WASHINGTON (AP) — On the left and right,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;justices seem to agree on a basic truth about the American system of government: No one is above the law, not even the president.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;

“The law applies equally to all persons, including a person who happens for a period of time to occupy the Presidency,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in 2020.

Less than a year earlier, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, then a federal trial judge, wrote, “Stated simply, the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that Presidents are not kings.”

But former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and his legal team are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-jan-6-immunity-38fd48f47324bf812e2194831ef75471">putting that foundational belief to the test</a>&nbsp;on Thursday when the high court takes up the Republican’s bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump’s lawyers argue that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, they say, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.

Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C. And even if the high court resoundingly follows suit, the timing of its decision may be as important as the outcome. That’s because Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the November election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed.

The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, which is roughly four months before the election.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump, the first former president to face prosecution. He already is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial in New York</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.

Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties.

Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.

“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.

The lack of apparent support on the court for the sort of blanket immunity Trump seeks has caused commentators to speculate about why the court has taken up the case in the first place.

Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”

The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.

But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues.

"If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election. Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree,” Roosevelt said.

The court has several options for deciding the case. The justices could reject Trump's arguments and unfreeze the case so that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan can resume trial preparations, which she has indicated may last up to three months.

The court could end Smith's prosecution by declaring for the first time that former presidents may not be prosecuted for official acts they took while in office.

It also might spell out when former presidents are shielded for prosecution and either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so that she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the left and right,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;justices seem to agree on a basic truth about the American system of government: No one is above the law, not even the president.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;We have a big case today this judge isn&#39;t allowing me to go. We have a big case today at the Supreme Court on presidential immunity. A president has to have immunity if you don&#39;t have immunity you just have a ceremonial president.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/oJB9O7eaud">pic.twitter.com/oJB9O7eaud</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1783481860468724184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The law applies equally to all persons, including a person who happens for a period of time to occupy the Presidency,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in 2020.Less than a year earlier, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, then a federal trial judge, wrote, “Stated simply, the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that Presidents are not kings.”But former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and his legal team are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-jan-6-immunity-38fd48f47324bf812e2194831ef75471">putting that foundational belief to the test</a>&nbsp;on Thursday when the high court takes up the Republican’s bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump’s lawyers argue that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, they say, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C. And even if the high court resoundingly follows suit, the timing of its decision may be as important as the outcome. That’s because Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the November election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed.The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, which is roughly four months before the election.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump, the first former president to face prosecution. He already is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial in New York</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties.Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.The lack of apparent support on the court for the sort of blanket immunity Trump seeks has caused commentators to speculate about why the court has taken up the case in the first place.Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues."If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election. Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree,” Roosevelt said.The court has several options for deciding the case. The justices could reject Trump's arguments and unfreeze the case so that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan can resume trial preparations, which she has indicated may last up to three months.The court could end Smith's prosecution by declaring for the first time that former presidents may not be prosecuted for official acts they took while in office.It also might spell out when former presidents are shielded for prosecution and either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so that she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.

🎥Supreme Court hears Trump’s claim to ‘absolute immunity’

CRAWFORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a crash on a scooter.

Just before 1a.m. Monday, police on routine patrol in the area of West Martin Avenue and South Georgia Street in Pittsburg, Kansas, observed a subject riding a scooter in that area, according to a media release.

The driver of the scooter attempted to turn onto Martin Avenue from Georgia Street but failed to navigate the turn and wrecked at that intersection. 

The officer made contact with the driver, who was later identified as 32-year-old John D. Robertson Jr., of Frontenac, Kansas. 

However, at the time of the initial contact, the driver provided a false name to the investigating officer. While investigating the wreck, the officer discovered the scooter had been previously reported as stolen out of Pittsburg. 

The scooter was later towed away from the scene. Robertson, who reported being injured as a result of the wreck, was transported by Crawford County EMS to Ascension Via Christi Hospital’s emergency department for treatment. 

Once released from the hospital, Robertson was taken into custody and was transported to the jail at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office for booking. Articles of contraband were located during the subsequent search of the driver incident to the arrest. Additionally, upon arrival at the jail, the driver’s identity was verified.

Robertson was booked into jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, felony interference with law enforcement, felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Robertson is currently being held without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713870007587.png" alt="Robertson photo Crawford Co." />
 <figcaption>Robertson photo Crawford Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a crash on a scooter.Just before 1a.m. Monday, police on routine patrol in the area of West Martin Avenue and South Georgia Street in Pittsburg, Kansas, observed a subject riding a scooter in that area, according to a media release.The driver of the scooter attempted to turn onto Martin Avenue from Georgia Street but failed to navigate the turn and wrecked at that intersection. The officer made contact with the driver, who was later identified as 32-year-old John D. Robertson Jr., of Frontenac, Kansas. However, at the time of the initial contact, the driver provided a false name to the investigating officer. While investigating the wreck, the officer discovered the scooter had been previously reported as stolen out of Pittsburg. The scooter was later towed away from the scene. Robertson, who reported being injured as a result of the wreck, was transported by Crawford County EMS to Ascension Via Christi Hospital’s emergency department for treatment. Once released from the hospital, Robertson was taken into custody and was transported to the jail at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office for booking. Articles of contraband were located during the subsequent search of the driver incident to the arrest. Additionally, upon arrival at the jail, the driver’s identity was verified.Robertson was booked into jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, felony interference with law enforcement, felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Robertson is currently being held without bond.

Kansas man jailed after crash on a stolen scooter

BUTLER COUNTY—Investigators have identified the victims in a house fire rural Butler County as 80-year-old Paula J. Williams; 55-year-old Phillip A Williams and 52-year-old Melissa K. Williams, according to Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.

Just after 3a.m. Saturday, deputies from the Butler County sheriff's office and police officers from Rose Hill were dispatched to the 15400 Block of SW County Line Road, rural Rose Hill for report of a 911 open line from a panicked woman with an unknown problem.

While responding to the address, Butler County Communication sreceived a second call from another woman at the same home stating she could not see anything and the house was filling with smoke, according to Cundiff. EMS and fire unites were immediately dispatched.

First responders found the home fully engulfed in flames as they attempted to locate the residents. fire personnel were able to make entry and removed one woman later identified as Paula Williams in extremely critical condition. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased, according to Cundiff. The two other victims were found deceased inside the home after the fire was extinguished. All of the victims were residents of the home. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BUTLER COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fatal weekend fire in Butler County.

Just after 3a.m. Saturday, crews responded to the fire at a home near the&nbsp;15000 Block of SW County Line Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; When the first units arrived on scene the home was fully involved.

Firefighters removed a woman from the residence via a window and she was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Two other people also died in the fire, according to Cundiff.

Sheriff's office investigators are working to ID&nbsp;of all the victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713807731459.png" alt="View of the home in rural Butler County-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the home in rural Butler County-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—Investigators have identified the victims in a house fire rural Butler County as 80-year-old Paula J. Williams; 55-year-old Phillip A Williams and 52-year-old Melissa K. Williams, according to Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.Just after 3a.m. Saturday, deputies from the Butler County sheriff's office and police officers from Rose Hill were dispatched to the 15400 Block of SW County Line Road, rural Rose Hill for report of a 911 open line from a panicked woman with an unknown problem.While responding to the address, Butler County Communication sreceived a second call from another woman at the same home stating she could not see anything and the house was filling with smoke, according to Cundiff. EMS and fire unites were immediately dispatched.First responders found the home fully engulfed in flames as they attempted to locate the residents. fire personnel were able to make entry and removed one woman later identified as Paula Williams in extremely critical condition. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased, according to Cundiff. The two other victims were found deceased inside the home after the fire was extinguished. All of the victims were residents of the home. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.-------------BUTLER COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fatal weekend fire in Butler County.Just after 3a.m. Saturday, crews responded to the fire at a home near the&nbsp;15000 Block of SW County Line Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; When the first units arrived on scene the home was fully involved.Firefighters removed a woman from the residence via a window and she was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Two other people also died in the fire, according to Cundiff.Sheriff's office investigators are working to ID&nbsp;of all the victims.

