KANSAS CITY —A juvenile was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Thursday in Kansas City.

The juvenile was walking in the construction zone next to the #2 lane of southbound Interstate 29, according to Officer Corey Lisle.&nbsp;

Just past the bridge that crosses over NW 72nd Street, a southbound semi truck, struck the juvenile.

 The semi-truck failed to stop and left the scene and continues southbound. EMS transported the juvenile to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; Police have released no additional details as they continue to investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686838013146.png" alt="Image KC Scout just after 9:30p.m. Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Image KC Scout just after 9:30p.m. Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A juvenile was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Thursday in Kansas City.The juvenile was walking in the construction zone next to the #2 lane of southbound Interstate 29, according to Officer Corey Lisle.&nbsp;Just past the bridge that crosses over NW 72nd Street, a southbound semi truck, struck the juvenile. The semi-truck failed to stop and left the scene and continues southbound. EMS transported the juvenile to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; Police have released no additional details as they continue to investigate.

Juvenile struck by semi while walking in KC construction zone

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; multiple car burglaries at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel located at 2033 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka have made an arrest. 

Just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Topeka police investigators identified a vehicle involved in the incident in the 2400 block of SE 25th Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols

 A short time later, officers located the driver, identified as Travis D. Munsell, 33, of Topeka., Munsell was determined to have been involved, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge that include Possession of stolen property, Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime, Theft and Criminal Use Of A Financial Card.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686773425903.png" alt="Munsell-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Munsell-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating&nbsp; multiple car burglaries at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel located at 2033 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka have made an arrest. Just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Topeka police investigators identified a vehicle involved in the incident in the 2400 block of SE 25th Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols A short time later, officers located the driver, identified as Travis D. Munsell, 33, of Topeka., Munsell was determined to have been involved, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge that include Possession of stolen property, Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime, Theft and Criminal Use Of A Financial Card.

Kansas man accused of multiple car burglaries at hotel

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

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt has been diagnosed with breast cancer and expects to make a full recovery, she announced Wednesday.

Schmidt said her doctor discovered the disease after a routine mammogram. She plans to continue her work at the Insurance Department and undergo treatment in the coming weeks at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

“I am encouraged by the support of my friends and family, but what I ask is that you schedule your yearly mammogram or encourage the women in your life to do so,” Schmidt said. “While uncomfortable, awkward and let’s be honest, painful, I am proof this preventative procedure can save lives.”

Schmidt, a Republican from Topeka, was reelected to a second four-year term as insurance commissioner in November. The 67-year-old pharmacist previously served in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019.

In a statement released on social media, Schmidt said she has often played a supporting role in Kansans’ fight against cancer through her work as a pharmacist and as insurance commissioner.

“Now that I’m on the other side, their stories, their determination and their strength are the foundation on which I face this fight,” she said.

“I’m not a very good patient,” Schmidt said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686833952101.png" alt="Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt takes the oath of office on Jan. 9, 2023, for her second term. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt takes the oath of office on Jan. 9, 2023, for her second term. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt has been diagnosed with breast cancer and expects to make a full recovery, she announced Wednesday.Schmidt said her doctor discovered the disease after a routine mammogram. She plans to continue her work at the Insurance Department and undergo treatment in the coming weeks at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.“I am encouraged by the support of my friends and family, but what I ask is that you schedule your yearly mammogram or encourage the women in your life to do so,” Schmidt said. “While uncomfortable, awkward and let’s be honest, painful, I am proof this preventative procedure can save lives.”Schmidt, a Republican from Topeka, was reelected to a second four-year term as insurance commissioner in November. The 67-year-old pharmacist previously served in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to 2019.In a statement released on social media, Schmidt said she has often played a supporting role in Kansans’ fight against cancer through her work as a pharmacist and as insurance commissioner.“Now that I’m on the other side, their stories, their determination and their strength are the foundation on which I face this fight,” she said.She requested prayers for her husband.“I’m not a very good patient,” Schmidt said.

Kansas insurance commissioner has breast cancer, expects full recovery

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault and have made an arrest.

On May 25, police in Paola received information of alleged sexual assault that occurred at the Lake Miola Swim Beach involving a juvenile victim, according to Police Captain Eric Jenkins.

Following an investigation, police on Wednesday arrested 18-year-old Hayden West on charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child by the Miami County Attorney's office.&nbsp;

During the investigation, police discovered additional victims. Police want any other potential victims to also come forward and speak to Police Lt. Marc Miller.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686826428712.png" alt="West-photo Paola police" />
 <figcaption>West-photo Paola police</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault and have made an arrest.On May 25, police in Paola received information of alleged sexual assault that occurred at the Lake Miola Swim Beach involving a juvenile victim, according to Police Captain Eric Jenkins.Following an investigation, police on Wednesday arrested 18-year-old Hayden West on charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child by the Miami County Attorney's office.&nbsp;During the investigation, police discovered additional victims. Police want any other potential victims to also come forward and speak to Police Lt. Marc Miller.

Kansas teen charged with child sex crimes at swim beach

COFFEY COUNTY —Two people died during in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford F150 northbound U.S. 75 Highway north of Kansas 58 exit.

The pickup was reported stolen as a result of an aggravated robbery carjacking in Texas.

The vehicle driven by Trevell D. Moore, 24, Omaha, fled and a pursuit was initiated. At 11:24am, the F150 drove onto the right shoulder, and attempted to pass a northbound semi five miles south of the Interstate 35 exit.

A 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Keith L. Coffey, 52, Vale, North Carolina, struck the pickup. The pickup continued into the southbound lanes of U.S. 75 and a 2015 Peterbilt semi driven by Logan T.&nbsp;Perrodin, 26, El Dorado Springs, Missouri also struck the pickup and caught fire.

Moore and a passenger in the pickup identified as Gale Wright, Jr., 20, Omaha, were pronounced dead at the scene.

EMS transported Coffey to the hospital in Burlington.&nbsp;Perrodin was not injured.

COFFEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, a Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop on northbound U.S. 75 Highway north of Kansas 58 exit.

The vehicle, a red Ford F-150, was stolen as a result of an aggravated robbery carjacking in Texas.

The vehicle fled and a pursuit was initiated. At 11:24am, the F150 drove onto the right shoulder, and attempted to pass a northbound commercial vehicle five miles south of the Interstate 35 exit.

While passing, the Ford truck was involved in a crash with two commercial vehicles.

As a result of the collision, the driver and passenger of the Ford F-150 were pronounced deceased. There were no injuries reported to either commercial vehicle driver.

The Kansas Highway Patrol Critical Highway Accident Response Team was called to the scene. Authorities released no additional details including names of those who died.

