SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen for an alleged threat at a Kansas high school, according to Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill.

Just before 9:30a.m. Feb. 23, a deputy/school resource officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office received information regarding a potential threat to a high school.

During the investigation, it was discovered that a student used his school computer to search for firearms and made threatening comments regarding bringing a firearm to the school.

Just before 10a.m., a 16-year-old was arrested in the 5900 Block of SW 61 Street, the address of Washburn Rural High School, and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of criminal threat and interference with law enforcement.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573757762937.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen for an alleged threat at a Kansas high school, according to Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill.Just before 9:30a.m. Feb. 23, a deputy/school resource officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office received information regarding a potential threat to a high school.During the investigation, it was discovered that a student used his school computer to search for firearms and made threatening comments regarding bringing a firearm to the school.Just before 10a.m., a 16-year-old was arrested in the 5900 Block of SW 61 Street, the address of Washburn Rural High School, and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of criminal threat and interference with law enforcement.&nbsp;

Teen arrested for alleged gun threat at Kansas High School

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;are investigating a homicide that left one person deceased. 

Just after 10:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a disturbance in the 2000 block of N. 57th Terrace, according to a media release.

First responders located an man who had apparent stab wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene. 

Due to the collaboration and vigilance of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas City, Kansas Sheriff’s Department a male suspect was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing without incident.

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp;are investigating a homicide that left one person deceased. Just after 10:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a disturbance in the 2000 block of N. 57th Terrace, according to a media release.First responders located an man who had apparent stab wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Due to the collaboration and vigilance of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas City, Kansas Sheriff’s Department a male suspect was taken into custody shortly after the stabbing without incident.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Suspect arrested after deadly Kansas stabbing

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal crash have identified the victim as 60-year-old James A. Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri.

The two-vehicle crash occurred just after 7a.m. Feb. 21 in the 7200 block of eastbound Interstate 435 Highway in Overland Park, according to officer John Lacy.&nbsp;  One of the vehicles left the roadway and rolled. Johnson was ejected from the vehicle. 

EMS transported him to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries. 

The Overland Park Police Traffic Safety Unit is in charge of the investigation. Johnson was not wearing a seat belt, according to police.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal crash have identified the victim as 60-year-old James A. Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri.The two-vehicle crash occurred just after 7a.m. Feb. 21 in the 7200 block of eastbound Interstate 435 Highway in Overland Park, according to officer John Lacy.&nbsp; One of the vehicles left the roadway and rolled. Johnson was ejected from the vehicle. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries. The Overland Park Police Traffic Safety Unit is in charge of the investigation. Johnson was not wearing a seat belt, according to police.

Police ID man who died after ejected in Kansas crash

NEW YORK (AP) —The Federal Trade Commission sued to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, saying the $24.6 billion deal would eliminate competition and lead to higher prices for millions of Americans.

The FTC filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Oregon on Monday. It was joined in the suit by the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Columbia.

Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation’s largest grocers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-albertsons-companies-inc-0cfbd68f81ba8aab7c1d3012c69804d9">agreed to merge</a>&nbsp;in October 2022. The companies said a merger would help them better compete with Walmart, Amazon, Costco and other big rivals. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would control around 13% of the U.S. grocery market; Walmart controls 22%, according to J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman.

Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,750 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw’s. Together the companies employ around 700,000 people.

But the merger, announced at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">high food-price inflation</a>, was bound to get tough regulatory scrutiny. U.S. prices for food eaten at home typically rise 2.5% per year, but in 2022 they rose 11.4% and in 2023 they rose another 5%, according to government data. Inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">is cooling</a>, but gradually.

“Kroger's acquisition of Albertsons would lead to additional grocery price hikes for everyday goods, further exacerbating the financial strain consumers across the country face today,” Henry Liu, the director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition, said in a statement.

The FTC, which said the proposed deal would be the largest grocery merger in U.S. history, said it would also erase competition for workers, threatening their ability to win higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions.

The Biden administration has also shown a willingness to challenge big mergers in court. Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-spirit-antitrust-acquisition-45568e98f87b549ba2c66ac89821812d">sued to block a proposed merger</a>&nbsp;between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.

The action by the FTC and the states follows lawsuits filed earlier this year in Colorado and Washington to block the merger. The states that joined the FTC lawsuit Monday are Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.

Kroger has promised to invest $500 million to lower prices as soon as the deal closes. It said it also invested in price reductions when it merged with Harris Teeter in 2014 and Roundy’s in 2016. Kroger also promised to invest $1.3 billion in store improvements at Albertsons as part of the deal.

Last year, C&amp;S Wholesale Grocers agreed to purchase 413 stores and eight distribution centers that Kroger and Albertsons agreed to divest in markets where the two companies’ stores overlapped. C&amp;S said it would honor all collective bargaining agreements with workers.

Still, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 835,000 grocery workers in the U.S. and Canada, voted last year to oppose the merger, saying Kroger and Albertsons had failed to be transparent about the potential impact of the merger on workers.

The union was also critical of a $4 billion payout to Albertsons shareholders that was announced as part of the merger deal. Several states, including Washington and California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-state-government-illinois-california-seattle-business-ab329b299c257b16575f1a74e93624b3">tried unsuccessfully to block the payment</a>&nbsp;in court, saying it would weaken Albertsons financially.

Kroger and Albertsons had hoped to close the deal early this year. But the two companies announced in January that it was more likely to close in the first half of Kroger’s fiscal year. Kroger’s fiscal second quarter ends Aug. 17.

NEW YORK (AP) —The Federal Trade Commission sued to block a proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, saying the $24.6 billion deal would eliminate competition and lead to higher prices for millions of Americans.The FTC filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Oregon on Monday. It was joined in the suit by the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Columbia.Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation’s largest grocers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-albertsons-companies-inc-0cfbd68f81ba8aab7c1d3012c69804d9">agreed to merge</a>&nbsp;in October 2022. The companies said a merger would help them better compete with Walmart, Amazon, Costco and other big rivals. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would control around 13% of the U.S. grocery market; Walmart controls 22%, according to J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman.Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,750 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw’s. Together the companies employ around 700,000 people.But the merger, announced at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">high food-price inflation</a>, was bound to get tough regulatory scrutiny. U.S. prices for food eaten at home typically rise 2.5% per year, but in 2022 they rose 11.4% and in 2023 they rose another 5%, according to government data. Inflation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">is cooling</a>, but gradually.“Kroger's acquisition of Albertsons would lead to additional grocery price hikes for everyday goods, further exacerbating the financial strain consumers across the country face today,” Henry Liu, the director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition, said in a statement.The FTC, which said the proposed deal would be the largest grocery merger in U.S. history, said it would also erase competition for workers, threatening their ability to win higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions.The Biden administration has also shown a willingness to challenge big mergers in court. Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-spirit-antitrust-acquisition-45568e98f87b549ba2c66ac89821812d">sued to block a proposed merger</a>&nbsp;between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.The action by the FTC and the states follows lawsuits filed earlier this year in Colorado and Washington to block the merger. The states that joined the FTC lawsuit Monday are Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.Kroger has promised to invest $500 million to lower prices as soon as the deal closes. It said it also invested in price reductions when it merged with Harris Teeter in 2014 and Roundy’s in 2016. Kroger also promised to invest $1.3 billion in store improvements at Albertsons as part of the deal.Last year, C&amp;S Wholesale Grocers agreed to purchase 413 stores and eight distribution centers that Kroger and Albertsons agreed to divest in markets where the two companies’ stores overlapped. C&amp;S said it would honor all collective bargaining agreements with workers.Still, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 835,000 grocery workers in the U.S. and Canada, voted last year to oppose the merger, saying Kroger and Albertsons had failed to be transparent about the potential impact of the merger on workers.The union was also critical of a $4 billion payout to Albertsons shareholders that was announced as part of the merger deal. Several states, including Washington and California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-state-government-illinois-california-seattle-business-ab329b299c257b16575f1a74e93624b3">tried unsuccessfully to block the payment</a>&nbsp;in court, saying it would weaken Albertsons financially.Kroger and Albertsons had hoped to close the deal early this year. But the two companies announced in January that it was more likely to close in the first half of Kroger’s fiscal year. Kroger’s fiscal second quarter ends Aug. 17.

