MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-trump-debate-democrats-withdraw-campaign-8866379e91fdb1425bbd2eb5344655c5">fighting</a>&nbsp;to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a “bad episode” and saying there were “no indications of any serious condition."

“Look, I have a cognitive test every single day,” Biden told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, referring to the tasks he faces daily in a rigorous job. “Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world.”

The 81-year-old Biden made it through the 22-minute interview without any major blunders that would inflict further damage to his imperiled candidacy, but it appeared unlikely to fully tamp down concerns about his age and fitness for another four years and his ability to defeat Donald Trump in November.

It left Biden in a standoff against a not-insignificant faction of his party with four months to go until Election Day, and with just weeks until the Democratic National Convention. The drawn-out spectacle could benefit Biden’s efforts to remain in the race by limiting the party’s options to replace him. But it also could be a distraction from vital efforts to frame the 2024 race as a referendum on Trump.

During the interview, Biden insisted he was not more frail than earlier in his presidency. He said he undergoes “ongoing assessment” by his personal doctors and they “don't hesitate to tell me” if something is wrong.

“Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape,” Biden said.

As for the debate, “I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing,” Biden said.

Biden suggested that Trump’s disruptions — from just a few feet away — had flustered him: “I realized that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me. I’m not blaming it on that. But I realized that I just wasn’t in control.”

At times, Biden rambled during the interview, which ABC said aired in full and without edits. At one point, he started to explain his debate performance, then veered to a New York Times poll, then pivoted to the lies Trump told during the debate. Biden also referred to the midterm “red wave” as occurring in 2020, rather than 2022.

Asked how he might turn the race around, Biden argued that one key would be large and energetic rallies like the one he held Friday in Wisconsin. When reminded that Trump routinely draws larger crowds, the president laid into his opponent.

“Trump is a pathological liar,” Biden said, accusing Trump of bungling the federal response to the COVID pandemic and failing to create jobs. “You ever see something that Trump did that benefited someone else and not him?”

Biden also insisted he was the “most qualified” to lead Democrats against Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

The interview, paired with a weekend campaign in battleground Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, was part of Biden's rigorous effort to course correct from his rocky debate performance. But internal party frustrations continue to fester, with one influential Democratic senator working on a nascent push to encourage the president to exit the race and Democrats quietly chatting about where they would go next if the president drops out — or what it would mean if he stays in.

“It’s President Biden’s decision whether or not he remains in the race. Voters select our nominee and they chose him," said California Rep. Ro Khanna, a member of the Biden campaign's national advisory board that works as a gathering of his top surrogates. "Now, he needs to prove to those voters that he is up to the job and that will require more than just this one interview.”

One Democrat who watched said they found Biden to be still shaky under controlled conditions and predicted more will call on him to leave the race.

Still, in Wisconsin, Biden was focused on proving his capacity to serve another term. When asked whether he would halt his campaign, he told reporters he was “completely ruling that out” and said he is “positive” he could serve another four years. At a rally in front of hundreds of supporters he acknowledged his subpar debate performance but insisted, “I am running, and I'm going to win again.”

“I beat Donald Trump,” a forceful Biden said, as the crowd gathered in a middle school cheered and waved campaign signs. “I will beat him again.”

While private angst among Democratic lawmakers, donors and strategists has been running deep since the debate, most in the party have held public fire as they wait to see if the president can restore confidence with his weekend travel and his handling of the interview.

To that end, Sen. Mark Warner reached out to fellow senators throughout this week to discuss whether to ask Biden to exit the race, according to three people familiar with the effort who requested anonymity to talk about private conversations. The Virginia Democrat’s moves are notable given his chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee and his reputation as a lawmaker who is supportive of Biden and has working relationships with colleagues in both parties. Warner’s effort was first reported by The Washington Post.

The strategy remains fluid. One of the people with knowledge of Warner's effort said there are enough Senate Democrats concerned enough about Biden's capacity to run for reelection to take some sort of action, although there was yet no consensus on what that plan would be. Some of the Democratic senators could meet as soon as Monday on how to move forward.

The top Democrats on House committees are planning to meet virtually Sunday to discuss the situation, according to a person familiar with the gathering granted anonymity to talk about it.

At least four House Democrats have called for Biden to step down as the nominee. While not going that far, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a carefully worded statement Friday that Biden now has a decision to make on “the best way forward.”

“I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump,” Healey said.

In the interview, Biden was asked how he might be persuaded to leave the race. He laughed and replied, “If the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that.”

There were also a few signs of discontent at Biden's campaign rally Friday, with one person onstage waving a sign that read “Pass the torch Joe” as the president came out. His motorcade was also greeted at the middle school by a few people urging him to move on.

But Rebecca Green, a 52-year-old environmental scientist from Madison, said she found Biden’s energy reassuring. “We were just waiting for him to come out strong and fighting again, the way we know he is."

Many Democratic lawmakers, who are hearing from constituents at home during the holiday week, are deeply frustrated and split on whether Biden should stay or go. Privately, discussions among the House Democrats flared this week as word spread that some of them were drafting public letters suggesting the president should quit the race.

Biden appears to have pulled his family closer while attempting to prove that he's still the Democrats' best option.

The ubiquitous presence of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;in the West Wing since the debate has become an uncomfortable dynamic for many staffers, according to two Democrats close to the White House who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

For many staffers, the sight of Hunter Biden, just weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">his conviction on felony gun charges</a>, taking a larger role in advising his father has been unsettling and a questionable choice, they said.

In a hastily organized gathering with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-jeff-zients-7794155c12bc78c084e4b964545e2b7f">more than 20 Democratic governors</a>&nbsp;Wednesday evening, Biden acknowledged he needs to sleep more and limit evening events so he can be rested for the job. In trying to explain away those comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden “works around the clock” but that he “also recognizes the importance of striking a balance and taking care of himself.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who attended the meeting, said Biden “certainly engaged with us on complicated matters.”

“But then again, this is something that he needs to not just reassure Democratic governors on, but he needs to reassure the American people," Beshear said.