Sheriff IDs 3 victims in deadly Kansas house fire

GUYMON, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma prosecutors charged a fifth member of an anti-government group on Wednesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bodies-found-missing-kansas-women-search-oklahoma-91796a0b0b4d02db3d593da9c1bf0f5a">killing and kidnapping two Kansas women.</a>

Paul Jeremiah Grice, 31, was charged in Texas County with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

Grice told an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent that he participated in the killing and burial of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, according to an arrest affidavit filed in the case.

Grice is being held without bond at the Texas County Detention Center in Guymon, a jail official said. Court and jail records don't indicate if Grice has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-oklahoma-missing-women-kansas-3db86ae1c45746a604bf4ee82053ba02">Four others</a>&nbsp;have been charged in connection with the deaths and are being held without bail: Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, of Keyes, and Cole, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, of Texhoma, Oklahoma.

Butler and Kelley disappeared March 30 while driving to pick up Butler’s two children for a birthday party. Adams, who is the children's grandmother, was in a bitter custody dispute with Butler, who was only allowed supervised visits with the children on Saturdays. Kelley was authorized to supervise the visits, according to the affidavits.

A witness who spoke to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents said all five suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation,” according to the affidavit. Investigators learned the group called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the home of the Twomblys and another couple.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713991420283.png" alt="Grice-photo Texas Co." />
 <figcaption>Grice-photo Texas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>GUYMON, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma prosecutors charged a fifth member of an anti-government group on Wednesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bodies-found-missing-kansas-women-search-oklahoma-91796a0b0b4d02db3d593da9c1bf0f5a">killing and kidnapping two Kansas women.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713359723848.jpeg" alt="This combination photo shows Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley, right. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>This combination photo shows Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley, right. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Jeremiah Grice, 31, was charged in Texas County with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.Grice told an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent that he participated in the killing and burial of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, according to an arrest affidavit filed in the case.Grice is being held without bond at the Texas County Detention Center in Guymon, a jail official said. Court and jail records don't indicate if Grice has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-oklahoma-missing-women-kansas-3db86ae1c45746a604bf4ee82053ba02">Four others</a>&nbsp;have been charged in connection with the deaths and are being held without bail: Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, of Keyes, and Cole, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, of Texhoma, Oklahoma.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713056452999.png" alt="Counterclockwise from top-43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum; 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly, and 44-year-old Cora Twombly -photos Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation" />
 <figcaption>Counterclockwise from top-43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum; 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly, and 44-year-old Cora Twombly -photos Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation</figcaption>
 </figure>Butler and Kelley disappeared March 30 while driving to pick up Butler’s two children for a birthday party. Adams, who is the children's grandmother, was in a bitter custody dispute with Butler, who was only allowed supervised visits with the children on Saturdays. Kelley was authorized to supervise the visits, according to the affidavits.A witness who spoke to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents said all five suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation,” according to the affidavit. Investigators learned the group called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the home of the Twomblys and another couple.

5th member of anti-government group charged in Kansas women's killings

NEW YORK (AP) — A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;'s “eyes and ears" during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress harmful stories and even arranged to purchase the silence of a doorman.

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/">Click here to read the </a>transcript from Day 2 of the historic trial (-The court system is posting the daily transcripts of the trial proceedings. The transcript for each day is available before the end of the following business day.)

The testimony Tuesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-pecker">David Pecker</a>&nbsp;was designed to bolster the prosecution's premise of a decades-long friendship between Trump and the former publisher of the National Enquirer that culminated in an agreement to give the candidate's lawyer a heads-up on negative tips and stories so they could be quashed.

The effort was a way to illegally influence the election, prosecutors have alleged in striving to elevate the gravity of the history-making first trial of a former American president and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">first of four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against Trump to reach a jury. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee in this year's race&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records</a>&nbsp;in connection with hush money payments meant to stifle embarrassing stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.

With Trump sitting just feet away in the courtroom, Pecker, the first witness, detailed his behind-the-scenes role in Trump's rise from political novice to the Republican nomination and the White House. He explained how he and the National Enquirer parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy tabloid stories that smeared Trump's opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump, including a porn actor's claim of an extramarital sexual encounter years earlier.

Pecker traced the origins of their relationship to a 1980s meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and said the friendship bloomed alongside the success of the real estate developer's TV show “The Apprentice" and the program's subsequent celebrity version.

Their ties were solidified during a pivotal August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower involving Trump, his lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen, and another aide, Hope Hicks, in which Pecker was asked what he and the publications he led could do for the campaign.

Pecker said he volunteered to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. But that wasn't all, he said, telling jurors how he told Trump: “I will be your eyes and ears.”

“I said that anything I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself, or if I hear anything about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen," so that the rights could be purchased and the stories could be killed.

“So that they would not get published, you mean?” asked prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.

“So that they would not get published, yes” Pecker replied.

To illustrate their point, prosecutors displayed a screenshot of various flattering headlines the National Enquirer published about Trump, including “Donald Dominates!’ and “World Exclusive: The Donald Trump Nobody Knows.” The jury was also shown disparaging and outlandish stories about Trump's opponents, including surgeon Ben Carson and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.

Pecker painted Cohen as a shadow editor of the National Enquirer’s pro-Trump coverage, directing the tabloid to go after whichever Republican candidate was gaining momentum.

“I would receive a call from Michael Cohen, and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard on which candidate and which direction we should go,” Pecker said, referring to the tabloid's then-editor.

Pecker said he underscored to Howard that the agreement with the Trump operation was “highly, highly confidential.” He said he wanted the tabloid’s bureau chiefs to be on the lookout for any stories involving Trump and said he wanted them to verify the stories before alerting Cohen.

“I did not want anyone else to know about this agreement I had and what I wanted to do,” the ex-publisher added.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to his role in the hush money payments. He was once a confidant of Trump's, but their relationship deteriorated in spectacular fashion. Cohen is expected to be a star government witness, and he routinely posts profane broadsides against Trump on social media.

Trump's lawyers are expected to make attacks on Cohen's credibility a foundation of their defense, but in opening with Pecker, prosecutors hoped to focus attention on a witness with a less volatile backstory. Besides maintaining that Trump is innocent, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors that Cohen cannot be trusted and has “an obsession with getting Trump.”

Pecker's testimony Tuesday followed a hearing earlier in the day in which prosecutors urged Judge Juan M. Merchan to hold Trump in contempt and fine him $1,000 for each of 10 social media posts that they say violated an earlier gag order barring attacks on witnesses, jurors and others involved in the case.

Merchan did not immediately rule, but he seemed skeptical of defense arguments that Trump was merely responding in his posts to others' attacks and had been trying to comply with the order.

Prosecutors allege that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race through a practice known in the tabloid industry as “catch-and-kill” — catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.

In this case, that included a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter that Trump denies. Prosecutors also described other arrangements, including one that paid a former Playboy model $150,000 to suppress claims of a nearly yearlong affair with the married Trump, which Trump also denies.

In another instance, Pecker recounted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-f37ecfc4710b468db6a103a245146172">$30,000</a>&nbsp;payment from the National Enquirer to a Trump Tower doorman for the rights to a rumor that Trump had fathered a child with an employee at Trump World Tower. The tabloid concluded the story was not true, and the woman and Trump have denied the allegations.

