Freedom from Religion Foundation says Goddard school district ended unconstitutional practice after receiving letter

By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A south-central Kansas public school choir teacher taught middle school students Christian worship songs centering around loving Jesus, such as “Praise His Holy Name,” and made students listen to Bible lessons, according to a national watchdog group’s report.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a national nonprofit geared toward the separation of state and church, urged the district to stop the practice in late November after a concerned district parent reached out to them.

“It’s not a teacher’s job to convert a student to their religion, no matter what tools they use to do so,” said FRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor in a news release.

The parent told the FRF that a teacher at Challenger Intermediate School in the Goddard school district had been teaching sixth-graders religious songs since late October, including “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.”

Lyrics of the song “Praise His Holy Name” has such lines as “Jesus, Jesus, how I love Thee! Shout Hallelujah!” and “There’s a cross for ev’ryone and there’s a cross for me.”&nbsp;

“Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” is a song encouraging people to pray for salvation. The song includes such lines as “The wind blows east and the wind blows west / It blows like the judgment day / And ev’ry poor soul that never did pray / Will be glad to pray that day.”

The teacher allegedly also taught lessons on the biblical story of Daniel, a story that is meant to encourage belief and worship of the Abrahamic God.

FRF legal fellow Samantha Lawrence sent district superintendent Justin Henry&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/GoddardUSD265KS-ReligiousMusic.pdf">a letter</a>&nbsp;warning of these constitutional violations on Nov. 29.

“There is no need for a public intermediate school choral program to select religious worship music for students, and it is plainly unconstitutional for a public school choir teacher to teach students Bible lessons,” Lawrence wrote.

“By coercing sixth-grade students to sing overtly Christian worship music in its choral program, the district demonstrates favoritism towards religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths,” she added. “This favoritism towards Christianity needlessly alienates all students and families, such as our complainant and their child, who do not subscribe to Christianity.”

Henry’s response to the letter, as reported by the FRF, was to inform the teacher of constitutional rights and violations.

“Since receiving your email on Nov. 29, we have had the opportunity to provide (the teacher) this information and will be planning a meeting with all district choir instructors to ensure they understand the information,” Henry said.

A spokesman for the district didn’t immediately answer questions from Kansas Reflector.

<h2>Freedom from Religion Foundation says Goddard school district ended unconstitutional practice after receiving letter</h2>By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A south-central Kansas public school choir teacher taught middle school students Christian worship songs centering around loving Jesus, such as “Praise His Holy Name,” and made students listen to Bible lessons, according to a national watchdog group’s report.The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a national nonprofit geared toward the separation of state and church, urged the district to stop the practice in late November after a concerned district parent reached out to them.“It’s not a teacher’s job to convert a student to their religion, no matter what tools they use to do so,” said FRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor in a news release.The parent told the FRF that a teacher at Challenger Intermediate School in the Goddard school district had been teaching sixth-graders religious songs since late October, including “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.”Lyrics of the song “Praise His Holy Name” has such lines as “Jesus, Jesus, how I love Thee! Shout Hallelujah!” and “There’s a cross for ev’ryone and there’s a cross for me.”&nbsp;“Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” is a song encouraging people to pray for salvation. The song includes such lines as “The wind blows east and the wind blows west / It blows like the judgment day / And ev’ry poor soul that never did pray / Will be glad to pray that day.”The teacher allegedly also taught lessons on the biblical story of Daniel, a story that is meant to encourage belief and worship of the Abrahamic God.FRF legal fellow Samantha Lawrence sent district superintendent Justin Henry&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/GoddardUSD265KS-ReligiousMusic.pdf">a letter</a>&nbsp;warning of these constitutional violations on Nov. 29.“There is no need for a public intermediate school choral program to select religious worship music for students, and it is plainly unconstitutional for a public school choir teacher to teach students Bible lessons,” Lawrence wrote.“By coercing sixth-grade students to sing overtly Christian worship music in its choral program, the district demonstrates favoritism towards religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths,” she added. “This favoritism towards Christianity needlessly alienates all students and families, such as our complainant and their child, who do not subscribe to Christianity.”Henry’s response to the letter, as reported by the FRF, was to inform the teacher of constitutional rights and violations.“Since receiving your email on Nov. 29, we have had the opportunity to provide (the teacher) this information and will be planning a meeting with all district choir instructors to ensure they understand the information,” Henry said.A spokesman for the district didn’t immediately answer questions from Kansas Reflector.

Kansas public school district warned about Bible lessons, worship songs

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large fire in an apartment building in Kansas City.

Just after 8p.m. Saturday, crews responded to a fire in the two-story&nbsp; &nbsp;Vivion Oaks Apartments, at 50th and N Oak Trafficway, in Kansas City.

Battalion 108 and companies battled the two alarm fire and used&nbsp; multiple master streams to get this fire under control and hold it to one end of the building, according to a social media report.

All occupants were accounted for and evacuated with only one minor injury.&nbsp; The fire destroyed about 12 units.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702215416102.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large fire in an apartment building in Kansas City.Just after 8p.m. Saturday, crews responded to a fire in the two-story&nbsp; &nbsp;Vivion Oaks Apartments, at 50th and N Oak Trafficway, in Kansas City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702215358330.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Battalion 108 and companies battled the two alarm fire and used&nbsp; multiple master streams to get this fire under control and hold it to one end of the building, according to a social media report.All occupants were accounted for and evacuated with only one minor injury.&nbsp; The fire destroyed about 12 units..

12 units destroyed in 2-alarm Kansas City apartment fire

WASHINGTON (AP)— President Joe Biden's administration has approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million as it intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip, the State Department said Saturday.

The department said it had notified Congress of the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale” of the munitions in the U.S. national security interest.

The emergency determination means that the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for congressional approval.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the department said in a statement. “Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”

The sale is worth $106.5 million and includes 13,981 120 mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer tank cartridges as well as U.S. support, engineering and logistics.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 17,700, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.

Israel’s ground offensive in southern Gaza Strip intensified on Saturday with further airstrikes and artillery fire, a day after the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-resolution-ceasefire-humanitarian-6d3bfd31d6c25168e828274d96b85cf8">blocked a U.N. resolution</a>&nbsp;calling for a cease-fire.

Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in the ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages.</a>

Amid concerns about a wider conflict, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to prevent any ship heading to Israeli ports from passing through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea until food and medicine can enter Gaza freely. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents have reported severe food shortages.

