WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing that resulted in an officer-involved shooting.

On Tuesday afternoon, police&nbsp; responded to a  stabbing in the Argentine neighborhood of Wyandotte County, according to a statement from KCK Police.

 During a confrontation with the suspect shots were fired by officers. The suspect was wounded.&nbsp; EMS transported the suspect and female victim to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Officers were not injured.

Police later located an additional stabbing victim, that appears to be related to the initial stabbing. The victim was pronounced deceased near the shooting scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689713838300.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>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing that resulted in an officer-involved shooting.On Tuesday afternoon, police&nbsp; responded to a stabbing in the Argentine neighborhood of Wyandotte County, according to a statement from KCK Police. During a confrontation with the suspect shots were fired by officers. The suspect was wounded.&nbsp; EMS transported the suspect and female victim to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Officers were not injured.Police later located an additional stabbing victim, that appears to be related to the initial stabbing. The victim was pronounced deceased near the shooting scene.

Kan. officer shooting: Suspect wounded; stabbing victim dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials on Monday approved the first long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that sends tens of thousands of American children to the hospital each year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/respiratory-syncytial-virus">RSV</a>&nbsp;is a cold-like nuisance for most healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in the very young and the elderly.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old who face increased risk of severe RSV.

“Monday’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families and the health care system” said FDA's Dr. John Farley in a statement.

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-flu-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-4bb3180fce1ca15bb7bf4244d5c4085e">a surge in RSV cases</a>&nbsp;flooded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">U.S. hospitals</a>&nbsp;with wheezing children. There are no vaccines for babies yet, though Pfizer and other companies are working on them.

AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV. Under the FDA approval, babies — including preterm infants — can receive a single injection to protect against their first season of RSV, which typically lasts about five months. Children up to age 2 can receive another dose to protect them during their second season facing the virus.

Beyfortus, which will be marketed in the U.S. by Sanofi, is already approved in Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">Europe</a>&nbsp;and the U.K. Sanofi did not immediately announce the U.S. price of the treatment.

FDA officials approved the drug based on three studies showing Beyfortus reduced the risk of RSV infection between 70% and 75% among infants and children 2 and younger.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet early next month to recommend exactly who should get the drug.

A similar antibody drug won FDA approval more than 20 years ago, but it’s only recommended for high-risk babies and requires monthly injections. Pediatricians say the drug is underutilized and they expect the longer-lasting effect of AstraZeneca's shot to improve uptake.

In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die.

After decades of setbacks for RSV research, drugmakers have made big strides this year, launching the first vaccines against the virus. In May, the FDA approved two RSV vaccines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">older adults</a>&nbsp;from GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. In August, the FDA is expected to make a decision on approving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-syncytial-virus-pregnant-42330f5b3ce608f9c5b1f4d8ed91594f">Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant women</a>, with the aim of passing along protection to their newborns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689685636392.png" alt="AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials on Monday approved the first long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that sends tens of thousands of American children to the hospital each year.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/respiratory-syncytial-virus">RSV</a>&nbsp;is a cold-like nuisance for most healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in the very young and the elderly.The Food and Drug Administration approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old who face increased risk of severe RSV.“Monday’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families and the health care system” said FDA's Dr. John Farley in a statement.Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-flu-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-4bb3180fce1ca15bb7bf4244d5c4085e">a surge in RSV cases</a>&nbsp;flooded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">U.S. hospitals</a>&nbsp;with wheezing children. There are no vaccines for babies yet, though Pfizer and other companies are working on them.AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV. Under the FDA approval, babies — including preterm infants — can receive a single injection to protect against their first season of RSV, which typically lasts about five months. Children up to age 2 can receive another dose to protect them during their second season facing the virus.Beyfortus, which will be marketed in the U.S. by Sanofi, is already approved in Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">Europe</a>&nbsp;and the U.K. Sanofi did not immediately announce the U.S. price of the treatment.FDA officials approved the drug based on three studies showing Beyfortus reduced the risk of RSV infection between 70% and 75% among infants and children 2 and younger.Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet early next month to recommend exactly who should get the drug.A similar antibody drug won FDA approval more than 20 years ago, but it’s only recommended for high-risk babies and requires monthly injections. Pediatricians say the drug is underutilized and they expect the longer-lasting effect of AstraZeneca's shot to improve uptake.In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die.After decades of setbacks for RSV research, drugmakers have made big strides this year, launching the first vaccines against the virus. In May, the FDA approved two RSV vaccines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">older adults</a>&nbsp;from GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. In August, the FDA is expected to make a decision on approving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-syncytial-virus-pregnant-42330f5b3ce608f9c5b1f4d8ed91594f">Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant women</a>, with the aim of passing along protection to their newborns.