Kim reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Todd Richmond in Madison, Joey Cappelletti in Saugatuck, Michigan, Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, and Will Weissert, Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick, Aamer Madhani, Lisa Mascaro and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-trump-debate-democrats-withdraw-campaign-8866379e91fdb1425bbd2eb5344655c5">fighting</a>&nbsp;to save his endangered reelection effort, used a highly anticipated TV interview Friday to repeatedly reject taking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he is up for serving another term in office while blaming his disastrous debate performance on a “bad episode” and saying there were “no indications of any serious condition."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When I first ran for president, I wanted to do three things: restore some decency to the office, restore support for the middle class instead of trickle-down economics, and unite our country. We were told it couldn’t be done. But we got it done. <a href="https://t.co/nIUiwBVy8G">pic.twitter.com/nIUiwBVy8G</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1809382384007008585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Look, I have a cognitive test every single day,” Biden told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, referring to the tasks he faces daily in a rigorous job. “Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m optimistic about this country. I don’t think we’re a country of losers like Donald Trump says. We’ve made great progress. We can do this. <a href="https://t.co/AdtsK9omSU">pic.twitter.com/AdtsK9omSU</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1809382839957311797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden in Madison, WI: &quot;They&#39;re trying to push me out of the race. Well, let me say this as clearly as I can; I&#39;m staying in the race! I&#39;ll beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020 and by the way we&#39;re&#39; going to do it again in 2024.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/T1xJ7NAThj">pic.twitter.com/T1xJ7NAThj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1809367605334966587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 81-year-old Biden made it through the 22-minute interview without any major blunders that would inflict further damage to his imperiled candidacy, but it appeared unlikely to fully tamp down concerns about his age and fitness for another four years and his ability to defeat Donald Trump in November.It left Biden in a standoff against a not-insignificant faction of his party with four months to go until Election Day, and with just weeks until the Democratic National Convention. The drawn-out spectacle could benefit Biden’s efforts to remain in the race by limiting the party’s options to replace him. But it also could be a distraction from vital efforts to frame the 2024 race as a referendum on Trump.During the interview, Biden insisted he was not more frail than earlier in his presidency. He said he undergoes “ongoing assessment” by his personal doctors and they “don't hesitate to tell me” if something is wrong.“Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape,” Biden said.As for the debate, “I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing,” Biden said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let me say this as clearly as I can: I’m the sitting President of the United States. I’m the nominee of the Democratic party. I’m staying in the race.&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1809310761933525304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden suggested that Trump’s disruptions — from just a few feet away — had flustered him: “I realized that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me. I’m not blaming it on that. But I realized that I just wasn’t in control.”At times, Biden rambled during the interview, which ABC said aired in full and without edits. At one point, he started to explain his debate performance, then veered to a New York Times poll, then pivoted to the lies Trump told during the debate. Biden also referred to the midterm “red wave” as occurring in 2020, rather than 2022.Asked how he might turn the race around, Biden argued that one key would be large and energetic rallies like the one he held Friday in Wisconsin. When reminded that Trump routinely draws larger crowds, the president laid into his opponent.“Trump is a pathological liar,” Biden said, accusing Trump of bungling the federal response to the COVID pandemic and failing to create jobs. “You ever see something that Trump did that benefited someone else and not him?”Biden also insisted he was the “most qualified” to lead Democrats against Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.The interview, paired with a weekend campaign in battleground Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, was part of Biden's rigorous effort to course correct from his rocky debate performance. But internal party frustrations continue to fester, with one influential Democratic senator working on a nascent push to encourage the president to exit the race and Democrats quietly chatting about where they would go next if the president drops out — or what it would mean if he stays in.“It’s President Biden’s decision whether or not he remains in the race. Voters select our nominee and they chose him," said California Rep. Ro Khanna, a member of the Biden campaign's national advisory board that works as a gathering of his top surrogates. "Now, he needs to prove to those voters that he is up to the job and that will require more than just this one interview.”One Democrat who watched said they found Biden to be still shaky under controlled conditions and predicted more will call on him to leave the race.Still, in Wisconsin, Biden was focused on proving his capacity to serve another term. When asked whether he would halt his campaign, he told reporters he was “completely ruling that out” and said he is “positive” he could serve another four years. At a rally in front of hundreds of supporters he acknowledged his subpar debate performance but insisted, “I am running, and I'm going to win again.”“I beat Donald Trump,” a forceful Biden said, as the crowd gathered in a middle school cheered and waved campaign signs. “I will beat him again.”While private angst among Democratic lawmakers, donors and strategists has been running deep since the debate, most in the party have held public fire as they wait to see if the president can restore confidence with his weekend travel and his handling of the interview.To that end, Sen. Mark Warner reached out to fellow senators throughout this week to discuss whether to ask Biden to exit the race, according to three people familiar with the effort who requested anonymity to talk about private conversations. The Virginia Democrat’s moves are notable given his chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee and his reputation as a lawmaker who is supportive of Biden and has working relationships with colleagues in both parties. Warner’s effort was first reported by The Washington Post.The strategy remains fluid. One of the people with knowledge of Warner's effort said there are enough Senate Democrats concerned enough about Biden's capacity to run for reelection to take some sort of action, although there was yet no consensus on what that plan would be. Some of the Democratic senators could meet as soon as Monday on how to move forward.The top Democrats on House committees are planning to meet virtually Sunday to discuss the situation, according to a person familiar with the gathering granted anonymity to talk about it.At least four House Democrats have called for Biden to step down as the nominee. While not going that far, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in a carefully worded statement Friday that Biden now has a decision to make on “the best way forward.”“I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump,” Healey said.In the interview, Biden was asked how he might be persuaded to leave the race. He laughed and replied, “If the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that.”There were also a few signs of discontent at Biden's campaign rally Friday, with one person onstage waving a sign that read “Pass the torch Joe” as the president came out. His motorcade was also greeted at the middle school by a few people urging him to move on.But Rebecca Green, a 52-year-old environmental scientist from Madison, said she found Biden’s energy reassuring. “We were just waiting for him to come out strong and fighting again, the way we know he is."Many Democratic lawmakers, who are hearing from constituents at home during the holiday week, are deeply frustrated and split on whether Biden should stay or go. Privately, discussions among the House Democrats flared this week as word spread that some of them were drafting public letters suggesting the president should quit the race.Biden appears to have pulled his family closer while attempting to prove that he's still the Democrats' best option.The ubiquitous presence of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;in the West Wing since the debate has become an uncomfortable dynamic for many staffers, according to two Democrats close to the White House who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.For many staffers, the sight of Hunter Biden, just weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">his conviction on felony gun charges</a>, taking a larger role in advising his father has been unsettling and a questionable choice, they said.In a hastily organized gathering with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-jeff-zients-7794155c12bc78c084e4b964545e2b7f">more than 20 Democratic governors</a>&nbsp;Wednesday evening, Biden acknowledged he needs to sleep more and limit evening events so he can be rested for the job. In trying to explain away those comments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that Biden “works around the clock” but that he “also recognizes the importance of striking a balance and taking care of himself.”Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who attended the meeting, said Biden “certainly engaged with us on complicated matters.”“But then again, this is something that he needs to not just reassure Democratic governors on, but he needs to reassure the American people," Beshear said.___Kim reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Todd Richmond in Madison, Joey Cappelletti in Saugatuck, Michigan, Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, and Will Weissert, Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick, Aamer Madhani, Lisa Mascaro and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥 Biden discusses age questions in TV interview as he fights to stay in race

JOHNSON COUNTY —A woman involved in a deadly crash during a police chase is going to prison.

Last week, Shyanne Canady, 23, was sentenced to 10-years in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In May she pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and second-degree murder, according to the District Attorney office. The incident involved a deadly crash that began as a shoplifting incident in Overland Park.

In November 2023, police responded to a reported theft in progress in the 7900 block of W. 160th Street, according to Overland Park Police.

Officers identified the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit after the suspects refused to comply with commands to stop. The pursuit continued onto northbound Blue Valley Parkway from U.S. 69 Highway.

The driver of the suspect vehicle disregarded a red traffic signal and collided with a westbound car on Blue Valley Parkway at W. 119th Street. One of the women in the suspect's vehicle later died from injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714830968454.png" alt="Canady- photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Canady- photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A woman involved in a deadly crash during a police chase is going to prison.Last week, Shyanne Canady, 23, was sentenced to 10-years in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In May she pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and second-degree murder, according to the District Attorney office. The incident involved a deadly crash that began as a shoplifting incident in Overland Park.In November 2023, police responded to a reported theft in progress in the 7900 block of W. 160th Street, according to Overland Park Police.Officers identified the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit after the suspects refused to comply with commands to stop. The pursuit continued onto northbound Blue Valley Parkway from U.S. 69 Highway.The driver of the suspect vehicle disregarded a red traffic signal and collided with a westbound car on Blue Valley Parkway at W. 119th Street. One of the women in the suspect's vehicle later died from injuries.

Kan. shoplifter involved in fatal crash is going to prison

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly 4th of July shooting in Kansas City. Just before 3:00pm police responded to a shooting in the 2200 block of E. 69th Terrace, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders located a victim unresponsive on the sidewalk in front of a home.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

An investigation determined the man who died had an interaction with one or more unknown suspects that resulted in gunfire.

Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720133624393.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryle Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryle Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly 4th of July shooting in Kansas City. Just before 3:00pm police responded to a shooting in the 2200 block of E. 69th Terrace, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720133597687.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a victim unresponsive on the sidewalk in front of a home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;An investigation determined the man who died had an interaction with one or more unknown suspects that resulted in gunfire.Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Deadly 4th of July shooting in Kansas City

COWLEY COUNTY— A Kansas man was arrested after a crash into a home just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cowley County.

According to Arkansas City Police, a&nbsp;vehicle driven by 22-year-old Anthony Perez-Hernandez had gone through the stop sign at the intersection of North 2nd Streed and Kansas Avenue in Arkansas City and collided with the home in the 200 Block of W. Kansas Avenue.

&nbsp;Perez-Hernandez exhibited signs of alcohol impairment. Standardized field sobriety tests were administered, revealing further clues of impairment.

Police transported Perez-Hernandez to the Arkansas City Police Department for additional testing. Following the tests, he was taken to the Cowley County Jail on requested charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, lack of proof of insurance, transporting an open container and reckless driving. 

His bond was set for $750. The passenger in the vehicle, Pedro Marcos Pascual, was found in possession of an open container and was cited and released for this violation.&nbsp; There were no injuries from the crash and Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department assessed the structural integrity of the home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720187003635.png" alt="Photos Arkansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Arkansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY— A Kansas man was arrested after a crash into a home just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cowley County.According to Arkansas City Police, a&nbsp;vehicle driven by 22-year-old Anthony Perez-Hernandez had gone through the stop sign at the intersection of North 2nd Streed and Kansas Avenue in Arkansas City and collided with the home in the 200 Block of W. Kansas Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720186982642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Perez-Hernandez exhibited signs of alcohol impairment. Standardized field sobriety tests were administered, revealing further clues of impairment.Police transported Perez-Hernandez to the Arkansas City Police Department for additional testing. Following the tests, he was taken to the Cowley County Jail on requested charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, lack of proof of insurance, transporting an open container and reckless driving. His bond was set for $750. The passenger in the vehicle, Pedro Marcos Pascual, was found in possession of an open container and was cited and released for this violation.&nbsp; There were no injuries from the crash and Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department assessed the structural integrity of the home.