Despite growing international pressure, President Joe Biden’s administration remains opposed to an open-ended cease-fire, arguing it would enable Hamas to continue posing a threat to Israel. The administration approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million, the State Department said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697623831480.png" alt="File-President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File-President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)— President Joe Biden's administration has approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million as it intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip, the State Department said Saturday.The department said it had notified Congress of the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale” of the munitions in the U.S. national security interest.The emergency determination means that the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented, when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for congressional approval.“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the department said in a statement. “Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”The sale is worth $106.5 million and includes 13,981 120 mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer tank cartridges as well as U.S. support, engineering and logistics.Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 17,700, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.Israel’s ground offensive in southern Gaza Strip intensified on Saturday with further airstrikes and artillery fire, a day after the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-resolution-ceasefire-humanitarian-6d3bfd31d6c25168e828274d96b85cf8">blocked a U.N. resolution</a>&nbsp;calling for a cease-fire.Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in the ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages.</a>Amid concerns about a wider conflict, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to prevent any ship heading to Israeli ports from passing through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea until food and medicine can enter Gaza freely. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents have reported severe food shortages.Despite growing international pressure, President Joe Biden’s administration remains opposed to an open-ended cease-fire, arguing it would enable Hamas to continue posing a threat to Israel. The administration approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million, the State Department said.

Biden approves emergency tank ammunition sale to Israel 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Two more suspects have been sentenced for the 2019 murder of a Kansas teen in his new apartment complex in Overland Park.

This week Judge Charles Droege sentenced 26-year-old Alan Michael Hicks to nearly 18-years in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Judge Droege also sentenced 21-year-old Juriah Sue Jones to ten years in prison for her role in the murder.

In October Hicks pled guilty to charges in the death of 17-year-old Ben Workman who was killed in an apartment complex near 80th and Farley streets in January 2019. Jones pled guilty in September to second-degree murder and aggravated robbery.

Workman had recently moved into his apartment with his girlfriend two weeks before he was killed, according to Overland Park police.

&nbsp;Raymond Cherry was also charged in connection with Workman's death. Cherry was found guilty of first-degree murder and received a life sentence in April, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701967448166.png" alt="Hicks-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hicks-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Two more suspects have been sentenced for the 2019 murder of a Kansas teen in his new apartment complex in Overland Park.This week Judge Charles Droege sentenced 26-year-old Alan Michael Hicks to nearly 18-years in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701967911587.png" alt="Jones-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Judge Droege also sentenced 21-year-old Juriah Sue Jones to ten years in prison for her role in the murder.In October Hicks pled guilty to charges in the death of 17-year-old Ben Workman who was killed in an apartment complex near 80th and Farley streets in January 2019. Jones pled guilty in September to second-degree murder and aggravated robbery.Workman had recently moved into his apartment with his girlfriend two weeks before he was killed, according to Overland Park police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677204070419.png" alt="Cherry photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Cherry photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Raymond Cherry was also charged in connection with Workman's death. Cherry was found guilty of first-degree murder and received a life sentence in April, according to the district attorney's office.

2 sentenced for killing Kansas teen during robbery at his apartment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The University of Pennsylvania’s president has resigned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-20b8513293ee2dbaee053a6fd3f8ce7a">amid pressure from donors and criticism</a>&nbsp;over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.

The chairman of the Ivy League school's board of trustees, Scott Bok, also resigned, the university said Saturday evening, just hours after Bok announced Liz Magill's departure as president in just her second year.

The university said Magill will remain a tenured faculty member at the university’s Carey Law School. She has agreed to keep serving as Penn’s leader until the university names an interim president.

Calls for Magill's firing exploded after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-islamophobia-education-universities-hamas-israel-3ae6f640de936f7228a63331efbb85ad">Tuesday’s testimony</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. House committee on antisemitism on college campuses, where she appeared with the presidents of Harvard University and MIT.

Universities across the U.S. have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid rising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-antisemitism-europe-massacre-war-protests-1d26266dfd9b2b8dd4c795f420abab47">fears of antisemitism worldwide</a>&nbsp;and fallout from Israel’s intensifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>, which faces heightened criticism for the mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unrwa-lazzarini-gaza-israel-hamas-war-95ce3c409bd8566ed26d60aa75223546">Palestinian death toll</a>.

The three presidents were called before the committee to answer those accusations. But their lawyerly answers drew renewed blowback from opponents, focused particularly on a line of questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who repeatedly asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate Penn’s code of conduct.

“If the speech turns into conduct it can be harassment, yes,” Magill said. Pressed further, Magill told Stefanik, “It is a context-dependent decision, congresswoman.”

Criticism of Magill rained down from the White House, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, members of Congress and donors. One donor, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million gift because of the university’s “stance on antisemitism on campus” unless Magill was replaced.

A day later, Magill addressed the criticism, saying in a video that she would consider a call for the genocide of Jewish people to be harassment or intimidation and that Penn’s policies need to be “clarified and evaluated.”

In a statement Saturday, Stefanik said Magill's “forced resignation” is the “bare minimum of what is required" and said Harvard and MIT should follow suit.

“This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America,” Stefanik said.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said Magill’s resignation allows Penn to “chart a new course in addressing antisemitism on campus.”

Even before Tuesday's hearing, Magill had been under fire from some donors and alumni this fall. Some also had called for the resignation of Bok, who had defended Magill amid criticism over the university’s handling of various perceived acts of antisemitism.

That included allowing a Palestinian literary arts festival to be held on its campus in September featuring speakers whose past statements about Israel had drawn accusations of antisemitism.

A former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, Magill, 57, is the daughter of a retired federal judge and was dean of Stanford University’s law school and a top administrator at the University of Virginia before Penn hired her as its ninth president last year.

Bok is chairman and CEO of investment bank Greenhill &amp; Co.

Earlier Saturday, New York's governor called on the state's colleges and universities to swiftly address cases of antisemitism and what she described as any “calls for genocide” on campus.

<a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/SchoolsV2.pdf">In a letter</a>&nbsp;to college and university presidents, Gov. Kathy Hochul said her administration would enforce violations of the state's Human Rights Law and refer any violations of federal civil rights law to U.S. officials.

Hochul said she has spoken to chancellors of the State University of New York and City University of New York public college systems who she said confirmed “that calling for genocide of any group” or tolerating antisemitism violates codes of conduct on their campuses “and would lead to swift disciplinary action.”

The governor's letter doesn't address any specific incidents. Her office didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

A popular chant at pro-Palestinian rallies at Penn and other universities has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-ucla-penn-genocide-057006125279">falsely misrepresented</a>&nbsp;in recent months as claiming to call for “Jewish genocide.”

