas City-area Democrat, said, explaining her “no” vote Wednesday. “This is a right the overwhelming majority of Kansans voted to protect.”

Like most states, Kansas doesn’t collect data on births during induced abortion procedures.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of the more than 600,000 abortions a year occur after the 21st week of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says almost no fetuses are viable before the 23rd week of pregnancy.

Kansas law bans most abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy, and no abortions after that point have been reported since at least 2016.

Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for Wichita abortion clinic operator Trust Women, said the facility has never seen an abortion result in a live birth in the nearly 10 years the clinic has been open.

“This is just this fantasy,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “It’s simply not true that there’s any kind of danger of this happening.”

Not providing this care after unsuccessful abortions was already outlawed under a 2002 U.S. law, but it doesn't contain criminal penalties. The Republican-led U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-us-republican-party-united-states-senate-cb608d31f591fd06ec2fd753f122f6cb">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;in January to add penalties, but it's not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.

Opponents also said if the legislation passes, doctors would be forced into futile and expensive attempts to prolong dying infants' lives, and those medical interventions would deny parents opportunities to hold dying babies and to say goodbye. The same argument was made ahead of Montana's vote.

Such laws also don't tell doctors when they are allowed to stop medical interventions for a dying infant, said Hillary-Anne Crosby, who coordinated the campaign against Montana's proposed law. She said doctors would be forced to choose between medically appropriate care in line with a family's wishes and “safe” actions that avoid legal problems.

Supporters of the Kansas bill rejected such arguments.

State Rep. Leah Howell, a Wichita-area Republican who voted for the bill, said she had a baby die in the 20th week of pregnancy.

“Believe me, when this bill came to my attention, the very first thing I checked for was that this law would allow moms to hold their dying babies in their arms and tell them they loved them and to say goodbye,” she said, her voice wavering.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676472736553.png" alt="“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from Lawrence.-photo by Rachel Mipro" />
 <figcaption>“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from Lawrence.-photo by Rachel Mipro</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas proposal based on the disputed claim that providers leave infants to die after they're born during certain types of abortions is nearing legislative approval, as Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">pursue limited anti-abortion measures</a>&nbsp;following a decisive statewide vote last year protecting abortion rights.The Kansas House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230322112750_777056/">voted 88-34</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2313_00_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;declaring that when there's a live birth during an abortion procedure, medical personnel must take the same steps to preserve the newborn’s life as “a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births. The law would apply to any “complete expulsion or extraction” of a fetus from the mother, including labor and delivery abortions during which a doctor induces labor. The measure is similar to a proposed Montana law that voters there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November</a>&nbsp;and laws in 18 states, including Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Texas.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court declared in June</a>&nbsp;that states can ban abortion, and the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has long had strong anti-abortion majorities in both chambers. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;protected abortion rights and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to the state constitution to overturn that decision and give lawmakers the power to greatly restrict or ban abortion.Supporters of the “born-alive infants protection” bill argued during a House debate Tuesday that the measure would survive a court challenge because it doesn't limit abortion itself. But a few Republicans touched on their moral opposition to abortion as a reason for backing the bill.“If you truly want to hold effective conversations about the indiscriminate and brutal acts of violence in our society today, we must teach others to hold life as precious and sacred," state Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, a Republican from northeastern Kansas, said during a debate Tuesday before voting for the bill Wednesday.Abortion providers and abortion rights advocates contend measures like the ones in Kansas and Montana are designed only to give abortion care a false and negative public image. They also argue that current state laws against homicide and child neglect, as well as laws on doctors’ duties, are sufficient to address any real problems.House passage sent the measure to the Senate, where GOP leaders have also signaled that they see it as a priority.“I pray for the day where we would stop killing our own children and ask God for forgiveness and mercy,” said southeastern Kansas Rep. Trevor Jacobs, explaining his “yes” vote along with six other GOP conservatives.Supporters of the bill portrayed it as saving infants born during unsuccessful or botched abortions. But it would apply to cases in which doctors induce labor to deliver a fetus that won't survive outside the womb, often because of a severe medical issue, with the expectation that the newborn will die within minutes or even seconds.Like the laws in the 18 other states, the Kansas measure would require the hospitalization of infants born during unsuccessful abortions and impose criminal penalties for doctors who don’t try to save them. In Kansas, failing to attempt to save such a newborn would be a felony, punishable by a year's probation for a first-time offender.“This bill takes away the right of a mother to make her own private medical decisions in the most complicated and heartbreaking of cases,” state Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, a Kansas City-area Democrat, said, explaining her “no” vote Wednesday. “This is a right the overwhelming majority of Kansans voted to protect.”Like most states, Kansas doesn’t collect data on births during induced abortion procedures.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of the more than 600,000 abortions a year occur after the 21st week of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says almost no fetuses are viable before the 23rd week of pregnancy.Kansas law bans most abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy, and no abortions after that point have been reported since at least 2016.Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for Wichita abortion clinic operator Trust Women, said the facility has never seen an abortion result in a live birth in the nearly 10 years the clinic has been open.“This is just this fantasy,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “It’s simply not true that there’s any kind of danger of this happening.”Not providing this care after unsuccessful abortions was already outlawed under a 2002 U.S. law, but it doesn't contain criminal penalties. The Republican-led U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-us-republican-party-united-states-senate-cb608d31f591fd06ec2fd753f122f6cb">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;in January to add penalties, but it's not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.Opponents also said if the legislation passes, doctors would be forced into futile and expensive attempts to prolong dying infants' lives, and those medical interventions would deny parents opportunities to hold dying babies and to say goodbye. The same argument was made ahead of Montana's vote.Such laws also don't tell doctors when they are allowed to stop medical interventions for a dying infant, said Hillary-Anne Crosby, who coordinated the campaign against Montana's proposed law. She said doctors would be forced to choose between medically appropriate care in line with a family's wishes and “safe” actions that avoid legal problems.Supporters of the Kansas bill rejected such arguments.State Rep. Leah Howell, a Wichita-area Republican who voted for the bill, said she had a baby die in the 20th week of pregnancy.“Believe me, when this bill came to my attention, the very first thing I checked for was that this law would allow moms to hold their dying babies in their arms and tell them they loved them and to say goodbye,” she said, her voice wavering.___