US sues to block merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities captured a unique suspect after a call for help in southwest Kansas.

Just after noon Saturday police responded the the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/homes.php">Finnup Homes</a>&nbsp;after a motion sensor set off a burglary alarm upstairs in one of the homes, according to a social media report from Garden City police.

Officers located the intruder, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/trustees.php">Amy Heineman, Executive Assistant</a>&nbsp;for the Finnup Trustees. It was a small dove that made its way inside.

“At first I thought I should have just checked it out myself and not bothered the police, but I’m so glad they were there,” says Heineman on social media. “I have no idea what I would have done! And he (the officer) just sprung into action. I want to express my sincere appreciation for Officer Ralston catching this little intruder today."

Officer Brecken Ralston caught the bird in one of the bedrooms and remove it from the residence.

"Thank you for the support and sharing this story, Amy, police responded on their social media page. " We’ll be laughing about this one for awhile too. And no worries everyone, the dove was captured and released safely."&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/trustees.php">Click here for more</a> information on the Finneup Trust.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708805406653.png" alt="Photos Garden City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Garden City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities captured a unique suspect after a call for help in southwest Kansas.Just after noon Saturday police responded the the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/homes.php">Finnup Homes</a>&nbsp;after a motion sensor set off a burglary alarm upstairs in one of the homes, according to a social media report from Garden City police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708805437591.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Officers located the intruder, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/trustees.php">Amy Heineman, Executive Assistant</a>&nbsp;for the Finnup Trustees. It was a small dove that made its way inside.“At first I thought I should have just checked it out myself and not bothered the police, but I’m so glad they were there,” says Heineman on social media. “I have no idea what I would have done! And he (the officer) just sprung into action. I want to express my sincere appreciation for Officer Ralston catching this little intruder today."Officer Brecken Ralston caught the bird in one of the bedrooms and remove it from the residence."Thank you for the support and sharing this story, Amy, police responded on their social media page. " We’ll be laughing about this one for awhile too. And no worries everyone, the dove was captured and released safely."&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.finnupfoundation.org/trustees.php">Click here for more</a> information on the Finneup Trust.

Police in SW Kansas catch flying burglary suspect

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Get ready for a night of country music magic as the Kansas State Fair proudly presents two legendary performers, Wynonna Judd with Kimberly Perry. The event is scheduled for Friday, September 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. according to a media release from the State Fair.

Wynonna Judd, once hailed by Rolling Stone as "the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline," has solidified her place as one of the most celebrated artists in country music history. As part of the legendary duo "The Judds," Wynonna captivated audiences with her rich and commanding voice. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide, multiple Grammy Awards, and countless chart-topping hits, including "Mama He's Crazy," "Why Not Me," and "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days)," Wynonna continues to captivate audiences with her talent and stage presence.

Joining Wynonna Judd for this performance is Kimberly Perry, known to millions as one-third of the Grammy Award-winning sibling trio, The Band Perry. With over two and a half million albums sold, thirteen million singles, and billions of combined streams, Kimberly has made her mark as a songwriter and entertainer. Her groundbreaking single "If I Die Young" achieved crossover success and helped her burst onto the world stage. As she embarks on a new chapter as a solo artist, Kimberly's passion for songwriting continues to drive her forward, with her recent release of "Bloom," her first EP as a solo artist.&nbsp;

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 1&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=7b2bd304ba&amp;e=3291b91fe2" target="_blank">KansasStateFair.com</a>. Anyone signed up for Kansas State Fair emails can get access to tickets with a presale code, starting 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 29. Sign up for emails at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=34421a58a8&amp;e=3291b91fe2" target="_blank">kansasstatefair.com</a>.&nbsp;

The show will be Friday, September 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

New in 2024 – Expanded Seating Area:​

The Kansas State Fair is pleased to unveil an improvement to the Grandstand seating that promises to enhance the overall event experience for attendees. This year, the stage will be repositioned to create space for an extended party pit in the lower track area. This expansion not only boosts overall capacity but also provides more concert enthusiasts the chance to enjoy the excitement up close.​

Reserved seating in the Grandstand is $45 and $30. ​

There are several options for an upgraded Grandstand experience:​

Get up close to the stage! The Track Party Pit area gives concertgoers the opportunity to be on the floor, standing right in front of the stage. Each ticket is $75.​

Want the ultimate VIP treatment? This ticket package includes access to the VIP Deck area, two beverage coupons, complimentary appetizers and finger foods within the VIP Deck, and early entrance to the Grandstand. Each VIP Standing ticket is $100.​

Get all your friends together with the VIP experience! Reserve a table on our VIP Deck to enjoy the show from a private table that seats six. In addition to a reserved table for six, this package provides two beverage coupons per person, complimentary appetizers and finger foods&nbsp;within the VIP Deck area prior to the show, and early entrance to the Grandstand. Each VIP Reserved Table is $750.​

NOTE: Each grandstand ticket includes a gate admission scan. Ticket will be valid on date of event only.&nbsp;

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kansasstatefair.com/">kansasstatefair.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;the Ticket Office (620) 669-3618.  ​

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708959700371.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Get ready for a night of country music magic as the Kansas State Fair proudly presents two legendary performers, Wynonna Judd with Kimberly Perry. The event is scheduled for Friday, September 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. according to a media release from the State Fair.Wynonna Judd, once hailed by Rolling Stone as "the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline," has solidified her place as one of the most celebrated artists in country music history. As part of the legendary duo "The Judds," Wynonna captivated audiences with her rich and commanding voice. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide, multiple Grammy Awards, and countless chart-topping hits, including "Mama He's Crazy," "Why Not Me," and "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days)," Wynonna continues to captivate audiences with her talent and stage presence.Joining Wynonna Judd for this performance is Kimberly Perry, known to millions as one-third of the Grammy Award-winning sibling trio, The Band Perry. With over two and a half million albums sold, thirteen million singles, and billions of combined streams, Kimberly has made her mark as a songwriter and entertainer. Her groundbreaking single "If I Die Young" achieved crossover success and helped her burst onto the world stage. As she embarks on a new chapter as a solo artist, Kimberly's passion for songwriting continues to drive her forward, with her recent release of "Bloom," her first EP as a solo artist.&nbsp;Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 1&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=7b2bd304ba&amp;e=3291b91fe2" target="_blank">KansasStateFair.com</a>. Anyone signed up for Kansas State Fair emails can get access to tickets with a presale code, starting 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 29. Sign up for emails at&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=34421a58a8&amp;e=3291b91fe2" target="_blank">kansasstatefair.com</a>.&nbsp;The show will be Friday, September 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.New in 2024 – Expanded Seating Area:​The Kansas State Fair is pleased to unveil an improvement to the Grandstand seating that promises to enhance the overall event experience for attendees. This year, the stage will be repositioned to create space for an extended party pit in the lower track area. This expansion not only boosts overall capacity but also provides more concert enthusiasts the chance to enjoy the excitement up close.​Ticket Options:​Reserved seating in the Grandstand is $45 and $30. ​There are several options for an upgraded Grandstand experience:​Track&nbsp;Party PitGet up close to the stage! The Track Party Pit area gives concertgoers the opportunity to be on the floor, standing right in front of the stage. Each ticket is $75.​VIP Deck – Standing​Want the ultimate VIP treatment? This ticket package includes access to the VIP Deck area, two beverage coupons, complimentary appetizers and finger foods within the VIP Deck, and early entrance to the Grandstand. Each VIP Standing ticket is $100.​VIP Deck – Reserved Table​Get all your friends together with the VIP experience! Reserve a table on our VIP Deck to enjoy the show from a private table that seats six. In addition to a reserved table for six, this package provides two beverage coupons per person, complimentary appetizers and finger foods&nbsp;within the VIP Deck area prior to the show, and early entrance to the Grandstand. Each VIP Reserved Table is $750.​NOTE: Each grandstand ticket includes a gate admission scan. Ticket will be valid on date of event only.&nbsp;To purchase tickets or for more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kansasstatefair.com/">kansasstatefair.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;the Ticket Office (620) 669-3618.  ​