Police  DUI crash into house put Kansas man in jail

The merger between the Missouri community hospital and Kansas academic health center was met with resistance by some state lawmakers

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Despite resistance from lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri, Liberty Hospital has officially joined the University of Kansas Health System, executives announced Monday.

Leaders of the health system announced the completion of the merger Monday in a short video Monday alongside the CEO of Liberty Hospital, located in the Kansas City suburbs north of the Missouri River.

Liberty’s leadership began looking in May 2023 to partner with another health system to help the hospital meet growing demand. It announced in October that it had chosen the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Raghu Adiga — who served as Liberty Hospital’s CEO and now is CEO of the Liberty market for KU —&nbsp;said the hospital’s board of trustees evaluated more than 30 potential partners. He said he’s “more than convinced” merging with the Kansas hospital system was the right decision.

“We share a commitment to putting patients first,” Adiga said. “We prioritize our people and believe in providing high quality care close to home. To have a strong community, we need to have strong healthcare. We believe this relationship not only strengthens Liberty Hospital, but the Liberty community and the entire Northland.”&nbsp;

Tammy Peterman, president of KU Health’s Kansas City Division, said about 35% of the health system’s patients currently come from Missouri, and KU already has clinics in the state.&nbsp;

“We knew eventually we would need a way to care for more patients in Missouri and the Northland to keep care close to home,” Peterman said. “…So today is a big milestone for us as well: our very first hospital in Missouri.”&nbsp;

Health system leaders did not take questions from journalists following the press conference. Asked about the terms of the deal, a spokeswoman for KU said in an email that the health system’s leaders are “celebrating the next couple of days” and were not available to comment.

KU and Liberty’s merger was met with disdain from some lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri. Former-Missouri Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/12/missouri-lawmakers-debate-blocking-university-of-kansas-deal-with-liberty-hospital/">legislation earlier this year to block the deal</a>, calling it “mind boggling” and saying the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/university-of-kansas-deal-with-missouri-hospital-feels-terribly-wrong-to-lawmakers/" target="_blank">idea of a Kansas health system owning a Missouri hospital felt</a>&nbsp;“terribly wrong.”&nbsp;

But supporters of the deal argued Liberty needed a larger hospital partner to be able to grow and make investments in its facilities. A Liberty board member told lawmakers this spring that if the hospital didn’t merge with KU, it could be purchased by a for-profit chain and stop offering some of its services, becoming “little bit more than a triage center.”&nbsp;

Bob Page, president and CEO of the University of Kansas Health System, said it’s “incredibly difficult in health care today to remain a completely independent hospital” like Liberty.

“They found a new path forward to ensure they could continue to deliver high quality care in the Northland for generations to come,” Page said. “By becoming part of this health system, they will be able to offer some of the most advanced treatments and expertise anywhere in the country.”

Razer’s legislation made it out of a Senate committee but never received a floor vote.&nbsp;

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey also opposed the merger, writing in a letter to Senate leadership in January that the deal was illegal unless the Missouri General Assembly signed off on it. An attorney for Liberty said, however, that the deal was structured to comply with state laws.&nbsp;

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, expressed frustration about the merger in a committee meeting in November, saying struggling hospitals in Kansas could have benefitted from a partnership with KU.

And Kansas Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, filed legislation that would have required KU get permission from the Kansas Legislature before entering a deal that involves acquiring, building, repairing or improving property outside of Kansas. The bill never got a hearing.

In the meantime, the systems were working toward a finalized deal that is expected to include investment in Liberty’s facilities.&nbsp;

Peterman said over the coming months, KU leadership will learn more about how Liberty operates and how it can be best integrated into the health system.&nbsp;

“This includes everything from inpatient and ambulatory care to supply chain and branding,” she said. “Ultimately, we want to ensure we are one health system offering a seamless and consistent patient experience.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719948777383.png" alt="The University of Kansas Health System, which has its primary location in Kansas City, Kansas, has entered a partnership Liberty Hospital in Missouri. News of the deal last fall sparked discontent among some state lawmakers. (Allison Kite/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The University of Kansas Health System, which has its primary location in Kansas City, Kansas, has entered a partnership Liberty Hospital in Missouri. News of the deal last fall sparked discontent among some state lawmakers. (Allison Kite/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The merger between the Missouri community hospital and Kansas academic health center was met with resistance by some state lawmakers</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>Despite resistance from lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri, Liberty Hospital has officially joined the University of Kansas Health System, executives announced Monday.Leaders of the health system announced the completion of the merger Monday in a short video Monday alongside the CEO of Liberty Hospital, located in the Kansas City suburbs north of the Missouri River.Liberty’s leadership began looking in May 2023 to partner with another health system to help the hospital meet growing demand. It announced in October that it had chosen the University of Kansas.&nbsp;Raghu Adiga — who served as Liberty Hospital’s CEO and now is CEO of the Liberty market for KU —&nbsp;said the hospital’s board of trustees evaluated more than 30 potential partners. He said he’s “more than convinced” merging with the Kansas hospital system was the right decision.“We share a commitment to putting patients first,” Adiga said. “We prioritize our people and believe in providing high quality care close to home. To have a strong community, we need to have strong healthcare. We believe this relationship not only strengthens Liberty Hospital, but the Liberty community and the entire Northland.”&nbsp;Tammy Peterman, president of KU Health’s Kansas City Division, said about 35% of the health system’s patients currently come from Missouri, and KU already has clinics in the state.&nbsp;“We knew eventually we would need a way to care for more patients in Missouri and the Northland to keep care close to home,” Peterman said. “…So today is a big milestone for us as well: our very first hospital in Missouri.”&nbsp;Health system leaders did not take questions from journalists following the press conference. Asked about the terms of the deal, a spokeswoman for KU said in an email that the health system’s leaders are “celebrating the next couple of days” and were not available to comment.KU and Liberty’s merger was met with disdain from some lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri. Former-Missouri Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/12/missouri-lawmakers-debate-blocking-university-of-kansas-deal-with-liberty-hospital/">legislation earlier this year to block the deal</a>, calling it “mind boggling” and saying the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/university-of-kansas-deal-with-missouri-hospital-feels-terribly-wrong-to-lawmakers/" target="_blank">idea of a Kansas health system owning a Missouri hospital felt</a>&nbsp;“terribly wrong.”&nbsp;But supporters of the deal argued Liberty needed a larger hospital partner to be able to grow and make investments in its facilities. A Liberty board member told lawmakers this spring that if the hospital didn’t merge with KU, it could be purchased by a for-profit chain and stop offering some of its services, becoming “little bit more than a triage center.”&nbsp;Bob Page, president and CEO of the University of Kansas Health System, said it’s “incredibly difficult in health care today to remain a completely independent hospital” like Liberty.“They found a new path forward to ensure they could continue to deliver high quality care in the Northland for generations to come,” Page said. “By becoming part of this health system, they will be able to offer some of the most advanced treatments and expertise anywhere in the country.”Razer’s legislation made it out of a Senate committee but never received a floor vote.&nbsp;Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey also opposed the merger, writing in a letter to Senate leadership in January that the deal was illegal unless the Missouri General Assembly signed off on it. An attorney for Liberty said, however, that the deal was structured to comply with state laws.&nbsp;Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, expressed frustration about the merger in a committee meeting in November, saying struggling hospitals in Kansas could have benefitted from a partnership with KU.And Kansas Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, filed legislation that would have required KU get permission from the Kansas Legislature before entering a deal that involves acquiring, building, repairing or improving property outside of Kansas. The bill never got a hearing.In the meantime, the systems were working toward a finalized deal that is expected to include investment in Liberty’s facilities.&nbsp;Peterman said over the coming months, KU leadership will learn more about how Liberty operates and how it can be best integrated into the health system.&nbsp;“This includes everything from inpatient and ambulatory care to supply chain and branding,” she said. “Ultimately, we want to ensure we are one health system offering a seamless and consistent patient experience.”

Liberty Hospital joins University of Kansas Health System

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person is dead following a helicopter crash on Friday in a rural area of northwest Sedgwick County.