As Pecker described receiving the tip in court, Trump shook his head.

Pecker said upon hearing the rumor, he immediately called Cohen, who said it was “absolutely not true” but that he would look into whether the people involved had indeed worked for Trump’s company.

“I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it had to the campaign and Mr. Trump,” Pecker said.

When he told Cohen, Pecker said he thanked him, "And he said that the boss would be very pleased.”

Asked by the prosecutor who he understood the boss to be, Pecker replied: “Donald Trump.”

Explaining why he decided to have the National Enquirer foot the bill, Pecker recalled telling Cohen: “This can be a very big story. I believe it's important that it be removed from the marketplace.”

If he published the story, Pecker said it would be “probably the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley.”

Jurors viewed an internal Enquirer email and invoice describing the payments to the doorman to kill his story. One document describes the funds coming from the publication’s “corporate” account. An invoice references an “immediate” $30,000 bank transfer payment for “‘Trump’ non-published story.”

Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts</a>&nbsp;arise from reimbursements that prosecutors say Trump's company made to Cohen for hush money payments and that were falsely recorded as legal expenses.

The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, though it’s unclear whether Merchan would seek to put him behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713974662413.png" alt="One piece of evidence from Trump's civil trial on Tuesday -provided by New York State Court System" />
 <figcaption>One piece of evidence from Trump's civil trial on Tuesday -provided by New York State Court System</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;'s “eyes and ears" during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress harmful stories and even arranged to purchase the silence of a doorman.<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/">Click here to read the </a>transcript from Day 2 of the historic trial (-The court system is posting the daily transcripts of the trial proceedings. The transcript for each day is available before the end of the following business day.)The testimony Tuesday from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-pecker">David Pecker</a>&nbsp;was designed to bolster the prosecution's premise of a decades-long friendship between Trump and the former publisher of the National Enquirer that culminated in an agreement to give the candidate's lawyer a heads-up on negative tips and stories so they could be quashed.The effort was a way to illegally influence the election, prosecutors have alleged in striving to elevate the gravity of the history-making first trial of a former American president and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">first of four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against Trump to reach a jury. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee in this year's race&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records</a>&nbsp;in connection with hush money payments meant to stifle embarrassing stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.With Trump sitting just feet away in the courtroom, Pecker, the first witness, detailed his behind-the-scenes role in Trump's rise from political novice to the Republican nomination and the White House. He explained how he and the National Enquirer parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy tabloid stories that smeared Trump's opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump, including a porn actor's claim of an extramarital sexual encounter years earlier.Pecker traced the origins of their relationship to a 1980s meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and said the friendship bloomed alongside the success of the real estate developer's TV show “The Apprentice" and the program's subsequent celebrity version.Their ties were solidified during a pivotal August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower involving Trump, his lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen, and another aide, Hope Hicks, in which Pecker was asked what he and the publications he led could do for the campaign.Pecker said he volunteered to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. But that wasn't all, he said, telling jurors how he told Trump: “I will be your eyes and ears.”“I said that anything I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself, or if I hear anything about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen," so that the rights could be purchased and the stories could be killed.“So that they would not get published, you mean?” asked prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.“So that they would not get published, yes” Pecker replied.To illustrate their point, prosecutors displayed a screenshot of various flattering headlines the National Enquirer published about Trump, including “Donald Dominates!’ and “World Exclusive: The Donald Trump Nobody Knows.” The jury was also shown disparaging and outlandish stories about Trump's opponents, including surgeon Ben Carson and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.Pecker painted Cohen as a shadow editor of the National Enquirer’s pro-Trump coverage, directing the tabloid to go after whichever Republican candidate was gaining momentum.“I would receive a call from Michael Cohen, and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard on which candidate and which direction we should go,” Pecker said, referring to the tabloid's then-editor.Pecker said he underscored to Howard that the agreement with the Trump operation was “highly, highly confidential.” He said he wanted the tabloid’s bureau chiefs to be on the lookout for any stories involving Trump and said he wanted them to verify the stories before alerting Cohen.“I did not want anyone else to know about this agreement I had and what I wanted to do,” the ex-publisher added.Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to his role in the hush money payments. He was once a confidant of Trump's, but their relationship deteriorated in spectacular fashion. Cohen is expected to be a star government witness, and he routinely posts profane broadsides against Trump on social media.Trump's lawyers are expected to make attacks on Cohen's credibility a foundation of their defense, but in opening with Pecker, prosecutors hoped to focus attention on a witness with a less volatile backstory. Besides maintaining that Trump is innocent, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors that Cohen cannot be trusted and has “an obsession with getting Trump.”Pecker's testimony Tuesday followed a hearing earlier in the day in which prosecutors urged Judge Juan M. Merchan to hold Trump in contempt and fine him $1,000 for each of 10 social media posts that they say violated an earlier gag order barring attacks on witnesses, jurors and others involved in the case.Merchan did not immediately rule, but he seemed skeptical of defense arguments that Trump was merely responding in his posts to others' attacks and had been trying to comply with the order.Prosecutors allege that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race through a practice known in the tabloid industry as “catch-and-kill” — catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.In this case, that included a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter that Trump denies. Prosecutors also described other arrangements, including one that paid a former Playboy model $150,000 to suppress claims of a nearly yearlong affair with the married Trump, which Trump also denies.In another instance, Pecker recounted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-f37ecfc4710b468db6a103a245146172">$30,000</a>&nbsp;payment from the National Enquirer to a Trump Tower doorman for the rights to a rumor that Trump had fathered a child with an employee at Trump World Tower. The tabloid concluded the story was not true, and the woman and Trump have denied the allegations.As Pecker described receiving the tip in court, Trump shook his head.Pecker said upon hearing the rumor, he immediately called Cohen, who said it was “absolutely not true” but that he would look into whether the people involved had indeed worked for Trump’s company.“I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it had to the campaign and Mr. Trump,” Pecker said.When he told Cohen, Pecker said he thanked him, "And he said that the boss would be very pleased.”Asked by the prosecutor who he understood the boss to be, Pecker replied: “Donald Trump.”Explaining why he decided to have the National Enquirer foot the bill, Pecker recalled telling Cohen: “This can be a very big story. I believe it's important that it be removed from the marketplace.”If he published the story, Pecker said it would be “probably the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley.”Jurors viewed an internal Enquirer email and invoice describing the payments to the doorman to kill his story. One document describes the funds coming from the publication’s “corporate” account. An invoice references an “immediate” $30,000 bank transfer payment for “‘Trump’ non-published story.”Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts</a>&nbsp;arise from reimbursements that prosecutors say Trump's company made to Cohen for hush money payments and that were falsely recorded as legal expenses.The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, though it’s unclear whether Merchan would seek to put him behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.Testimony resumes on Thursday.

Read transcript: Day 2 of historic Trump civil trial

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Wednesday vetoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-tax-cuts-budget-036b39b7ccc52eeb8e4f460901aee56c">a broad package of tax cuts</a>&nbsp;for the second time in three months, describing it as “too expensive” despite the bipartisan support it enjoyed in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Gov. Laura Kelly and her staff had signalled that she had misgivings about a package of income, sales and property tax cuts worth $1.5 billion over the next three years. Her chief of staff said before it cleared the Legislature this month that it was larger than Kelly thought the state could afford in the long term. The governor also told fellow Democrats that she believes Kansas' current three personal income tax rates ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share. The plan would have moved to two rates.

The governor immediately proposed new tax cuts worth roughly $1.3 billion over the next three years, but the Kansas House's top Republican immediately said the governor “isn't serious” about tax relief. The Legislature was set to reconvene Thursday following a spring break and wrap up its work for the year in just six days.