Experts and advocates say the chant, “Israel, we charge you with genocide,” is a typical refrain heard at pro-Palestinian rallies. Jewish and Palestinian supporters both acknowledge protesters aren’t saying “We want Jewish genocide.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702170245592.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The University of Pennsylvania’s president has resigned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-20b8513293ee2dbaee053a6fd3f8ce7a">amid pressure from donors and criticism</a>&nbsp;over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned Saturday after facing backlash from her congressional testimony earlier this week on antisemitism on college campuses. Here&#39;s the exchange. <a href="https://t.co/EVrAMy33qh">pic.twitter.com/EVrAMy33qh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1733607598803292487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The chairman of the Ivy League school's board of trustees, Scott Bok, also resigned, the university said Saturday evening, just hours after Bok announced Liz Magill's departure as president in just her second year.The university said Magill will remain a tenured faculty member at the university’s Carey Law School. She has agreed to keep serving as Penn’s leader until the university names an interim president.Calls for Magill's firing exploded after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-islamophobia-education-universities-hamas-israel-3ae6f640de936f7228a63331efbb85ad">Tuesday’s testimony</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. House committee on antisemitism on college campuses, where she appeared with the presidents of Harvard University and MIT.Universities across the U.S. have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid rising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-antisemitism-europe-massacre-war-protests-1d26266dfd9b2b8dd4c795f420abab47">fears of antisemitism worldwide</a>&nbsp;and fallout from Israel’s intensifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>, which faces heightened criticism for the mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unrwa-lazzarini-gaza-israel-hamas-war-95ce3c409bd8566ed26d60aa75223546">Palestinian death toll</a>.The three presidents were called before the committee to answer those accusations. But their lawyerly answers drew renewed blowback from opponents, focused particularly on a line of questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who repeatedly asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate Penn’s code of conduct.“If the speech turns into conduct it can be harassment, yes,” Magill said. Pressed further, Magill told Stefanik, “It is a context-dependent decision, congresswoman.”Criticism of Magill rained down from the White House, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, members of Congress and donors. One donor, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million gift because of the university’s “stance on antisemitism on campus” unless Magill was replaced.A day later, Magill addressed the criticism, saying in a video that she would consider a call for the genocide of Jewish people to be harassment or intimidation and that Penn’s policies need to be “clarified and evaluated.”In a statement Saturday, Stefanik said Magill's “forced resignation” is the “bare minimum of what is required" and said Harvard and MIT should follow suit.“This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America,” Stefanik said.U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said Magill’s resignation allows Penn to “chart a new course in addressing antisemitism on campus.”Even before Tuesday's hearing, Magill had been under fire from some donors and alumni this fall. Some also had called for the resignation of Bok, who had defended Magill amid criticism over the university’s handling of various perceived acts of antisemitism.That included allowing a Palestinian literary arts festival to be held on its campus in September featuring speakers whose past statements about Israel had drawn accusations of antisemitism.A former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, Magill, 57, is the daughter of a retired federal judge and was dean of Stanford University’s law school and a top administrator at the University of Virginia before Penn hired her as its ninth president last year.Bok is chairman and CEO of investment bank Greenhill &amp; Co.Earlier Saturday, New York's governor called on the state's colleges and universities to swiftly address cases of antisemitism and what she described as any “calls for genocide” on campus.<a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/SchoolsV2.pdf">In a letter</a>&nbsp;to college and university presidents, Gov. Kathy Hochul said her administration would enforce violations of the state's Human Rights Law and refer any violations of federal civil rights law to U.S. officials.Hochul said she has spoken to chancellors of the State University of New York and City University of New York public college systems who she said confirmed “that calling for genocide of any group” or tolerating antisemitism violates codes of conduct on their campuses “and would lead to swift disciplinary action.”The governor's letter doesn't address any specific incidents. Her office didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.A popular chant at pro-Palestinian rallies at Penn and other universities has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-ucla-penn-genocide-057006125279">falsely misrepresented</a>&nbsp;in recent months as claiming to call for “Jewish genocide.”Experts and advocates say the chant, “Israel, we charge you with genocide,” is a typical refrain heard at pro-Palestinian rallies. Jewish and Palestinian supporters both acknowledge protesters aren’t saying “We want Jewish genocide.”___

🎥University president resigns amid antisemitism testimony firestorm

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced December 6, for a high-speed chase in a car stolen from a car dealearship.

John J. Krueger, 37, of Overland Park,&nbsp;was sentenced to 14 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

Judge Sally Pokorny also sentenced Krueger, 37, who pleaded no contest on October 30, 2023, to serve 12 months on post-release supervision.

The charges are from an incident on the morning of October 7, 2023. Krueger took a vehicle from a dealership in Kansas City without permission. The vehicle was later spotted in the 2700 block of Iowa Street. Krueger fled northbound in the vehicle while being pursued by officers from the Lawrence Police Department. With assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, police were able to stop Krueger near W. 15th and Iowa streets.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702136937654.png" alt="Krueger from an earlier arrest in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Krueger from an earlier arrest in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man was sentenced December 6, for a high-speed chase in a car stolen from a car dealearship.John J. Krueger, 37, of Overland Park,&nbsp;was sentenced to 14 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.Judge Sally Pokorny also sentenced Krueger, 37, who pleaded no contest on October 30, 2023, to serve 12 months on post-release supervision.The charges are from an incident on the morning of October 7, 2023. Krueger took a vehicle from a dealership in Kansas City without permission. The vehicle was later spotted in the 2700 block of Iowa Street. Krueger fled northbound in the vehicle while being pursued by officers from the Lawrence Police Department. With assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, police were able to stop Krueger near W. 15th and Iowa streets.&nbsp;

Kan. man sentenced for police-chase in car taken from dealership

WASHINGTON (AP) —Regulators on Friday approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease that doctors hope can cure the painful, inherited blood disorder that afflicts mostly Black people in the U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration said the one-time treatments can be used for patients 12 and older with severe forms of the disease. One, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-crispr-8ded5e3a35b30bd257ac756f8a223c51">first approved therapy</a>&nbsp;based on CRISPR, the gene editing tool that won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prizes-united-states-technology-science-europe-14ba023fa7a90b34df2d7a6d0314c796">its inventors</a>&nbsp;the Nobel Prize in 2020. The other is made by Bluebird Bio and works differently.

“Sickle cell disease is a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder with significant unmet need," the FDA's Dr. Nicole Verdun said in a statement announcing the approvals. “We are excited to advance the field especially for individuals whose lives have been severely disrupted by the disease."

The two gene therapies are the first approved in the U.S. for sickle cell. The FDA has previously OK'd 15 gene therapies for other conditions. Some have list prices in the millions of dollars, and the sickle cell therapies will too.

In the U.S., an estimated 100,000 people have sickle cell and about a fifth of them have the severe form. Sickle cell is most common among Black people and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html">1 in 365</a>&nbsp;Black babies are born with the disease nationally. Scientists believe being a carrier of the sickle cell trait helps protect against severe malaria, so the disease occurs more often in mosquito-prone regions such as Africa or in people whose ancestors lived in those places.

The disease affects hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A genetic mutation causes the cells to become sickle or crescent-shaped, which can block blood flow, causing excruciating pain, organ damage, stroke and other problems.

Current treatments include medications and blood transfusions. The only permanent solution is a bone marrow transplant, which must come from a closely matched donor and brings a risk of rejection.

No donor is required for the gene therapies, which permanently change DNA in the patient’s blood cells. The goal of the Vertex therapy, called Casgevy, is to help the body go back to producing a fetal form of hemoglobin that’s present at birth — it’s the adult form that’s defective in people with sickle cell disease. CRISPR is used to knock out a gene in stem cells collected from the patient.

