CINCINNATI (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jerry-springer">Jerry Springer,</a>&nbsp;the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families willing to bare all on weekday afternoons including brawls, obscenities and blurred images of nudity, died Thursday at 79.

At its peak,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dbd44e8ecae84d4493ec5b8efb8d8517">“The Jerry Springer Show”</a>&nbsp;was a ratings powerhouse and a U.S. cultural pariah, synonymous with lurid drama. Known for chair-throwing and bleep-filled arguments, the daytime talk show was a favorite American guilty pleasure over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey’s show.

Springer called it “escapist entertainment,” while others saw the show as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/22de61011232158c1b6a2ade8219f04b">contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values.</a>

“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” said Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer's since 1970, in a statement. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Springer died peacefully at home in suburban Chicago after a brief illness, the statement said

On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as “Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization’s end.” He also often had told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was “may you never be on my show.”

After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018, never straying from its core salaciousness: Some of its last episodes had such titles as “Stripper Sex Turned Me Straight,” “Stop Pimpin’ My Twin Sister,” and “Hooking Up With My Therapist.”

In a “Too Hot For TV” video released as his daily show neared 7 million viewers in the late 1990s, Springer offered a defense against disgust.

“Look, television does not and must not create values, it’s merely a picture of all that’s out there — the good, the bad, the ugly,” Springer said, adding: “Believe this: The politicians and companies that seek to control what each of us may watch are a far greater danger to America and our treasured freedom than any of our guests ever were or could be.”

He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them.

Gerald Norman Springer was born Feb. 13, 1944, in a London underground railway station being used as a bomb shelter. His parents, Richard and Margot, were German Jews who fled to England during the Holocaust, in which other relatives were killed in Nazi gas chambers. They arrived in the United States when their son was 5 and settled in the Queens borough of New York City, where Springer got his first Yankees baseball gear on his way to becoming a lifelong fan.

He studied political science at Tulane University and got a law degree from Northwestern University. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2f16e606593c4bd89a6e6794f68150ab">active in politics</a>&nbsp;much of his adult life, mulling a run for governor of Ohio as recently as 2017.

He entered the arena as an aide in Robert F. Kennedy’s ill-fated 1968 presidential campaign. Springer, working for a Cincinnati law firm, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1970 before being elected to city council in 1971.

In 1974 — in what The Cincinnati Enquirer reported as “an abrupt move that shook Cincinnati’s political community” — Springer resigned. He cited “very personal family considerations,” but what he didn’t mention was a vice probe involving prostitution. In a subsequent admission that could have been the basis for one of his future shows, Springer said he had paid prostitutes with personal checks.

Then 30, he had married Micki Velton the previous year. The couple had a daughter, Katie, and divorced in 1994.

Springer quickly bounced back politically, winning a council seat in 1975 and serving as mayor in 1977. He later became a local television politics reporter with popular evening commentaries. He and co-anchor Norma Rashid eventually helped build NBC affiliate WLWT-TV’s broadcast into the Cincinnati market’s top-rated news show.

Springer began his talk show in 1991 with more of a traditional format, but after he left WLWT in 1993, it got a sleazy makeover.

TV Guide ranked it No. 1 on a list of “Worst Shows in the History of Television,” but it was ratings gold. It made Springer a celebrity who would go on to host a liberal radio talk show and “America’s Got Talent,” star in a movie called “Ringmaster,” and compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”

“With all the joking I do with the show, I’m fully aware and thank God every day that my life has taken this incredible turn because of this silly show,” Springer told Cincinnati Enquirer media reporter John Kiesewetter in 2011.

Well in advance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s political rise</a>&nbsp;from reality TV stardom, Springer mulled a Senate run in 2003 that he surmised could draw on “nontraditional voters,” people “who believe most politics are bull.”

“I connect with a whole bunch of people who probably connect more to me right now than to a traditional politician,” Springer told the AP at the time. He opposed the war on Iraq and favored expanding public healthcare, but ultimately did not run.

Springer also spoke often of the country he came to age 5 as “a beacon of light for the rest of world.”

“I have no other motivation but to say I love this country,” Springer said to a Democratic gathering in 2003.

Springer hosted a nationally syndicated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ct-state-wire-jerry-springer-entertainment-talk-shows-north-america-0f6e8642840647e8a56d0ae500541d94">“Judge Jerry”</a>&nbsp;show in 2019 and continued to speak out on whatever was on his mind in a podcast, but his power to shock had dimmed in the new era of reality television and combative cable TV talk shows.

“He was lapped not only by other programs but by real life,” David Bianculli, a television historian and professor at Monmouth University, said in 2018.

Despite the limits Springer’s show put on his political aspirations, he embraced its legacy. In a 2003 fund-raising infomercial ahead of a possible U.S. Senate run the following year, Springer referenced a quote by then National Review commentator Jonah Goldberg, who warned of new people brought to the polls by Springer, including “slack-jawed yokels, hicks, weirdos, pervs and whatnots.”

