NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who went missing in Tennessee's capital for nearly two weeks, has been found dead in a river, police announced Friday. No foul play is suspected, investigators said.

Metro Nashville police officials confirmed that Strain's body had been recovered from the Cumberland River approximately 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) west of downtown at around 7:30 a.m.

Police Chief John Drake told reporters that workers on the river initially found Strain's body and alerted authorities. Medical examiners later confirmed it was Strain, he said, adding that an autopsy will be conducted later Friday.

“We have reports that normally under these circumstances ... with his height and weight, he could have surfaced between 14 and 20 days,” Drake said. “This is the 14th day. So we were really expecting to find him.”

Police previously said Strain, 22, was last seen just before 10 p.m. on March 8 after drinking downtown. A massive search was quickly launched, with just small clues available to help investigators trying to find him, including finding his bank card along a river bank and using surveillance footage to track his final moments.

University of Missouri officials said in a statement that Strain was traveling to Nashville to attend a private event.

Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, have been in Nashville after learning about his disappearance.

“I just need to know where my son is,” Michelle Whiteid initially told outlets. “We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without talking to him. It’s devastating. I just want to find him and hug him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710335346952.png" alt="Riley Strain-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Riley Strain-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who went missing in Tennessee's capital for nearly two weeks, has been found dead in a river, police announced Friday. No foul play is suspected, investigators said.Metro Nashville police officials confirmed that Strain's body had been recovered from the Cumberland River approximately 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) west of downtown at around 7:30 a.m.Police Chief John Drake told reporters that workers on the river initially found Strain's body and alerted authorities. Medical examiners later confirmed it was Strain, he said, adding that an autopsy will be conducted later Friday.“We have reports that normally under these circumstances ... with his height and weight, he could have surfaced between 14 and 20 days,” Drake said. “This is the 14th day. So we were really expecting to find him.”Police previously said Strain, 22, was last seen just before 10 p.m. on March 8 after drinking downtown. A massive search was quickly launched, with just small clues available to help investigators trying to find him, including finding his bank card along a river bank and using surveillance footage to track his final moments.University of Missouri officials said in a statement that Strain was traveling to Nashville to attend a private event.Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, have been in Nashville after learning about his disappearance.“I just need to know where my son is,” Michelle Whiteid initially told outlets. “We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without talking to him. It’s devastating. I just want to find him and hug him.”

Body of missing University of Missouri student found in river

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple drug allegations.

Just before 2p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2024, shortly before 1:45 p.m., a sheriff' s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 2500 block of NW Rochester Road for a registration violation, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.

The passenger, Charles A. Goodman, 50, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of distribution of a stimulant, interference with&nbsp;law enforcement, possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia and identity theft. Goodman also had two felony warrants for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710966379936.png" alt="Goodman-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Goodman-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple drug allegations. Just before 2p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2024, shortly before 1:45 p.m., a sheriff' s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 2500 block of NW Rochester Road for a registration violation, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.The passenger, Charles A. Goodman, 50, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of distribution of a stimulant, interference with&nbsp;law enforcement, possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia and identity theft. Goodman also had two felony warrants for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

Kansas man accused of selling drugs and ID theft

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Friday vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-malnutrition-famine-children-dying-israel-palestinians-2f938b1a82d7822c7da67cc162da1a37">hungry Palestinians</a>.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 members in favor, three against and one abstention.

Before the vote, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicized” reasons.

The resolution declared that a cease-fire is “imperative."

The draft that was put to a vote made no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">in the previous draft</a>. But it unequivocally supported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/qatar-government-israel-government-middle-east-israel-international-agreements-05de20f151f646e492fdd0dda6db0159">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;had already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a cease-fire.

Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians, and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it didn’t reflect global calls for a cease-fire.

The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members</a>&nbsp;with one abstention on Feb. 20.

A day earlier, the U.S. circulated a rival resolution, which went through major changes during negotiations before Friday's vote. It initially would have supported a temporary cease-fire linked to the release of all hostages, and the previous draft would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.

The vote took place as Blinken, America’s top diplomat, is on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-egypt-israel-gaza-hamas-blinken-7e4d53b15a6c86979faaeae035564e58">sixth urgent mission to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;since the Israel-Hamas war, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release, as well as post-war scenarios.

Nate Evans, the spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said the resolution was "an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;to accept the deal on the table.”

Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-muslims-fasting-prayer-photos-83ead097a3b0921f387bb70ad2b6b3fc">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>&nbsp;that began March 10 to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”

It also demands “the immediate and unconditional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">release of all hostages</a>&nbsp;” and emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

In Gaza, the Health Ministry raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.

The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.

The U.S. draft expressed “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.”

It emphasized “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-06-2024-3e4bc85bc4e184312763fc331fbffedb">Israel faces mounting pressure</a>&nbsp;from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings, and come to a cease-fire agreement. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">military offensive to the southern city of Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. Netanyahu says it's a Hamas stronghold.

The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council emphasized its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”

For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-festival-survivors-5b5dc4eb87be8d7b51dceff1c9f906fd">Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023</a>, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called for a vote Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://whyy.org/articles/israel-hamas-war-gaza-famine-said-to-be-imminent/">hungry Palestinians</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">In the previous draft</a>, the Security Council did not make such a declaration. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.

The new draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press “determines” — which is a council order — “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire,” with no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7. But “toward that end” it would unequivocally support&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/blinken-huddles-on-gaza-with-arab-diplomats-in-cairo-as-us-israel-relations-sour/">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

After the 15 Security Council members met behind closed doors Thursday afternoon to discuss Gaza, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the U.S. draft would be adopted: “I am optimistic. That’s why it took us so long, because we worked so hard.”

Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pressing for an immediate cease-fire and if the resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire “we will, of course, support it.”

But he questioned the wording of the U.S. draft, asking: “What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but … it’s only an imperative, not $100.”

“So, somebody’s fooling around, I think, (with the) international community,” Polyansky said. “We are not satisfied with anything that doesn’t call for immediate cease-fire. I think everybody is not satisfied with this. Even Secretary Blinken is not satisfied.”

Blinken is on his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release as well as post-war scenarios.

Nate Evans, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, issued a statement while the Security Council was holding closed Gaza consultations announcing that the U.S. would bring the resolution to a vote Friday morning.

“This resolution is an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table,” Evans said.

Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution that would demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>, which began March 10, to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”

It also would demand “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and emphasize the urgent need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-17-2024-ab0b75fdd8f0ab51c5e38b1870afecd8">protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid</a>&nbsp;throughout the Gaza Strip.

That draft had not yet been put in “blue,” which is the final form required for a vote.

France’s U.N. ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, told reporters that “there is a desire to take action, no one want to procrastinate, so we hope that a decision can be made by tomorrow evening.”

“We need a cease-fire right now,” he said. “There are two options: Either the U.S. text is adopted and then we’ll move to the next phase of this crisis management, or the text is not adopted and then the draft of the elected members will come to the table and put to the vote, and I hope it will be adopted.”