Bluebird’s treatment, called Lyfgenia, aims to add copies of a modified gene, which helps red blood cells produce “anti-sickling” hemoglobin that prevents or reverses misshapen cells.

When patients get the treatments, stem cells are removed from their blood and sent to a lab. Before getting the altered cells back, they must undergo chemotherapy. The process requires at least two hospitalizations, one lasting four to six weeks.

Still, many patients say they’d consider gene therapy given the seriousness of the disease.

Jalen Matthews of Louisville, Kentucky, was diagnosed with sickle cell at birth and had her first pain episode at age 9. Three years later, the disease led to a spinal cord stroke that left her with some paralysis in her left arm and leg.

“I had to learn how to walk again, feed myself, clothe myself, basically learn how to do everything all over again,” said Matthews, now 26.

Today, she keeps her sickle cell at bay with transfusions every two months or so, with five units of her blood replaced with healthy cells. She said gene therapy could be a better option and she plans to ask her doctor about it.

“This one-time kind of cure is very much needed,” said Matthews.

The FDA’s approval is the first for Bluebird’s treatment; Vertex has been previously authorized in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-treatment-uk-first-9bcf7c7d8b8909fb06e137fee17c767c">Britain</a>&nbsp;and Bahrain.

Studies testing the therapies suggest they work well. Of 31 people treated in the pivotal Vertex study with sufficient follow-up, 29 were free of pain crises for at least a year. In the Bluebird study, 28 of 32 patients had no severe pain or organ damage between six and 18 months after the therapy.

But doctors point out there are possible side effects and the long-term outcomes are unknown. For both, the necessary chemotherapy comes with risks such as infertility, hair loss and vulnerability to serious infection.

With the Bluebird therapy, blood cancer has occurred, so the FDA said the label will include a “black box warning” about that risk. With the Vertex therapy, some scientists worry that CRISPR brings the possibility of “off-target effects,” which are unexpected changes to a person’s genome.

“It’s important to be cautious and to be optimistic about this therapy, but also know that there’s still not a ton of experience with it,” said Dr. Benjamin Watkins, director of the pediatric stem cell and cell therapy program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans.

Doctors said they don’t expect every medical center to offer the gene therapies because they require so much equipment and coordination between medical specialists. They also don’t expect lots of people to seek them right away. Watkins said some may want to wait until more people get the treatments.

Experts also warned that cost could be a hurdle. The list price for Bluebird Bio is $3.1 million and for Vertex, $2.2 million. What patients might pay will depend on insurance coverage and other factors. To help cover the cost, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/blog/cms-launches-action-plan-sickle-cell-disease-month">announced</a>&nbsp;a plan that aims to establish partnerships with state Medicaid agencies and drug companies.

But eventually, gene therapy “could be transformative and really change the landscape of sickle cell disease,” said Dr. Monica Bhatia, who treats children with the disease at NewYork-Presbyterian.

Matthews, who volunteers with The Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, said she’s hopeful the treatments will have a big impact.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Regulators on Friday approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease that doctors hope can cure the painful, inherited blood disorder that afflicts mostly Black people in the U.S.The Food and Drug Administration said the one-time treatments can be used for patients 12 and older with severe forms of the disease. One, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-crispr-8ded5e3a35b30bd257ac756f8a223c51">first approved therapy</a>&nbsp;based on CRISPR, the gene editing tool that won&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prizes-united-states-technology-science-europe-14ba023fa7a90b34df2d7a6d0314c796">its inventors</a>&nbsp;the Nobel Prize in 2020. The other is made by Bluebird Bio and works differently.“Sickle cell disease is a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder with significant unmet need," the FDA's Dr. Nicole Verdun said in a statement announcing the approvals. “We are excited to advance the field especially for individuals whose lives have been severely disrupted by the disease."The two gene therapies are the first approved in the U.S. for sickle cell. The FDA has previously OK'd 15 gene therapies for other conditions. Some have list prices in the millions of dollars, and the sickle cell therapies will too.In the U.S., an estimated 100,000 people have sickle cell and about a fifth of them have the severe form. Sickle cell is most common among Black people and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html">1 in 365</a>&nbsp;Black babies are born with the disease nationally. Scientists believe being a carrier of the sickle cell trait helps protect against severe malaria, so the disease occurs more often in mosquito-prone regions such as Africa or in people whose ancestors lived in those places.The disease affects hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A genetic mutation causes the cells to become sickle or crescent-shaped, which can block blood flow, causing excruciating pain, organ damage, stroke and other problems.Current treatments include medications and blood transfusions. The only permanent solution is a bone marrow transplant, which must come from a closely matched donor and brings a risk of rejection.No donor is required for the gene therapies, which permanently change DNA in the patient’s blood cells. The goal of the Vertex therapy, called Casgevy, is to help the body go back to producing a fetal form of hemoglobin that’s present at birth — it’s the adult form that’s defective in people with sickle cell disease. CRISPR is used to knock out a gene in stem cells collected from the patient.Bluebird’s treatment, called Lyfgenia, aims to add copies of a modified gene, which helps red blood cells produce “anti-sickling” hemoglobin that prevents or reverses misshapen cells.When patients get the treatments, stem cells are removed from their blood and sent to a lab. Before getting the altered cells back, they must undergo chemotherapy. The process requires at least two hospitalizations, one lasting four to six weeks.Still, many patients say they’d consider gene therapy given the seriousness of the disease.Jalen Matthews of Louisville, Kentucky, was diagnosed with sickle cell at birth and had her first pain episode at age 9. Three years later, the disease led to a spinal cord stroke that left her with some paralysis in her left arm and leg.“I had to learn how to walk again, feed myself, clothe myself, basically learn how to do everything all over again,” said Matthews, now 26.Today, she keeps her sickle cell at bay with transfusions every two months or so, with five units of her blood replaced with healthy cells. She said gene therapy could be a better option and she plans to ask her doctor about it.“This one-time kind of cure is very much needed,” said Matthews.The FDA’s approval is the first for Bluebird’s treatment; Vertex has been previously authorized in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-treatment-uk-first-9bcf7c7d8b8909fb06e137fee17c767c">Britain</a>&nbsp;and Bahrain.Studies testing the therapies suggest they work well. Of 31 people treated in the pivotal Vertex study with sufficient follow-up, 29 were free of pain crises for at least a year. In the Bluebird study, 28 of 32 patients had no severe pain or organ damage between six and 18 months after the therapy.But doctors point out there are possible side effects and the long-term outcomes are unknown. For both, the necessary chemotherapy comes with risks such as infertility, hair loss and vulnerability to serious infection.With the Bluebird therapy, blood cancer has occurred, so the FDA said the label will include a “black box warning” about that risk. With the Vertex therapy, some scientists worry that CRISPR brings the possibility of “off-target effects,” which are unexpected changes to a person’s genome.“It’s important to be cautious and to be optimistic about this therapy, but also know that there’s still not a ton of experience with it,” said Dr. Benjamin Watkins, director of the pediatric stem cell and cell therapy program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans.Doctors said they don’t expect every medical center to offer the gene therapies because they require so much equipment and coordination between medical specialists. They also don’t expect lots of people to seek them right away. Watkins said some may want to wait until more people get the treatments.Experts also warned that cost could be a hurdle. The list price for Bluebird Bio is $3.1 million and for Vertex, $2.2 million. What patients might pay will depend on insurance coverage and other factors. To help cover the cost, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/blog/cms-launches-action-plan-sickle-cell-disease-month">announced</a>&nbsp;a plan that aims to establish partnerships with state Medicaid agencies and drug companies.But eventually, gene therapy “could be transformative and really change the landscape of sickle cell disease,” said Dr. Monica Bhatia, who treats children with the disease at NewYork-Presbyterian.Matthews, who volunteers with The Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, said she’s hopeful the treatments will have a big impact.