Just after 8 a.m. first responders were dispatched to the crash in the 5700 block of North 255th Street West, according to a supervisor with Sedgwick County Sheriff's office 911.&nbsp; EMS did not transport anyone else for treatment, according to the supervisor.

The FAA and NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720198452791.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person is dead following a helicopter crash on Friday in a rural area of northwest Sedgwick County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720189143245.png" alt="Location of the crash near the community of Andale- Google map" />
 <figcaption>Location of the crash near the community of Andale- Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8 a.m. first responders were dispatched to the crash in the 5700 block of North 255th Street West, according to a supervisor with Sedgwick County Sheriff's office 911.&nbsp; EMS did not transport anyone else for treatment, according to the supervisor.The FAA and NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

One dead in rural Kansas helicopter crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ highest court on Friday struck down state laws regulating abortion providers more strictly than other health care providers and banning a common second-trimester procedure, reaffirming its stance that the state constitution protects abortion access.

The Kansas Supreme Court’s rulings in two separate cases signal that the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature faces stricter limits on regulating abortion than GOP lawmakers thought and suggests other restrictions could fall. Lawsuits in lower state courts already are challenging restrictions on medication abortions, a ban on doctors using teleconferences to meet with patients, rules for what doctors must tell patients before an abortion and a requirement that patients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-abortion-restrictions-state-appeal-199a42d9f3631fa71013c49763c0182f">wait 24 hours</a>&nbsp;after receiving information about a procedure to terminate their pregnancies.

Kansas’ top court declared in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 decision</a>&nbsp;that abortion access is a matter of bodily autonomy and a “fundamental” right under the state constitution. Voters in August 2022 also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed amendment that would have explicitly declared abortion not a fundamental right and allowed state lawmakers to greatly restrict or ban it.

Lawyers for the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-lawsuits-kansas-3eb09cbcdfb18e06aee024e557f9814c">had urged the justices</a>&nbsp;to walk back their 2019 ruling and uphold the two laws, which haven’t been enforced because of the legal battles over them. The state’s solicitor general, appointed by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach, had argued the 2022 vote didn’t matter in determining whether the laws could stand.

The court disagreed and handed abortion-rights supporters a big legal victory.

Kansas has become an outlier among states with Republican-controlled Legislatures since the U.S. Supreme Court issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">its Dobbs decision</a>&nbsp;in June 2022, allowing states to ban abortion completely. That’s led to an influx of patients from states with more restrictive laws, particularly Oklahoma and Texas. The Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/report/abortion-clinics-united-states-2020-2024">projected last month</a>&nbsp;that about 20,000 abortions were performed in Kansas in 2023 or 152% more than in 2020.

Kansas doesn’t ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, but it requires minors obtain the written consent of their parents or a guardian.Other requirements, including the 24-hour waiting period and what a provider must tell patients, have been put on hold. A lower court is considering a challenge to them by providers.

Abortion opponents argued ahead of the August 2022 vote that failing to change the state constitution would doom long-standing restrictions enacted under past GOP governors. Kansas saw a flurry of new restrictions under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback from 2011 through 2018.

The health and safety rules aimed specifically at abortion providers were enacted in 2011. Supporters said they would protect women’s health — though there was no evidence provided then documenting that such rules in other states led to better health outcomes. Providers said the real goal was to force them out of business.

The other law was the first of its kind in the nation when enacted in 2015 and deals with a certain type of dilation and evacuation, or D&amp;E, procedure performed during the second trimester.

According to state health department statistics, about 600 D&amp;E procedures were done in Kansas in 2022, accounting for 5% of the state’s total abortions. About 88% of the state’s abortions occurred in the first trimester. The state has yet to release statistics for 2023.

The D&amp;E procedure ban would have forced providers to use alternative methods that the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion-rights advocacy group, has said are riskier for the patient and more expensive.

The 2019 ruling came in the early stages of the lawsuit over the 2015 ban. The justices kept the law on hold but sent the case back to the trial court to examine the ban further. A trial judge said the law could not stand.

Three of the court’s seven justices joined the court since the 2019 decision. All three were appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion-rights supporter, but one of the three,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e2e1356356e148ec9cde66a6bca83b6">Justice K.J. Wall,</a>&nbsp;removed himself from the cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720190561143.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ highest court on Friday struck down state laws regulating abortion providers more strictly than other health care providers and banning a common second-trimester procedure, reaffirming its stance that the state constitution protects abortion access.The Kansas Supreme Court’s rulings in two separate cases signal that the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature faces stricter limits on regulating abortion than GOP lawmakers thought and suggests other restrictions could fall. Lawsuits in lower state courts already are challenging restrictions on medication abortions, a ban on doctors using teleconferences to meet with patients, rules for what doctors must tell patients before an abortion and a requirement that patients&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-abortion-restrictions-state-appeal-199a42d9f3631fa71013c49763c0182f">wait 24 hours</a>&nbsp;after receiving information about a procedure to terminate their pregnancies.Kansas’ top court declared in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 decision</a>&nbsp;that abortion access is a matter of bodily autonomy and a “fundamental” right under the state constitution. Voters in August 2022 also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed amendment that would have explicitly declared abortion not a fundamental right and allowed state lawmakers to greatly restrict or ban it.Lawyers for the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-lawsuits-kansas-3eb09cbcdfb18e06aee024e557f9814c">had urged the justices</a>&nbsp;to walk back their 2019 ruling and uphold the two laws, which haven’t been enforced because of the legal battles over them. The state’s solicitor general, appointed by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach, had argued the 2022 vote didn’t matter in determining whether the laws could stand.The court disagreed and handed abortion-rights supporters a big legal victory.Kansas has become an outlier among states with Republican-controlled Legislatures since the U.S. Supreme Court issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">its Dobbs decision</a>&nbsp;in June 2022, allowing states to ban abortion completely. That’s led to an influx of patients from states with more restrictive laws, particularly Oklahoma and Texas. The Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/report/abortion-clinics-united-states-2020-2024">projected last month</a>&nbsp;that about 20,000 abortions were performed in Kansas in 2023 or 152% more than in 2020.Kansas doesn’t ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, but it requires minors obtain the written consent of their parents or a guardian.Other requirements, including the 24-hour waiting period and what a provider must tell patients, have been put on hold. A lower court is considering a challenge to them by providers.Abortion opponents argued ahead of the August 2022 vote that failing to change the state constitution would doom long-standing restrictions enacted under past GOP governors. Kansas saw a flurry of new restrictions under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback from 2011 through 2018.The health and safety rules aimed specifically at abortion providers were enacted in 2011. Supporters said they would protect women’s health — though there was no evidence provided then documenting that such rules in other states led to better health outcomes. Providers said the real goal was to force them out of business.The other law was the first of its kind in the nation when enacted in 2015 and deals with a certain type of dilation and evacuation, or D&amp;E, procedure performed during the second trimester.According to state health department statistics, about 600 D&amp;E procedures were done in Kansas in 2022, accounting for 5% of the state’s total abortions. About 88% of the state’s abortions occurred in the first trimester. The state has yet to release statistics for 2023.The D&amp;E procedure ban would have forced providers to use alternative methods that the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion-rights advocacy group, has said are riskier for the patient and more expensive.The 2019 ruling came in the early stages of the lawsuit over the 2015 ban. The justices kept the law on hold but sent the case back to the trial court to examine the ban further. A trial judge said the law could not stand.Three of the court’s seven justices joined the court since the 2019 decision. All three were appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, a strong abortion-rights supporter, but one of the three,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9e2e1356356e148ec9cde66a6bca83b6">Justice K.J. Wall,</a>&nbsp;removed himself from the cases.

Kan. top court rejects 2 anti-abortion laws, bolstering state right to abortion access

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Thursday in Johnson County.&nbsp;

 A pedestrian identified as 36-year-old Joshua Willet was walking eastbound on the sidewalk on W 95th Street east of Hadley Street, according to Officer John Lacy.

At a private drive, the Willet entered the roadway edge and was struck by a passing vehicle. The driver of vehicle left the scene of the crash. EMS transported Willet to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of vehicle later contacted Overland Park Police and is cooperating with the investigation. 

