KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police chief who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a330361110a4a56bacfe60558f2be4d">forced to resign</a>&nbsp;following allegations he assaulted a father&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/efeb6df1fbea4964813fb19bd4f47cda">who tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter</a>&nbsp;has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attacking his ex-wife during a domestic dispute, a prosecutor said.

Greg Hallgrimson was sentenced Friday in the case in which authorities say he punched and knocked his ex-wife unconscious in June 2020, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article280800545.html">reported.</a>

Hallgrimson was chief of the Greenwood Police Department when a man walked into the department in December 2018 and said he had just tried to drown his daughter in a retention pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the icy pond and pulled the unconscious child out of the water. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was treated for severe hypothermia. But prosecutors said that upon completing the rescue mission, Hallgrimson threw the father to the ground back at a police station and punched him in the face.

Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave shortly after he was accused of assault and resigned in May 2019. Greenwood is about 20 miles southeast of Kansas City. A federal judge subsequently sentenced Hallgrimson, who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the father, to five years of probation.

After Hallgrimson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ac08eadc2c5f4f8fb834a24b6376e639">indicted</a>&nbsp;on a charge of violating the father’s civil rights but before he was sentenced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-98560542752915a2462d64098f1cfa61">probation</a>&nbsp;in that case, he hit his wife so hard that she was knocked unconscious, according to authorities.

The ex-wife was worried for her safety and initially told doctors the she broke her nose and fractured her eye socket falling down some stairs, the prosecutor said. Police began investigating about 17 months later. Defense attorneys for Hallgrimson had argued that Hallgrimson was not the initial aggressor because he was slapped first.

In a statement Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the sentence “sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported” in Clay County where the case was prosecuted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573733052209.png" alt=" Greg Hallgrimson- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption> Greg Hallgrimson- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police chief who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a330361110a4a56bacfe60558f2be4d">forced to resign</a>&nbsp;following allegations he assaulted a father&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/efeb6df1fbea4964813fb19bd4f47cda">who tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter</a>&nbsp;has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attacking his ex-wife during a domestic dispute, a prosecutor said.Greg Hallgrimson was sentenced Friday in the case in which authorities say he punched and knocked his ex-wife unconscious in June 2020, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article280800545.html">reported.</a>Hallgrimson was chief of the Greenwood Police Department when a man walked into the department in December 2018 and said he had just tried to drown his daughter in a retention pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the icy pond and pulled the unconscious child out of the water. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was treated for severe hypothermia. But prosecutors said that upon completing the rescue mission, Hallgrimson threw the father to the ground back at a police station and punched him in the face.Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave shortly after he was accused of assault and resigned in May 2019. Greenwood is about 20 miles southeast of Kansas City. A federal judge subsequently sentenced Hallgrimson, who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the father, to five years of probation.After Hallgrimson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ac08eadc2c5f4f8fb834a24b6376e639">indicted</a>&nbsp;on a charge of violating the father’s civil rights but before he was sentenced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-98560542752915a2462d64098f1cfa61">probation</a>&nbsp;in that case, he hit his wife so hard that she was knocked unconscious, according to authorities.The ex-wife was worried for her safety and initially told doctors the she broke her nose and fractured her eye socket falling down some stairs, the prosecutor said. Police began investigating about 17 months later. Defense attorneys for Hallgrimson had argued that Hallgrimson was not the initial aggressor because he was slapped first.In a statement Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the sentence “sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported” in Clay County where the case was prosecuted.

Former KC-area police chief sentenced for attack on ex-wife

BEIRUT —As tensions grow in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has increased their alerts to Americans.

Late Sunday, the U.S. State Department alert said, "&nbsp;U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation."

"There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity. Please check flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (<a href="https://t.co/k6ZEqXfR8S" target="_blank">https://beirutairport.gov.lb</a>)."

If you need a financial assistance loan from the U.S. government to purchase tickets on a flight to depart Lebanon, or are interested in receiving messages from the U.S. Department of State, please complete this crisis intake form (<a href="https://t.co/SS3GH5pbgj" target="_blank">https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake</a>). Do not fill out this form if you have already completed it – we have your information, and duplicate requests delay our response. Security Alert&nbsp;

On October 19, U.S. State Department released a rare “Worldwide Travel Alert” stating that American citizens should exercise increased caution around the world due to increasing tensions in various locations and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.&nbsp;

<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional details from the U.S. State Department

In addition, the FBI is continuing to monitor threats both in the United States and overseas.&nbsp;As the conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, according to a statement from the agency.

"We take all potential threats seriously and are working closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate&nbsp;investigative&nbsp;action.&nbsp;As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. "

"FBI field offices across the country are communicating not just with our law enforcement partners but also with faith-based organizations and the private sector, among others. To help keep our communities safe, we are talking with leaders of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, sharing information, and asking them to let us know if they see anything concerning."

"Through our Legal Attaché office in Tel Aviv, we are working with our Israeli and U.S. Embassy partners to identify all Americans who have been impacted in the region, including those who remain unaccounted for, and our victim services specialists are working closely with victims and their families here and abroad."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697731566690.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BEIRUT —As tensions grow in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has increased their alerts to Americans.Late Sunday, the U.S. State Department alert said, "&nbsp;U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation.""There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity. Please check flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (<a href="https://t.co/k6ZEqXfR8S" target="_blank">https://beirutairport.gov.lb</a>)." If you need a financial assistance loan from the U.S. government to purchase tickets on a flight to depart Lebanon, or are interested in receiving messages from the U.S. Department of State, please complete this crisis intake form (<a href="https://t.co/SS3GH5pbgj" target="_blank">https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake</a>). Do not fill out this form if you have already completed it – we have your information, and duplicate requests delay our response. Security Alert&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697731837363.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On October 19, U.S. State Department released a rare “Worldwide Travel Alert” stating that American citizens should exercise increased caution around the world due to increasing tensions in various locations and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional details from the U.S. State DepartmentIn addition, the FBI is continuing to monitor threats both in the United States and overseas.&nbsp;As the conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, according to a statement from the agency."We take all potential threats seriously and are working closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate&nbsp;investigative&nbsp;action.&nbsp;As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. ""FBI field offices across the country are communicating not just with our law enforcement partners but also with faith-based organizations and the private sector, among others. To help keep our communities safe, we are talking with leaders of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, sharing information, and asking them to let us know if they see anything concerning.""Through our Legal Attaché office in Tel Aviv, we are working with our Israeli and U.S. Embassy partners to identify all Americans who have been impacted in the region, including those who remain unaccounted for, and our victim services specialists are working closely with victims and their families here and abroad."

State Department: Emergency loans to get Americans out of Lebanon

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a possible shooting in the 1500 block of SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.

First responders located two men, one with possible life threatening injuries and one with non-life threatening injuries. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators arrested 22-year-old Rajhgerio Smith and transported him to the Shawnee Count Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697942064704.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a possible shooting in the 1500 block of SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.First responders located two men, one with possible life threatening injuries and one with non-life threatening injuries. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.Investigators arrested 22-year-old Rajhgerio Smith and transported him to the Shawnee Count Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery..

Kan.  man captured in shooting that sent 2 to the hospital

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —On Sunday, President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada,&nbsp; President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom spoke regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. 

They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close coordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.