The Health Ministry in Gaza raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage as well as the remains of 30 others.

The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.

The U.S. draft would express “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.” It would emphasize “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”

Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings and for a cease-fire. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, which he says is a Hamas stronghold. Some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah.

The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council would emphasize its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”

For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697659524198.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;U.S. United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield- image CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;U.S. United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield- image CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Friday vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-malnutrition-famine-children-dying-israel-palestinians-2f938b1a82d7822c7da67cc162da1a37">hungry Palestinians</a>.The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 members in favor, three against and one abstention.Before the vote, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicized” reasons.The resolution declared that a cease-fire is “imperative."The draft that was put to a vote made no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">in the previous draft</a>. But it unequivocally supported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/qatar-government-israel-government-middle-east-israel-international-agreements-05de20f151f646e492fdd0dda6db0159">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;had already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a cease-fire.Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians, and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it didn’t reflect global calls for a cease-fire.The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members</a>&nbsp;with one abstention on Feb. 20.A day earlier, the U.S. circulated a rival resolution, which went through major changes during negotiations before Friday's vote. It initially would have supported a temporary cease-fire linked to the release of all hostages, and the previous draft would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.The vote took place as Blinken, America’s top diplomat, is on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-egypt-israel-gaza-hamas-blinken-7e4d53b15a6c86979faaeae035564e58">sixth urgent mission to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;since the Israel-Hamas war, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release, as well as post-war scenarios.Nate Evans, the spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said the resolution was "an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;to accept the deal on the table.”Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-muslims-fasting-prayer-photos-83ead097a3b0921f387bb70ad2b6b3fc">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>&nbsp;that began March 10 to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”It also demands “the immediate and unconditional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">release of all hostages</a>&nbsp;” and emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.In Gaza, the Health Ministry raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.The U.S. draft expressed “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.”It emphasized “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-06-2024-3e4bc85bc4e184312763fc331fbffedb">Israel faces mounting pressure</a>&nbsp;from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings, and come to a cease-fire agreement. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">military offensive to the southern city of Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. Netanyahu says it's a Hamas stronghold.The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council emphasized its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-festival-survivors-5b5dc4eb87be8d7b51dceff1c9f906fd">Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023</a>, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”----------UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called for a vote Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://whyy.org/articles/israel-hamas-war-gaza-famine-said-to-be-imminent/">hungry Palestinians</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">In the previous draft</a>, the Security Council did not make such a declaration. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.The new draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press “determines” — which is a council order — “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire,” with no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7. But “toward that end” it would unequivocally support&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/blinken-huddles-on-gaza-with-arab-diplomats-in-cairo-as-us-israel-relations-sour/">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”After the 15 Security Council members met behind closed doors Thursday afternoon to discuss Gaza, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the U.S. draft would be adopted: “I am optimistic. That’s why it took us so long, because we worked so hard.”Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pressing for an immediate cease-fire and if the resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire “we will, of course, support it.”But he questioned the wording of the U.S. draft, asking: “What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but … it’s only an imperative, not $100.”“So, somebody’s fooling around, I think, (with the) international community,” Polyansky said. “We are not satisfied with anything that doesn’t call for immediate cease-fire. I think everybody is not satisfied with this. Even Secretary Blinken is not satisfied.”Blinken is on his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release as well as post-war scenarios.Nate Evans, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, issued a statement while the Security Council was holding closed Gaza consultations announcing that the U.S. would bring the resolution to a vote Friday morning.“This resolution is an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table,” Evans said.Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution that would demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>, which began March 10, to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”It also would demand “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and emphasize the urgent need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-17-2024-ab0b75fdd8f0ab51c5e38b1870afecd8">protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid</a>&nbsp;throughout the Gaza Strip.That draft had not yet been put in “blue,” which is the final form required for a vote.France’s U.N. ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, told reporters that “there is a desire to take action, no one want to procrastinate, so we hope that a decision can be made by tomorrow evening.”“We need a cease-fire right now,” he said. “There are two options: Either the U.S. text is adopted and then we’ll move to the next phase of this crisis management, or the text is not adopted and then the draft of the elected members will come to the table and put to the vote, and I hope it will be adopted.”The Health Ministry in Gaza raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage as well as the remains of 30 others.The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.The U.S. draft would express “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.” It would emphasize “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings and for a cease-fire. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, which he says is a Hamas stronghold. Some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah.The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council would emphasize its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

Russia and China veto US resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans because the&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V198-1964.PDF">side air bag inflators can explode</a>&nbsp;with too much force during a crash and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers.

The recall covers air bag inflators on both sides of Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300 large cars from the 2018 through 2021 model years.

The automaker says in documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators that moisture may get into the inflators due to a manufacturing defect and cause corrosion and cracks. The documents say Stellantis has seven warranty claims and customer assistance reports but no reports of injuries.

Dealers will replace both side air bag modules. Owners will be notified starting May 3.

Stellantis estimates that 1% of the inflators are defective.

The inflators are made by Joyson Safety Systems, a company that ended up acquiring Japanese air bag maker Takata after its bankruptcy. Takata used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate front air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

It wasn’t clear whether Takata was involved in designing the recalled Dodge and Chrysler air bags or if the company used ammonium nitrate as the propellant. Messages were left seeking comment from Stellantis.

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge and Chrysler sedans because the&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V198-1964.PDF">side air bag inflators can explode</a>&nbsp;with too much force during a crash and hurl metal fragments at drivers and passengers.The recall covers air bag inflators on both sides of Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300 large cars from the 2018 through 2021 model years.The automaker says in documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators that moisture may get into the inflators due to a manufacturing defect and cause corrosion and cracks. The documents say Stellantis has seven warranty claims and customer assistance reports but no reports of injuries.Dealers will replace both side air bag modules. Owners will be notified starting May 3.Stellantis estimates that 1% of the inflators are defective.The inflators are made by Joyson Safety Systems, a company that ended up acquiring Japanese air bag maker Takata after its bankruptcy. Takata used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate front air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.It wasn’t clear whether Takata was involved in designing the recalled Dodge and Chrysler air bags or if the company used ammonium nitrate as the propellant. Messages were left seeking comment from Stellantis.

Recall on Dodge Chargers, Chrysler 300s: Air bags could explode

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

Just before 1p.m. Thursday, police responded to a request for medical attention in the 200 Block of Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

First responders found a man with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the man to a hospital in critical condition. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department's Major Case unit in in charge of the investigation. Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.Just before 1p.m. Thursday, police responded to a request for medical attention in the 200 Block of Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.First responders found a man with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the man to a hospital in critical condition. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department's Major Case unit in in charge of the investigation. Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect information.

Kansas man critically injured in shooting 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers introduced a&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/Second%20FY24%20Package%20-%20Further%20Consolidated%20Appropriations%20Act%2C%202024.pdf">$1.2 trillion spending package</a>&nbsp;Thursday that sets the stage for avoiding a partial government shutdown for several&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/further-consolidated-appropriations-act-2024">key federal agencies</a>&nbsp;this weekend and allows Congress, nearly six months into the budget year, to complete its work funding the government through September.