In the informercial, Springer referred to the quote and talked about wanting to reach out to “regular folks ... who weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682606774055.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CINCINNATI (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jerry-springer">Jerry Springer,</a>&nbsp;the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families willing to bare all on weekday afternoons including brawls, obscenities and blurred images of nudity, died Thursday at 79.At its peak,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dbd44e8ecae84d4493ec5b8efb8d8517">“The Jerry Springer Show”</a>&nbsp;was a ratings powerhouse and a U.S. cultural pariah, synonymous with lurid drama. Known for chair-throwing and bleep-filled arguments, the daytime talk show was a favorite American guilty pleasure over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey’s show.Springer called it “escapist entertainment,” while others saw the show as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/22de61011232158c1b6a2ade8219f04b">contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values.</a>“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” said Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer's since 1970, in a statement. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”Springer died peacefully at home in suburban Chicago after a brief illness, the statement saidOn his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as “Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization’s end.” He also often had told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was “may you never be on my show.”After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018, never straying from its core salaciousness: Some of its last episodes had such titles as “Stripper Sex Turned Me Straight,” “Stop Pimpin’ My Twin Sister,” and “Hooking Up With My Therapist.”In a “Too Hot For TV” video released as his daily show neared 7 million viewers in the late 1990s, Springer offered a defense against disgust.“Look, television does not and must not create values, it’s merely a picture of all that’s out there — the good, the bad, the ugly,” Springer said, adding: “Believe this: The politicians and companies that seek to control what each of us may watch are a far greater danger to America and our treasured freedom than any of our guests ever were or could be.”He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them.Gerald Norman Springer was born Feb. 13, 1944, in a London underground railway station being used as a bomb shelter. His parents, Richard and Margot, were German Jews who fled to England during the Holocaust, in which other relatives were killed in Nazi gas chambers. They arrived in the United States when their son was 5 and settled in the Queens borough of New York City, where Springer got his first Yankees baseball gear on his way to becoming a lifelong fan.He studied political science at Tulane University and got a law degree from Northwestern University. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2f16e606593c4bd89a6e6794f68150ab">active in politics</a>&nbsp;much of his adult life, mulling a run for governor of Ohio as recently as 2017.He entered the arena as an aide in Robert F. Kennedy’s ill-fated 1968 presidential campaign. Springer, working for a Cincinnati law firm, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1970 before being elected to city council in 1971.In 1974 — in what The Cincinnati Enquirer reported as “an abrupt move that shook Cincinnati’s political community” — Springer resigned. He cited “very personal family considerations,” but what he didn’t mention was a vice probe involving prostitution. In a subsequent admission that could have been the basis for one of his future shows, Springer said he had paid prostitutes with personal checks.Then 30, he had married Micki Velton the previous year. The couple had a daughter, Katie, and divorced in 1994.Springer quickly bounced back politically, winning a council seat in 1975 and serving as mayor in 1977. He later became a local television politics reporter with popular evening commentaries. He and co-anchor Norma Rashid eventually helped build NBC affiliate WLWT-TV’s broadcast into the Cincinnati market’s top-rated news show.Springer began his talk show in 1991 with more of a traditional format, but after he left WLWT in 1993, it got a sleazy makeover.TV Guide ranked it No. 1 on a list of “Worst Shows in the History of Television,” but it was ratings gold. It made Springer a celebrity who would go on to host a liberal radio talk show and “America’s Got Talent,” star in a movie called “Ringmaster,” and compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”“With all the joking I do with the show, I’m fully aware and thank God every day that my life has taken this incredible turn because of this silly show,” Springer told Cincinnati Enquirer media reporter John Kiesewetter in 2011.Well in advance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s political rise</a>&nbsp;from reality TV stardom, Springer mulled a Senate run in 2003 that he surmised could draw on “nontraditional voters,” people “who believe most politics are bull.”“I connect with a whole bunch of people who probably connect more to me right now than to a traditional politician,” Springer told the AP at the time. He opposed the war on Iraq and favored expanding public healthcare, but ultimately did not run.Springer also spoke often of the country he came to age 5 as “a beacon of light for the rest of world.”“I have no other motivation but to say I love this country,” Springer said to a Democratic gathering in 2003.Springer hosted a nationally syndicated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ct-state-wire-jerry-springer-entertainment-talk-shows-north-america-0f6e8642840647e8a56d0ae500541d94">“Judge Jerry”</a>&nbsp;show in 2019 and continued to speak out on whatever was on his mind in a podcast, but his power to shock had dimmed in the new era of reality television and combative cable TV talk shows.“He was lapped not only by other programs but by real life,” David Bianculli, a television historian and professor at Monmouth University, said in 2018.Despite the limits Springer’s show put on his political aspirations, he embraced its legacy. In a 2003 fund-raising infomercial ahead of a possible U.S. Senate run the following year, Springer referenced a quote by then National Review commentator Jonah Goldberg, who warned of new people brought to the polls by Springer, including “slack-jawed yokels, hicks, weirdos, pervs and whatnots.”In the informercial, Springer referred to the quote and talked about wanting to reach out to “regular folks ... who weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

Jerry Springer, politician-turned-TV ringmaster, dies at 79

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas board decided Wednesday that high schools and middle schools must see transgender athletes' first birth certificates to decide what teams they can join, while an effort in the Legislature to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors failed.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association's executive board took a key step in helping the state enforce a ban on female transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports. It replaced a policy that allowed decisions to be made athlete by athlete with one that says transgender girls will not be allowed to compete on girl's teams, starting July 1.

The new policy follows a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athletes-ban-kansas-08604c663518fb2538565f3e1ac3d4ba">enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature</a>&nbsp;earlier this month over a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-bills-health-care-bathrooms-vetoes-66c5199b9aadc7273620f561441a8ade">vetoed five GOP bills</a>&nbsp;rolling back transgender rights, and Republicans are headed toward overriding three more, including a veto of a sweeping bathroom bill.

But GOP conservatives didn't have the two-thirds majorities needed to override Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-ban-kansas-ef3e4d9ef40a29da3d8059d80bbed3a5">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would require the state medical board to revoke the licenses of doctors who provide puberty blocking medications, hormone treatments and surgery for transgender minors. The Senate's vote on an override Wednesday was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426151005_365166/">26-14,</a>&nbsp;leaving supporters one vote shy.

“This bill goes too far in our reaching out to take that place of parental responsibility of supporting their children and with the advice of their medical doctor,” said Democratic state Sen. Pat Pettey, of Kansas City, who voted “no.”

The bills in Kansas are part of a broader push by Republicans across the U.S. against LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender rights. At least seven have bathroom laws, at least 21 restrict transgender athletes, and at least 14 have enacted law restricting or banning gender-affirming care.

Supporters of the bill against gender-affirming care in Kansas argued that they were protecting children from making life-altering decisions that they might regret later.

“Sometimes, unfortuntely, we as a Legislature have to be the last line of defense when parents have lost their way, when a health care system has lot its way,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from south-central Kansas.

Evidence suggests detransitioning&nbsp;<a href="https://bedbible.com/detransition-statistics/">is not as common</a>&nbsp;as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend.

Research also has shown that transgender youths and adults can be prone to suicidal behavior when forced to live as the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender-affirming care for minors has been available in the U.S. for more than a decade and is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-transition-treatment-guidelines-9dbe54f670a3a0f5f2831c2bf14f9bbb">endorsed by major medical associations.</a>

“We have this freedom now to really be who we are and express who we are, and for folks, for any number of reasons, that’s very uncomfortable for them,” said Derrick Jordan, director of the Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Gender and Family Project. The New York-based institute trains family therapists.

Jones, a licensed therapist who works with trans youth, added: “It challenges a system that they’re very used to, and because of their discomfort, they’re willing to support systemic oppression and injustice.”

The Legislature on Wednesday did override Kelly's veto of a bill that would bar county jails from housing transgender inmates in line with their gender identities, so that transgender women would be housed with cisgender men. The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426150534_806404/">31-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426172804_238512/">87-37</a>&nbsp;in the House.

The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426150454_940900/">28-12</a>&nbsp;to override Kelly's veto of he bathroom bill, which also applies to locker rooms, prisons, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers. The House voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426141338_175284/">85-39</a>&nbsp;to override Kelly's veto of a bill to prevent public schools from having transgender boys room with cisgender boys and transgender girls with cisgender girls on overnight trips.

A vote in the House on the bathroom bill and one in the Senate on the bill dealing with overnight trips are expected Thursday.

As for the restrictions on transgender athletes, the new Kansas State High School Activities Association policy is tied to a requirement for an annual physical for students seeking to participate in sports in seventh through 12th grade. The KSHSAA has said three transgender girls competed in sports during the current school year.

The KSHSAA's executive board also revised the form for reporting results from students' physicals to list the sex assigned a student at birth, instead of just sex.

The new association policy anticipates that the birth certficate closest to a student's birth will govern, and if that isn't availabe, a student will be examined by a doctor. If neither method settles the issue, then a student would compete either on a boys' team or coed team.