The leaders welcomed the announcement of the first humanitarian convoys to reach Palestinians in need in Gaza and committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs. 

The leaders committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution&nbsp; and durable peace.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698021282699.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —On Sunday, President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada,&nbsp; President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom spoke regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close coordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.The leaders welcomed the announcement of the first humanitarian convoys to reach Palestinians in need in Gaza and committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs. The leaders committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution&nbsp; and durable peace.&nbsp;

World leaders issue new joint statement on Israel's right to defend itself

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Firefighters have a lot of responsibility. Last week Sedgwick County&nbsp;Station 32 was challenged with removing a titanium wedding ring, according to a social media report from the fire station.

"Titanium is an extremely hard metal that cannot be cut with our normal ring cutters. The crew had to get creative and use a tape measure and small cutting wheel to remove the ring."

"Cold water was also needed to keep the ring cool while it was being cut. The ring was removed safely without incident."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697798162676.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick Co. Fire District 1" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick Co. Fire District 1</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Firefighters have a lot of responsibility. Last week Sedgwick County&nbsp;Station 32 was challenged with removing a titanium wedding ring, according to a social media report from the fire station."Titanium is an extremely hard metal that cannot be cut with our normal ring cutters. The crew had to get creative and use a tape measure and small cutting wheel to remove the ring.""Cold water was also needed to keep the ring cool while it was being cut. The ring was removed safely without incident."

Kansas firefighters get creative with ring removal

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

A Chevy Silverado was eastbound on 152 Highway at 169 Highway, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

The struck an eastbound bicyclist who was reported weaving in between the #1 and #2 lanes. The cyclist was ejected from the bicycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released the victim's name.

This is fatality 81 in Kansas City, Missouri this year compared to 74 in 2022, according to Carlisle.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.A Chevy Silverado was eastbound on 152 Highway at 169 Highway, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.The struck an eastbound bicyclist who was reported weaving in between the #1 and #2 lanes. The cyclist was ejected from the bicycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released the victim's name.This is fatality 81 in Kansas City, Missouri this year compared to 74 in 2022, according to Carlisle.

Bicyclist dies after struck by a pickup in Kansas City

ALLEN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an altercation with police.

Just before 9p.m. Oct. 16, a Jasper, Missouri&nbsp; police officer responded to a disturbance in progress at Pete’s Convenience Store in Jasper.  Upon arrival, the officer made contact with 26-year-old Raven Gomez and 45-year-old Brandon David both of Columbia. 

 During a pat search for weapons on Gomez, she punched the officer in the face, knocked the female officer  to the ground causing her to hit her head on the pavement. 

 The hit to the pavement caused the officer to become disoriented

 Brandon David got out of the passenger seat of the suspect vehicle, and punched the female officer several times in the face and then ran around to the driver’s seat of the patrol vehicle and it appears he was attempting to steal it.

Police believe he wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to put the vehicle in drive due to the different gear shift newer vehicles have.

   Gomez who was the driver of the suspect vehicle got into her vehicle and while backing up, the vehicle’s tire ran over the officer’s foot, and again ran over the officer’s foot when moving forward. 

David ended up getting out of the patrol vehicle and back into the suspect vehicle.  The two were able to get away, last seen northbound on Interstate 49 in a dark blue Chevy Cruze with a Missouri license of BG1B5C. 

&nbsp;The officer was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.&nbsp;

Deputies tracked these two down to a property five miles southeast of Moran, Kansas Wednesday evening.&nbsp; Deputies and assisted by&nbsp;Bourbon County Kansas Sheriff's Office&nbsp;deputies, took the suspects into custody without incident. 

Jasper County prosecutors have officially filed 1st degree assault charges on both Gomez and David with bond set at $50,000 cash only and other conditions. They face additional charges in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765704188.png" alt="David-photo Allen Co." />
 <figcaption>David-photo Allen Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an altercation with police.Just before 9p.m. Oct. 16, a Jasper, Missouri&nbsp; police officer responded to a disturbance in progress at Pete’s Convenience Store in Jasper. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with 26-year-old Raven Gomez and 45-year-old Brandon David both of Columbia. During a pat search for weapons on Gomez, she punched the officer in the face, knocked the female officer to the ground causing her to hit her head on the pavement. The hit to the pavement caused the officer to become disoriented<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765737908.png" alt="Gomez-photo Allen Co." />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Allen Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Brandon David got out of the passenger seat of the suspect vehicle, and punched the female officer several times in the face and then ran around to the driver’s seat of the patrol vehicle and it appears he was attempting to steal it.Police believe he wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to put the vehicle in drive due to the different gear shift newer vehicles have. Gomez who was the driver of the suspect vehicle got into her vehicle and while backing up, the vehicle’s tire ran over the officer’s foot, and again ran over the officer’s foot when moving forward. David ended up getting out of the patrol vehicle and back into the suspect vehicle. The two were able to get away, last seen northbound on Interstate 49 in a dark blue Chevy Cruze with a Missouri license of BG1B5C. &nbsp;The officer was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.&nbsp;Deputies tracked these two down to a property five miles southeast of Moran, Kansas Wednesday evening.&nbsp; Deputies and assisted by&nbsp;Bourbon County Kansas Sheriff's Office&nbsp;deputies, took the suspects into custody without incident. Jasper County prosecutors have officially filed 1st degree assault charges on both Gomez and David with bond set at $50,000 cash only and other conditions. They face additional charges in Kansas.

Couple accused of punching Missouri officer arrested in Kansas

TOPEKA —A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment this charging a Kansas woman with robbing a Topeka bank, according to the United State's Attorney.&nbsp;

According to court documents, Rodshell Nicole Mays, 51, is charged with one count of bank robbery. Mays is accused of using force or intimidation on September 25, to take money from an employee at Capital Federal Bank on Southwest Topeka Boulevard.&nbsp; In the alert from law enforcement, Mays was described as wearing a red shirt, reading glasses and a brown wig during the robbery.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697230442120.png" alt="Mays as seen from the bank security camera -FBI" />
 <figcaption>Mays as seen from the bank security camera -FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment this charging a Kansas woman with robbing a Topeka bank, according to the United State's Attorney.&nbsp;According to court documents, Rodshell Nicole Mays, 51, is charged with one count of bank robbery. Mays is accused of using force or intimidation on September 25, to take money from an employee at Capital Federal Bank on Southwest Topeka Boulevard.&nbsp; In the alert from law enforcement, Mays was described as wearing a red shirt, reading glasses and a brown wig during the robbery.The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the

Indictment: Kansas woman wearing a wig robbed bank

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by&nbsp; Monte S. Busch, 49, Manhattan, was westbound on Highway 24 two miles west of Manhattan.

The driver failed to negotiate the curve. The Jeep entered the north ditch, struck a KDOT sign, entered westbound lanes, the median, struck another KDOT sign and rolled on its top.