FDA approves first gene-editing treatment for illness

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for an alleged robbery.

Just after 11p.m. December 3, police responded to a report of a robbery at the Sonic drive-in 5922 SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Lt Jerry Monasmith.

 A victim reported a male suspect, later identified as 37-year-old William Kellogg entered the establishment and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, Kellogg fled the scene. 

Shortly afterwards, officers located and apprehended a person matching the Kellogg's description without incident.

As a result of the investigation, police transported Kellogg to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Robbery and possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701874121466.png" alt="Kellogg-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kellogg-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for an alleged robbery.Just after 11p.m. December 3, police responded to a report of a robbery at the Sonic drive-in 5922 SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Lt Jerry Monasmith. A victim reported a male suspect, later identified as 37-year-old William Kellogg entered the establishment and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, Kellogg fled the scene. Shortly afterwards, officers located and apprehended a person matching the Kellogg's description without incident.As a result of the investigation, police transported Kellogg to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Robbery and possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Man accused of robbery at Kansas fast-food restaurant

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday night put on hold a judge's ruling that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-roe-568c09dc8794c341095189362ece9004">approved an abortion for a pregnant woman</a>&nbsp;whose fetus has a fatal diagnosis, throwing into limbo an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.

The order by the all-Republican court came more than 30 hours after Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, received a temporary restraining order from a lower court judge that prevents Texas from enforcing the state's ban in her case.

In a one-page order, the court said it was temporarily staying Thursday's ruling “without regard to the merits." The case is still pending.

“While we still hope that the Court ultimately rejects the state’s request and does so quickly, in this case we fear that justice delayed will be justice denied,” said Molly Duane, an attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing Cox.

Cox's attorneys have said they will not share her abortion plans, citing concerns for her safety. In a filing with the Texas Supreme Court on Friday, her attorneys indicated she was still pregnant.

Cox was 20 weeks pregnant this week when she filed what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">that overturned Roe v. Wade</a>. The order issued Thursday only applied to Cox and no other pregnant Texas women.

Cox learned she was pregnant for a third time in August and was told weeks later that her baby was at a high risk for a condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth and low survival rates, according to her lawsuit.

Furthermore, doctors have told Cox that if the baby’s heartbeat were to stop, inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her two prior cesareans sections, and that another C-section at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox does not meet the criteria for a medical exception to the state's abortion ban, and he urged the state's highest court to act swiftly.

“Future criminal and civil proceedings cannot restore the life that is lost if Plaintiffs or their agents proceed to perform and procure an abortion in violation of Texas law,” Paxton's office told the court.

He also warned three hospitals in Houston that they could face legal consequences if they allowed Cox's physician to provide the abortion, despite the ruling from state District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who Paxton called an “activist” judge.

On Friday, a pregnant Kentucky woman&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ndmark%20U.S.%20Supreme%20Court%20decision%20last%20year%20that%20a%20woman%20has%20asked%20a%20court%20to%20approve%20an%20abortion.">also filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;demanding the right to an abortion. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, is about eight weeks pregnant and she wants to have an abortion in Kentucky but cannot legally do so because of the state’s ban, the suit said.

Unlike Cox's lawsuit, the Kentucky challenge seeks class-action status to include other Kentuckians who are or will become pregnant and want to have an abortion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702131734401.png" alt="Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights" />
 <figcaption>Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday night put on hold a judge's ruling that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-roe-568c09dc8794c341095189362ece9004">approved an abortion for a pregnant woman</a>&nbsp;whose fetus has a fatal diagnosis, throwing into limbo an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.The order by the all-Republican court came more than 30 hours after Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, received a temporary restraining order from a lower court judge that prevents Texas from enforcing the state's ban in her case.In a one-page order, the court said it was temporarily staying Thursday's ruling “without regard to the merits." The case is still pending.“While we still hope that the Court ultimately rejects the state’s request and does so quickly, in this case we fear that justice delayed will be justice denied,” said Molly Duane, an attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing Cox.Cox's attorneys have said they will not share her abortion plans, citing concerns for her safety. In a filing with the Texas Supreme Court on Friday, her attorneys indicated she was still pregnant.Cox was 20 weeks pregnant this week when she filed what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">that overturned Roe v. Wade</a>. The order issued Thursday only applied to Cox and no other pregnant Texas women.Cox learned she was pregnant for a third time in August and was told weeks later that her baby was at a high risk for a condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth and low survival rates, according to her lawsuit.Furthermore, doctors have told Cox that if the baby’s heartbeat were to stop, inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her two prior cesareans sections, and that another C-section at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child.Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox does not meet the criteria for a medical exception to the state's abortion ban, and he urged the state's highest court to act swiftly.“Future criminal and civil proceedings cannot restore the life that is lost if Plaintiffs or their agents proceed to perform and procure an abortion in violation of Texas law,” Paxton's office told the court.He also warned three hospitals in Houston that they could face legal consequences if they allowed Cox's physician to provide the abortion, despite the ruling from state District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who Paxton called an “activist” judge.On Friday, a pregnant Kentucky woman&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ndmark%20U.S.%20Supreme%20Court%20decision%20last%20year%20that%20a%20woman%20has%20asked%20a%20court%20to%20approve%20an%20abortion.">also filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;demanding the right to an abortion. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, is about eight weeks pregnant and she wants to have an abortion in Kentucky but cannot legally do so because of the state’s ban, the suit said.Unlike Cox's lawsuit, the Kentucky challenge seeks class-action status to include other Kentuckians who are or will become pregnant and want to have an abortion.

Court puts hold on Judge's ruling in unprecedented abortion case

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City.

The shooting happened in the area of Independence Avenue and Cleveland Avenue around 9:20 p.m.

Just before 9:30p.m. Friday, police responded to Independence Avenue and Cleveland Avenue where they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds, according to a media release.