COFFEY COUNTY —Two people died during in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford F150 northbound U.S. 75 Highway north of Kansas 58 exit.The pickup was reported stolen as a result of an aggravated robbery carjacking in Texas.The vehicle driven by Trevell D. Moore, 24, Omaha, fled and a pursuit was initiated. At 11:24am, the F150 drove onto the right shoulder, and attempted to pass a northbound semi five miles south of the Interstate 35 exit.A 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Keith L. Coffey, 52, Vale, North Carolina, struck the pickup. The pickup continued into the southbound lanes of U.S. 75 and a 2015 Peterbilt semi driven by Logan T.&nbsp;Perrodin, 26, El Dorado Springs, Missouri also struck the pickup and caught fire.Moore and a passenger in the pickup identified as Gale Wright, Jr., 20, Omaha, were pronounced dead at the scene.EMS transported Coffey to the hospital in Burlington.&nbsp;Perrodin was not injured.-------------COFFEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, a Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop on northbound U.S. 75 Highway north of Kansas 58 exit.The vehicle, a red Ford F-150, was stolen as a result of an aggravated robbery carjacking in Texas.The vehicle fled and a pursuit was initiated. At 11:24am, the F150 drove onto the right shoulder, and attempted to pass a northbound commercial vehicle five miles south of the Interstate 35 exit.While passing, the Ford truck was involved in a crash with two commercial vehicles.As a result of the collision, the driver and passenger of the Ford F-150 were pronounced deceased. There were no injuries reported to either commercial vehicle driver.The Kansas Highway Patrol Critical Highway Accident Response Team was called to the scene. Authorities released no additional details including names of those who died.

KHP IDs carjacking suspects who died in pursuit crash, fire

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have identified the victim as 19-year-old&nbsp;J'rya H. Cockrell.

Just after&nbsp;&nbsp;8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a home in the 7400 block of College in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to Officer Corey Carlisle.

Upon arrival officers were directed inside a residence where they located Cockrell suffering from an apparent gun shot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared her deceased. Police have a person of interest in custody.&nbsp; Detectives are not actively looking for any additional subjects of interest. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are still being investigated. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to process the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. &nbsp;Police have not released name of the person of interest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686761294461.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting have identified the victim as 19-year-old&nbsp;J'rya H. Cockrell.Just after&nbsp;&nbsp;8:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a home in the 7400 block of College in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to Officer Corey Carlisle.Upon arrival officers were directed inside a residence where they located Cockrell suffering from an apparent gun shot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared her deceased. Police have a person of interest in custody.&nbsp; Detectives are not actively looking for any additional subjects of interest. The circumstances surrounding the homicide are still being investigated. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to process the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. &nbsp;Police have not released name of the person of interest.

Police ID woman who died in shooting at Kansas City home

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed a resolution that would repeal a Biden administration rule tightening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-national-rifle-association-us-republican-party-gun-politics-362e5d6dfc78c896b7a376e5368c770b">federal regulations</a>&nbsp;on stabilizing braces for firearms, an accessory that has been used in several mass shootings in the U.S. over the last decade.

The resolution passed 219-210 nearly on party lines and after a contentious floor debate where Republicans accused the administration of “executive overreach” and Democrats condemned a bill they said would “help kill people.” Two Democrats voted in support and two Republicans voted against it.

The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., will now go to the Senate, which could take up the measure as soon as this week. Should it pass, President Joe Biden has promised a veto. Overriding a presidential veto would require two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate.

The new rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in January treats guns with the accessories like short-barreled rifles, a weapon that is like a sawed-off shotgun and has been heavily regulated since the 1930s.

The regulation, which went into effect June 1, was one of several steps Biden announced in 2021 after a man using a stabilizing brace&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">killed 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado</a>. A stabilizing brace was also used in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-el-paso-texas-mass-shooting-us-news-ap-top-news-health-165d6dd66e1b46628a0ffdcc4d27c58b">shooting in Dayton, Ohio</a>, that left nine people dead in 2019 and most recently in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-5da45b469ccb6c9533bbddf20c1bfe16">a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee</a>.

Stabilizing braces transform a pistol into a weapon that’s powerful and easy to conceal, Attorney General Merrick Garland said when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-national-rifle-association-us-republican-party-gun-politics-362e5d6dfc78c896b7a376e5368c770b">he announced the rule</a>. Originally developed for disabled veterans, gun-control groups have said the accessories have became a loophole exploited by gunmakers to make weapons more deadly.

Since taking effect earlier this month, the rule requires anyone who has a gun with an arm-stabilizing brace to register the weapon with the federal government and pay a fee, or remove the brace from their weapons.

Republicans employed the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo recently enacted executive branch regulations, to try and nullify the new rule that they claim has turned millions of gun owners into felons.

“This rule doesn’t just infringe upon Americans' Second Amendment liberties. It represents a dangerous government overreach by the administration,” Clyde said during debate Tuesday. “Congress maintains sole legislative authority, not government agencies, not the executive branch.”

Several lawsuits have been filed against the regulations by gun owners and state attorneys general. They say it violates Second Amendment protections by requiring millions of people to alter or register their weapons. In some cases, judges have recently agreed to temporarily block enforcement of the rule for the plaintiffs in a setback for the Biden administration.

House Democrats defended the rule on Tuesday, saying it could save lives.

“How many more mass shootings need to happen, how many more kids need to die before my Republican colleagues pull their heads out of the sand and realize that the NRA money is not worth the damage that’s been done to our country,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

The main sponsor for the measure, Clyde, is a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and the owner of a gun store in his district in Georgia. His proposal to overturn the ATF rule first came to the House Judiciary Committee in late March for markup. But House Republicans postponed debate of the measure after a gunman used a weapon with a stabilizing brace to fatally shoot three children and three adults at an elementary school in Nashville, Tenn.

Last week, Clyde claimed GOP leadership had blocked his resolution from reaching the floor as retribution for his no vote on a bipartisan agreement to lift the debt ceiling, which leaders denied.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said he and Rep. Tom Emmer, the GOP's chief vote-counter, had been working intensely to ensure enough support to pass the legislation in the narrowly divided House.