<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/Second%20FY24%20Package%20-%20Further%20Consolidated%20Appropriations%20Act%2C%202024.pdf">Click here to read</a> details of the bill

Democrats were able to swat back scores of policy mandates and some of the steeper budget cuts that House Republicans were seeking to impose on nondefense programs, though House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighted some wins, including a nearly 24% increase in detention beds for migrants awaiting their immigration proceedings or removal from the country.

This year’s spending bills were divided into two packages. The first one&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-senate-congress-budget-spending-7dfcb8d8682d5dc28c91af3702489d89">cleared Congress</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago, just hours before a shutdown deadline for the agencies funded through the bills.

Now Congress is focused on the second, larger package, which includes about $886 billion for the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20A%20Defense.PDF">Defense Department</a>, a more than 3% increase from last year’s levels. The 1,012-page bill also funds the departments of&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20C%20Homeland.pdf">Homeland Security</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20D%20LHHS.pdf">Health and Human Services, Labor</a>, and others.

“Congress must now race to pass this package before government funding runs out this Friday,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Nondefense spending will be relatively flat compared with the prior year, though some agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, are taking a hit, and many agencies will not see their budgets keep up with inflation.

When combining the two packages, discretionary spending for the budget year will come to about $1.66 trillion. That does not include programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and financing the country's rising debt.

The House is expected to take the measure up first on Friday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., urged Republicans to vote for the measure, noting that more than 70% of the spending goes to defense.

“At at time when the world's on fire, more than ever, we need to make sure that we are properly funding our nation's defense and supporting our troops,” Scalise said.

Then it would move to the Senate where senators would have to agree on taking it up expeditiously to avoid a partial shutdown. Usually, such agreements include votes on proposed amendments to the bill.

Johnson described the bill as a serious commitment to strengthening national defense while expanding support for those serving in the military. The bill provides for a 5.2% pay increase for service members.

In promoting the bill, Republicans cited several ways it would help Israel. Most notably, they highlighted a prohibition on funding through March 2025 for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-29932f8d12c4fa748daa03e3689dc536">U.N. Relief and Works Agency</a>, which is the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians in Gaza.

Republicans are insisting on cutting off funding to the agency after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-29-2024-4c49c2fb89c3bfd4963f2260b34943c1">Israel alleged that a dozen employees of the agency were involved in the attack</a>&nbsp;that Hamas conducted in Israel on Oct. 7.

But the prohibition does concern some lawmakers because many relief agencies say there is no way to replace its ability to deliver the humanitarian assistance that the United States and others are trying to send to Gaza, where one-quarter of the 2.3 million residents are starving.

Democrats emphasized that humanitarian assistance will increase globally though, by about $336.4 million.

Sen. Patty Murray, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also highlighted a $1 billion increase for Head Start programs and new child care centers for military families. Democrats also played up a $120 million increase in funding for cancer research and a $100 million increase for Alzheimer's research.

“We defeated outlandish cuts that would have been a gut punch for American families and our economy," said Murray, D-Wash.

She also said Democrats successfully fought off numerous policy measures, known as riders, that House Republicans were seeking to add.

“From Day 1 of this process, I said there would be no extreme, far-right riders to restrict women’s reproductive freedoms — and there aren’t, she said.

Among the policy provisions that House Republicans did secure was a requirement that only allows for the American flag and “other official flags” to fly over U.S. diplomatic facilities. Under the Biden administration, U.S. embassies have been invited to fly the pride flag or light up with rainbow colors in support of the LGBTQ community.

There is also a provision that prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves. But the White House has said President Joe Biden would not support a ban, and the commission, an independent agency,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-us-consumer-product-safety-commission-ap-fact-check-texas-2003dcf8d0bee8ddf45080186b2e0c7b">says no such ban</a>&nbsp;was in the works.

The spending in the bill largely tracks with an agreement that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-biden-mccarthy-house-votes-9375cce9b7526b2d0a5728f8d4a18a0a">worked out</a>&nbsp;with the White House in May 2023, which restricted spending for two years and suspended the debt ceiling into January 2025 so the federal government could continue paying its bills.

Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told lawmakers Thursday that last year's agreement, which became the Fiscal Responsibility Act, will save taxpayers about $1 trillion over the coming decade.

McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the speaker’s role a few months after securing the debt ceiling deal. Eight Republicans ended up joining with Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-3542dd134dccf35bc67db3463baec53b">removing</a>&nbsp;McCarthy as speaker. And some of those unhappy with that deal also expressed misgivings about the latest package.

“I hope there will be some modest wins. Unfortunately, I don’t expect that we will get much in the way of significant policy wins based on past history and based on our unwillingness to use any kind of leverage to force policy wins, meaning a willingness to walk away and say no,” said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.

Work on the spending bills has been more bipartisan in the Senate. Murray issued a joint statement after the bill's release with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, urging colleagues to vote for it.

“There is zero need for a shutdown or chaos — and members of Congress should waste no time in passing these six bills, which will greatly benefit every state in America and reflect important priorities of many senators,” Murray and Collins said.