Kansas lawmakers near approval of 'born alive' abortion bill

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Highlander driven by&nbsp; Donald J. Svita, 70, Pueblo, Colorado, was eastbound on Kansas 140 at Kansas 156, a mile and a half south of Ellsworth.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A southbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Luke W. Johnson, 39, Randolph, struck the SUV.

EMS transported both drivers to Ellsworth Medical Center where Svita was pronounced deceased. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Wednesday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Highlander driven by&nbsp; Donald J. Svita, 70, Pueblo, Colorado, was eastbound on Kansas 140 at Kansas 156, a mile and a half south of Ellsworth.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A southbound 2006 Peterbilt semi driven by Luke W. Johnson, 39, Randolph, struck the SUV.EMS transported both drivers to Ellsworth Medical Center where Svita was pronounced deceased. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Driver missed stop sign, dies after 2-vehicle Kan. crash

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/21/kansas-lawmaker-asks-for-security-during-anti-vaccination-bill-hearing-i-dont-feel-comfortable/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 —&nbsp; A lawmaker asked for security during a hearing on anti-vaccination 
legislation after one of the speakers asked Republicans to “follow their
 hearts.”

During a crowded Tuesday Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee hearing, audience members applauded proponents of a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb315/">wide-ranging vaccination exemption bill</a>,
 despite Committee chairwoman Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, repeatedly
 reminding the audience they weren’t allowed to clap during testimony. 
Sen. Kristen O’Shea, a Topeka Republican, at one point said she didn’t 
feel comfortable in the room, which prompted outbursts and laughter.

&nbsp;The hearing lasted about half
 an hour, with Gossage asking speakers and lawmakers to keep comments 
brief.&nbsp; Several of the speakers, who said the bill would allow personal 
freedom and stop excessive governmental regulations,&nbsp; tried to speak 
over Gossage when she told them their testimony time had ended.

Lenexa resident Lauren Shiffman, who spoke in favor of the bill,&nbsp; 
said she had almost lost her job due to her anti-vaccination stance.

“I speak to the Republicans in this room, especially one over here, 
please follow your party,” Shiffman said, urging lawmakers to approve 
the bill.

“Let’s not do that,” Gossage said, telling the audience again to stop
 clapping after Shiffman’s speech. O’Shea then spoke up about her safety
 concerns.

Gossage tried to move on to the next proponent, but O’Shea interrupted the testimony to ask for security.

