PAWNEE COUNTY —A special question regarding Liquor by the Drink in Pawnee County will appear on the backside of the Pawnee County Nov. 5, 2024, General Election ballot.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Currently all licensed drinking establishments in Pawnee that offer alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink are required to derive at least 30 percent of their gross receipts from the sales of food.

In February, the Board of County Commissioners of Pawnee County determined that the voters should be given a choice as to the appropriate restriction to the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink in Pawnee County.

A vote of YES would eliminate the 30 percent food sales requirement. A Vote of NO would maintain the current 30 percent food sales requirement.

If passed, the new liquor by the drink rule would become effective Jan. 1, 2025.&nbsp;Advanced voting starts next week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728499456312.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A special question regarding Liquor by the Drink in Pawnee County will appear on the backside of the Pawnee County Nov. 5, 2024, General Election ballot.&nbsp;&nbsp;Currently all licensed drinking establishments in Pawnee that offer alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink are required to derive at least 30 percent of their gross receipts from the sales of food.In February, the Board of County Commissioners of Pawnee County determined that the voters should be given a choice as to the appropriate restriction to the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption by the individual drink in Pawnee County.A vote of YES would eliminate the 30 percent food sales requirement. A Vote of NO would maintain the current 30 percent food sales requirement.If passed, the new liquor by the drink rule would become effective Jan. 1, 2025.&nbsp;Advanced voting starts next week.

Liquor by the drink on the ballot in one Kansas county

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday.

The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees translates to an average increase of more than $50 for retirees every month, agency officials said.

About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2023/fast_facts23.html">72.5 million</a>&nbsp;people, including retirees, disabled people and children, get Social Security benefit.

Commissioner Martin O’Malley said the adjustment will help “tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool."

But even before the announcement, retirees voiced concern that the increase would not be enough to counter rising costs.

Sherri Myers, an 82-year-old retiree from Pensacola City, Florida, is now hoping to get an hourly job at Walmart to help make ends meet.

“I would like to eat good but I can’t. When I’m at the grocery store, I just walk past the vegetables because they are too expensive. I have to be very selective about what I eat — even McDonald’s is expensive,” she said.

Recipients received a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cost-of-living-adjustment-cola-ef9255c0da3c3d2391dadac4515db2e7">3.2% increase in their benefits</a>&nbsp;in 2024, after a historically large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-8778d4aa9da4102edc79762ea622196f">8.7% benefit increase</a>&nbsp;in 2023, brought on by record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/inflation">40-year-high inflation</a>.

The smaller increase for 2025 reflects moderating inflation.

The agency will begin notifying recipients about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December. Adjusted payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income will begin on December 31.

The program is financed by payroll taxes collected from workers and their employers and that is slated to increase to $176,100. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes was $168,600 for 2024, up from $160,200 in 2023.

The announcement comes as the national social insurance plan faces a severe financial shortfall in the coming years.

The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-medicare-entitlements-treasury-35a2913a3f21a3b0ff40f2c88cbf9cbc">report released in May</a>&nbsp;said the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. If the trust fund is depleted, the government will be able to pay only 83% of scheduled benefits, the report said.

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said in a statement that “there is more we must do to ensure older Americans can continue to count on Social Security. AARP continues to call on Congress to take bipartisan action to strengthen Social Security and secure a long-term solution that Americans can rely on.”

The presidential candidates, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, have presented dueling plans on how they would strengthen Social Security.

AARP conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2024/harris-trump-election-issues.html">interviews with both Harris and Trump in late August</a>&nbsp;and asked how the candidates would protect the Social Security Trust Fund.

Harris said she would make up for the shortfall by “making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes and use that money to protect and strengthen Social Security for the long haul.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday.The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees translates to an average increase of more than $50 for retirees every month, agency officials said.About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2023/fast_facts23.html">72.5 million</a>&nbsp;people, including retirees, disabled people and children, get Social Security benefit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728570541677.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Commissioner Martin O’Malley said the adjustment will help “tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728570588387.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But even before the announcement, retirees voiced concern that the increase would not be enough to counter rising costs.Sherri Myers, an 82-year-old retiree from Pensacola City, Florida, is now hoping to get an hourly job at Walmart to help make ends meet.“I would like to eat good but I can’t. When I’m at the grocery store, I just walk past the vegetables because they are too expensive. I have to be very selective about what I eat — even McDonald’s is expensive,” she said.Recipients received a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cost-of-living-adjustment-cola-ef9255c0da3c3d2391dadac4515db2e7">3.2% increase in their benefits</a>&nbsp;in 2024, after a historically large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-cola-increase-8778d4aa9da4102edc79762ea622196f">8.7% benefit increase</a>&nbsp;in 2023, brought on by record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/inflation">40-year-high inflation</a>.The smaller increase for 2025 reflects moderating inflation.The agency will begin notifying recipients about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December. Adjusted payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income will begin on December 31.The program is financed by payroll taxes collected from workers and their employers and that is slated to increase to $176,100. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes was $168,600 for 2024, up from $160,200 in 2023.The announcement comes as the national social insurance plan faces a severe financial shortfall in the coming years.The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-medicare-entitlements-treasury-35a2913a3f21a3b0ff40f2c88cbf9cbc">report released in May</a>&nbsp;said the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. If the trust fund is depleted, the government will be able to pay only 83% of scheduled benefits, the report said.AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said in a statement that “there is more we must do to ensure older Americans can continue to count on Social Security. AARP continues to call on Congress to take bipartisan action to strengthen Social Security and secure a long-term solution that Americans can rely on.”The presidential candidates, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, have presented dueling plans on how they would strengthen Social Security.AARP conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2024/harris-trump-election-issues.html">interviews with both Harris and Trump in late August</a>&nbsp;and asked how the candidates would protect the Social Security Trust Fund.Harris said she would make up for the shortfall by “making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes and use that money to protect and strengthen Social Security for the long haul.”

Social Security confirms 2025 cost of living increase

TAMPA, Florida —The City of Pratt sent 5 of their linemen to assist with hurricane relief in the south. They are set to arrive shortly after hurricane Milton. "We are very proud of our brave team for stepping up. Stay safe!"

&nbsp;According to the Associated Press,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milton-florida-hurricane-d40b1e47fd78844bf1ed528bab5099f1">Hurricane Milton</a>&nbsp;barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-tornadoes-florida-deaths-climate-change-oceans-f197c258022c189c6ce8bc59dc88223e">barrage of tornadoes</a>. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.

The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches (41 centimeters) of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding there as well as other parts of western and central Florida.

As dawn broke Thursday, officials repeated that the danger had not passed: Storm surge remained a concern in many parts of Florida and tropical storm warnings were in place for much of the east-central coast. Officials in the hard-hit counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee urged people to stay home, warning of downed power lines, trees in roads, blocked bridges and flooding.

“We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out,” Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, said on Facebook.

Though the deadly storm surge feared for Tampa appears not to have materialized, the city saw flooding from rain. Farther south, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported localized flooding and storm surge, and Lorraine Anderson, the public information officer for Venice Beach, said on CNN that the area saw an estimated 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2 meters) of storm surge, far below the feared 15.

The storm knocked out power across a large section of Florida, with more than 3.2 million homes and businesses without electricity, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://poweroutage.us/">poweroutage.us</a>, which tracks utility reports.

The fabric that serves as the roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in St. Petersburg, was ripped to shreds by the fierce winds. It was not immediately clear if there was damage inside. Multiple cranes were also toppled in the storm, the weather service said.

St. Petersburg residents also could no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service. Mayor Ken Welch had told residents to expect long power outages and the possible shutdown of the sewer system.

Just inland from Tampa, the flooding in Plant City was “absolutely staggering,” according City Manager Bill McDaniel. Emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight, said McDaniel, who estimated the city had received 13.5 inches (34 cm) of rain.

"We have flooding in places and to levels that I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived in this community for my entire life,” he said in a video posted online Thursday morning.