Johnson said that after the spending package passes, the House would next turn its attention to a bill that focuses on aiding Ukraine and Israel, though lawmakers are scheduled to be away from Washington for the next two weeks. The Senate has already approved a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but Johnson has declined to bring that up for a vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711054939075.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers introduced a&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/Second%20FY24%20Package%20-%20Further%20Consolidated%20Appropriations%20Act%2C%202024.pdf">$1.2 trillion spending package</a>&nbsp;Thursday that sets the stage for avoiding a partial government shutdown for several&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/further-consolidated-appropriations-act-2024">key federal agencies</a>&nbsp;this weekend and allows Congress, nearly six months into the budget year, to complete its work funding the government through September.<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/Second%20FY24%20Package%20-%20Further%20Consolidated%20Appropriations%20Act%2C%202024.pdf">Click here to read</a> details of the billDemocrats were able to swat back scores of policy mandates and some of the steeper budget cuts that House Republicans were seeking to impose on nondefense programs, though House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighted some wins, including a nearly 24% increase in detention beds for migrants awaiting their immigration proceedings or removal from the country.This year’s spending bills were divided into two packages. The first one&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-senate-congress-budget-spending-7dfcb8d8682d5dc28c91af3702489d89">cleared Congress</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago, just hours before a shutdown deadline for the agencies funded through the bills.Now Congress is focused on the second, larger package, which includes about $886 billion for the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20A%20Defense.PDF">Defense Department</a>, a more than 3% increase from last year’s levels. The 1,012-page bill also funds the departments of&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20C%20Homeland.pdf">Homeland Security</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20240318/Division%20D%20LHHS.pdf">Health and Human Services, Labor</a>, and others.“Congress must now race to pass this package before government funding runs out this Friday,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.Nondefense spending will be relatively flat compared with the prior year, though some agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, are taking a hit, and many agencies will not see their budgets keep up with inflation.When combining the two packages, discretionary spending for the budget year will come to about $1.66 trillion. That does not include programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and financing the country's rising debt.The House is expected to take the measure up first on Friday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., urged Republicans to vote for the measure, noting that more than 70% of the spending goes to defense.“At at time when the world's on fire, more than ever, we need to make sure that we are properly funding our nation's defense and supporting our troops,” Scalise said.Then it would move to the Senate where senators would have to agree on taking it up expeditiously to avoid a partial shutdown. Usually, such agreements include votes on proposed amendments to the bill.Johnson described the bill as a serious commitment to strengthening national defense while expanding support for those serving in the military. The bill provides for a 5.2% pay increase for service members.In promoting the bill, Republicans cited several ways it would help Israel. Most notably, they highlighted a prohibition on funding through March 2025 for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-29932f8d12c4fa748daa03e3689dc536">U.N. Relief and Works Agency</a>, which is the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians in Gaza.Republicans are insisting on cutting off funding to the agency after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-29-2024-4c49c2fb89c3bfd4963f2260b34943c1">Israel alleged that a dozen employees of the agency were involved in the attack</a>&nbsp;that Hamas conducted in Israel on Oct. 7.But the prohibition does concern some lawmakers because many relief agencies say there is no way to replace its ability to deliver the humanitarian assistance that the United States and others are trying to send to Gaza, where one-quarter of the 2.3 million residents are starving.Democrats emphasized that humanitarian assistance will increase globally though, by about $336.4 million.Sen. Patty Murray, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also highlighted a $1 billion increase for Head Start programs and new child care centers for military families. Democrats also played up a $120 million increase in funding for cancer research and a $100 million increase for Alzheimer's research.“We defeated outlandish cuts that would have been a gut punch for American families and our economy," said Murray, D-Wash.She also said Democrats successfully fought off numerous policy measures, known as riders, that House Republicans were seeking to add.“From Day 1 of this process, I said there would be no extreme, far-right riders to restrict women’s reproductive freedoms — and there aren’t, she said.Among the policy provisions that House Republicans did secure was a requirement that only allows for the American flag and “other official flags” to fly over U.S. diplomatic facilities. Under the Biden administration, U.S. embassies have been invited to fly the pride flag or light up with rainbow colors in support of the LGBTQ community.There is also a provision that prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves. But the White House has said President Joe Biden would not support a ban, and the commission, an independent agency,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-us-consumer-product-safety-commission-ap-fact-check-texas-2003dcf8d0bee8ddf45080186b2e0c7b">says no such ban</a>&nbsp;was in the works.The spending in the bill largely tracks with an agreement that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-biden-mccarthy-house-votes-9375cce9b7526b2d0a5728f8d4a18a0a">worked out</a>&nbsp;with the White House in May 2023, which restricted spending for two years and suspended the debt ceiling into January 2025 so the federal government could continue paying its bills.Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told lawmakers Thursday that last year's agreement, which became the Fiscal Responsibility Act, will save taxpayers about $1 trillion over the coming decade.McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the speaker’s role a few months after securing the debt ceiling deal. Eight Republicans ended up joining with Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-3542dd134dccf35bc67db3463baec53b">removing</a>&nbsp;McCarthy as speaker. And some of those unhappy with that deal also expressed misgivings about the latest package.“I hope there will be some modest wins. Unfortunately, I don’t expect that we will get much in the way of significant policy wins based on past history and based on our unwillingness to use any kind of leverage to force policy wins, meaning a willingness to walk away and say no,” said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.Work on the spending bills has been more bipartisan in the Senate. Murray issued a joint statement after the bill's release with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, urging colleagues to vote for it.“There is zero need for a shutdown or chaos — and members of Congress should waste no time in passing these six bills, which will greatly benefit every state in America and reflect important priorities of many senators,” Murray and Collins said.Johnson said that after the spending package passes, the House would next turn its attention to a bill that focuses on aiding Ukraine and Israel, though lawmakers are scheduled to be away from Washington for the next two weeks. The Senate has already approved a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but Johnson has declined to bring that up for a vote.

What's in the $1.2 trillion spending plan to avert a government shutdown

BUTLER COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.

A truck and trailer driven by Blake Randall Strasser, 59, of rural Whitewater was westbound on NW 100th Street near&nbsp;Tawakoni Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.

The driver lost control of the truck. It left the roadway and to rest in the tree row on the north side of the road.

Strasser was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates that Strasser was not wearing a seatbelt and alcohol is suspected, but not confirmed, to be a factor, according to Cundiff.

BUTLER COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.A truck and trailer driven by Blake Randall Strasser, 59, of rural Whitewater was westbound on NW 100th Street near&nbsp;Tawakoni Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.The driver lost control of the truck. It left the roadway and to rest in the tree row on the north side of the road.Strasser was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates that Strasser was not wearing a seatbelt and alcohol is suspected, but not confirmed, to be a factor, according to Cundiff.

Undersheriff: Alcohol a possible factor in crash that killed Kansas man

SEWARD COUNTY -Luna has been located and is now safe with the Liberal Police Department, according to the KBI.

SEWARD COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for 22-month-old Luna Amaro.

She was last seen Wednesday when she was taken from Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. She was wearing a white striped shirt, “princess pineapple shoes,” and a backpack.&nbsp;

The possible vehicle is a black sedan, unknown tag, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711072919397.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY -Luna has been located and is now safe with the Liberal Police Department, according to the KBI.-------------SEWARD COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for 22-month-old Luna Amaro.She was last seen Wednesday when she was taken from Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. She was wearing a white striped shirt, “princess pineapple shoes,” and a backpack.&nbsp;The possible vehicle is a black sedan, unknown tag, according to the KBI.

Amber Alert canceled; missing toddler is with police in Kansas

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 6p.m. March 18, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Durango on U.S. Highway 75 just south of 330th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 During the stop, probable cause was obtained to search the vehicle where round blue pills, known as “Dirty 30’s” and drug paraphernalia were discovered.

The driver, Steven Perry, 34, of Hiawatha, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for distribution of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710941770049.png" alt="Perry-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Perry-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 6p.m. March 18, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Durango on U.S. Highway 75 just south of 330th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the stop, probable cause was obtained to search the vehicle where round blue pills, known as “Dirty 30’s” and drug paraphernalia were discovered.The driver, Steven Perry, 34, of Hiawatha, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for distribution of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

Sheriff: Kansas man was selling pills with fentanyl

CHANUTE, Kan. (AP) — A fire engulfed an apartment complex in Chanute, Kansas, early Thursday morning, killing one person and injuring several others.

The blaze damaged the roughly 15-year-old, 24-unit Cornerstone Apartments throughout the building,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/fire-destroys-chanute-apartment-complex">The Iola Register reported.</a>

The apartment building's company president said the cause is unknown. The building was fully occupied with sprinkler systems, fire alarms and smoke detectors that all appeared to function, he said.