Wynonna Judd and Kimberly Perry at 2024 Kansas State Fair

JOHNSON COUNTY - A Kansas man, identified as&nbsp;25-year-old Hunter Rahto, is facing attempted murder charges&nbsp; following an alleged road rage shooting Feb. 20, near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Interstate 35, according to court records.

Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported road rage incident in the area of College Blvd. and Cody Street in Overland, according to Officer John Lacy.

The victim reported the original road rage incident took place at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Interstate 35 Highway. The victim reported the road rage incident to dispatch and followed the suspect vehicle. At College Blvd. and Nieman the male suspect later identified as Rahto fired several rounds at the victim’s vehicle, according to police.

Rahto then sped off and ultimately crashed at College Blvd. and Cody Street. Police took Rahto into custody. There were no injuries.

Rahto is no longer in custody after meeting the conditions of his bond. He is due back&nbsp; in court Feb. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708600813299.png" alt="Rahto-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Rahto-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY - A Kansas man, identified as&nbsp;25-year-old Hunter Rahto, is facing attempted murder charges&nbsp; following an alleged road rage shooting Feb. 20, near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Interstate 35, according to court records.Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported road rage incident in the area of College Blvd. and Cody Street in Overland, according to Officer John Lacy.The victim reported the original road rage incident took place at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Interstate 35 Highway. The victim reported the road rage incident to dispatch and followed the suspect vehicle. At College Blvd. and Nieman the male suspect later identified as Rahto fired several rounds at the victim’s vehicle, according to police.Rahto then sped off and ultimately crashed at College Blvd. and Cody Street. Police took Rahto into custody. There were no injuries.Rahto is no longer in custody after meeting the conditions of his bond. He is due back&nbsp; in court Feb. 29.

Suspect charged after alleged Kansas road-rage shooting 

TROY, Mich. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;says it's not “the end of our story” despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;easy primary victory in South Carolina, her home state where the onetime governor had long suggested her competitiveness with the former president would show.

Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley traveled Sunday to Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday, speaking to a hotel ballroom packed with hundreds of supporters.

In the less than 24 hours following her Saturday night loss to Trump, Haley's campaign said that she had raised $1 million “from grassroots supporters alone,” a bump they argued “demonstrates Haley’s staying power and her appeal to broad swaths of the American public.”

But with Sunday also came the end of support for Haley's campaign from Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network.

In a memo first reported by Politico and obtained by The Associated Press, AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel wrote that, while the group “stands firm behind our endorsement” of Haley, it would “focus our resources where we can make the difference,” redirecting spending toward U.S. Senate and House campaigns and away from Haley's presidential bid.

“Given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory,” Seidel wrote.

AFP Action had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-koch-network-endorsement-desantis-trump-938d932aaf2b9b299c32b4d736aaade4">endorsed Haley's campaign in November,</a>&nbsp;promising to commit its nationwide coalition of activists — and virtually unlimited funds — to helping her defeat Trump, with door knockers fanning out across early-voting states and sending out dozens of mailers on her behalf.

With his win Saturday in the first-in-the South contest, Trump has now swept every primary or caucus on the GOP early-season calendar that awards delegates. His performances have left little maneuvering room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.

“I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now," Trump said in a victory night celebration in Columbia.

Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, in a 2020 rematch.

In addition to the rally in vote-rich Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit on Sunday evening, she scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids, a western Michigan Republican hub. Ahead of the first event on Sunday evening, dozens of supporters filed into a Troy hotel ballroom, festooned with campaign signs and featuring a guitar-playing duo to entertain the crowd, rather than Haley's typical classic rock rally playlist, although speakers eventually blared with the campaign's familiar soundtrack.

Taking the stage, Haley gave the roughly half-hour speech typical of her events, although she added a few touches specific to the Michigan audience. Calling Biden's incentivizing of electric vehicle programs “corporate welfare,” Haley asked attendees in this state where the auto industry is a major economic driver about the unfairness of any requirement to switch to electric.

“What about the fact that maybe we all don’t want to drive an electric car?” Haley asked the crowd, which affirmed her line of questioning. "Have you seen how expensive they are?”

The Biden administration has voiced a goal of ensuring that EVs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/05/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-steps-to-drive-american-leadership-forward-on-clean-cars-and-trucks/">make up half of all new car sales</a>&nbsp;by 2030. Last month, the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-charging-station-biden-buttigieg-infrastructure-5b5c7708f98fa30a50837d92a205fcc2">announced it was awarding</a>&nbsp;$623 million in grants to states, local governments and tribes to help build an electric vehicle charging network across the nation.

In another tweak to her argument, as she pushes forward through the next batch of states to vote, Haley reiterated her comments from Saturday night that the fact she nearly notched 40% in South Carolina shows the stark percentage of voters who don't favor Trump, something she says would make it hard for him to win the general election.

“He's not going to get that 40% if he's going and calling out my supporters and saying they're ‘barred permanently from MAGA,’” Haley said, referencing Trump's comments directed at anyone who funded her campaign. “He's not going to get the 40% by calling them names.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-drops-out-republican-race-a450d5e669df0f341586b21c51dfe858">Asa Hutchinson</a>, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Iowa's leadoff caucuses in January, said he thought Haley should stay in. “The challenge is that she did everything she could in South Carolina,” he said Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union.”

Haley has pledged to keep going through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. “But it’s got to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall. And the delegate wall is March 5,” Hutchinson said. “So she’s got to prove herself.”

South Carolina's most prominent Republicans stood with Trump, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who endorsed him this past week.

To U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, “this has always been a primary in name only" and that Trump was never in jeopardy of losing to Haley. Fry said Trump would be the GOP nominee and the latest election results were “just further validation of that.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, said Trump was on “a pathway” to being able to clinch the nomination by mid-March. “I would say the wind is strongly” at his back, Abbott told CNN.

Not all voters in South Carolina want Haley to end her campaign.

Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island said she hoped Haley would soldier on, suggesting the former governor would be a more appealing general election candidate than Trump despite his popularity among the GOP base that powers the primary season.

