KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question Tuesday night when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, resoundingly voted down a sales tax measure that would have helped to fund a new downtown ballpark along with major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.

Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged long before the final tally that the initiative would fail.

 More than 58% of voters ultimately rejected the plan, which would have replaced an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for the upkeep of Truman Sports Complex — the home for more than 50 years to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums — with a similar tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.

The Royals, who had pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for their project, wanted to use their share of the tax revenue to help fund a $2 billion-plus ballpark district. The Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who had committed $300 million in private money, would have used their share as part of an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead Stadium.

“We’re deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals,” said Sherman, who left without taking questions. “As someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group.”

Donovan said the Chiefs would do “what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”

That could mean many things: The Chiefs could try again with a reworked plan more agreeable to voters, change their entire funding approach to include more private investment, or they could even listen to offers from competing cities and states — such as Kansas, just across the state line to the west — that would provide the public funding they desire.

“We’ve been talking a lot about the democratic process. We respect the process,” Donovan said. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We’re ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this county.”

The current lease lease at Truman Sports Complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. And while Sherman has said the Royals would not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.

The tax — or, more accurately, the stadium plans — received significant public pushback almost from the start, when the teams struggled to put concrete plans before voters and were accused of lacking transparency throughout the process.

Last fall, the Royals unveiled two potential locations for their ballpark district, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri.

But, a self-imposed deadline to finalize their location lapsed without a plan, and in February, they finally announced they had scrapped both concepts and chosen a different downtown spot.

The new area, known as the Crossroads, has a vibrant arts and restaurant scene, and it is just blocks away from the T-Mobile Center and the bustling Power &amp; Light entertainment district. It also is close to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the 18th &amp; Vine district, which is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

But even then, plans remained vague. The latest ballpark renderings were made obsolete just last week when the Royals acquiesced to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ request that a major street that would have been part of the stadium footprint remain open; Lucas did not endorse the tax initiative until the Royals agreed to the change.

“I think everyone has the same mixed feelings,” said Deidre Chasteen, a voter from Independence, Missouri, who remembers attending games downtown at old Municipal Stadium when the Royals played there from 1969-72.

“It’s not that we mind paying the three-eighths-cent sales tax. I think the problem is putting the stadium where it is,” Chasteen said. “We’re saying don’t ruin businesses that have been established down there for years.”

The club also had not reached sales agreements with many landowners in the Crossroads, and other businesses had expressed concerns about traffic, congestion and parking in an already thriving residential neighborhood.

Sarah Tourville, the Royals’ executive vice president, said the goal was to move into the stadium for opening day in 2028.

The Royals moved from Municipal Stadium to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the ballpark from 2009-12. Arrowhead Stadium was built alongside Kauffman Stadium and also was renovated around the same time.

While the Royals insist on playing in a new ballpark, the Chiefs wanted to stay put with a renovation that would have touched every aspect of their 52-year-old building, from the seating bowl to luxury amenities to the tailgating scene.

“We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose father, Lamar Hunt, helped get the existing stadiums built, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we’ve outlined.”

The Chiefs had hoped their success, including three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, would sway voters in their favor.

“What my dad loved best about the stadium was the connection the team had with our fanbase,” Hunt said. “He loved this building for what it means to the fans, and we still believe it is one of the best stadiums in the National Football League and a bucket-list destination for fans across the NFL.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712112749211.jpeg" alt="An Air Force B2 bomber flies over Kauffman Stadium before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)." />
 <figcaption>An Air Force B2 bomber flies over Kauffman Stadium before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question Tuesday night when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, resoundingly voted down a sales tax measure that would have helped to fund a new downtown ballpark along with major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged long before the final tally that the initiative would fail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712104528404.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure> More than 58% of voters ultimately rejected the plan, which would have replaced an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for the upkeep of Truman Sports Complex — the home for more than 50 years to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums — with a similar tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.The Royals, who had pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for their project, wanted to use their share of the tax revenue to help fund a $2 billion-plus ballpark district. The Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who had committed $300 million in private money, would have used their share as part of an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead Stadium.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from John Sherman regarding today&#39;s Jackson County election: <a href="https://t.co/t85qx0Cwfh">pic.twitter.com/t85qx0Cwfh</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775347697345610113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’re deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals,” said Sherman, who left without taking questions. “As someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group.”Donovan said the Chiefs would do “what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”That could mean many things: The Chiefs could try again with a reworked plan more agreeable to voters, change their entire funding approach to include more private investment, or they could even listen to offers from competing cities and states — such as Kansas, just across the state line to the west — that would provide the public funding they desire.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonCountyMO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacksonCountyMO</a>⁩ voters have spoken. I’ll say more on the election results and what happens next soon. Stay tuned! <a href="https://t.co/emqsBfJqYq">pic.twitter.com/emqsBfJqYq</a>&mdash; Frank White (@JCEFrankWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCEFrankWhite/status/1775364416424280068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’ve been talking a lot about the democratic process. We respect the process,” Donovan said. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We’re ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this county.”The current lease lease at Truman Sports Complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. And while Sherman has said the Royals would not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.The tax — or, more accurately, the stadium plans — received significant public pushback almost from the start, when the teams struggled to put concrete plans before voters and were accused of lacking transparency throughout the process.Last fall, the Royals unveiled two potential locations for their ballpark district, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri.But, a self-imposed deadline to finalize their location lapsed without a plan, and in February, they finally announced they had scrapped both concepts and chosen a different downtown spot.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/ijleg960iH">pic.twitter.com/ijleg960iH</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1775340879663825097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The new area, known as the Crossroads, has a vibrant arts and restaurant scene, and it is just blocks away from the T-Mobile Center and the bustling Power &amp; Light entertainment district. It also is close to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the 18th &amp; Vine district, which is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.But even then, plans remained vague. The latest ballpark renderings were made obsolete just last week when the Royals acquiesced to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ request that a major street that would have been part of the stadium footprint remain open; Lucas did not endorse the tax initiative until the Royals agreed to the change.“I think everyone has the same mixed feelings,” said Deidre Chasteen, a voter from Independence, Missouri, who remembers attending games downtown at old Municipal Stadium when the Royals played there from 1969-72.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712112786193.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman, left, address the media while Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan looks on during a news conference about a plan to extend a sales tax to provide funding to build a new stadium for the Royals and stadium improvement for the Chiefs Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jackson County, Mo. residents will vote on the question Tuesday, April 2. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman, left, address the media while Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan looks on during a news conference about a plan to extend a sales tax to provide funding to build a new stadium for the Royals and stadium improvement for the Chiefs Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jackson County, Mo. residents will vote on the question Tuesday, April 2. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s not that we mind paying the three-eighths-cent sales tax. I think the problem is putting the stadium where it is,” Chasteen said. “We’re saying don’t ruin businesses that have been established down there for years.”The club also had not reached sales agreements with many landowners in the Crossroads, and other businesses had expressed concerns about traffic, congestion and parking in an already thriving residential neighborhood.Sarah Tourville, the Royals’ executive vice president, said the goal was to move into the stadium for opening day in 2028.The Royals moved from Municipal Stadium to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the ballpark from 2009-12. Arrowhead Stadium was built alongside Kauffman Stadium and also was renovated around the same time.While the Royals insist on playing in a new ballpark, the Chiefs wanted to stay put with a renovation that would have touched every aspect of their 52-year-old building, from the seating bowl to luxury amenities to the tailgating scene.“We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose father, Lamar Hunt, helped get the existing stadiums built, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we’ve outlined.”The Chiefs had hoped their success, including three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, would sway voters in their favor.“What my dad loved best about the stadium was the connection the team had with our fanbase,” Hunt said. “He loved this building for what it means to the fans, and we still believe it is one of the best stadiums in the National Football League and a bucket-list destination for fans across the NFL.”

Voters reject stadium tax for Royals and Chiefs, leaving future in KC in question

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is poised to increase penalties for killing police dogs and horses after legislators gave their final approval Tuesday to a measure inspired by a suspect's strangling of a dog last year in the state's largest city.