Busch was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by&nbsp; Monte S. Busch, 49, Manhattan, was westbound on Highway 24 two miles west of Manhattan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⚠️ First responders are handling a significant traffic crash on Tuttle Creek Boulevard near State Highway 13 Traffic will be STOPPED or SLOWED dramatically. Please share with others.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KStateFB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KStateFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/AB1xw8PpWl">pic.twitter.com/AB1xw8PpWl</a>&mdash; Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperBenKHP/status/1715915110236008459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The driver failed to negotiate the curve. The Jeep entered the north ditch, struck a KDOT sign, entered westbound lanes, the median, struck another KDOT sign and rolled on its top.Busch was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man identified as victim in fatal crash after KSU game

PRATT&nbsp;– Fisheries and Ecological Services staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks took action to bolster some of the state’s most at-risk aquatic species. Via the Department’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program and&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvTmV3cy1BcmNoaXZlLzIwMTgtV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0xNy0xOC1LQUJDL0FxdWF0aWMtV2lsZGxpZmUtUHJvcGFnYXRpb24tQ2VudGVyLU9wZW5zIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.nMPe_yfofbcqFbM1d2VjwXEmD2fJF8IxiYlcJgAaex8/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Kansas Aquatic Biodiversity Center</a>, located at the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9IYXRjaGVyaWVzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.t1O5gQIdHap2dhRgoocD4eSllbKgclRsCgXqZV_wRoE/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Farlington Fish Hatchery</a>, staff work together to propagate, grow, and stock vulnerable aquatic species back into their former habitats; and this fall, that included two protected freshwater mussel species, according to a media release from the department.

KDWP first released 7,175 Fatmucket mussels – ranging in age from 1-3 years old – into the Marmaton River to bolster local populations. These were the first mussels ever released from the KABC, which opened its doors in 2018. And while Fatmuckets occur throughout central North America, they are considered a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMTYuODQxNTY5MTEifQ.3UGqEyR9ky_S8yD5o9WEM5Wq2JuN0xTWEKSEpg3ZOjc/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Species in Need of Conservation</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.

“We chose the Marmaton River as the release site due to historical data and current observations that indicate the species is native to this drainage,” said Seth Lundgren, KDWP district fisheries biologist. “It also helped that the parental stock came from a shared tributary of the Marais Des Cygnes River, ensuring the correct genetics were also released into the drainage.”

Lundgren added that, prior to stocking, each of the offspring were marked with a unique "glue dot" that can be used by researchers for future identification.

The second successful stocking of a protected species occurred later in the same week when approximately 1,374 federally-endangered&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZS9BbGwtVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1TcGVjaWVzL05FT1NITy1NVUNLRVQtTVVTU0VMIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.F8bN2jmxiFkZ03NPuHU-z2uGRdB9NUKw8hmKBc_AVBI/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Neosho Mucket mussels</a>&nbsp;were released into the Neosho River. The offspring were the result of populations housed at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. The Neosho Mucket occurs in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma but no longer occurs in 62 percent of its historical range.

“This stocking was the first of its kind conducted under KDWP’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program,” said Trevor Starks, KDWP species recovery coordinator. “Landowner agreements signed under this program seek to reestablish self-sustaining populations of imperiled fish and mussel species in order to recover, delist, and deregulate those populations. These agreements provide regulatory protections to landowners who wish to partner with the agency to allow species releases and monitoring on their property.”

More Conservation Stockings to Come

Staff at KDWP have several additional conservation stockings like these planned for 2024, including 18,000 mussels set to be released in southeastern Kansas as soon as drought conditions improve. The KABC has also been working to rear&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lmtzbi5jb20vbmV3cy9zdGF0ZS1yZWdpb25hbC9rYW5zYXMtZGVwYXJ0bWVudC1vZi13aWxkbGlmZS1wYXJrcy1yZWxlYXNlcy1wbGFpbnMtbWlubm93cy1iYWNrLWludG8tbmF0aXZlLXdhdGVycy8jOn46dGV4dD1LRFdQJTIwU2VuaW9yJTIwTWFuYWdlciUyMG9mJTIwZmlzaCx0aGUlMjByaXZlciUyQyVFMiU4MCU5RCUyMHNhaWQlMjBNb3NpZXIuIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.AgQm02NqM9l3_Fk6hZI6d_yINj1mG6atK9HzIPr5Kqs/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Plains Minnows</a>, classified as a state-threatened species, for release back into their historic range in areas where they have since disappeared.

Landowners interested in helping recover imperiled species through the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery Program are encouraged to contact Starks at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:trevor.starks@ks.gov">trevor.starks@ks.gov</a>.

For more information on threatened, endangered, and SINC species in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9rc291dGRvb3JzLmNvbS9TZXJ2aWNlcy9UaHJlYXRlbmVkLWFuZC1FbmRhbmdlcmVkLVdpbGRsaWZlIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.WEg27zki0_P8nGKCZeh4QWi9SYy4ab30l1t7XRw4_to/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697630781905.png" alt="Freshwater mussels – essentially clams that have adapted to live in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes – reach their greatest diversity in North America. Nearly 300 species of mussels occur in the U.S., 40 of which reside in Kansas. Of those in Kansas, nearly 60 percent have some level of conservation concern and most have disappeared from part of their historical range." />
 <figcaption>Freshwater mussels – essentially clams that have adapted to live in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes – reach their greatest diversity in North America. Nearly 300 species of mussels occur in the U.S., 40 of which reside in Kansas. Of those in Kansas, nearly 60 percent have some level of conservation concern and most have disappeared from part of their historical range.</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT&nbsp;– Fisheries and Ecological Services staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks took action to bolster some of the state’s most at-risk aquatic species. Via the Department’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program and&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvTmV3cy1BcmNoaXZlLzIwMTgtV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0xNy0xOC1LQUJDL0FxdWF0aWMtV2lsZGxpZmUtUHJvcGFnYXRpb24tQ2VudGVyLU9wZW5zIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.nMPe_yfofbcqFbM1d2VjwXEmD2fJF8IxiYlcJgAaex8/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Kansas Aquatic Biodiversity Center</a>, located at the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9IYXRjaGVyaWVzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.t1O5gQIdHap2dhRgoocD4eSllbKgclRsCgXqZV_wRoE/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Farlington Fish Hatchery</a>, staff work together to propagate, grow, and stock vulnerable aquatic species back into their former habitats; and this fall, that included two protected freshwater mussel species, according to a media release from the department.KDWP first released 7,175 Fatmucket mussels – ranging in age from 1-3 years old – into the Marmaton River to bolster local populations. These were the first mussels ever released from the KABC, which opened its doors in 2018. And while Fatmuckets occur throughout central North America, they are considered a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMTYuODQxNTY5MTEifQ.3UGqEyR9ky_S8yD5o9WEM5Wq2JuN0xTWEKSEpg3ZOjc/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Species in Need of Conservation</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.“We chose the Marmaton River as the release site due to historical data and current observations that indicate the species is native to this drainage,” said Seth Lundgren, KDWP district fisheries biologist. “It also helped that the parental stock came from a shared tributary of the Marais Des Cygnes River, ensuring the correct genetics were also released into the drainage.”Lundgren added that, prior to stocking, each of the offspring were marked with a unique "glue dot" that can be used by researchers for future identification.The second successful stocking of a protected species occurred later in the same week when approximately 1,374 federally-endangered&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZS9BbGwtVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1TcGVjaWVzL05FT1NITy1NVUNLRVQtTVVTU0VMIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.F8bN2jmxiFkZ03NPuHU-z2uGRdB9NUKw8hmKBc_AVBI/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Neosho Mucket mussels</a>&nbsp;were released into the Neosho River. The offspring were the result of populations housed at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. The Neosho Mucket occurs in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma but no longer occurs in 62 percent of its historical range.“This stocking was the first of its kind conducted under KDWP’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program,” said Trevor Starks, KDWP species recovery coordinator. “Landowner agreements signed under this program seek to reestablish self-sustaining populations of imperiled fish and mussel species in order to recover, delist, and deregulate those populations. These agreements provide regulatory protections to landowners who wish to partner with the agency to allow species releases and monitoring on their property.”More Conservation Stockings to ComeStaff at KDWP have several additional conservation stockings like these planned for 2024, including 18,000 mussels set to be released in southeastern Kansas as soon as drought conditions improve. The KABC has also been working to rear&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lmtzbi5jb20vbmV3cy9zdGF0ZS1yZWdpb25hbC9rYW5zYXMtZGVwYXJ0bWVudC1vZi13aWxkbGlmZS1wYXJrcy1yZWxlYXNlcy1wbGFpbnMtbWlubm93cy1iYWNrLWludG8tbmF0aXZlLXdhdGVycy8jOn46dGV4dD1LRFdQJTIwU2VuaW9yJTIwTWFuYWdlciUyMG9mJTIwZmlzaCx0aGUlMjByaXZlciUyQyVFMiU4MCU5RCUyMHNhaWQlMjBNb3NpZXIuIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.AgQm02NqM9l3_Fk6hZI6d_yINj1mG6atK9HzIPr5Kqs/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Plains Minnows</a>, classified as a state-threatened species, for release back into their historic range in areas where they have since disappeared.Landowners interested in helping recover imperiled species through the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery Program are encouraged to contact Starks at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:trevor.starks@ks.gov">trevor.starks@ks.gov</a>.For more information on threatened, endangered, and SINC species in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9rc291dGRvb3JzLmNvbS9TZXJ2aWNlcy9UaHJlYXRlbmVkLWFuZC1FbmRhbmdlcmVkLVdpbGRsaWZlIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.WEg27zki0_P8nGKCZeh4QWi9SYy4ab30l1t7XRw4_to/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife</a>.