The number and types of injuries weren't immediately announced.

Firefighters arrived to find the south side of the building engulfed in flames. The Iola, Parsons and Thayer fire departments helped Chanute firefighters fight the blaze. Chanute police helped evacuate the building.

CHANUTE, Kan. (AP) — A fire engulfed an apartment complex in Chanute, Kansas, early Thursday morning, killing one person and injuring several others.The blaze damaged the roughly 15-year-old, 24-unit Cornerstone Apartments throughout the building,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/fire-destroys-chanute-apartment-complex">The Iola Register reported.</a>The apartment building's company president said the cause is unknown. The building was fully occupied with sprinkler systems, fire alarms and smoke detectors that all appeared to function, he said.The number and types of injuries weren't immediately announced.Firefighters arrived to find the south side of the building engulfed in flames. The Iola, Parsons and Thayer fire departments helped Chanute firefighters fight the blaze. Chanute police helped evacuate the building.

1 person killed, others injured in Kansas apartment building fire

WASHINGTON —The Biden Administration is cancelling student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers – teachers, nurses, firefighters, and more – through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, according to a statement on the White House web site.

"These public service workers have dedicated their careers to serving their communities, but because of past administrative failures, never got the relief they were entitled to under the law."

&nbsp; "Because of the fixes my Administration has made, we have now cancelled student debt for over 870,000 public service workers– compared to only about 7,000 public service borrowers ever receiving forgiveness prior to my Administration," the statement said. 

"And through all of our various student debt relief actions, nearly four million Americans have had their student debt cancelled under my Administration."

"The announcement comes on top of the significant progress we’ve achieved for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years.&nbsp; This includes: providing the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; fixing Income-Driven Repayment plans so borrowers in repayment for years get the relief they earned; and creating the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history – the SAVE plan."

"Borrowers can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;to apply. And, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on my Administration’s original student debt relief plan, we are continuing to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible.

"From day one of my Administration, I promised to fix broken student loan programs and make sure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. I won’t back down from using every tool at my disposal to deliver student debt relief to more Americans, and build an economy from the middle out and bottom up. "

WASHINGTON —The Biden Administration is cancelling student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers – teachers, nurses, firefighters, and more – through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, according to a statement on the White House web site."These public service workers have dedicated their careers to serving their communities, but because of past administrative failures, never got the relief they were entitled to under the law."&nbsp; "Because of the fixes my Administration has made, we have now cancelled student debt for over 870,000 public service workers– compared to only about 7,000 public service borrowers ever receiving forgiveness prior to my Administration," the statement said. "And through all of our various student debt relief actions, nearly four million Americans have had their student debt cancelled under my Administration.""The announcement comes on top of the significant progress we’ve achieved for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years.&nbsp; This includes: providing the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; fixing Income-Driven Repayment plans so borrowers in repayment for years get the relief they earned; and creating the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history – the SAVE plan.""Borrowers can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;to apply. And, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on my Administration’s original student debt relief plan, we are continuing to pursue an alternative path to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible as quickly as possible."From day one of my Administration, I promised to fix broken student loan programs and make sure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. I won’t back down from using every tool at my disposal to deliver student debt relief to more Americans, and build an economy from the middle out and bottom up. "

Biden cancels another $6 billion in student loan debt 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Republican lawmakers on Thursday&nbsp; brought a Medicaid expansion bill to a halt, after one day of discussion, 900 testimonies in support of expansion and dozens of statewide rallies held by Kansans desperate for more health care coverage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The move will severely limit chances of the bill’s survival during this year’s legislative session.&nbsp;

Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, led opposition to the bill the latest Medicaid expansion bill, encapsulated as House Bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2556/">2556</a>. Landwehr, chairwoman of a House committee that heard the bill Thursday,&nbsp; called for action Thursday, following a Wednesday hearing on the bill.&nbsp; Landwehr was supported in her opposition to expansion by fellow Republican committee lawmakers.&nbsp;The five Democrats and 12 Republicans on the committee voted on party lines.

“But why would you expand a broken system?” Landwehr said, justifying her vote. “I don’t understand that.”

Several committee Democrats said their colleagues deserved a chance to debate the legislation.&nbsp;

“If this bill is so unpopular, give this a chance to have that vote on the House floor, so not just 17 of us will be able to decide this huge of an issue,” Rep. Christina Haswood, a Lawrence Democrat, said.&nbsp;

Medicaid expansion could be reassigned to another committee, inserted into another bill, or forced to the House floor if enough lawmakers throw their support behind expansion.&nbsp;

But that would be unlikely as top&nbsp;Republicans in the House and Senate remain firmly against expansion despite widespread bipartisan support.&nbsp;

Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins have characterized it as a way to “expand the welfare state,” though most of the estimated 150,000 Kansans who would benefit from expansion are low-income workers or Kansans suffering from chronic illness.&nbsp;

Medicaid expansion would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below.

Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could save 59 rural hospitals on the brink of closing.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/20/first-medicaid-expansion-hearing-held-in-years-yields-many-kansas-supporters/">Wednesday was the first time</a>&nbsp;in four years legislative leaders allowed hearings on expanding state health care coverage.

(Click below to watch a replay of the Medicaid hearing on Wednesday)

Support comes from many sectors across the state, including disability rights advocates, health care workers, Kansans without insurance–and even the state’s sheriffs, because&nbsp;Medicaid expansion would cover medical costs for people incarcerated in county jails under the bill.&nbsp;

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said the medical costs of caring for prisoners could be “devastating,” especially in rural counties. Easter spoke on behalf of the Kansas Sheriff’s Association Wednesday to voice support for Medicaid coverage in jails as a way to reduce financial burdens for counties.&nbsp;

“We have a lot of sick people that come into the jail,” Easter told committee lawmakers.&nbsp; “We have to, by law, by human standards, provide very good care to these inmates, most of whom have not had care in years. That is becoming extremely expensive.”

House Bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2556/">2556</a>&nbsp;includes a provision that would provide Medicaid coverage for those who are incarcerated in county jails. The section was added at the request of law enforcement to a governor-endorsed Medicaid expansion bill.&nbsp;

Since the state terminates Medicaid coverage for people in jail — a policy many have called inhumane — people must wait to exit the system to re-enroll. Kansas correctional facilities are mandated to provide medication to people under their custody and Kansas counties shoulder in-facility health care and treatment costs.&nbsp;

In the Sedgwick County Jail, which holds more than 1,500 inmates at times, Easter said several inmates had extremely expensive medical costs. He pointed to one inmate that had been hospitalized 18 times and resulted in a treatment bill of $1,004,588.92.&nbsp;

&nbsp;In another case, an inmate that had been in custody for more than two years was hospitalized 25 times, and the jail was billed for 65 different treatments. Easter said the total cost was around $629,700.&nbsp;