The Republican-controlled state House approved a bill with a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240402141729_401728/">115-6</a>&nbsp;vote that would allow a first-time offender to be sentenced to more than three years in prison for killing a police animal, an arson dog, a game warden's dog or a search-and-rescue dog and up to five years if the killing occurs when a suspect is trying to elude law enforcement. An offender also could be fined up to $10,000.

The current penalty for killing a police dog is up to a year behind bars and a fine of between $500 and $5,000, and the law doesn't specifically cover horses.

“There is a lot of time and money put into those animals,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who was the bill’s leading advocate. “They have to continually train all the time and so to have one killed, there’s got to be a pretty harsh penalty.”

The GOP-controlled Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2583_02_0000.pdf">the measure</a>&nbsp;by a narrower&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240327112425_941512/">25-15</a>&nbsp;margin last week, and the bill goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has not said publicly whether she will sign it. Kelly typically signs measures with bipartisan support, but most of the 11 Democrats in the Senate opposed the bill.

Increased penalties have had bipartisan support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dogs-kansas-racial-disparties-policing-8e47eddc6193557b762e8245a55815f1">across the U.S.</a>&nbsp;In Colorado, the Democratically led General Assembly approved&nbsp;<a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a_1074_enr.pdf">a measure</a>&nbsp;last month. Proposals have advanced in GOP-controlled Legislatures in Missouri and West Virginia and introduced in at least four other states.

The Kansas measure was inspired by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dog-strangled-memorial-kansas-833d090ca3d030f3e0b83a321ec5fd29">the November death</a>&nbsp;of Bane, an 8-year-old Wichita police dog. Authorities say a suspect in a domestic violence case took refuge in a storm drain and strangled Bane when a deputy sent the dog in to flush out the suspect.

But critics of such measures have questions about how dogs are used in policing, particularly when suspects of color are involved. Their use also has a fraught history, such as their use during by Southern authorities during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

“Police dogs have jaws strong enough to puncture sheet metal. Victims of attacks by police dogs have sustained serious and even fatal injuries,” Keisha James, a staff attorney for the National Lawyers Guild's National Police Accountability Project, said in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_s_jud_1_20240307_18_testimony.html">written testimony</a>&nbsp;to a Senate committee last month. “It follows that an individual being attacked by a police dog would respond by trying to defend themselves.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701304894824.png" alt="A memorial service held Nov. 29 for K9 officer Bane -photo Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A memorial service held Nov. 29 for K9 officer Bane -photo Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is poised to increase penalties for killing police dogs and horses after legislators gave their final approval Tuesday to a measure inspired by a suspect's strangling of a dog last year in the state's largest city.The Republican-controlled state House approved a bill with a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240402141729_401728/">115-6</a>&nbsp;vote that would allow a first-time offender to be sentenced to more than three years in prison for killing a police animal, an arson dog, a game warden's dog or a search-and-rescue dog and up to five years if the killing occurs when a suspect is trying to elude law enforcement. An offender also could be fined up to $10,000.The current penalty for killing a police dog is up to a year behind bars and a fine of between $500 and $5,000, and the law doesn't specifically cover horses.“There is a lot of time and money put into those animals,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who was the bill’s leading advocate. “They have to continually train all the time and so to have one killed, there’s got to be a pretty harsh penalty.”The GOP-controlled Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2583_02_0000.pdf">the measure</a>&nbsp;by a narrower&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240327112425_941512/">25-15</a>&nbsp;margin last week, and the bill goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who has not said publicly whether she will sign it. Kelly typically signs measures with bipartisan support, but most of the 11 Democrats in the Senate opposed the bill.Increased penalties have had bipartisan support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dogs-kansas-racial-disparties-policing-8e47eddc6193557b762e8245a55815f1">across the U.S.</a>&nbsp;In Colorado, the Democratically led General Assembly approved&nbsp;<a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a_1074_enr.pdf">a measure</a>&nbsp;last month. Proposals have advanced in GOP-controlled Legislatures in Missouri and West Virginia and introduced in at least four other states.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700174387964.png" alt="Police K9 Bane -Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Police K9 Bane -Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas measure was inspired by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dog-strangled-memorial-kansas-833d090ca3d030f3e0b83a321ec5fd29">the November death</a>&nbsp;of Bane, an 8-year-old Wichita police dog. Authorities say a suspect in a domestic violence case took refuge in a storm drain and strangled Bane when a deputy sent the dog in to flush out the suspect.But critics of such measures have questions about how dogs are used in policing, particularly when suspects of color are involved. Their use also has a fraught history, such as their use during by Southern authorities during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.“Police dogs have jaws strong enough to puncture sheet metal. Victims of attacks by police dogs have sustained serious and even fatal injuries,” Keisha James, a staff attorney for the National Lawyers Guild's National Police Accountability Project, said in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_s_jud_1_20240307_18_testimony.html">written testimony</a>&nbsp;to a Senate committee last month. “It follows that an individual being attacked by a police dog would respond by trying to defend themselves.”

Police dog's death has Kansas poised to increase penalties for killing K-9 officers

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a deadly fire in Kansas City. Just before 2a.m. crews&nbsp;responded to a house fire in the 9900 block of Hillcrest Road in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins

First arriving crews reported heavy fire from a single-story home. . During the search of the home crews identified a single occupant in a hallway near the back of the home near the main fire room. 

The victim is a 35-year-old man who was pronounced deceased. The fire was placed under control at 2 am.&nbsp; The Kansas City Police Bomb and Arson squad has been asked to join the investigation due to the fatality. The victim appears to have lived alone. Authorities did not release his name early Wednesday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712225551645.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a deadly fire in Kansas City. Just before 2a.m. crews&nbsp;responded to a house fire in the 9900 block of Hillcrest Road in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael HopkinsFirst arriving crews reported heavy fire from a single-story home. . During the search of the home crews identified a single occupant in a hallway near the back of the home near the main fire room. The victim is a 35-year-old man who was pronounced deceased. The fire was placed under control at 2 am.&nbsp; The Kansas City Police Bomb and Arson squad has been asked to join the investigation due to the fatality. The victim appears to have lived alone. Authorities did not release his name early Wednesday.&nbsp;

Man found dead in fire at home in Kansas City

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Some of Israel's closest allies, including the United States, on Tuesday condemned the deaths of seven aid workers who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza — a loss that prompted multiple charities to suspend food deliveries to Palestinians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">on the brink of starvation</a>.

The deaths of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victims-aid-workers-gaza-world-central-kitchen-f79eccaf93e34e36d39ae16c848dde92">World Central Kitchen workers</a>&nbsp;threatened to set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-peir-plan-aid-world-central-kitchen-97e53ccaa9b54b436b2e6ede7dd9aa2d">open a maritime corridor</a>&nbsp;for aid from Cyprus to help ease the desperate conditions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">in northern Gaza</a>.

President Joe Biden issued an unusually blunt criticism of Israel by its closest ally, suggesting that the incident demonstrated that Israel was not doing enough to protect civilians.

“Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” he said, adding he was “outraged and heartbroken" by their killings.

“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” he added. "The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties.”

Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-central-kitchen-jose-andres-gaza-israel-a21b62edbfa1150d0eb78ed5597a03c8">the charitable group</a>&nbsp;turned back from Gaza just a day after arriving, according to Cyprus. Other humanitarian aid organizations also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-central-kitchen-gaza-humanitarian-aid-suspension-4a2d5bfa131ccd9984fe47076880b6b9">suspended operations</a>&nbsp;in Gaza, saying it was too dangerous to offer help. Israel has allowed only a trickle of food and supplies into Gaza's devastated north, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">experts say famine is imminent</a>.

The dead from Monday night's strikes included three British citizens, Polish and Australia nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. Those countries have been key backers of Israel's nearly 6-month-old offensive in Gaza, and several of them denounced the killings.

Israel already faces growing isolation as international criticism of the Gaza assault has mounted. On the same day as the deadly airstrikes, Israel stirred more fears by apparently striking Iran’s consulate in Damascus and killing two Iranian generals. The government also moved to shut down a foreign media outlet — Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television.