KDWP successfully stocks 2 protected species back into Kan. waters

Abandoned wells can emit greenhouse gas, limit land use and threaten water quality

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">KEVIN HARDY</a>

An infusion of federal money has helped Louisiana plug nearly 500 abandoned oil and gas wells this year.

That number doesn’t come close to the 4,500 abandoned wells that pock the state’s terrain, leaving the potential for groundwater contamination and the near-certainty of greenhouse gas emissions. But the money has allowed the state to nearly double the record number of wells it’s ever plugged in a year.

“Everything helps,” said Patrick Courreges, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. “If we didn’t have the federal help, we’d be over 5,000 [abandoned wells].”

Louisiana is among 24 states that received millions of dollars for well plugging from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/orphanedwells#:~:text=The%20Bipartisan%20Infrastructure%20Law%20directed,Tribal%2C%20state%20and%20private%20lands.">the largest investment in legacy pollution reduction in American history</a>.

But in many ways, the difficult work is just beginning. Of the $4.7 billion the law set aside for plugging wells that oil and gas companies have abandoned, $560 million has gone out so far. The rest will be spent in the coming years.

During the first round of grants, the feds didn’t require states to calculate the methane emissions each plug prevents. But from now on, states seeking grants will have to measure methane releases at each well. That will require states to develop new methods and spend more time and money. And the workforce shortage only makes it harder for states to use their grants.

Long-standing state programs to tackle the problem, usually backed by fees from oil and gas companies, generally have targeted the most problematic wells, such as those with visible leaks or spills. But countless others remain, allowing methane or carcinogens to escape.

“It’s easy to see a blowout. It’s tougher to see 100 small leaks,” Courreges said. “I think you’re just now seeing regulators figuring out, ‘OK, how do we approach that? How do we do that?’ Obviously, you’re probably going to need more funding for everybody.”

In Louisiana, the state generally has $10 million to $12 million available each year for well site restoration efforts, Courreges said. The state received $25 million in its first round of federal funding from the infrastructure law and is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-invests-660-million-states-plug-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells">primed to receive some $86 million more</a>.

A well is considered orphaned when the government cannot locate the operator of an idled well or the operator is unable to plug or remediate the well. Beyond blighting property and limiting land use, abandoned wells are a major threat because unseen leaks can allow pollutants into water sources and spew greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The federal government gave states wide latitude on how to prioritize wells for plugging. Aggressive timelines have pushed qualifying states to quickly allocate their first round of grant funds by hiring contractors to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.

“The timeline was so tight that these guys just went out and started plugging wells without any idea,” said Curtis Shuck, chair of the Well Done Foundation, an environmental nonprofit. “They just knew it was a hole in the ground and they were going to go dump cement in it and call it a party.”

He previously worked in the energy industry and witnessed firsthand the eyesore and danger of wells left unsealed. His nonprofit has plugged 29 wells since 2019. He said without measuring emissions, states are essentially “flying blind,” making it difficult to justify prioritization efforts.

Still, he said the overall effort has been instrumental in raising awareness of the underlying issue of abandoned wells.

“For the longest time, this has just been everybody’s dirty little secret,” he said. “Whether it’s the oil and gas industry, the states or even the federal government, nobody wanted to talk about it.”

But the federal funds won’t come close to addressing the current inventory of orphaned wells, Shuck said. And it won’t prevent new ones from being orphaned by bankrupt operators.

“That’s just the nature of the business. These wells have a lifecycle,” he said. “There’s no silver bullet. There’s no magic wand to make it go away. It’s just a matter of rolling up your sleeves and tackling a dirty job.”

The issue of abandoned wells is nearly as old as the nation’s petroleum industry. Major producers sell off rights to wells, usually those producing only marginal amounts. Those wells can transfer multiple times before ending up under control of companies that can easily go belly up in the notoriously boom-and-bust oil and gas markets, making those abandoned wells a problem for states.

A handful of states are trying to prevent wells from being abandoned in the first place, enacting stricter well transfer regulations and financial assurances from producers.

But for those already orphaned, the federal money is making a dent. By the end of June, more than 4,000 wells had been plugged with the first round of funds, said Winnie Stachelberg, senior adviser and infrastructure coordinator at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“Methane leaking from many of these unplugged wells is a serious safety hazard,” she told Stateline. “It’s been a significant cause of climate change.”

Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere, Stachelberg said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated abandoned oil and gas wells are releasing 280,000 metric tons of methane each year. That’s equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1.7 million gas-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year, according to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results">online EPA calculator</a>. The federal government expects the next round of grant money to help quantify the effects of sealing wells.

“That will give us and the states a more full picture of the impact of these wells and how much methane we’re removing by cleaning them up,” Stachelberg said.

But most states haven’t begun methane measuring.

Oklahoma only performs methane testing on select wells close to buildings or as part of explosive testing, said Matt Skinner, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. The state is preparing a methane monitoring program for the next round of federal grant funding.

Like many energy regulators, Oklahoma charges fees on active well operators for well remediation efforts. That means the state’s fund varies wildly depending on the health of the industry — and the price of energy.

Traditionally, the agency has sought to maintain a healthy reserve fund so it can tackle emergency well repairs, Skinner said.&nbsp;But conserving its funds for the most serious problems can result in a ballooning inventory of wells that need plugging.