“They’re not thinking, ‘Who do you want to represent us in the general election?’" said Sulkowski, an accountant. "And they need to have a longer-term view.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708951373964.png" alt="Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, in a 2020 rematch.-photo Team Haley" />
 <figcaption>Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, in a 2020 rematch.-photo Team Haley</figcaption>
 </figure>TROY, Mich. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;says it's not “the end of our story” despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;easy primary victory in South Carolina, her home state where the onetime governor had long suggested her competitiveness with the former president would show.Defying calls from South Carolina Republicans to exit the race, Haley traveled Sunday to Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday, speaking to a hotel ballroom packed with hundreds of supporters.In the less than 24 hours following her Saturday night loss to Trump, Haley's campaign said that she had raised $1 million “from grassroots supporters alone,” a bump they argued “demonstrates Haley’s staying power and her appeal to broad swaths of the American public.”But with Sunday also came the end of support for Haley's campaign from Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network.In a memo first reported by Politico and obtained by The Associated Press, AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel wrote that, while the group “stands firm behind our endorsement” of Haley, it would “focus our resources where we can make the difference,” redirecting spending toward U.S. Senate and House campaigns and away from Haley's presidential bid.“Given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory,” Seidel wrote.AFP Action had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-koch-network-endorsement-desantis-trump-938d932aaf2b9b299c32b4d736aaade4">endorsed Haley's campaign in November,</a>&nbsp;promising to commit its nationwide coalition of activists — and virtually unlimited funds — to helping her defeat Trump, with door knockers fanning out across early-voting states and sending out dozens of mailers on her behalf.With his win Saturday in the first-in-the South contest, Trump has now swept every primary or caucus on the GOP early-season calendar that awards delegates. His performances have left little maneuvering room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.“I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now," Trump said in a victory night celebration in Columbia.Haley insists she is sticking around even with the growing pressure to abandon her candidacy and let Trump focus entirely on Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, in a 2020 rematch.In addition to the rally in vote-rich Oakland County, Michigan, northwest of Detroit on Sunday evening, she scheduled a Monday event in Grand Rapids, a western Michigan Republican hub. Ahead of the first event on Sunday evening, dozens of supporters filed into a Troy hotel ballroom, festooned with campaign signs and featuring a guitar-playing duo to entertain the crowd, rather than Haley's typical classic rock rally playlist, although speakers eventually blared with the campaign's familiar soundtrack.Taking the stage, Haley gave the roughly half-hour speech typical of her events, although she added a few touches specific to the Michigan audience. Calling Biden's incentivizing of electric vehicle programs “corporate welfare,” Haley asked attendees in this state where the auto industry is a major economic driver about the unfairness of any requirement to switch to electric.“What about the fact that maybe we all don’t want to drive an electric car?” Haley asked the crowd, which affirmed her line of questioning. "Have you seen how expensive they are?”The Biden administration has voiced a goal of ensuring that EVs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/05/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-steps-to-drive-american-leadership-forward-on-clean-cars-and-trucks/">make up half of all new car sales</a>&nbsp;by 2030. Last month, the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-charging-station-biden-buttigieg-infrastructure-5b5c7708f98fa30a50837d92a205fcc2">announced it was awarding</a>&nbsp;$623 million in grants to states, local governments and tribes to help build an electric vehicle charging network across the nation.In another tweak to her argument, as she pushes forward through the next batch of states to vote, Haley reiterated her comments from Saturday night that the fact she nearly notched 40% in South Carolina shows the stark percentage of voters who don't favor Trump, something she says would make it hard for him to win the general election.“He's not going to get that 40% if he's going and calling out my supporters and saying they're ‘barred permanently from MAGA,’” Haley said, referencing Trump's comments directed at anyone who funded her campaign. “He's not going to get the 40% by calling them names.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-drops-out-republican-race-a450d5e669df0f341586b21c51dfe858">Asa Hutchinson</a>, a Trump critic and former Arkansas governor who dropped out of the GOP presidential race after Iowa's leadoff caucuses in January, said he thought Haley should stay in. “The challenge is that she did everything she could in South Carolina,” he said Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union.”Haley has pledged to keep going through at least the batch of primaries on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. “But it’s got to accelerate because you run into the delegate wall. And the delegate wall is March 5,” Hutchinson said. “So she’s got to prove herself.”South Carolina's most prominent Republicans stood with Trump, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who endorsed him this past week.To U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, “this has always been a primary in name only" and that Trump was never in jeopardy of losing to Haley. Fry said Trump would be the GOP nominee and the latest election results were “just further validation of that.”Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, said Trump was on “a pathway” to being able to clinch the nomination by mid-March. “I would say the wind is strongly” at his back, Abbott told CNN.Not all voters in South Carolina want Haley to end her campaign.Irene Sulkowski of Daniel Island said she hoped Haley would soldier on, suggesting the former governor would be a more appealing general election candidate than Trump despite his popularity among the GOP base that powers the primary season.“They’re not thinking, ‘Who do you want to represent us in the general election?’" said Sulkowski, an accountant. "And they need to have a longer-term view.”

Influential Koch network ends funding for Haley after S.C. loss

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas murder took a suspect into custody after a weekend police chase.

Just after 10:30a.m. Feb. 23, police officers observed a vehicle that was wanted in relation to a homicide investigation, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspect fled. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit in the area of N. 32nd St. and State Ave. The pursuit continued on I-70 east bound into Kansas City, Missouri where KCPD officers assisted. A short time later the suspect continued back into Kansas City, Kansas on Interstate 35 Hwy. 

The suspect vehicle attempted to exit the highway on to N 7th Street Trafficway, where the suspect lost control of the vehicle and struck a police vehicle and a citizen’s vehicle. 

The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. There were no injuries involved with the vehicle pursuit and car crash. Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas murder took a suspect into custody after a weekend police chase.Just after 10:30a.m. Feb. 23, police officers observed a vehicle that was wanted in relation to a homicide investigation, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police.Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspect fled. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit in the area of N. 32nd St. and State Ave. The pursuit continued on I-70 east bound into Kansas City, Missouri where KCPD officers assisted. A short time later the suspect continued back into Kansas City, Kansas on Interstate 35 Hwy. The suspect vehicle attempted to exit the highway on to N 7th Street Trafficway, where the suspect lost control of the vehicle and struck a police vehicle and a citizen’s vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. There were no injuries involved with the vehicle pursuit and car crash. Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

Police captured Kansas homicide suspect after 2-state chase

KANSAS CITY —A child died from injuries in a hit-and-run on that occurred just after 6:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

A Serengeti minibike driven by a juvenile was southbound at East 23rd&nbsp; at Chelsea Avenue, according to Kansas City Police.&nbsp; The driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at 23rd and entered the intersection. A westbound white van struck the minibike.

The juvenile, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the minibike and transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

The van did not stop and continued driving west on E. 23rd Street.&nbsp; On Sunday, KCPD reported the child had died.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police continue to investigate and have released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696884966886.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A child died from injuries in a hit-and-run on that occurred just after 6:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.A Serengeti minibike driven by a juvenile was southbound at East 23rd&nbsp; at Chelsea Avenue, according to Kansas City Police.&nbsp; The driver failed to stop at the posted stop sign at 23rd and entered the intersection. A westbound white van struck the minibike.The juvenile, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the minibike and transported to an area hospital in critical condition.The van did not stop and continued driving west on E. 23rd Street.&nbsp; On Sunday, KCPD reported the child had died.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police continue to investigate and have released no additional details.

Police: Juvenile dies after van struck minibike at KC intersection

DALLAS (AP) — AT&amp;T says it will give affected customers $5 each to compensate for last week's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-outage-cell-service-phone-1cd6f595356b385cc9a4495d1f06b983">cellphone network outage</a>&nbsp;that left many without service for hours.