Before Milton even made landfall, heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. One twister touched down in the lightly populated Everglades and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NWSMiami/status/1844017185817342101">crossed Interstate 75.</a>&nbsp;Another apparent tornado hit in Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and tearing a gas station’s canopy to shreds.

The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was hit particularly hard, with homes destroyed and some residents killed.

Four people were killed in tornadoes there, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said.

About 125 homes were destroyed before the hurricane came ashore, many of them mobile homes in communities for senior citizens, said Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

About 90 minutes after making landfall, Milton was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. By early Thursday, the hurricane was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of about 85 mph (135 kph) and leaving the state near Cape Canaveral.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fema-misinformation-helene-milton-hurricane-aid-recovery-468b036784b1db05937e9a34d0146041">The storm slammed into a region</a>&nbsp;still reeling two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-826effecab238ff0acf0556ad64b0df2">Hurricane Helene</a>&nbsp;flooded streets and homes in western Florida and left at least 230 people dead across the South. In many places along the coast, municipalities raced to collect and dispose of debris before Milton’s winds and storm surge could toss it around and compound any damage.

Officials had issued dire warnings to flee or face grim odds of survival. By late afternoon, some officials said the time had passed for such efforts, suggesting that people who stayed behind hunker down instead.

Jackie Curnick said she wrestled with her decision to stay at home in Sarasota, just north of where the storm made landfall. She and her husband started packing Monday to evacuate, but they struggled to find available hotel rooms, and the few they came by were too expensive.

With a 2-year-old son and a baby girl due Oct. 29, Curnick said there were too many unanswered questions if they got in the car and left: where to sleep, if they’d be able to fill up their gas tank, and if they could even find a safe route out of the state.

Video taken during the storm showed howling winds and sheets of rain lashing their glass-enclosed swimming pool as their son and dog watched. Trees shook violently.

“The thing is it’s so difficult to evacuate in a peninsula,” she said ahead of the storm. “In most other states, you can go in any direction to get out. In Florida, there are only so many roads that take you north or south."

At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating.

“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis said.

Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people. In Orlando,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-milton-florida-theme-parks-orlando-383cbb4c442aef52650dbab028eb949d">Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World remained closed</a>&nbsp;Thursday.

More than 60% of gas stations in Tampa and St. Petersburg were out of gas Wednesday night, according to GasBuddy, though DeSantis said the state’s overall supply was fine.

Officials warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, because first responders were not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.

In Charlotte Harbor, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, clouds swirled and winds gusted as Josh Parks packed his Kia sedan with clothes and other belongings Wednesday. Two weeks ago, Helene’s surge brought about 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water to the neighborhood, and its streets remain filled with waterlogged furniture, torn-out drywall and other debris.

Parks, an auto technician, planned to flee to his daughter’s home inland and said his roommate already left.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728561808320.png" alt="Linemen John Giggy, Ethan Tilley, Gavin McAllister, Ruben Rayas, and Ty Weilert.-Photo courtesy city of Pratt" />
 <figcaption>Linemen John Giggy, Ethan Tilley, Gavin McAllister, Ruben Rayas, and Ty Weilert.-Photo courtesy city of Pratt</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Florida —The City of Pratt sent 5 of their linemen to assist with hurricane relief in the south. They are set to arrive shortly after hurricane Milton. "We are very proud of our brave team for stepping up. Stay safe!"&nbsp;According to the Associated Press,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milton-florida-hurricane-d40b1e47fd78844bf1ed528bab5099f1">Hurricane Milton</a>&nbsp;barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-tornadoes-florida-deaths-climate-change-oceans-f197c258022c189c6ce8bc59dc88223e">barrage of tornadoes</a>. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches (41 centimeters) of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding there as well as other parts of western and central Florida.As dawn broke Thursday, officials repeated that the danger had not passed: Storm surge remained a concern in many parts of Florida and tropical storm warnings were in place for much of the east-central coast. Officials in the hard-hit counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee urged people to stay home, warning of downed power lines, trees in roads, blocked bridges and flooding.“We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out,” Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, said on Facebook.Though the deadly storm surge feared for Tampa appears not to have materialized, the city saw flooding from rain. Farther south, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported localized flooding and storm surge, and Lorraine Anderson, the public information officer for Venice Beach, said on CNN that the area saw an estimated 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2 meters) of storm surge, far below the feared 15.The storm knocked out power across a large section of Florida, with more than 3.2 million homes and businesses without electricity, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://poweroutage.us/">poweroutage.us</a>, which tracks utility reports.The fabric that serves as the roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in St. Petersburg, was ripped to shreds by the fierce winds. It was not immediately clear if there was damage inside. Multiple cranes were also toppled in the storm, the weather service said.St. Petersburg residents also could no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service. Mayor Ken Welch had told residents to expect long power outages and the possible shutdown of the sewer system.Just inland from Tampa, the flooding in Plant City was “absolutely staggering,” according City Manager Bill McDaniel. Emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight, said McDaniel, who estimated the city had received 13.5 inches (34 cm) of rain."We have flooding in places and to levels that I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived in this community for my entire life,” he said in a video posted online Thursday morning.Before Milton even made landfall, heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. One twister touched down in the lightly populated Everglades and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NWSMiami/status/1844017185817342101">crossed Interstate 75.</a>&nbsp;Another apparent tornado hit in Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and tearing a gas station’s canopy to shreds.The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was hit particularly hard, with homes destroyed and some residents killed.Four people were killed in tornadoes there, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said.About 125 homes were destroyed before the hurricane came ashore, many of them mobile homes in communities for senior citizens, said Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.About 90 minutes after making landfall, Milton was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. By early Thursday, the hurricane was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of about 85 mph (135 kph) and leaving the state near Cape Canaveral.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fema-misinformation-helene-milton-hurricane-aid-recovery-468b036784b1db05937e9a34d0146041">The storm slammed into a region</a>&nbsp;still reeling two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-826effecab238ff0acf0556ad64b0df2">Hurricane Helene</a>&nbsp;flooded streets and homes in western Florida and left at least 230 people dead across the South. In many places along the coast, municipalities raced to collect and dispose of debris before Milton’s winds and storm surge could toss it around and compound any damage.Officials had issued dire warnings to flee or face grim odds of survival. By late afternoon, some officials said the time had passed for such efforts, suggesting that people who stayed behind hunker down instead.Jackie Curnick said she wrestled with her decision to stay at home in Sarasota, just north of where the storm made landfall. She and her husband started packing Monday to evacuate, but they struggled to find available hotel rooms, and the few they came by were too expensive.With a 2-year-old son and a baby girl due Oct. 29, Curnick said there were too many unanswered questions if they got in the car and left: where to sleep, if they’d be able to fill up their gas tank, and if they could even find a safe route out of the state.Video taken during the storm showed howling winds and sheets of rain lashing their glass-enclosed swimming pool as their son and dog watched. Trees shook violently.“The thing is it’s so difficult to evacuate in a peninsula,” she said ahead of the storm. “In most other states, you can go in any direction to get out. In Florida, there are only so many roads that take you north or south."At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating.“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis said.Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of about 7.2 million people. In Orlando,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-milton-florida-theme-parks-orlando-383cbb4c442aef52650dbab028eb949d">Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World remained closed</a>&nbsp;Thursday.More than 60% of gas stations in Tampa and St. Petersburg were out of gas Wednesday night, according to GasBuddy, though DeSantis said the state’s overall supply was fine.Officials warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, because first responders were not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.In Charlotte Harbor, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, clouds swirled and winds gusted as Josh Parks packed his Kia sedan with clothes and other belongings Wednesday. Two weeks ago, Helene’s surge brought about 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water to the neighborhood, and its streets remain filled with waterlogged furniture, torn-out drywall and other debris.Parks, an auto technician, planned to flee to his daughter’s home inland and said his roommate already left.

Kansas linemen working Hurricane Milton relief in Florida

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a teen to the hospital in critical condition and his mother, identified as 46-year-old Tesha L. Florence as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=168822">identified by booking records</a> to jail.

Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from Florence reporting that she shot her son, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Police, Sedgwick County EMS and Wichita Fire Department personnel, responded to the scene. 

First responders located a 16-year-old boy inside an apartment with a single gunshot wound. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was extremely critical condition.

Officers detained a 46-year-old Florence of Wichita who is the victim’s mother. During the investigation into this case, detectives learned of a previously unreported incident from March 2024 where Florence threatened an ex-husband and his current girlfriend with a gun. 

Just after 4:30p.m. Wednesday, Florence was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault

Investigators continue to gather information and the facts will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728555306481.png" alt="Florence photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Florence photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a teen to the hospital in critical condition and his mother, identified as 46-year-old Tesha L. Florence as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=168822">identified by booking records</a> to jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728510375843.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from Florence reporting that she shot her son, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.Police, Sedgwick County EMS and Wichita Fire Department personnel, responded to the scene. First responders located a 16-year-old boy inside an apartment with a single gunshot wound. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was extremely critical condition.Officers detained a 46-year-old Florence of Wichita who is the victim’s mother. During the investigation into this case, detectives learned of a previously unreported incident from March 2024 where Florence threatened an ex-husband and his current girlfriend with a gun. Just after 4:30p.m. Wednesday, Florence was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault Domestic Violence and Aggravated AssaultInvestigators continue to gather information and the facts will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration.&nbsp;

Kan. woman who called 911 after shooting her son identified

BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas pilot avoided injury in a crash after a landing just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2026 Fixed wing-single engine Zodiac piloted by Randall Dean&nbsp;McFarland, 68, Augusta, landed in a private landing strip at&nbsp;11157 SW 75th Street just west of SW Santa Fe Lake Road.

The pilot lost control of the airplane and it struck a fence. McFarland was not injured. The KHP released no additional details.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728554708344.png" alt="Location of the crash-Google map" />
 <figcaption>Location of the crash-Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas pilot avoided injury in a crash after a landing just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2026 Fixed wing-single engine Zodiac piloted by Randall Dean&nbsp;McFarland, 68, Augusta, landed in a private landing strip at&nbsp;11157 SW 75th Street just west of SW Santa Fe Lake Road.The pilot lost control of the airplane and it struck a fence. McFarland was not injured. The KHP released no additional details.&nbsp;

Small plane crashed into fence after landing in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday blasted his predecessor for spreading an “onslaught of lies” about how the federal government is handling the damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-helene">Hurricane Helene</a>&nbsp;as another hurricane,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-milton-tampa-florida-08bde4b9c29460f471d43c6512821c93">Milton</a>, was on the verge of making landfall in Florida.

“Quite frankly, these lies are un-American,” Biden said from the White House. “Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;has led this onslaught of lies.”

Biden said that Donald Trump and his allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-trump-musk-conspiracy-theories-misinformation-fe81869765d778ac2ff3dc5f9ac18e10">misrepresented the response and resources</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The president singled out Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia who claimed the federal government could control the weather.

Asked why he believed his Republican opponents were not talking accurately about the government’s response, Biden said, “I don’t know. I simply don’t know. ... I use a phrase more than I did in my whole career, un-American. It’s un-American. It’s not who in the hell we are.”

The president talked about the potential damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/hurricane-milton-florida-tracker-updates">Hurricane Milton</a>&nbsp;and encouraged people near its path to seek shelter. Biden said the government had staged 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in anticipation of the storm and that military units were ready with search and rescue teams to help victims of it.

“We’ve got your back,” Biden said, then referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him in July at the top of the presidential ticket: “Kamala and I will be there for as long as it takes to rescue, recover and rebuild.”

Bristling at misinformation is something Biden and Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-hurricane-helene-misinformation-552e413dfb6c1b3e37eca0d2114668ea">have done</a>&nbsp;a lot of lately, including earlier Wednesday during a virtual briefing at the White House on federal preparations for Milton. The president had even harsher words for Greene then, saying her comments on the weather were “beyond ridiculous.”

“It’s gotta stop,” Biden said, adding that such assertions were “off the wall” and “like out of a comic book.”

Still, most of his criticism has been directed at Trump. At rallies for November’s presidential election, the former president has sought to energize his voters by criticizing how Biden and Harris have handled the response to the severe weather.

At a recent rally in Wisconsin, Trump said it was worse than the government’s response in 2005 to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-katrina">Hurricane Katrina</a>, which resulted in 1,392 fatalities. By contrast, Hurricane Helene has resulted in roughly 230 deaths.

“This is the worst response to a storm or a catastrophe or a hurricane that we’ve ever seen, ever,” Trump said. “Probably worse than Katrina, and that’s hard to beat, right?”

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday blasted his predecessor for spreading an “onslaught of lies” about how the federal government is handling the damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-helene">Hurricane Helene</a>&nbsp;as another hurricane,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-milton-tampa-florida-08bde4b9c29460f471d43c6512821c93">Milton</a>, was on the verge of making landfall in Florida.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;At this point, evacuation is probably difficult, so I encourage people to look for safer shelter. Sometimes moving just a few miles can mean the difference between life and death.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SFNsukLnAl">pic.twitter.com/SFNsukLnAl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1844152480541598154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Quite frankly, these lies are un-American,” Biden said from the White House. “Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;has led this onslaught of lies.”Biden said that Donald Trump and his allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-trump-musk-conspiracy-theories-misinformation-fe81869765d778ac2ff3dc5f9ac18e10">misrepresented the response and resources</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The president singled out Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia who claimed the federal government could control the weather.Asked why he believed his Republican opponents were not talking accurately about the government’s response, Biden said, “I don’t know. I simply don’t know. ... I use a phrase more than I did in my whole career, un-American. It’s un-American. It’s not who in the hell we are.”The president talked about the potential damage from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/hurricane-milton-florida-tracker-updates">Hurricane Milton</a>&nbsp;and encouraged people near its path to seek shelter. Biden said the government had staged 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in anticipation of the storm and that military units were ready with search and rescue teams to help victims of it.“We’ve got your back,” Biden said, then referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him in July at the top of the presidential ticket: “Kamala and I will be there for as long as it takes to rescue, recover and rebuild.”Bristling at misinformation is something Biden and Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-hurricane-helene-misinformation-552e413dfb6c1b3e37eca0d2114668ea">have done</a>&nbsp;a lot of lately, including earlier Wednesday during a virtual briefing at the White House on federal preparations for Milton. The president had even harsher words for Greene then, saying her comments on the weather were “beyond ridiculous.”“It’s gotta stop,” Biden said, adding that such assertions were “off the wall” and “like out of a comic book.”Still, most of his criticism has been directed at Trump. At rallies for November’s presidential election, the former president has sought to energize his voters by criticizing how Biden and Harris have handled the response to the severe weather.At a recent rally in Wisconsin, Trump said it was worse than the government’s response in 2005 to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-katrina">Hurricane Katrina</a>, which resulted in 1,392 fatalities. By contrast, Hurricane Helene has resulted in roughly 230 deaths.“This is the worst response to a storm or a catastrophe or a hurricane that we’ve ever seen, ever,” Trump said. “Probably worse than Katrina, and that’s hard to beat, right?”

🎥Biden condemns ‘un-American’ ‘lies’ about federal storm response 

KANSAS CITY– A physical therapist who owns a clinic in California was sentenced in federal court this week for distributing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Esteban E. Manale, 47, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

Manale, the owner of a physical therapy clinic in Bellflower, Calif., pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to three counts of distributing child pornography. Manale admitted that on three separate occasions in August 2022 he sent images of child pornography to an undercover FBI task force officer whom he believed to be a Missouri woman he met online through a dating application.