 At this time the crash is under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit. Anyone with information regarding this incident please call 913-890-1437.Prepared by: J. Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Thursday in Johnson County.&nbsp; A pedestrian identified as 36-year-old Joshua Willet was walking eastbound on the sidewalk on W 95th Street east of Hadley Street, according to Officer John Lacy.At a private drive, the Willet entered the roadway edge and was struck by a passing vehicle. The driver of vehicle left the scene of the crash. EMS transported Willet to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.The driver of vehicle later contacted Overland Park Police and is cooperating with the investigation. At this time the crash is under investigation by the Traffic Safety Unit. Anyone with information regarding this incident please call 913-890-1437.Prepared by: J. Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

Driver in deadly Kansas pedestrian crash contacts police

WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;vowed Wednesday to keep running for reelection, rejecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-debate-democrats-congress-election-aa619e71e1e09868abe22d19fc48e351">growing pressure from Democrats</a>&nbsp;to withdraw after a disastrous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-debate-age-democrats-b93d7ffaad75fd423ea3953fe16287f0">debate performance</a>&nbsp;raised questions about his readiness to keep campaigning, much less win in November.

But increasingly ominous signs were mounting for the president. Two Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to exit the race while a leading ally publicly suggested how the party might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-replacement-democratic-ballot-dnc-rules-7aa836b0ae642a68eec86cc0bebd3772">choose someone else</a>. And senior aides said they believed he might only have a matter of days to show he was up to the challenge before anxiety in the party boils over.

“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out," Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign. "I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”

In his private conversations, Biden was focused on efforts to course correct from his rocky debate and on the threat that, in his view, former President Donald Trump poses to the country, as he scoured for feedback on what went wrong last Thursday in Atlanta and took responsibility for his performance.

“We had a direct, open, clear-eyed conversation about the debate, his thoughts on what happened and why it wasn't his best evening or best debate,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who spoke with Biden on Tuesday, said in an interview with the Associated Press. “He wanted advice. He was asking earnestly for input and comment on what he should do to restore confidence and support, and what's the best path forward.”

Coons, the president's closest ally on Capitol Hill, said Biden clearly understood the urgency, the difficulty and the importance of the election, as the senator advised that the president do more unscripted, open-ended events to restore confidence in his candidacy. The two also spoke about Biden's schedule and its impact on his political efforts, particularly as he balances that task with critical governing tasks such as the NATO summit in Washington next week.

Biden's efforts to pull multiple levers to salvage his faltering reelection include his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abc-televisiion-debate-1d33bf51fe706e2fd1adea7a83bbf617">network television interview</a>. But he was confronting serious indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., told The New York Times that though he backs Biden as long as he is a candidate, this “is an opportunity to look elsewhere” and what Biden "needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.”

Senior advisers say they believe the 81-year-old Biden may have mere days to mount a convincing display of his fitness for office before his party’s panic over his debate performance and anger about his response boils over, according to two people with knowledge who insisted on anonymity to more freely discuss strategy. The president accepts the urgency of the task — having reviewed the polling and mountains of media coverage — but he is convinced he can do that in the coming days and insistent that he will not step out of the race, they said.

Biden met for more than hour at the White House on Wednesday night, in person and virtually, with more than 20 Democratic governors including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Afterward, the governors described the conversation as “candid” but said they were standing behind Biden despite being concerned about a Trump victory in November.

“The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader,” said Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He added that, in the meeting, Biden “was very clear that he’s in this to win."

Despite such reassuring sentiments, a major Democratic donor, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, also called on the president to exit the race, saying, “Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.” The statement was first reported by The New York Times.

And all that followed Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden friend and confidant, saying he'd back a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race. The South Carolina Democrat floated an idea that appeared to be laying the groundwork for alternative choices by delegates during the Democrats’ planned virtual roll call that is scheduled before the more formal party convention set to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago.

On CNN, Clyburn said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-biden-fundraising-election-campaign-donations-5709f07420b4f138caa884361653368e">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, governors and others could join the competition: “It would be fair to everybody.”

Clyburn, a senior lawmaker who is a former member of his party's House leadership team, said he has not personally seen the president act as he did on the debate stage last week and called it “concerning.”

And even as other Democratic allies have remained quiet since Thursday’s debate, there is a growing private frustration about the Biden campaign’s response to his disastrous debate performance at a crucial moment in the campaign — particularly in Biden waiting several days to do direct damage control with senior members of his own party.

One Democratic aide said the lacking response has been worse than the debate performance itself, saying lawmakers who support Biden want to see him directly combatting the concerns about his stamina in front of reporters and voters. The aide was granted anonymity to candidly discuss interparty dynamics.

Most Democratic lawmakers are taking a wait-and-see approach with Biden, though, holding out for a better idea of how the situation plays out through new polling and Biden’s scheduled ABC News interview, according to Democratic lawmakers who requested anonymity to speak bluntly about the president.

When Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who called on Biden to leave the race this week, shopped around his move for support from other Democratic lawmakers, he had no takers and eventually issued a statement on his own, according to a person familiar with the effort granted anonymity to discuss it.

But there was also a sense that the waiting period will soon expire if Biden does not step up his outreach to Capitol Hill or prove otherwise that he’s up to the job.

Some suggested Harris was emerging as the favorite to replace Biden if he were to withdraw, although those involved in private discussions acknowledge that Govs.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gavin-newsom">Gavin Newsom</a>&nbsp;of California and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gretchen-whitmer">Gretchen Whitmer</a>&nbsp;of Michigan remain viable alternatives. But for some insiders, Harris is viewed as the best prospect to quickly unify the party and avoid a messy and divisive convention fight.

Even as pressure around Biden mounted, he and Harris made a surprise appearance on an all-staff reelection campaign call and offered a pep talk. They stressed how important it was to beat Trump, the presumptive nominee, in November and returned to Biden’s previous post-debate vow that when he gets knocked down, he gets up again.

“Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, we’re going to beat him again in 2024,” said Biden, who told participants that he would not be dragged out of the race. Harris added: “We will not back down. We will follow our president’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked during her briefing with reporters whether Biden would consider stepping down. “Absolutely not,” she said.

“I cannot lay out something that would change the president’s mind," Jean-Pierre said about Biden continuing to seek a second term.

Still, Democrats are unsatisfied with the explanations of Biden’s debate performance, from both White House staff and the president himself. And there is a deeper frustration among some in the party who feel that Biden should have handled questions about his stumbling debate performance much sooner and that he has put them in a difficult position by staying in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">the race</a>.

The Leadership Now Project, a group of business executives, academics and thought leaders, said in a letter that the “threat of a second Trump term” is great enough that Biden should “pass the torch of this year’s presidential nomination to the next generation of highly capable Democrats.”

Trump’s campaign issued a statement noting that “every Democrat” now calling on the president “to quit was once a supporter of Biden.”

Trump had a slight lead over Biden in two polls of voters conducted after last week's debate. One poll,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/politics/cnn-poll-post-debate/index.html">conducted by SSRS for CNN</a>, found that three-quarters of voters — including more than half of Democratic voters — said the party has a better chance of winning the presidency in November with a candidate other than Biden.

About 7 in 10 voters, and 45% of Democrats, said Biden’s physical and mental ability is a reason to vote against him, according to the CNN/SSRS poll.

And about 6 in 10 voters, including about one-quarter of Democrats, said reelecting Biden would be a risky choice for the country rather than a safe one, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/poll-debate-biden-trump.html">a New York Times/Siena College poll</a>. That poll found that Democrats were split on whether Biden should remain the nominee.

Biden campaign pollster Molly Murphy said "today’s polling doesn’t fundamentally change the course of the race."

In a further effort to boost morale, Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients urged White House aides during an all-staff meeting to tune out the “noise” and focus on the task of governing.