The Dallas-based company said on its website that customers will get the $5 credit on their account within two billing cycles. The credit does not apply to AT&amp;T Business, prepaid service or Cricket, its low-cost wireless service. AT&amp;T said prepaid customers will have options available to them if they were impacted, although it did not elaborate on what those options might be.

The outage knocked out cellphone service for thousands of its users across the U.S. starting early Thursday before it was restored. AT&amp;T blamed the incident on an error in coding, without elaborating, and said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cellular-att-verizon-tmobile-outage-02d8dfd93019e79e5e2edbeed08ee450">it was not the result of a cyberattack</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708656334580.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — AT&amp;T says it will give affected customers $5 each to compensate for last week's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-outage-cell-service-phone-1cd6f595356b385cc9a4495d1f06b983">cellphone network outage</a>&nbsp;that left many without service for hours.The Dallas-based company said on its website that customers will get the $5 credit on their account within two billing cycles. The credit does not apply to AT&amp;T Business, prepaid service or Cricket, its low-cost wireless service. AT&amp;T said prepaid customers will have options available to them if they were impacted, although it did not elaborate on what those options might be.The outage knocked out cellphone service for thousands of its users across the U.S. starting early Thursday before it was restored. AT&amp;T blamed the incident on an error in coding, without elaborating, and said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cellular-att-verizon-tmobile-outage-02d8dfd93019e79e5e2edbeed08ee450">it was not the result of a cyberattack</a>.

How much AT&T will reimburse customers after massive network outage

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Sunday in Montgomery County.

Independence Fire-EMS responded to the motor vehicle accident behind the Fire-EMS station in the 900 Block of west Myrtle in Independence, Kansas, according to a social media rep ort.

 On duty staff reported via radio a loud explosion sound at the station and found  a full sized pickup had struck the back of the station.   Fire-EMS quickly responded with fire and EMS units and began treating an entrapped occupant.

 Medflight was requested to the scene to transport the patient. Fire-EMS extricated and moved the patient to the helipad for transport. 

  Bollards, a dumpster and fencing stopped the vehicle from entering the station,  where firefighters were seated at a table with only a window separating them from the truck.

A tire was found lying on the patio furniture next to the building along with car parts and debris.&nbsp; Firefighters reported seeing the dumpster fly into the air and above the canopy before striking the canopy roof and falling back to the ground. 

"It was a loud explosion,  we thought the energy center for the hospital building had blown up," one firefighter commented. Another stated, "I saw the dumpster fly above the canopy roof, I couldn't figure out what could have exploded. "Firefighters were a little shaken to realize they were just feet from where the vehicle came to a stop.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708904126636.png" alt="Photos Independence, Kan. Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photos Independence, Kan. Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Sunday in Montgomery County.Independence Fire-EMS responded to the motor vehicle accident behind the Fire-EMS station in the 900 Block of west Myrtle in Independence, Kansas, according to a social media rep ort. On duty staff reported via radio a loud explosion sound at the station and found a full sized pickup had struck the back of the station. Fire-EMS quickly responded with fire and EMS units and began treating an entrapped occupant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708906998792.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Medflight was requested to the scene to transport the patient. Fire-EMS extricated and moved the patient to the helipad for transport. Bollards, a dumpster and fencing stopped the vehicle from entering the station, where firefighters were seated at a table with only a window separating them from the truck.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708904293627.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A tire was found lying on the patio furniture next to the building along with car parts and debris.&nbsp; Firefighters reported seeing the dumpster fly into the air and above the canopy before striking the canopy roof and falling back to the ground. "It was a loud explosion, we thought the energy center for the hospital building had blown up," one firefighter commented. Another stated, "I saw the dumpster fly above the canopy roof, I couldn't figure out what could have exploded. "Firefighters were a little shaken to realize they were just feet from where the vehicle came to a stop.

Driver airlifted to hospital after crash into Kan. fire station

KANSAS CITY— A man from Mexico has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in the Kansas City area, according to the United State's Attorney.

On Feb. 22, Panfilo Acuna, Jr., 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Acuna to forfeit to the government $550,603, which represents the proceeds he received from the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

On Oct. 13, 2022, Acuna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 42 counts of money laundering, and one count of international money laundering.

Acuna admitted that he was the leader of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed heroin and methamphetamine throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area from 2016 until his arrest in 2020. Acuna was the primary source of methamphetamine and heroin distributed to a dozen co-defendants in this case. Acuna also admitted he distributed approximately 250 pounds of methamphetamine and laundered more than $500,000 in drug-trafficking proceeds.

Acuna received heroin and methamphetamine from sources in California and Mexico.&nbsp; Acuna coordinated shipments of bulk methamphetamine and heroin from California to his associates in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Acuna utilized different methods to transport drugs from California to Kansas City, including drug couriers, parcel carriers, and commercial delivery services where drugs would be hidden in furniture and other consumer items. The drugs would then be distributed to a network of street-level dealers in this area who then sold the drugs to other dealers and addicts.

Acuna conducted 1,046 financial transactions between 2015 and 2020, nearly all of them to individuals in California and Mexico, that were related to his drug trafficking. The aggregate amount of money deposited was $305,109. Other wire transfers were also conducted that totaled $246,494. Additionally, Acuna transferred $20,060 to individuals in Mexico through 22 money transfers as part of the conspiracy. The financial investigation revealed his associates also laundered money through a variety of means.

On Oct. 1, 2020, the FBI and the Jackson County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Acuna’s apartment. Investigators recovered 19 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, magazines, drug ledgers, 10 grams of heroin, and nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine.

Acuna is the ninth defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

KANSAS CITY— A man from Mexico has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in the Kansas City area, according to the United State's Attorney.On Feb. 22, Panfilo Acuna, Jr., 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Acuna to forfeit to the government $550,603, which represents the proceeds he received from the drug-trafficking conspiracy.On Oct. 13, 2022, Acuna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 42 counts of money laundering, and one count of international money laundering.Acuna admitted that he was the leader of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed heroin and methamphetamine throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area from 2016 until his arrest in 2020. Acuna was the primary source of methamphetamine and heroin distributed to a dozen co-defendants in this case. Acuna also admitted he distributed approximately 250 pounds of methamphetamine and laundered more than $500,000 in drug-trafficking proceeds.Acuna received heroin and methamphetamine from sources in California and Mexico.&nbsp; Acuna coordinated shipments of bulk methamphetamine and heroin from California to his associates in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Acuna utilized different methods to transport drugs from California to Kansas City, including drug couriers, parcel carriers, and commercial delivery services where drugs would be hidden in furniture and other consumer items. The drugs would then be distributed to a network of street-level dealers in this area who then sold the drugs to other dealers and addicts.Acuna conducted 1,046 financial transactions between 2015 and 2020, nearly all of them to individuals in California and Mexico, that were related to his drug trafficking. The aggregate amount of money deposited was $305,109. Other wire transfers were also conducted that totaled $246,494. Additionally, Acuna transferred $20,060 to individuals in Mexico through 22 money transfers as part of the conspiracy. The financial investigation revealed his associates also laundered money through a variety of means.On Oct. 1, 2020, the FBI and the Jackson County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Acuna’s apartment. Investigators recovered 19 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, magazines, drug ledgers, 10 grams of heroin, and nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine.Acuna is the ninth defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

Mexican man led massive Kansas City area drug conspiracy

LANSING, Kansas. –&nbsp;Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Eric Avila, 51, died Saturday, February 24, 2024. He was found unresponsive in his cell. Avila was pronounced deceased by local emergency medical service personnel following attempts at life-saving measures. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Avila was serving a 249-month sentence for convictions of Kidnapping and Second Degree Murder in Sedgwick County.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708899916685.png" alt="Avila photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Avila photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING, Kansas. –&nbsp;Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) resident Eric Avila, 51, died Saturday, February 24, 2024. He was found unresponsive in his cell. Avila was pronounced deceased by local emergency medical service personnel following attempts at life-saving measures. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Avila was serving a 249-month sentence for convictions of Kidnapping and Second Degree Murder in Sedgwick County.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Man serving time for kidnapping, murder dies in Kan. prison

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Sunday in Topeka.