“We’ve been moving people every week on this bill,” Scalise said. “It has not been easy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686790900641.png" alt="The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., will now go to the Senate, which could take up the measure as soon as this week. courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., will now go to the Senate, which could take up the measure as soon as this week. courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed a resolution that would repeal a Biden administration rule tightening&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-national-rifle-association-us-republican-party-gun-politics-362e5d6dfc78c896b7a376e5368c770b">federal regulations</a>&nbsp;on stabilizing braces for firearms, an accessory that has been used in several mass shootings in the U.S. over the last decade.The resolution passed 219-210 nearly on party lines and after a contentious floor debate where Republicans accused the administration of “executive overreach” and Democrats condemned a bill they said would “help kill people.” Two Democrats voted in support and two Republicans voted against it.The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., will now go to the Senate, which could take up the measure as soon as this week. Should it pass, President Joe Biden has promised a veto. Overriding a presidential veto would require two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate.The new rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in January treats guns with the accessories like short-barreled rifles, a weapon that is like a sawed-off shotgun and has been heavily regulated since the 1930s.The regulation, which went into effect June 1, was one of several steps Biden announced in 2021 after a man using a stabilizing brace&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">killed 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado</a>. A stabilizing brace was also used in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-el-paso-texas-mass-shooting-us-news-ap-top-news-health-165d6dd66e1b46628a0ffdcc4d27c58b">shooting in Dayton, Ohio</a>, that left nine people dead in 2019 and most recently in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-5da45b469ccb6c9533bbddf20c1bfe16">a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee</a>.Stabilizing braces transform a pistol into a weapon that’s powerful and easy to conceal, Attorney General Merrick Garland said when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-national-rifle-association-us-republican-party-gun-politics-362e5d6dfc78c896b7a376e5368c770b">he announced the rule</a>. Originally developed for disabled veterans, gun-control groups have said the accessories have became a loophole exploited by gunmakers to make weapons more deadly.Since taking effect earlier this month, the rule requires anyone who has a gun with an arm-stabilizing brace to register the weapon with the federal government and pay a fee, or remove the brace from their weapons.Republicans employed the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo recently enacted executive branch regulations, to try and nullify the new rule that they claim has turned millions of gun owners into felons.“This rule doesn’t just infringe upon Americans' Second Amendment liberties. It represents a dangerous government overreach by the administration,” Clyde said during debate Tuesday. “Congress maintains sole legislative authority, not government agencies, not the executive branch.”Several lawsuits have been filed against the regulations by gun owners and state attorneys general. They say it violates Second Amendment protections by requiring millions of people to alter or register their weapons. In some cases, judges have recently agreed to temporarily block enforcement of the rule for the plaintiffs in a setback for the Biden administration.House Democrats defended the rule on Tuesday, saying it could save lives.“How many more mass shootings need to happen, how many more kids need to die before my Republican colleagues pull their heads out of the sand and realize that the NRA money is not worth the damage that’s been done to our country,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.The main sponsor for the measure, Clyde, is a member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and the owner of a gun store in his district in Georgia. His proposal to overturn the ATF rule first came to the House Judiciary Committee in late March for markup. But House Republicans postponed debate of the measure after a gunman used a weapon with a stabilizing brace to fatally shoot three children and three adults at an elementary school in Nashville, Tenn.Last week, Clyde claimed GOP leadership had blocked his resolution from reaching the floor as retribution for his no vote on a bipartisan agreement to lift the debt ceiling, which leaders denied.House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said he and Rep. Tom Emmer, the GOP's chief vote-counter, had been working intensely to ensure enough support to pass the legislation in the narrowly divided House.“We’ve been moving people every week on this bill,” Scalise said. “It has not been easy.”

House passes resolution to overturn controversial gun regulation

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for allegedly driving under the influence and one who was involved in an accident with a police officer.

Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, a Traffic Officer was investigating a suspected DUI at West and University in Wichita when his vehicle was rear ended by another suspected DUI, according to a media release.

 Both the initial DUI involving Ruben D. Roble and the driver identified as Dallas Marques Ligons that rear-ended the police car&nbsp; were arrested on multiple traffic allegations.

The Police vehicle had significant damage and had to be towed from the scene.  There were no injuries involved during the crash.&nbsp;

Roble was arrested on requested charge of: DRIVING UNDER THE INFL
OF DRUGS/ALCOHOL; 1ST CONV;COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD/BREATH .08+ and driving without a license, according to police booking records.

Ligons was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;DRIVING
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS/ALC; 1ST CONV; INCAPABLE OF SAFELY Driving, Driving while suspended and VEHICLE
LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIRED, according to police booking records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686760168415.png" alt="Roble-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Roble-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for allegedly driving under the influence and one who was involved in an accident with a police officer.(click below to watch)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWichitaPolice%2Fvideos%2F769454641534515%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, a Traffic Officer was investigating a suspected DUI at West and University in Wichita when his vehicle was rear ended by another suspected DUI, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686760234186.png" alt="Ligons-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ligons-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure> Both the initial DUI involving Ruben D. Roble and the driver identified as Dallas Marques Ligons that rear-ended the police car&nbsp; were arrested on multiple traffic allegations.The Police vehicle had significant damage and had to be towed from the scene. There were no injuries involved during the crash.&nbsp;Roble was arrested on requested charge of: DRIVING UNDER THE INFL
OF DRUGS/ALCOHOL; 1ST CONV;COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD/BREATH .08+ and driving without a license, according to police booking records.Ligons was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;DRIVING
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS/ALC; 1ST CONV; INCAPABLE OF SAFELY Driving, Driving while suspended and VEHICLE
LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIRED, according to police booking records.

🎥 While pulling over DUI suspect, Kan. officer rear-ended by another DUI suspect

ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man is back on jail again for alleged stalking.

On Tuesday, police arrested 34-year-old&nbsp;Howard L. Hooper IV of Atchison on a District Court warrant for stalking and violation of a protective order, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

In December of 2020, Hooper was jailed on requested charges of stalking, harassment by phone and violation of a protection order, according to online jail records.&nbsp; 

Hooper has been in custody over two dozen times since 2007 and convicted for stalking, criminal threat and violation of a protection order, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686750068282.png" alt="Hooper-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Hooper-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man is back on jail again for alleged stalking.On Tuesday, police arrested 34-year-old&nbsp;Howard L. Hooper IV of Atchison on a District Court warrant for stalking and violation of a protective order, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.In December of 2020, Hooper was jailed on requested charges of stalking, harassment by phone and violation of a protection order, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Hooper has been in custody over two dozen times since 2007 and convicted for stalking, criminal threat and violation of a protection order, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas man convicted of stalking is accused of it again

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The parents of a 6-year-old girl who drowned at a popular Kansas City water park last year allege in a lawsuit that the park repeatedly hires young, inexperienced lifeguards and does not adequately train them.

Therron and Debra Stewart, of Grandview, Missouri, filed the lawsuit against Oceans of Fun and its parent company, Cedar Fair. Their daughter, Adeline Stewart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-b70e96c29e3d51f0edd17c56fc6cd319">died at a Kansas City hospital</a>&nbsp;days after she was pulled from the Coconut Cove pool on July 5, 2022, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article276384826.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

Brian McGannon, a spokesman for the park, said Wednesday the company does not respond to pending litigation.

Lawyers for the family say in the lawsuit that pool lifeguards did not detect Adeline for several minutes, even while park patrons made “frantic attempts” to get their attention.

After she was pulled from the pool, the lifeguards were not equipped to give her first aid, according to the lawsuit.

After Adeline's death, the water park made some changes to improve safety, including increasing height requirements for wearing life jackets in the pool, and requiring children shorter than 3½ feet (1.07 meters) to be accompanied by a supervisor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657644313184.png" alt="First responders on the scene at the park in August 0f 2022-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene at the park in August 0f 2022-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The parents of a 6-year-old girl who drowned at a popular Kansas City water park last year allege in a lawsuit that the park repeatedly hires young, inexperienced lifeguards and does not adequately train them.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686775643941.png" alt="Adeline Stewart photo courtesy Cooley-Marcom and Harvey" />
 <figcaption>Adeline Stewart photo courtesy Cooley-Marcom and Harvey</figcaption>
 </figure>Therron and Debra Stewart, of Grandview, Missouri, filed the lawsuit against Oceans of Fun and its parent company, Cedar Fair. Their daughter, Adeline Stewart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-b70e96c29e3d51f0edd17c56fc6cd319">died at a Kansas City hospital</a>&nbsp;days after she was pulled from the Coconut Cove pool on July 5, 2022, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article276384826.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.Brian McGannon, a spokesman for the park, said Wednesday the company does not respond to pending litigation.Lawyers for the family say in the lawsuit that pool lifeguards did not detect Adeline for several minutes, even while park patrons made “frantic attempts” to get their attention.After she was pulled from the pool, the lifeguards were not equipped to give her first aid, according to the lawsuit.The Stewarts are seeking a jury trial.After Adeline's death, the water park made some changes to improve safety, including increasing height requirements for wearing life jackets in the pool, and requiring children shorter than 3½ feet (1.07 meters) to be accompanied by a supervisor.

