KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred Thursday morning in the parking garage of the University of Kansas Cancer Center., 2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.

Just before 8a.m., a vehicle struck the man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas, according to Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ward died of his injuries.

The driver left the scene of the accident but was later located and taken in for questioning.

As law enforcement investigated at the scene, patient parking was temporarily re-routed, and employees were asked to park in nearby surface lots.

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."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711707455954.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred Thursday morning in the parking garage of the University of Kansas Cancer Center., 2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.Just before 8a.m., a vehicle struck the man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas, according to Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ward died of his injuries. The driver left the scene of the accident but was later located and taken in for questioning.As law enforcement investigated at the scene, patient parking was temporarily re-routed, and employees were asked to park in nearby surface lots.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."

Sheriff IDs man killed in hit-and-run in parking garage at KU Cancer Center

JERUSALEM(AP)—For a second straight day this week U.S. warships faced a terrorist threat in the Red Sea.

Between 6:00 and 10:56 p.m. Thursday the United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen

These UAS were aimed at a Coalition vessel and a U.S. warship and were engaged in self defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The Central Command did not identify which U.S. warship was involved.


It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.

Meanwhile, the top U.S. general says the Biden administration has not given Israel all of the weapons it has requested as the war against Hamas in Gaza grinds on.

Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday that he makes recommendations, but not the final decision, on what military aid will be provided.

U.S. officials have been under pressure to use the ongoing delivery of weapons as leverage to get Israel to increase humanitarian support in Gaza and to provide greater protection for civilians, particularly as Israel looks to go after Hamas battalions and leadership in the southern city of Rafah.

Asked if the U.S. has held back some weapons to press Israel to expand humanitarian aid, Brown said, “some of that is because they’ve asked for stuff that we either don’t have the capacity, right, or not willing to provide right now in particular. But it is a constant dialogue with them.”

Speaking at a forum sponsored by George Washington University’s Project for Media and National Security, Brown said the U.S. does make such decisions based on how it could impact America’s military readiness, especially when it involved sending weapons from Pentagon stockpiles.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, declined to provide details on which systems the U.S. has so far opted not to send.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703418619283.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM(AP)—For a second straight day this week U.S. warships faced a terrorist threat in the Red Sea.Between 6:00 and 10:56 p.m. Thursday the United States Central Command successfully engaged and destroyed four unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian backed Houthi terrorists in YemenThese UAS were aimed at a Coalition vessel and a U.S. warship and were engaged in self defense over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships. The Central Command did not identify which U.S. warship was involved.
It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.Meanwhile, the top U.S. general says the Biden administration has not given Israel all of the weapons it has requested as the war against Hamas in Gaza grinds on.Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday that he makes recommendations, but not the final decision, on what military aid will be provided.U.S. officials have been under pressure to use the ongoing delivery of weapons as leverage to get Israel to increase humanitarian support in Gaza and to provide greater protection for civilians, particularly as Israel looks to go after Hamas battalions and leadership in the southern city of Rafah.Asked if the U.S. has held back some weapons to press Israel to expand humanitarian aid, Brown said, “some of that is because they’ve asked for stuff that we either don’t have the capacity, right, or not willing to provide right now in particular. But it is a constant dialogue with them.”Speaking at a forum sponsored by George Washington University’s Project for Media and National Security, Brown said the U.S. does make such decisions based on how it could impact America’s military readiness, especially when it involved sending weapons from Pentagon stockpiles.Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, declined to provide details on which systems the U.S. has so far opted not to send.

Terrorists target U.S. warship for 2nd straight day in the Red Sea

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Charles Homer Roberson, 58, died Monday. He was found unresponsive in his cell, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Staff and EMS administered life-saving measures but were unable to revive him. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Roberson was serving a life sentence for convictions of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, and forgery in Wyandotte County.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711657089188.png" alt="Roberson-photo Kansas Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Roberson-photo Kansas Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Charles Homer Roberson, 58, died Monday. He was found unresponsive in his cell, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Corrections.Staff and EMS administered life-saving measures but were unable to revive him. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Roberson was serving a life sentence for convictions of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, and forgery in Wyandotte County.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Inmate serving time for murder dies in Kansas prison

WASHINGTON – In a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury, a citizen of the Republic of Latvia is charged with crimes related to a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, in violation of U.S. export laws. The defendant is the third to be arrested and charged in connection with the conspiracy led by a Kansas company and two U.S. nationals, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to the superseding indictment, Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 55, conspired with U.S. citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 60, Lawrence and Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, Olathe, Kansas, to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment of U.S. avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB). 

Chistyakov was arrested on March 19 near Riga, Latvia, and remains detained pending extradition proceedings. In December 2023, Buyanovsky&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/owner-kansas-company-pleads-guilty-crimes-related-scheme-illegally-export-us-avionics" target="_blank">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.

“As alleged, Mr. Chistyakov facilitated hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit transactions to funnel sophisticated U.S. aerospace technology to companies in Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This arrest is another example of the Justice Department’s unwavering mission to hold accountable those who enable Russian aggression, including those involved in facilitation networks that fuel the Russian war effort.”

“The Justice Department upholds the laws of the United States and prosecutes those who break them regardless of whether those individuals are on U.S. soil or the other side of the world,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “Oleg Chistyakov’s arrest was only possible due to the assistance and cooperation of authorities in Latvia. This type of international cooperative effort makes it immensely challenging for those accused of committing crimes against the U.S. to find safe havens beyond reach of our judicial system.”

“The FBI and our partners continue to pursue anyone who aids Russia in its unjust and autocratic behavior or to violate export control laws or any other law for that matter,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Today’s indictment and forfeiture judgment should serve as a reminder that we will not tolerate attempts to transfer sensitive avionics equipment and technology to hostile nations.”

“It doesn't matter if you’re in Kansas or in Latvia — if you violate American law, you risk facing American justice,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew S. Axelrod for Export Enforcement. “We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to pursue those who seek to send military-grade aerospace equipment to support the Russian military.”&nbsp;

According to court documents, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and despite additional U.S. economic countermeasures levied against Russia, Chistyakov and his conspirators continued to smuggle and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to companies in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.&nbsp;

As further alleged, Chistyakov, while operating from Latvia, worked with Buyanovsky and Robertson through their U.S. company, KanRus Trading Company Inc. (KanRus), to circumvent U.S export laws by purchasing avionics equipment from U.S. companies for customers in Russia. Chistyakov allegedly acted as a broker for KanRus by soliciting quotes, negotiating prices and terms of delivery, and facilitating payments between KanRus and customers in Russia.&nbsp;

The superseding indictment details actions allegedly taken by Chistyakov and his conspirators to conceal their illegal activities including by creating false invoices, transshipping items through third-party countries, such as Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using bank accounts in third-party countries, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE, and exporting items to intermediary companies which then reexported the items to the ultimate end destinations.&nbsp;

On Dec. 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/about-bis/newsroom/press-releases/3390-press-release-12-5-entity-list-package-hans-de-geetere/file" target="_blank">added many of the entities and individuals involved in Chistyakov’s alleged illegal export scheme to the Commerce Department’s Entity List</a>&nbsp;as part of the U.S. government’s interagency efforts to dismantle Russian procurement networks designed to circumvent U.S. export controls and sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Entity List imposes specific license requirements on all listed individuals and entities.

Chistyakov is charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of violation of Export Control Reform Act, multiple counts of smuggling goods from the United States, conspiracy to commit international money laundering and two counts of international money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years 8inh prison for conspiracy, 20 years in prison for each Export Control count, 10 years in prison for each smuggling count and 20 years in prison for each money laundering count.