First responders pronounced the woman dead at the scene. EMS transported the man to a local hospital

While detectives were investigating, a third&nbsp; victim arrived at a fire station a short distance away reporting that he had been shot at the original Independence Avenue location. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Police are working to determine what prompted the interaction between the man found at the scene of the shooting and an unknown suspect to escalate into gunfire.

Police have not released any information on a suspect or reported an arrest.

&nbsp;Detectives are searching for witnesses to the incident or any surveillance footage that may have captured it.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City.The shooting happened in the area of Independence Avenue and Cleveland Avenue around 9:20 p.m.Just before 9:30p.m. Friday, police responded to Independence Avenue and Cleveland Avenue where they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds, according to a media release.First responders pronounced the woman dead at the scene. EMS transported the man to a local hospitalWhile detectives were investigating, a third&nbsp; victim arrived at a fire station a short distance away reporting that he had been shot at the original Independence Avenue location. EMS transported him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.Police are working to determine what prompted the interaction between the man found at the scene of the shooting and an unknown suspect to escalate into gunfire.Police have not released any information on a suspect or reported an arrest.&nbsp;Detectives are searching for witnesses to the incident or any surveillance footage that may have captured it.

Police: Woman dead, 2 men injured in Kansas City gunfight

JERUSALEM (AP)— The Israeli military says two soldiers have been seriously wounded in a failed attempt to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The military said Friday that it killed numerous militants in the overnight operation, but was unable to rescue any hostages.

Earlier Friday, Hamas said its fighters had stopped a rescue attempt and clashed with Israeli special forces. It claimed an Israeli soldier who was being held hostage was killed by Israeli air fire meant to protect the withdrawing forces. Israel’s military had no comment on the claim.

Hamas is believed to be holding some 137 hostages who were captured in the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that triggered the war.

Meanwhile, the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-resolution-ceasefire-humanitarian-6d3bfd31d6c25168e828274d96b85cf8">vetoed a United Nations resolution</a>&nbsp;demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

Friday's vote came after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-secretarygeneral-humanitarian-ceasefire-69be52737db67c061280823ec3019f0d">invoked Article 99</a>&nbsp;of the U.N. Charter, which enables a U.N. chief to raise threats he sees to international peace and security. He warned of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-06-2023-156afcb1626f1cb4e9e26e5430c7185c">“humanitarian catastrophe”</a>&nbsp;in Gaza.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule Gaza and “only plant the seeds for the next war.”

Around 1,200 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza</a>&nbsp;said the death toll in the territory has surpassed 17,400, with more than 46,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696679013332.png" alt="File -Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. . (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)" />
 <figcaption>File -Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. . (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP)— The Israeli military says two soldiers have been seriously wounded in a failed attempt to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza.The military said Friday that it killed numerous militants in the overnight operation, but was unable to rescue any hostages.Earlier Friday, Hamas said its fighters had stopped a rescue attempt and clashed with Israeli special forces. It claimed an Israeli soldier who was being held hostage was killed by Israeli air fire meant to protect the withdrawing forces. Israel’s military had no comment on the claim.Hamas is believed to be holding some 137 hostages who were captured in the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that triggered the war.Meanwhile, the United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-resolution-ceasefire-humanitarian-6d3bfd31d6c25168e828274d96b85cf8">vetoed a United Nations resolution</a>&nbsp;demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.Friday's vote came after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-secretarygeneral-humanitarian-ceasefire-69be52737db67c061280823ec3019f0d">invoked Article 99</a>&nbsp;of the U.N. Charter, which enables a U.N. chief to raise threats he sees to international peace and security. He warned of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-06-2023-156afcb1626f1cb4e9e26e5430c7185c">“humanitarian catastrophe”</a>&nbsp;in Gaza.U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule Gaza and “only plant the seeds for the next war.”Around 1,200 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza</a>&nbsp;said the death toll in the territory has surpassed 17,400, with more than 46,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children.

Israel: Attempt to rescue hostages in Gaza turns deadly     

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

Two teachers from&nbsp; Salina USD 305 Public Schools, Caleb and Lacie Stewart, skipped this year's traditional Thanksgiving celebration.&nbsp;

While friends and family cooked turkey and stuffing, the Stewarts hung Christmas lights and decorations in the Oval Office and other important White House rooms.

Dozens of volunteers visited the White House to decorate, with Stewarts' group including 15 members to decorate the Oval Office, the Vice President's Office, the Cabinet Room and the Roosevelt Room.

As fellow volunteers milled about the White House, Caleb Stewart said he noticed the camaraderie while decorating.

"We were just there to all work together to decorate the people's house for Christmas," Caleb Stewart said. "The big thing I'm taking away is that it is still possible for everyone to get along and work together toward a common goal."

The Stewarts tune in to the "HGTV White House Christmas Special" each year to watch the process of decorating the White House. This year, they decided to get involved and turned in a volunteer application in September.

The pair nervously waited for a response, and in October, HGTV and White House staff told the couple to show up on Thanksgiving week.

On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the Stewarts arrived, celebrated Thanksgiving Day in Washington, D.C., and began decorating with dozens of other volunteers.

"We started our decorating shift on Friday," Caleb Stewart said. "We decorated all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and that was 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all those days."

The Stewarts strung twinkling lights and decorated Christmas trees throughout their assigned rooms.&nbsp;

While working, Lacie Stewart said she thought of the history of the iconic building and how she had taught her third-grade class at Schilling Elementary about it just a few weeks before.

She teaches about government and American History through a reading unit that took the students on a virtual White House and Washington, D.C. tour.

"My kids were really excited to research that and know those places, and then a month later, I was like, 'Hey guys, remember that White House picture we showed you? We're actually going in there, and I'm going to tell you all about it,'" Lacie Stewart said. "It was really cool to make that connection."

Lacie and Caleb Stewart began teaching eight years ago in Salina, with Caleb starting his career at South Middle School and then moving on to teach high school English at Salina South for the past three years.&nbsp;

Lacie Stewart began teaching at Schilling Elementary eight years ago and continues to teach third grade there.

After returning from Washington, the couple told their students of the experience, from decorating in the Roosevelt Room to shaking hands with first lady and fellow educator Jill Biden.

"The day we got back, we actually put together a little slideshow presentation of some pictures," Caleb Stewart said.&nbsp;

The White House also provided volunteers with a children's book-style booklet that explained the decorations of each room, so the Stewarts shared that with students.

Lacie Stewart said her students excitedly absorbed the information, letting friends and family know about their teacher's accomplishment.

"They had lots of questions," Lacie Stewart said. "After the initial kind of enjoyment, they really kind of thought about it like 'Wow, my teacher did do this!'"