Parents of girl who drowned at Oceans of Fun file lawsuit

SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) announced that their newly formed task force, the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team (JFIT), made its first major seizure of fentanyl pills, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, a JFIT investigation into suspicious activity led to the seizure of an estimated 25,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, commonly referred to as “dirty 30s.” The pills are suspected to contain fentanyl, and in total weighed approximately 11 ½ pounds. The seizure occurred near the intersection of Central and Oliver, in Wichita.

A 27-year-old male from Wichita was detained and questioned for being in possession of the pills. He was later arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Charges related to the fentanyl seizure are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

“Pills containing fentanyl, like those taken off the streets this week, are causing extreme harm to our communities,” said KBI Director Mattivi. “This seizure will likely prevent many poisoning deaths, but we still have much work to do.”

“I have made clear that the resources and energy of the KBI will be focused on the fentanyl threat. This seizure is a result of that focus, in cooperation with KHP,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. “This is a significant victory for Kansas law enforcement in the battle against fentanyl. We will continue to escalate our efforts in the months ahead.”

JFIT was formed in June as the enforcement component of Attorney General Kris Kobach’s strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. The objective of the JFIT is to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks, and remove this deadly drug from Kansas streets. The team is comprised of KBI special agents and KHP troopers experienced in complex narcotics investigations. Team members are embedded alongside KBI agents operating across the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686770906639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) announced that their newly formed task force, the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team (JFIT), made its first major seizure of fentanyl pills, according to a media release from the KBI.Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, a JFIT investigation into suspicious activity led to the seizure of an estimated 25,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, commonly referred to as “dirty 30s.” The pills are suspected to contain fentanyl, and in total weighed approximately 11 ½ pounds. The seizure occurred near the intersection of Central and Oliver, in Wichita.A 27-year-old male from Wichita was detained and questioned for being in possession of the pills. He was later arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Charges related to the fentanyl seizure are pending. The investigation is ongoing.“Pills containing fentanyl, like those taken off the streets this week, are causing extreme harm to our communities,” said KBI Director Mattivi. “This seizure will likely prevent many poisoning deaths, but we still have much work to do.”“I have made clear that the resources and energy of the KBI will be focused on the fentanyl threat. This seizure is a result of that focus, in cooperation with KHP,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. “This is a significant victory for Kansas law enforcement in the battle against fentanyl. We will continue to escalate our efforts in the months ahead.”JFIT was formed in June as the enforcement component of Attorney General Kris Kobach’s strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. The objective of the JFIT is to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks, and remove this deadly drug from Kansas streets. The team is comprised of KBI special agents and KHP troopers experienced in complex narcotics investigations. Team members are embedded alongside KBI agents operating across the state.

KBI, KHP task force seizes 25K fentanyl-laced pills

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after having raised it 10 straight times to combat high inflation. But in a surprise move, the Fed signaled that it may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as next month.

The Fed’s move to leave its benchmark rate at about 5.1%, its highest level in 16 years, suggests that it believes the much higher borrowing rates it’s engineered have made some progress in taming inflation. But top Fed officials want to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-federal-reserve-hike-pause-71a4d82e338437a599eef8427b98894f">take time to more fully assess</a>&nbsp;how their rate hikes have affected inflation and the economy.

The central bank’s 18 policymakers envision raising their key rate by an additional half-point this year, to about 5.6%, according to economic forecasts they issued Wednesday.

The economic projections revealed a more hawkish Fed than many analysts had expected. Twelve of the 18 policymakers forecast at least two more quarter-point rate increases. Four supported a quarter-point increase. Only two envisioned keeping rates unchanged. The policymakers also predicted that their benchmark rate will stay higher for longer than they did three months ago.

“We understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bring inflation back down to our 2% goal," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference. "The process of getting inflation down is going to be a gradual one — it’s going to take some time.”

Still, Powell stopped short of saying the Fed's policymakers have committed to resuming their rate hikes when they next meet in late July.

One reason why the officials may be predicting additional rate hikes is that they foresee a modestly healthier economy and more persistent inflation that might require higher rates to cool. Their updated forecasts show them predicting economic growth of 1% for 2023, an upgrade from a meager 0.4% forecast in March. And they expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, of 3.9% by year’s end, higher than they expected three months ago.

At his news conference, Powell made clear that the Fed still regards the still-robust job market and the wage growth that has accompanied it as contributing to high inflation. At the same time, he expressed optimism that lower apartment rental costs, among other items, may help slow inflation in the coming months. He stressed that the Fed wants to see an inflation slowdown actually materialize before holding off on further rate hikes.

“We want to see inflation coming down decisively,” he said.

Immediately after the Fed's announcement, which followed its latest policy meeting, stocks sank and Treasury yields surged. The yield on the two-year Treasury note, which tends to track market expectations for future Fed actions, jumped from 4.62% to 4.77%.

The Fed’s aggressive streak of rate hikes, which have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-pause-consumers-d44a6f58eb03ec5edeff78294a167053">mortgages, auto loans, credit cards</a>&nbsp;and business borrowing costlier, have been intended to slow spending and defeat the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Average credit card rates have surpassed 20% to a record high.

The central bank’s rate hikes have coincided with a steady drop in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">consumer inflation</a>, from a peak of 9.1% last June to 4% as of May. But core inflation remains chronically high.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">Core inflation</a>&nbsp;clocked in at 5.3% in May compared with 12 months earlier, well above the Fed’s 2% target.

Powell and other top policymakers have also indicated that they want to assess how much a pullback in bank lending might be weakening the economy. Banks have been slowing their lending — and demand for loans has fallen — as interest rates have risen. Some analysts have expressed concern that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">the collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;last spring could cause nervous lenders to sharply tighten their loan qualifications.

The Fed has raised its benchmark rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March of last year — the fastest pace of increases in 40 years. “Skipping” a rate hike now might have been the most effective way for Powell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-hikes-recession-130884fbb44313b567096efc33bf00a9">unite a fractious policymaking committee</a>.

The 18 members of the committee have appeared divided between those who favor one or two more rate hikes and those who would like to leave the Fed’s key rate where it is for at least a few months and see whether inflation further moderates. This group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of causing a deep recession.

In an encouraging sign, inflation data that the government issued this week showed that most of the rise in core prices reflected high rents and used car prices. Those costs are expected to ease later this year.

Wholesale used car prices, for example, fell in May, raising the prospect that retail prices will follow suit. And rents are expected to ease in the coming months as new leases are signed with milder price increases. Those lower prices, though, will take time to feed into the government’s measure.