“I use that example, because if you throw that out into the smaller counties, they’d go bankrupt. They have no way to afford that,” Easter said. “When I started as sheriff 12 years ago, our medical budget was $4 million dollars. It is now $9 million and we go over it every year. We simply ask that there is some relief to our local taxpayers on this particular subject, so that those monies can be spent in other ways within our counties.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711056070665.png" alt=" Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chairwoman of the health committee, took action Thursday on a Medicaid expansion bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chairwoman of the health committee, took action Thursday on a Medicaid expansion bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Republican lawmakers on Thursday&nbsp; brought a Medicaid expansion bill to a halt, after one day of discussion, 900 testimonies in support of expansion and dozens of statewide rallies held by Kansans desperate for more health care coverage.&nbsp;&nbsp;The move will severely limit chances of the bill’s survival during this year’s legislative session.&nbsp;Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, led opposition to the bill the latest Medicaid expansion bill, encapsulated as House Bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2556/">2556</a>. Landwehr, chairwoman of a House committee that heard the bill Thursday,&nbsp; called for action Thursday, following a Wednesday hearing on the bill.&nbsp; Landwehr was supported in her opposition to expansion by fellow Republican committee lawmakers.&nbsp;The five Democrats and 12 Republicans on the committee voted on party lines.“But why would you expand a broken system?” Landwehr said, justifying her vote. “I don’t understand that.”Several committee Democrats said their colleagues deserved a chance to debate the legislation.&nbsp;“If this bill is so unpopular, give this a chance to have that vote on the House floor, so not just 17 of us will be able to decide this huge of an issue,” Rep. Christina Haswood, a Lawrence Democrat, said.&nbsp;Medicaid expansion could be reassigned to another committee, inserted into another bill, or forced to the House floor if enough lawmakers throw their support behind expansion.&nbsp;But that would be unlikely as top&nbsp;Republicans in the House and Senate remain firmly against expansion despite widespread bipartisan support.&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins have characterized it as a way to “expand the welfare state,” though most of the estimated 150,000 Kansans who would benefit from expansion are low-income workers or Kansans suffering from chronic illness.&nbsp;Medicaid expansion would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below.Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could save 59 rural hospitals on the brink of closing.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/20/first-medicaid-expansion-hearing-held-in-years-yields-many-kansas-supporters/">Wednesday was the first time</a>&nbsp;in four years legislative leaders allowed hearings on expanding state health care coverage.(Click below to watch a replay of the Medicaid hearing on Wednesday)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwpzfLj1a7Y?si=sVN2h0yo5hX3ySVT&amp;start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Support comes from many sectors across the state, including disability rights advocates, health care workers, Kansans without insurance–and even the state’s sheriffs, because&nbsp;Medicaid expansion would cover medical costs for people incarcerated in county jails under the bill.&nbsp;Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said the medical costs of caring for prisoners could be “devastating,” especially in rural counties. Easter spoke on behalf of the Kansas Sheriff’s Association Wednesday to voice support for Medicaid coverage in jails as a way to reduce financial burdens for counties.&nbsp;“We have a lot of sick people that come into the jail,” Easter told committee lawmakers.&nbsp; “We have to, by law, by human standards, provide very good care to these inmates, most of whom have not had care in years. That is becoming extremely expensive.”House Bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2556/">2556</a>&nbsp;includes a provision that would provide Medicaid coverage for those who are incarcerated in county jails. The section was added at the request of law enforcement to a governor-endorsed Medicaid expansion bill.&nbsp;Since the state terminates Medicaid coverage for people in jail — a policy many have called inhumane — people must wait to exit the system to re-enroll. Kansas correctional facilities are mandated to provide medication to people under their custody and Kansas counties shoulder in-facility health care and treatment costs.&nbsp;In the Sedgwick County Jail, which holds more than 1,500 inmates at times, Easter said several inmates had extremely expensive medical costs. He pointed to one inmate that had been hospitalized 18 times and resulted in a treatment bill of $1,004,588.92.&nbsp;&nbsp;In another case, an inmate that had been in custody for more than two years was hospitalized 25 times, and the jail was billed for 65 different treatments. Easter said the total cost was around $629,700.&nbsp;“I use that example, because if you throw that out into the smaller counties, they’d go bankrupt. They have no way to afford that,” Easter said. “When I started as sheriff 12 years ago, our medical budget was $4 million dollars. It is now $9 million and we go over it every year. We simply ask that there is some relief to our local taxpayers on this particular subject, so that those monies can be spent in other ways within our counties.”

Despite overwhelming Kansas public support, Medicaid expansion bill shot down

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/apple-inc">Apple</a>, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>&nbsp;and uses its control over the iPhone to “engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct.”

It specifically seeks to stop Apple from undermining technologies that compete with its own apps -- in areas including streaming, messaging and digital payments -- and prevent it from building language into its contracts with developers, accessory makers and consumers that lets it “obtain, maintain, extend or entrench a monopoly.”

The lawsuit — which was also filed with 16 state attorneys general — is the latest example of the Justice Department’s approach to aggressive enforcement of federal antitrust law that officials say is aimed at ensuring a fair and competitive market, even as it has lost some significant anticompetition cases.

“The Department of Justice has an enduring legacy taking on the biggest and toughest monopolies in history,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, head of the antitrust division, at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. “Today we stand here once again to promote competition and innovation for next generation of technology.”

Apple called the lawsuit “wrong on the facts and the law” and said it “will vigorously defend against it.”

President Joe Biden has called for the Justice Department and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-trade-commission">the Federal Trade Commission</a>&nbsp;to vigorously enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-federal-trade-commission-fb6913615c7122579a4795f5c3f457c0">antitrust statutes</a>. The increased policing of corporate mergers and business deals has been met with resistance from some business leaders who have said the Democratic administration is overreaching, but it’s been lauded by others as long overdue.

The case is taking direct aim at the digital fortress that Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California, has assiduously built around the iPhone and other popular products such as the iPad, Mac and Apple Watch to create what is often referred to as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-inc-trials-lifestyle-technology-business-ab4cdc38a09734e3632c25228636bdd0">a “walled garden”</a>&nbsp;so its meticulously designed hardware and software can seamlessly flourish together while requiring consumers to do little more than turn the devices on.

The strategy has helped make Apple the world’s most prosperous company, with annual revenue of nearly $400 billion and, until recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-market-value-trillion-dow-jones-7f47279af45cb00506515111b92b46b5">a market value of more than $3 trillion</a>. But Apple’s shares have fallen by 7% this year even as most of the stock market has climbed to new highs, resulting in long-time rival Microsoft — a target of a major Justice Department antitrust case a quarter-century ago — to seize the mantle as the world’s most valuable company.

Apple said the lawsuit, if successful, would “hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple — where hardware, software, and services intersect” and would “set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology.”

“At Apple, we innovate every day to make technology people love — designing products that work seamlessly together, protect people’s privacy and security, and create a magical experience for our users,” the company said in a statement. “This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets.

Apple has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-apple-inc-games-c5fcfcc748398aa2f56586256711b0b9">defended the walled garden</a>&nbsp;as an indispensable feature prized by consumers who want the best protection available for their personal information. It has described the barrier as a way for the iPhone to distinguish itself from devices running on Google’s Android software, which isn’t as restrictive and is licensed to a wide range of manufacturers.