Manale originally contacted a woman in Missouri on a dating application in August 2022. He told her that he worked at a physical therapy clinic primarily dealing with athletes, including minor females who were cheerleaders and volleyball players. He stated that he would get touchy with the athletes and liked to flirt with all of the girls who came to the clinic, and disclosed that he has had sex with patients at the clinic. He indicated that he liked children and had slept with a 13-year-old girl he met at the beach. He talked about his fascination with Ted Bundy, said he wanted to “use a rope to choke a young one,” use “knife play,” and “rape a young virgin girl while her mom watches me” while the mother is tied up.

The Missouri woman contacted law enforcement. An undercover officer assumed her identity and continued to communicate with Manale. In those conversations, Manale told the undercover officer that he had sexual contact with “preteens about 10 times,” defining them as being between 10 and 13 years old, and claimed to also have sexual contact “with older teens and about 20 plus.” In one communication, Manale claimed that he visited malls to “hunt” for young, cute girls over the weekend.

Manale discussed his desire to come to Kansas City to meet the undercover officer’s purported 8-year-old niece and have her record the encounter. He sent images of child pornography to the undercover officer via social media from Aug. 22, 2022, through Nov. 9, 2022.

On Dec. 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Manale’s residence and seized three cell phones. Two of the phones were hidden on top of the bathroom vanity, in a small space that was difficult to access. Investigators found 507 images and 154 videos of child pornography on those two cell phones.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Los Angeles, Calif., Sheriff’s Department.

KANSAS CITY– A physical therapist who owns a clinic in California was sentenced in federal court this week for distributing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Esteban E. Manale, 47, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 12 years in federal prison without parole.Manale, the owner of a physical therapy clinic in Bellflower, Calif., pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024, to three counts of distributing child pornography. Manale admitted that on three separate occasions in August 2022 he sent images of child pornography to an undercover FBI task force officer whom he believed to be a Missouri woman he met online through a dating application.Manale originally contacted a woman in Missouri on a dating application in August 2022. He told her that he worked at a physical therapy clinic primarily dealing with athletes, including minor females who were cheerleaders and volleyball players. He stated that he would get touchy with the athletes and liked to flirt with all of the girls who came to the clinic, and disclosed that he has had sex with patients at the clinic. He indicated that he liked children and had slept with a 13-year-old girl he met at the beach. He talked about his fascination with Ted Bundy, said he wanted to “use a rope to choke a young one,” use “knife play,” and “rape a young virgin girl while her mom watches me” while the mother is tied up.The Missouri woman contacted law enforcement. An undercover officer assumed her identity and continued to communicate with Manale. In those conversations, Manale told the undercover officer that he had sexual contact with “preteens about 10 times,” defining them as being between 10 and 13 years old, and claimed to also have sexual contact “with older teens and about 20 plus.” In one communication, Manale claimed that he visited malls to “hunt” for young, cute girls over the weekend.Manale discussed his desire to come to Kansas City to meet the undercover officer’s purported 8-year-old niece and have her record the encounter. He sent images of child pornography to the undercover officer via social media from Aug. 22, 2022, through Nov. 9, 2022.On Dec. 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Manale’s residence and seized three cell phones. Two of the phones were hidden on top of the bathroom vanity, in a small space that was difficult to access. Investigators found 507 images and 154 videos of child pornography on those two cell phones.This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Los Angeles, Calif., Sheriff’s Department.

Physical therapist sent child porn to KCPD undercover officer

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

LAWRENCE — A lecturer at the University of Kansas was placed on administrative leave Wednesday after a video surfaced showing him addressing students saying men who refuse to vote for a woman president because they don’t think women are smart enough to be president should be shot.&nbsp;

The lecturer’s comments were posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday morning and garnered more than 2 million views by afternoon. The video is a recording of a lecture from earlier this semester.&nbsp;

“There are going to be some males in our society that will refuse to vote for a potential female president because they don’t think females are smart enough to be president. We could line all those guys up and shoot ‘em. They clearly don’t understand the way the world works.”&nbsp;

He continued: “Did I say that? Scratch that from the recording. I don’t want the deans hearing that I said that.”&nbsp;

KU’s student newspaper, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansan.com/news/video-of-ku-professor-making-inappropriate-remarks-goes-viral-on-x/article_7076e9c6-865f-11ef-af99-936139c18202.html" target="_blank">University Daily Kansan</a>, identified the lecturer based on online exchanges. A KU representative did not respond to a Kansas Reflector request to confirm the lecturer’s name.

KU issued a statement via&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UnivOfKansas/status/1844066744018796645" target="_blank">X</a>&nbsp;calling the comments an “inappropriate reference to violence,” and confirmed the lecturer was placed on administrative leave.

“The instructor offers his sincerest apologies and deeply regrets the situation. His intent was to emphasize his advocacy for women’s rights and equality, and he recognizes he did a very poor job of doing so,” the statement said.&nbsp;

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall wrote Wednesday afternoon in a post on X, “This guy shouldn’t be within 100 yards of a university and I am calling for his swift termination.”&nbsp;

The senator also called for KU to fire the lecturer.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran called the video “disturbing and inappropriate” in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JerryMoran/status/1844086506744578265" target="_blank">a post on X</a>. He condemned calls for violence in classrooms and emphasized mitigating political rhetoric and valuing respect and civility.

A statement from the Kansas GOP chairman, Mike Brown, misidentified the lecturer in the video and condemned the rhetoric. “Every legislature should examine their funding of programs that allow extremism like this to persist, and every parent should seek institutions aligned with their core values,” Brown said.

Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement that violent rhetoric is unacceptable.

“We must strive to make our classrooms a place where diverse viewpoints are respectfully discussed, and politics is not weaponized to make our students feel unsafe or demonized for having differing opinions,” she said. “I appreciate the university’s swift action to address this matter.”

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KrisKobach1787/status/1844046414176977304" target="_blank">a post on X</a>&nbsp;criticizing the Kansas Board of Regents. He wrote:

“​​KS Regents: We educate leaders, build communities, and make discoveries that change the world.

KU prof: Some males in our society will refuse to vote for a female prez, because they don’t think females are smart enough to be Prez. We could line all those guys up and shoot them.”

Ned Ryun, a conservative pundit and activist and son of former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas, initially posted the 32-second&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/nedryun/status/1843991931530993667" target="_blank">video on X</a>.&nbsp;