Oklahoma’s $25 million in the first round of federal funding allowed the state to award contracts to tackle 523 wells — far higher than the number of wells the state traditionally is able to remediate, Skinner said.&nbsp;Between the 2017 and 2021 fiscal years, Oklahoma plugged a total of 462 abandoned wells.

“We were able to move aggressively to radically reduce the backlog,” he said.

By the time the infrastructure bill passed in 2021, the country had some 125,000 documented abandoned wells and another estimated 800,000 undocumented ones, said Adam Peltz, a director and senior attorney at the advocacy nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund.

“Because every state regulates its own industry, it hasn’t been a national issue, despite being a national problem,” he said.

The federal funds won’t come close to fixing all the documented abandoned wells, let alone the undocumented ones. But Peltz said the program represents “a significant down payment on a long-ignored problem.”

The industry says it’s also tackling the problem.

The American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas trade group, said in a statement the industry is constantly working to address the permanent closure and remediation of historic oil and natural gas wells. The institute released new standards in 2021 providing guidance for design, placement and verification of plugs used in wells.

With only about 90 days to form their $25 million grant application last year, Kansas regulators initially focused on addressing “shovel-ready” wells, said Ryan Hoffman, director of conservation at the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Those are wells that already had been scrutinized by the agency. But even then, finding contractors to tackle the work proved challenging.

In the remote stretches of Western Kansas, for example, the state received no bids on plugging two wells near the Colorado border. Crews can spend upward of $1 million plugging the most complex wells, though the Environmental Defense Fund says the average well plugging costs about $75,000.

To make the work more attractive, the state sought to group similarly constructed and nearby wells. In the more populated portions of Northeastern Kansas, the state grouped hundreds of wells in the counties outside of Kansas City under a single project umbrella.

“We prioritize those because of the population growth in those areas,” Hoffman said. “But we also wanted to make sure that we can make this attractive to contractors to bid on, because we’re competing with the [oil and gas] industry for their services.”

In the past, Kansas has never plugged more than 700 wells per year, Hoffman said. Since January, the state has more than doubled that number, filling more than 1,600 of its 11,000 abandoned wells.

Hoffman said the state has increased its compliance efforts, resulting in fewer wells getting abandoned. But the nature of the extraction business makes it difficult, particularly as wells become less profitable.

A handful of states are upping scrutiny of well transfers or increasing financial assurance measures that aim to ensure each operator has the money to seal wells once they’re done pumping.

In September, California legislators passed a bill that would require well owners to set aside more cash to properly seal wells once they are out of use. The bill faced skepticism from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose finance department warned it could unintentionally cause more wells to be abandoned by increasing financial burdens on already at-risk operators, the Los Angeles Times&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-10-03/bill-seeks-to-cap-orphaned-oil-wells-could-it-backfire?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9TTldTUi9TTldTUi8xLzEwNDkxMSIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICIwMDAwMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogIm1hZHlzb24uZml0emdlcmFsZEByaWNobW9uZC5lZHUiDQp9&amp;hmac=H3BUotWNW9GBGPTgFbK64ZmJgKdyk18055lXuSjHnlM=&amp;emci=4466b4fc-b062-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&amp;ceid=53701">reported</a>. But Newsom&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billHistoryClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167">signed the legislation</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7.

In New Mexico, regulators are discussing potential changes with the oil and gas industry.&nbsp;And the state is taking a closer look at well transfer requests.

“We are scrutinizing some of those transactions a little harder,” said Dylan Fuge, general counsel for New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

New Mexico has been measuring methane emissions at the wells it targets before and after filling. So far, the state has found each well on average emits nearly a ton in greenhouse gas emissions per year — roughly the annual equivalent greenhouse emissions of six gas-powered vehicles, the EPA calculator estimates.

Overall, the federal dollars have allowed the state to seal five times as many wells as normal, about 100 of its 1,700 documented abandoned wells.