Biden himself began making personal outreach on his own,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-debate-democrats-congress-election-aa619e71e1e09868abe22d19fc48e351">speaking privately with senior Democratic lawmakers</a>&nbsp;such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Coons and Clyburn.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller, Colleen Long, Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux in Washington and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717102691651.png" alt="File photo -Biden met for more than hour at the White House on Wednesday night, in person and virtually, with more than 20 Democratic governors including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly- File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo -Biden met for more than hour at the White House on Wednesday night, in person and virtually, with more than 20 Democratic governors including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly- File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;vowed Wednesday to keep running for reelection, rejecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-debate-democrats-congress-election-aa619e71e1e09868abe22d19fc48e351">growing pressure from Democrats</a>&nbsp;to withdraw after a disastrous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-debate-age-democrats-b93d7ffaad75fd423ea3953fe16287f0">debate performance</a>&nbsp;raised questions about his readiness to keep campaigning, much less win in November.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Happy Independence Day from the White House! <a href="https://t.co/fsIoKgJMVo">pic.twitter.com/fsIoKgJMVo</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1809078460691710171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But increasingly ominous signs were mounting for the president. Two Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to exit the race while a leading ally publicly suggested how the party might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-replacement-democratic-ballot-dnc-rules-7aa836b0ae642a68eec86cc0bebd3772">choose someone else</a>. And senior aides said they believed he might only have a matter of days to show he was up to the challenge before anxiety in the party boils over.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When Kansas City has needed millions for better buses, infrastructure, and healthcare support for all, <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> has been there for us. That’s the same story in cities and towns across America. That’s why I’m proud to stand with Joe this 4th of July and every day. <a href="https://t.co/zqhRuHAHSy">pic.twitter.com/zqhRuHAHSy</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1808927369463206068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out," Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign. "I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”In his private conversations, Biden was focused on efforts to course correct from his rocky debate and on the threat that, in his view, former President Donald Trump poses to the country, as he scoured for feedback on what went wrong last Thursday in Atlanta and took responsibility for his performance.“We had a direct, open, clear-eyed conversation about the debate, his thoughts on what happened and why it wasn't his best evening or best debate,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who spoke with Biden on Tuesday, said in an interview with the Associated Press. “He wanted advice. He was asking earnestly for input and comment on what he should do to restore confidence and support, and what's the best path forward.”Coons, the president's closest ally on Capitol Hill, said Biden clearly understood the urgency, the difficulty and the importance of the election, as the senator advised that the president do more unscripted, open-ended events to restore confidence in his candidacy. The two also spoke about Biden's schedule and its impact on his political efforts, particularly as he balances that task with critical governing tasks such as the NATO summit in Washington next week.Biden's efforts to pull multiple levers to salvage his faltering reelection include his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abc-televisiion-debate-1d33bf51fe706e2fd1adea7a83bbf617">network television interview</a>. But he was confronting serious indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., told The New York Times that though he backs Biden as long as he is a candidate, this “is an opportunity to look elsewhere” and what Biden "needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.”Senior advisers say they believe the 81-year-old Biden may have mere days to mount a convincing display of his fitness for office before his party’s panic over his debate performance and anger about his response boils over, according to two people with knowledge who insisted on anonymity to more freely discuss strategy. The president accepts the urgency of the task — having reviewed the polling and mountains of media coverage — but he is convinced he can do that in the coming days and insistent that he will not step out of the race, they said.Biden met for more than hour at the White House on Wednesday night, in person and virtually, with more than 20 Democratic governors including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Afterward, the governors described the conversation as “candid” but said they were standing behind Biden despite being concerned about a Trump victory in November.“The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader,” said Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He added that, in the meeting, Biden “was very clear that he’s in this to win."Despite such reassuring sentiments, a major Democratic donor, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, also called on the president to exit the race, saying, “Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.” The statement was first reported by The New York Times.And all that followed Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden friend and confidant, saying he'd back a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race. The South Carolina Democrat floated an idea that appeared to be laying the groundwork for alternative choices by delegates during the Democrats’ planned virtual roll call that is scheduled before the more formal party convention set to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago.On CNN, Clyburn said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-biden-fundraising-election-campaign-donations-5709f07420b4f138caa884361653368e">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, governors and others could join the competition: “It would be fair to everybody.”Clyburn, a senior lawmaker who is a former member of his party's House leadership team, said he has not personally seen the president act as he did on the debate stage last week and called it “concerning.”And even as other Democratic allies have remained quiet since Thursday’s debate, there is a growing private frustration about the Biden campaign’s response to his disastrous debate performance at a crucial moment in the campaign — particularly in Biden waiting several days to do direct damage control with senior members of his own party.One Democratic aide said the lacking response has been worse than the debate performance itself, saying lawmakers who support Biden want to see him directly combatting the concerns about his stamina in front of reporters and voters. The aide was granted anonymity to candidly discuss interparty dynamics.Most Democratic lawmakers are taking a wait-and-see approach with Biden, though, holding out for a better idea of how the situation plays out through new polling and Biden’s scheduled ABC News interview, according to Democratic lawmakers who requested anonymity to speak bluntly about the president.When Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who called on Biden to leave the race this week, shopped around his move for support from other Democratic lawmakers, he had no takers and eventually issued a statement on his own, according to a person familiar with the effort granted anonymity to discuss it.But there was also a sense that the waiting period will soon expire if Biden does not step up his outreach to Capitol Hill or prove otherwise that he’s up to the job.Some suggested Harris was emerging as the favorite to replace Biden if he were to withdraw, although those involved in private discussions acknowledge that Govs.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gavin-newsom">Gavin Newsom</a>&nbsp;of California and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gretchen-whitmer">Gretchen Whitmer</a>&nbsp;of Michigan remain viable alternatives. But for some insiders, Harris is viewed as the best prospect to quickly unify the party and avoid a messy and divisive convention fight.Even as pressure around Biden mounted, he and Harris made a surprise appearance on an all-staff reelection campaign call and offered a pep talk. They stressed how important it was to beat Trump, the presumptive nominee, in November and returned to Biden’s previous post-debate vow that when he gets knocked down, he gets up again.“Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, we’re going to beat him again in 2024,” said Biden, who told participants that he would not be dragged out of the race. Harris added: “We will not back down. We will follow our president’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked during her briefing with reporters whether Biden would consider stepping down. “Absolutely not,” she said.“I cannot lay out something that would change the president’s mind," Jean-Pierre said about Biden continuing to seek a second term.Still, Democrats are unsatisfied with the explanations of Biden’s debate performance, from both White House staff and the president himself. And there is a deeper frustration among some in the party who feel that Biden should have handled questions about his stumbling debate performance much sooner and that he has put them in a difficult position by staying in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">the race</a>.The Leadership Now Project, a group of business executives, academics and thought leaders, said in a letter that the “threat of a second Trump term” is great enough that Biden should “pass the torch of this year’s presidential nomination to the next generation of highly capable Democrats.”Trump’s campaign issued a statement noting that “every Democrat” now calling on the president “to quit was once a supporter of Biden.”Trump had a slight lead over Biden in two polls of voters conducted after last week's debate. One poll,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/02/politics/cnn-poll-post-debate/index.html">conducted by SSRS for CNN</a>, found that three-quarters of voters — including more than half of Democratic voters — said the party has a better chance of winning the presidency in November with a candidate other than Biden.About 7 in 10 voters, and 45% of Democrats, said Biden’s physical and mental ability is a reason to vote against him, according to the CNN/SSRS poll.And about 6 in 10 voters, including about one-quarter of Democrats, said reelecting Biden would be a risky choice for the country rather than a safe one, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/poll-debate-biden-trump.html">a New York Times/Siena College poll</a>. That poll found that Democrats were split on whether Biden should remain the nominee.Biden campaign pollster Molly Murphy said "today’s polling doesn’t fundamentally change the course of the race."In a further effort to boost morale, Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients urged White House aides during an all-staff meeting to tune out the “noise” and focus on the task of governing.Biden himself began making personal outreach on his own,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-debate-democrats-congress-election-aa619e71e1e09868abe22d19fc48e351">speaking privately with senior Democratic lawmakers</a>&nbsp;such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Coons and Clyburn.___Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller, Colleen Long, Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux in Washington and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Democrat governors say they are standing behind President Biden

KANSAS CITY—Due to flash floods from heavy rain, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a total of 11 water rescues throughout the city late Wednesday and early Independence Day morning, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. The most significant rescue occurred at&nbsp; Blue Parkway and Hardesty.

At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, crews responded to the area of Hardesty and MLK Boulevard.&nbsp; A homeless camp located next to a tributary to the Blue River was overcome by fast rising water. 

A total of three victims were swept into the water. KCFD Rescue Swimmers and the drone operator were able to locate and remove two of the three.

The third victim was reported to have exited the water with his dog on the opposite side of the water. Due to rising water and its speed KCFD suspended operations. 

While working the Hardesty call a second water rescue call came in at Cleaver and Oak in Brush Creek. A homeless camp there was also overcome by rising water and one individual was swept into the creek. Crews entered the water at that location and were able to rescue that individual from under the bridge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720174906983.png" alt="Victim pulled from the water -image from video provided by Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Victim pulled from the water -image from video provided by Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Due to flash floods from heavy rain, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a total of 11 water rescues throughout the city late Wednesday and early Independence Day morning, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. The most significant rescue occurred at&nbsp; Blue Parkway and Hardesty.At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, crews responded to the area of Hardesty and MLK Boulevard.&nbsp; A homeless camp located next to a tributary to the Blue River was overcome by fast rising water. A total of three victims were swept into the water. KCFD Rescue Swimmers and the drone operator were able to locate and remove two of the three.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720174879634.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The third victim was reported to have exited the water with his dog on the opposite side of the water. Due to rising water and its speed KCFD suspended operations. While working the Hardesty call a second water rescue call came in at Cleaver and Oak in Brush Creek. A homeless camp there was also overcome by rising water and one individual was swept into the creek. Crews entered the water at that location and were able to rescue that individual from under the bridge.