The economy has so far fared better than the central bank and most economists had expected at the beginning of the year. Companies are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-e1ec3c376117935a0d85e466e3a20af4">still hiring at a robust pace</a>, which has helped encourage many people to keep spending, particularly on travel, dining out and entertainment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after having raised it 10 straight times to combat high inflation. But in a surprise move, the Fed signaled that it may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as next month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;In light of how far we&#39;ve come in tightening policy, the uncertain lags with which monetary policy affects the economy and potential headwinds from credit tightening, today we decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/XYDbWk7gb7">pic.twitter.com/XYDbWk7gb7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1669052448881664010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Fed’s move to leave its benchmark rate at about 5.1%, its highest level in 16 years, suggests that it believes the much higher borrowing rates it’s engineered have made some progress in taming inflation. But top Fed officials want to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-federal-reserve-hike-pause-71a4d82e338437a599eef8427b98894f">take time to more fully assess</a>&nbsp;how their rate hikes have affected inflation and the economy.The central bank’s 18 policymakers envision raising their key rate by an additional half-point this year, to about 5.6%, according to economic forecasts they issued Wednesday.The economic projections revealed a more hawkish Fed than many analysts had expected. Twelve of the 18 policymakers forecast at least two more quarter-point rate increases. Four supported a quarter-point increase. Only two envisioned keeping rates unchanged. The policymakers also predicted that their benchmark rate will stay higher for longer than they did three months ago.“We understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bring inflation back down to our 2% goal," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference. "The process of getting inflation down is going to be a gradual one — it’s going to take some time.”Still, Powell stopped short of saying the Fed's policymakers have committed to resuming their rate hikes when they next meet in late July.One reason why the officials may be predicting additional rate hikes is that they foresee a modestly healthier economy and more persistent inflation that might require higher rates to cool. Their updated forecasts show them predicting economic growth of 1% for 2023, an upgrade from a meager 0.4% forecast in March. And they expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, of 3.9% by year’s end, higher than they expected three months ago.At his news conference, Powell made clear that the Fed still regards the still-robust job market and the wage growth that has accompanied it as contributing to high inflation. At the same time, he expressed optimism that lower apartment rental costs, among other items, may help slow inflation in the coming months. He stressed that the Fed wants to see an inflation slowdown actually materialize before holding off on further rate hikes.“We want to see inflation coming down decisively,” he said.Immediately after the Fed's announcement, which followed its latest policy meeting, stocks sank and Treasury yields surged. The yield on the two-year Treasury note, which tends to track market expectations for future Fed actions, jumped from 4.62% to 4.77%.The Fed’s aggressive streak of rate hikes, which have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-pause-consumers-d44a6f58eb03ec5edeff78294a167053">mortgages, auto loans, credit cards</a>&nbsp;and business borrowing costlier, have been intended to slow spending and defeat the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Average credit card rates have surpassed 20% to a record high.The central bank’s rate hikes have coincided with a steady drop in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">consumer inflation</a>, from a peak of 9.1% last June to 4% as of May. But core inflation remains chronically high.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">Core inflation</a>&nbsp;clocked in at 5.3% in May compared with 12 months earlier, well above the Fed’s 2% target.Powell and other top policymakers have also indicated that they want to assess how much a pullback in bank lending might be weakening the economy. Banks have been slowing their lending — and demand for loans has fallen — as interest rates have risen. Some analysts have expressed concern that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">the collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;last spring could cause nervous lenders to sharply tighten their loan qualifications.The Fed has raised its benchmark rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March of last year — the fastest pace of increases in 40 years. “Skipping” a rate hike now might have been the most effective way for Powell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-hikes-recession-130884fbb44313b567096efc33bf00a9">unite a fractious policymaking committee</a>.The 18 members of the committee have appeared divided between those who favor one or two more rate hikes and those who would like to leave the Fed’s key rate where it is for at least a few months and see whether inflation further moderates. This group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of causing a deep recession.In an encouraging sign, inflation data that the government issued this week showed that most of the rise in core prices reflected high rents and used car prices. Those costs are expected to ease later this year.Wholesale used car prices, for example, fell in May, raising the prospect that retail prices will follow suit. And rents are expected to ease in the coming months as new leases are signed with milder price increases. Those lower prices, though, will take time to feed into the government’s measure.The economy has so far fared better than the central bank and most economists had expected at the beginning of the year. Companies are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-e1ec3c376117935a0d85e466e3a20af4">still hiring at a robust pace</a>, which has helped encourage many people to keep spending, particularly on travel, dining out and entertainment.

🎥 Fed keeps rates unchanged for first time in 15 months

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph hospital in Wichita have authorized a strike in a vote held this week, according to National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. 

Nurses at the hospital, which is owned by Ascension, voted 90% yes to the strike. They say they’ve had enough of the company’s practices putting profits before patients.

St. Joseph is the second Ascension-owned Wichita hospital where nurses have recently authorized a strike, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/st-francis-nurses-vote-overwhelmingly-to-strike" target="_blank">RNs at nearby Ascension Via Christi St. Francis also voted 93% yes to authorize a strike</a>&nbsp;at the end of May.

Nurses at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/wichita-nurses-rally-as-ascension-christi-st-francis-rns-begin-historic-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">both facilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">begun bargaining</a>&nbsp;their first union contract with Ascension after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-francis-hospital-in-wichita-kansas-vote-to-join-nnu" target="_blank">voting to join NNU</a>&nbsp;within the last year. St. Joseph is also the third Ascension-owned facility where nurses have voted to authorize a strike in recent weeks, joining St. Francis and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas</a>. Nurses will provide standard notice of a plan to strike at least ten days in advance.

“We have a staffing crisis at our hospital because management refuses to get serious about nurse recruitment and retention,” said Marvin Ruckle, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “We know a strong union contract is the best way to address this, and we’re prepared to show management that we’ll fight for our patients at the table and on the strike line.”

Nurses say they believe a strong contract is the way to make progress on all the issues they fear are impacting patient care, including workplace violence, staffing, and nurse recruitment and retention. A strong union contract could codify violence prevention plans, mandate safe staffing levels, and generally improve the poor conditions that management has created, which are driving nurses away from the hospitals.

“As nurses, we’re here to take care of our patients,” said Whitney Steinike, RN in the adolescent psychiatric unit. “When management puts roadblocks between us and patient care, we’re going to rally together to knock them down. If that means striking to show them we’re serious, now we know where our membership stands with this vote.”

In March 2023, Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph nurses&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-joseph-hospital-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-nnoc-nnu" target="_blank">voted to join NNOC/NNU</a>. St. Joseph’s is the second Ascension-owned Wichita facility where nurses elected to join the union, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/Nurses%20at%20Ascension%20Via%20Christi%20St.%20Joseph%20Hospital%20in%20Wichita%2C%20Kansas%20vote%20overwhelmingly%20to%20join%20nation%E2%80%99s%20largest%20RN%20union" target="_blank">Ascension Via Christi St. Francis</a>. Nurses at both facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">recently held a rally</a>&nbsp;calling on Ascension management to bargaining with both facilities on a joint contract, as the hospitals are mere miles apart and serve overlapping patient populations. Between St. Joseph and St. Francis, NNOC/NNU represents a total of nearly 1,000 Wichita-area nurses, with more than 650 at St. Francis and 300 at St. Joseph.