“We just don’t have time,” Gossage said, before having a reporter 
bring the security guard standing outside of the door inside the room.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb315/">The bill in question </a>would
 require employers to grant exemptions from vaccine requirements without
 questioning the need for the exemption. Any immunization, vaccination, 
injection or series of injections meant to provide immunity against 
diseases would be included in the exemption list.&nbsp;

Kansas vaccine requirements are 
controlled at the state level. Despite a rising anti-vaccination 
movement, COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines have been repeatedly 
proven safe and effective.&nbsp;

Vaccine r<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21272/2022-2023-School-Requirement-K-12-PDF">equirements in Kansas</a> for children attending school include shots for polio, hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps and rubella, among others.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496768844.png" alt="Sen. Beverly Gossage, committee chairwoman, commented on security concerns after a Tuesday, March 21, Senate committee hearing. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Beverly Gossage, committee chairwoman, commented on security concerns after a Tuesday, March 21, Senate committee hearing. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/21/kansas-lawmaker-asks-for-security-during-anti-vaccination-bill-hearing-i-dont-feel-comfortable/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 —&nbsp; A lawmaker asked for security during a hearing on anti-vaccination 
legislation after one of the speakers asked Republicans to “follow their
 hearts.”During a crowded Tuesday Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee hearing, audience members applauded proponents of a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb315/">wide-ranging vaccination exemption bill</a>,
 despite Committee chairwoman Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, repeatedly
 reminding the audience they weren’t allowed to clap during testimony. 
Sen. Kristen O’Shea, a Topeka Republican, at one point said she didn’t 
feel comfortable in the room, which prompted outbursts and laughter.&nbsp;The hearing lasted about half
 an hour, with Gossage asking speakers and lawmakers to keep comments 
brief.&nbsp; Several of the speakers, who said the bill would allow personal 
freedom and stop excessive governmental regulations,&nbsp; tried to speak 
over Gossage when she told them their testimony time had ended.Lenexa resident Lauren Shiffman, who spoke in favor of the bill,&nbsp; 
said she had almost lost her job due to her anti-vaccination stance.“I speak to the Republicans in this room, especially one over here, 
please follow your party,” Shiffman said, urging lawmakers to approve 
the bill.“Let’s not do that,” Gossage said, telling the audience again to stop
 clapping after Shiffman’s speech. O’Shea then spoke up about her safety
 concerns.Gossage tried to move on to the next proponent, but O’Shea interrupted the testimony to ask for security.“We just don’t have time,” Gossage said, before having a reporter 
bring the security guard standing outside of the door inside the room.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb315/">The bill in question </a>would
 require employers to grant exemptions from vaccine requirements without
 questioning the need for the exemption. Any immunization, vaccination, 
injection or series of injections meant to provide immunity against 
diseases would be included in the exemption list.&nbsp;Kansas vaccine requirements are 
controlled at the state level. Despite a rising anti-vaccination 
movement, COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines have been repeatedly 
proven safe and effective.&nbsp;Vaccine r<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21272/2022-2023-School-Requirement-K-12-PDF">equirements in Kansas</a> for children attending school include shots for polio, hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps and rubella, among others.&nbsp;Opponents of the legislation said the
 broadened vaccine exemption could have a damaging effect on Kansans’ 
health and cause an increase in infectious diseases. Geovannie Goné, who
 spoke on behalf of the Immunize Kansas Coalition, highlighted those who
 work with vulnerable populations, such as hospitalized people and young
 children.&nbsp;“Consider the impacts on hospitals, 
long-term care, and our most vulnerable Kansans, especially for those at
 high risk for contracting and having complications from 
vaccine-preventable diseases,” Goné said.&nbsp;Another part of the bill would repeal
 the meningitis vaccine requirement for students living in campus 
housing. Maternity centers, child care facilities and schools would also
 have to accept vaccine exemptions on the basis of religious beliefs 
without questioning the sincerity of the request.&nbsp;When asked about security concerns in
 an interview following the hearing, Gossage said one of the speakers 
had come up to her in tears after the meeting, apologizing for not being
 calm. Gossage said she told the woman to apologize to O’Shea.&nbsp;“She said ‘I lost my cool, I’m sorry,
 I should not have done that, I’m not like that.’ I said, ‘You need to 
go say that to Sen. O’Shea,’ ” Gossage said.