The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case, including participation in Latvia following Chistyakov’s arrest. Procedural actions were carried out in close cooperation with the State Security Service of the Republic of Latvia and assistance of the Prosecutor-General’s Office.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing valuable assistance.&nbsp;

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

WASHINGTON – In a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury, a citizen of the Republic of Latvia is charged with crimes related to a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, in violation of U.S. export laws. The defendant is the third to be arrested and charged in connection with the conspiracy led by a Kansas company and two U.S. nationals, according to the United State's Attorney.According to the superseding indictment, Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 55, conspired with U.S. citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 60, Lawrence and Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, Olathe, Kansas, to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment of U.S. avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB). Chistyakov was arrested on March 19 near Riga, Latvia, and remains detained pending extradition proceedings. In December 2023, Buyanovsky&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/owner-kansas-company-pleads-guilty-crimes-related-scheme-illegally-export-us-avionics" target="_blank">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.“As alleged, Mr. Chistyakov facilitated hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit transactions to funnel sophisticated U.S. aerospace technology to companies in Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This arrest is another example of the Justice Department’s unwavering mission to hold accountable those who enable Russian aggression, including those involved in facilitation networks that fuel the Russian war effort.”“The Justice Department upholds the laws of the United States and prosecutes those who break them regardless of whether those individuals are on U.S. soil or the other side of the world,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “Oleg Chistyakov’s arrest was only possible due to the assistance and cooperation of authorities in Latvia. This type of international cooperative effort makes it immensely challenging for those accused of committing crimes against the U.S. to find safe havens beyond reach of our judicial system.”“The FBI and our partners continue to pursue anyone who aids Russia in its unjust and autocratic behavior or to violate export control laws or any other law for that matter,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Today’s indictment and forfeiture judgment should serve as a reminder that we will not tolerate attempts to transfer sensitive avionics equipment and technology to hostile nations.”“It doesn't matter if you’re in Kansas or in Latvia — if you violate American law, you risk facing American justice,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew S. Axelrod for Export Enforcement. “We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to pursue those who seek to send military-grade aerospace equipment to support the Russian military.”&nbsp;According to court documents, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and despite additional U.S. economic countermeasures levied against Russia, Chistyakov and his conspirators continued to smuggle and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to companies in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.&nbsp;As further alleged, Chistyakov, while operating from Latvia, worked with Buyanovsky and Robertson through their U.S. company, KanRus Trading Company Inc. (KanRus), to circumvent U.S export laws by purchasing avionics equipment from U.S. companies for customers in Russia. Chistyakov allegedly acted as a broker for KanRus by soliciting quotes, negotiating prices and terms of delivery, and facilitating payments between KanRus and customers in Russia.&nbsp;The superseding indictment details actions allegedly taken by Chistyakov and his conspirators to conceal their illegal activities including by creating false invoices, transshipping items through third-party countries, such as Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using bank accounts in third-party countries, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE, and exporting items to intermediary companies which then reexported the items to the ultimate end destinations.&nbsp;On Dec. 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/about-bis/newsroom/press-releases/3390-press-release-12-5-entity-list-package-hans-de-geetere/file" target="_blank">added many of the entities and individuals involved in Chistyakov’s alleged illegal export scheme to the Commerce Department’s Entity List</a>&nbsp;as part of the U.S. government’s interagency efforts to dismantle Russian procurement networks designed to circumvent U.S. export controls and sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Entity List imposes specific license requirements on all listed individuals and entities.Chistyakov is charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of violation of Export Control Reform Act, multiple counts of smuggling goods from the United States, conspiracy to commit international money laundering and two counts of international money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years 8inh prison for conspiracy, 20 years in prison for each Export Control count, 10 years in prison for each smuggling count and 20 years in prison for each money laundering count.The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case, including participation in Latvia following Chistyakov’s arrest. Procedural actions were carried out in close cooperation with the State Security Service of the Republic of Latvia and assistance of the Prosecutor-General’s Office.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing valuable assistance.&nbsp;The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

Another arrest in Kan. man's illegal attempt to sell equipment to Russia

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

Skeptics range from pro-cannabis activists wary of bill details to just-say-no pot foes

TOPEKA — Pro-marijuana activists and law enforcement officials opposed for different reasons Thursday legislation introduced in the Kansas Senate to authorize a five-year pilot program for production, processing and distribution of cannabis for medical purposes through pharmacies.

Hemp industry participants, physicians and a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer urged the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee to bring Kansas into the conversation about potential of a heavily regulated system of providing consumers with medical marijuana. The Kansas House passed a broader, highly regulated medical marijuana bill in 2021, but the Kansas Senate didn’t vote on that measure and movement of the issue came to a standstill.

Twenty-four U.S. states have legalized marijuana for recreational consumption and at least 16 other states have authorized medical marijuana programs.

Cheryl Kumberg, president of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, said the pilot program rolled into Senate Bill 555 would fall short of meeting patient needs and create a bottleneck by limiting the program to only four cannabis providers who would grow, manufacture and sell the product.

“Limiting licensed cannabis producers to four creates a monopoly leaving out established producers across the state who have been involved in the cannabis industry for years,” Kumberg said. “This is neither fair nor equitable.”

She said the bill’s proposed minimum age of 21 for consumption of medical cannabis would exclude adult patients and the mandate that pre-purchases of medical cannabis be conducted via the internet disregarded the reality that not all Kansans had computer or banking access.

Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said he opposed the legislation because the pilot concept was a wolf in sheep clothing and, if approved, would lead to legalization of recreational marijuana in Kansas. Colorado and Missouri allow marijuana sales for recreational purposes, but Mattivi said there was no legitimate need for Kansas to trail those states with with medicinal sale of THC products.

“There are two true purposes for this bill: incrementalism and profit,” the KBI director said. “Incrementalism means that this bill is one step toward the cannabis industry’s goal to normalize marijuana use at any level. The next step, of course, would be to widen the ‘medical marijuana’ approvals. The second purpose of SB 555 is clearly profit. This is evidenced by the fact that the bill aims to open the Kansas cannabis market to an extremely limited pool of already existing hemp producers.”

Mattivi said real-life experience in other states demonstrated organized crime would squeeze Kansas producers and result in higher incidence of crime in the state. He objected to the “nearly non-existent” regulatory and law enforcement oversight provisions in the bill and suggested Mexican cartels and Chinese criminal syndicates would take advantage of statutory gaps.

After about 90 minutes of testimony, Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, offered a motion to table the bill until opening of the 2025 legislative session in January. Her motion was approved on a voice vote.

“It has become abundantly clear to me that this is not the conservative, restrictive, controlled pilot program its been characterized as,” Erickson said.

Samuel Jones, a Wichita resident and chief operating officer of hemp marketer Kansas Natural Remedies, said the Senate bill was the culmination of dialogue and feedback with conservative legislators, medical professionals, university professors and law enforcement personnel. He said the objective was to provide patients freedom to choose medical cannabis instead of prescription narcotics to treat illnesses.

“It addresses all the concerns that have been raised with prior medical cannabis bills and will avoid the negative consequences from ‘medical’ cannabis programs in other states such as Oklahoma,” he said. “This is not an opening for a recreational cannabis program. Our polling shows that there is little desire by Kansans to pass a recreational cannabis program in Kansas.”

Under SB 555, he said, smoking, vaping and edibles related to medical cannabis would be prohibited, but it could be sold as cannabis flowers, pills, tablets, patches or ointments. The THC level of the medicinal product would be capped at 35%. Advertising prohibitions were included in the bill, which generated constitutional questions during the committee hearing.

Patients would have to be 21 or older. Jones said the bill would require a patient’s primary care physician or a doctor appointed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a certificate allowing a patient to secure medical cannabis, a provision designed to deal with doctor shopping common in other states.

The maximum of four producers authorized in Kansas could operate up to seven distribution hubs, which would distribute medical cannabis to patients and caregivers. The bill would set an 8% sales tax on gross receipts on sales by the operators. Twenty percent of the state’s revenue would be earmarked for a medical cannabis research and education fund.

Jones said the bill established “bright-line” 4th Amendment authority regarding search and seizure for cannabis possession that would allow officers to quickly determine during a traffic stop whether possession of the medical marijuana product was legally obtained in Kansas.

In addition, Jones said, the pilot program would enable medical cannabis to be provided to patients through as many as 950 pharmacies scattered across Kansas. He said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended marijuana be moved from a Schedule I drug, such as cocaine, to a Schedule III drug, which would be a first step toward federal decriminalization and legalization. Opponents of the Senate bill said it was unlikely pharmacies would be cleared to dispense in Kansas.

“If cannabis is decriminalized or legalized at the federal level,” Jones said, “then out-of-state cannabis businesses will be able to sell cannabis indiscriminately in Kansas because we will not have passed a legal framework.”

Michael Snyder, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, said he testified in support of the bill on behalf of 155,000 veterans in Kansas. He said he was weary of watching military friends with physical and emotional issues suffer while reluctant politicians refused to close an alarming hole in medical care.

“These aren’t stoners or druggies. These are real people who are in pain,” he said. “Please overcome the slippery-slope fallacies on this issue and let’s pass this bill. To not vote in favor of this bill is a vote for continued over-reliance on opioids and all the addiction and needless pain and death it brings.”

Gary Upah, president of Kansas Hemp Growers, said his company grew and manufactured legal CBD products. He was one of the original hemp licensees who entered the market after the state opened a program for the plant product in 2019. He objected to structure of the medical pilot, which could disadvantage hemp growers.