“While I appreciate the bipartisan effort that went into this tax cut package and support many of the provisions included, I cannot sign into law a bill that jeopardizes our state’s future fiscal stability," Kelly wrote in her veto message. “This bill is too expensive."

Top Republican legislators have wanted to move Kansas to a single personal income tax rate, which at least five other GOP-led states have done since July 2021, according to the conservative Tax Foundation. But their dispute with Kelly over that idea has meant that Kansas hasn't enacted big tax cuts, even as surplus funds have filled its coffers.

In January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">Kelly vetoed a plan</a>&nbsp;to cut taxes by $1.6 billion over three years that Democrats largely opposed. It would have moved Kansas to a single-rate personal income tax, and Kelly argued it would have benefited the “super wealthy,” which Republicans disputed.

“Kansans need and deserve tax relief, and Governor Kelly isn’t serious when she says she wants to provide it," House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement.

Democrats were split over the bill Kelly vetoed. In the Senate, they largely opposed it for the same reasons Kelly did, while in the House, no members voted against it.

Overriding a veto requires two-thirds majorities in both chambers. The House's top Democrat, state Rep. Vic Miller, of Topeka, said he likes Kelly's new plan but doubts Republicans will embrace it, making the bill Kelly vetoed possibly the best that Democrats can expect.

“I’m not sure I want to risk what she’s willing to risk," he said of the governor.

Kelly isn't the only governor at odds with lawmakers over taxes. In neighboring Nebraska, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen said he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-special-session-property-tax-ef418445d4d953643f46f57d37ba2642">call a special legislative session</a>&nbsp;over rising property taxes. The conservative Legislature there adjourned last week without passing Pillen’s plan to fund property tax relief by raising the state’s sales tax and applying it to more goods and services, including candy, soda and digital advertising.

The bill Kelly vetoed also would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state’s property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

In moving Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, it would drop the highest top rate from 5.7% to 5.55%.

Kelly's new plan includes the same sales tax and Social Security provisions, as well as a version of the property tax cut. Her plan would keep all three personal income tax rates and lower them. Her highest rate would be 5.65%.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-revenue-projections-bdc922cedc48d8cd7b1a827f267d60b7">a new fiscal forecast</a>&nbsp;provided a stable picture for state government through the end of June 2025. A separate projection from legislative researchers said that even with extra spending approved by lawmakers this year and the tax cuts Kelly vetoed, the state would end June 2025 with more than $3.7 billion in surplus. Kelly argues that problems would arrive in future years, though Republicans strongly disagree.

Kelly won the first of her two terms in 2018 by running against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/gubernatorial-elections-f5741d8d0d8c40979857c9d2d6afae9f">the fiscal policies of a Republican predecessor,</a>&nbsp;Gov. Sam Brownback. Big budget shortfalls followed large income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 and continued until most of the cuts were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/07/kansas-brownback-tax-veto-override/">repealed in 2017</a>&nbsp;over Brownback's veto.

But Republicans argue that warnings from Kelly hearkening back to Brownback's policies have lost credibility as surplus revenues have piled up.

“It’s far past time for the governor to put her worn-out Brownback rhetoric on the back burner and finally make our Kansas families the top priority,” House Taxation Committee Chair Adam Smith, a western Kansas Republican, wrote in a column Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article287899745.html">in the Kansas City Star.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713015977836.png" alt="File photo Gov. Laura Kelly -Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>File photo Gov. Laura Kelly -Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Wednesday vetoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-tax-cuts-budget-036b39b7ccc52eeb8e4f460901aee56c">a broad package of tax cuts</a>&nbsp;for the second time in three months, describing it as “too expensive” despite the bipartisan support it enjoyed in the Republican-controlled Legislature.Gov. Laura Kelly and her staff had signalled that she had misgivings about a package of income, sales and property tax cuts worth $1.5 billion over the next three years. Her chief of staff said before it cleared the Legislature this month that it was larger than Kelly thought the state could afford in the long term. The governor also told fellow Democrats that she believes Kansas' current three personal income tax rates ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share. The plan would have moved to two rates.The governor immediately proposed new tax cuts worth roughly $1.3 billion over the next three years, but the Kansas House's top Republican immediately said the governor “isn't serious” about tax relief. The Legislature was set to reconvene Thursday following a spring break and wrap up its work for the year in just six days.“While I appreciate the bipartisan effort that went into this tax cut package and support many of the provisions included, I cannot sign into law a bill that jeopardizes our state’s future fiscal stability," Kelly wrote in her veto message. “This bill is too expensive."Top Republican legislators have wanted to move Kansas to a single personal income tax rate, which at least five other GOP-led states have done since July 2021, according to the conservative Tax Foundation. But their dispute with Kelly over that idea has meant that Kansas hasn't enacted big tax cuts, even as surplus funds have filled its coffers.In January,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">Kelly vetoed a plan</a>&nbsp;to cut taxes by $1.6 billion over three years that Democrats largely opposed. It would have moved Kansas to a single-rate personal income tax, and Kelly argued it would have benefited the “super wealthy,” which Republicans disputed.“Kansans need and deserve tax relief, and Governor Kelly isn’t serious when she says she wants to provide it," House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement.Democrats were split over the bill Kelly vetoed. In the Senate, they largely opposed it for the same reasons Kelly did, while in the House, no members voted against it.Overriding a veto requires two-thirds majorities in both chambers. The House's top Democrat, state Rep. Vic Miller, of Topeka, said he likes Kelly's new plan but doubts Republicans will embrace it, making the bill Kelly vetoed possibly the best that Democrats can expect.“I’m not sure I want to risk what she’s willing to risk," he said of the governor.Kelly isn't the only governor at odds with lawmakers over taxes. In neighboring Nebraska, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen said he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-special-session-property-tax-ef418445d4d953643f46f57d37ba2642">call a special legislative session</a>&nbsp;over rising property taxes. The conservative Legislature there adjourned last week without passing Pillen’s plan to fund property tax relief by raising the state’s sales tax and applying it to more goods and services, including candy, soda and digital advertising.The bill Kelly vetoed also would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state’s property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.In moving Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, it would drop the highest top rate from 5.7% to 5.55%.Kelly's new plan includes the same sales tax and Social Security provisions, as well as a version of the property tax cut. Her plan would keep all three personal income tax rates and lower them. Her highest rate would be 5.65%.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-revenue-projections-bdc922cedc48d8cd7b1a827f267d60b7">a new fiscal forecast</a>&nbsp;provided a stable picture for state government through the end of June 2025. A separate projection from legislative researchers said that even with extra spending approved by lawmakers this year and the tax cuts Kelly vetoed, the state would end June 2025 with more than $3.7 billion in surplus. Kelly argues that problems would arrive in future years, though Republicans strongly disagree.Kelly won the first of her two terms in 2018 by running against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/gubernatorial-elections-f5741d8d0d8c40979857c9d2d6afae9f">the fiscal policies of a Republican predecessor,</a>&nbsp;Gov. Sam Brownback. Big budget shortfalls followed large income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 and continued until most of the cuts were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/07/kansas-brownback-tax-veto-override/">repealed in 2017</a>&nbsp;over Brownback's veto.But Republicans argue that warnings from Kelly hearkening back to Brownback's policies have lost credibility as surplus revenues have piled up.“It’s far past time for the governor to put her worn-out Brownback rhetoric on the back burner and finally make our Kansas families the top priority,” House Taxation Committee Chair Adam Smith, a western Kansas Republican, wrote in a column Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article287899745.html">in the Kansas City Star.</a>

Kansas governor vetoes tax cuts for 2nd time in three months

HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Jerad Carmichael, 38, of Sedgwick, was taken into custody by deputies on Tuesday, according to a media release.