“We needed, then, to make sure we had a policy that our member schools could follow that meets the letter of the law, as well as the philosophical basis,” Bill Faflick, the KSHSAA's executive director, told the executive board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682591815080.png" alt="Bill Faflick, the executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, speaks during a meeting of its executive board, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Topeka, Kansas. The board approved a new policy for settling questions about transgender athletes in line with the state's new ban on transgender female athletes in girls' and women's sports. (AP Photo/John Hanna)" />
 <figcaption>Bill Faflick, the executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, speaks during a meeting of its executive board, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Topeka, Kansas. The board approved a new policy for settling questions about transgender athletes in line with the state's new ban on transgender female athletes in girls' and women's sports. (AP Photo/John Hanna)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas board decided Wednesday that high schools and middle schools must see transgender athletes' first birth certificates to decide what teams they can join, while an effort in the Legislature to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors failed.The Kansas State High School Activities Association's executive board took a key step in helping the state enforce a ban on female transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports. It replaced a policy that allowed decisions to be made athlete by athlete with one that says transgender girls will not be allowed to compete on girl's teams, starting July 1.The new policy follows a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athletes-ban-kansas-08604c663518fb2538565f3e1ac3d4ba">enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature</a>&nbsp;earlier this month over a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-bills-health-care-bathrooms-vetoes-66c5199b9aadc7273620f561441a8ade">vetoed five GOP bills</a>&nbsp;rolling back transgender rights, and Republicans are headed toward overriding three more, including a veto of a sweeping bathroom bill.But GOP conservatives didn't have the two-thirds majorities needed to override Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-ban-kansas-ef3e4d9ef40a29da3d8059d80bbed3a5">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would require the state medical board to revoke the licenses of doctors who provide puberty blocking medications, hormone treatments and surgery for transgender minors. The Senate's vote on an override Wednesday was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426151005_365166/">26-14,</a>&nbsp;leaving supporters one vote shy.“This bill goes too far in our reaching out to take that place of parental responsibility of supporting their children and with the advice of their medical doctor,” said Democratic state Sen. Pat Pettey, of Kansas City, who voted “no.”The bills in Kansas are part of a broader push by Republicans across the U.S. against LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender rights. At least seven have bathroom laws, at least 21 restrict transgender athletes, and at least 14 have enacted law restricting or banning gender-affirming care.Supporters of the bill against gender-affirming care in Kansas argued that they were protecting children from making life-altering decisions that they might regret later.“Sometimes, unfortuntely, we as a Legislature have to be the last line of defense when parents have lost their way, when a health care system has lot its way,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, a Republican from south-central Kansas.Evidence suggests detransitioning&nbsp;<a href="https://bedbible.com/detransition-statistics/">is not as common</a>&nbsp;as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend.Research also has shown that transgender youths and adults can be prone to suicidal behavior when forced to live as the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender-affirming care for minors has been available in the U.S. for more than a decade and is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-transition-treatment-guidelines-9dbe54f670a3a0f5f2831c2bf14f9bbb">endorsed by major medical associations.</a>“We have this freedom now to really be who we are and express who we are, and for folks, for any number of reasons, that’s very uncomfortable for them,” said Derrick Jordan, director of the Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Gender and Family Project. The New York-based institute trains family therapists.Jones, a licensed therapist who works with trans youth, added: “It challenges a system that they’re very used to, and because of their discomfort, they’re willing to support systemic oppression and injustice.”The Legislature on Wednesday did override Kelly's veto of a bill that would bar county jails from housing transgender inmates in line with their gender identities, so that transgender women would be housed with cisgender men. The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426150534_806404/">31-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426172804_238512/">87-37</a>&nbsp;in the House.The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426150454_940900/">28-12</a>&nbsp;to override Kelly's veto of he bathroom bill, which also applies to locker rooms, prisons, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers. The House voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230426141338_175284/">85-39</a>&nbsp;to override Kelly's veto of a bill to prevent public schools from having transgender boys room with cisgender boys and transgender girls with cisgender girls on overnight trips.A vote in the House on the bathroom bill and one in the Senate on the bill dealing with overnight trips are expected Thursday.As for the restrictions on transgender athletes, the new Kansas State High School Activities Association policy is tied to a requirement for an annual physical for students seeking to participate in sports in seventh through 12th grade. The KSHSAA has said three transgender girls competed in sports during the current school year.The KSHSAA's executive board also revised the form for reporting results from students' physicals to list the sex assigned a student at birth, instead of just sex.The new association policy anticipates that the birth certficate closest to a student's birth will govern, and if that isn't availabe, a student will be examined by a doctor. If neither method settles the issue, then a student would compete either on a boys' team or coed team.“We needed, then, to make sure we had a policy that our member schools could follow that meets the letter of the law, as well as the philosophical basis,” Bill Faflick, the KSHSAA's executive director, told the executive board.

Kansas sets trans athlete rule; gender-affirming care saved

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting in Wyandotte County.

Just before 8:30p.m. Wednesday, an officer was conducting a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Metropolitan Avenue, according to a media release. 

During the traffic stop, a confrontation ensued and shots were fired by the officer.The subject in the vehicle and the officer were both transported to the hospital. 

 The subject, an adult male, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.  The officer’s injuries were minor and non life threatening.

KCPD homicide detectives and crime scene personnel were processing the scene and speaking to witnesses.

As per policy, the&nbsp;Kansas City Missouri Police Department&nbsp;will be investigating.&nbsp;

Once the investigation is complete, detectives will submit the case file to the Wyandotte County Kansas District Attorney’s Office.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting in Wyandotte County.Just before 8:30p.m. Wednesday, an officer was conducting a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Metropolitan Avenue, according to a media release. During the traffic stop, a confrontation ensued and shots were fired by the officer.The subject in the vehicle and the officer were both transported to the hospital. The subject, an adult male, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The officer’s injuries were minor and non life threatening.KCPD homicide detectives and crime scene personnel were processing the scene and speaking to witnesses.As per policy, the&nbsp;Kansas City Missouri Police Department&nbsp;will be investigating.&nbsp;Once the investigation is complete, detectives will submit the case file to the Wyandotte County Kansas District Attorney’s Office.

Man dead in Kansas officer-involved shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the government's legal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-ceiling-cap-2b76f685cff4a284021f9b5c2c95cd4c">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as he challenges President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer.

Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate anyway, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-ceiling-cap-2b76f685cff4a284021f9b5c2c95cd4c">ensure America pays its bills.</a>

But McCarthy’s ability to swiftly unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speaker’s strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks. The two men&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-budget-debt-limit-deficit-de910580c185bf5bddc92608cde06f9c">could hardly be further apart</a>&nbsp;on how to resolve the issue.

The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin.

“We've done our job," McCarthy said at the U.S. Capitol after the vote.

“The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating,” he said. ”Now he should sit down and negotiate."

As the House debated the measure, Biden on Wednesday indicated he was willing to open the door to talks with McCarthy, but not on preventing a first-ever U.S. default that would shake America's economy and beyond.

“Happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended,” Biden said. “That’s not negotiable.”

Passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-bill-house-republicans-kevin-mccarthy-f73e6c2fce8abdfab4973c727ea79517">the sprawling 320-page package</a>&nbsp;in the House is only the start of what is expected to become a weekslong political slog as the president and Congress try to work out a compromise that would allow the nation's debt, now at $31 trillion, to be lifted to allow further borrowing and stave off a fiscal crisis.

The nation has never defaulted on its debt, and the House Republican majority hopes to maneuver Biden into a corner with its plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1% over the next decade, among other changes.

McCarthy worked nonstop to unite his fractious Republican majority, the “five families” including the conservative Freedom Caucus and others, making post-midnight changes in the House Rules Committee in the crush to win over holdouts.

Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just signed into law last year by Democrat Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books in their bill.

“Our delegation has stood united for Iowa’s farmers and producers fighting to amend the bill to protect biofuels tax credits," said the four House Republicans from Iowa in a joint statement announcing their support for the bill.

Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Freedom Caucus' Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. — who has led previous challenges to McCarthy and ultimately voted against the bill.

Republicans hold a five-seat House majority and faced several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare. In the end the speaker lost four Republican no votes, and all Democrats opposed.

“This bill is unacceptable, it's unreasonable, it’s unworkable, it’s unconscionable — and it’s un-American,” said the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “That’s why we oppose it.”

Democrats derided the Republican plan as a “ransom note," a “shakedown” and "an unserious bill" that was courting financial danger.

But as McCarthy worked to shore up support, some of the most conservative rank-and-file Republican members who have never voted for a debt ceiling increase in their quest to slash spending said they were preparing to do just that, rallying behind the speaker's strategy to push Biden to the negotiating table.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he “wanted double” the deficit savings contained in the bill but would vote for it “because it starts the ball, it gets us in the arena to solve the debt problem.”

It’s a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the ability of Washington to solve big problems amid the need to raise the federal debt limit in a matter of weeks.

The Treasury Department is taking “extraordinary measures” to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists warn that even the serious threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy.

In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and:

— Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid.

— Halt Biden’s plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and

— End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production.

A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law.

Several Republicans from the party's right wing, eager for even stricter spending cuts, said the bill was at least a starting point as they prepared to vote for McCarthy's strategy and bolster his hand in talks with Biden.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-congress-14388b75a20fac7e84904e61849eb053">Rep. Derrick Van Orden</a>, R-Wis., said: “It’s our obligation to get Speaker McCarthy to the table.”

Others though, remained noncommittal or flat-out no's.

Rep. Andy Biggs, the former chairman of the Freedom Caucus who voted against the bill, said he had wanted Republicans to do more to end deficit spending. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also a "no" vote, said of the nation's nearly $32 trillion in debt, “that’s my major concern."

In the Senate, leaders were watching and waiting.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said House passage of the legislation would be a “wasted effort” and that McCarthy should come to the table with Democrats to pass a straightforward debt-limit bill without GOP priorities and avoid default.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who stepped aside to give McCarthy the lead, said the speaker has been able to unite the House Republicans.

Now, he said, Biden and McCarthy must come to agreement. Otherwise, he said, “We’ll be at a standoff. And we shouldn’t do that to the country.”

In a statement late Wednesday, the White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said congressional Republicans “must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default. ... That is their job."

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the government's legal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-ceiling-cap-2b76f685cff4a284021f9b5c2c95cd4c">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;as he challenges President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerMcCarthy</a> &amp; his leadership team have delivered an important victory to halt our nations out of control spending and balance our budget. The ball is in Joe Biden’s court - he owns any debt default now.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1651348729948000256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate anyway, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-ceiling-cap-2b76f685cff4a284021f9b5c2c95cd4c">ensure America pays its bills.</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerMcCarthy</a> reacts to passing the debt limit bill. Full video here: <a href="https://t.co/CE0DFHPLnV">https://t.co/CE0DFHPLnV</a> <a href="https://t.co/4AR7QXGRh3">pic.twitter.com/4AR7QXGRh3</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1651346708549324800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But McCarthy’s ability to swiftly unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speaker’s strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks. The two men&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-budget-debt-limit-deficit-de910580c185bf5bddc92608cde06f9c">could hardly be further apart</a>&nbsp;on how to resolve the issue.The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin.“We've done our job," McCarthy said at the U.S. Capitol after the vote.“The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating,” he said. ”Now he should sit down and negotiate."As the House debated the measure, Biden on Wednesday indicated he was willing to open the door to talks with McCarthy, but not on preventing a first-ever U.S. default that would shake America's economy and beyond.“Happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended,” Biden said. “That’s not negotiable.”Passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-bill-house-republicans-kevin-mccarthy-f73e6c2fce8abdfab4973c727ea79517">the sprawling 320-page package</a>&nbsp;in the House is only the start of what is expected to become a weekslong political slog as the president and Congress try to work out a compromise that would allow the nation's debt, now at $31 trillion, to be lifted to allow further borrowing and stave off a fiscal crisis.The nation has never defaulted on its debt, and the House Republican majority hopes to maneuver Biden into a corner with its plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1% over the next decade, among other changes.McCarthy worked nonstop to unite his fractious Republican majority, the “five families” including the conservative Freedom Caucus and others, making post-midnight changes in the House Rules Committee in the crush to win over holdouts.Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just signed into law last year by Democrat Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books in their bill.“Our delegation has stood united for Iowa’s farmers and producers fighting to amend the bill to protect biofuels tax credits," said the four House Republicans from Iowa in a joint statement announcing their support for the bill.Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Freedom Caucus' Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. — who has led previous challenges to McCarthy and ultimately voted against the bill.Republicans hold a five-seat House majority and faced several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare. In the end the speaker lost four Republican no votes, and all Democrats opposed.“This bill is unacceptable, it's unreasonable, it’s unworkable, it’s unconscionable — and it’s un-American,” said the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “That’s why we oppose it.”Democrats derided the Republican plan as a “ransom note," a “shakedown” and "an unserious bill" that was courting financial danger.But as McCarthy worked to shore up support, some of the most conservative rank-and-file Republican members who have never voted for a debt ceiling increase in their quest to slash spending said they were preparing to do just that, rallying behind the speaker's strategy to push Biden to the negotiating table.Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he “wanted double” the deficit savings contained in the bill but would vote for it “because it starts the ball, it gets us in the arena to solve the debt problem.”It’s a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the ability of Washington to solve big problems amid the need to raise the federal debt limit in a matter of weeks.The Treasury Department is taking “extraordinary measures” to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists warn that even the serious threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy.In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and:— Claw back unspent COVID-19 funds.— Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid.— Halt Biden’s plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and— End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production.A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law.Several Republicans from the party's right wing, eager for even stricter spending cuts, said the bill was at least a starting point as they prepared to vote for McCarthy's strategy and bolster his hand in talks with Biden.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-wisconsin-donald-trump-congress-14388b75a20fac7e84904e61849eb053">Rep. Derrick Van Orden</a>, R-Wis., said: “It’s our obligation to get Speaker McCarthy to the table.”Others though, remained noncommittal or flat-out no's.Rep. Andy Biggs, the former chairman of the Freedom Caucus who voted against the bill, said he had wanted Republicans to do more to end deficit spending. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also a "no" vote, said of the nation's nearly $32 trillion in debt, “that’s my major concern."In the Senate, leaders were watching and waiting.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said House passage of the legislation would be a “wasted effort” and that McCarthy should come to the table with Democrats to pass a straightforward debt-limit bill without GOP priorities and avoid default.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who stepped aside to give McCarthy the lead, said the speaker has been able to unite the House Republicans.Now, he said, Biden and McCarthy must come to agreement. Otherwise, he said, “We’ll be at a standoff. And we shouldn’t do that to the country.”In a statement late Wednesday, the White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said congressional Republicans “must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default. ... That is their job."

🎥Kan. Senator praises House US debt limit bill, spending cuts

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a teen in Topeka.