“This bill does not meet the needs of Kansans, nor is it a fair bill to those who have worked diligently to build the current hemp program in Kansas,” he said. “SB 555 must be stopped entirely or delayed in order to review the other (medical marijuana) bills.”

Sarah Stephens, the hemp chair of the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, said the Senate committee should discard SB 555 and move on to development of a safe and fairly regulated medical cannabis framework for Kansas.

“SB 555 will immediately result in lawsuits against the state of Kansas an any regulatory authorities attached to it,” Stephens said. “Why would anyone suggest that an ultra-conservative pilot program is necessary when established regulatory frameworks exist all across the country?”

Lenexa resident Juanita Ramos, who has testified in the Legislature in the past on behalf of medical marijuana bills, said the measure presented to the Senate committee unacceptably served interests of Kansas Natural Remedies, the companied tied to Jones.

“This group of wealthy, white powerbrokers no way represents patients or the average Kansan,” Ramos said. “The exorbitant cost of $50,000 license fees serves as a substantial barrier to entry, effectively excluding many of your constituents, including small businesses, mom-and-pop enterprises who may aspire to participate in the medical cannabis industry.”

Emergency medicine physician and U.S. Navy veteran Bryon McNeil, of Wichita, said the reality of drug abuse should be taken into account as the Legislature considered a medical marijuana program. He said consequences of addiction and abuse of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and alcohol were routinely on display in hospital emergency rooms. He rarely saw patients in the ER with cannabis issues.

“The fear surrounding cannabis is simply not rooted in reality,” he said. “Give Kansans the medical freedom to choose cannabis over prescription drugs.”

After conclusion of the Senate committee hearing, Senate President Ty Masterson issued a statement that said he had concluded the issue of medical marijuana had matured to the point it warranted serious discussion in the Legislature. Consideration by the federal government of proposals to reschedule cannabis in terms of the substance’s health risk added impetus to that idea, he said.

The Wichita Republican said the hearing demonstrated there were concerns about SB 555 that deviated from a framework that combined meaningful regulation with safe deliver of medical benefits to Kansans.

“Discussions will no doubt continue in future sessions, especially if and when the federal government acts,” Masterson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711656095998.png" alt=" Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said legislation legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas would eventually lead to adopting of recreational use law and invite criminals from Mexico and China to increase violent crime in the state. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said legislation legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas would eventually lead to adopting of recreational use law and invite criminals from Mexico and China to increase violent crime in the state. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Skeptics range from pro-cannabis activists wary of bill details to just-say-no pot foes</h2>TOPEKA — Pro-marijuana activists and law enforcement officials opposed for different reasons Thursday legislation introduced in the Kansas Senate to authorize a five-year pilot program for production, processing and distribution of cannabis for medical purposes through pharmacies.Hemp industry participants, physicians and a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer urged the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee to bring Kansas into the conversation about potential of a heavily regulated system of providing consumers with medical marijuana. The Kansas House passed a broader, highly regulated medical marijuana bill in 2021, but the Kansas Senate didn’t vote on that measure and movement of the issue came to a standstill.Twenty-four U.S. states have legalized marijuana for recreational consumption and at least 16 other states have authorized medical marijuana programs.Cheryl Kumberg, president of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, said the pilot program rolled into Senate Bill 555 would fall short of meeting patient needs and create a bottleneck by limiting the program to only four cannabis providers who would grow, manufacture and sell the product.“Limiting licensed cannabis producers to four creates a monopoly leaving out established producers across the state who have been involved in the cannabis industry for years,” Kumberg said. “This is neither fair nor equitable.”She said the bill’s proposed minimum age of 21 for consumption of medical cannabis would exclude adult patients and the mandate that pre-purchases of medical cannabis be conducted via the internet disregarded the reality that not all Kansans had computer or banking access.Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said he opposed the legislation because the pilot concept was a wolf in sheep clothing and, if approved, would lead to legalization of recreational marijuana in Kansas. Colorado and Missouri allow marijuana sales for recreational purposes, but Mattivi said there was no legitimate need for Kansas to trail those states with with medicinal sale of THC products.“There are two true purposes for this bill: incrementalism and profit,” the KBI director said. “Incrementalism means that this bill is one step toward the cannabis industry’s goal to normalize marijuana use at any level. The next step, of course, would be to widen the ‘medical marijuana’ approvals. The second purpose of SB 555 is clearly profit. This is evidenced by the fact that the bill aims to open the Kansas cannabis market to an extremely limited pool of already existing hemp producers.”Mattivi said real-life experience in other states demonstrated organized crime would squeeze Kansas producers and result in higher incidence of crime in the state. He objected to the “nearly non-existent” regulatory and law enforcement oversight provisions in the bill and suggested Mexican cartels and Chinese criminal syndicates would take advantage of statutory gaps.After about 90 minutes of testimony, Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, offered a motion to table the bill until opening of the 2025 legislative session in January. Her motion was approved on a voice vote.“It has become abundantly clear to me that this is not the conservative, restrictive, controlled pilot program its been characterized as,” Erickson said.<h2>A Kansas model</h2>Samuel Jones, a Wichita resident and chief operating officer of hemp marketer Kansas Natural Remedies, said the Senate bill was the culmination of dialogue and feedback with conservative legislators, medical professionals, university professors and law enforcement personnel. He said the objective was to provide patients freedom to choose medical cannabis instead of prescription narcotics to treat illnesses.“It addresses all the concerns that have been raised with prior medical cannabis bills and will avoid the negative consequences from ‘medical’ cannabis programs in other states such as Oklahoma,” he said. “This is not an opening for a recreational cannabis program. Our polling shows that there is little desire by Kansans to pass a recreational cannabis program in Kansas.”Under SB 555, he said, smoking, vaping and edibles related to medical cannabis would be prohibited, but it could be sold as cannabis flowers, pills, tablets, patches or ointments. The THC level of the medicinal product would be capped at 35%. Advertising prohibitions were included in the bill, which generated constitutional questions during the committee hearing.Patients would have to be 21 or older. Jones said the bill would require a patient’s primary care physician or a doctor appointed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a certificate allowing a patient to secure medical cannabis, a provision designed to deal with doctor shopping common in other states.The maximum of four producers authorized in Kansas could operate up to seven distribution hubs, which would distribute medical cannabis to patients and caregivers. The bill would set an 8% sales tax on gross receipts on sales by the operators. Twenty percent of the state’s revenue would be earmarked for a medical cannabis research and education fund.Jones said the bill established “bright-line” 4th Amendment authority regarding search and seizure for cannabis possession that would allow officers to quickly determine during a traffic stop whether possession of the medical marijuana product was legally obtained in Kansas.In addition, Jones said, the pilot program would enable medical cannabis to be provided to patients through as many as 950 pharmacies scattered across Kansas. He said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended marijuana be moved from a Schedule I drug, such as cocaine, to a Schedule III drug, which would be a first step toward federal decriminalization and legalization. Opponents of the Senate bill said it was unlikely pharmacies would be cleared to dispense in Kansas.“If cannabis is decriminalized or legalized at the federal level,” Jones said, “then out-of-state cannabis businesses will be able to sell cannabis indiscriminately in Kansas because we will not have passed a legal framework.”Michael Snyder, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, said he testified in support of the bill on behalf of 155,000 veterans in Kansas. He said he was weary of watching military friends with physical and emotional issues suffer while reluctant politicians refused to close an alarming hole in medical care.“These aren’t stoners or druggies. These are real people who are in pain,” he said. “Please overcome the slippery-slope fallacies on this issue and let’s pass this bill. To not vote in favor of this bill is a vote for continued over-reliance on opioids and all the addiction and needless pain and death it brings.”<h2>Other perspectives</h2>Gary Upah, president of Kansas Hemp Growers, said his company grew and manufactured legal CBD products. He was one of the original hemp licensees who entered the market after the state opened a program for the plant product in 2019. He objected to structure of the medical pilot, which could disadvantage hemp growers.“This bill does not meet the needs of Kansans, nor is it a fair bill to those who have worked diligently to build the current hemp program in Kansas,” he said. “SB 555 must be stopped entirely or delayed in order to review the other (medical marijuana) bills.”Sarah Stephens, the hemp chair of the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, said the Senate committee should discard SB 555 and move on to development of a safe and fairly regulated medical cannabis framework for Kansas.“SB 555 will immediately result in lawsuits against the state of Kansas an any regulatory authorities attached to it,” Stephens said. “Why would anyone suggest that an ultra-conservative pilot program is necessary when established regulatory frameworks exist all across the country?”Lenexa resident Juanita Ramos, who has testified in the Legislature in the past on behalf of medical marijuana bills, said the measure presented to the Senate committee unacceptably served interests of Kansas Natural Remedies, the companied tied to Jones.“This group of wealthy, white powerbrokers no way represents patients or the average Kansan,” Ramos said. “The exorbitant cost of $50,000 license fees serves as a substantial barrier to entry, effectively excluding many of your constituents, including small businesses, mom-and-pop enterprises who may aspire to participate in the medical cannabis industry.”Emergency medicine physician and U.S. Navy veteran Bryon McNeil, of Wichita, said the reality of drug abuse should be taken into account as the Legislature considered a medical marijuana program. He said consequences of addiction and abuse of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and alcohol were routinely on display in hospital emergency rooms. He rarely saw patients in the ER with cannabis issues.“The fear surrounding cannabis is simply not rooted in reality,” he said. “Give Kansans the medical freedom to choose cannabis over prescription drugs.”After conclusion of the Senate committee hearing, Senate President Ty Masterson issued a statement that said he had concluded the issue of medical marijuana had matured to the point it warranted serious discussion in the Legislature. Consideration by the federal government of proposals to reschedule cannabis in terms of the substance’s health risk added impetus to that idea, he said.The Wichita Republican said the hearing demonstrated there were concerns about SB 555 that deviated from a framework that combined meaningful regulation with safe deliver of medical benefits to Kansans.“Discussions will no doubt continue in future sessions, especially if and when the federal government acts,” Masterson said.