FDA OKs new drug to protect babies and toddlers from RSV

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Wichita.

A Ford Explorer was southbound in the 4400 Block of North Meridian in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

The SUV struck a 53-year-old woman who was walking her bicycle on the traffic way.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported the woman to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceases.

The accident is still under investigation and Detectives are still actively working on this case. All parties involved in the incident were interviewed by investigators.&nbsp; Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors in the accident, according to Gupilan.

Police released no additional details Tuesday afternoon.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Wichita.A Ford Explorer was southbound in the 4400 Block of North Meridian in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.The SUV struck a 53-year-old woman who was walking her bicycle on the traffic way.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported the woman to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceases.The accident is still under investigation and Detectives are still actively working on this case. All parties involved in the incident were interviewed by investigators.&nbsp; Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors in the accident, according to Gupilan.Police released no additional details Tuesday afternoon.

SUV struck, killed 53-year-old Kan. woman walking bicycle 

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An American soldier facing military disciplinary actions fled across the heavily armed border from South Korea into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/north-korea">North Korea</a>, U.S. officials said Tuesday, becoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">the first American detained in the North in nearly five years</a>.

Two U.S. officials said the soldier detained was Private 2nd Class Travis King, who had just been released from a South Korean prison where he'd been held on assault charges and was facing additional military disciplinary actions in the United States.

King, who's in his early 20s, was escorted to the airport to be returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, but instead of getting on the plane he left and joined a tour of the Korean border village of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/panmunjom">Panmunjom</a>, where he ran across the border, the officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter ahead of a public announcement.

Details about King, including his hometown and what additional charges he faced, were not immediately available. It was also unclear how he managed to leave the airport while he was being escorted.

The American-led U.N. Command said he is believed to be in North Korean custody and the command is working with its North Korean counterparts to resolve the incident. North Korea’s state media didn’t immediately report on the border crossing.

Cases of Americans or South Koreans defecting to North Korea are rare, though more than 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea to avoid political oppression and economic difficulties since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Panmunjom, located inside the 248-kilometer (154-mile) -long Demilitarized Zone, has been jointly overseen by the U.N. Command and North Korea since its creation at the close of the Korean War. Bloodshed and gunfire have occasionally occurred there, but it has also been a venue for numerous talks and is a popular tourist spot.

Known for its blue huts straddling concrete slabs that form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">the demarcation line</a>, Panmunjom draws visitors from both sides who want to see the Cold War’s last frontier. No civilians live at Panmunjom. In the past, North and South Korean soldiers faced off within meters (yards) of each other.

Tours to the southern side of the village reportedly drew around 100,000 visitors a year before the coronavirus pandemic, when South Korea restricted gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19. The tours resumed fully last year. During a short-lived period of inter-Korean engagement in 2018, Panmunjom was one of the border sites that underwent mine-clearing operations by North and South Korean army engineers as the Koreas vowed to turn the village into a “peace zone” where tourists from both sides could move around with more freedom.

In November 2017,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5deb0391ceac48558036db10c9208bef">North Korean soldiers fired 40 rounds</a>&nbsp;as one of their colleagues raced toward the South. The soldier was hit five times before he was found beneath a pile of leaves on the southern side of Panmunjom. He survived and is now in South Korea.

The most famous incident at Panmunjom happened in August 1976, when two American army officers were killed by ax-wielding North Korean soldiers. The U.S. officers had been sent to trim a 40-foot (12-meter) tree that obstructed the view from a checkpoint. The attack prompted Washington to fly nuclear-capable B-52 bombers toward the DMZ to intimidate North Korea.

Panmunjom also is where the armistice that ended the Korean War was signed. That armistice has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula technically in a state of war. The United States still stations about 28,000 troops in South Korea.

There have been a small number of U.S. soldiers who went to North Korea during the Cold War, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab3ea3fb4dc84f5e8233afffdec449ab">Charles Jenkins</a>, who deserted his army post in South Korea in 1965 and fled across the DMZ. He appeared in North Korean propaganda films and married a Japanese nursing student who had been abducted from Japan by North Korean agents. He died in Japan in 2017.