The hit on the charity’s convoy also highlighted what critics have called Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and lack of regard for civilian casualties in Gaza.

Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced the results of a preliminary investigation early Wednesday.

“It was a mistake that followed a misidentification – at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. He gave no further details. He said an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” that would be completed in the coming days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier acknowledged the “unintended strike ... on innocent people” and said officials would work to ensure it does not happen again.

World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of its cars. Three vehicles moving at large distances apart were hit in succession. They were left incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple targeted strikes.

At least one of the vehicles had the charity’s logo printed across its roof to make it identifiable from the air, and the ordnance punched a large hole through the roof. Footage showed the bodies at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, several of them wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo.

Israeli TV said the initial military investigation found that the army identified the cars carrying World Central Kitchen’s workers arriving at its warehouse in Deir al-Balah and observed suspected militants nearby. Half an hour later, the vehicles were struck by the air force as they headed south. The reports said it was not clear who ordered the strikes or why.

Throughout the war, Israel has said it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and uses sophisticated intelligence to target Hamas and other militants. Israeli authorities blame them for civilian deaths because they operate in populated areas.

At the same time, Israel has also insisted that no target is off-limits. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck ambulances and vehicles carrying aid, as well as relief organization offices and U.N. shelters, claiming that armed fighters were in them.

Israeli forces have also shown a readiness to inflict widespread destruction on suspicion of a militant presence or out of tactical need. Homes with Palestinian families sheltering inside are leveled by strikes almost daily with no explanation of the intended target. Videos of strikes released by the military often show them hitting individuals without visible weapons, while identifying them as militants.

More than 32,900 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

Celebrity chef José Andrés, who founded the World Central Kitchen charity, said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths of the staffers.

“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The U.S., Britain, Poland, Australia and Canada all called on Israel to give answers on the deaths. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant launched an investigation and ordered the opening of a joint situation room enabling coordination between the military and aid groups.

But anger among its allies could put new pressure on Israel.

The British government summoned Israel’s ambassador for a rebuke and called for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow more aid in and the release of hostages.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Netanyahu that he was “appalled” by the workers' deaths and described the situation in Gaza as “increasingly intolerable.”

A senior Canadian government official said there will be a joint formal diplomatic rebuke at the foreign ministry in Israel on Wednesday. The official also said a top official with Canada’s Global Affairs department made a formal representation to Israel ambassador’s to Canada on Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The deaths sent a further chill through U.N. agencies and other aid groups that have said for months that sending truck convoys around Gaza — particularly in the north — has been extremely difficult because of the military’s failure to either grant permission or ensure safe passage. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main U.N. agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north.

The U.S. and other countries have been working to set up the sea passage from Cyprus to get around the difficulties.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-aid-workers-killed-world-central-kitchen-andres-explainer-04d1f8ad0ea7f1fe4c09769b75467fa1">World Central Kitchen</a>&nbsp;was key to the new route. It and the United Arab Emirates sent a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-15-2024-d4e2f9ed525914233e4cf16c217f5248">pilot shipment</a>&nbsp;last month. Their second delivery of around 400 tons of food and supplies arrived in three ships to Gaza hours before the strikes on the convoy.

Around 100 tons were unloaded before the charity suspended operations, and the rest was being taken back to Cyprus, Cypriot Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said.

Still, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Tuesday that ship deliveries would continue.

Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said that in the wake of the strikes it was taking the “unprecedented” step of pausing its own operations in Gaza, where it had been helping to provide around 150,000 meals daily.

“The escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice,” it said in a statement.

Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the strikes were “not an isolated incident.” The U.N. says more than 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war.

“This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year,” he said.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israel responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-bombs-destruction-death-toll-scope-419488c511f83c85baea22458472a796">one of the deadliest and most destructive offensives</a>&nbsp;in recent history.

Two other Israeli strikes late Monday killed at least 16 Palestinians, including eight children, in Rafah, where Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">has vowed to expand its ground operation</a>. The city on the Egyptian border is now home to some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

One strike hit a family home, killing 10 people, including five children, according to hospital records. Another hit a gathering near a mosque, killing at least six people, including three children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712102552938.png" alt="Jacob Flickinger photo WCK" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Flickinger photo WCK</figcaption>
 </figure>DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Some of Israel's closest allies, including the United States, on Tuesday condemned the deaths of seven aid workers who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza — a loss that prompted multiple charities to suspend food deliveries to Palestinians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">on the brink of starvation</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712102615852.png" alt="World Central Kitchen" />
 <figcaption>World Central Kitchen</figcaption>
 </figure>The deaths of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victims-aid-workers-gaza-world-central-kitchen-f79eccaf93e34e36d39ae16c848dde92">World Central Kitchen workers</a>&nbsp;threatened to set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-peir-plan-aid-world-central-kitchen-97e53ccaa9b54b436b2e6ede7dd9aa2d">open a maritime corridor</a>&nbsp;for aid from Cyprus to help ease the desperate conditions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">in northern Gaza</a>.President Joe Biden issued an unusually blunt criticism of Israel by its closest ally, suggesting that the incident demonstrated that Israel was not doing enough to protect civilians.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, including one American, in Gaza yesterday. Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Here is my full statement. <a href="https://t.co/Nl2jq8wqTt">pic.twitter.com/Nl2jq8wqTt</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1775316042367094888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” he said, adding he was “outraged and heartbroken" by their killings.“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” he added. "The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties.”Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-central-kitchen-jose-andres-gaza-israel-a21b62edbfa1150d0eb78ed5597a03c8">the charitable group</a>&nbsp;turned back from Gaza just a day after arriving, according to Cyprus. Other humanitarian aid organizations also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-central-kitchen-gaza-humanitarian-aid-suspension-4a2d5bfa131ccd9984fe47076880b6b9">suspended operations</a>&nbsp;in Gaza, saying it was too dangerous to offer help. Israel has allowed only a trickle of food and supplies into Gaza's devastated north, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">experts say famine is imminent</a>.The dead from Monday night's strikes included three British citizens, Polish and Australia nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. Those countries have been key backers of Israel's nearly 6-month-old offensive in Gaza, and several of them denounced the killings.Israel already faces growing isolation as international criticism of the Gaza assault has mounted. On the same day as the deadly airstrikes, Israel stirred more fears by apparently striking Iran’s consulate in Damascus and killing two Iranian generals. The government also moved to shut down a foreign media outlet — Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television.The hit on the charity’s convoy also highlighted what critics have called Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and lack of regard for civilian casualties in Gaza.Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced the results of a preliminary investigation early Wednesday.“It was a mistake that followed a misidentification – at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. He gave no further details. He said an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” that would be completed in the coming days.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier acknowledged the “unintended strike ... on innocent people” and said officials would work to ensure it does not happen again.World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of its cars. Three vehicles moving at large distances apart were hit in succession. They were left incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple targeted strikes.At least one of the vehicles had the charity’s logo printed across its roof to make it identifiable from the air, and the ordnance punched a large hole through the roof. Footage showed the bodies at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, several of them wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo.Israeli TV said the initial military investigation found that the army identified the cars carrying World Central Kitchen’s workers arriving at its warehouse in Deir al-Balah and observed suspected militants nearby. Half an hour later, the vehicles were struck by the air force as they headed south. The reports said it was not clear who ordered the strikes or why.Throughout the war, Israel has said it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and uses sophisticated intelligence to target Hamas and other militants. Israeli authorities blame them for civilian deaths because they operate in populated areas.At the same time, Israel has also insisted that no target is off-limits. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck ambulances and vehicles carrying aid, as well as relief organization offices and U.N. shelters, claiming that armed fighters were in them.Israeli forces have also shown a readiness to inflict widespread destruction on suspicion of a militant presence or out of tactical need. Homes with Palestinian families sheltering inside are leveled by strikes almost daily with no explanation of the intended target. Videos of strikes released by the military often show them hitting individuals without visible weapons, while identifying them as militants.More than 32,900 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.Celebrity chef José Andrés, who founded the World Central Kitchen charity, said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths of the staffers.“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.The U.S., Britain, Poland, Australia and Canada all called on Israel to give answers on the deaths. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant launched an investigation and ordered the opening of a joint situation room enabling coordination between the military and aid groups.But anger among its allies could put new pressure on Israel.The British government summoned Israel’s ambassador for a rebuke and called for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow more aid in and the release of hostages.British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Netanyahu that he was “appalled” by the workers' deaths and described the situation in Gaza as “increasingly intolerable.”A senior Canadian government official said there will be a joint formal diplomatic rebuke at the foreign ministry in Israel on Wednesday. The official also said a top official with Canada’s Global Affairs department made a formal representation to Israel ambassador’s to Canada on Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.The deaths sent a further chill through U.N. agencies and other aid groups that have said for months that sending truck convoys around Gaza — particularly in the north — has been extremely difficult because of the military’s failure to either grant permission or ensure safe passage. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main U.N. agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north.The U.S. and other countries have been working to set up the sea passage from Cyprus to get around the difficulties.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-aid-workers-killed-world-central-kitchen-andres-explainer-04d1f8ad0ea7f1fe4c09769b75467fa1">World Central Kitchen</a>&nbsp;was key to the new route. It and the United Arab Emirates sent a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-15-2024-d4e2f9ed525914233e4cf16c217f5248">pilot shipment</a>&nbsp;last month. Their second delivery of around 400 tons of food and supplies arrived in three ships to Gaza hours before the strikes on the convoy.Around 100 tons were unloaded before the charity suspended operations, and the rest was being taken back to Cyprus, Cypriot Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said.Still, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Tuesday that ship deliveries would continue.Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said that in the wake of the strikes it was taking the “unprecedented” step of pausing its own operations in Gaza, where it had been helping to provide around 150,000 meals daily.“The escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice,” it said in a statement.Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the strikes were “not an isolated incident.” The U.N. says more than 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war.“This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year,” he said.The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israel responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-bombs-destruction-death-toll-scope-419488c511f83c85baea22458472a796">one of the deadliest and most destructive offensives</a>&nbsp;in recent history.Two other Israeli strikes late Monday killed at least 16 Palestinians, including eight children, in Rafah, where Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">has vowed to expand its ground operation</a>. The city on the Egyptian border is now home to some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.One strike hit a family home, killing 10 people, including five children, according to hospital records. Another hit a gathering near a mosque, killing at least six people, including three children.___