Kan. Senate committee tables medical marijuana bill 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Republican-led states is suing the Biden administration to block a new student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, 11 states led by Kansas argue that Biden overstepped his authority in creating the SAVE Plan, which was made available to borrowers last year and has already canceled loans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-2024-california-cc23ba93a733b583f3ee8963cdd02566">more than 150,000</a>.

It argues that the new plan is no different from Biden's first attempt at student loan cancellation, which the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa'">rejected last year</a>. “Last time Defendants tried this the Supreme Court said that this action was illegal. Nothing since then has changed,” according to the lawsuit.

Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">announced the SAVE repayment plan</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alongside a separate plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million Americans. The Supreme Court blocked the cancellation plan after Republican states sued, but the court didn’t examine SAVE, which was still being hashed out.

The new lawsuit was filed a day after the White House hosted a “day of action” to promote the SAVE Plan. The Biden administration says more than 7.7 million borrowers have enrolled in the plan, including more than 5 million who have had their monthly payments reduced to $100 or less because they have lower yearly incomes.

The challenge was filed in federal court in Topeka, Kansas, by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. It asks a judge to halt the plan immediately. Along with Kansas, the suit is backed by Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

“In a completely brazen fashion, the president pressed ahead anyway,” Kobach said during a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse. “The law simply does not allow President Biden to do what he wants to do.”

Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">new repayment plan</a>&nbsp;is a modified version of other income-based repayment plans that the Education Department has offered since the ’90s. The earliest versions were created by Congress to help struggling borrowers, capping payments at a portion of their income and canceling any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years.

The new plan offers more generous terms than ever, offering to reduce monthly payments for more borrowers and canceling loans in as little as 10 years. Unlike other plans, it prevents interest from snowballing as long as borrowers make their monthly payments.

The plan’s provisions are being phased in this year, and the quicker path to cancellation was originally scheduled to take effect later this summer. But the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-biden-2630ec3d7cb06510c9d7248a86afb8ce">accelerated that benefit</a>&nbsp;and started canceling loans for some borrowers in February.

Biden said it was meant “to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt.”

Instead of creating a new plan from scratch, the Education Department amended existing plans through federal regulation. Supporters saw it as a legal maneuver that put the plan on firmer grounding, anticipating a challenge from Republicans.

But in the new lawsuit, Kobach argues that Biden needed to go through Congress to make such significant changes.

The states argue that Biden's plan will harm them in many ways.

With such a generous repayment plan, fewer borrowers will have an incentive to go into public service and pursue the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the states argue. They predict more state employees will leave their jobs, and it will worsen public schools' struggles to recruit and retain teachers.

They argue the plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars in loan relief into the U.S. economy, which would require states to increase fraud protection efforts. The plan “will create enormous opportunities for fraudsters to exploit student debt borrowers that would not otherwise exist,” according to the suit.

If successful, it would effectively kill the last remnant of Biden’s first attempt at widespread student loan relief. After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;blocked his wider plan last year, Biden ordered the Education Department to craft a new plan using a different legal justification. The agency is now pursuing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-college-069753ae42ab90974eb03173b8b5910a">more limited plan</a>&nbsp;for mass cancellation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Republican-led states is suing the Biden administration to block a new student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The fact of the matter is this: it is not amongst the President&#39;s abilities to bypass Congress and earmark 100s of billions of dollars for what they see fit. This is called the &quot;Major Questions Doctrine,&quot; and it is crucial to maintaining the separation of powers in our system. <a href="https://t.co/YAcTuUstTr">pic.twitter.com/YAcTuUstTr</a>&mdash; Kansas AG&#39;s Office (@KSAGOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSAGOffice/status/1773421094386487296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday, 11 states led by Kansas argue that Biden overstepped his authority in creating the SAVE Plan, which was made available to borrowers last year and has already canceled loans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-forgiveness-2024-california-cc23ba93a733b583f3ee8963cdd02566">more than 150,000</a>.It argues that the new plan is no different from Biden's first attempt at student loan cancellation, which the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa'">rejected last year</a>. “Last time Defendants tried this the Supreme Court said that this action was illegal. Nothing since then has changed,” according to the lawsuit.Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">announced the SAVE repayment plan</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alongside a separate plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for more than 40 million Americans. The Supreme Court blocked the cancellation plan after Republican states sued, but the court didn’t examine SAVE, which was still being hashed out.The new lawsuit was filed a day after the White House hosted a “day of action” to promote the SAVE Plan. The Biden administration says more than 7.7 million borrowers have enrolled in the plan, including more than 5 million who have had their monthly payments reduced to $100 or less because they have lower yearly incomes.The challenge was filed in federal court in Topeka, Kansas, by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. It asks a judge to halt the plan immediately. Along with Kansas, the suit is backed by Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.“In a completely brazen fashion, the president pressed ahead anyway,” Kobach said during a news conference at the Kansas Statehouse. “The law simply does not allow President Biden to do what he wants to do.”Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">new repayment plan</a>&nbsp;is a modified version of other income-based repayment plans that the Education Department has offered since the ’90s. The earliest versions were created by Congress to help struggling borrowers, capping payments at a portion of their income and canceling any remaining debt after 20 or 25 years.The new plan offers more generous terms than ever, offering to reduce monthly payments for more borrowers and canceling loans in as little as 10 years. Unlike other plans, it prevents interest from snowballing as long as borrowers make their monthly payments.The plan’s provisions are being phased in this year, and the quicker path to cancellation was originally scheduled to take effect later this summer. But the Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-biden-2630ec3d7cb06510c9d7248a86afb8ce">accelerated that benefit</a>&nbsp;and started canceling loans for some borrowers in February.Biden said it was meant “to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt.”Instead of creating a new plan from scratch, the Education Department amended existing plans through federal regulation. Supporters saw it as a legal maneuver that put the plan on firmer grounding, anticipating a challenge from Republicans.But in the new lawsuit, Kobach argues that Biden needed to go through Congress to make such significant changes.The states argue that Biden's plan will harm them in many ways.With such a generous repayment plan, fewer borrowers will have an incentive to go into public service and pursue the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the states argue. They predict more state employees will leave their jobs, and it will worsen public schools' struggles to recruit and retain teachers.They argue the plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars in loan relief into the U.S. economy, which would require states to increase fraud protection efforts. The plan “will create enormous opportunities for fraudsters to exploit student debt borrowers that would not otherwise exist,” according to the suit.If successful, it would effectively kill the last remnant of Biden’s first attempt at widespread student loan relief. After the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;blocked his wider plan last year, Biden ordered the Education Department to craft a new plan using a different legal justification. The agency is now pursuing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-college-069753ae42ab90974eb03173b8b5910a">more limited plan</a>&nbsp;for mass cancellation.

🎥Kan. sues Biden administration over student loan forgiveness

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that could ban the platform in the U.S. if it doesn’t break ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.

In its investigation, the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying that individuals in China had access to U.S. user data, said the person, who is not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The agency also is scrutinizing the company over potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13.

FTC spokesperson Nicole Drayton and TikTok declined to comment on the investigation, which was first reported by Politico.

The agency is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks. But there’s not a deadline for an agreement, the person said.