But in recent years, some American civilians have been arrested in North Korea after allegedly entering the country from China. They were later convicted of espionage, subversion and other anti-state acts, but were often released after the U.S. sent high-profile missions to secure their freedom.

In May 2018, North Korea released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4b7802fb42934d18b31c000f4c99c04e">three American detainees</a>&nbsp;-– Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song -– who returned to the United States on a plane with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a short-lived period of warm relations between the longtime adversaries. Later in 2018, North Korea said it expelled American Bruce Byron Lowrance. Since his ouster, there have been no reports of other Americans detained in North Korea before Tuesday’s incident.

The 2018 releases came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was engaged in nuclear diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump. The high-stakes diplomacy collapsed in 2019 amid wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea.

Their freedoms were a striking contrast to the fate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/otto-warmbier-united-states-new-york-ohio-north-korea-ff3163f4d9916e4f8c9cfb74bbfba381">Otto Warmbier</a>, an American university student who died in 2017 days after he was released by North Korea in a coma after 17 months in captivity. Warmbier and other previous American detainees in North Korea were imprisoned over a variety of alleged crimes, including subversion, anti-state activities and spying.

The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees to wrest diplomatic concessions. Some foreigners have said after their release that their declarations of guilt were coerced while in North Korean custody.

Tuesday's border crossing happened amid high tensions over North Korea's barrage of missile tests since the start of last year. A U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-us-north-korea-nuclear-0c6a71344452d5b12420c13fd66a5a1f">nuclear-armed submarine visited South Korea</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday for the first time in four decades in deterrence against North Korea.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689700325324.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An American soldier facing military disciplinary actions fled across the heavily armed border from South Korea into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/north-korea">North Korea</a>, U.S. officials said Tuesday, becoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">the first American detained in the North in nearly five years</a>.Two U.S. officials said the soldier detained was Private 2nd Class Travis King, who had just been released from a South Korean prison where he'd been held on assault charges and was facing additional military disciplinary actions in the United States.King, who's in his early 20s, was escorted to the airport to be returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, but instead of getting on the plane he left and joined a tour of the Korean border village of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/panmunjom">Panmunjom</a>, where he ran across the border, the officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter ahead of a public announcement.Details about King, including his hometown and what additional charges he faced, were not immediately available. It was also unclear how he managed to leave the airport while he was being escorted.The American-led U.N. Command said he is believed to be in North Korean custody and the command is working with its North Korean counterparts to resolve the incident. North Korea’s state media didn’t immediately report on the border crossing.Cases of Americans or South Koreans defecting to North Korea are rare, though more than 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea to avoid political oppression and economic difficulties since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.Panmunjom, located inside the 248-kilometer (154-mile) -long Demilitarized Zone, has been jointly overseen by the U.N. Command and North Korea since its creation at the close of the Korean War. Bloodshed and gunfire have occasionally occurred there, but it has also been a venue for numerous talks and is a popular tourist spot.Known for its blue huts straddling concrete slabs that form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">the demarcation line</a>, Panmunjom draws visitors from both sides who want to see the Cold War’s last frontier. No civilians live at Panmunjom. In the past, North and South Korean soldiers faced off within meters (yards) of each other.Tours to the southern side of the village reportedly drew around 100,000 visitors a year before the coronavirus pandemic, when South Korea restricted gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19. The tours resumed fully last year. During a short-lived period of inter-Korean engagement in 2018, Panmunjom was one of the border sites that underwent mine-clearing operations by North and South Korean army engineers as the Koreas vowed to turn the village into a “peace zone” where tourists from both sides could move around with more freedom.In November 2017,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5deb0391ceac48558036db10c9208bef">North Korean soldiers fired 40 rounds</a>&nbsp;as one of their colleagues raced toward the South. The soldier was hit five times before he was found beneath a pile of leaves on the southern side of Panmunjom. He survived and is now in South Korea.The most famous incident at Panmunjom happened in August 1976, when two American army officers were killed by ax-wielding North Korean soldiers. The U.S. officers had been sent to trim a 40-foot (12-meter) tree that obstructed the view from a checkpoint. The attack prompted Washington to fly nuclear-capable B-52 bombers toward the DMZ to intimidate North Korea.Panmunjom also is where the armistice that ended the Korean War was signed. That armistice has yet to be replaced with a peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula technically in a state of war. The United States still stations about 28,000 troops in South Korea.There have been a small number of U.S. soldiers who went to North Korea during the Cold War, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab3ea3fb4dc84f5e8233afffdec449ab">Charles Jenkins</a>, who deserted his army post in South Korea in 1965 and fled across the DMZ. He appeared in North Korean propaganda films and married a Japanese nursing student who had been abducted from Japan by North Korean agents. He died in Japan in 2017.But in recent years, some American civilians have been arrested in North Korea after allegedly entering the country from China. They were later convicted of espionage, subversion and other anti-state acts, but were often released after the U.S. sent high-profile missions to secure their freedom.In May 2018, North Korea released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4b7802fb42934d18b31c000f4c99c04e">three American detainees</a>&nbsp;-– Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song -– who returned to the United States on a plane with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a short-lived period of warm relations between the longtime adversaries. Later in 2018, North Korea said it expelled American Bruce Byron Lowrance. Since his ouster, there have been no reports of other Americans detained in North Korea before Tuesday’s incident.The 2018 releases came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was engaged in nuclear diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump. The high-stakes diplomacy collapsed in 2019 amid wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea.Their freedoms were a striking contrast to the fate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/otto-warmbier-united-states-new-york-ohio-north-korea-ff3163f4d9916e4f8c9cfb74bbfba381">Otto Warmbier</a>, an American university student who died in 2017 days after he was released by North Korea in a coma after 17 months in captivity. Warmbier and other previous American detainees in North Korea were imprisoned over a variety of alleged crimes, including subversion, anti-state activities and spying.The United States, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of using foreign detainees to wrest diplomatic concessions. Some foreigners have said after their release that their declarations of guilt were coerced while in North Korean custody.Tuesday's border crossing happened amid high tensions over North Korea's barrage of missile tests since the start of last year. A U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-us-north-korea-nuclear-0c6a71344452d5b12420c13fd66a5a1f">nuclear-armed submarine visited South Korea</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday for the first time in four decades in deterrence against North Korea.