A similar incident occurred at KU more than a decade ago when a professor of journalism, David Guth, was placed on administrative leave after making comments critical of the National Rifle Association, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/sep/20/ku-journalism-professor-guth-placed-leave-school-r/" target="_blank">2013 reporting by the Lawrence Journal-World</a>. Guth was not terminated, but he retired in 2019, according to his KU website and his personal résumé.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728508235506.png" alt=" Strong Hall at the University of Kansas on August 22, 2020. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Strong Hall at the University of Kansas on August 22, 2020. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — A lecturer at the University of Kansas was placed on administrative leave Wednesday after a video surfaced showing him addressing students saying men who refuse to vote for a woman president because they don’t think women are smart enough to be president should be shot.&nbsp;The lecturer’s comments were posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday morning and garnered more than 2 million views by afternoon. The video is a recording of a lecture from earlier this semester.&nbsp;In it, the lecturer says the following:“There are going to be some males in our society that will refuse to vote for a potential female president because they don’t think females are smart enough to be president. We could line all those guys up and shoot ‘em. They clearly don’t understand the way the world works.”&nbsp;He continued: “Did I say that? Scratch that from the recording. I don’t want the deans hearing that I said that.”&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Seriously ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/UnivOfKansas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnivOfKansas</a>⁩? You’re letting this be said in your classrooms? That men who won’t vote for Kamala Harris for President should be lined up and shot?? ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JerryMoran</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/7hHihxScEg">pic.twitter.com/7hHihxScEg</a>&mdash; Ned Ryun (@nedryun) <a href="https://twitter.com/nedryun/status/1843991931530993667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>KU’s student newspaper, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansan.com/news/video-of-ku-professor-making-inappropriate-remarks-goes-viral-on-x/article_7076e9c6-865f-11ef-af99-936139c18202.html" target="_blank">University Daily Kansan</a>, identified the lecturer based on online exchanges. A KU representative did not respond to a Kansas Reflector request to confirm the lecturer’s name.KU issued a statement via&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/UnivOfKansas/status/1844066744018796645" target="_blank">X</a>&nbsp;calling the comments an “inappropriate reference to violence,” and confirmed the lecturer was placed on administrative leave.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from the university regarding a classroom video. <a href="https://t.co/SWnmhsNuPa">pic.twitter.com/SWnmhsNuPa</a>&mdash; University of Kansas (@UnivOfKansas) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivOfKansas/status/1844066744018796645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The instructor offers his sincerest apologies and deeply regrets the situation. His intent was to emphasize his advocacy for women’s rights and equality, and he recognizes he did a very poor job of doing so,” the statement said.&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall wrote Wednesday afternoon in a post on X, “This guy shouldn’t be within 100 yards of a university and I am calling for his swift termination.”&nbsp;The senator also called for KU to fire the lecturer.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is disturbing and inappropriate. There should never be a call for violence anytime or anywhere in the classroom. We must cool down the political rhetoric and be respectful and civil to each other, &amp; that is especially true for someone charged with teaching our young people. <a href="https://t.co/SWVnmteC0k">https://t.co/SWVnmteC0k</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1844086506744578265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran called the video “disturbing and inappropriate” in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JerryMoran/status/1844086506744578265" target="_blank">a post on X</a>. He condemned calls for violence in classrooms and emphasized mitigating political rhetoric and valuing respect and civility.A statement from the Kansas GOP chairman, Mike Brown, misidentified the lecturer in the video and condemned the rhetoric. “Every legislature should examine their funding of programs that allow extremism like this to persist, and every parent should seek institutions aligned with their core values,” Brown said.Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement that violent rhetoric is unacceptable.“We must strive to make our classrooms a place where diverse viewpoints are respectfully discussed, and politics is not weaponized to make our students feel unsafe or demonized for having differing opinions,” she said. “I appreciate the university’s swift action to address this matter.”Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KrisKobach1787/status/1844046414176977304" target="_blank">a post on X</a>&nbsp;criticizing the Kansas Board of Regents. He wrote:“​​KS Regents: We educate leaders, build communities, and make discoveries that change the world.KU prof: Some males in our society will refuse to vote for a female prez, because they don’t think females are smart enough to be Prez. We could line all those guys up and shoot them.”Ned Ryun, a conservative pundit and activist and son of former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas, initially posted the 32-second&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/nedryun/status/1843991931530993667" target="_blank">video on X</a>.&nbsp;A similar incident occurred at KU more than a decade ago when a professor of journalism, David Guth, was placed on administrative leave after making comments critical of the National Rifle Association, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/sep/20/ku-journalism-professor-guth-placed-leave-school-r/" target="_blank">2013 reporting by the Lawrence Journal-World</a>. Guth was not terminated, but he retired in 2019, according to his KU website and his personal résumé.

KU lecturer on leave after ‘inappropriate reference to violence’ during class

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks set records Wednesday after the latest wild swerves for Chinese stocks left few ripples in markets worldwide.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.7% to top the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-nikkei-japan-ishiba-rates-0e6b0a4e7dd6dc3499f8984e310ff1a9">all-time high</a>&nbsp;it had set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 431 points, or 1%, to hit its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%.

Leading the way were cruise-ship companies, whose customers stand to benefit from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-87447d5187b37bb0f5cf996e25bad808">surprisingly strong U.S. job market</a>. Norwegian Cruise Line steamed 10.9% higher after analysts at Citi upgraded its stock and said data suggests growth for the cruise industry “has real legs” into 2025 and beyond. Carnival rose 7%, and Royal Caribbean Group gained 5.3%.

Helen of Troy, the company behind Hydro Flask water bottles and OXO kitchen tools, jumped 17.9% after reporting profit and revenue for the latest quarter that were better than analysts expected. That was even though the company said it’s still seeing customers feeling increasingly stretched amid lingering inflation.

KinderCare Learning rose 8.9% in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. It has over 2,400 early childhood education centers and before- and after-school sites across the country for kids aged between six weeks and 12 years.

They helped offset a 3.4% slump for Boeing. The aerospace giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-workers-union-pay-e50b65fbbf34e74b42d4a65ef0d7da76">withdrew a contract offer</a>&nbsp;that would have given striking workers 30% raises over four years following a break down in labor talks.

Alphabet also kept the market’s gains in check after the heavyweight stock sank 1.5%. The U.S. Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-antitrust-case-59114d8bf1dc4c8453c08acaa4051f14">Justice is considering</a>&nbsp;asking a federal judge to break up its Google business after its search engine was declared an illegal monopoly. A breakup is one of many possible remedies under review.

If a breakup were to happen, the question would become what happens with other Big Tech stocks like Amazon, Meta Platforms or Apple, and whether any would try to spin off business units before possibly being forcibly broken apart, according to JJ Kinahan, CEO of IG North America.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 40.91 points to 5,792.04. The Dow jumped 431.63 to 42,512.00, and the Nasdaq composite gained 108.70 to 18,291.62.

The relative calm on Wall Street followed another manic day in China. After earlier surging on hopes for stimulus to prop up the world’s second-largest economy, Chinese stocks have since slumped on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-monetary-fiscal-stimulus-85d066a30085549200cdff18984c343a">disappointment that more isn’t on the way</a>.

Stocks in Shanghai tumbled 6.6% for their worst loss since February 2020, when fears were rising about a virus seen in Wuhan and other cities in China. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 1.4% after dropping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-treasury-china-rates-c1c41b35ddbb4fd0bf93ee93df1f1a2c">more than 9% the day before</a>, which was its worst loss since the global financial crisis of 2008.

Moves announced by China in late September fueled a rally that has since fizzled. But analysts have pointed out that a news conference on Tuesday by China’s main planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, was unlikely to convey much information about government spending, which is the purview of the Finance Ministry.

That ministry is due to hold a briefing on Saturday that could provide further details on planned government outlays that so far have fallen short of what investors have been hoping for.

The Shanghai Composite is still up 9.5% for the year so far, while Hong Kong’s index is up 21.1%.

Indexes were more stable elsewhere around the world on Wednesday and rose 0.9% in Japan and 1% in Germany.

In the oil market, prices eased further. A barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.4% to settle at $73.24 after briefly topping $81 early this week. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 0.8% to $76.58 per barrel.

Earlier leaps for oil driven by worries about worsening tensions in the Middle East had helped drag the S&amp;P 500 on Monday to its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-japan-oil-24925e5840a2491fbc1acc07543bc37d">worst loss in a month</a>.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.07% from 4.01% late Tuesday.

Treasury yields have swung recently, first sharply downward through the spring and summer and then turning upward in the last week or so.

They’ve followed traders’ expectations for what the Federal Reserve is likely to do with overnight interest rates. The central bank has just begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cutting interest rates</a>&nbsp;from a two-decade high, as it widens its focus to include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">keeping the economy humming</a>&nbsp;instead of just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">fighting high inflation</a>.

That caused the sharp easing of rates through the summer, but recent reports have shown the U.S. economy remains stronger than expected. That in turn has forced traders to downshift forecasts for how much the Fed will ultimately cut rates by.