If the FTC moves forward with a lawsuit instead, it would have to refer the case to the Justice Department, which would have 45 days to decide whether it wants to file a case on the FTC’s behalf, make changes or send it back to the agency to pursue on its own.

The news comes nearly two years after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the committee, urged FTC chair Lina Khan to investigate TikTok, citing a report from Buzzfeed News that said ByteDance employees in China have repeatedly accessed data on U.S. TikTok users.

In late 2022, ByteDance said it fired four employees who accessed data on journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while attempting to track down leaks of confidential materials about the company.

Legislation that could determine TikTok’s fate in the U.S. was approved in the House this month. But the bill has already run into roadblocks in the Senate, where there is little unanimity on how to best approach concerns over the social platform.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that could ban the platform in the U.S. if it doesn’t break ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.In its investigation, the FTC has been looking into whether TikTok violated a portion of federal law that prohibits “unfair and deceptive” business practices by denying that individuals in China had access to U.S. user data, said the person, who is not authorized to discuss the investigation.The agency also is scrutinizing the company over potential violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13.FTC spokesperson Nicole Drayton and TikTok declined to comment on the investigation, which was first reported by Politico.The agency is nearing the conclusion of its investigation and could settle with TikTok in the coming weeks. But there’s not a deadline for an agreement, the person said.If the FTC moves forward with a lawsuit instead, it would have to refer the case to the Justice Department, which would have 45 days to decide whether it wants to file a case on the FTC’s behalf, make changes or send it back to the agency to pursue on its own.The news comes nearly two years after Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the committee, urged FTC chair Lina Khan to investigate TikTok, citing a report from Buzzfeed News that said ByteDance employees in China have repeatedly accessed data on U.S. TikTok users.In late 2022, ByteDance said it fired four employees who accessed data on journalists from Buzzfeed News and The Financial Times while attempting to track down leaks of confidential materials about the company.Legislation that could determine TikTok’s fate in the U.S. was approved in the House this month. But the bill has already run into roadblocks in the Senate, where there is little unanimity on how to best approach concerns over the social platform.

US Federal Trade Commission investigating TikTok

TOPEKA — Members of the Kansas House declared in a loud, clear voice Wednesday support for a resolution calling on Congress to force federal transportation safety officials to require installation in all new motor vehicles a device capable of capturing AM broadcast stations.

The House voted 109-14 for House Concurrent Resolution 5026, which called upon the Kansas congressional delegation and leaders of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to use their political leverage to intervene in the manufacturing of cars and trucks for the domestic market.

The nonbinding resolution emphasized the importance of AM radio and support of a congressional effort to pass a law requiring the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule declaring AM radios standard in new vehicles.

Rep. Bill Rhiley, R-Wellington, said the resolution was unlikely to sway Congress, but it was important to register a rural opinion on the subject.

“Over 80 million people in the U.S. listen to AM radio each month. There are more than 6,000 AM radio stations,” he said. “The radio frequency of AM radio travels hundreds of miles, making it a strong media for stations to get information out to less-populated areas. FM radio frequencies are clearer, but their range is only in line-of-sight miles.”

St. John Republican Rep. Brett Fairchild said he voted against the resolution despite an appreciation for politically conservative talk shows common on the AM dial. He said it would be wrong for federal lawmakers to dictate to manufacturers what sort of audio system was installed new vehicles.

“I believe this violates free market principles and limited-government principles. I don’t like that,” he said.

Democratic Rep. Linda Featherston of Overland Park said she relied on AM radio to follow the Kansas City Royals and sports programs at Kansas State University. She greatly dislikes owning a vehicle without an AM dial, but she said that didn’t justify using the legislative process for “personal axes I wish to grind.”

In mid-March, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee conducted a hearing on the resolution. The measure was endorsed by Rep. Ken Rahjes, the Agra Republican and chairman of the committee, as well as the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.

KASB president Allison Mazzei said AM reception in vehicles was important for emergency preparedness, support of the agriculture industry and to meet general information needs of rural communities.

“Radio serves as a cornerstone of communication,” Mazzei said. “The Kansas Association of Broadcasters has diligently advocated for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, meeting with every member of our state’s federal delegation to garner support for this crucial legislation. We are pleased to report that each member has acknowledged the significance of AM radio and has committed to co‐sponsoring the bill.”

Several automakers removed or planned to remove AM radio receivers from electric vehicles due to electromagnetic interference generated from batteries, said Claudia Hissong of Kansas Farm Bureau. Ford said a year ago it would exclude AM radios from 2024 models, but reversed course in face of criticism and agreed to keep AM units in both Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

She said the proposed federal legislation would require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in vehicles without a separate payment, fee or surcharge beyond the base price of the device. Vehicle manufacturers would have to disclose to consumers when vehicles lacked the ability to access AM broadcast radio, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711648319301.png" alt=" The Kansas House voted overwhelmingly for a resolution urging Congress to compel vehicle manufacturers to install AM radios in all cars and trucks — radios that would have been installed in the dash of this 1953 Studebaker Champion. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas House voted overwhelmingly for a resolution urging Congress to compel vehicle manufacturers to install AM radios in all cars and trucks — radios that would have been installed in the dash of this 1953 Studebaker Champion. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Members of the Kansas House declared in a loud, clear voice Wednesday support for a resolution calling on Congress to force federal transportation safety officials to require installation in all new motor vehicles a device capable of capturing AM broadcast stations.The House voted 109-14 for House Concurrent Resolution 5026, which called upon the Kansas congressional delegation and leaders of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to use their political leverage to intervene in the manufacturing of cars and trucks for the domestic market.The nonbinding resolution emphasized the importance of AM radio and support of a congressional effort to pass a law requiring the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule declaring AM radios standard in new vehicles.Rep. Bill Rhiley, R-Wellington, said the resolution was unlikely to sway Congress, but it was important to register a rural opinion on the subject.“Over 80 million people in the U.S. listen to AM radio each month. There are more than 6,000 AM radio stations,” he said. “The radio frequency of AM radio travels hundreds of miles, making it a strong media for stations to get information out to less-populated areas. FM radio frequencies are clearer, but their range is only in line-of-sight miles.”St. John Republican Rep. Brett Fairchild said he voted against the resolution despite an appreciation for politically conservative talk shows common on the AM dial. He said it would be wrong for federal lawmakers to dictate to manufacturers what sort of audio system was installed new vehicles.“I believe this violates free market principles and limited-government principles. I don’t like that,” he said.Democratic Rep. Linda Featherston of Overland Park said she relied on AM radio to follow the Kansas City Royals and sports programs at Kansas State University. She greatly dislikes owning a vehicle without an AM dial, but she said that didn’t justify using the legislative process for “personal axes I wish to grind.”In mid-March, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee conducted a hearing on the resolution. The measure was endorsed by Rep. Ken Rahjes, the Agra Republican and chairman of the committee, as well as the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.KASB president Allison Mazzei said AM reception in vehicles was important for emergency preparedness, support of the agriculture industry and to meet general information needs of rural communities.“Radio serves as a cornerstone of communication,” Mazzei said. “The Kansas Association of Broadcasters has diligently advocated for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, meeting with every member of our state’s federal delegation to garner support for this crucial legislation. We are pleased to report that each member has acknowledged the significance of AM radio and has committed to co‐sponsoring the bill.”Several automakers removed or planned to remove AM radio receivers from electric vehicles due to electromagnetic interference generated from batteries, said Claudia Hissong of Kansas Farm Bureau. Ford said a year ago it would exclude AM radios from 2024 models, but reversed course in face of criticism and agreed to keep AM units in both Ford and Lincoln vehicles.She said the proposed federal legislation would require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in vehicles without a separate payment, fee or surcharge beyond the base price of the device. Vehicle manufacturers would have to disclose to consumers when vehicles lacked the ability to access AM broadcast radio, she said.

Kansas lawmakers turn up volume on resolution mandating AM radios in new vehicles

NEW YORK (AP) — Crypto entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sam-bankman-fried">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan delivered a blistering analysis of Bankman-Fried and his crimes before announcing a sentence that was half of what prosecutors sought and less than a quarter of the 105 years recommended by the court's Probation officers.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Mr. Bankman-Fried’s name right now is pretty much mud around the world,” Kaplan said of the 32-year-old man who once seemed atop the cryptocurrency world before his businesses collapsed in November 2022, leaving customers, investors and lenders short over $11 billion, which the judge ordered him to forfeit.

He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-bitcoin-baa4c94f2c4237c860475ff92e6bcf42">convicted in November</a>&nbsp;of fraud and conspiracy — a dramatic fall from a crest of success that included a Super Bowl advertisement and celebrity endorsements from stars like quarterback Tom Brady, basketball star Stephen Curry and comedian Larry David.