Carmichael being held&nbsp; in the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and rape.&nbsp;His bond was set at $750,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713974874151.png" alt="Carmichael-photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Carmichael-photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a child.Jerad Carmichael, 38, of Sedgwick, was taken into custody by deputies on Tuesday, according to a media release.Carmichael being held&nbsp; in the Harvey County Detention Center on requested charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and rape.&nbsp;His bond was set at $750,000.

Kansas man accused of violent child sex crimes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/planned-parenthood-medicaid-abortion-db9adee20b60b625ea7b2709e5149704">ban Medicaid funding</a>&nbsp;from going to Planned Parenthood, a move they have tried for years in a state where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">almost all abortions</a>&nbsp;are banned.

The bill, approved 106-48 Wednesday in the House, aims to make it illegal for Missouri’s Medicaid program to reimburse Planned Parenthood for health care services to low-income patients, such as pap smears and cancer screenings.

Abortions are not covered by Medicaid, and almost all abortions are illegal in Missouri. But abortion opponents say Planned Parenthood should not receive any public funding because clinics in other states provide abortions.

“My rhetorical question is: Is Planned Parenthood sending monies from our state budget to other states to allow for women to have an abortion?” Republican Rep. Brian Seitz asked during Wednesday debate on the House floor. "Abortion is murder.”

House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade in a statement described the bill as "an act of petty vengeance by Republicans against one of largest providers of women’s health care in Missouri.”

Planned Parenthood cautioned that other reproductive health care providers that serve Medicaid patients in Missouri do not have the capacity to take on all of Planned Parenthood's patients.

“Experts are clear: there are not enough other providers in the health care safety-net system to absorb Planned Parenthood’s patients,” the region’s Planned Parenthood said in a statement Wednesday. “At Planned Parenthood, we’ll continue to do everything we can to continue serving our patients — no matter what.”

Few states — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas, according to Planned Parenthood — have successfully blocked Medicaid funding for the organization.

A February state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-planned-parenthood-5e343d00de4cc4b3e3a7bcbe5f56d2d6">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;found that Missouri lawmakers’ latest attempt at defunding Planned Parenthood was unconstitutional.

While past efforts to kick Planned Parenthood off Missouri’s Medicaid program have been struck down by courts, this year, GOP lawmakers are taking another approach and passing the ban as a policy bill in hopes of avoiding another legal showdown.

Some House Democrats predicted the latest defunding bill likely will be fruitless, too. They pointed to a pending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-campaign-fundraising-election-740fd1267ab84d5e2a4cf6ebe5a56b71">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that could go before Missouri voters this fall and would restore abortion rights in the state.

The abortion-rights campaign needs to collect at least 172,000 voter signatures by May 5 to get on the ballot.

A spokesperson for Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on whether the Republican intends to sign the latest Planned Parenthood defunding bill. But his support is expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702301437196.png" alt="House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade in a statement described the bill as "an act of petty vengeance by Republicans against one of largest providers of women’s health care in Missouri.” (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade in a statement described the bill as "an act of petty vengeance by Republicans against one of largest providers of women’s health care in Missouri.” (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/planned-parenthood-medicaid-abortion-db9adee20b60b625ea7b2709e5149704">ban Medicaid funding</a>&nbsp;from going to Planned Parenthood, a move they have tried for years in a state where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">almost all abortions</a>&nbsp;are banned.The bill, approved 106-48 Wednesday in the House, aims to make it illegal for Missouri’s Medicaid program to reimburse Planned Parenthood for health care services to low-income patients, such as pap smears and cancer screenings.Abortions are not covered by Medicaid, and almost all abortions are illegal in Missouri. But abortion opponents say Planned Parenthood should not receive any public funding because clinics in other states provide abortions.“My rhetorical question is: Is Planned Parenthood sending monies from our state budget to other states to allow for women to have an abortion?” Republican Rep. Brian Seitz asked during Wednesday debate on the House floor. "Abortion is murder.”House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade in a statement described the bill as "an act of petty vengeance by Republicans against one of largest providers of women’s health care in Missouri.”Planned Parenthood cautioned that other reproductive health care providers that serve Medicaid patients in Missouri do not have the capacity to take on all of Planned Parenthood's patients.“Experts are clear: there are not enough other providers in the health care safety-net system to absorb Planned Parenthood’s patients,” the region’s Planned Parenthood said in a statement Wednesday. “At Planned Parenthood, we’ll continue to do everything we can to continue serving our patients — no matter what.”Few states — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas, according to Planned Parenthood — have successfully blocked Medicaid funding for the organization.A February state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-planned-parenthood-5e343d00de4cc4b3e3a7bcbe5f56d2d6">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;found that Missouri lawmakers’ latest attempt at defunding Planned Parenthood was unconstitutional.While past efforts to kick Planned Parenthood off Missouri’s Medicaid program have been struck down by courts, this year, GOP lawmakers are taking another approach and passing the ban as a policy bill in hopes of avoiding another legal showdown.Some House Democrats predicted the latest defunding bill likely will be fruitless, too. They pointed to a pending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-campaign-fundraising-election-740fd1267ab84d5e2a4cf6ebe5a56b71">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that could go before Missouri voters this fall and would restore abortion rights in the state.The abortion-rights campaign needs to collect at least 172,000 voter signatures by May 5 to get on the ballot.A spokesperson for Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on whether the Republican intends to sign the latest Planned Parenthood defunding bill. But his support is expected.

Mo. GOP lawmakers vote to kick Planned Parenthood off Medicaid

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 262 officials continue their investigation of alleged animal cruelty that prompted the suspension of the Valley Center High School baseball season.

According to the Valley Center Department of Public Safety, a chicken was killed on the baseball field at the high school before a game on April 20. A school employee contacted a school resource officer on Monday about the incident.

According to a memo sent to parents of USD 262 students on Monday, "The Valley Center High School varsity baseball season has been suspended due to an active law enforcement investigation."

"High school administrators were alerted to an incident of possible animal cruelty involving the entire Hornet varsity baseball team and the entire coaching staff on USD 262 property."

"Immediately upon learning of the incident, high school and district leadership notified the appropriate authorities and suspended the season. A decision regarding the remainder of the baseball season will be made pending the outcome of the investigation.”

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 262 officials are investigating alleged animal cruelty and have chosen to suspend the high school baseball season.

According to a memo sent to parents of USD 262 students on Monday,&nbsp;"The Valley Center High School varsity baseball season has been suspended due to an active law enforcement investigation."

Law enforcement authorities and the school district released no additional details.

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 262 officials continue their investigation of alleged animal cruelty that prompted the suspension of the Valley Center High School baseball season.According to the Valley Center Department of Public Safety, a chicken was killed on the baseball field at the high school before a game on April 20. A school employee contacted a school resource officer on Monday about the incident.According to a memo sent to parents of USD 262 students on Monday, "The Valley Center High School varsity baseball season has been suspended due to an active law enforcement investigation.""High school administrators were alerted to an incident of possible animal cruelty involving the entire Hornet varsity baseball team and the entire coaching staff on USD 262 property." "Immediately upon learning of the incident, high school and district leadership notified the appropriate authorities and suspended the season. A decision regarding the remainder of the baseball season will be made pending the outcome of the investigation.”----------SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 262 officials are investigating alleged animal cruelty and have chosen to suspend the high school baseball season.According to a memo sent to parents of USD 262 students on Monday,&nbsp;"The Valley Center High School varsity baseball season has been suspended due to an active law enforcement investigation.""High school administrators were alerted to an incident of possible animal cruelty involving the entire Hornet varsity baseball team and the entire coaching staff on USD 262 property." "Immediately upon learning of the incident, high school and district leadership notified the appropriate authorities and suspended the season. A decision regarding the remainder of the baseball season will be made pending the outcome of the investigation.”Law enforcement authorities and the school district released no additional details.