The Fed on Wednesday released the minutes from its last policy meeting, which included few surprises. It reiterated the Fed’s message from September, emphasizing that its larger-than-usual cut of half a percentage point was not necessarily a signal of big cuts in the future.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks set records Wednesday after the latest wild swerves for Chinese stocks left few ripples in markets worldwide.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.7% to top the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-nikkei-japan-ishiba-rates-0e6b0a4e7dd6dc3499f8984e310ff1a9">all-time high</a>&nbsp;it had set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 431 points, or 1%, to hit its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%.Leading the way were cruise-ship companies, whose customers stand to benefit from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-87447d5187b37bb0f5cf996e25bad808">surprisingly strong U.S. job market</a>. Norwegian Cruise Line steamed 10.9% higher after analysts at Citi upgraded its stock and said data suggests growth for the cruise industry “has real legs” into 2025 and beyond. Carnival rose 7%, and Royal Caribbean Group gained 5.3%.Helen of Troy, the company behind Hydro Flask water bottles and OXO kitchen tools, jumped 17.9% after reporting profit and revenue for the latest quarter that were better than analysts expected. That was even though the company said it’s still seeing customers feeling increasingly stretched amid lingering inflation.KinderCare Learning rose 8.9% in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange. It has over 2,400 early childhood education centers and before- and after-school sites across the country for kids aged between six weeks and 12 years.They helped offset a 3.4% slump for Boeing. The aerospace giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-workers-union-pay-e50b65fbbf34e74b42d4a65ef0d7da76">withdrew a contract offer</a>&nbsp;that would have given striking workers 30% raises over four years following a break down in labor talks.Alphabet also kept the market’s gains in check after the heavyweight stock sank 1.5%. The U.S. Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-antitrust-case-59114d8bf1dc4c8453c08acaa4051f14">Justice is considering</a>&nbsp;asking a federal judge to break up its Google business after its search engine was declared an illegal monopoly. A breakup is one of many possible remedies under review.If a breakup were to happen, the question would become what happens with other Big Tech stocks like Amazon, Meta Platforms or Apple, and whether any would try to spin off business units before possibly being forcibly broken apart, according to JJ Kinahan, CEO of IG North America.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 40.91 points to 5,792.04. The Dow jumped 431.63 to 42,512.00, and the Nasdaq composite gained 108.70 to 18,291.62.The relative calm on Wall Street followed another manic day in China. After earlier surging on hopes for stimulus to prop up the world’s second-largest economy, Chinese stocks have since slumped on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-monetary-fiscal-stimulus-85d066a30085549200cdff18984c343a">disappointment that more isn’t on the way</a>.Stocks in Shanghai tumbled 6.6% for their worst loss since February 2020, when fears were rising about a virus seen in Wuhan and other cities in China. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 1.4% after dropping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-treasury-china-rates-c1c41b35ddbb4fd0bf93ee93df1f1a2c">more than 9% the day before</a>, which was its worst loss since the global financial crisis of 2008.Moves announced by China in late September fueled a rally that has since fizzled. But analysts have pointed out that a news conference on Tuesday by China’s main planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, was unlikely to convey much information about government spending, which is the purview of the Finance Ministry.That ministry is due to hold a briefing on Saturday that could provide further details on planned government outlays that so far have fallen short of what investors have been hoping for.The Shanghai Composite is still up 9.5% for the year so far, while Hong Kong’s index is up 21.1%.Indexes were more stable elsewhere around the world on Wednesday and rose 0.9% in Japan and 1% in Germany.In the oil market, prices eased further. A barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.4% to settle at $73.24 after briefly topping $81 early this week. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 0.8% to $76.58 per barrel.Earlier leaps for oil driven by worries about worsening tensions in the Middle East had helped drag the S&amp;P 500 on Monday to its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-japan-oil-24925e5840a2491fbc1acc07543bc37d">worst loss in a month</a>.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.07% from 4.01% late Tuesday.Treasury yields have swung recently, first sharply downward through the spring and summer and then turning upward in the last week or so.They’ve followed traders’ expectations for what the Federal Reserve is likely to do with overnight interest rates. The central bank has just begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cutting interest rates</a>&nbsp;from a two-decade high, as it widens its focus to include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">keeping the economy humming</a>&nbsp;instead of just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">fighting high inflation</a>.That caused the sharp easing of rates through the summer, but recent reports have shown the U.S. economy remains stronger than expected. That in turn has forced traders to downshift forecasts for how much the Fed will ultimately cut rates by.The Fed on Wednesday released the minutes from its last policy meeting, which included few surprises. It reiterated the Fed’s message from September, emphasizing that its larger-than-usual cut of half a percentage point was not necessarily a signal of big cuts in the future.

Wall Street sets more records after Shanghai's worst drop since early COVID

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a teen to the hospital in critical condition and his mother to jail.

Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from a woman reporting that she shot her son, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

First responders located a 16-year-old boy inside an apartment with a single gunshot wound. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he remains in extremely critical condition.

Officers detained a 46-year-old female of Wichita who is the victim’s mother. During the investigation into this case, detectives learned of a previously unreported incident from March 2024 where the same suspect threatened an ex-husband and his current girlfriend with a gun. 

The suspect has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault

Investigators continue to gather information and the facts will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration. Police did not release the name of the mother.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728510375843.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a teen to the hospital in critical condition and his mother to jail.Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call from a woman reporting that she shot her son, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.Police, Sedgwick County EMS and Wichita Fire Department personnel, responded to the scene. First responders located a 16-year-old boy inside an apartment with a single gunshot wound. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he remains in extremely critical condition.Officers detained a 46-year-old female of Wichita who is the victim’s mother. During the investigation into this case, detectives learned of a previously unreported incident from March 2024 where the same suspect threatened an ex-husband and his current girlfriend with a gun. The suspect has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault Domestic Violence and Aggravated AssaultInvestigators continue to gather information and the facts will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration. Police did not release the name of the mother.

Kan. woman called 911 to report she shot her 16-year-old son

The organization’s leadership says neither legislative efforts to cut Planned Parenthood off from Medicaid funding nor next month’s vote on an abortion-rights amendment were factors in the consolidation

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Three Planned Parenthood clinics in eastern and southern Missouri will shut their doors next month, though the organization’s leaders insist the moves will ultimately expand access to reproductive health care.&nbsp;

As part of the consolidation effort, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers will be expanding telehealth services and hours at its remaining St. Louis clinics.&nbsp;

The moves come as the state has successfully implemented&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/24/bill-medicaid-reimbursements-planned-parenthood-governor/">legislation cutting Planned Parenthood clinics off from Medicaid funding,</a>&nbsp;though the organization’s leadership says the closures are not related to the new law.&nbsp;

They are also taking place as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/25/amendment-3-challenges-abortion-missouri-legislation/">Missourians are set to vote on whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution,&nbsp;</a>a decision that could radically expand access to reproductive health care around the state.

On Nov. 1, the Florissant health center in North St. Louis County and the South Grand Health Center just south of downtown St. Louis will close.&nbsp;

On Jan. 1, the health center in Joplin will also close. No staff members are being laid off as part of the restructuring, Planned Parenthood said in a press release.

Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said patient care can be transferred to other Planned Parenthood locations. He said the goal is to increase virtual care access and get patients in touch with providers sooner, and then into appointments more quickly.

“The operational changes we’re announcing will ensure that we’re here for our patients not just today, tomorrow, but for the next 90 years,” Muniz said in a statement. “Our patients are our top priority, and despite repeated attacks from politicians, our commitment never waivers. We’re going to be here for them no matter what.”

For Joplin patients, transportation will be provided to the Springfield clinic 75 miles away for those who need it. Planned Parenthood will also refer patients to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/19/kansas-planned-parenthood-abortion-access/">Pittsburg, Kansas, clinic about 30 miles away&nbsp;</a>that opened earlier this year.

Munuiz said the decision on which clinics to close was data-driven. Many Planned Parenthood patients travel to more than one health center, he said, often picking the one with the soonest availability rather than closest locations.

Two of the remaining St. Louis area clinics — the West County location in Manchester and the St. Peters location — will expand services beginning Nov. 1 to include a Title X family planning program for those who are uninsured or underinsured.&nbsp;

The clinics in St. Peters will begin seeing patients five days a week, including one Saturday a month, and the Central West End clinic, near downtown St. Louis, will increase appointment availability for health needs including STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings and wellness exams.&nbsp;

Muniz said the changes are meant to “ensure long-term sustainability in the face of repeated attacks from politicians on sexual and reproductive health care — including seven consecutive years of trying to deny reimbursement for the lifesaving services we provide to Missourians who use Medicaid.”