Nationwide, three Ascension-owned facilities have joined NNOC/NNU in less than a year. Over 900 nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/article/landslide-union-victory-in-texas" target="_blank">won a landslide union election to join in September 2022&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rns-at-ascension-seton-medical-center-austin-begin-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">began bargaining in November</a>. The Austin nurses also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">recently voted to authorize a strike with 98% yes</a>.

Ascension is one of the largest not-for-profit and Catholic hospital chains in the nation and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/business/hospital-staffing-ascension.html" target="_blank">the central focus of the 2022 New York Times exposé</a>, “How a Sprawling Hospital Chain Ignited Its Own Staffing Crisis.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686762325589.png" alt="Photo courtesy National Nurses United" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy National Nurses United</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph hospital in Wichita have authorized a strike in a vote held this week, according to National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. Nurses at the hospital, which is owned by Ascension, voted 90% yes to the strike. They say they’ve had enough of the company’s practices putting profits before patients.St. Joseph is the second Ascension-owned Wichita hospital where nurses have recently authorized a strike, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/st-francis-nurses-vote-overwhelmingly-to-strike" target="_blank">RNs at nearby Ascension Via Christi St. Francis also voted 93% yes to authorize a strike</a>&nbsp;at the end of May. Nurses at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/wichita-nurses-rally-as-ascension-christi-st-francis-rns-begin-historic-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">both facilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">begun bargaining</a>&nbsp;their first union contract with Ascension after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-francis-hospital-in-wichita-kansas-vote-to-join-nnu" target="_blank">voting to join NNU</a>&nbsp;within the last year. St. Joseph is also the third Ascension-owned facility where nurses have voted to authorize a strike in recent weeks, joining St. Francis and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas</a>. Nurses will provide standard notice of a plan to strike at least ten days in advance.“We have a staffing crisis at our hospital because management refuses to get serious about nurse recruitment and retention,” said Marvin Ruckle, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “We know a strong union contract is the best way to address this, and we’re prepared to show management that we’ll fight for our patients at the table and on the strike line.”Nurses say they believe a strong contract is the way to make progress on all the issues they fear are impacting patient care, including workplace violence, staffing, and nurse recruitment and retention. A strong union contract could codify violence prevention plans, mandate safe staffing levels, and generally improve the poor conditions that management has created, which are driving nurses away from the hospitals.“As nurses, we’re here to take care of our patients,” said Whitney Steinike, RN in the adolescent psychiatric unit. “When management puts roadblocks between us and patient care, we’re going to rally together to knock them down. If that means striking to show them we’re serious, now we know where our membership stands with this vote.”In March 2023, Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph nurses&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-joseph-hospital-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-nnoc-nnu" target="_blank">voted to join NNOC/NNU</a>. St. Joseph’s is the second Ascension-owned Wichita facility where nurses elected to join the union, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/Nurses%20at%20Ascension%20Via%20Christi%20St.%20Joseph%20Hospital%20in%20Wichita%2C%20Kansas%20vote%20overwhelmingly%20to%20join%20nation%E2%80%99s%20largest%20RN%20union" target="_blank">Ascension Via Christi St. Francis</a>. Nurses at both facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">recently held a rally</a>&nbsp;calling on Ascension management to bargaining with both facilities on a joint contract, as the hospitals are mere miles apart and serve overlapping patient populations. Between St. Joseph and St. Francis, NNOC/NNU represents a total of nearly 1,000 Wichita-area nurses, with more than 650 at St. Francis and 300 at St. Joseph.Nationwide, three Ascension-owned facilities have joined NNOC/NNU in less than a year. Over 900 nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/article/landslide-union-victory-in-texas" target="_blank">won a landslide union election to join in September 2022&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rns-at-ascension-seton-medical-center-austin-begin-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">began bargaining in November</a>. The Austin nurses also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">recently voted to authorize a strike with 98% yes</a>.Ascension is one of the largest not-for-profit and Catholic hospital chains in the nation and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/business/hospital-staffing-ascension.html" target="_blank">the central focus of the 2022 New York Times exposé</a>, “How a Sprawling Hospital Chain Ignited Its Own Staffing Crisis.”

Nurses at 2nd Kansas hospital authorize strike

WICHITA – A bench trial ended Tuesday for a man charged in connection with a shooting in the Wichita section of Old Town in August of 2022

Sa’Qorea Sweeney, 25 of Wichita, was found guilty of obstructing apprehension or prosecution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Sweeney was scheduled for a jury trial this week but waived his right to a jury trial and asked for a bench trial. 

After hearing the evidence Tuesday morning, Judge Chrystal Krier found Sweeney guilty.

Just after 1:30a.m. August 14, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.

Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.

First responders provided lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.

Investigators learned that suspects 21-year-old Christopher Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.

Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch. The FLOCK system is designed to capture sight, sound and situations, which give police objective evidence needed to investigate and solve crime, according to the company web site.&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/about/why-flock">FLOCK system</a>&nbsp;captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.

A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.

On May 15, Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Dyas to 216 months in prison after he pled guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.

On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Krier continued Sweeney’s bond. He is free until sentencing which is scheduled for July 25, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660522964880.png" alt="Sweeney as shown in his August 2022 booking photo from Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sweeney as shown in his August 2022 booking photo from Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A bench trial ended Tuesday for a man charged in connection with a shooting in the Wichita section of Old Town in August of 2022Sa’Qorea Sweeney, 25 of Wichita, was found guilty of obstructing apprehension or prosecution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Sweeney was scheduled for a jury trial this week but waived his right to a jury trial and asked for a bench trial. After hearing the evidence Tuesday morning, Judge Chrystal Krier found Sweeney guilty.Just after 1:30a.m. August 14, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.First responders provided lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.Investigators learned that suspects 21-year-old Christopher Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch. The FLOCK system is designed to capture sight, sound and situations, which give police objective evidence needed to investigate and solve crime, according to the company web site.&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/about/why-flock">FLOCK system</a>&nbsp;captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.On May 15, Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Dyas to 216 months in prison after he pled guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Krier continued Sweeney’s bond. He is free until sentencing which is scheduled for July 25, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man found guilty of role in murder remains free until sentencing

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas doctor saved his daughter when she became trapped by their overturned raft in a rushing Colorado river, but was unable to save himself.

Dustin Harker, 47, a neurologist from Hutchinson, was on a whitewater rafting trip Friday with friends from church and four of his 13 children when the accident happened in the Sunshine Falls area on the Arkansas River.

The family had rafted the same river in previous years but the rapids were more turbulent than usual due to high amounts of rainfall, Harker's sister-in-law, Sharon Neu Young, said in an email to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/12/hutchinson-clinic-physician-dies/70313496007/">Hutchinson News</a>.

A raft carrying Harker and three of his children capsized.

“Everyone struggled to get above water,” Young wrote. “In the tumult, Dustin threw the capsized raft off his youngest daughter who was trapped underneath.” She did not disclose the girl's age.

Everyone made it to shore and Harker was even able to speak, but he “had already taken on too much water” and soon became unresponsive, Young wrote. He died despite CPR efforts.