According Topeka Police Lt. Matt Danielson, an officer located a&nbsp;head-on collision involving two vehicles that had just occurred in the westbound lanes of NE River Road just north of the Sardou Bridge. 

American Medical Response transported both drivers to local hospitals&nbsp; for treatment. One of the drivers later identified as David Neely, 76 of Lawrence, was in critical condition and later died.

The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the circumstances that led up to the crash. 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Sunday in Topeka.According Topeka Police Lt. Matt Danielson, an officer located a&nbsp;head-on collision involving two vehicles that had just occurred in the westbound lanes of NE River Road just north of the Sardou Bridge. American Medical Response transported both drivers to local hospitals&nbsp; for treatment. One of the drivers later identified as David Neely, 76 of Lawrence, was in critical condition and later died.The Topeka Police Department Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the circumstances that led up to the crash.

Kansas man dies from injuries in head-on crash

WASHINGTON (AP) —The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;administration is wading into a contentious debate about whether the most powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;systems should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-opensource-meta-ibm-chatgpt-dd61e99ac8135b36872b3987601067ec">“open-source” or closed</a>.

The White House said Wednesday it is seeking public comment on the risks and benefits of having an AI system's key components publicly available for anyone to use and modify. The inquiry is one piece of the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ai-artificial-intelligence-executive-order-cb86162000d894f238f28ac029005059">executive order</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden signed in October to manage the fast-evolving technology.

Tech companies are divided on how open they make their AI models, with some emphasizing the dangers of widely accessible AI model components and others stressing that open science is important for researchers and startups. Among the most vocal promoters of an open approach have been Facebook parent Meta Platforms and IBM.

Biden’s order described open models with the technical name of “dual-use foundation models with widely available weights” and said they needed further study. Weights are numerical values that influence how an AI model performs.

When those weights are publicly posted on the internet, “there can be substantial benefits to innovation, but also substantial security risks, such as the removal of safeguards within the model,” Biden’s order said. He gave Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo until July to talk to experts and come back with recommendations on how to manage the potential benefits and risks.

Now the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration says it is also opening a 30-day comment period to field ideas that will be included in a report to the president.

“One piece of encouraging news is that it’s clear to the experts that this is not a binary issue. There are gradients of openness,” said Alan Davidson, an assistant Commerce secretary and the NTIA's administrator. Davidson told reporters Tuesday that it's possible to find solutions that promote both innovation and safety.

Meta plans to share with the Biden administration "what we’ve learned from building AI technologies in an open way over the last decade so that the benefits of AI can continue to be shared by everyone,” according to a written statement from Nick Clegg, the company's president of global affairs.

Google has largely favored a more closed approach but on Wednesday released a new group of open models, called Gemma, that derive from the same technology used to create its recently released Gemini&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-artificial-intelligence-gemini-smartphones-microsoft-9044770f1228af38d1e532cc640fb990">chatbot app and paid service</a>. Google describes the open models as a more “lightweight” version of its larger and more powerful Gemini, which remains closed.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/deepmind-media/gemma/gemma-report.pdf">technical paper</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, Google said it has prioritized safety because of the “irreversible nature” of releasing an open model such as Gemma and urged “the wider AI community to move beyond simplistic ’open vs. closed’ debates, and avoid either exaggerating or minimising potential harms, as we believe a nuanced, collaborative approach to risks and benefits is essential.”

Simply releasing an AI system’s components to the world doesn’t necessarily make it accessible or easy for outsiders to scrutinize because making use of an open model still requires “resources concentrated in the hands of a few large companies,” according to Cornell University researcher David Gray Widder.

Widder said the motivations for companies to take a more open or closed approach are also complicated. Those lobbying for open-source may hope to profit off external contributions, while those who argue that safety concerns compel them to closely guard their AI systems may also be looking to entrench their forerunner positions, Widder said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;administration is wading into a contentious debate about whether the most powerful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;systems should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-opensource-meta-ibm-chatgpt-dd61e99ac8135b36872b3987601067ec">“open-source” or closed</a>.The White House said Wednesday it is seeking public comment on the risks and benefits of having an AI system's key components publicly available for anyone to use and modify. The inquiry is one piece of the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ai-artificial-intelligence-executive-order-cb86162000d894f238f28ac029005059">executive order</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden signed in October to manage the fast-evolving technology.Tech companies are divided on how open they make their AI models, with some emphasizing the dangers of widely accessible AI model components and others stressing that open science is important for researchers and startups. Among the most vocal promoters of an open approach have been Facebook parent Meta Platforms and IBM.Biden’s order described open models with the technical name of “dual-use foundation models with widely available weights” and said they needed further study. Weights are numerical values that influence how an AI model performs.When those weights are publicly posted on the internet, “there can be substantial benefits to innovation, but also substantial security risks, such as the removal of safeguards within the model,” Biden’s order said. He gave Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo until July to talk to experts and come back with recommendations on how to manage the potential benefits and risks.Now the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration says it is also opening a 30-day comment period to field ideas that will be included in a report to the president.“One piece of encouraging news is that it’s clear to the experts that this is not a binary issue. There are gradients of openness,” said Alan Davidson, an assistant Commerce secretary and the NTIA's administrator. Davidson told reporters Tuesday that it's possible to find solutions that promote both innovation and safety.Meta plans to share with the Biden administration "what we’ve learned from building AI technologies in an open way over the last decade so that the benefits of AI can continue to be shared by everyone,” according to a written statement from Nick Clegg, the company's president of global affairs.Google has largely favored a more closed approach but on Wednesday released a new group of open models, called Gemma, that derive from the same technology used to create its recently released Gemini&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-artificial-intelligence-gemini-smartphones-microsoft-9044770f1228af38d1e532cc640fb990">chatbot app and paid service</a>. Google describes the open models as a more “lightweight” version of its larger and more powerful Gemini, which remains closed.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/deepmind-media/gemma/gemma-report.pdf">technical paper</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, Google said it has prioritized safety because of the “irreversible nature” of releasing an open model such as Gemma and urged “the wider AI community to move beyond simplistic ’open vs. closed’ debates, and avoid either exaggerating or minimising potential harms, as we believe a nuanced, collaborative approach to risks and benefits is essential.”Simply releasing an AI system’s components to the world doesn’t necessarily make it accessible or easy for outsiders to scrutinize because making use of an open model still requires “resources concentrated in the hands of a few large companies,” according to Cornell University researcher David Gray Widder.Widder said the motivations for companies to take a more open or closed approach are also complicated. Those lobbying for open-source may hope to profit off external contributions, while those who argue that safety concerns compel them to closely guard their AI systems may also be looking to entrench their forerunner positions, Widder said.

White House wades into debate on artificial intelligence systems

WICHITA —A Kansas man is in custody on drug allegations.