Lawmakers this year passed a bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-bill-medicaid-planned-parenthood/">&nbsp;ending Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood.</a>&nbsp;This means clinics won’t be compensated for patients they serve who are on Medicaid.&nbsp;

Fights over the legislation earlier this year emphasized Missouri’s<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/28/missouri-looks-to-mirror-arkansas-law-that-forced-planned-parenthood-to-turn-away-patients/">&nbsp;reproductive health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://powertodecide.org/what-we-do/contraceptive-deserts" target="_blank">contraceptive deserts.&nbsp;</a>

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, like Planned Parenthood Great Plains on the western side of the state, has continued seeing patients on Medicaid despite the new law thanks to donor support, Muniz said. A lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood claiming the new law is unconstitutional is ongoing.

The decision to consolidate had nothing to do directly with the new legislation, Muniz said. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers serves about 9,000 patients a year on Medicaid.&nbsp;

The main catalysts, he said, were changes to the health care system because of COVID, and increased requests from patients to access care from home via telehealth options.&nbsp;

“Our mission is to center the needs of our patients at the core of all of our decision-making,” he said. “Which is why we are making necessary service changes to adapt to their needs.”&nbsp;

Asked if the consolidation was a cost-saving measure, Muniz said the focus was long-term stability for patients.

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/13/missouri-abortion-rights-campaign-doubles-fundraising-fairness-project/">Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment,&nbsp;</a>which will appear on the ballot as Amendment 3 , was not a consideration in the decision, Muniz said. He declined to say which Missouri Planned Parenthood locations may initially start providing abortion services again if Amendment 3 passes.&nbsp;

“We expect amendment 3 to pass, and when it does pass, what abortion access will look like in the state of Missouri is going to be dependent on litigation and what restrictions courts will block from remaining in effect,” he said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728400594576.png" alt=" The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The organization’s leadership says neither legislative efforts to cut Planned Parenthood off from Medicaid funding nor next month’s vote on an abortion-rights amendment were factors in the consolidation</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Three Planned Parenthood clinics in eastern and southern Missouri will shut their doors next month, though the organization’s leaders insist the moves will ultimately expand access to reproductive health care.&nbsp;As part of the consolidation effort, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers will be expanding telehealth services and hours at its remaining St. Louis clinics.&nbsp;The moves come as the state has successfully implemented&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/24/bill-medicaid-reimbursements-planned-parenthood-governor/">legislation cutting Planned Parenthood clinics off from Medicaid funding,</a>&nbsp;though the organization’s leadership says the closures are not related to the new law.&nbsp;They are also taking place as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/25/amendment-3-challenges-abortion-missouri-legislation/">Missourians are set to vote on whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution,&nbsp;</a>a decision that could radically expand access to reproductive health care around the state.On Nov. 1, the Florissant health center in North St. Louis County and the South Grand Health Center just south of downtown St. Louis will close.&nbsp;On Jan. 1, the health center in Joplin will also close. No staff members are being laid off as part of the restructuring, Planned Parenthood said in a press release.Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said patient care can be transferred to other Planned Parenthood locations. He said the goal is to increase virtual care access and get patients in touch with providers sooner, and then into appointments more quickly.“The operational changes we’re announcing will ensure that we’re here for our patients not just today, tomorrow, but for the next 90 years,” Muniz said in a statement. “Our patients are our top priority, and despite repeated attacks from politicians, our commitment never waivers. We’re going to be here for them no matter what.”For Joplin patients, transportation will be provided to the Springfield clinic 75 miles away for those who need it. Planned Parenthood will also refer patients to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/19/kansas-planned-parenthood-abortion-access/">Pittsburg, Kansas, clinic about 30 miles away&nbsp;</a>that opened earlier this year.Munuiz said the decision on which clinics to close was data-driven. Many Planned Parenthood patients travel to more than one health center, he said, often picking the one with the soonest availability rather than closest locations.Two of the remaining St. Louis area clinics — the West County location in Manchester and the St. Peters location — will expand services beginning Nov. 1 to include a Title X family planning program for those who are uninsured or underinsured.&nbsp;The clinics in St. Peters will begin seeing patients five days a week, including one Saturday a month, and the Central West End clinic, near downtown St. Louis, will increase appointment availability for health needs including STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings and wellness exams.&nbsp;Muniz said the changes are meant to “ensure long-term sustainability in the face of repeated attacks from politicians on sexual and reproductive health care — including seven consecutive years of trying to deny reimbursement for the lifesaving services we provide to Missourians who use Medicaid.”Lawmakers this year passed a bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-bill-medicaid-planned-parenthood/">&nbsp;ending Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood.</a>&nbsp;This means clinics won’t be compensated for patients they serve who are on Medicaid.&nbsp;Fights over the legislation earlier this year emphasized Missouri’s<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/28/missouri-looks-to-mirror-arkansas-law-that-forced-planned-parenthood-to-turn-away-patients/">&nbsp;reproductive health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://powertodecide.org/what-we-do/contraceptive-deserts" target="_blank">contraceptive deserts.&nbsp;</a>Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, like Planned Parenthood Great Plains on the western side of the state, has continued seeing patients on Medicaid despite the new law thanks to donor support, Muniz said. A lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood claiming the new law is unconstitutional is ongoing.The decision to consolidate had nothing to do directly with the new legislation, Muniz said. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers serves about 9,000 patients a year on Medicaid.&nbsp;The main catalysts, he said, were changes to the health care system because of COVID, and increased requests from patients to access care from home via telehealth options.&nbsp;“Our mission is to center the needs of our patients at the core of all of our decision-making,” he said. “Which is why we are making necessary service changes to adapt to their needs.”&nbsp;Asked if the consolidation was a cost-saving measure, Muniz said the focus was long-term stability for patients.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/13/missouri-abortion-rights-campaign-doubles-fundraising-fairness-project/">Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment,&nbsp;</a>which will appear on the ballot as Amendment 3 , was not a consideration in the decision, Muniz said. He declined to say which Missouri Planned Parenthood locations may initially start providing abortion services again if Amendment 3 passes.&nbsp;“We expect amendment 3 to pass, and when it does pass, what abortion access will look like in the state of Missouri is going to be dependent on litigation and what restrictions courts will block from remaining in effect,” he said.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood will close 3 Missouri clinics, expand telehealth services

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

TOPEKA — A Shawnee County judge rejected a lawsuit from Aetna Better Health of Kansas, which sued the state earlier this year after it was passed over as one of Kansas’ three Medicaid insurance providers.

In a 50-page decision, Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Luedke upheld the decision by Todd Herman, director of procurement and contracts in the Department of Administration, not to renew the contract for Medicaid services that Aetna has provided for the past five years.

The state announced in May that it selected three private companies, excluding Aetna, from seven bidders to provide coverage under KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, beginning in January. In the state’s evaluation process, Aetna had tied for third with Healthy Blue. State officials destroyed documentation of scoring notes that were used by evaluators to inform their selection of Healthy Blue, a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, over Aetna.

In response, Aetna filed two lawsuits in Shawnee County District Court. One, filed in July and decided Oct. 1, challenged the decision itself. Another, filed in June, was an effort to challenge the state’s destruction of documents and awaits a ruling. The judge’s Oct. 1 decision came a day before the deadline for Aetna to notify its beneficiaries that it will no longer be a provider under KanCare.

Luedke wrote that the scoring process that evaluated each provider bidding for a multimillion dollar KanCare contract is “highly technical.”

“The Court is reluctant, and for the most part unable, to substitute its untutored judgment for that of the scoring officials,” Luedke wrote in his decision. “Nothing in Director Herman’s consideration of this issue was unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious.”

At a Sept. 17 hearing, Luedke likened the scoring notes to jury notes, which are commonly destroyed after a verdict is issued.