“I think we’re starting to make meaningful progress on the ground,” Fuge said. But “even at the rate we’re plugging with the resources we can reasonably project out, I still don’t see a certain pathway where we get all 1,700 by any stretch.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697127097459.png" alt=" A crew works on plugging an abandoned oil well that North Dakota confiscated in the Little Missouri National Grasslands. States are rushing to spend billions in new federal dollars to plug abandoned oil and gas wells that can leak pollutants into water sources and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Erika Bolstad/Stateline)" />
 <figcaption> A crew works on plugging an abandoned oil well that North Dakota confiscated in the Little Missouri National Grasslands. States are rushing to spend billions in new federal dollars to plug abandoned oil and gas wells that can leak pollutants into water sources and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Erika Bolstad/Stateline)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Abandoned wells can emit greenhouse gas, limit land use and threaten water quality</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">KEVIN HARDY</a>An infusion of federal money has helped Louisiana plug nearly 500 abandoned oil and gas wells this year.That number doesn’t come close to the 4,500 abandoned wells that pock the state’s terrain, leaving the potential for groundwater contamination and the near-certainty of greenhouse gas emissions. But the money has allowed the state to nearly double the record number of wells it’s ever plugged in a year.“Everything helps,” said Patrick Courreges, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. “If we didn’t have the federal help, we’d be over 5,000 [abandoned wells].”Louisiana is among 24 states that received millions of dollars for well plugging from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/orphanedwells#:~:text=The%20Bipartisan%20Infrastructure%20Law%20directed,Tribal%2C%20state%20and%20private%20lands.">the largest investment in legacy pollution reduction in American history</a>.But in many ways, the difficult work is just beginning. Of the $4.7 billion the law set aside for plugging wells that oil and gas companies have abandoned, $560 million has gone out so far. The rest will be spent in the coming years.During the first round of grants, the feds didn’t require states to calculate the methane emissions each plug prevents. But from now on, states seeking grants will have to measure methane releases at each well. That will require states to develop new methods and spend more time and money. And the workforce shortage only makes it harder for states to use their grants.Long-standing state programs to tackle the problem, usually backed by fees from oil and gas companies, generally have targeted the most problematic wells, such as those with visible leaks or spills. But countless others remain, allowing methane or carcinogens to escape.“It’s easy to see a blowout. It’s tougher to see 100 small leaks,” Courreges said. “I think you’re just now seeing regulators figuring out, ‘OK, how do we approach that? How do we do that?’ Obviously, you’re probably going to need more funding for everybody.”In Louisiana, the state generally has $10 million to $12 million available each year for well site restoration efforts, Courreges said. The state received $25 million in its first round of federal funding from the infrastructure law and is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-invests-660-million-states-plug-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells">primed to receive some $86 million more</a>.A well is considered orphaned when the government cannot locate the operator of an idled well or the operator is unable to plug or remediate the well. Beyond blighting property and limiting land use, abandoned wells are a major threat because unseen leaks can allow pollutants into water sources and spew greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.The federal government gave states wide latitude on how to prioritize wells for plugging. Aggressive timelines have pushed qualifying states to quickly allocate their first round of grant funds by hiring contractors to plug abandoned oil and gas wells.“The timeline was so tight that these guys just went out and started plugging wells without any idea,” said Curtis Shuck, chair of the Well Done Foundation, an environmental nonprofit. “They just knew it was a hole in the ground and they were going to go dump cement in it and call it a party.”He previously worked in the energy industry and witnessed firsthand the eyesore and danger of wells left unsealed. His nonprofit has plugged 29 wells since 2019. He said without measuring emissions, states are essentially “flying blind,” making it difficult to justify prioritization efforts.Still, he said the overall effort has been instrumental in raising awareness of the underlying issue of abandoned wells.“For the longest time, this has just been everybody’s dirty little secret,” he said. “Whether it’s the oil and gas industry, the states or even the federal government, nobody wanted to talk about it.”But the federal funds won’t come close to addressing the current inventory of orphaned wells, Shuck said. And it won’t prevent new ones from being orphaned by bankrupt operators.“That’s just the nature of the business. These wells have a lifecycle,” he said. “There’s no silver bullet. There’s no magic wand to make it go away. It’s just a matter of rolling up your sleeves and tackling a dirty job.”<h2>‘A significant down payment’</h2>The issue of abandoned wells is nearly as old as the nation’s petroleum industry. Major producers sell off rights to wells, usually those producing only marginal amounts. Those wells can transfer multiple times before ending up under control of companies that can easily go belly up in the notoriously boom-and-bust oil and gas markets, making those abandoned wells a problem for states.A handful of states are trying to prevent wells from being abandoned in the first place, enacting stricter well transfer regulations and financial assurances from producers.But for those already orphaned, the federal money is making a dent. By the end of June, more than 4,000 wells had been plugged with the first round of funds, said Winnie Stachelberg, senior adviser and infrastructure coordinator at the U.S. Department of the Interior.“Methane leaking from many of these unplugged wells is a serious safety hazard,” she told Stateline. “It’s been a significant cause of climate change.”Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere, Stachelberg said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated abandoned oil and gas wells are releasing 280,000 metric tons of methane each year. That’s equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1.7 million gas-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year, according to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results">online EPA calculator</a>. The federal government expects the next round of grant money to help quantify the effects of sealing wells.“That will give us and the states a more full picture of the impact of these wells and how much methane we’re removing by cleaning them up,” Stachelberg said.But most states haven’t begun methane measuring.Oklahoma only performs methane testing on select wells close to buildings or as part of explosive testing, said Matt Skinner, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. The state is preparing a methane monitoring program for the next round of federal grant funding.Like many energy regulators, Oklahoma charges fees on active well operators for well remediation efforts. That means the state’s fund varies wildly depending on the health of the industry — and the price of energy.Traditionally, the agency has sought to maintain a healthy reserve fund so it can tackle emergency well repairs, Skinner said.&nbsp;But conserving its funds for the most serious problems can result in a ballooning inventory of wells that need plugging.Oklahoma’s $25 million in the first round of federal funding allowed the state to award contracts to tackle 523 wells — far higher than the number of wells the state traditionally is able to remediate, Skinner said.&nbsp;Between the 2017 and 2021 fiscal years, Oklahoma plugged a total of 462 abandoned wells.“We were able to move aggressively to radically reduce the backlog,” he said.By the time the infrastructure bill passed in 2021, the country had some 125,000 documented abandoned wells and another estimated 800,000 undocumented ones, said Adam Peltz, a director and senior attorney at the advocacy nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund.“Because every state regulates its own industry, it hasn’t been a national issue, despite being a national problem,” he said.The federal funds won’t come close to fixing all the documented abandoned wells, let alone the undocumented ones. But Peltz said the program represents “a significant down payment on a long-ignored problem.”The industry says it’s also tackling the problem.The American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas trade group, said in a statement the industry is constantly working to address the permanent closure and remediation of historic oil and natural gas wells. The institute released new standards in 2021 providing guidance for design, placement and verification of plugs used in wells.<h2>Challenging work</h2>With only about 90 days to form their $25 million grant application last year, Kansas regulators initially focused on addressing “shovel-ready” wells, said Ryan Hoffman, director of conservation at the Kansas Corporation Commission.Those are wells that already had been scrutinized by the agency. But even then, finding contractors to tackle the work proved challenging.In the remote stretches of Western Kansas, for example, the state received no bids on plugging two wells near the Colorado border. Crews can spend upward of $1 million plugging the most complex wells, though the Environmental Defense Fund says the average well plugging costs about $75,000.To make the work more attractive, the state sought to group similarly constructed and nearby wells. In the more populated portions of Northeastern Kansas, the state grouped hundreds of wells in the counties outside of Kansas City under a single project umbrella.“We prioritize those because of the population growth in those areas,” Hoffman said. “But we also wanted to make sure that we can make this attractive to contractors to bid on, because we’re competing with the [oil and gas] industry for their services.”In the past, Kansas has never plugged more than 700 wells per year, Hoffman said. Since January, the state has more than doubled that number, filling more than 1,600 of its 11,000 abandoned wells.Hoffman said the state has increased its compliance efforts, resulting in fewer wells getting abandoned. But the nature of the extraction business makes it difficult, particularly as wells become less profitable.A handful of states are upping scrutiny of well transfers or increasing financial assurance measures that aim to ensure each operator has the money to seal wells once they’re done pumping.In September, California legislators passed a bill that would require well owners to set aside more cash to properly seal wells once they are out of use. The bill faced skepticism from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose finance department warned it could unintentionally cause more wells to be abandoned by increasing financial burdens on already at-risk operators, the Los Angeles Times&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-10-03/bill-seeks-to-cap-orphaned-oil-wells-could-it-backfire?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9TTldTUi9TTldTUi8xLzEwNDkxMSIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICIwMDAwMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogIm1hZHlzb24uZml0emdlcmFsZEByaWNobW9uZC5lZHUiDQp9&amp;hmac=H3BUotWNW9GBGPTgFbK64ZmJgKdyk18055lXuSjHnlM=&amp;emci=4466b4fc-b062-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&amp;ceid=53701">reported</a>. But Newsom&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billHistoryClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1167">signed the legislation</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7.In New Mexico, regulators are discussing potential changes with the oil and gas industry.&nbsp;And the state is taking a closer look at well transfer requests.“We are scrutinizing some of those transactions a little harder,” said Dylan Fuge, general counsel for New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.New Mexico has been measuring methane emissions at the wells it targets before and after filling. So far, the state has found each well on average emits nearly a ton in greenhouse gas emissions per year — roughly the annual equivalent greenhouse emissions of six gas-powered vehicles, the EPA calculator estimates.Overall, the federal dollars have allowed the state to seal five times as many wells as normal, about 100 of its 1,700 documented abandoned wells.“I think we’re starting to make meaningful progress on the ground,” Fuge said. But “even at the rate we’re plugging with the resources we can reasonably project out, I still don’t see a certain pathway where we get all 1,700 by any stretch.”