Kan. school district suspends baseball season after chicken killed on field

DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's office, the head-on crash occurred just east of the intersection of 31st and Louisiana Street.&nbsp;

In addition to the fatality victim, EMS transported three others to area hospitals. One of the others was air-lifted to a hospital.

The sheriff's office crash investigation team is examining the scene and 31st Street between Louisiana Street east of Haskell Avenue will be closed for several hours.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County.According to the Douglas County Sheriff's office, the head-on crash occurred just east of the intersection of 31st and Louisiana Street.&nbsp;In addition to the fatality victim, EMS transported three others to area hospitals. One of the others was air-lifted to a hospital.The sheriff's office crash investigation team is examining the scene and 31st Street between Louisiana Street east of Haskell Avenue will be closed for several hours.

One dead, 3 injured after Kansas head-on crash

Critics of 30-year-old law assert changes bring a greater degree of fairness to system

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

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill unanimously approved by the Kansas Legislature overhauling the process established 30 years ago allowing law enforcement agencies to seize assets and property from people accused but not convicted of a crime.

Despite early opposition from law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, House and Senate negotiators set new guidelines on asset forfeiture, broadened due process protections for property owners and stiffened reporting on seizures.

Under&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb458_01_0405.pdf">Senate Bill 458</a>, signed Tuesday by the governor, a court could order attorney fees to be paid for claimants who succeed in winning return of their property.

“This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/11/kansas-legislature-brings-gavel-down-on-civil-asset-seizure-powers-of-law-enforcement/">bill represents a significant step forward</a>&nbsp;in ensuring fairness and accountability in asset forfeiture proceedings,” Kelly said. “These reforms will protect the rights of property owners and promote greater transparency in law enforcement practices.”

Under existing state law, many Kansans didn’t contest the seizures because legal fees would exceed the amount of money or value of property taken. The evidence threshold for law enforcement to move forward with a seizure case was low. A portion of cases were transferred from local or state agencies to the U.S. Department of Justice, which made contesting the cases more difficult.

“Anyone who learns about civil asset forfeiture immediately agrees it’s a problem,” said Rep. Dan Osman, D-Overland Park. “Unfortunately, for years, we could never agree on what the solution should be.”

Sen. Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican who also worked on the bill, said legislation signed by the governor brought guardrails to civil asset seizure and forfeiture cases based on allegations the property was the ill-gotten gain from criminal activity. She said Kansans dealt for decades with seizures without “proper ability to raise a defense and get their seized property back.”

On Monday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation released the 2023 annual report on civil asset seizure and forfeiture cases. During the period between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, law enforcement agencies in Kansas seized $3.91 million in property. That resulted in forfeiture of $2.38 during the 12-month period.

Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb19_01_04042024.pdf">Senate Bill 19</a>&nbsp;to pay tuition and fees for Kansas National Guard members interested in earning a master’s degrees in college.

The law required the Kansas Guard’s adjutant general to begin by selecting up to 100 National Guard members from among those that applied to the degree program. The number of National Guard members enrolled in the graduate school program would be capped at 200 in any one academic year. If at full capacity, the program would cost the state an estimated $2.2 million annually.

Students would remain eligible by maintaining a minimum 2.75 grade point average. National Guard troops in the program would agree, in writing, to complete current service obligations and serve actively and in good standing for at least 48 months following completion of the degree.

Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb292_01_0404241545.pdf">Senate Bill 292</a>&nbsp;to update the state’s Code of Military Justice to conform with amendments to the U.S. Code of Military Justice. The bill would direct the National Guard’s adjutant general, with the approval of the governor, to appoint an officer as state judge advocate with the rank of colonel.

The new law would require the state Military Disability Board, beginning July 1, 2025, to adjust death and disability benefits for National Guard members based on changes in the consumer price index.

The legislation increased the monthly benefit to National Guard members with a 100% disability to $850 plus 12.5% of monthly basic pay. Current state law provided $120 plus 12.5% of the member’s monthly basic pay. The bill also raised the monthly benefit for a surviving spouse of an eligible deceased member and substantially expanded monthly benefits for surviving children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713970723512.png" alt="Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill unanimously approved by the Kansas Legislature to substantively alter the law enforcement civil asset seizure and forfeiture law to increase transparency and the ability of Kansans to challenge the action and regain their property.-File photo" />
 <figcaption>Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill unanimously approved by the Kansas Legislature to substantively alter the law enforcement civil asset seizure and forfeiture law to increase transparency and the ability of Kansans to challenge the action and regain their property.-File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Critics of 30-year-old law assert changes bring a greater degree of fairness to system</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill unanimously approved by the Kansas Legislature overhauling the process established 30 years ago allowing law enforcement agencies to seize assets and property from people accused but not convicted of a crime.Despite early opposition from law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, House and Senate negotiators set new guidelines on asset forfeiture, broadened due process protections for property owners and stiffened reporting on seizures.Under&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb458_01_0405.pdf">Senate Bill 458</a>, signed Tuesday by the governor, a court could order attorney fees to be paid for claimants who succeed in winning return of their property.“This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/11/kansas-legislature-brings-gavel-down-on-civil-asset-seizure-powers-of-law-enforcement/">bill represents a significant step forward</a>&nbsp;in ensuring fairness and accountability in asset forfeiture proceedings,” Kelly said. “These reforms will protect the rights of property owners and promote greater transparency in law enforcement practices.”Under existing state law, many Kansans didn’t contest the seizures because legal fees would exceed the amount of money or value of property taken. The evidence threshold for law enforcement to move forward with a seizure case was low. A portion of cases were transferred from local or state agencies to the U.S. Department of Justice, which made contesting the cases more difficult.“Anyone who learns about civil asset forfeiture immediately agrees it’s a problem,” said Rep. Dan Osman, D-Overland Park. “Unfortunately, for years, we could never agree on what the solution should be.”Sen. Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican who also worked on the bill, said legislation signed by the governor brought guardrails to civil asset seizure and forfeiture cases based on allegations the property was the ill-gotten gain from criminal activity. She said Kansans dealt for decades with seizures without “proper ability to raise a defense and get their seized property back.”On Monday, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation released the 2023 annual report on civil asset seizure and forfeiture cases. During the period between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, law enforcement agencies in Kansas seized $3.91 million in property. That resulted in forfeiture of $2.38 during the 12-month period.Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb19_01_04042024.pdf">Senate Bill 19</a>&nbsp;to pay tuition and fees for Kansas National Guard members interested in earning a master’s degrees in college.The law required the Kansas Guard’s adjutant general to begin by selecting up to 100 National Guard members from among those that applied to the degree program. The number of National Guard members enrolled in the graduate school program would be capped at 200 in any one academic year. If at full capacity, the program would cost the state an estimated $2.2 million annually.Students would remain eligible by maintaining a minimum 2.75 grade point average. National Guard troops in the program would agree, in writing, to complete current service obligations and serve actively and in good standing for at least 48 months following completion of the degree.Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb292_01_0404241545.pdf">Senate Bill 292</a>&nbsp;to update the state’s Code of Military Justice to conform with amendments to the U.S. Code of Military Justice. The bill would direct the National Guard’s adjutant general, with the approval of the governor, to appoint an officer as state judge advocate with the rank of colonel.The new law would require the state Military Disability Board, beginning July 1, 2025, to adjust death and disability benefits for National Guard members based on changes in the consumer price index.The legislation increased the monthly benefit to National Guard members with a 100% disability to $850 plus 12.5% of monthly basic pay. Current state law provided $120 plus 12.5% of the member’s monthly basic pay. The bill also raised the monthly benefit for a surviving spouse of an eligible deceased member and substantially expanded monthly benefits for surviving children.