“Apple claims to be a champion of protecting user data, but its app store fee structure and partnership with Google search erode privacy,” Consumer Reports senior researcher Sumit Sharma said in a statement.

The lawsuit complains that Apple charges as much as $1,599 for an iPhone and that the high margins it earns on each is more than double what others in the industry get. And when users run an internet search, Google gives Apple a “significant cut” of the advertising revenue those searches generate.

The company’s app store also charges developers up to 30 percent of the app’s price for consumers.

Critics of Apple’s anticompetitive practices have long complained that it’s claim to prioritize user privacy is hypocritical when profits are at stake. While its iMessage services is sheathed from prying eyes by end-to-end encryption, that protection evaporates the moment someone texts a non-Apple device.

Prominent critic Cory Doctorow has complained that while Apple has blocked Facebook from spying on its users it runs its “own surveillance advertising empire” that gathers the same kinds of personal data but for its own use.

Fears about an antitrust crackdown on Apple’s business model have contributed to the drop in the company’s stock price, along with concerns that it is lagging Microsoft and Google in the push to develop products powered by artificial intelligence technology.

But antitrust regulators made it clear in their complaint that they see Apple’s walled garden most as a weapon to ward off competition, creating market conditions that enable it to charge higher prices that have propelled its lofty profit margins while stifling innovation.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate the antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”

With the attempt to rein in Apple’s dominance, the Biden administration is escalating an antitrust siege that has already triggered lawsuits against Google and Amazon accusing them in engaging in illegal tactics to thwart competition, as well as unsuccessful attempts to block acquisitions by Microsoft and Facebook parent Meta Platforms.

Apple’s business interests are also entangled in the Justice Department’s case against Google, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-trial-search-engine-justice-department-2cfb06271455c7e12c4927959061e832">went to trial last fall</a>&nbsp;and is headed toward final arguments scheduled to begin May 1 in Washington, D.C. In that case, regulators are alleging Google has stymied competition by paying for the rights for its already dominant online search engine to be the automatic place to handle queries on the iPhone and a variety of web browsers in an arrangement that generates an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion annually.

Now that the Justice Department is mounting a direct attack across its business, Apple stands to lose even more.

The Justice Department is following up an other recent attempts to force Apple to change the way it runs the iPhone and other parts of its business.

Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple in 2020 in an effort break down the barriers protecting the iPhone App Store and a lucrative payment system operating within it. Apple has long collected commissions ranging from 15% to 30% on digital transactions completed within apps, a setup that Epic alleged was enabled by an illegal monopoly that drives up prices for consumers.

After a monthlong trial in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-prices-76b30a844324db04f06a144f888a6f0d">a federal judge ruled mostly in favor of Apple</a>&nbsp;with the exception of deciding that links to competing payment options should be permitted inside of iPhone apps. Apple unsuccessfully resisted that portion of the ruling until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-apple-epic-fortnite-antitrust-iphone-c412553d88f8798acd7d5e1cbb5826bc">the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal</a>&nbsp;in January, forcing the company to relent. But the concessions that Apple made to comply with the ruling are still facing a “bad faith” challenge from Epic, which is seeking an April 30 hearing to ask U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order more changes.

Apple also had to open up the iPhone to allow apps to be downloaded and installed from competing stores in Europe to comply with a new set of regulators called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-markets-act-european-union-rules-apple-5162872791b985e794df9b3a7b46aed1">the Digital Markets Act,</a>&nbsp;or DMA, earlier this month but its approach is being pilloried by critics as little more than an end-around the rules that will enable it to continue to muscle out real competition. European Union regulators already have vowed to crack down on Apple if it finds the company’s tactics continue to thwart true consumer choice.