On Thursday, 32-year-old Raul Delgado-Sanchez, 32, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.

 The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708614610957.png" alt="Delgado-Sanchez is being held in Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Delgado-Sanchez is being held in Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —A Kansas man is in custody on drug allegations.On Thursday, 32-year-old Raul Delgado-Sanchez, 32, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating.

Kansas man accused of selling methamphetamine 

NEW YORK (AP) — When her cellphone's service went down this week because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cellular-att-verizon-tmobile-outage-02d8dfd93019e79e5e2edbeed08ee450">an AT&amp;T network outage</a>, Bernice Hudson didn't panic. She just called the people she wanted to talk to the old-fashioned way — on her landline telephone, the kind she grew up with and refuses to get rid of even though she has a mobile phone.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like cellphones,” the 69-year-old Alexandria, Virginia, resident said Thursday, the day of the outage. “But I’m still old school.”

Having a working landline puts her in select company. In an increasingly digital United States, they're more and more a remnant of a time gone by, an anachronism of a now-unfathomable era when leaving your house meant being unavailable to callers.

Though as Thursday's outage shows, sometimes they can come in handy. They were suggested as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-outage-cell-service-phone-1cd6f595356b385cc9a4495d1f06b983">alternatives when people's cellphones weren't working.</a>&nbsp;The San Francisco Fire Department, for example, said on social media that people unable to get through to 911 on their mobile devices because of the outage should try using landlines.

In the United States in 2024, that's definitely the exception.

According to the most recent estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 73% of American adults in 2022 lived in households where there were only wireless phones and no landlines, while another 25% were in households with both. Barely over 1% had only landlines.

Contrast that to estimates from early 2003, where fewer than 3% of adults lived in wireless-only households, and at least 95% lived in homes with landlines, which have been around since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

Twenty years ago, landline phone service was the “bread and butter” for phone companies, said Michael Hodel, a stock analyst at Morningstar Research Services LLC who follows the telecom industry. Now, he said, “it's become an afterthought,” replaced by services like broadband internet access and its multiple ways of making voice contact with others.

In today's United States, landlines have practically reached the status of urban legend in a nation where connecting over mobiles with the people you want — at the exact moments you want, on the precise platforms you prefer — feels fundamental enough to be a Constitutional right.

Among most age groups, the large majority were wireless-only, except for those 65 and older, the only group where less than half were estimated to only use cellphones.

They're people like Rebecca Whittier, 74, of Penacook, New Hampshire. She has both types of lines but prefers to use a landline. She only got a basic cellphone in case of emergencies when she was away from home.

“I guess you’d call me old fashioned,” she said. “I’m not good with computers or electronics. So a landline's good.”

What drove the change? It was that shift from telephones being mainly for voice communication to becoming tiny, data-saturated computers that were carried around in our pockets, Hodel says.

Of particular significance: the introduction of Apple's first iPhone in 2007. The rise of the smartphone fundamentally changed people's relationships with the devices in their pockets. “I do think that was the big watershed moment was when smartphone adoption really started to take off,” Hodel said.

The introduction of a new technology into society has a blowback effect on the ones it is supplanting, said Brian Ott, a professor of communication and media at Missouri State University.

"Basically, the new technology trains us to alter our use of the old technology,” Ott said. “So even though the old technology hasn’t gone away, the logic of mobile telephony exists across our entire society today, even for people who still have landlines.”

But the sometimes headlong rush to adopt new technologies can have its own problems, he said: “Anytime a new technology is introduced, there’s sort of a rapid adoption period before we understand the consequences."

The outage, he says, is a case in point. Even though it was resolved quickly, it raises questions about what would happen if a broader-scale event disrupted cellphones more widely in a world where landline phones are no longer as ubiquitous.

Hodel was skeptical, though, at the notion that people would be unsettled enough to bring landlines and additional phone bills back into their lives.

“Unless you really are faced with something dire, the odds of you actually being concerned enough to go out and do something about it that’s going to cost you some amount of money seems to be pretty low,” he said. “The service that we get where we’re connected the vast majority of the time, if not all the time, has been sufficient to keep people satisfied by and large.”

If nothing else, the outage made Mary Minshew of Bethesda, Maryland, who is in her 40s, feel better about the landline she and her husband have so far not gotten around to scrapping. They don't use it; they and their children all have cellphones. And if it actually rings, she figures it's a scam or sales call and doesn't answer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667570605492.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When her cellphone's service went down this week because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cellular-att-verizon-tmobile-outage-02d8dfd93019e79e5e2edbeed08ee450">an AT&amp;T network outage</a>, Bernice Hudson didn't panic. She just called the people she wanted to talk to the old-fashioned way — on her landline telephone, the kind she grew up with and refuses to get rid of even though she has a mobile phone.“Don’t get me wrong, I like cellphones,” the 69-year-old Alexandria, Virginia, resident said Thursday, the day of the outage. “But I’m still old school.”Having a working landline puts her in select company. In an increasingly digital United States, they're more and more a remnant of a time gone by, an anachronism of a now-unfathomable era when leaving your house meant being unavailable to callers.Though as Thursday's outage shows, sometimes they can come in handy. They were suggested as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-outage-cell-service-phone-1cd6f595356b385cc9a4495d1f06b983">alternatives when people's cellphones weren't working.</a>&nbsp;The San Francisco Fire Department, for example, said on social media that people unable to get through to 911 on their mobile devices because of the outage should try using landlines.In the United States in 2024, that's definitely the exception.TRACKING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CORDAccording to the most recent estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 73% of American adults in 2022 lived in households where there were only wireless phones and no landlines, while another 25% were in households with both. Barely over 1% had only landlines.Contrast that to estimates from early 2003, where fewer than 3% of adults lived in wireless-only households, and at least 95% lived in homes with landlines, which have been around since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.Twenty years ago, landline phone service was the “bread and butter” for phone companies, said Michael Hodel, a stock analyst at Morningstar Research Services LLC who follows the telecom industry. Now, he said, “it's become an afterthought,” replaced by services like broadband internet access and its multiple ways of making voice contact with others.In today's United States, landlines have practically reached the status of urban legend in a nation where connecting over mobiles with the people you want — at the exact moments you want, on the precise platforms you prefer — feels fundamental enough to be a Constitutional right.Among most age groups, the large majority were wireless-only, except for those 65 and older, the only group where less than half were estimated to only use cellphones.They're people like Rebecca Whittier, 74, of Penacook, New Hampshire. She has both types of lines but prefers to use a landline. She only got a basic cellphone in case of emergencies when she was away from home.“I guess you’d call me old fashioned,” she said. “I’m not good with computers or electronics. So a landline's good.”HOW AND WHEN DID THE SHIFT HAPPEN?What drove the change? It was that shift from telephones being mainly for voice communication to becoming tiny, data-saturated computers that were carried around in our pockets, Hodel says.Of particular significance: the introduction of Apple's first iPhone in 2007. The rise of the smartphone fundamentally changed people's relationships with the devices in their pockets. “I do think that was the big watershed moment was when smartphone adoption really started to take off,” Hodel said.The introduction of a new technology into society has a blowback effect on the ones it is supplanting, said Brian Ott, a professor of communication and media at Missouri State University."Basically, the new technology trains us to alter our use of the old technology,” Ott said. “So even though the old technology hasn’t gone away, the logic of mobile telephony exists across our entire society today, even for people who still have landlines.”But the sometimes headlong rush to adopt new technologies can have its own problems, he said: “Anytime a new technology is introduced, there’s sort of a rapid adoption period before we understand the consequences."The outage, he says, is a case in point. Even though it was resolved quickly, it raises questions about what would happen if a broader-scale event disrupted cellphones more widely in a world where landline phones are no longer as ubiquitous.Hodel was skeptical, though, at the notion that people would be unsettled enough to bring landlines and additional phone bills back into their lives.“Unless you really are faced with something dire, the odds of you actually being concerned enough to go out and do something about it that’s going to cost you some amount of money seems to be pretty low,” he said. “The service that we get where we’re connected the vast majority of the time, if not all the time, has been sufficient to keep people satisfied by and large.”If nothing else, the outage made Mary Minshew of Bethesda, Maryland, who is in her 40s, feel better about the landline she and her husband have so far not gotten around to scrapping. They don't use it; they and their children all have cellphones. And if it actually rings, she figures it's a scam or sales call and doesn't answer.