Just after 12:30a.m. April 7, police responded to a report of a person who was shot in the 3500 block of SW Kerry, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.&nbsp;

First responders located one male victim later identified 16-year-old Aaron. P. Mathis, Jr., suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

On Wednesday, police confirmed Mathis, Jr. had died. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a teen in Topeka.Just after 12:30a.m. April 7, police responded to a report of a person who was shot in the 3500 block of SW Kerry, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.&nbsp;First responders located one male victim later identified 16-year-old Aaron. P. Mathis, Jr., suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.On Wednesday, police confirmed Mathis, Jr. had died. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide.

Homicide: Kan. boy injured in 3-week-old shooting has died

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on Wednesday temporarily halted enforcement of a first-of-its-kind rule that restricts access to gender-affirming health care for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-health-care-andrew-baily-65c388ae85f610a2a885e2dff486bfe8">transgender kids and adults</a>, just hours before it was set to take effect.

The rule enstated by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey places requirements on both minors and adults before they would be allowed to receive gender-affirming treatments, such as puberty blockers or hormones. It was set to take effect Thursday, but transgender Missourians and health care providers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-missouri-attorney-general-ef30b41658d95b7206535c5fd67513ae">sued to stop it from being enforced</a>.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo said Wednesday that she would like more time to review the matter before deciding whether to issue a temporary restraining order. She delayed implementation of the rule until 5 p.m. Monday, saying she anticipates she will issue a ruling before then.

Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments, though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades. But the lawsuit claims that Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority in attempting to regulate gender-affirming health care under the state’s consumer-protection laws.

Attorney Tony Rothert with the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri told Ribaudo at a court hearing Wednesday that the regulations "will cause immediate, severe and potentially irreparable harm” for people who could lose access to medications that include puberty blockers and sex hormones.

He and other attorneys said that transgender people who can’t get gender-affirming care are at risk of suicide.

Assistant Attorney General Joshua Divine argued that Bailey’s order does not ban gender-affirming care.

The rule will require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery or other treatment. Patients also must first be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.

Some people would be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing required assessments.

Divine said the rule provides “basic procedural guardrails.” He cited studies showing that a high percentage of kids seeking to transition are dealing with mental health issues. He said that rather than transition they should undergo “talk therapy.”

Those suing argue Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority,

“We don’t allow attorneys general to legislate, and we don’t allow them to play doctor,” Rothert said.

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said that with the delay, transgender and non-binary Missourians will still be able to receive treatment on Thursday. “And while this is temporary relief, our patients always deserve the highest standard of care, without the intervention of politicians who have no grasp of medicine,” she said.

Bailey issued the restrictions following an investigation he launched in February into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-youth-health-care-attorney-general-84da1c977c44bba9907f13b2d3a7141f">Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital</a>. The investigation was prompted by a former employee who alleged the center was providing children with gender-affirming care without informed consent, not enough individualized case review and wraparound mental health services. An internal review by the university found no misconduct and determined that the former employee's claims were unsubstantiated.

Bailey’s efforts to crack down on gender-affirming health care come as Republican lawmakers across the country have proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-lgbtq-gender-affirming-care-missouri-dd87f8682099f9073538c9c2ee544749">hundreds of laws aimed at transgender people</a>. At least 13 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors.

The Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.

The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use mean the treatments are not experimental.

Critics have raised concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Wednesday that she sent letters to President Joe Biden and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services earlier this week, asking for an executive order to extend coverage for Missourians who seek gender-affirming care in other states. She also sent letters to the governors of Kansas and Illinois, asking that their health care systems accept Missouri patients for such care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681466878038.png" alt="Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rule on transgender health care is on hold until at least Monday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rule on transgender health care is on hold until at least Monday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge on Wednesday temporarily halted enforcement of a first-of-its-kind rule that restricts access to gender-affirming health care for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-health-care-andrew-baily-65c388ae85f610a2a885e2dff486bfe8">transgender kids and adults</a>, just hours before it was set to take effect.The rule enstated by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey places requirements on both minors and adults before they would be allowed to receive gender-affirming treatments, such as puberty blockers or hormones. It was set to take effect Thursday, but transgender Missourians and health care providers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-missouri-attorney-general-ef30b41658d95b7206535c5fd67513ae">sued to stop it from being enforced</a>.St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo said Wednesday that she would like more time to review the matter before deciding whether to issue a temporary restraining order. She delayed implementation of the rule until 5 p.m. Monday, saying she anticipates she will issue a ruling before then.Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments, though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades. But the lawsuit claims that Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority in attempting to regulate gender-affirming health care under the state’s consumer-protection laws.Attorney Tony Rothert with the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri told Ribaudo at a court hearing Wednesday that the regulations "will cause immediate, severe and potentially irreparable harm” for people who could lose access to medications that include puberty blockers and sex hormones.He and other attorneys said that transgender people who can’t get gender-affirming care are at risk of suicide.Assistant Attorney General Joshua Divine argued that Bailey’s order does not ban gender-affirming care.The rule will require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery or other treatment. Patients also must first be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.Some people would be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing required assessments.Divine said the rule provides “basic procedural guardrails.” He cited studies showing that a high percentage of kids seeking to transition are dealing with mental health issues. He said that rather than transition they should undergo “talk therapy.”Those suing argue Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority,“We don’t allow attorneys general to legislate, and we don’t allow them to play doctor,” Rothert said.Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said that with the delay, transgender and non-binary Missourians will still be able to receive treatment on Thursday. “And while this is temporary relief, our patients always deserve the highest standard of care, without the intervention of politicians who have no grasp of medicine,” she said.Bailey issued the restrictions following an investigation he launched in February into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-youth-health-care-attorney-general-84da1c977c44bba9907f13b2d3a7141f">Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital</a>. The investigation was prompted by a former employee who alleged the center was providing children with gender-affirming care without informed consent, not enough individualized case review and wraparound mental health services. An internal review by the university found no misconduct and determined that the former employee's claims were unsubstantiated.Bailey’s efforts to crack down on gender-affirming health care come as Republican lawmakers across the country have proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-lgbtq-gender-affirming-care-missouri-dd87f8682099f9073538c9c2ee544749">hundreds of laws aimed at transgender people</a>. At least 13 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors.The Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use mean the treatments are not experimental.Critics have raised concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist.Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Wednesday that she sent letters to President Joe Biden and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services earlier this week, asking for an executive order to extend coverage for Missourians who seek gender-affirming care in other states. She also sent letters to the governors of Kansas and Illinois, asking that their health care systems accept Missouri patients for such care.

Judge puts Missouri rule limiting transgender care on hold

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new allegations.

On Tuesday, police arrested 53-year-old David W. Chapman of Lancaster on a District Court warrant for violation of a protective order and District and Municipal Court warrants failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Chapman has previous convictions for aggravated criminal sodomy involving a child under the age of 14, perjury and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has been a registered offender since 2013.

In November, police arrested Chapman for alleged failure to appear. In January and&nbsp; April of 2022, he was in custody for alleged bond violations, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682516639495.png" alt="Chapman-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Chapman-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new allegations.On Tuesday, police arrested 53-year-old David W. Chapman of Lancaster on a District Court warrant for violation of a protective order and District and Municipal Court warrants failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Chapman has previous convictions for aggravated criminal sodomy involving a child under the age of 14, perjury and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has been a registered offender since 2013.In November, police arrested Chapman for alleged failure to appear. In January and&nbsp; April of 2022, he was in custody for alleged bond violations, according to online jail records.