All of this comes on top of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-fine-music-streaming-europe-439e3e8af91d844dee3dc8ff8012c68f">a $2 billion (1.8 billion euro) fine</a>&nbsp;that European regulators slapped on Apple earlier this month after concluding that the company had undermined competition in the music streaming through the iPhone, despite Spotify being the leader in that market.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711052797525.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/apple-inc">Apple</a>, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>&nbsp;and uses its control over the iPhone to “engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct.”It specifically seeks to stop Apple from undermining technologies that compete with its own apps -- in areas including streaming, messaging and digital payments -- and prevent it from building language into its contracts with developers, accessory makers and consumers that lets it “obtain, maintain, extend or entrench a monopoly.”The lawsuit — which was also filed with 16 state attorneys general — is the latest example of the Justice Department’s approach to aggressive enforcement of federal antitrust law that officials say is aimed at ensuring a fair and competitive market, even as it has lost some significant anticompetition cases.“The Department of Justice has an enduring legacy taking on the biggest and toughest monopolies in history,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, head of the antitrust division, at a press conference announcing the lawsuit. “Today we stand here once again to promote competition and innovation for next generation of technology.”Apple called the lawsuit “wrong on the facts and the law” and said it “will vigorously defend against it.”President Joe Biden has called for the Justice Department and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-trade-commission">the Federal Trade Commission</a>&nbsp;to vigorously enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-federal-trade-commission-fb6913615c7122579a4795f5c3f457c0">antitrust statutes</a>. The increased policing of corporate mergers and business deals has been met with resistance from some business leaders who have said the Democratic administration is overreaching, but it’s been lauded by others as long overdue.The case is taking direct aim at the digital fortress that Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California, has assiduously built around the iPhone and other popular products such as the iPad, Mac and Apple Watch to create what is often referred to as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-inc-trials-lifestyle-technology-business-ab4cdc38a09734e3632c25228636bdd0">a “walled garden”</a>&nbsp;so its meticulously designed hardware and software can seamlessly flourish together while requiring consumers to do little more than turn the devices on.The strategy has helped make Apple the world’s most prosperous company, with annual revenue of nearly $400 billion and, until recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-market-value-trillion-dow-jones-7f47279af45cb00506515111b92b46b5">a market value of more than $3 trillion</a>. But Apple’s shares have fallen by 7% this year even as most of the stock market has climbed to new highs, resulting in long-time rival Microsoft — a target of a major Justice Department antitrust case a quarter-century ago — to seize the mantle as the world’s most valuable company.Apple said the lawsuit, if successful, would “hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple — where hardware, software, and services intersect” and would “set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology.”“At Apple, we innovate every day to make technology people love — designing products that work seamlessly together, protect people’s privacy and security, and create a magical experience for our users,” the company said in a statement. “This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets.Apple has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-apple-inc-games-c5fcfcc748398aa2f56586256711b0b9">defended the walled garden</a>&nbsp;as an indispensable feature prized by consumers who want the best protection available for their personal information. It has described the barrier as a way for the iPhone to distinguish itself from devices running on Google’s Android software, which isn’t as restrictive and is licensed to a wide range of manufacturers.“Apple claims to be a champion of protecting user data, but its app store fee structure and partnership with Google search erode privacy,” Consumer Reports senior researcher Sumit Sharma said in a statement.The lawsuit complains that Apple charges as much as $1,599 for an iPhone and that the high margins it earns on each is more than double what others in the industry get. And when users run an internet search, Google gives Apple a “significant cut” of the advertising revenue those searches generate.The company’s app store also charges developers up to 30 percent of the app’s price for consumers.Critics of Apple’s anticompetitive practices have long complained that it’s claim to prioritize user privacy is hypocritical when profits are at stake. While its iMessage services is sheathed from prying eyes by end-to-end encryption, that protection evaporates the moment someone texts a non-Apple device.Prominent critic Cory Doctorow has complained that while Apple has blocked Facebook from spying on its users it runs its “own surveillance advertising empire” that gathers the same kinds of personal data but for its own use.Fears about an antitrust crackdown on Apple’s business model have contributed to the drop in the company’s stock price, along with concerns that it is lagging Microsoft and Google in the push to develop products powered by artificial intelligence technology.But antitrust regulators made it clear in their complaint that they see Apple’s walled garden most as a weapon to ward off competition, creating market conditions that enable it to charge higher prices that have propelled its lofty profit margins while stifling innovation.“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate the antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”With the attempt to rein in Apple’s dominance, the Biden administration is escalating an antitrust siege that has already triggered lawsuits against Google and Amazon accusing them in engaging in illegal tactics to thwart competition, as well as unsuccessful attempts to block acquisitions by Microsoft and Facebook parent Meta Platforms.Apple’s business interests are also entangled in the Justice Department’s case against Google, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-trial-search-engine-justice-department-2cfb06271455c7e12c4927959061e832">went to trial last fall</a>&nbsp;and is headed toward final arguments scheduled to begin May 1 in Washington, D.C. In that case, regulators are alleging Google has stymied competition by paying for the rights for its already dominant online search engine to be the automatic place to handle queries on the iPhone and a variety of web browsers in an arrangement that generates an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion annually.Now that the Justice Department is mounting a direct attack across its business, Apple stands to lose even more.The Justice Department is following up an other recent attempts to force Apple to change the way it runs the iPhone and other parts of its business.Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple in 2020 in an effort break down the barriers protecting the iPhone App Store and a lucrative payment system operating within it. Apple has long collected commissions ranging from 15% to 30% on digital transactions completed within apps, a setup that Epic alleged was enabled by an illegal monopoly that drives up prices for consumers.After a monthlong trial in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-prices-76b30a844324db04f06a144f888a6f0d">a federal judge ruled mostly in favor of Apple</a>&nbsp;with the exception of deciding that links to competing payment options should be permitted inside of iPhone apps. Apple unsuccessfully resisted that portion of the ruling until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-apple-epic-fortnite-antitrust-iphone-c412553d88f8798acd7d5e1cbb5826bc">the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal</a>&nbsp;in January, forcing the company to relent. But the concessions that Apple made to comply with the ruling are still facing a “bad faith” challenge from Epic, which is seeking an April 30 hearing to ask U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order more changes.Apple also had to open up the iPhone to allow apps to be downloaded and installed from competing stores in Europe to comply with a new set of regulators called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-markets-act-european-union-rules-apple-5162872791b985e794df9b3a7b46aed1">the Digital Markets Act,</a>&nbsp;or DMA, earlier this month but its approach is being pilloried by critics as little more than an end-around the rules that will enable it to continue to muscle out real competition. European Union regulators already have vowed to crack down on Apple if it finds the company’s tactics continue to thwart true consumer choice.All of this comes on top of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-fine-music-streaming-europe-439e3e8af91d844dee3dc8ff8012c68f">a $2 billion (1.8 billion euro) fine</a>&nbsp;that European regulators slapped on Apple earlier this month after concluding that the company had undermined competition in the music streaming through the iPhone, despite Spotify being the leader in that market.

DOJ sues Apple over alleged iPhone monopoly

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the woman who died as&nbsp;43-year-old Donna Cheever of Wichita.

Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the incident at the intersection of 13th and Broadway involving a vehicle that struck Cheever, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers arrived on scene and quickly attended to both Cheever and the driver involved.&nbsp; EMS transported Cheever to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The Wichita Police Department's Accident Follow-Up Unit is leading the investigation into this incident. Initial assessments point to the collision as a tragic accident, but the investigation is still active and ongoing, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wichita Police ask anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it to call the Accident Follow-Up Unit at 316-350-3690.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident have identified the woman who died as&nbsp;43-year-old Donna Cheever of Wichita.Just before 9p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the incident at the intersection of 13th and Broadway involving a vehicle that struck Cheever, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers arrived on scene and quickly attended to both Cheever and the driver involved.&nbsp; EMS transported Cheever to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.The Wichita Police Department's Accident Follow-Up Unit is leading the investigation into this incident. Initial assessments point to the collision as a tragic accident, but the investigation is still active and ongoing, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wichita Police ask anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it to call the Accident Follow-Up Unit at 316-350-3690.

Police ID Kansas woman who died in pedestrian accident

KANSAS CITY —A third adult has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Lisa Lopez-Galvan on Feb. 14 and the wounding of at least 25 others outside Union Station in Kansas City after the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711055357446.png" alt="Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A third adult has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Lisa Lopez-Galvan on Feb. 14 and the wounding of at least 25 others outside Union Station in Kansas City after the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Terry J. Young, 20,&nbsp; faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal &nbsp;Action.According to court records filed today, after the Chiefs' Super Bowl Parade at least 25 victims suffered gunshot wounds and Lopez-Galvan, 43, died from her wounds. The victims were caught in gunfire after the defendant and other individuals fired weapons in response to a verbal argument. Young and two other individuals walked up to an individual in another group. A verbal argument commenced. After one individual pulled out a firearm, Young pulled out a firearm and pointed it at and advanced toward the first individual. A review of surveillance video showed Young appearing to shoot several times. Police detectives searched the defendant's public social media that showed the defendant wearing the same distinctive backpack seen in the Union Station surveillance video. The cell phone data also showed the device was in the area of the shooting when it occurred.&nbsp;Two other adults already face charges. Two juveniles also face charges in Family Court.Prosecutor Baker said that she has experienced major investigations in her tenure as prosecutor, but the breath of the police investigation and the number of individuals impacted by these Feb. 14 shootings outside Union Stations stretches beyond anything she has seen before. "We get complicated cases, but this case has been challenging," she said.But Baker noted police and prosecutors have reached an important point. &nbsp;"Everyone we've identified who discharged a firearm in response to the verbal altercation detailed here has been taken into custody," Baker said.All involved shooters in this incident are in custody of adult and juvenile authorities. But, due to the scope of this continuing investigation, additional charges are still expected.&nbsp;Baker praised KCPD homicide detectives who have worked this case and have closely collaborated with prosecutors. "Their response has been remarkable and quick given the size of this effort," Baker said.&nbsp; Prosecutors requested Young be held on a $1 million cash bond.