Officials ID American among 7 aid workers killed in Gaza

WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 15-year-old Chris Jones of Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 8p.m. March 28, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3700 Block of State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. Officers found two victims with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle.

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the second victim to an area hospital for treatment. Police have released no suspect details or additional information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 15-year-old Chris Jones of Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 8p.m. March 28, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3700 Block of State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. Officers found two victims with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle.Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the second victim to an area hospital for treatment. Police have released no suspect details or additional information.

Police: 15-year-old Kan. boy died in shooting

TEXAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities continue investigating the suspicious disappearance of two women from Hugoton, Kansas.

On March 30, 2024, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/texascountysheriff?__cft__[0]=AZUN1RbenGKKSTbhUwrfs2POzCdB0jT1o_05xNnWDgxTOZM_kvYFhwzInEC_7C8da2AWdqEU2gV11pDpCTW1Mb3giHbODc12L4vGEmh7E5t8xvqag-qf2Mm9KZTsbAIg-4go4YlbXRBdW644Wiw2ID31O72PX0ulgCqL_gJRUQ9DEOk4GBSdNGTLD4p3iAeLs10&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Texas County Sheriff's Department</a> requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the suspicious disappearance of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley.

They were traveling together to pick up children when they went missing, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

They never made it to the pickup location, the OSBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=801154808712956&amp;set=a.297085712453204" target="_blank">advisory</a>&nbsp;said. Their car was located abandoned on the side of the road.

Their car was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart, Kansas, in rural Texas County.&nbsp; The Yarbrough Schools in Texas County, Oklahoma are operating on a locked down status Tuesday with additional safety measures in place, according to an online statement from the school district.

&nbsp;Special agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation along with local law enforcement agencies continue working to locate the two women. The OSBI released no new details on Monday.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017. This is still an ongoing investigation. The OSBI would like to thank the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Oklahoma.Highway.Patrol?__cft__[0]=AZUN1RbenGKKSTbhUwrfs2POzCdB0jT1o_05xNnWDgxTOZM_kvYFhwzInEC_7C8da2AWdqEU2gV11pDpCTW1Mb3giHbODc12L4vGEmh7E5t8xvqag-qf2Mm9KZTsbAIg-4go4YlbXRBdW644Wiw2ID31O72PX0ulgCqL_gJRUQ9DEOk4GBSdNGTLD4p3iAeLs10&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Oklahoma Highway Patrol</a>, and several other local agencies for assisting us with this case.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711967700182.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TEXAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities continue investigating the suspicious disappearance of two women from Hugoton, Kansas. On March 30, 2024, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/texascountysheriff?__cft__[0]=AZUN1RbenGKKSTbhUwrfs2POzCdB0jT1o_05xNnWDgxTOZM_kvYFhwzInEC_7C8da2AWdqEU2gV11pDpCTW1Mb3giHbODc12L4vGEmh7E5t8xvqag-qf2Mm9KZTsbAIg-4go4YlbXRBdW644Wiw2ID31O72PX0ulgCqL_gJRUQ9DEOk4GBSdNGTLD4p3iAeLs10&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Texas County Sheriff's Department</a> requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the suspicious disappearance of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyarbroughlobos%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0B18TP68rWXXKwaPHjJ2NVWtPwFJ229N1Kp488YCvZG8fVbKMUG1fkbkrSdPNKVAcl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="589" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>They were traveling together to pick up children when they went missing, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.They never made it to the pickup location, the OSBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=801154808712956&amp;set=a.297085712453204" target="_blank">advisory</a>&nbsp;said. Their car was located abandoned on the side of the road.Their car was found abandoned near Highway 95 and Road L, south of Elkhart, Kansas, in rural Texas County.&nbsp; The Yarbrough Schools in Texas County, Oklahoma are operating on a locked down status Tuesday with additional safety measures in place, according to an online statement from the school district.&nbsp;Special agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation along with local law enforcement agencies continue working to locate the two women. The OSBI released no new details on Monday.Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the OSBI at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017. This is still an ongoing investigation. The OSBI would like to thank the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Oklahoma.Highway.Patrol?__cft__[0]=AZUN1RbenGKKSTbhUwrfs2POzCdB0jT1o_05xNnWDgxTOZM_kvYFhwzInEC_7C8da2AWdqEU2gV11pDpCTW1Mb3giHbODc12L4vGEmh7E5t8xvqag-qf2Mm9KZTsbAIg-4go4YlbXRBdW644Wiw2ID31O72PX0ulgCqL_gJRUQ9DEOk4GBSdNGTLD4p3iAeLs10&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Oklahoma Highway Patrol</a>, and several other local agencies for assisting us with this case.&nbsp;

Search continues for 2 Kan. woman after abandoned car found

DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged domestic violence and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

Police in Lawrence&nbsp; submitted an affidavit to the District Attorney for the arrest of Cole Brings Plenty after an incident Sunday morning at an apartment in Lawrence, according to a media release.

Police identified him as the suspect, have probable cause for his arrest, and issued an alert to area agencies.

Officers responded to reports of a female screaming for help, but the suspect fled before officers arrived. The investigation identified Brings Plenty and traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident, traveling southbound on U.S. 59 Highway.

Brings Plenty’s family has contacted officers, expressed concern, and reported him as a missing person.

Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB&nbsp;

&nbsp;If you see Cole Brings Plenty, or his vehicle, call 911 or you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-8477

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085646947.png" alt="Photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged domestic violence and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.Police in Lawrence&nbsp; submitted an affidavit to the District Attorney for the arrest of Cole Brings Plenty after an incident Sunday morning at an apartment in Lawrence, according to a media release.Police identified him as the suspect, have probable cause for his arrest, and issued an alert to area agencies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085673888.png" alt="Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB - photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB - photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers responded to reports of a female screaming for help, but the suspect fled before officers arrived. The investigation identified Brings Plenty and traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident, traveling southbound on U.S. 59 Highway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712086415073.png" alt="Cole Hauser, who also starred in "Yellowstone"&nbsp; sent&nbsp; i<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5QoyFJuLOm/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">nformation about Brings Plenty's disappearance on social media</a>" />
 <figcaption>Cole Hauser, who also starred in "Yellowstone"&nbsp; sent&nbsp; i<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5QoyFJuLOm/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">nformation about Brings Plenty's disappearance on social media</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Brings Plenty’s family has contacted officers, expressed concern, and reported him as a missing person.Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB&nbsp;&nbsp;If you see Cole Brings Plenty, or his vehicle, call 911 or you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-8477

Police: Alleged Kan. domestic violence suspect still at large

RENO COUNTY — According to Reno County Emergency Management, a fire at a home in Partridge Tuesday morning destroyed the building.

Fire Administrator Travis Vogt said in a social media post that crews were called out just after 4 a.m. to 3 North Reno Street in Partridge. When crews from Fire Districts 4, 3 and 8 arrived, they found a working fire in the northeast part of the home. The fire extended into the attic space and the strong north winds caused it to spread too quickly to be attacked from the inside.

The City of Partridge does not have hydrants or a water supply, so water had to be hauled to the scene. Tender trucks from Fire Districts 6 and 9 and Pretty Prairie were called in. In all, seven 3000 gallon tenders were used to supply water to the scene.

Due to hoarding conditions in the home and the collapse of the home's roof, all crews could do once the fire was out is call in an excavator from Miller Earthworks to level the home.&nbsp;

The Reno County Sheriff's Office and the Reno County Fire Administrator investigated to determine a cause of the fire. Three occupants were in the home at the time of the fire and got out safely thanks to working smoke detectors. The fire is being classified as accidental from careless smoking.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712107666773.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Reno County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Reno County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — According to Reno County Emergency Management, a fire at a home in Partridge Tuesday morning destroyed the building.Fire Administrator Travis Vogt said in a social media post that crews were called out just after 4 a.m. to 3 North Reno Street in Partridge. When crews from Fire Districts 4, 3 and 8 arrived, they found a working fire in the northeast part of the home. The fire extended into the attic space and the strong north winds caused it to spread too quickly to be attacked from the inside.The City of Partridge does not have hydrants or a water supply, so water had to be hauled to the scene. Tender trucks from Fire Districts 6 and 9 and Pretty Prairie were called in. In all, seven 3000 gallon tenders were used to supply water to the scene.Due to hoarding conditions in the home and the collapse of the home's roof, all crews could do once the fire was out is call in an excavator from Miller Earthworks to level the home.&nbsp;The Reno County Sheriff's Office and the Reno County Fire Administrator investigated to determine a cause of the fire. Three occupants were in the home at the time of the fire and got out safely thanks to working smoke detectors. The fire is being classified as accidental from careless smoking.

Careless smoking caused fire that destroyed Kansas home

JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 1:30p.m. March 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Dakota pickup for a traffic infraction on 134th Road east of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 A Jackson County K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal substances inside the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. 

Police arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Haley Rose Slusser, 32, of Topeka, on requested felony charges of&nbsp;attempted bribery, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711926784875.png" alt="Slusser-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Slusser-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 1:30p.m. March 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Dakota pickup for a traffic infraction on 134th Road east of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. A Jackson County K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal substances inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Police arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Haley Rose Slusser, 32, of Topeka, on requested felony charges of&nbsp;attempted bribery, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Kansas woman tried to bribe deputy during traffic stop

DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was leasing a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle that authorities say was one of two speeding sports cars that caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">chain-reaction crash</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway, an attorney for the company that owns the vehicle said Tuesday.

Dallas police have not confirmed whether Rice was involved in Saturday's crash, which caused minor injuries. The occupants of the Lamborghini and the other speeding vehicle — a Corvette — left without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, police said. A total of six vehicles were involved in the crash.

An attorney for Rice said this week that the NFL player was cooperating with authorities but has not elaborated.

Rice was leasing the Lamborghini from The Classic Lifestyle, said Kyle Coker, an attorney for the Dallas-based exotic car rental company. He said that contractually, Rice would have been the only person allowed to drive the vehicle, which rents for about $1,750 a day and is worth about $250,000.

Police have said that the drivers of a Corvette and a Lamborghini were speeding in the far-left lane of North Central Expressway when they lost control. The Lamborghini went onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain-reaction collision. Four people in the other vehicles were treated for minor injuries.

Police said Tuesday that they were still working to identify suspects. Police have not released any information about the people they are seeking, including whether Rice was among them.

Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, said that Rice “will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly.” West did not respond to questions Tuesday and has not said whether Rice was driving one of the vehicles.

Rice, a member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl-winning Chiefs team</a>, is from the Dallas area. He played for Southern Methodist University and grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712017870514.png" alt="Rashee Rice-photo Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rashee Rice-photo Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was leasing a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle that authorities say was one of two speeding sports cars that caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">chain-reaction crash</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway, an attorney for the company that owns the vehicle said Tuesday.Dallas police have not confirmed whether Rice was involved in Saturday's crash, which caused minor injuries. The occupants of the Lamborghini and the other speeding vehicle — a Corvette — left without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, police said. A total of six vehicles were involved in the crash.An attorney for Rice said this week that the NFL player was cooperating with authorities but has not elaborated.Rice was leasing the Lamborghini from The Classic Lifestyle, said Kyle Coker, an attorney for the Dallas-based exotic car rental company. He said that contractually, Rice would have been the only person allowed to drive the vehicle, which rents for about $1,750 a day and is worth about $250,000.Police have said that the drivers of a Corvette and a Lamborghini were speeding in the far-left lane of North Central Expressway when they lost control. The Lamborghini went onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain-reaction collision. Four people in the other vehicles were treated for minor injuries.Police said Tuesday that they were still working to identify suspects. Police have not released any information about the people they are seeking, including whether Rice was among them.Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, said that Rice “will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly.” West did not respond to questions Tuesday and has not said whether Rice was driving one of the vehicles.Rice, a member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl-winning Chiefs team</a>, is from the Dallas area. He played for Southern Methodist University and grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills.

Company Attorney: Chiefs Rice leased Lamborghini involved in crash

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA AP Political Writer</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An audit released Tuesday by Kansas' attorney general concluded that the state is losing more than $20 million a year because its Insurance Department is lax in overseeing one of its programs. The department said the audit is flawed and should be “discounted nearly in its entirety.”

The dispute involves two elected Republicans, Attorney General Kris Kobach and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, who are considered potential candidates in 2026 to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Their conflict flared a week after the GOP-controlled state Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb488_02_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would give Kobach's office greater power to investigate social services fraud through its inspector general for the state's Medicaid program.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/reports/omig-audit-reports/ccrc-audit-report-final.pdf">The audit</a>&nbsp;released by the inspector general said the Insurance Department improperly allowed dozens of nursing homes to claim a big break on a per-bed tax that helps fund Medicaid. It said that from July 2020 through August 2023, the state lost more than $94 million in revenues, mostly because 68% of the certificates issued by the Insurance Department to allow homes to claim the tax break did not comply with state law.

But Schmidt's office said the inspector general relied on an “unduly harsh and unreasonable” interpretation of state law and “unreliable extrapolations” to reach its conclusions. Also, the department said, the conclusion that most applications for the tax break were mishandled is “astronomically unreflective of reality.”