Kaplan imposed the sentence in the same Manhattan courtroom where, four months ago, Bankman-Fried testified that his intention had been to revolutionize the emerging cryptocurrency market with his innovative and altruistic ideas, not to steal. The judge said Bankman-Fried repeatedly committed perjury when he told lies from the witness stand.

Kaplan said the sentence reflected “that there is a risk that this man will be in position to do something very bad in the future. And it’s not a trivial risk at all.” He added that it was “for the purpose of disabling him to the extent that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time.”

Kaplan said he also would advise the Federal Bureau of Prisons to send Bankman-Fried to a medium-security prison near San Francisco because his notoriety, his association with vast wealth, his autism and social awkwardness are likely to make him especially vulnerable at a high-security facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos had recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-21b1fd99ac841d7fe90b90c96c3a9a5d">a prison sentence</a>&nbsp;of 40 to 50 years, saying it was the only way to ensure “the defendant doesn't do it again.”

“The defendant victimized tens of thousands of people and companies, across several continents, over a period of multiple years. He stole money from customers who entrusted it to him; he lied to investors; he sent fabricated documents to lenders; he pumped millions of dollars in illegal donations into our political system; and he bribed foreign officials. Each of these crimes is worthy of a lengthy sentence,” prosecutors had said in a court filing.

Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried misappropriated billions of dollars to fuel his quest for influence and dominance in the new industry, and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-court-ftx-27f8a623fdc0c9e56e56f2b23e298a1e">illegally used money</a>&nbsp;from FTX depositors to cover his expenses, which included purchasing luxury properties in the Caribbean, bribes to Chinese officials and private planes.

Kaplan agreed with prosecutors Thursday that Bankman-Fried should not get leniency just because some investors and customers might get some of their losses back. He called the argument “logically flawed” and “speculative.” He said customers lost about $8 billion, investors lost $1.7 billion and lenders were shorted by $1.3 billion.

Given a chance to speak, Bankman-Fried stood and apologized in a rambling statement, saying: “A lot of people feel really let down. And they were very let down. And I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about what happened at every stage.”

He added, “My useful life is probably over. It’s been over for a while now, from before my arrest.”

Bankman-Fried, wearing his khaki-colored prison uniform and chained at the ankles, seemed to briefly get emotional as he spoke for about 20 minutes, expressing regret about “a lot of mistakes” but casting some of the blame onto others. His trademark messy and bushy hair had returned from the trimmer look he displayed at trial.

The judge later criticized those remarks, saying he expressed “never a word of remorse for the commission of terrible crimes.”

Defense lawyer Marc Mukasey said his client was misunderstood.

“Sam was not a ruthless financial serial killer who set out every morning to hurt people,” Mukasey said. “Sam Bankman-Fried doesn’t make decisions with malice in his heart. He makes decisions with math in his head.”

Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, friends and family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-f6132dae6689b20f020ee3256dd4dc08">had urged leniency</a>, saying he was unlikely to re-offend again. They also said FTX's investors have largely recovered their funds — a claim disputed by bankruptcy lawyers, FTX and its creditors.

“Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to live a life of delusion,” wrote John Ray, the CEO of FTX who has been cleaning up the bankrupt company. “The ‘business’ he left on November 11, 2022 was neither solvent nor safe.”

Two weeks ago, Mukasey attacked a probation office recommendation of 105 years in prison, saying a sentence of that length would be “grotesque” and “barbaric.”

He urged the judge to sentence Bankman-Fried to a term of five to 6 1/2 years in prison, which Mukasey said was a fair reading of federal sentencing guidelines.

Bankman-Fried was worth billions of dollars on paper as the co-founder and CEO of FTX, which was the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world at one time.

FTX allowed investors to buy dozens of virtual currencies, from Bitcoin to more obscure ones like Shiba Inu Coin. Flush with billions of dollars of investors’ cash, Bankman-Fried took out a Super Bowl advertisement to promote his business and bought the naming rights to an arena in Miami.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-cryptocurrencies-bitcoin-regulation-congress-182d750805af658dd809f044b86f6242">the collapse of cryptocurrency prices</a>&nbsp;in 2022 took its toll on FTX, and ultimately led to its downfall. FTX’s hedge fund affiliate, known as Alameda Research, had bought billions of dollars of various crypto investments that lost considerable amounts of value in 2022. Bankman-Fried tried to plug the holes in Alameda’s balance sheet with FTX customer funds.

Three other people from Bankman-Fried’s inner circle pleaded guilty to related crimes and testified at his trial.

The biggest name among the three was Caroline Ellison, once the girlfriend of Bankman-Fried. Ellison described Bankman-Fried as a calculating individual who knew that he was likely committing crimes when he directed the use of customer funds. Two other onetime friends of Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, also testified they felt they were directed by Bankman-Fried to commit fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680015507609.png" alt="FILE - FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Federal court on July 26, 2023, in New York. The former crypto mogul faces the potential of decades in prison when he is sentenced Thursday, March 28, 2024, for his role in the 2022 collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for trading digital currency. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Federal court on July 26, 2023, in New York. The former crypto mogul faces the potential of decades in prison when he is sentenced Thursday, March 28, 2024, for his role in the 2022 collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for trading digital currency. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Crypto entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sam-bankman-fried">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan delivered a blistering analysis of Bankman-Fried and his crimes before announcing a sentence that was half of what prosecutors sought and less than a quarter of the 105 years recommended by the court's Probation officers.“There is absolutely no doubt that Mr. Bankman-Fried’s name right now is pretty much mud around the world,” Kaplan said of the 32-year-old man who once seemed atop the cryptocurrency world before his businesses collapsed in November 2022, leaving customers, investors and lenders short over $11 billion, which the judge ordered him to forfeit.He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-crypto-bitcoin-baa4c94f2c4237c860475ff92e6bcf42">convicted in November</a>&nbsp;of fraud and conspiracy — a dramatic fall from a crest of success that included a Super Bowl advertisement and celebrity endorsements from stars like quarterback Tom Brady, basketball star Stephen Curry and comedian Larry David.Kaplan imposed the sentence in the same Manhattan courtroom where, four months ago, Bankman-Fried testified that his intention had been to revolutionize the emerging cryptocurrency market with his innovative and altruistic ideas, not to steal. The judge said Bankman-Fried repeatedly committed perjury when he told lies from the witness stand.Kaplan said the sentence reflected “that there is a risk that this man will be in position to do something very bad in the future. And it’s not a trivial risk at all.” He added that it was “for the purpose of disabling him to the extent that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time.”Kaplan said he also would advise the Federal Bureau of Prisons to send Bankman-Fried to a medium-security prison near San Francisco because his notoriety, his association with vast wealth, his autism and social awkwardness are likely to make him especially vulnerable at a high-security facility.Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos had recommended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-21b1fd99ac841d7fe90b90c96c3a9a5d">a prison sentence</a>&nbsp;of 40 to 50 years, saying it was the only way to ensure “the defendant doesn't do it again.”“The defendant victimized tens of thousands of people and companies, across several continents, over a period of multiple years. He stole money from customers who entrusted it to him; he lied to investors; he sent fabricated documents to lenders; he pumped millions of dollars in illegal donations into our political system; and he bribed foreign officials. Each of these crimes is worthy of a lengthy sentence,” prosecutors had said in a court filing.Prosecutors said Bankman-Fried misappropriated billions of dollars to fuel his quest for influence and dominance in the new industry, and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-court-ftx-27f8a623fdc0c9e56e56f2b23e298a1e">illegally used money</a>&nbsp;from FTX depositors to cover his expenses, which included purchasing luxury properties in the Caribbean, bribes to Chinese officials and private planes.Kaplan agreed with prosecutors Thursday that Bankman-Fried should not get leniency just because some investors and customers might get some of their losses back. He called the argument “logically flawed” and “speculative.” He said customers lost about $8 billion, investors lost $1.7 billion and lenders were shorted by $1.3 billion.Given a chance to speak, Bankman-Fried stood and apologized in a rambling statement, saying: “A lot of people feel really let down. And they were very let down. And I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about what happened at every stage.”He added, “My useful life is probably over. It’s been over for a while now, from before my arrest.”Bankman-Fried, wearing his khaki-colored prison uniform and chained at the ankles, seemed to briefly get emotional as he spoke for about 20 minutes, expressing regret about “a lot of mistakes” but casting some of the blame onto others. His trademark messy and bushy hair had returned from the trimmer look he displayed at trial.The judge later criticized those remarks, saying he expressed “never a word of remorse for the commission of terrible crimes.”Defense lawyer Marc Mukasey said his client was misunderstood.“Sam was not a ruthless financial serial killer who set out every morning to hurt people,” Mukasey said. “Sam Bankman-Fried doesn’t make decisions with malice in his heart. He makes decisions with math in his head.”Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, friends and family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankman-fried-court-ftx-f6132dae6689b20f020ee3256dd4dc08">had urged leniency</a>, saying he was unlikely to re-offend again. They also said FTX's investors have largely recovered their funds — a claim disputed by bankruptcy lawyers, FTX and its creditors.“Mr. Bankman-Fried continues to live a life of delusion,” wrote John Ray, the CEO of FTX who has been cleaning up the bankrupt company. “The ‘business’ he left on November 11, 2022 was neither solvent nor safe.”Two weeks ago, Mukasey attacked a probation office recommendation of 105 years in prison, saying a sentence of that length would be “grotesque” and “barbaric.”He urged the judge to sentence Bankman-Fried to a term of five to 6 1/2 years in prison, which Mukasey said was a fair reading of federal sentencing guidelines.Bankman-Fried was worth billions of dollars on paper as the co-founder and CEO of FTX, which was the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world at one time.FTX allowed investors to buy dozens of virtual currencies, from Bitcoin to more obscure ones like Shiba Inu Coin. Flush with billions of dollars of investors’ cash, Bankman-Fried took out a Super Bowl advertisement to promote his business and bought the naming rights to an arena in Miami.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sam-bankmanfried-cryptocurrencies-bitcoin-regulation-congress-182d750805af658dd809f044b86f6242">the collapse of cryptocurrency prices</a>&nbsp;in 2022 took its toll on FTX, and ultimately led to its downfall. FTX’s hedge fund affiliate, known as Alameda Research, had bought billions of dollars of various crypto investments that lost considerable amounts of value in 2022. Bankman-Fried tried to plug the holes in Alameda’s balance sheet with FTX customer funds.Three other people from Bankman-Fried’s inner circle pleaded guilty to related crimes and testified at his trial.The biggest name among the three was Caroline Ellison, once the girlfriend of Bankman-Fried. Ellison described Bankman-Fried as a calculating individual who knew that he was likely committing crimes when he directed the use of customer funds. Two other onetime friends of Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, also testified they felt they were directed by Bankman-Fried to commit fraud.