Billions of dollars to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells will only make a dent

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

TOPEKA — To help remedy the state’s child care shortage, 27 organizations have been allocated $11.4 million to open up more child care slots across the state.&nbsp;

Gov. Laura Kelly, in conjunction with the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, announced a second wave of funding for child care programs Thursday as part of an initiative meant to accelerate the development of more child care options statewide.&nbsp;

“Building off the grants announced this summer, this funding will be transformational for families and communities across the state,” Kelly said. “Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care will spur economic growth by allowing more families to participate in the workforce and support the healthy development of Kansas children.”&nbsp;

The first round of funding went out in June, allocating $43 million for the creation of 4,211&nbsp; child care slots. This round of funding will open up around 1,468 spots, creating a total of&nbsp; 5,655 in 67 communities. The funding is a mix of federal pandemic dollars provided to the state and American Rescue Plan Act money, along with some funding from private sources.&nbsp;

Most of the funding will go toward startup costs, such as increasing staff, purchasing equipment and providing improved child care training.&nbsp;

“This is a win for Kansas families that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. “We appreciate our partners at DCF for providing the extra funds to make this round of awards possible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697942412613.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday a second round of funding for the creation of child care slots statewide. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday a second round of funding for the creation of child care slots statewide. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — To help remedy the state’s child care shortage, 27 organizations have been allocated $11.4 million to open up more child care slots across the state.&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly, in conjunction with the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, announced a second wave of funding for child care programs Thursday as part of an initiative meant to accelerate the development of more child care options statewide.&nbsp;“Building off the grants announced this summer, this funding will be transformational for families and communities across the state,” Kelly said. “Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care will spur economic growth by allowing more families to participate in the workforce and support the healthy development of Kansas children.”&nbsp;The first round of funding went out in June, allocating $43 million for the creation of 4,211&nbsp; child care slots. This round of funding will open up around 1,468 spots, creating a total of&nbsp; 5,655 in 67 communities. The funding is a mix of federal pandemic dollars provided to the state and American Rescue Plan Act money, along with some funding from private sources.&nbsp;Most of the funding will go toward startup costs, such as increasing staff, purchasing equipment and providing improved child care training.&nbsp;“This is a win for Kansas families that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. “We appreciate our partners at DCF for providing the extra funds to make this round of awards possible.”

Push for more Kan. child care options revitalized with $11.5 million grant

WASHINGTON —Following detailed discussions with President Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin late Saturday directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region, according to a statement from the agency.

These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel.

The Defense Secretary redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies.&nbsp;

Austin also activated the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to locations throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. forces.

He also placed an additional number of forces on prepare to deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765298614.png" alt="The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18. Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. photo By:Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Lau" />
 <figcaption>The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18. Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. photo By:Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Lau</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Following detailed discussions with President Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin late Saturday directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region, according to a statement from the agency.These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel.The Defense Secretary redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies.&nbsp;Austin also activated the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to locations throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. forces.He also placed an additional number of forces on prepare to deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required.&nbsp;

Iran threat: Pentagon sending additional forces to the Middle East

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Porsche Taycan driven by Joseph M. Paris, 64, Leawood, was eastbound on Interstate 435 just east of Stateline Road.

The Porsche made a lane change into the number two lane and struck a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Dustin M. Harder, 36, Del City, Oklahoma. After impact, the Porsche struck an eastbound 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by Joshua L. Girardi, 37, Greenwood, Missouri, and a 2023 Ford Escape driven by Shawna&nbsp;O'Connor, 46, Independence, Missouri, that was stopped on the inside shoulder of the highway.

The impact pushed the Chevy Equinox into a 2005 Chevy Silverado that was unoccupied on the shoulder. The semi continued toward the inside shoulder and struck a 2015 Nissan Rogue driven by Chelsea L. Shelton, 32, Olathe, and then rear-ended a 1996 Chevy pickup driven by Randal D. Hammonds, 69, Kansas City, Missouri

EMS transported Hammonds, a passenger in the Chevy pickup identified as Justin E. Witt, 39, Kansas City, Missouri, and Girardi to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where Hammonds died.

EMS transported Paris and a passenger in the Porsche Carmela L. Paris, 64, Leawood and Harder to Research Medical Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

O'Connor and Shelton were not injured. Hammonds, Witt and O'Connor were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Porsche Taycan driven by Joseph M. Paris, 64, Leawood, was eastbound on Interstate 435 just east of Stateline Road.The Porsche made a lane change into the number two lane and struck a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Dustin M. Harder, 36, Del City, Oklahoma. After impact, the Porsche struck an eastbound 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by Joshua L. Girardi, 37, Greenwood, Missouri, and a 2023 Ford Escape driven by Shawna&nbsp;O'Connor, 46, Independence, Missouri, that was stopped on the inside shoulder of the highway.The impact pushed the Chevy Equinox into a 2005 Chevy Silverado that was unoccupied on the shoulder. The semi continued toward the inside shoulder and struck a 2015 Nissan Rogue driven by Chelsea L. Shelton, 32, Olathe, and then rear-ended a 1996 Chevy pickup driven by Randal D. Hammonds, 69, Kansas City, MissouriEMS transported Hammonds, a passenger in the Chevy pickup identified as Justin E. Witt, 39, Kansas City, Missouri, and Girardi to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where Hammonds died.EMS transported Paris and a passenger in the Porsche Carmela L. Paris, 64, Leawood and Harder to Research Medical Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;O'Connor and Shelton were not injured. Hammonds, Witt and O'Connor were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

One dead, 5 injured after 7-vehicle Kansas crash

WASHINGTON&nbsp; (AP)— President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with two freed Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. It was the first such hostage release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage.

Video of Biden speaking with them by phone was posted Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He told the mother and daughter that he was glad they had been released.

“We’re going to get them all out, God willing,” he said.

Natalie thanked Biden for his “services” to Israel. Judith said they are in good health.

Hamas said it released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.

Family members have said Judith and Natalie had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate Judith’s mother’s birthday and the Jewish holidays.

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said Friday she’s doing well following two weeks in captivity after she and her mother were abducted in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza.

Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by telephone. “She’s doing good. She’s doing very good,” said Uri, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good.”

The 71-year-old said he saw on the news earlier Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith.

Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels “wonderful. The best news,” Uri Raanan said.

He said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the U.S. early next week.

U.S. President Joe Biden was among the many celebrating the stunning news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194">the Raanans had been freed.</a>

An Israeli army spokesman said the two Americans were out of the Gaza Strip and with the Israeli military.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-news-10-19-2023">Hamas said Friday</a>&nbsp;it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.

They were the first hostages to be released since Hamas militants, according to Israel, abducted roughly 200 people during their Oct. 7 rampage.

“I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” Biden said in Washington. The president spoke Friday with Judith and Natalie and "relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal,” the White House said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release offered "a sliver of hope” for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-israel-hamas-war-what-to-know-406920c384818fa4fe3525327adf3f50">those still being held</a>.

Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, according to family members. They were in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday, when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds of people and abducting others.

Their family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalie’s brother Ben has said.

“The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle,” Meir Hecht, Judith Raanan’s rabbi, said at a press conference outside his home in Evanston on Friday afternoon.

“At the same time we hold our pain very deep,” said Hecht, who called for the other hostages to be released as soon as possible. “We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for their release.”

Judith came regularly to Meir’s congregation and felt like “part of our family,” the rabbi said.

Natalie Raanan loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash -- “she hates eating at home,” according to her brother Ben, who is based in Denver. She graduated from high school this year and was deciding between going to college to study interior or fashion design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo shop.

Ben Raanan described Natalie as “just a very loving, kind person.” Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than she is, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed relief at news of the Raanans’ release while asking people to remember other families whose relatives were abducted.

“They are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment,” Pritzker said of Natalie and Judith. “I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said the release of the two Americans is “a very good result” and expressed hope it could help pave the way for others to be freed, including French-Israelis feared held in Gaza.

Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages “with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace.”