The state taxes many skilled nursing facilities $4,908 per bed for Medicaid, which covers nursing home services for the elderly but also health care for the needy and disabled. But nursing homes can pay only $818 per bed if they have 45 or fewer skilled nursing beds, care for a high volume of Medicaid recipients or hold an Insurance Department certificate saying they are part of a larger retirement community complex.

“There are proper procedures in place; however, they are not being followed,” the audit said.

The inspector general's audit said the Insurance Department granted dozens of certificates without having complete records, most often lacking an annual audit of a nursing home.

The department countered that the homes were being audited and that it showed “forbearance” to “the heavily regulated industry” because annual audits often cannot be completed as quickly as the inspector general demands.

Insurance Department spokesperson Kyle Stratham said that if the agency accepted the inspector general's conclusions, “Kansas businesses would be charged tens of millions of dollars in additional taxes, which would have a devastating impact on the availability of care for senior Kansans.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640801140003.png" alt="Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA AP Political Writer</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An audit released Tuesday by Kansas' attorney general concluded that the state is losing more than $20 million a year because its Insurance Department is lax in overseeing one of its programs. The department said the audit is flawed and should be “discounted nearly in its entirety.”The dispute involves two elected Republicans, Attorney General Kris Kobach and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, who are considered potential candidates in 2026 to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Their conflict flared a week after the GOP-controlled state Senate approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb488_02_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would give Kobach's office greater power to investigate social services fraud through its inspector general for the state's Medicaid program.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/reports/omig-audit-reports/ccrc-audit-report-final.pdf">The audit</a>&nbsp;released by the inspector general said the Insurance Department improperly allowed dozens of nursing homes to claim a big break on a per-bed tax that helps fund Medicaid. It said that from July 2020 through August 2023, the state lost more than $94 million in revenues, mostly because 68% of the certificates issued by the Insurance Department to allow homes to claim the tax break did not comply with state law.But Schmidt's office said the inspector general relied on an “unduly harsh and unreasonable” interpretation of state law and “unreliable extrapolations” to reach its conclusions. Also, the department said, the conclusion that most applications for the tax break were mishandled is “astronomically unreflective of reality.”The state taxes many skilled nursing facilities $4,908 per bed for Medicaid, which covers nursing home services for the elderly but also health care for the needy and disabled. But nursing homes can pay only $818 per bed if they have 45 or fewer skilled nursing beds, care for a high volume of Medicaid recipients or hold an Insurance Department certificate saying they are part of a larger retirement community complex.“There are proper procedures in place; however, they are not being followed,” the audit said.The inspector general's audit said the Insurance Department granted dozens of certificates without having complete records, most often lacking an annual audit of a nursing home.The department countered that the homes were being audited and that it showed “forbearance” to “the heavily regulated industry” because annual audits often cannot be completed as quickly as the inspector general demands.Insurance Department spokesperson Kyle Stratham said that if the agency accepted the inspector general's conclusions, “Kansas businesses would be charged tens of millions of dollars in additional taxes, which would have a devastating impact on the availability of care for senior Kansans.”

Claim that lax regulation costs Kan. millions has top GOP officials scrapping

KANSAS CITY —After two deadly car crashes over Easter weekend that involved victims not wearing a seat belt in the Kansas City area, police issued a reminder to motorists to slow down and buckle up.

On social media, the KCPD reported they&nbsp;clocked&nbsp; a driver on Monday traveling 103 mph in a 55 mhp zone on Interstate 29 and 72nd Street. This driver was also not wearing a seatbelt.&nbsp;

Just before 9p.m. March 29, a Hyundai Elantra was southbound on U.S. 169 Highway at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the car. It traveled off the roadway to the left, struck the guardrail and rolled.

An 18-year-old passenger identified as&nbsp;&nbsp;Kevin Adero of Kansas City, Missouri died in the crash. Adero and the other three&nbsp;occupants of the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts. The driver and two other passengers were transported to area hospitals, with critical injuries.

Just after 4p.m. Saturday, a GMC Yukon was westbound on East 27th Street at Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, at a very high rate of speed, according to Officer Gonzalez.

The driver lost control of the SUV. It traveled off the roadway to the right, shearing off a large wooden utility pole and striking a large metal utility pole.

The vehicle burst into flames after impact with the metal pole.&nbsp;The driver and a puppy were ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez.

Police said they cannot stress this enough: Slow down and buckle up.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711987808445.png" alt="photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —After two deadly car crashes over Easter weekend that involved victims not wearing a seat belt in the Kansas City area, police issued a reminder to motorists to slow down and buckle up.On social media, the KCPD reported they&nbsp;clocked&nbsp; a driver on Monday traveling 103 mph in a 55 mhp zone on Interstate 29 and 72nd Street. This driver was also not wearing a seatbelt.&nbsp;Just before 9p.m. March 29, a Hyundai Elantra was southbound on U.S. 169 Highway at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the car. It traveled off the roadway to the left, struck the guardrail and rolled.An 18-year-old passenger identified as&nbsp;&nbsp;Kevin Adero of Kansas City, Missouri died in the crash. Adero and the other three&nbsp;occupants of the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts. The driver and two other passengers were transported to area hospitals, with critical injuries.Just after 4p.m. Saturday, a GMC Yukon was westbound on East 27th Street at Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, at a very high rate of speed, according to Officer Gonzalez.The driver lost control of the SUV. It traveled off the roadway to the right, shearing off a large wooden utility pole and striking a large metal utility pole.The vehicle burst into flames after impact with the metal pole.&nbsp;The driver and a puppy were ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez.Police said they cannot stress this enough: Slow down and buckle up.

Police: 103mph in a 55mph zone; slow down, wear a seat belt

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

A John Deere Buck ATV was southbound on a concrete trail at 5121 Raytown Road, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

The ATV struck a yellow metal pole used to divide the lanes of the trail and was ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp; First responders pronounced the driver, who was not wearing a helmet, deceased at the scene, according to the KCPD.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

This is fatality #30 compared to #16 at the same time last year, according to the KCPD.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.A John Deere Buck ATV was southbound on a concrete trail at 5121 Raytown Road, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.The ATV struck a yellow metal pole used to divide the lanes of the trail and was ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp; First responders pronounced the driver, who was not wearing a helmet, deceased at the scene, according to the KCPD.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.This is fatality #30 compared to #16 at the same time last year, according to the KCPD.

KCPD: Driver dead after ejected when ATV struck metal pole

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, leading the charity to suspend delivery Tuesday of vital food aid to Gaza, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive</a>&nbsp;has pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation.

Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid from the charity that arrived just a day earlier turned back from Gaza, according to Cyprus, which has played a key role in trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-30-2024-c0ab29bb92b859e22c927ae82637192b">establish a sea route</a>&nbsp;to bring food to territory. Israel has allowed only a trickle of aid into devastated northern Gaza, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">experts say famine is imminent</a>.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the country’s forces had carried out the “unintended strike ... on innocent people.” He said officials were looking into the strike and would work to ensure it did not happen again.

World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of the cars carrying the workers as they left northern Gaza late Monday. Footage of the aftermath showed a vehicle with the charity’s logo printed across its roof to make it identifiable from the air. The projectile punched a large hole through the roof. Two other vehicles in the convoy were incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple hits.

Other footage showed the bodies, several wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo, at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Those killed include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian, according to hospital records.

The killings threatened to have repercussions on multiple levels. The dead were citizens of some of Israel’s closest allies, antagonizing them at a time when the country has few friends amid mounting international criticism of its nearly 6-month-old offensive in Gaza.

The strike could also set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-peir-plan-aid-world-central-kitchen-97e53ccaa9b54b436b2e6ede7dd9aa2d">open a maritime corridor</a>&nbsp;for aid from Cyprus that would help ease the growing humanitarian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">disaster in Gaza’s north</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-aid-workers-killed-world-central-kitchen-andres-explainer-04d1f8ad0ea7f1fe4c09769b75467fa1">World Central Kitchen</a>, a food charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, was key to the new route.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Tuesday that ship deliveries would continue. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main U.N. agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north, and other aid groups say sending truck convoys north has been extremely difficult because of the military’s failure to either grant permission or ensure safe passage.