Gov. Kelly signs civil asset forfeiture reform unanimously passed by Legislature

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Wichita and have made an arres

Around noon Tuesday, police responded to the 1400 block of Minnesota Avenue following reports of a shooting. First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Norman E. Carter III with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. 

Responding officers immediately started life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived and transported Carter to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1:01 p.m, according to Ford.

Police detained a person of interest in their investigation and later booked 19-year-old Amunique Cavitt into jail on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=747819">requested charges </a>of first-degree murder, according to the county arrest report.

&nbsp;Anyone with information about the incident or who may have video surveillance footage from either doorbell or garage cameras is asked to call the Wichita Police Homicide Investigations Unit at 316-268-4407. You can remain anonymous and contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713961470429.png" alt="Cavitt-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cavitt-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Wichita and have made an arres<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713954859599.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation - photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation - photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Around noon Tuesday, police responded to the 1400 block of Minnesota Avenue following reports of a shooting. First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Norman E. Carter III with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Responding officers immediately started life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived and transported Carter to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1:01 p.m, according to Ford.Police detained a person of interest in their investigation and later booked 19-year-old Amunique Cavitt into jail on <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=747819">requested charges </a>of first-degree murder, according to the county arrest report.&nbsp;Anyone with information about the incident or who may have video surveillance footage from either doorbell or garage cameras is asked to call the Wichita Police Homicide Investigations Unit at 316-268-4407. You can remain anonymous and contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Police: 19-year-old accused in murder of Kansas man 

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration Wednesday announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

 The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said&nbsp;U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.” &nbsp;

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes.&nbsp;

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process. &nbsp;

The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.

In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.

The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.

DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris Administration

Under the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.

In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:

The final rule on refunds can be found at<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news">&nbsp;https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news</a>&nbsp;and at&nbsp;<a href="http://regulations.gov/">regulations.gov</a>, docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer">Click here for</a> more information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration Wednesday announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our department just issued rules to protect people from hidden airline fees and to require airlines to give passengers automatic cash refunds when owed. No more having to fend for yourself and jump through hoops to get your money back—airlines will have to automatically do this. <a href="https://t.co/Jv7dFmnNkI">pic.twitter.com/Jv7dFmnNkI</a>&mdash; Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretaryPete/status/1783097342792438232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said&nbsp;U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.” &nbsp;The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes.&nbsp;Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:<ul>
 <li>Canceled or significantly changed flights:&nbsp;Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.&nbsp;</li><li>Significantly delayed baggage return:&nbsp;Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.&nbsp;</li><li>Extra services not provided:&nbsp;Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.</li>
 </ul>DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process. &nbsp;The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:<ul>
 <li>Automatic:&nbsp;Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Prompt:&nbsp;Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.&nbsp;</li><li>Cash or original form of payment:&nbsp;Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Full amount:&nbsp;Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.</li>
 </ul>The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris AdministrationUnder the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.<ul>
 <li>Thanks to pressure from Secretary Buttigieg and DOT’s&nbsp;<a href="http://flightrights.gov/">flightrights.gov</a>&nbsp;dashboard, all 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a significant delay or cancellation. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to and are displayed on&nbsp;<a href="http://flightrights.gov/">flightrights.gov</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Since President Biden took office, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers – including over $600 million to passengers affected by the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown in 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Under Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has issued over $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations. Between 1996 and 2020, DOT collectively issued less than $71 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations.&nbsp;</li><li>DOT recently launched a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-launches-bipartisan-partnership-state-attorneys-general-protect">partnership</a>&nbsp;with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general to fast-track the review of consumer complaints, hold airlines accountable, and protect the rights of the traveling public.&nbsp;</li><li>In 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/2023-numbers-more-flights-fewer-cancellations-more-consumer-protections#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20there%20were%2016.3,lowest%20rate%20in%20a%20decade.">record low</a>&nbsp;at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.&nbsp;</li><li>DOT is undertaking its first ever industry-wide review of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-first-industry-wide-privacy-review-us-airlines#:~:text=The%20review%20will%20examine%20airlines,that%20data%20with%20third%20parties.">airline privacy practices</a>&nbsp;and its first review of airline loyalty programs.</li>
 </ul>In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:<ul>
 <li>Propose to ban family seating junk fees and guarantee that parents can sit with their children for no extra charge when they fly. Before President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg pressed airlines last year, no airline committed to guaranteeing fee-free family seating. Now, four airlines guarantee fee-free family seating, and the Department is working on its family seating junk fee ban proposal.&nbsp;</li><li>Propose to make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight delays or cancellations.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Expand the rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and ensure that they can travel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-proposed-rule-ensure-passengers-who-use-wheelchairs-can">safely and with dignity</a>. The comment period on this proposed rule closes on May 13, 2024.</li>
 </ul>The final rule on refunds can be found at<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news">&nbsp;https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news</a>&nbsp;and at&nbsp;<a href="http://regulations.gov/">regulations.gov</a>, docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer">Click here for</a> more information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders

🎥Airlines now must offer you a cash refund under new rules

PAWNEE COUNTY– Shelby Lee Starr, 49 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court this week for jury trial regarding two Jessica’s Law offenses.

An all-male jury was selected on Monday. Opening statements were scheduled to commence Tuesday morning. Prior to the formal swearing in of the jury, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby the defendant entered an Alford plea of guilt to a single count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a child under the age of 14, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

In addition, the State agreed to allow Starr to be sentenced pursuant to the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines and dismiss the additional count.

As part of the plea agreement, Starr agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.

In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that in February of 2023 DCF received a mandatory-reporter referral from a school counselor that one of their students had disclosed they had been touched inappropriately by their father’s friend named “Shelby,” when the student was six years old.

The disclosure occurred after the local Child Advocacy Center had given a presentation to middle school students about “good touch and bad touch.” The subsequent DCF investigation identified Shelby Starr as the alleged perpetrator. In a forensic interview, the student disclosed the defendant had first touched her when she was at her grandfather’s Larned residence in 2016. The defendant touched her again when she and her family were at Starr’s Larned residence in July of 2017. The Larned Police Department assisted with the investigation.

McNett further advised the Court that pursuant to the Kansas Crime Victims’ Act he had consulted with the victim and her family prior to entering into plea negotiations, and that they we in support of the presented plea agreement.

After accepting the defendant’s plea as being knowingly and voluntarily made, Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman advised Starr of his duty to register as sex offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act and ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing will be scheduled for a later date.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a presumptive prison sentence between 59 months and 247 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history.

The name, Alford plea, is taken from the case North Carolina v. Alford and is sometimes referred to a "best-interests plea," whereby the defendant registers a formal admission of guilt towards charges in criminal court while simultaneously expressing their innocence toward those same charges. An Alford-type guilty plea means the defendant decided it would be better to take a known sentence than to take their chances in a criminal jury trial.

Members of the Salina Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse were present at the jury proceeding in support of the child victim.