Cheryl Gonsalves, marketing manager for Hutchinson Clinic, said Harker cared deeply about his patients.

“He was absolutely revered here,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686587629636.jpeg" alt="Dustin Harker -photo courtesy Hutch Clinic" />
 <figcaption>Dustin Harker -photo courtesy Hutch Clinic</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas doctor saved his daughter when she became trapped by their overturned raft in a rushing Colorado river, but was unable to save himself.Dustin Harker, 47, a neurologist from Hutchinson, was on a whitewater rafting trip Friday with friends from church and four of his 13 children when the accident happened in the Sunshine Falls area on the Arkansas River.The family had rafted the same river in previous years but the rapids were more turbulent than usual due to high amounts of rainfall, Harker's sister-in-law, Sharon Neu Young, said in an email to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/12/hutchinson-clinic-physician-dies/70313496007/">Hutchinson News</a>.A raft carrying Harker and three of his children capsized.“Everyone struggled to get above water,” Young wrote. “In the tumult, Dustin threw the capsized raft off his youngest daughter who was trapped underneath.” She did not disclose the girl's age.Everyone made it to shore and Harker was even able to speak, but he “had already taken on too much water” and soon became unresponsive, Young wrote. He died despite CPR efforts.Cheryl Gonsalves, marketing manager for Hutchinson Clinic, said Harker cared deeply about his patients.“He was absolutely revered here,” she said.

Kan. doctor dies saving daughter from drowning on Colorado raft trip

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday which the president said will “breathe a new life in the very essence of America.”

“To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand the war was never fought over it, it wasn’t just about a union, but it was most fundamentally about the country and freedom.”

Vice President Kamala Harris said Juneteenth is an occasion to “honor Black excellence, culture and community.”

“America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty and justice,” Harris said. “The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”

The concert also commemorated Black Music Month, and featured artists such as Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.

In 2021, Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">holiday marks the date</a>&nbsp;when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free — which occurred June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers told enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, news of their freedom.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday which the president said will “breathe a new life in the very essence of America.”(click below to watch the event)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F274009471703001%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=153" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand the war was never fought over it, it wasn’t just about a union, but it was most fundamentally about the country and freedom.”Vice President Kamala Harris said Juneteenth is an occasion to “honor Black excellence, culture and community.”“America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty and justice,” Harris said. “The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”The concert also commemorated Black Music Month, and featured artists such as Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.In 2021, Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">holiday marks the date</a>&nbsp;when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free — which occurred June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers told enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, news of their freedom.

🎥Biden celebrates Juneteenth with massive concert at the White House

By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A pardon for the only Kansas City police officer ever&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">convicted of killing a Black man</a>&nbsp;would invite a backlash dangerous to the city and police, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker wrote in a letter Tuesday to Gov. Mike Parson.

Baker told Parson that she was reacting to reports that the governor was considering a pardon for Eric DeValkenaere, who is out of prison on bail while appealing his conviction.&nbsp;

Parson has made no public statements about his intentions, but Democratic legislative leaders, reacting to the same rumors, also issued statements asking Parson to refrain until the appeals process is completed.

His office did not respond to an inquiry from The Independent.

Acting before the appeal is heard “would preempt Attorney General Bailey’s defense of this conviction and subvert the rule of law,” Baker wrote.

DeValkenaere was sentenced in March 2022 to six years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for the Dec. 3, 2019, shooting of Cameron Lamb. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">the Kansas City Star</a>, Lamb, 26, was at home, backing his pickup truck into his garage, when DeValkenaere fired several shots, killing him.

DeValkenaere, a Kansas City Police Department officer for 20 years, was investigating a vehicle crash, responding to reports that a red pickup was chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Lamb was spotted in his truck by helicopter officers.&nbsp;

DeValkenaere said he fired when Lamb pointed a gun at his partner. Police reportedly found Lamb in his truck, hanging out the driver’s side window and a handgun on the ground near his left hand.

Prosecutors have contended the gun was planted.

A pardon now is an “extreme action” that “will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police,” Baker wrote to Parson.

Democratic legislative leaders, in statements issued Tuesday, said a pardon would destroy trust in the criminal justice system.

“By pardoning convicted killer Eric DeValkenaere, the governor not only would deny justice to the victim but shred any faith Missourians have that the law applies equally to all,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield.

The leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Marlene Terry of Florissant, said a pardon would perpetuate racism in criminal justice. She tied a possible pardon of DeValkenaere to Parson’s decision to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after they pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their home in a gated community in St. Louis.

“If the governor follows through with his plan to pardon a former Kansas City police officer convicted of wrongfully killing a Black Missourian, it would only bolster the impression he left in 2021 that he believes different systems of justice should exist for white Missourians and Missourians of color,” Terry said.

The timeline for the Western District Court of Appeals to hear DeValkenaere’s case is uncertain. Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article276053091.html">has missed six deadlines</a>&nbsp;for filing the state’s brief in defense of the conviction.

Baker urged Parson to meet with Lamb’s family and convene a public meeting in Kansas City to gauge support for a pardon. Baker said a pardon would make all investigations more difficult.

“A pardon of this convicted former police officer will accelerate that distrust that we already see in our system,” Baker wrote. “Witnesses don’t want to testify, and victims decline to prosecute their attackers, even after suffering great injury.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666641520630.png" alt="Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A pardon for the only Kansas City police officer ever&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">convicted of killing a Black man</a>&nbsp;would invite a backlash dangerous to the city and police, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker wrote in a letter Tuesday to Gov. Mike Parson.Baker told Parson that she was reacting to reports that the governor was considering a pardon for Eric DeValkenaere, who is out of prison on bail while appealing his conviction.&nbsp;Parson has made no public statements about his intentions, but Democratic legislative leaders, reacting to the same rumors, also issued statements asking Parson to refrain until the appeals process is completed.His office did not respond to an inquiry from The Independent.Acting before the appeal is heard “would preempt Attorney General Bailey’s defense of this conviction and subvert the rule of law,” Baker wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="DeValkenaere-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>DeValkenaere was sentenced in March 2022 to six years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for the Dec. 3, 2019, shooting of Cameron Lamb. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">the Kansas City Star</a>, Lamb, 26, was at home, backing his pickup truck into his garage, when DeValkenaere fired several shots, killing him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619745438017.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Dec. 2019 shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Dec. 2019 shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DeValkenaere, a Kansas City Police Department officer for 20 years, was investigating a vehicle crash, responding to reports that a red pickup was chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Lamb was spotted in his truck by helicopter officers.&nbsp;DeValkenaere said he fired when Lamb pointed a gun at his partner. Police reportedly found Lamb in his truck, hanging out the driver’s side window and a handgun on the ground near his left hand.Prosecutors have contended the gun was planted.A pardon now is an “extreme action” that “will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police,” Baker wrote to Parson.Democratic legislative leaders, in statements issued Tuesday, said a pardon would destroy trust in the criminal justice system.“By pardoning convicted killer Eric DeValkenaere, the governor not only would deny justice to the victim but shred any faith Missourians have that the law applies equally to all,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield.The leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Marlene Terry of Florissant, said a pardon would perpetuate racism in criminal justice. She tied a possible pardon of DeValkenaere to Parson’s decision to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after they pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their home in a gated community in St. Louis.“If the governor follows through with his plan to pardon a former Kansas City police officer convicted of wrongfully killing a Black Missourian, it would only bolster the impression he left in 2021 that he believes different systems of justice should exist for white Missourians and Missourians of color,” Terry said.The timeline for the Western District Court of Appeals to hear DeValkenaere’s case is uncertain. Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article276053091.html">has missed six deadlines</a>&nbsp;for filing the state’s brief in defense of the conviction.Baker urged Parson to meet with Lamb’s family and convene a public meeting in Kansas City to gauge support for a pardon. Baker said a pardon would make all investigations more difficult.“A pardon of this convicted former police officer will accelerate that distrust that we already see in our system,” Baker wrote. “Witnesses don’t want to testify, and victims decline to prosecute their attackers, even after suffering great injury.”