Kansas sex offender jailed on new allegations

JACKSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11a.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by&nbsp;Ayinde-Jriel James, 44, Fort Worth, Texas, was northbound on U.S. 75 two miles north of Holton at excess speeds. 

The driver began to pass numerous vehicles without sufficient clearance and struck a southbound 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Melinda J.&nbsp;Wareham, 74, Whiting. The vehicles collided head-on, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Wareham was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. James was not hospitalized. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682537465769.png" alt="Traffic backed up after the crash -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Traffic backed up after the crash -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 11a.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by&nbsp;Ayinde-Jriel James, 44, Fort Worth, Texas, was northbound on U.S. 75 two miles north of Holton at excess speeds. The driver began to pass numerous vehicles without sufficient clearance and struck a southbound 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Melinda J.&nbsp;Wareham, 74, Whiting. The vehicles collided head-on, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.Wareham was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Frontier Forensics. James was not hospitalized. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dead after head-on crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Arkansas state senator has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison for accepting multiple bribes in Missouri, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jeremy Hutchinson, 48, of Little Rock, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City for his conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. That sentence will run after previous sentences of three years and 10 months for similar convictions in the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, bringing a total of eight years in prison, the department said.

Hutchinson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3b658e167dcf4a14b697ad410e329ef3">admitted</a>&nbsp;that as a senator he was hired as outside counsel for Preferred Family Healthcare Inc., and in exchange took action in the Arkansas Legislature to help the Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit.

Hutchinson admitted to holding up agency budgets, initiating legislative audits, and sponsoring and voting for legislation that would help Preferred Family, according to his plea agreement. Hutchinson was paid more than $350,000 in charity funds between May 2014 and 2017 and also received hotel rooms and Major League Baseball tickets paid for by the nonprofit.

In 2022, Preferred Family Healthcare agreed to pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement, in which the company admitted to criminal conduct by former officers and employees, prosecutors said.

Hutchinson is the son of former U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas and is former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s nephew.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1648930941495.png" alt="Former State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson of Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson of Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Arkansas state senator has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison for accepting multiple bribes in Missouri, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.Jeremy Hutchinson, 48, of Little Rock, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City for his conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. That sentence will run after previous sentences of three years and 10 months for similar convictions in the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, bringing a total of eight years in prison, the department said.Hutchinson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3b658e167dcf4a14b697ad410e329ef3">admitted</a>&nbsp;that as a senator he was hired as outside counsel for Preferred Family Healthcare Inc., and in exchange took action in the Arkansas Legislature to help the Springfield, Missouri-based nonprofit.Hutchinson admitted to holding up agency budgets, initiating legislative audits, and sponsoring and voting for legislation that would help Preferred Family, according to his plea agreement. Hutchinson was paid more than $350,000 in charity funds between May 2014 and 2017 and also received hotel rooms and Major League Baseball tickets paid for by the nonprofit.In 2022, Preferred Family Healthcare agreed to pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement, in which the company admitted to criminal conduct by former officers and employees, prosecutors said.Hutchinson is the son of former U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas and is former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s nephew.

Ex- lawmaker sentenced in Kansas City for bribery 

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The GOP-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of three anti-abortion laws Wednesday over objections about state-mandated misinformation, alienating OB-GYN workers and ignoring the will of voters.

The Senate subsequently voted to override the governor’s veto of one of the bills, and was expected to attempt an override of the others.

Republican leaders have pursued anti-abortion legislation without regard for the 59-41 vote in August 2022 to reject a constitutional amendment stripping women of the right to terminate a pregnancy. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bills passed by lawmakers before they adjourned earlier this month.

They include&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2313/">House Bill 2313</a>, which requires medical care for babies “born alive,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2325/">House Bill 2325</a>, which bans abortion providers from buying liability insurance from a state fund, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2264/">House Bill 2264</a>, which requires physicians to give patients medically inaccurate information about the potential to reverse the abortion pill.

Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, said she was insulted by the name of the reversal bill, which is known as the “Woman’s Right to Know Act.”

“Here’s what women really know: The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed bodily autonomy to women in Kansas, and this Legislature is trying to take it away,” Ruiz said.

The abortion pill, mifepristone, is used for about two-thirds of abortions in Kansas.

The legislation requires clinics, hospitals and pharmacies where the abortion pill is prescribed or dispensed to post a conspicuous sign that is clearly visible to patients with lettering at least 3/4 of an inch in boldfaced type that says it may be possible to reverse the intended effects of mifepristone. Physicians also must provide information about the reversal before administering the abortion pill.

Research supporting the claim that the abortion pill can be reversed by taking a another drug has been debunked. Other research has shown reversal attempts to be hazardous to women’s health.

“What I hear over and over and over and over from those of us who are not pro life, I hear, ‘Trust women. Trust women,’ ” said Rep. Clarke Sanders, a Salina Republican. “Do you really believe that? If you really believe ‘trust women,’ you’re going to vote to override this veto. Women have a right to know this. They can make a decision about whether or not they want to try to change the decision they made initially about having a chemical abortion.”

A veto override requires the support of two-thirds of the members of both chambers. Those thresholds are 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate.

The House overrode the veto of the abortion pill reversal and liability insurance bills on 84-40 votes, and overrode the veto of the “born alive” bill on an 87-37 vote. The Senate overrode the veto of the “born alive” bill on a 31-9 vote.

The “born alive” bill requires medical care for infants extracted from the mother with a beating heart or ability to breathe, under the false pretense that “failed abortions” are performed on infants that are capable of surviving. Kansas law bans abortion at 22 weeks from gestation, except to save the life of a mother.

Rep. Ron Bryce, a Republican physician from Coffeyville, said he personally provided aid to 27 babies who survived an abortion.

“We are moral people,” Bryce said. “We provide care for those who are weak, for those who are disadvantaged, for those who are innocent and powerless.”

The third piece of legislation bans abortion providers from obtaining liability insurance through the Health Care Stabilization Fund, which all physicians are required to contribute pay into. However, the bill allows “maternity centers” to have access to the fund.