Starr was arrested in Barton County on April 1, 2023, without incident. He has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest.&nbsp;-Starr has been registered as a sex offender since 2001 for child sex crime convictions in Georgia, according to the Kansas Offender Registry

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688048306418.png" alt="-Starr has been registered as a sex offender since 2001 for child sex crime convictions in Georgia, according to the Kansas Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>-Starr has been registered as a sex offender since 2001 for child sex crime convictions in Georgia, according to the Kansas Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY– Shelby Lee Starr, 49 of Great Bend, appeared in the Pawnee County District Court this week for jury trial regarding two Jessica’s Law offenses.An all-male jury was selected on Monday. Opening statements were scheduled to commence Tuesday morning. Prior to the formal swearing in of the jury, the parties announced they had reached a plea agreement whereby the defendant entered an Alford plea of guilt to a single count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a child under the age of 14, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.In addition, the State agreed to allow Starr to be sentenced pursuant to the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines and dismiss the additional count.As part of the plea agreement, Starr agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.In support of the plea, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that in February of 2023 DCF received a mandatory-reporter referral from a school counselor that one of their students had disclosed they had been touched inappropriately by their father’s friend named “Shelby,” when the student was six years old.The disclosure occurred after the local Child Advocacy Center had given a presentation to middle school students about “good touch and bad touch.” The subsequent DCF investigation identified Shelby Starr as the alleged perpetrator. In a forensic interview, the student disclosed the defendant had first touched her when she was at her grandfather’s Larned residence in 2016. The defendant touched her again when she and her family were at Starr’s Larned residence in July of 2017. The Larned Police Department assisted with the investigation.McNett further advised the Court that pursuant to the Kansas Crime Victims’ Act he had consulted with the victim and her family prior to entering into plea negotiations, and that they we in support of the presented plea agreement.After accepting the defendant’s plea as being knowingly and voluntarily made, Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman advised Starr of his duty to register as sex offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act and ordered a presentence investigation report be completed to determine the defendant’s criminal history. Sentencing will be scheduled for a later date.Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces a presumptive prison sentence between 59 months and 247 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history.The name, Alford plea, is taken from the case North Carolina v. Alford and is sometimes referred to a "best-interests plea," whereby the defendant registers a formal admission of guilt towards charges in criminal court while simultaneously expressing their innocence toward those same charges. An Alford-type guilty plea means the defendant decided it would be better to take a known sentence than to take their chances in a criminal jury trial.Members of the Salina Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse were present at the jury proceeding in support of the child victim.Starr was arrested in Barton County on April 1, 2023, without incident. He has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest.&nbsp;-Starr has been registered as a sex offender since 2001 for child sex crime convictions in Georgia, according to the Kansas Offender Registry

Georgia sex offender enters plea deal for sex crimes in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Thousands of United Methodists are gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their big denominational meeting, known as General Conference.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Thousands of United Methodists are gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their big denominational meeting, known as General Conference.It’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">much-anticipated gathering</a>. Typically it is held every four years, but church leaders delayed the 2020 gathering until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.This year, the 11-day gathering runs from April 23 to May 3. Among those assembling are hundreds of voting delegates — the United Methodists from across the globe who were elected to represent their regional church body — though as many as one-quarter of international delegates are not confirmed as able to attend. The delegates, half clergy and half lay Methodists, are the decision makers at General Conference.WHAT HAPPENS AT GENERAL CONFERENCE?General Conference — the only entity that can speak for the entire denomination — is a business meeting where delegates set policy, pass budgets and address other church-wide matters. It’s the only body that can amend the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which includes church law. It also includes Social Principles, which are non-binding declarations on social and ethical issues. There’s worship and fellowship, too.IS THERE SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S MEETING?Yes. This will be the first General Conference since more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-congregations-leaving-lgbtq-bans-dbd315f329e4cfec4ba78916668ab50b">7,600 mostly conservative congregations left</a>&nbsp;the United Methodist Church between 2019 and 2023 because the denomination essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and having “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” serving as clergy and bishops.WILL THE GENERAL CONFERENCE LIFT THOSE LGBTQ-RELATED BANS THIS YEAR?It’s possible. The delegates in Charlotte are expected to vote on whether to eliminate them. Similar efforts have failed in years past, but with the election of more progressive delegates and the departure of many conservatives, supporters of removing the bans are optimistic.WHAT OTHER KEY ISSUES ARE UP FOR CONSIDERATION?—&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-disaffiliation-lgbtq-44fd14d471124d23e1fd5677a8f2b1d9">Disaffiliations</a>: The rules that allowed U.S. congregations to leave between 2019 and 2023. It allowed them to leave with their properties, held in trust for the denomination, under friendlier-than-normal legal terms. Some want similar conditions for international churches and for U.S. churches that missed the 2023 deadline.—Regionalization: A proposal to restructure the denomination into regional conferences around the world, rather than having distinct names for U.S. and other jurisdictions. It would define the role of regions more precisely and put American congregations into their own regional body. Under this proposal, all regions would be able to adapt church policies to their local contexts, including those on marriage and ordination.—Budgets: Because of all the disaffiliations, the conference will vote on a much-reduced budget proposal for the coming years.HOW IS THE CONFERENCE STARTING OFF?New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the denomination’s Council of Bishops, addressed the recent schism head-on in feisty remarks during Tuesday's opening worship, which included music and Communion.Bickerton spoke of his recent visit to a Texas conference that had lost more than half its churches and said those remaining were committed to rebuilding the church. He said those at the General Conference should be doing the same – not continuing the controversy.“Are you committed to the revitalization of the United Methodist Church?” Bickerton said to applause. “Are you here to work for a culture marked by compassion, courage, and companionship? … If you can’t agree to that, what are you doing here anyway? Maybe, just maybe, you’re in the wrong place.”He alluded to criticism of the denomination during the disaffiliation debates and said it was holding on to its core beliefs.“Don’t you tell us that we don’t believe in Scripture,” he said. “Don’t you tell us that we don’t believe in the doctrine of the church. And Lord have mercy, don’t tell us that we don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. … We have got to rebuild the church and we’ve got to do it together.”WHERE ARE THE DELEGATES COMING FROM?Though thousands of Methodists with be attending the conference, there are only 862 official voting delegates, from the following regions of the church:• 55.9% from the U.S.• 32% from Africa• 6% from the Philippines• 4.6% from Europe• 1.5% from concordant (affiliated) churchesWILL THEY ALL BE THERE?No. As of last week, only about three-quarters of international delegates were confirmed as able to attend, the Commission on the General Conference reported Thursday. The other quarter includes 27 delegates unable to get visas or passports, others who couldn’t attend for various reasons, and 62 delegates still unconfirmed. African groups have strongly criticized denominational officials, faulting them for delays in providing necessary paperwork and information and raising questions about whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methodists-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-conservatives-africa-1319aea6e1d2ad8755a905a8c4b1bf79">African conferences</a>&nbsp;will accept voting results from the conference.HOW ARE CONGREGATIONS PREPARING?That varies widely, but those long active in the movement to repeal LGBTQ bans are focused strongly on the conference. First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, for example, held a commissioning service on April 14 for three members attending the conference in varying capacities. “It will be deeply meaningful for me personally to vote for those changes,” said member Tracy Merrick, who will be a delegate.WHAT ARE UNITED METHODISTS, ANYWAY?They’re part of a larger worldwide family of Methodists and other groups in the tradition of 18th century British Protestant revivalist John Wesley, who emphasized evangelism, holy living and social service. They hold many beliefs in common with other Christians, with some distinct doctrines. United Methodists traditionally ranged from liberal to conservative. They were until recently the third largest and most widespread U.S. denomination. Methodist missionaries planted churches worldwide, which grew dramatically, especially in Africa. Some became independent, but churches on four continents remain part of the United Methodist Church.HOW MANY UNITED METHODISTS ARE THERE?5.4 million in the United States as of 2022, but that will decline significantly due to 2023 disaffiliations.4.6 million in Africa, Asia and Europe. That’s lower than earlier estimates but reflects more recent denominational reports.___SOURCES: General Council on Finance and Administration and other United Methodist entities.___