"They were telling other students or parents, and I had a lot of parents after school ask me, 'Is it true that you really went to the White House?' and I was like, 'Your students aren't lying to you, it's true — I really did.'"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702071243946.jpeg" alt="White House Christmas decorating volunteers stand in front of the festive Presidential Mansion for the 2023 season. Photo courtesy Caleb and Lacie Stewart" />
 <figcaption>White House Christmas decorating volunteers stand in front of the festive Presidential Mansion for the 2023 season. Photo courtesy Caleb and Lacie Stewart</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostTwo teachers from&nbsp; Salina USD 305 Public Schools, Caleb and Lacie Stewart, skipped this year's traditional Thanksgiving celebration.&nbsp;While friends and family cooked turkey and stuffing, the Stewarts hung Christmas lights and decorations in the Oval Office and other important White House rooms.Dozens of volunteers visited the White House to decorate, with Stewarts' group including 15 members to decorate the Oval Office, the Vice President's Office, the Cabinet Room and the Roosevelt Room.As fellow volunteers milled about the White House, Caleb Stewart said he noticed the camaraderie while decorating."We were just there to all work together to decorate the people's house for Christmas," Caleb Stewart said. "The big thing I'm taking away is that it is still possible for everyone to get along and work together toward a common goal."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702071395262.jpeg" alt="Lacie and Caleb Stewart stand in front of one of the decorations in the White House. Photo courtesy Caleb and Lacie Stewart" />
 <figcaption>Lacie and Caleb Stewart stand in front of one of the decorations in the White House. Photo courtesy Caleb and Lacie Stewart</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Decorating the White House</h2>The Stewarts tune in to the "HGTV White House Christmas Special" each year to watch the process of decorating the White House. This year, they decided to get involved and turned in a volunteer application in September.The pair nervously waited for a response, and in October, HGTV and White House staff told the couple to show up on Thanksgiving week.On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the Stewarts arrived, celebrated Thanksgiving Day in Washington, D.C., and began decorating with dozens of other volunteers."We started our decorating shift on Friday," Caleb Stewart said. "We decorated all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and that was 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. all those days."<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H-m_TUT7zoY?si=WS106DCne13NvhgC" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Stewarts strung twinkling lights and decorated Christmas trees throughout their assigned rooms.&nbsp;While working, Lacie Stewart said she thought of the history of the iconic building and how she had taught her third-grade class at Schilling Elementary about it just a few weeks before.She teaches about government and American History through a reading unit that took the students on a virtual White House and Washington, D.C. tour."My kids were really excited to research that and know those places, and then a month later, I was like, 'Hey guys, remember that White House picture we showed you? We're actually going in there, and I'm going to tell you all about it,'" Lacie Stewart said. "It was really cool to make that connection."<h2>Teachers for the community</h2>Lacie and Caleb Stewart began teaching eight years ago in Salina, with Caleb starting his career at South Middle School and then moving on to teach high school English at Salina South for the past three years.&nbsp;Lacie Stewart began teaching at Schilling Elementary eight years ago and continues to teach third grade there.After returning from Washington, the couple told their students of the experience, from decorating in the Roosevelt Room to shaking hands with first lady and fellow educator Jill Biden."The day we got back, we actually put together a little slideshow presentation of some pictures," Caleb Stewart said.&nbsp;The White House also provided volunteers with a children's book-style booklet that explained the decorations of each room, so the Stewarts shared that with students.Lacie Stewart said her students excitedly absorbed the information, letting friends and family know about their teacher's accomplishment."They had lots of questions," Lacie Stewart said. "After the initial kind of enjoyment, they really kind of thought about it like 'Wow, my teacher did do this!'""They were telling other students or parents, and I had a lot of parents after school ask me, 'Is it true that you really went to the White House?' and I was like, 'Your students aren't lying to you, it's true — I really did.'"

2 teachers from Kan. helped decorate the White House for Christmas

WASHINGTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Friday in Washington County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1986 GMC S pickup driven by Hunter L.&nbsp;Wohlbrandt, 23, Wakefield, was southbound on Kansas 119 at Kansas 9 one mile South of Greenleaf.

The driver failed to stop at a stop sign prior to entering the intersection. A 2002 Chevy Tahoe driven by Lindsay I. Gray, 15, Waterville, struck the pickup.

EMS transported Wohlbrandt to&nbsp;Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln where he died. EMS transported Gray and a passenger Brian T. Gray, 47, Waterville, to the Washington County Hospital. Wohlbrandt was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Friday in Washington County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1986 GMC S pickup driven by Hunter L.&nbsp;Wohlbrandt, 23, Wakefield, was southbound on Kansas 119 at Kansas 9 one mile South of Greenleaf.The driver failed to stop at a stop sign prior to entering the intersection. A 2002 Chevy Tahoe driven by Lindsay I. Gray, 15, Waterville, struck the pickup.EMS transported Wohlbrandt to&nbsp;Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln where he died. EMS transported Gray and a passenger Brian T. Gray, 47, Waterville, to the Washington County Hospital. Wohlbrandt was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies, 15-year-old driver and passenger injured in crash

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge sentenced a Michigan teenager to life in prison Friday for killing four students and terrorizing others at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">Oxford High School</a>, after listening to hours of gripping anguish from parents and wounded survivors.

Judge Kwame Rowe rejected pleas from defense lawyers for a shorter sentence and ensured that Ethan Crumbley, 17, will not get an opportunity for parole.

“My actions were what I chose to do. I could not stop myself. ... I am a really bad person. I’ve done terrible things,” Crumbley, who was 15 when he attacked his school in 2021, said before the sentence was announced.

He said he was sorry and pledged to change while behind bars.

Life sentences for teenagers are rare in Michigan since the U.S. Supreme Court and the state’s highest court said the violent acts of minors must be viewed differently than the crimes of adults. But the Oakland County prosecutor said a no-parole term fits Crumbley's case.

Rowe’s decision followed deeply emotional remarks by families of the deceased and survivors who spoke about how the tragedy has affected them.

“Your statements,” Rowe said, “do not fall on deaf ears.”

Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism.

“We are miserable. We miss Tate,” said Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre. “Our family has a permanent hole in it that can never be fixed — ever.”

Nicole Beausoleil recalled seeing the body of her daughter, Madisyn Baldwin, at the medical examiner's office, her hand with blue-painted fingernails sticking out from a covering.

“I looked though the glass. My scream should have shattered it,” Beausoleil said.

Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, told the shooter that he executed a boy who could have helped him navigate awkward teenage years.

“If you were that lonely, that miserable and lost, and you really needed a friend, Justin would have been your friend — if only you had asked,” Soave said.

Crumbley looked down as Soave and others spoke. He also will have an opportunity to address the judge and possibly explain why he believes he should be spared a life sentence.

Kylie Ossege explained how she had urged Hana St. Juliana a “thousand times” to keep breathing while they waited for help on a blood-soaked carpet. Her classmate died.

Ossege, now a college student, was shot and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-ossege-crumbley-450cc3cdd74058649740aa4cc3a7de8c">continues to struggle with daily pain</a>&nbsp;from spinal injuries.

“Being able to swing a leg over my horse is my therapy. It is pure joy,” she said of Blaze. “I have not been able to do it for two years.”