KC fire crews made 11 water rescues during flash flooding 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to solve the crime.

Just after 3a.m. June 17, police responded to Scooter’s Coffee, 1409 NW Topeka Boulevard in response to a reported burglary. It was reported that cash was also stolen from the business. 

TPD investigators are asking for the community’s help in solving this crime. 

If you have any information related to this incident, please contact investigators at telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShawneeCountyCrimeStoppers?__cft__[0]=AZVyOCMglbyyqyTUlL_0T0jwWgRg0JsNlv9PJIg6eR50szgwhJWKt673AvsgWghPASgJVOSW-GNAfJsIqsfQL7rtB9TD3cvRivsxEBcMlEZA_FWoXS8js0Z34hMq47KuWzcRXV_DVS0U8Ji00v0SJl1h46hF8gzE9igtuNzHEUVgOJFw_nOrEKE8JkcAYH6Pzmui_fgyAy924SBPvYFFBeom&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Shawnee County Crime Stoppers</a> at 785-234-0007 or online at <a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3QK9Sl0Iq0CIlzBGajCTthzy8Q2vjYwTP78RIGS-EEMCbG5dI7pNBF_kY_aem_TyKo8dtft8c5LM9guPXKqA" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720176175234.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to solve the crime.Just after 3a.m. June 17, police responded to Scooter’s Coffee, 1409 NW Topeka Boulevard in response to a reported burglary. It was reported that cash was also stolen from the business. TPD investigators are asking for the community’s help in solving this crime. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact investigators at telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShawneeCountyCrimeStoppers?__cft__[0]=AZVyOCMglbyyqyTUlL_0T0jwWgRg0JsNlv9PJIg6eR50szgwhJWKt673AvsgWghPASgJVOSW-GNAfJsIqsfQL7rtB9TD3cvRivsxEBcMlEZA_FWoXS8js0Z34hMq47KuWzcRXV_DVS0U8Ji00v0SJl1h46hF8gzE9igtuNzHEUVgOJFw_nOrEKE8JkcAYH6Pzmui_fgyAy924SBPvYFFBeom&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Shawnee County Crime Stoppers</a> at 785-234-0007 or online at <a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3QK9Sl0Iq0CIlzBGajCTthzy8Q2vjYwTP78RIGS-EEMCbG5dI7pNBF_kY_aem_TyKo8dtft8c5LM9guPXKqA" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>.

Police ask for public's help to solve burglary at Scooter’s Coffee 

JERUSALEM—U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea.&nbsp;

Since the end of June, U.S. forces have&nbsp;successfully destroyed five Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea and three radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, according to statements from U.S. Central Command.

Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.&nbsp; The attack was among the largest by the terror group against Israel in weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM—U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea.&nbsp;Since the end of June, U.S. forces have&nbsp;successfully destroyed five Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea and three radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, according to statements from U.S. Central Command.Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon launched over 200 rockets on Thursday at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.&nbsp; The attack was among the largest by the terror group against Israel in weeks.

U.S. forces continue to battle terrorist threats in the Red Sea

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly Kansas City shooting have identified the victim as 23-year-old Tykeedra&nbsp;Henderson, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 1a.m. Wednesday police were dispatched to a shooting at a gas station parking lot at 31st and Bell in Kansas City, according to Becchina.

First responders located Henderson unresponsive inside a vehicle in the parking lot.&nbsp; Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the her deceased. 

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in a vehicle in the north side of the parking lot when shots were fired by unknown suspects, from outside her vehicle into it, striking her. Henderson's vehicle then rolled to a stop on the south side of the parking lot where officers found it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720176895680.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly Kansas City shooting have identified the victim as 23-year-old Tykeedra&nbsp;Henderson, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just after 1a.m. Wednesday police were dispatched to a shooting at a gas station parking lot at 31st and Bell in Kansas City, according to Becchina.First responders located Henderson unresponsive inside a vehicle in the parking lot.&nbsp; Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the her deceased. Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in a vehicle in the north side of the parking lot when shots were fired by unknown suspects, from outside her vehicle into it, striking her. Henderson's vehicle then rolled to a stop on the south side of the parking lot where officers found it.

Homicide: Woman shot in vehicle in KC gas station parking lot

District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Thomas Gatewood, 52 of Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after 843 months.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY—&nbsp;A man with a previous abuse conviction is going back to prison for the rest of his life.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Thomas Gatewood, 52,&nbsp; Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after over 70-years for the violent beating death of his 8-year-old daughter.

In March,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740792">Gatewood</a>&nbsp;plead no contest to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery, abuse of a child, rape, criminal sodomy, aggravated endangering of a child aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On May 8, of 2023 police&nbsp;were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of N. Oliver in Wichita after report of an&nbsp;unresponsive 8-year-old girl, according to Officer&nbsp; Kris Gupilan. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.

&nbsp;A warrant was issued for Gatewood's arrest for the murder of his 8-year-old daughter

Wichita Police Officers utilized FLOCK technology and Thomas was quickly located and taken into custody within hours of the warrant being issued.&nbsp;

The Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and Homicide detectives investigated the incident and presented a case to the District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors say Gatewood had repeatedly beaten and even stomped on the 8-year-old and an autopsy revealed that her heart had ruptured. Another child in the house was also abused.

Court documents show he was previously charged with child abuse in Oklahoma in 2009.&nbsp;

Gatewood was scheduled to face a trial in the case March 11.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687976261144.png" alt="Gatewood-photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Gatewood-photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Thomas Gatewood, 52 of Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after 843 months.&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—&nbsp;A man with a previous abuse conviction is going back to prison for the rest of his life.On Wednesday,&nbsp;District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Thomas Gatewood, 52,&nbsp; Wichita, to life with parole eligibility after over 70-years for the violent beating death of his 8-year-old daughter.In March,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740792">Gatewood</a>&nbsp;plead no contest to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery, abuse of a child, rape, criminal sodomy, aggravated endangering of a child aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On May 8, of 2023 police&nbsp;were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of N. Oliver in Wichita after report of an&nbsp;unresponsive 8-year-old girl, according to Officer&nbsp; Kris Gupilan. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;A warrant was issued for Gatewood's arrest for the murder of his 8-year-old daughterWichita Police Officers utilized FLOCK technology and Thomas was quickly located and taken into custody within hours of the warrant being issued.&nbsp;The Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and Homicide detectives investigated the incident and presented a case to the District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors say Gatewood had repeatedly beaten and even stomped on the 8-year-old and an autopsy revealed that her heart had ruptured. Another child in the house was also abused.Court documents show he was previously charged with child abuse in Oklahoma in 2009.&nbsp;Gatewood was scheduled to face a trial in the case March 11.&nbsp;-The AP contributed to this report.

Kan. man sentenced for beating death of 8-year-old daughter

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, a&nbsp;Brown County Detective initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of 210th&nbsp; on U.S. 73 Highway based on an expired registration, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; 

The detective discovered that&nbsp; the driver of the vehicle identified as 50-year-old Daniel Jennings of Hiawatha had a suspended license.

The passenger in the vehicle 37-year-old Tara Hamilton of Huron had an&nbsp; outstanding&nbsp; FTA Warrant out of Atchison

The detective arrested Jennings on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked, No Proof on Insurance and Illegal Vehicle Registration.&nbsp; Hamilton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Opiate and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia as well as the Warrant.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720035965300.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720036012385.png" alt="Jennings-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Jennings-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11p.m. Monday, a&nbsp;Brown County Detective initiated a traffic stop in the vicinity of 210th&nbsp; on U.S. 73 Highway based on an expired registration, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; The detective discovered that&nbsp; the driver of the vehicle identified as 50-year-old Daniel Jennings of Hiawatha had a suspended license.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720035887180.png" alt="Hamilton photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Hamilton photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The passenger in the vehicle 37-year-old Tara Hamilton of Huron had an&nbsp; outstanding&nbsp; FTA Warrant out of AtchisonThe detective arrested Jennings on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked, No Proof on Insurance and Illegal Vehicle Registration.&nbsp; Hamilton was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Opiate and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia as well as the Warrant.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Wanted Kansas suspect caught transporting drugs

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after

On July 3, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2100 Block SW 10th Avenue related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

As a result, Amanda Bishop, 42; Justin Ray 19, and Earon Cooper, 51&nbsp;&nbsp;were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Amanda Bishop is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of Certain Stimulants, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent,&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravate Child Endangerment, Possession of a Depressant, Drug Tax Stamp violation and Contributing to Child Misconduct

Justin Ray is in custody on requested charges of Possession of Certain Stimulants, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Contributing to Child Misconduct, Distribution of Certain Stimulants and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent.