Penthouse to prison: Fallen 'King of crypto' sentenced, shows no remorse

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal damage to property in Manhattan.

Just before 2p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report of criminal damage to property in the 1800 block of College Avenue, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

&nbsp;Via Christi reported a 32-year-old male patient in the Emergency Department damaged a hospital bed, chair, and window.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal damage to property in Manhattan.Just before 2p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report of criminal damage to property in the 1800 block of College Avenue, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp;Via Christi reported a 32-year-old male patient in the Emergency Department damaged a hospital bed, chair, and window.

Kan. man accused of damaging hospital bed, chair and window

Public comment sought by Kansas Supreme Court on proposed updates to child support guidelines

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on proposed updates to child support guidelines that took effect January 1.

The Supreme Court will accept comment through an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsLu80VfUpk1hhTnkf_sgEhQ" target="_blank">online survey</a>&nbsp;until 5 p.m. Friday, April 26.

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSG2024">Click here to </a>take the survey

A&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsCrNk8ZLJ-kMIXTPO_wauxI" target="_blank">strikethrough version of the guidelines</a>&nbsp;with a table that lists proposed updates is on the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsOKAbzwHdzc2HnG4CPOhnjI" target="_blank">child support guidelines webpage</a>&nbsp;on the Kansas judicial branch website.

The updates are proposed by the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee. They include revising the equal parenting time formula and renaming it the direct expense formula. Other updates include technical clean up.

The committee proposed updates in 2023 that were adopted by the Supreme Court to take effect January 1, 2024. Updates open for public comment make changes to guidelines that took effect January 1.Every four years, the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee reviews Kansas child support guidelines to ensure the roughly $35 million parents pay in support each month is equitable and appropriate for the day-to-day essential needs of the children they support.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711629642840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Public comment sought by Kansas Supreme Court on proposed updates to child support guidelines</h2>TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on proposed updates to child support guidelines that took effect January 1.The Supreme Court will accept comment through an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsLu80VfUpk1hhTnkf_sgEhQ" target="_blank">online survey</a>&nbsp;until 5 p.m. Friday, April 26.<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSG2024">Click here to </a>take the surveyA&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsCrNk8ZLJ-kMIXTPO_wauxI" target="_blank">strikethrough version of the guidelines</a>&nbsp;with a table that lists proposed updates is on the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/reYtXYaiSDtgqM10_7ObsOKAbzwHdzc2HnG4CPOhnjI" target="_blank">child support guidelines webpage</a>&nbsp;on the Kansas judicial branch website.The updates are proposed by the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee. They include revising the equal parenting time formula and renaming it the direct expense formula. Other updates include technical clean up.The committee proposed updates in 2023 that were adopted by the Supreme Court to take effect January 1, 2024. Updates open for public comment make changes to guidelines that took effect January 1.Every four years, the Kansas Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee reviews Kansas child support guidelines to ensure the roughly $35 million parents pay in support each month is equitable and appropriate for the day-to-day essential needs of the children they support.

Kan. court wants comments on update to child support guidelines

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.

The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.

Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.

The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.

The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.

“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.

The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.

Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.

Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.

“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”

Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.

The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.

Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.

The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099609456.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration issued a final rule Wednesday aimed at limiting methane leaks from oil and gas drilling on federal and tribal lands, its latest action to crack down on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.The rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-finalizes-rule-reduce-oil-and-gas-waste-public-and-tribal-lands">issued</a>&nbsp;by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pollution-oil-and-gas-industry-land-management-bureau-of-4eb550743d6aa06fdd1e5740158db259">tighten limits</a>&nbsp;on gas flaring on federal lands and require that energy companies improve methods to detect methane leaks that add to planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution.The actions follow a more comprehensive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-methane-epa-climate-oil-gas-cop28-6d37e9da49944e9a8c0b08aeb3ddc73e">methane-reduction plan</a>&nbsp;announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in December. The plan, announced at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-climate-summit-negotiations-fossil-fuels-dubai-64c0e39e6ad54a98e05e5201a2215293">a global climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates, targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that are now required to find and plug methane leaks.Oil and gas production is the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, the primary component of natural gas, and is a key target for Biden as his administration seeks to combat climate change.The rule issued Wednesday updates regulations that are more than 40 years old and will hold oil and gas companies accountable by requiring measures to avoid wasteful practices and to find and fix leaks, administration officials said. At the same time, officials are moving to ensure that American taxpayers and tribal mineral owners are fairly compensated through higher royalty payments, officials said.The final rule will help “prevent waste, protect our environment and ensure a fair return to American taxpayers,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.“By leveraging modern technology and best practices to reduce natural gas waste, we are taking long-overdue steps that will increase accountability for oil and gas operators and benefit energy communities now and for generations to come,” she said.The rule is expected to prevent billions of cubic feet of natural gas from being wasted through venting, flaring and leaks, Haaland and other officials said.Venting and flaring activity from oil and gas production on public lands has significantly increased in recent decades. Between 2010 and 2020, total volumes of natural gas lost to venting and flaring on federal and tribal lands averaged about 44.2 billion cubic feet per year — enough to serve roughly 675,000 homes, the Interior said. The figure represents a sharp increase from an annual average of 11 billion cubic feet lost to venting and flaring in the 1990s.Environmental groups hailed the rule, calling methane a huge contributor to global warming.“Strong Interior Department methane waste rules are integral for the United States to protect taxpayers from wasted energy resources,” said Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Taking action to limit methane waste on public lands offers a win-win-win for taxpayers, producers and communities harmed by this waste and associated pollution.”Interior had previously announced a rule to restrict methane emissions under former President Barack Obama. The plan was challenged in court and later weakened under former President Donald Trump. Competing court rulings blocked enforcement of the Trump and Obama-era rules, leading the agency to revert to rules developed more than 40 years ago.The rule would impose monthly limits on flaring and charge fees for flaring that exceeds those limits.Besides the EPA rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-climate-health-bill-9a7f349fa7b07387d20ad603f2ff4875">a 2022 climate law</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress in August is set to impose a fee on energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions. The fee, initially set at $900 per metric ton of methane, marks the first time the federal government has directly imposed a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.The law includes $1.5 billion in grants and other spending to improve monitoring and data collection of methane emissions, intending to find and repair natural gas leaks.