Defense attorney Paulette Michel Loftin has argued Crumbley deserves an opportunity for parole after his “sick brain” is fixed through counseling and rehabilitation.

But St. Juliana's father scoffed at that possibility.

"There can be no rehabilitation,” Steve St. Juliana told the judge. “There is absolutely nothing the defendant can do to earn my forgiveness. His age plays no part.”

In a journal, the shooter wrote about his desire to watch students suffer and the likelihood that he would spend his life in prison. He made a video on the eve of the shooting, declaring what he would do the next day.

More than 20 people gave victim-impact statements by early Friday afternoon. Some wore shirts honoring the fallen students. The judge briefly allowed a framed photo of Myre to be placed near him.

Speakers recalled the day and its aftermath in details large and small. One woman said she's still anxious simply pulling into Meijer, a big-box store where families reunited immediately after the shooting.

Linda Watson said her son, Aiden, who was shot in the leg, still doesn't go to school for a full day. She recalled the family staying in a hotel because a nail gun being used in her neighborhood sounded like a real gun to him.

“Aiden will be dealing with this for the rest of his life. ... This shooter — this monster — should have to feel everything hard and painful for the rest of his life," Watson said.

Like their son, Jennifer and James Crumbley are locked up in the county jail. They are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-school-shooting-michigan-ethan-crumbley-654c839914eb3a36ae43a7bc8dd9bacd">awaiting trial on involuntary manslaughter charges</a>, accused of making a gun accessible at home and neglecting the shooter's mental health.

Crumbley and his parents met with school staff on the day of the shooting after a teacher noticed violent drawings. But no one checked his backpack for a gun and he was allowed to stay.

The shooting happened in Oxford Township, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) north of Detroit. Besides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">the four students</a>&nbsp;who were killed, six more students and a teacher also were wounded.

The Oxford school district hired an outside group to conduct an independent investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investigation-crumbley-oxford-high-shooting-school-899e59fdce25d92d7307dd0b1ddcea18">A report released</a>&nbsp;in October said “missteps at each level” — school board, administrators, staff — contributed to the tragedy.

Crumbley's behavior in class, including looking at a shooting video and gun ammunition on his phone, should have identified him as a “potential threat of violence,” the report said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638551635768.png" alt="Ethan Crumbley as shown in the original booking photo in 2021-photo Oakland County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ethan Crumbley as shown in the original booking photo in 2021-photo Oakland County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge sentenced a Michigan teenager to life in prison Friday for killing four students and terrorizing others at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">Oxford High School</a>, after listening to hours of gripping anguish from parents and wounded survivors.Judge Kwame Rowe rejected pleas from defense lawyers for a shorter sentence and ensured that Ethan Crumbley, 17, will not get an opportunity for parole.“My actions were what I chose to do. I could not stop myself. ... I am a really bad person. I’ve done terrible things,” Crumbley, who was 15 when he attacked his school in 2021, said before the sentence was announced.He said he was sorry and pledged to change while behind bars.Life sentences for teenagers are rare in Michigan since the U.S. Supreme Court and the state’s highest court said the violent acts of minors must be viewed differently than the crimes of adults. But the Oakland County prosecutor said a no-parole term fits Crumbley's case.Rowe’s decision followed deeply emotional remarks by families of the deceased and survivors who spoke about how the tragedy has affected them.“Your statements,” Rowe said, “do not fall on deaf ears.”Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including first-degree murder and terrorism.“We are miserable. We miss Tate,” said Buck Myre, the father of Tate Myre. “Our family has a permanent hole in it that can never be fixed — ever.”Nicole Beausoleil recalled seeing the body of her daughter, Madisyn Baldwin, at the medical examiner's office, her hand with blue-painted fingernails sticking out from a covering.“I looked though the glass. My scream should have shattered it,” Beausoleil said.Jill Soave, the mother of Justin Shilling, told the shooter that he executed a boy who could have helped him navigate awkward teenage years.“If you were that lonely, that miserable and lost, and you really needed a friend, Justin would have been your friend — if only you had asked,” Soave said.Crumbley looked down as Soave and others spoke. He also will have an opportunity to address the judge and possibly explain why he believes he should be spared a life sentence.Kylie Ossege explained how she had urged Hana St. Juliana a “thousand times” to keep breathing while they waited for help on a blood-soaked carpet. Her classmate died.Ossege, now a college student, was shot and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-ossege-crumbley-450cc3cdd74058649740aa4cc3a7de8c">continues to struggle with daily pain</a>&nbsp;from spinal injuries.“Being able to swing a leg over my horse is my therapy. It is pure joy,” she said of Blaze. “I have not been able to do it for two years.”Defense attorney Paulette Michel Loftin has argued Crumbley deserves an opportunity for parole after his “sick brain” is fixed through counseling and rehabilitation.But St. Juliana's father scoffed at that possibility."There can be no rehabilitation,” Steve St. Juliana told the judge. “There is absolutely nothing the defendant can do to earn my forgiveness. His age plays no part.”In a journal, the shooter wrote about his desire to watch students suffer and the likelihood that he would spend his life in prison. He made a video on the eve of the shooting, declaring what he would do the next day.More than 20 people gave victim-impact statements by early Friday afternoon. Some wore shirts honoring the fallen students. The judge briefly allowed a framed photo of Myre to be placed near him.Speakers recalled the day and its aftermath in details large and small. One woman said she's still anxious simply pulling into Meijer, a big-box store where families reunited immediately after the shooting.Linda Watson said her son, Aiden, who was shot in the leg, still doesn't go to school for a full day. She recalled the family staying in a hotel because a nail gun being used in her neighborhood sounded like a real gun to him.“Aiden will be dealing with this for the rest of his life. ... This shooter — this monster — should have to feel everything hard and painful for the rest of his life," Watson said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621694054.png" alt="Jennifeer Crumbley Oakland Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Jennifeer Crumbley Oakland Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Like their son, Jennifer and James Crumbley are locked up in the county jail. They are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-school-shooting-michigan-ethan-crumbley-654c839914eb3a36ae43a7bc8dd9bacd">awaiting trial on involuntary manslaughter charges</a>, accused of making a gun accessible at home and neglecting the shooter's mental health.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621716369.png" alt="James Crumbley-photo Oakland Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>James Crumbley-photo Oakland Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Crumbley and his parents met with school staff on the day of the shooting after a teacher noticed violent drawings. But no one checked his backpack for a gun and he was allowed to stay.The shooting happened in Oxford Township, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) north of Detroit. Besides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">the four students</a>&nbsp;who were killed, six more students and a teacher also were wounded.The Oxford school district hired an outside group to conduct an independent investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investigation-crumbley-oxford-high-shooting-school-899e59fdce25d92d7307dd0b1ddcea18">A report released</a>&nbsp;in October said “missteps at each level” — school board, administrators, staff — contributed to the tragedy.Crumbley's behavior in class, including looking at a shooting video and gun ammunition on his phone, should have identified him as a “potential threat of violence,” the report said.