The strike also underscored what critics have called the Israeli military's disregard for civilian casualties in its Gaza campaign, which it says is aimed at destroying Hamas after its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Throughout the war, Israeli forces have shown readiness to inflict widespread destruction when they believe a suspected militant is present or when ground troops see a tactical need to strike.

Homes with families sheltering inside are leveled by strikes almost daily. The military has struck ambulances and aid vehicles, saying that armed fighters were in them.

In February, troops and a tank opened fire when they felt threatened as thousands of Palestinians crowded to take aid off trucks, and more than 100 people were killed. The military said it did not fire at the convoy and that some victims died in stampeding.

More than 32,900 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying it operates in populated areas.

The U.S., Britain, Poland and Australia called for an investigation or an explanation from Israel over the aid workers’ deaths. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the forming of a “profession team” to investigate the strike and the opening of a joint situation room enabling coordination between the military and aid groups.

Andrés — whose World Central Kitchen charity operates in several countries wracked by wars or natural disasters — said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths of the staffers.

“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X.

Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said that in the wake of the strike it was taking the “unprecedented” step of pausing its own operations in Gaza, where it had been helping to provide around 150,000 meals daily.

Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the strike was “not an isolated incident,” noting that around 200 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war.

Tensions have soared across the Middle East, and an apparent Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday has ratcheted them up even further. Iran and its allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-syria-israel-hezbollah-gaza-damascus-f7a1af3a9fc67de1962d4f1589d7e9f0">vowed to respond to the strike</a>, which killed two Iranian generals.

Monday’s strike on the aid workers came hours after a new delivery with some 400 tons of food and supplies organized by World Central Kitchen and the United Arab Emirates arrived in three ships from Cyprus, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-15-2024-d4e2f9ed525914233e4cf16c217f5248">pilot run</a>&nbsp;last month.

The dead in the strike included Zomi Frankcom, 44, of Melbourne, Australia, and Damian Soból of Poland, the two countries' governments confirmed.

Two other Israeli strikes late Monday killed at least 16 Palestinians, including eight children, in Rafah, where Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">has vowed to expand its ground operation</a>&nbsp;despite the presence of some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

Aid groups have repeatedly called for a humanitarian cease-fire, saying it’s the only way to reach people in need. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent months trying to broker such a pause and a hostage release, but the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas remain bogged down.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712074500263.png" alt="Photo courtesy World Central Kitchen" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy World Central Kitchen</figcaption>
 </figure>DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, leading the charity to suspend delivery Tuesday of vital food aid to Gaza, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive</a>&nbsp;has pushed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the brink of starvation.Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid from the charity that arrived just a day earlier turned back from Gaza, according to Cyprus, which has played a key role in trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-30-2024-c0ab29bb92b859e22c927ae82637192b">establish a sea route</a>&nbsp;to bring food to territory. Israel has allowed only a trickle of aid into devastated northern Gaza, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">experts say famine is imminent</a>.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the country’s forces had carried out the “unintended strike ... on innocent people.” He said officials were looking into the strike and would work to ensure it did not happen again.World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of the cars carrying the workers as they left northern Gaza late Monday. Footage of the aftermath showed a vehicle with the charity’s logo printed across its roof to make it identifiable from the air. The projectile punched a large hole through the roof. Two other vehicles in the convoy were incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple hits.Other footage showed the bodies, several wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo, at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Those killed include three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian, according to hospital records.The killings threatened to have repercussions on multiple levels. The dead were citizens of some of Israel’s closest allies, antagonizing them at a time when the country has few friends amid mounting international criticism of its nearly 6-month-old offensive in Gaza.The strike could also set back efforts by the U.S. and other countries to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-peir-plan-aid-world-central-kitchen-97e53ccaa9b54b436b2e6ede7dd9aa2d">open a maritime corridor</a>&nbsp;for aid from Cyprus that would help ease the growing humanitarian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">disaster in Gaza’s north</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-aid-workers-killed-world-central-kitchen-andres-explainer-04d1f8ad0ea7f1fe4c09769b75467fa1">World Central Kitchen</a>, a food charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, was key to the new route.Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Tuesday that ship deliveries would continue. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main U.N. agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north, and other aid groups say sending truck convoys north has been extremely difficult because of the military’s failure to either grant permission or ensure safe passage.The strike also underscored what critics have called the Israeli military's disregard for civilian casualties in its Gaza campaign, which it says is aimed at destroying Hamas after its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.Throughout the war, Israeli forces have shown readiness to inflict widespread destruction when they believe a suspected militant is present or when ground troops see a tactical need to strike.Homes with families sheltering inside are leveled by strikes almost daily. The military has struck ambulances and aid vehicles, saying that armed fighters were in them.In February, troops and a tank opened fire when they felt threatened as thousands of Palestinians crowded to take aid off trucks, and more than 100 people were killed. The military said it did not fire at the convoy and that some victims died in stampeding.More than 32,900 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying it operates in populated areas.The U.S., Britain, Poland and Australia called for an investigation or an explanation from Israel over the aid workers’ deaths. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the forming of a “profession team” to investigate the strike and the opening of a joint situation room enabling coordination between the military and aid groups.Andrés — whose World Central Kitchen charity operates in several countries wracked by wars or natural disasters — said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths of the staffers.“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote on X.Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said that in the wake of the strike it was taking the “unprecedented” step of pausing its own operations in Gaza, where it had been helping to provide around 150,000 meals daily.“The escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice,” it said in a statement.Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the strike was “not an isolated incident,” noting that around 200 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war.“This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year,” he said.The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Israel responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-bombs-destruction-death-toll-scope-419488c511f83c85baea22458472a796">one of the deadliest and most destructive offensives</a>&nbsp;in recent history.Tensions have soared across the Middle East, and an apparent Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday has ratcheted them up even further. Iran and its allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-syria-israel-hezbollah-gaza-damascus-f7a1af3a9fc67de1962d4f1589d7e9f0">vowed to respond to the strike</a>, which killed two Iranian generals.Monday’s strike on the aid workers came hours after a new delivery with some 400 tons of food and supplies organized by World Central Kitchen and the United Arab Emirates arrived in three ships from Cyprus, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-15-2024-d4e2f9ed525914233e4cf16c217f5248">pilot run</a>&nbsp;last month.Around 100 tons were unloaded before the charity suspended operations, and the rest was being taken back to Cyprus, Cypriot Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said.The dead in the strike included Zomi Frankcom, 44, of Melbourne, Australia, and Damian Soból of Poland, the two countries' governments confirmed.Two other Israeli strikes late Monday killed at least 16 Palestinians, including eight children, in Rafah, where Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">has vowed to expand its ground operation</a>&nbsp;despite the presence of some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.One strike hit a family home, killing 10 people, including five children, according to hospital records. Another hit a gathering near a mosque, killing at least six people, including three children.Aid groups have repeatedly called for a humanitarian cease-fire, saying it’s the only way to reach people in need. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent months trying to broker such a pause and a hostage release, but the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas remain bogged down.

Food charity halts Gaza work after airstrike kills American, 6 other workers

KANSAS CITY– Missouri Department of Transportation staff along with several other project staff completed the blast of the middle arch of the existing previous structure of the Buck O’Neil Bridge on Tuesday.

Crews temporarily closed northbound U.S. 169 at 5th Street for completion of Tuesday's work. <a href="https://www.modot.org/node/44530?fbclid=IwAR0y0_HJ5l_RUHEyvVKffCYsqJHtGTCsdCxEEs43sysdtW3lVuuIXnUQiMY_aem_AcAWjn89M7OKIb6ZnbEI7zijPlaZtAQaqnpXzYMy0wIRj9m1ONZkJ8xfIAktdYWsuy0ForN8hztEF43fdBQxY0Kx">Click here for </a>additional traffic closures due to the work on the bridge.

The third and final blast for the project is planned for May.