Cellphone outage makes it clear: In the US, landlines are languishing

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita and have made an arrest.

Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call&nbsp; in the 7300 block of E. Kellogg, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders located two shooting victims in a motel room identified as&nbsp;35-year-old Christopher Harrell and 35-year-old Natisha Phillips both of Wichita.

EMS transported Harrell to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Phillips was pronounced deceased on the scene. 

Officers also located a young child at the scene, who was unharmed, and police are using resources to address any psychological or medical needs for the child.&nbsp;

Subsequent investigation led to the apprehension of a 20-year-old suspect, who is currently in custody and will face a requested charges of Capital Murder, Child Endangerment, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, according to Gupilan.

The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under active investigation. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708804201051.png" alt="Police at the scene of the deadly shooting on Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the deadly shooting on Saturday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita and have made an arrest.Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call&nbsp; in the 7300 block of E. Kellogg, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders located two shooting victims in a motel room identified as&nbsp;35-year-old Christopher Harrell and 35-year-old Natisha Phillips both of Wichita.EMS transported Harrell to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Phillips was pronounced deceased on the scene. Officers also located a young child at the scene, who was unharmed, and police are using resources to address any psychological or medical needs for the child.&nbsp;Subsequent investigation led to the apprehension of a 20-year-old suspect, who is currently in custody and will face a requested charges of Capital Murder, Child Endangerment, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, according to Gupilan.The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under active investigation.

Homicide: 2 dead, child in protective custody after Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Britain struck 18&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi</a>&nbsp;targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/yemen">Yemen</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-yemen-houthi-hamas-war-gaza-strip-216c0bde5f79ed857f1f5ef7f157a66b">set fire to a cargo vessel.</a>

According to U.S. officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.

This is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-syria-jordan-strikes-us-2f235ac0d00edc266576ef0d76fa33e4">the fourth time that the U.S. and British militaries</a>&nbsp;have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since Jan. 12. But the U.S. has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said.

“The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.”

The Houthis denounced the “US-British aggression” and vowed to keep up its military operation in response. “The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will confront the US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas in defense of our country, our people and our nation,” it said in a statement.

The U.S., U.K., and other allies said in a statement the “necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen” that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said RAF Typhoon jets engaged in “precision strikes” aimed at degrading Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps said it came after “severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship.” It’s the fourth time Britain has joined in the U.S.-led strikes.

The strikes have support from the wider coalition, which includes Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the U.S. won’t tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. But the counterattacks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-6ac2a1bf5032ed0531258816907cfe2c">haven’t appeared to diminish</a>&nbsp;the Houthis’ campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war against Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708813391502.png" alt="F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower supporting strikes against on Iranian-Backed Houthi Targets on Feb. 24.- photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower supporting strikes against on Iranian-Backed Houthi Targets on Feb. 24.- photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Britain struck 18&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi</a>&nbsp;targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/yemen">Yemen</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-yemen-houthi-hamas-war-gaza-strip-216c0bde5f79ed857f1f5ef7f157a66b">set fire to a cargo vessel.</a>According to U.S. officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.This is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-syria-jordan-strikes-us-2f235ac0d00edc266576ef0d76fa33e4">the fourth time that the U.S. and British militaries</a>&nbsp;have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since Jan. 12. But the U.S. has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.The U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said.“The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.”The Houthis denounced the “US-British aggression” and vowed to keep up its military operation in response. “The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will confront the US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas in defense of our country, our people and our nation,” it said in a statement.The U.S., U.K., and other allies said in a statement the “necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen” that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said RAF Typhoon jets engaged in “precision strikes” aimed at degrading Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps said it came after “severe Houthi attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship.” It’s the fourth time Britain has joined in the U.S.-led strikes.The strikes have support from the wider coalition, which includes Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the U.S. won’t tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. But the counterattacks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-6ac2a1bf5032ed0531258816907cfe2c">haven’t appeared to diminish</a>&nbsp;the Houthis’ campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war against Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.“Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats,” said the Saturday statement.The Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.“We’ve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.“We never said we’ve wiped off the map all of their capabilities,” she told reporters. “We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and that’s because they continue to get them from Iran.”There have been at least 32 U.S. strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement. In addition, U.S. warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other Navy vessels.Earlier Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, U.S. Central Command said, adding that the missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.The U.S. attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage building, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.The rebels’ supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an “escalation in sea operations” conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israel’s war on Hamas.But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis' targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe.During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the U.S. and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope — a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.In Thursday’s attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command said. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.Central Command also said Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belize-flagged ship on Feb. 18 caused an 18-mile (29-kilometer) oil slick and the. military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-67cf1acc17f4e17d04075a99688e4da8">was attacked</a>&nbsp;while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.The Associated Press, relying on satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the stricken vessel, reported Tuesday that the vessel was leaking oil in the Red Sea.Yemen’s internationally recognized government on Saturday called for other countries and maritime-protection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert “a significant environmental disaster.------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Britain struck more than a dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi</a>&nbsp;targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/yemen">Yemen</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-yemen-houthi-hamas-war-gaza-strip-216c0bde5f79ed857f1f5ef7f157a66b">set fire to a cargo vessel.</a>According to U.S. officials, American and British fighter jets hit about 18 sites across multiple locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.This is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-syria-jordan-strikes-us-2f235ac0d00edc266576ef0d76fa33e4">the fourth time that the U.S. and British militaries</a>&nbsp;have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since Jan. 12. But the U.S. has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.The U.S. fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea.President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the U.S. won’t tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping. But the counterattacks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-6ac2a1bf5032ed0531258816907cfe2c">haven’t appeared to diminish</a>&nbsp;the Houthis’ campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s war against Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.The group has launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.“We’ve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.“We never said we’ve wiped off the map all of their capabilities,” she told reporters. “We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and that’s because they continue to get them from Iran.”There have been at least 32 U.S. strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement. In addition, U.S. warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other Navy vessels.Earlier Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, U.S. Central Command said, adding that the missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a U.S.-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.The U.S. attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage building, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.The rebels’ supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an “escalation in sea operations” conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israel’s war on Hamas.But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis' targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe.During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the U.S. and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope — a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the U.S. and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.In Thursday’s attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command said. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.Central Command also said Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belize-flagged ship on Feb. 18 caused an 18-mile (29-kilometer) oil slick and the. military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-67cf1acc17f4e17d04075a99688e4da8">was attacked</a>&nbsp;while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.The Associated Press, relying on satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the stricken vessel, reported Tuesday that the vessel was leaking oil in the Red Sea.Yemen’s internationally recognized government on Saturday called for other countries and maritime-protection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert “a significant environmental disaster.