Court documents show Aetna beat out Healthy Blue in two evaluation areas, integrated whole person care and quality assurance, but the two had even scores overall. However, Healthy Blue topped Aetna in the remaining five categories. Handwritten notes showed decision-makers had concerns about Aetna’s “unresolved issues” in Kansas and other Medicaid states. But concerns were noted about Healthy Blue, too, including one that said it was “discouraging to see lack of initiative” from Healthy Blue.

The state signed contracts May 10 with Healthy Blue, United Healthcare and Sunflower Health Plan. Aetna then protested the decision, alleging the state used unstated and objective evaluation criteria, cherry-picked the criteria to break the tie between Aetna and Healthy Blue and ignored Healthy Blue’s alleged&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/26/kansas-legislative-committee-jumps-into-battle-over-selection-of-medicaid-contractors/">conflicts of interest</a>.

“The State’s method of evaluating these scores was well within the scope of its expertise and discretion,” Luedke wrote. “The way the review was conducted should have been no surprised (sic) to any of the bidders.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728494523637.jpeg" alt=" Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Luedke upheld the state's decision to drop Aetna as a Medicaid services provider. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Luedke upheld the state's decision to drop Aetna as a Medicaid services provider. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A Shawnee County judge rejected a lawsuit from Aetna Better Health of Kansas, which sued the state earlier this year after it was passed over as one of Kansas’ three Medicaid insurance providers.In a 50-page decision, Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Luedke upheld the decision by Todd Herman, director of procurement and contracts in the Department of Administration, not to renew the contract for Medicaid services that Aetna has provided for the past five years.The state announced in May that it selected three private companies, excluding Aetna, from seven bidders to provide coverage under KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, beginning in January. In the state’s evaluation process, Aetna had tied for third with Healthy Blue. State officials destroyed documentation of scoring notes that were used by evaluators to inform their selection of Healthy Blue, a Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate, over Aetna.In response, Aetna filed two lawsuits in Shawnee County District Court. One, filed in July and decided Oct. 1, challenged the decision itself. Another, filed in June, was an effort to challenge the state’s destruction of documents and awaits a ruling. The judge’s Oct. 1 decision came a day before the deadline for Aetna to notify its beneficiaries that it will no longer be a provider under KanCare.Luedke wrote that the scoring process that evaluated each provider bidding for a multimillion dollar KanCare contract is “highly technical.”“The Court is reluctant, and for the most part unable, to substitute its untutored judgment for that of the scoring officials,” Luedke wrote in his decision. “Nothing in Director Herman’s consideration of this issue was unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious.”At a Sept. 17 hearing, Luedke likened the scoring notes to jury notes, which are commonly destroyed after a verdict is issued.Court documents show Aetna beat out Healthy Blue in two evaluation areas, integrated whole person care and quality assurance, but the two had even scores overall. However, Healthy Blue topped Aetna in the remaining five categories. Handwritten notes showed decision-makers had concerns about Aetna’s “unresolved issues” in Kansas and other Medicaid states. But concerns were noted about Healthy Blue, too, including one that said it was “discouraging to see lack of initiative” from Healthy Blue.The state signed contracts May 10 with Healthy Blue, United Healthcare and Sunflower Health Plan. Aetna then protested the decision, alleging the state used unstated and objective evaluation criteria, cherry-picked the criteria to break the tie between Aetna and Healthy Blue and ignored Healthy Blue’s alleged&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/26/kansas-legislative-committee-jumps-into-battle-over-selection-of-medicaid-contractors/">conflicts of interest</a>.“The State’s method of evaluating these scores was well within the scope of its expertise and discretion,” Luedke wrote. “The way the review was conducted should have been no surprised (sic) to any of the bidders.”

Aetna loses challenge of Kansas Medicaid contract process

By ALVARO PUIG Consumer Education Specialist

<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-takes-action-against-marriott-starwood-over-multiple-data-breaches">Marriott settled charges related to a data breach</a>&nbsp;that exposed the information of millions of guests. The company will take steps to better protect customers’ personal information. And it will give customers more control over their information.

If you’re a Marriott customer, here’s what the settlement means for you:

To learn more about protecting yourself after a data breach, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.

By ALVARO PUIG Consumer Education Specialist<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-takes-action-against-marriott-starwood-over-multiple-data-breaches">Marriott settled charges related to a data breach</a>&nbsp;that exposed the information of millions of guests. The company will take steps to better protect customers’ personal information. And it will give customers more control over their information.If you’re a Marriott customer, here’s what the settlement means for you:<ol>
 <li>You may ask Marriott to review your Bonvoy account for unauthorized, suspicious activity. If, after an investigation, Marriott determines your loyalty points were stolen through unauthorized access to your account, Marriott will restore your stolen points.</li><li>You may request through Marriott's website or mobile app the deletion of your personal information associated with your email address or Bonvoy account number.</li><li><a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marriott.com%2Fabout%2Fprivacy.mi&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2024%2F10%2Fmarriott-data-breach-settlement-what-it-means-consumers%3Futm_source%3Dgovdelivery">Marriott’s privacy policy</a>&nbsp;must clearly state why it’s collecting your personal information and the business need for keeping it.</li><li>You can enable multi-factor authentication on your Bonvoy account to add an extra layer of security.</li>
 </ol>Additionally, Marriott will<ul>
 <li>put in place a comprehensive information security program that includes multi-factor authentication, encryption, and other safeguards</li><li>cooperate with third party audits of its information security program</li><li>only collect and keep personal information if it has a business need for it</li><li>only use the information it collects for the purpose for which it was collected</li><li>delete collected information when it no longer has a need for it</li><li>not use for marketing purposes information you asked Marriott to delete</li>
 </ul>To learn more about protecting yourself after a data breach, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.identitytheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen">IdentityTheft.gov</a>.

Marriott data breach settlement: What it means for consumers

SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police are investigating an alleged threat against Salina Central High School,&nbsp;650 E Crawford Street in Salina, after a threatening message was sent to the school's social media page on Tuesday night, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman. The message was sent to the school's page at approximately 9 p.m.&nbsp;

"The threat, which was sent via Instagram, claimed that an individual would 'shoot up the school' on Wednesday around 10 a.m."

Feldman said USD 305 officials immediately contacted the school resource officer and Salina Police to investigate. Salina Police worked through the night with Instagram and Google's assistance to trace the origin of the threat.

The message was tracked to Ravenna, Ohio, a town south of Cleveland. 

On Wednesday morning, Ravenna Police Department officers were able to identify and take the suspect, who is a minor, into custody.

Feldman said the suspect is a high school student previously involved in a relationship with a Salina Central student. The suspect allegedly made the threat after the couple broke up.

To ensure the safety of students and staff, additional officers were deployed at Salina Central on Monday morning, according to Salina Police.&nbsp; Two patrol officers were stationed at the school along with the School Resource Officer, who normally provides security for both Central High and other schools in the district.

SPD continues to coordinate with Ravenna Police and charges are pending against the suspect.

SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police are investigating an alleged threat against Salina Central High School,&nbsp;650 E Crawford Street in Salina, after a threatening message was sent to the school's social media page on Tuesday night, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman. The message was sent to the school's page at approximately 9 p.m.&nbsp;"The threat, which was sent via Instagram, claimed that an individual would 'shoot up the school' on Wednesday around 10 a.m."Feldman said USD 305 officials immediately contacted the school resource officer and Salina Police to investigate. Salina Police worked through the night with Instagram and Google's assistance to trace the origin of the threat.The message was tracked to Ravenna, Ohio, a town south of Cleveland. On Wednesday morning, Ravenna Police Department officers were able to identify and take the suspect, who is a minor, into custody.Feldman said the suspect is a high school student previously involved in a relationship with a Salina Central student. The suspect allegedly made the threat after the couple broke up.To ensure the safety of students and staff, additional officers were deployed at Salina Central on Monday morning, according to Salina Police.&nbsp; Two patrol officers were stationed at the school along with the School Resource Officer, who normally provides security for both Central High and other schools in the district.SPD continues to coordinate with Ravenna Police and charges are pending against the suspect.