Prosecutor urges governor not to pardon KC cop who killed a Black man

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.

Just afater 5:30p.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man beating a woman in the 22000 Block of Q. Road south of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The male suspect allegedly fled on foot in a wooded area.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office sent out an alert to warn residents to secure their doors and vehicles. 

Deputies started a search using a drone which located the suspect in the wooded area.&nbsp; An aircraft from KHP and a K-9 Team from Topeka Police also assisted with the incident.&nbsp; 

Just after 7:30p.m., deputies took the suspect identified as 30-year-old Daniel Markus Martin into custody. Martin was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement and felony interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686688358070.png" alt="Martin-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.Just afater 5:30p.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man beating a woman in the 22000 Block of Q. Road south of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The male suspect allegedly fled on foot in a wooded area.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office sent out an alert to warn residents to secure their doors and vehicles. Deputies started a search using a drone which located the suspect in the wooded area.&nbsp; An aircraft from KHP and a K-9 Team from Topeka Police also assisted with the incident.&nbsp; Just after 7:30p.m., deputies took the suspect identified as 30-year-old Daniel Markus Martin into custody. Martin was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement and felony interference with law enforcement.

Suspect in violent attack on a woman captured after manhunt

MIAMI (AP) — Donald Trump is characterizing the federal charges against him as “election interference and yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?528671-1/president-trump-remarks-court-appearance&amp;live">Click here to watch </a>a replay of Trump's remarks

He aired his grievances to hundreds of supporters at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, hours after becoming the first former president to face charges in federal court. He entered a plea of not guilty.

Previewing a possible legal defense, Trump said he had a right to go through boxes and separate personal records from government documents.

He also said he had not had a chance to review all the materials transferred from the White House before FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago residence last year.

Trump called the case against him “one of the most outrageous and vicious legal theories ever put forward in an American court of law” and compared his own actions to those of other former senior officials, though the facts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-clinton-classified-documents-republican-claims-7681bc9807ecd8bc37fd3f39b9756cc7">those cases are different</a>.

He called special counsel Jack Smith a “thug” who does “political hit jobs” and said, “This day will go down in infamy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686704253594.png" alt="Trump during his speech to supporters Tuesday night said,“This day will go down in infamy.”&nbsp; Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump during his speech to supporters Tuesday night said,“This day will go down in infamy.”&nbsp; Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — Donald Trump is characterizing the federal charges against him as “election interference and yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?528671-1/president-trump-remarks-court-appearance&amp;live">Click here to watch </a>a replay of Trump's remarksHe aired his grievances to hundreds of supporters at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, hours after becoming the first former president to face charges in federal court. He entered a plea of not guilty.Previewing a possible legal defense, Trump said he had a right to go through boxes and separate personal records from government documents.He also said he had not had a chance to review all the materials transferred from the White House before FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago residence last year.Trump called the case against him “one of the most outrageous and vicious legal theories ever put forward in an American court of law” and compared his own actions to those of other former senior officials, though the facts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-clinton-classified-documents-republican-claims-7681bc9807ecd8bc37fd3f39b9756cc7">those cases are different</a>.He called special counsel Jack Smith a “thug” who does “political hit jobs” and said, “This day will go down in infamy.”

🎥Trump: Indictment is "election interference," special prosecutor a "thug"

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a body was found in Wyandotte County Lake on Monday have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Dejon Akins of Kansas City, Kansas, according to Police Captain Michael&nbsp;Kroening.

Just after 2 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the lake after receiving a call about the body.

First responders recovered the body but have not released details on a cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled, according to Kroening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686652861496.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a body was found in Wyandotte County Lake on Monday have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Dejon Akins of Kansas City, Kansas, according to Police Captain Michael&nbsp;Kroening.Just after 2 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the lake after receiving a call about the body.First responders recovered the body but have not released details on a cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled, according to Kroening.

Police ID body of 22-year-old Kan. man recovered from lake

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a two day search.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686674386949.png" alt="Simmons-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a two day search.Just after 8p.m. June 8, sheriff's deputies responded to a request for assistance from Elk County Sheriff’s Office, who were involved in a felony vehicle pursuit, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.&nbsp;Elk County deputies were pursuing a stolen van out of Sedgwick County, being driven by Devon Simmons. Montgomery County deputies joined the pursuit in the area of County Road 1100 at County Road 5400 at the Montgomery and Chautauqua County line.Simmons continued to elude law enforcement for several miles at a high rate of speed using gravel roads. The pursuit eventually terminated in the area of County Road 2300 at County Road 3400 where deputies lost sight of the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686674338563.png" alt="Simmons-Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons-Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> With the assistance of Elk County and Kansas Highway Patrol, deputies were able to set up a perimeter, covering nearly 560 acres, where they believed Simmons and the vehicle were located. At the request of law enforcement, a drone operator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and KHP’s fixed wing aircraft, equipped with Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), were contacted to respond to the area. Law enforcement was unable to locate the vehicle or Simmons and ultimately released the perimeter. On the morning of June 9, Montgomery County Dispatch received a call advising a Honda ATV was stolen out of a barn in the area of County Road 3400 and County Road 2500. A deputy who’d been in the area patrolling, recalled seeing the ATV approximately 30 minutes prior to it being reported stolen eastbound on County Road 3400. The deputy also believed it was occupied by a white female and male at the time. This theft occurred within ½ mile of the location where the pursuit was terminated the night before. Deputies with Montgomery County again saturated the area attempting to locate the ATV but were unsuccessful. The stolen van was located shortly after, abandoned in a field. The van was located within the perimeter law enforcement had set the night before.At approximately 1:20 PM, a deputy with Montgomery County located a man and woman on the east side of Braum’s in Independence. The deputy recognized them to be the same individuals observed operating the Honda ATV on County Road 3400. Through his criminal investigation, the deputy was able to identify the subjects as Devon Simmons and Jewels Simmons. Jewels revealed the location of the four-wheeler to be in the area of 15th and Poplar hidden behind a vacant property. Jewels also stated they threw the keys which belonged to the stolen van on top of the house. Deputies were able to recover both the keys and ATV.&nbsp; Deputies transported the suspects to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections on charges of Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of Stolen Property and Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer were recommended to the County Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;