KANSAS CITY– Missouri Department of Transportation staff along with several other project staff completed the blast of the middle arch of the existing previous structure of the Buck O’Neil Bridge on Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch as crews demolish the middle arch of the existing previous structure of the Buck O’Neil Bridge. The second blast took place today, April 2. Demo is needed for crews to complete construction on the new bridge structure. <a href="https://t.co/iNn3r66Lv8">https://t.co/iNn3r66Lv8</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kctraffic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kctraffic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/buckbridge?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#buckbridge</a> <a href="https://t.co/4mLMtAmxFo">pic.twitter.com/4mLMtAmxFo</a>&mdash; MoDOT Kansas City (@MoDOT_KC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoDOT_KC/status/1775218375494402300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Crews temporarily closed northbound U.S. 169 at 5th Street for completion of Tuesday's work. <a href="https://www.modot.org/node/44530?fbclid=IwAR0y0_HJ5l_RUHEyvVKffCYsqJHtGTCsdCxEEs43sysdtW3lVuuIXnUQiMY_aem_AcAWjn89M7OKIb6ZnbEI7zijPlaZtAQaqnpXzYMy0wIRj9m1ONZkJ8xfIAktdYWsuy0ForN8hztEF43fdBQxY0Kx">Click here for </a>additional traffic closures due to the work on the bridge.The third and final blast for the project is planned for May.

🎥 Crews demolish the middle arch of the Buck O’Neil Bridge

STERLING, Kan. — KMW Ltd, a leading manufacturer of loaders, backhoes, and attachments, announced Tuesday that they are growing. 

Plans for building new facilities situated in Sterling, Kansas, are well underway, according to a media release from the company.

 The new construction will include 430,000+ square feet under roof, located on a new 150-acre site near the new highway interchange in Sterling. This expansion will result in KMW growing to employ approximately 450 people when fully completed.

Beginning in 1965 as Ark Manufacturing Co., originally KMW produced trailers for hauling swathers and soil packers. Small lawn and garden loaders were added in 1968, an early indication of what the future KMW would become. Over the years, KMW made the shift to focus more on its loader and backhoe lines as the company grew.

Under the leadership of the current CEO, Wayne Buchberger, who took over KMW during the pandemic in 2020, there has been strategic acceleration of our growth. In this period KMW has been expanding its product lines and customer base. KMW and its team currently produce loader models ranging from 45-380 hp, a solid line of backhoes, and multiple loader attachments across three locations. The purchase of KMW by Agrostroj Pelhřimov in July of 2021 was pivotal with their strong support of KMW’s growth and team here in the USA. This expansion would not have been possible without their support.

For over 50 years KMW has designed, manufactured, and assembled our products in the USA. “As a company, we appreciate and value our Mid-American roots and the diligence and steadiness of our workforce. KMW is grateful for, and strives to stay true to, our Midwest Kansas ideals and heritage, helping to propel our continued growth. Our products embody the excellence of the KMW team and inspire pride in our customers.” says CEO, Wayne Buchberger, adding “Those factors made the decision to stay in our hometown a natural fit despite the strong interest in becoming our new headquarters expressed by other locations around the country.”

The size of the land acquisition ensures room for the growth of not only KMW but the entire Agrostroj Group long into the future. In addition to current KMW products we will continue to expand our manufacturing and sales activities for both our current and new OEM partners, meeting their needs in the North American market for many years to come. “With even greater capabilities and using state-ofthe-art machinery and automation, we look forward to making the new KMW headquarters a growing show piece for the state of Kansas” states Agrostroj Group owner, Lubomir Stoklasek. This is an exciting new chapter for our company. We are pleased at the strong possibilities this expansion affords us, allowing KMW to increase production capacity to even higher levels.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712076365904.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>STERLING, Kan. — KMW Ltd, a leading manufacturer of loaders, backhoes, and attachments, announced Tuesday that they are growing. Plans for building new facilities situated in Sterling, Kansas, are well underway, according to a media release from the company. The new construction will include 430,000+ square feet under roof, located on a new 150-acre site near the new highway interchange in Sterling. This expansion will result in KMW growing to employ approximately 450 people when fully completed.Beginning in 1965 as Ark Manufacturing Co., originally KMW produced trailers for hauling swathers and soil packers. Small lawn and garden loaders were added in 1968, an early indication of what the future KMW would become. Over the years, KMW made the shift to focus more on its loader and backhoe lines as the company grew.Under the leadership of the current CEO, Wayne Buchberger, who took over KMW during the pandemic in 2020, there has been strategic acceleration of our growth. In this period KMW has been expanding its product lines and customer base. KMW and its team currently produce loader models ranging from 45-380 hp, a solid line of backhoes, and multiple loader attachments across three locations. The purchase of KMW by Agrostroj Pelhřimov in July of 2021 was pivotal with their strong support of KMW’s growth and team here in the USA. This expansion would not have been possible without their support.For over 50 years KMW has designed, manufactured, and assembled our products in the USA. “As a company, we appreciate and value our Mid-American roots and the diligence and steadiness of our workforce. KMW is grateful for, and strives to stay true to, our Midwest Kansas ideals and heritage, helping to propel our continued growth. Our products embody the excellence of the KMW team and inspire pride in our customers.” says CEO, Wayne Buchberger, adding “Those factors made the decision to stay in our hometown a natural fit despite the strong interest in becoming our new headquarters expressed by other locations around the country.”The size of the land acquisition ensures room for the growth of not only KMW but the entire Agrostroj Group long into the future. In addition to current KMW products we will continue to expand our manufacturing and sales activities for both our current and new OEM partners, meeting their needs in the North American market for many years to come. “With even greater capabilities and using state-ofthe-art machinery and automation, we look forward to making the new KMW headquarters a growing show piece for the state of Kansas” states Agrostroj Group owner, Lubomir Stoklasek. This is an exciting new chapter for our company. We are pleased at the strong possibilities this expansion affords us, allowing KMW to increase production capacity to even higher levels.

Kan. loader, backhoe manufacturer will invest $105 million in Sterling

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run have filed charges against the driver.

Kelsi Ann Carmack, 24, of Kansas City, Kan., is charged with felony failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, a vehicle driven by Carmack struck a man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas&nbsp;in the parking garage at the University of Kansas Cancer Center,&nbsp;2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.&nbsp; Ward died of his injuries.

Carmack left the scene of the accident, according to police but was located and taken in for questioning, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.

Carmack was later booked into the Johnson County Jail and has met the requirement of a $7,500 bond. She is due in court April 10, according to online jail records.

Despite the tragedy, KU Cancer Center officials said care continued inside the facility.&nbsp; The hospital released a statement on the tragedy.

"Employees and health system leaders are feeling what many in our community are experiencing… shock and extreme sadness in this moment. We are dedicated to helping and healing patients, and so the news that this accident involved an employee is especially tragic to us on many levels."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711760936115.png" alt="Carmack-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Carmack-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run have filed charges against the driver.Kelsi Ann Carmack, 24, of Kansas City, Kan., is charged with felony failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711707455954.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 8a.m. Thursday, a vehicle driven by Carmack struck a man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas&nbsp;in the parking garage at the University of Kansas Cancer Center,&nbsp;2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.&nbsp; Ward died of his injuries.Carmack left the scene of the accident, according to police but was located and taken in for questioning, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.Carmack was later booked into the Johnson County Jail and has met the requirement of a $7,500 bond. She is due in court April 10, according to online jail records.Despite the tragedy, KU Cancer Center officials said care continued inside the facility.&nbsp; The hospital released a statement on the tragedy."Employees and health system leaders are feeling what many in our community are experiencing… shock and extreme sadness in this moment. We are dedicated to helping and healing patients, and so the news that this accident involved an employee is especially tragic to us on many levels.""We are also extremely proud of how employees stayed focused on providing care to the many patients with clinic visits and cancer care appointments immediately after the accident and throughout the day. That patient care continues at the Cancer Center uninterrupted. We are providing counselors to anyone and everyone at the cancer center that feels a need. Our thoughts are with the families of all involved in this tragic accident."