New U.S. rule to crack down on methane leaks from oil, gas drilling 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas City area shooting have made an arrest.

Just&nbsp;after 8 p.m. Wednesday police responded to a report of shots fired in the 7700 block of Raytown Road, according to a media release.

First responders at Raytown Village Apartments, 7708 Raytown Road, found two people with gunshot wounds. EMS transported the victims to a local hospital. Police took a suspect into custody.

Police released no additional details on the condition of the victims or possible charges for the suspect.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas City area shooting have made an arrest.Just&nbsp;after 8 p.m. Wednesday police responded to a report of shots fired in the 7700 block of Raytown Road, according to a media release.First responders at Raytown Village Apartments, 7708 Raytown Road, found two people with gunshot wounds. EMS transported the victims to a local hospital. Police took a suspect into custody.Police released no additional details on the condition of the victims or possible charges for the suspect.

Suspect arrested after 2 shot at KC area apartment complex 

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

Bill imposes licensing, liability penalties for doctors who violate statute

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature voted to send an intensely divisive bill Wednesday to Gov. Laura Kelly forbidding gender transition surgery, prescribing of puberty blockers and delivery of other gender-affirming care by medical professionals in Kansas to people younger than 18.

The House and Senate engaged in separate emotional debates before adopting the version of Senate Bill 233 negotiated by three members of both chambers. The bill cleared the House 82-39, which was two votes short of the two-thirds majority that would be required to overturn a governor’s veto. In the Senate, the 27-13 vote met that benchmark.

In the past, Kelly opposed the Legislature’s attempt to micromanage health care decisions of families, whether it involved abortion or transitioning. She repeatedly vetoed a bill restricting transgender athletes to sports teams according to the declared gender a birth.

Defenders of the legislation argued the prevailing science indicated people transitioning before their brains fully developed were at risk of cognitive, sexual and development problems and that medical interventions, including removal of body parts, was the equivalent of child abuse. Critics said the bill was a potentially lethal encroachment into profoundly personal decisions of bodily autonomy that should be made by children, parents and medical professionals rather than politicians in Topeka.

“We want to give these kids a chance so later on they can make this decision,” said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita. “Not harm them for the rest of their lives.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, also a Wichita Republican, said supermajority support for the bill reflected the firm position of Senate Republicans who believed “radical transgender ideology and the mutilation of minors is not legal nor welcome in Kansas.”

In terms of the bill, House and Senate negotiators altered the measure to grant youth until Dec. 31, 2024, to be weaned off puberty blockers, testosterone, estrogen or other prescribed medications related to care for a person undergoing transition. Some of those individuals will have been on the drugs for years.

The bill would forbid a recipient of state funding — gender assignment surgery has been performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Landwehr said — to use that funding for medication or surgery to treat a child’s “perception of gender or sex that is inconsistent with a child’s sex.” An entity or individual receiving state funds for treatment of children for psychological conditions, including gender dysphoria, could not promote or advocate for medication or surgery as a treatment for a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711620234959.png" alt=" Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Wichita, said passage of Senate Bill 233 to ban transgender medical care for Kansans under 18 illustrated "radical transgender ideology" and "mutilation of minors" should be stopped. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Wichita, said passage of Senate Bill 233 to ban transgender medical care for Kansans under 18 illustrated "radical transgender ideology" and "mutilation of minors" should be stopped. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Bill imposes licensing, liability penalties for doctors who violate statute</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature voted to send an intensely divisive bill Wednesday to Gov. Laura Kelly forbidding gender transition surgery, prescribing of puberty blockers and delivery of other gender-affirming care by medical professionals in Kansas to people younger than 18.The House and Senate engaged in separate emotional debates before adopting the version of Senate Bill 233 negotiated by three members of both chambers. The bill cleared the House 82-39, which was two votes short of the two-thirds majority that would be required to overturn a governor’s veto. In the Senate, the 27-13 vote met that benchmark.In the past, Kelly opposed the Legislature’s attempt to micromanage health care decisions of families, whether it involved abortion or transitioning. She repeatedly vetoed a bill restricting transgender athletes to sports teams according to the declared gender a birth.Defenders of the legislation argued the prevailing science indicated people transitioning before their brains fully developed were at risk of cognitive, sexual and development problems and that medical interventions, including removal of body parts, was the equivalent of child abuse. Critics said the bill was a potentially lethal encroachment into profoundly personal decisions of bodily autonomy that should be made by children, parents and medical professionals rather than politicians in Topeka.“We want to give these kids a chance so later on they can make this decision,” said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita. “Not harm them for the rest of their lives.”Senate President Ty Masterson, also a Wichita Republican, said supermajority support for the bill reflected the firm position of Senate Republicans who believed “radical transgender ideology and the mutilation of minors is not legal nor welcome in Kansas.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711620198066.png" alt=" Overland Park Democratic Rep. Heather Meyer, center, said that as the mother of a transgender child she was profoundly disappointed with the Kansas Legislature’s approval of a bill forbidding gender-affirming medical care for Kansans under 18 years of age. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Overland Park Democratic Rep. Heather Meyer, center, said that as the mother of a transgender child she was profoundly disappointed with the Kansas Legislature’s approval of a bill forbidding gender-affirming medical care for Kansans under 18 years of age. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Quite a bit of hypocrisy’</h2>In terms of the bill, House and Senate negotiators altered the measure to grant youth until Dec. 31, 2024, to be weaned off puberty blockers, testosterone, estrogen or other prescribed medications related to care for a person undergoing transition. Some of those individuals will have been on the drugs for years.The bill would forbid a recipient of state funding — gender assignment surgery has been performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Landwehr said — to use that funding for medication or surgery to treat a child’s “perception of gender or sex that is inconsistent with a child’s sex.” An entity or individual receiving state funds for treatment of children for psychological conditions, including gender dysphoria, could not promote or advocate for medication or surgery as a treatment for a child.The legislation forward to the governor would view violations of the law as justification for revocation of a professional license. Also, health care professionals engaging in forbidden treatment would be legally liable for that decision for 10 years after the patient turned 18 and liability insurance held by the professional wouldn’t be valid in such cases.Rep.&nbsp;Heather Meyer, an Overland Park Democrat and mother to a transgender child, struggled to find words to describe her dismay with the Republican majority’s single-minded focus on ostracizing transgender youth. As she stood at the lectern in the front of the House chamber, she said it was astonishing that vetted research, advice of national medical associations and testimony of transgender teenagers and their parents was largely ignored by a majority in the Legislature.“I’m coming to this from both personal and professional experience. I am tired of having this debate,” said Meyer, pointing to hypocrisy of lawmakers who championed parental rights only when it fit their political agenda. “With bills like this, you’re taking away their personal autonomy, their freedom to act as a parent. The state is becoming their nanny. For some reason, there’s quite a bit of hypocrisy when it comes to legislation involving transgender children and even adults.”“I’m trying to keep it together,” she said. “I just need you guys to understand how incredibly and absolutely horrifying it is to watch this happening in our state.”<h2>‘Kansas children will die’</h2>Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes of Lenexa said Republican legislative leadership insisted upon infringing on the right of Kansans to determine what health care was best for them. She said Kansas children and parents would face the consequence of decisions to place political gain above welfare of vulnerable children.“Kansas children will die if this becomes law,” Sykes said. “Their decision to ban medically necessary, safe, effective health care is going to cost Kansas kids their lives.”Sen. Beverly Gossage, the Eudora Republican and chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, said Kansas youth were overwhelmed by a broad social media campaign that encouraged them to follow a path to gender transition. She said individuals who regretted their decision to live their life from the perspective of a different gender would have testified before the Legislature about their regret, but were justifiably threatened by the possibility of being publicly harassed or shunned.However, Democratic Rep. Susan Ruiz of Shawnee said proponents of bills targeting transgender individuals appeared driven by a quest to convince certain families to move to another state.“Maybe that’s the point,” she said. “Maybe many in this room don’t really care. Maybe that’s what you want. There are a lot of people who are going to be affected by this bill.”Ruiz said families would inevitably come to her with fundamental questions about the intent of certain political conservatives: “Why is the state against us? Why does the state hate us?”Rep. Clarke Sanders, a Salina Republican, responded to suggestions that supporters of the legislation operated from a dark place of hatred for people different than themselves. He said the goal of any legislator was to find truth about complex public policy issues and settle on the best decision possible under the circumstances.“The one thing that I hope for is, if what I consider true differs from what you consider to be true, that you don’t think I’m acting out of some hateful motive. I am not,” he said.