“These bills are going to drive providers out of our state, and we already have a problem in rural Kansas,” said Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat from Kansas City. “This will continue to alienate new providers from coming into our state.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682547109946.png" alt="Debate in the Kansas House Wednesday-photo Legislative YouTube&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Debate in the Kansas House Wednesday-photo Legislative YouTube&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The GOP-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of three anti-abortion laws Wednesday over objections about state-mandated misinformation, alienating OB-GYN workers and ignoring the will of voters.The Senate subsequently voted to override the governor’s veto of one of the bills, and was expected to attempt an override of the others.Republican leaders have pursued anti-abortion legislation without regard for the 59-41 vote in August 2022 to reject a constitutional amendment stripping women of the right to terminate a pregnancy. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bills passed by lawmakers before they adjourned earlier this month.They include&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2313/">House Bill 2313</a>, which requires medical care for babies “born alive,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2325/">House Bill 2325</a>, which bans abortion providers from buying liability insurance from a state fund, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2264/">House Bill 2264</a>, which requires physicians to give patients medically inaccurate information about the potential to reverse the abortion pill.Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, said she was insulted by the name of the reversal bill, which is known as the “Woman’s Right to Know Act.”“Here’s what women really know: The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed bodily autonomy to women in Kansas, and this Legislature is trying to take it away,” Ruiz said.The abortion pill, mifepristone, is used for about two-thirds of abortions in Kansas.The legislation requires clinics, hospitals and pharmacies where the abortion pill is prescribed or dispensed to post a conspicuous sign that is clearly visible to patients with lettering at least 3/4 of an inch in boldfaced type that says it may be possible to reverse the intended effects of mifepristone. Physicians also must provide information about the reversal before administering the abortion pill.Research supporting the claim that the abortion pill can be reversed by taking a another drug has been debunked. Other research has shown reversal attempts to be hazardous to women’s health.“What I hear over and over and over and over from those of us who are not pro life, I hear, ‘Trust women. Trust women,’ ” said Rep. Clarke Sanders, a Salina Republican. “Do you really believe that? If you really believe ‘trust women,’ you’re going to vote to override this veto. Women have a right to know this. They can make a decision about whether or not they want to try to change the decision they made initially about having a chemical abortion.”A veto override requires the support of two-thirds of the members of both chambers. Those thresholds are 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate.The House overrode the veto of the abortion pill reversal and liability insurance bills on 84-40 votes, and overrode the veto of the “born alive” bill on an 87-37 vote. The Senate overrode the veto of the “born alive” bill on a 31-9 vote.The “born alive” bill requires medical care for infants extracted from the mother with a beating heart or ability to breathe, under the false pretense that “failed abortions” are performed on infants that are capable of surviving. Kansas law bans abortion at 22 weeks from gestation, except to save the life of a mother.Rep. Ron Bryce, a Republican physician from Coffeyville, said he personally provided aid to 27 babies who survived an abortion.“We are moral people,” Bryce said. “We provide care for those who are weak, for those who are disadvantaged, for those who are innocent and powerless.”The third piece of legislation bans abortion providers from obtaining liability insurance through the Health Care Stabilization Fund, which all physicians are required to contribute pay into. However, the bill allows “maternity centers” to have access to the fund.“These bills are going to drive providers out of our state, and we already have a problem in rural Kansas,” said Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat from Kansas City. “This will continue to alienate new providers from coming into our state.”

Kansas House overrides governor’s vetoes of three anti-abortion bills

BARTON COUNTY —One person died in a fire last week in Great Bend.

On April 20, fire crews responded to the report of a shed on fire in the 200 block of Heizer Street in Great Bend, according to a media release Wednesday.

Fire crews found a small outbuilding fully involved in fire.  Crews made a quick knockdown of the fire and initiated an interior search where a deceased victim was located. 

 Crews extinguished remaining hotspots.   The fire is accidental in nature and was investigated by fire investigators from the Great Bend Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the Great Bend Police Department.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682541520813.jpeg" alt="Police released no additional details Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Police released no additional details Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —One person died in a fire last week in Great Bend.On April 20, fire crews responded to the report of a shed on fire in the 200 block of Heizer Street in Great Bend, according to a media release Wednesday.Fire crews found a small outbuilding fully involved in fire. Crews made a quick knockdown of the fire and initiated an interior search where a deceased victim was located. Crews extinguished remaining hotspots. The fire is accidental in nature and was investigated by fire investigators from the Great Bend Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the Great Bend Police Department.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

One person found dead in Great Bend fire

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Topeka.

Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;responded to report of a possible shooting at a home in the 2000 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Matt Danielson.

First responders located a man later identified as 26-year-old Semaj O. Jackson suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Jackson was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he died.

The Topeka police Homicide Unit was called to the scene. Police released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682537553895.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Phil Anderson courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Phil Anderson courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Topeka.Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;responded to report of a possible shooting at a home in the 2000 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Matt Danielson.First responders located a man later identified as 26-year-old Semaj O. Jackson suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Jackson was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he died.The Topeka police Homicide Unit was called to the scene. Police released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

Homicide: Kansas shooting victim dies at hospital 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-korea-north-japan-united-states-government-06eda2aee0a8b33c30419251e06cd69f">South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday the two nations will bolster the response to North Korea’s persistent nuclear threat with an agreement that includes plans to dock U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in over 40 years, bolster training between the two countries and improve information sharing between the allies.

The new extended nuclear deterrence effort was unveiled as Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit at a moment of heightened anxiety over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea.

Biden delivered a blunt warning to Pyongyang at an afternoon Rose Garden news conference with Yoon, saying: “A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action."

Yoon said that the new commitment by the “righteous alliance” includes plans for bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, the establishment of a nuclear consultative group and improved sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans.

“Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically,” Yoon said.

Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that “occasional” and “very clear demonstrations of the strength” of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement, according to three senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement.

The officials said the so-called Washington Declaration was designed to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the U.S. to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula.

The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South — but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores.

“We are not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula,” Biden underscored.

Biden said coordination between the U.S. and South Korea remains crucial in the face of increased North Korean threats and blatant violation of international sanctions. The president repeated that the U.S. remains open to talks with the North without preconditions.

“At the same time, we continue to seek serious a substantial diplomatic breakthrough for the DPRK to bolster stability on the peninsula,” Biden said of the North.

During a brief appearance before reporters at the start of their Oval Office talks, Biden stressed that both nations are committed to “doubling down on our cooperation as allies" as North Korea “ramps up its challenges.”

The state visit comes as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries' alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea.

“Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that you’ve never met?” Yoon said of the U.S. troops who served during the war. “That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom.”

The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usa-korea-japan-defense-drills-pyongyang-missiles-736bf7b4b6928a40b5ae0758d1e8447c">joint training</a>&nbsp;and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-voting-campaigns-seoul-f29dd8982b18c1f7318d579b9afc83f1">a candidate for the presidency</a>&nbsp;last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launches-us-drills-55e946567117c176b027ee7c4253483e">the North's threats</a>&nbsp;than his predecessor Moon Jae-in.

In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea.

But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would “test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.” But as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-north-korea-international-news-asia-pacific-seoul-8009312c92974485a4eef13bdc4ddd8d">the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration</a>&nbsp;over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country.

One Biden administration official cautioned it is “crystal clear” that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula.” Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea.

North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aquilino-china-security-north-korea-bb41e692490b13cfcc0a6e28fd8f9bef">China’s military and economic assertiveness in the region</a>, have pushed the Biden administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-asia-indonesia-united-states-china-a9fa80404afe5d16fa9cce953780ab6e">expand its Asian alliance</a>. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ferdinand-marcos-jr-philippines-30fa00e8a8e357e201d4f64e43d03466">Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</a>&nbsp;for Oval Office talks.

In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests.

The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-icbm-solid-fuel-kim-jong-un-6382097edf024c2aa43afbd0575f9524">a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile</a>&nbsp;for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North’s efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.

Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia.

Yoon's visit comes just weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-us-leaked-documents-yoon-biden-5d88d7c6624865ca5d5b361ed8ce0d26">the leaks of scores of highly classified documents</a>&nbsp;that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Korea’s National Security Council “grappled” with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States’ ultimate goal.