Earon Cooper was jailed on an Arrest Warrant

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720036602723.png" alt="Ray photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations afterOn July 3, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2100 Block SW 10th Avenue related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.As a result, Amanda Bishop, 42; Justin Ray 19, and Earon Cooper, 51&nbsp;&nbsp;were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720036554752.png" alt="Bishop-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Bishop-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Amanda Bishop is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribution of Certain Stimulants, Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent,&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravate Child Endangerment, Possession of a Depressant, Drug Tax Stamp violation and Contributing to Child MisconductJustin Ray is in custody on requested charges of Possession of Certain Stimulants, Aggravated Child Endangerment, Contributing to Child Misconduct, Distribution of Certain Stimulants and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720036900027.png" alt="Cooper photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cooper photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Earon Cooper was jailed on an Arrest Warrant

Police found drugs, children at Kansas woman's home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/nadahassanein/">NADA HASSANEIN</a>

Dairy workers are in rural areas, often with little access to transportation and no sick leave

Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers — two in Michigan and one in Texas — as well as in cattle in a dozen states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720094399287.png" alt=" Farmworkers milk dairy cows at the Welcome Stock Farms in January 2022 in Schuylerville, N.Y. Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three farmworkers as well as in cattle in a dozen states. (Hans Pennink/The Associated Press)" />
 <figcaption> Farmworkers milk dairy cows at the Welcome Stock Farms in January 2022 in Schuylerville, N.Y. Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three farmworkers as well as in cattle in a dozen states. (Hans Pennink/The Associated Press)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/nadahassanein/">NADA HASSANEIN</a><h2>Dairy workers are in rural areas, often with little access to transportation and no sick leave</h2>Public health officials are concerned about bird flu, which so far has been detected in three dairy farmworkers — two in Michigan and one in Texas — as well as in cattle in a dozen states.The farmworkers’ symptoms were mild, and researchers have not found that the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, can spread from person to person. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is little risk to the general public. However, flu viruses evolve, and H5N1 could mutate and gain the ability to infect people more easily.“The reason public health authorities are and should be on high alert is because this is a potential high-consequence pathogen,” said Meghan Davis, an epidemiologist and microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University.That’s why state officials are so focused on testing and surveillance of dairy workers. But they are encountering significant challenges.H5N1 is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock" target="_blank">says</a>. As a result, the poultry industry has responded vigorously to the threat, culling entire flocks when they detect even one infected bird. But H5N1 is milder in cows, and the response on dairy farms has been less aggressive.The CDC and USDA have advised dairy farms to monitor for the virus in cattle and humans, but testing remains voluntary, except for herds moving across state lines.In addition, dairy farms are often in remote rural areas, and workers have little access to transportation and no sick leave. As a result, it’s difficult for them to travel to health care providers for testing and treatment. Many dairy workers, who are mostly immigrants, speak Indigenous languages like Nahuatl or K’iche, according to the National Center for Farmworker Health, a nonprofit that offers support and training for centers that focus on the health of farmworkers.Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasized that the current bird flu strain isn’t a pandemic threat to humans. That’s why, he said, this is the perfect time to get the right testing and surveillance measures in place.“If you can’t get it right with something that’s as forgiving as this virus has been, in terms of its inefficiency in infecting humans, it really doesn’t bode well for when the stakes are higher,” Adalja said.So far, cases of the virus have been documented among domestic livestock in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. Last week, federal officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/06/27/usda-begin-accepting-applications-expanded-emergency-livestock" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;grants to farms to offset the cost of milk loss from sick cows. Four states — Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas — are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/25/four-states-to-begin-voluntary-testing-for-bird-flu-in-dairy-farm-milk-tanks/" target="_blank">launching</a>&nbsp;voluntary pilot programs to test for the virus in dairy farms’ bulk milk tanks.In Michigan, where the virus has been detected in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-virus-type-h5n1-us-dairy-cattle#:~:text=Avian%20influenza%20virus%20type%20A%20(H5N1)%20has%20been%20confirmed%20in,Carolina%2C%20Ohio%2C%20and%20Wyoming." target="_blank">25 herds</a>, Tim Boring, director of the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said efforts are focused on trying to help farmers recoup losses and agree to testing. Last month, the agency announced it would use a combination of federal and state money to give as much as $28,000 to up to 20 affected farms.The state also launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-06282024.html#:~:text=CDC%20Update,animals%20in%20the%20United%20States." target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;to find out if there are antibodies in people exposed to sick cows, aiming to determine if there have been any asymptomatic infections.Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said the state is working with community health clinics and local health departments to reach farmworkers.“They not only know the farms in their counties, but they also know many of the farmworker organizations,” she said.Dairy farmworkers, who are often immigrants, can’t afford to miss a day of work, and can be reluctant to reach out to request testing or say they feel sick, advocates say.“This is a population of people that is just vastly underserviced when it comes to both outreach and trust established with state and federal agencies,” said Elizabeth Strater, strategic campaigns director at United Farm Workers, a labor union. “This is a group of workers that are some of the poorest workers in the United States.”Immigrants make up 51% of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79% of the nation’s milk supply, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nmpf.org/issues/labor-rural-policy/labor-and-immigration-reform-efforts/#:~:text=Immigrant%20labor%20accounts%20for%2051,of%20the%20U.S.%20milk%20supply." target="_blank">National Milk Producers Federation.</a>Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network, an education and outreach group of experts in migrant health, said testing should be administered on the farms rather than in clinics.“Dairies are in rural areas, very isolated geographically. You’re not going to get all these workers in one place to be able to do any kind of surveying or testing. It is a matter of really trying to go to where the workers are,” she said.But it hasn’t been easy getting farm owners to agree to that. The Texas state health department told Stateline it has offered on-site testing to farmers, but as of mid-June, it had tested only about 20 symptomatic dairy workers who volunteered for testing. It also has given personal protective equipment to “interested dairies” and posted a notice online offering to deliver the equipment.Coordination among state or local agricultural and health departments is key to tracking viral spread. A lack of coordination and monitoring can be contributing to underreporting cases.“I think it is definitely more widespread than is currently reported,” said Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine. “The barriers between the agencies are really hampering our efforts right now.”The CDC has offered a $75&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/bird-flu-cow-test-farmers-incentive-us-government-rcna151645" target="_blank">payment</a>&nbsp;to any farmworker who agrees to be tested and provide blood and nasal swab samples to the agency. But Doris Garcia-Ruiz, who directs farmworker outreach at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, said that won’t make up for days of lost income.“If they take the time off to go to their doctor’s office, they don’t have sick leave, so they’re not going to get paid,” she said.The CDC’s latest figures show that at least 53&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fflu%2Favianflu%2Fh5-monitoring.html" target="_blank">people</a>&nbsp;have been tested in the cattle outbreak, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/06/03/michigan-cow-herds-infected-bird-flu/73955332007/" target="_blank">majority</a>&nbsp;of those in Michigan. Strater says that’s not enough.“That’s abysmal,” she said. “Our method of testing is so passive. They’re relying on workers reporting to medical clinics; these are workers that are not going to be taking themselves for medical treatment unless they’re experiencing something life-threatening.”Getting workers to use personal protective equipment also is a challenge. The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/worker-protection-ppe.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>&nbsp;that workers wear respirators, waterproof aprons and coveralls, unvented safety goggles or a face shield, and rubber boots with sealed seams that can be sanitized. It also advises that workers follow a specific sequence of steps to remove the PPE at the end of a shift to avoid contamination.“Dairy work is very wet, very hands-on,” said Christine Sauvé, who leads community engagement at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. “While some industries are very familiar with PPE … the full recommendation from CDC is new and different. And so that really needs the full promotion from the employer, and then also from the state agencies.”Sauvé worries that Michigan is prioritizing farmers’ losses, rather than farmworkers’ health, in its response. While the risk to the public is low, she and other experts say the population of farmworkers shouldn’t be forgotten.Bethany Alcauter of the National Center for Farmworker Health described bird flu threat as “kind of a ticking time bomb.”“Maybe it hasn’t fully gone off yet. But if we don’t manage it well, it could,” Alcauter said.