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. “We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697842903063.png" alt="In this photo provided by the Government of Israel, Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages, as they return to Israel from captivity in the Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Hamas released the pair in what it said was a goodwill gesture late Friday, nearly two weeks after they were captured in a bloody cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. The Hamas attack sparked a war that is entering its third week, and Hamas is believed to still be holding some 200 people hostage. (Government of Israel via AP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>In this photo provided by the Government of Israel, Judith Raanan, right, and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie are escorted by Israeli soldiers and Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's special coordinator for returning the hostages, as they return to Israel from captivity in the Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Hamas released the pair in what it said was a goodwill gesture late Friday, nearly two weeks after they were captured in a bloody cross-border raid by the Islamic militant group. The Hamas attack sparked a war that is entering its third week, and Hamas is believed to still be holding some 200 people hostage. (Government of Israel via AP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp; (AP)— President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with two freed Americans who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Judith and Natalie, I’m so glad you’re coming home. <a href="https://t.co/c7az0PcYXn">pic.twitter.com/c7az0PcYXn</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1715740319772295519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released Friday. It was the first such hostage release from among the roughly 200 people the militant group abducted from Israel during its Oct. 7 rampage.Video of Biden speaking with them by phone was posted Saturday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He told the mother and daughter that he was glad they had been released.“We’re going to get them all out, God willing,” he said.Natalie thanked Biden for his “services” to Israel. Judith said they are in good health.Hamas said it released the mother and daughter for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.Family members have said Judith and Natalie had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate Judith’s mother’s birthday and the Jewish holidays.-----------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697827658899.png" alt="In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. Judith and Natalie are missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this undated photo provided by Rabbi Meir Hecht on behalf of the Raanan family is Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. Judith and Natalie are missing while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah. (Raanan Family via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said Friday she’s doing well following two weeks in captivity after she and her mother were abducted in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza.Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by telephone. “She’s doing good. She’s doing very good,” said Uri, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good.”The 71-year-old said he saw on the news earlier Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith.Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels “wonderful. The best news,” Uri Raanan said.He said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the U.S. early next week.U.S. President Joe Biden was among the many celebrating the stunning news that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194">the Raanans had been freed.</a>An Israeli army spokesman said the two Americans were out of the Gaza Strip and with the Israeli military.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-news-10-19-2023">Hamas said Friday</a>&nbsp;it released them for humanitarian reasons in an agreement with the Qatari government.They were the first hostages to be released since Hamas militants, according to Israel, abducted roughly 200 people during their Oct. 7 rampage.“I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” Biden said in Washington. The president spoke Friday with Judith and Natalie and "relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal,” the White House said.The International Committee of the Red Cross, which transported the freed Americans from Gaza to Israel, said their release offered "a sliver of hope” for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-israel-hamas-war-what-to-know-406920c384818fa4fe3525327adf3f50">those still being held</a>.Judith and Natalie Ranaan had been on a trip from their home in the Chicago suburb of Evanston to Israel to celebrate the Jewish holidays, according to family members. They were in Nahal Oz, near Gaza, on Oct. 7 for Simchat Torah, a festive Jewish holiday, when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israeli towns, killing hundreds of people and abducting others.Their family had heard nothing from them since the attack and were later told by U.S. and Israeli officials that they were being held in Gaza, Natalie’s brother Ben has said.“The news that Judith and Natalie have been released from the hands of Hamas is overwhelming. It brings us a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Almighty, to God, for this incredible miracle,” Meir Hecht, Judith Raanan’s rabbi, said at a press conference outside his home in Evanston on Friday afternoon.“At the same time we hold our pain very deep,” said Hecht, who called for the other hostages to be released as soon as possible. “We need to continue besieging whoever we can and however we can, and praying for their release.”Judith came regularly to Meir’s congregation and felt like “part of our family,” the rabbi said.Natalie Raanan loves art, makeup, fashion, and DoorDash -- “she hates eating at home,” according to her brother Ben, who is based in Denver. She graduated from high school this year and was deciding between going to college to study interior or fashion design and taking an apprenticeship with a tattoo shop.Ben Raanan described Natalie as “just a very loving, kind person.” Their middle brother, Adam, is nonverbal and much older than she is, but Natalie makes it a priority to maintain a strong bond with him, he explained.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed relief at news of the Raanans’ release while asking people to remember other families whose relatives were abducted.“They are now safe and receiving necessary medical treatment,” Pritzker said of Natalie and Judith. “I cannot wait to welcome them back home after demonstrating immense strength and bravery in the face of unthinkable terror.”French President Emmanuel Macron said the release of the two Americans is “a very good result” and expressed hope it could help pave the way for others to be freed, including French-Israelis feared held in Gaza.Qatar said it would continue its dialogue with Israel and Hamas in hopes of winning the release of all hostages “with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace.”Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel was continuing to work to return hostages and find the missing, and its goals had not changed. “We are continuing the war against Hamas and ready for the next stage of the war,” he said.

🎧 Listen to Biden phone call with 2 freed American hostages

ALLEN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Saturday in Allen County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1976 Piper fixed-wing single engine aircraft piloted by&nbsp; James V. Devers, 27, Oklahoma City, was flying to the airport at Iola.

The plane ran out of fuel. The pilot landed the plane on 2000 Road traveling south. The end of the right wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to travel into the west ditch and strike another tree.

&nbsp;EMS Devers to the Allen County Hospital. The KHP released no additional details.

ALLEN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Saturday in Allen County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1976 Piper fixed-wing single engine aircraft piloted by&nbsp; James V. Devers, 27, Oklahoma City, was flying to the airport at Iola.The plane ran out of fuel. The pilot landed the plane on 2000 Road traveling south. The end of the right wing struck a tree, causing the airplane to travel into the west ditch and strike another tree.&nbsp;EMS Devers to the Allen County Hospital. The KHP released no additional details.

Pilot injured after small plane ran out of fuel near Kan. airport

SHAWNEE COUNTY – A Kansas woman accused in the shooting death of her 4-year-old daughter has been charged&nbsp; in the case.

&nbsp;Mariann L. Belair, 24, of Topeka, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated endangering a child and distribution of meth, according to&nbsp;Shawnee County District Attorney's office

On Saturday, police responded to a shooting in the 400 block of NE Grattan Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

&nbsp;Officers were able to secure the scene and located&nbsp;4-year-old Lawrencia Perez-Belair  who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; The girl was transported to a local hospital and died.

By Saturday afternoon, police reported they had identified all individuals involved and early Sunday reported the arrest of Belair.&nbsp; She is being held on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697371794491.png" alt="Belair-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Belair-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – A Kansas woman accused in the shooting death of her 4-year-old daughter has been charged&nbsp; in the case.&nbsp;Mariann L. Belair, 24, of Topeka, was charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated endangering a child and distribution of meth, according to&nbsp;Shawnee County District Attorney's officeOn Saturday, police responded to a shooting in the 400 block of NE Grattan Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697687958408.jpeg" alt="Lawrencia Blair-photo Chapel Oaks Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Lawrencia Blair-photo Chapel Oaks Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Officers were able to secure the scene and located&nbsp;4-year-old Lawrencia Perez-Belair who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; The girl was transported to a local hospital and died.By Saturday afternoon, police reported they had identified all individuals involved and early Sunday reported the arrest of Belair.&nbsp; She is being held on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00 bond, according to online jail records.