Asked at the joint news conference if the leak came up in their private talks, Yoon replied, "We are communicating between our two countries.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-korea-north-japan-united-states-government-06eda2aee0a8b33c30419251e06cd69f">South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday the two nations will bolster the response to North Korea’s persistent nuclear threat with an agreement that includes plans to dock U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in over 40 years, bolster training between the two countries and improve information sharing between the allies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to the White House, President Yoon and Mrs. Kim. <a href="https://t.co/Soolh6Lx9S">pic.twitter.com/Soolh6Lx9S</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1651221357575667712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The new extended nuclear deterrence effort was unveiled as Biden hosted Yoon for a state visit at a moment of heightened anxiety over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea.Biden delivered a blunt warning to Pyongyang at an afternoon Rose Garden news conference with Yoon, saying: “A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action."Yoon said that the new commitment by the “righteous alliance” includes plans for bilateral presidential consultations in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, the establishment of a nuclear consultative group and improved sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans.“Sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula does not happen automatically,” Yoon said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tune in as I hold a joint press conference with President Yoon of the Republic of Korea in the Rose Garden. <a href="https://t.co/eYtkEd4tfg">https://t.co/eYtkEd4tfg</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1651280828872245261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that “occasional” and “very clear demonstrations of the strength” of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement, according to three senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of the announcement.The officials said the so-called Washington Declaration was designed to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the U.S. to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula.The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South — but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores.“We are not going to be stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula,” Biden underscored.Biden said coordination between the U.S. and South Korea remains crucial in the face of increased North Korean threats and blatant violation of international sanctions. The president repeated that the U.S. remains open to talks with the North without preconditions.“At the same time, we continue to seek serious a substantial diplomatic breakthrough for the DPRK to bolster stability on the peninsula,” Biden said of the North.During a brief appearance before reporters at the start of their Oval Office talks, Biden stressed that both nations are committed to “doubling down on our cooperation as allies" as North Korea “ramps up its challenges.”The state visit comes as the U.S. and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries' alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently based in South Korea.“Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that you’ve never met?” Yoon said of the U.S. troops who served during the war. “That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom.”The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usa-korea-japan-defense-drills-pyongyang-missiles-736bf7b4b6928a40b5ae0758d1e8447c">joint training</a>&nbsp;and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said.As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-voting-campaigns-seoul-f29dd8982b18c1f7318d579b9afc83f1">a candidate for the presidency</a>&nbsp;last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launches-us-drills-55e946567117c176b027ee7c4253483e">the North's threats</a>&nbsp;than his predecessor Moon Jae-in.In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea.But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would “test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.” But as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-north-korea-international-news-asia-pacific-seoul-8009312c92974485a4eef13bdc4ddd8d">the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration</a>&nbsp;over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country.One Biden administration official cautioned it is “crystal clear” that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula.” Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea.North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aquilino-china-security-north-korea-bb41e692490b13cfcc0a6e28fd8f9bef">China’s military and economic assertiveness in the region</a>, have pushed the Biden administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-asia-indonesia-united-states-china-a9fa80404afe5d16fa9cce953780ab6e">expand its Asian alliance</a>. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ferdinand-marcos-jr-philippines-30fa00e8a8e357e201d4f64e43d03466">Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</a>&nbsp;for Oval Office talks.In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests.The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-icbm-solid-fuel-kim-jong-un-6382097edf024c2aa43afbd0575f9524">a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile</a>&nbsp;for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North’s efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia.Yoon's visit comes just weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-us-leaked-documents-yoon-biden-5d88d7c6624865ca5d5b361ed8ce0d26">the leaks of scores of highly classified documents</a>&nbsp;that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Korea’s National Security Council “grappled” with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine.The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States’ ultimate goal.Asked at the joint news conference if the leak came up in their private talks, Yoon replied, "We are communicating between our two countries.”Later Wednesday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-state-dinner-south-korea-7df97aaaa3dfd6ef33ac7dcdde1a926c">a state dinner</a>&nbsp;at the White House.--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-korea-north-japan-united-states-government-06eda2aee0a8b33c30419251e06cd69f">Yoon Suk Yeol</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday will sign an agreement that includes plans to have U.S. nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, a conspicuous show of support to Seoul amid growing concern about nuclear threats by North Korea, according to senior Biden administration officials.The planned dock visits are a key element of what's being dubbed the “Washington Declaration,” aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-nuclear-deterrence-south-korea-north-korea-65f725fa5ab24d3aab98aafa34b23c45">deterring North Korea</a>&nbsp;from carrying out an attack on its neighbor. It is being unveiled as Biden is hosting Yoon for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-state-dinner-south-korea-chef-05270a9fa17a4982edbb7f2ca2b08372">a state visit</a>&nbsp;during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months.The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement, said that Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that “occasional” and “very clear demonstrations of the strength” of U.S. extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement.The agreement seeks to allay South Korean fears over the North's aggressive nuclear weapons program and to ward off the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The U.S. and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South — but operational control of such weapons would remain in U.S. control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores.The agreement also calls for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to strengthen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usa-korea-japan-defense-drills-pyongyang-missiles-736bf7b4b6928a40b5ae0758d1e8447c">joint training</a>&nbsp;and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said.As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-elections-voting-campaigns-seoul-f29dd8982b18c1f7318d579b9afc83f1">a candidate for the presidency</a>&nbsp;last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of U.S. bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launches-us-drills-55e946567117c176b027ee7c4253483e">the North's threats</a>&nbsp;than his predecessor Moon Jae-in.In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the U.S. had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea.But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would “test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.” But as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-north-korea-international-news-asia-pacific-seoul-8009312c92974485a4eef13bdc4ddd8d">the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration</a>&nbsp;over the years, there's been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country.One Biden administration official cautioned it is “crystal clear” that there are no plans by the administration for "returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula.” Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the U.S. military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea.North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aquilino-china-security-north-korea-bb41e692490b13cfcc0a6e28fd8f9bef">China’s military and economic assertiveness in the region</a>, have pushed the Biden administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-asia-indonesia-united-states-china-a9fa80404afe5d16fa9cce953780ab6e">expand its Asian alliance</a>. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ferdinand-marcos-jr-philippines-30fa00e8a8e357e201d4f64e43d03466">Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</a>&nbsp;for Oval Office talks.In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block U.S.-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests.The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-icbm-solid-fuel-kim-jong-un-6382097edf024c2aa43afbd0575f9524">a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile</a>&nbsp;for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North’s efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia.Yoon's visit comes just weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-us-leaked-documents-yoon-biden-5d88d7c6624865ca5d5b361ed8ce0d26">the leaks of scores of highly classified documents</a>&nbsp;that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Korea’s National Security Council “grappled” with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine.The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States’ ultimate goal.One Biden administration official said that Biden planned to talk to Yoon about “what it means for all like-minded allies to continue to support Ukraine” and ask the South Korean leader "what the future of their support might look like.”Besides their talks on Wednesday, Biden and Yoon are scheduled to host a joint news conference. In the evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-state-dinner-south-korea-7df97aaaa3dfd6ef33ac7dcdde1a926c">a state dinner</a>&nbsp;at the White House.