Why U.S. soldier crossed into North Korea ‘willfully, without authorization

ADAIR COUNTY, Mo. —A Kansas girl died in accident just after 9p.m. Sunday in Adair County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Polaris Ranger driven by a 15-year-old girl from Eureka, Kansas was southbound downhill on Sugar Creek School Trail eight miles southwest of Kirksville.

The teen lost control on the gravel road. The UTV traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and she was ejected. EMS pronounced her dead at the scene and she was transported to <a href="https://travis-noe.com/obits/archive/2023/7/16/kenlee-luella-wallace/">Travis Noe Funeral Home</a> who identified her as Kenlee Wallace.&nbsp; The MSHP released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689697030084.png" alt="Photo courtesy Travis-Noe Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Travis-Noe Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>ADAIR COUNTY, Mo. —A Kansas girl died in accident just after 9p.m. Sunday in Adair County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Polaris Ranger driven by a 15-year-old girl from Eureka, Kansas was southbound downhill on Sugar Creek School Trail eight miles southwest of Kirksville.The teen lost control on the gravel road. The UTV traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and she was ejected. EMS pronounced her dead at the scene and she was transported to <a href="https://travis-noe.com/obits/archive/2023/7/16/kenlee-luella-wallace/">Travis Noe Funeral Home</a> who identified her as Kenlee Wallace.&nbsp; The MSHP released no additional details.

15-year-old Kan. girl identified as victim in fatal UTV accident

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he has received a letter informing him that he is a target of the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election, an indication that he could soon be indicted by federal prosecutors.

Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying he received the target letter while with his family on Sunday night. Such a letter can precede an indictment and is used to advise individuals that prosecutors have evidence linking them to a crime; Trump received one ahead of being charged last month in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-judge-cannon-b4e51c8a2721cdf15d1b0cfaf02dcdd3">separate investigation into the mishandling of classified documents.</a>

A spokesman for special counsel Jack Smith, whose office is leading the investigation, declined to comment.

Smith's team has cast a broad net in its investigation into attempts by Trump and his allies to block the legitimate transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden in the days leading up to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol,</a>&nbsp;when Trump loyalists stormed the building in a bid to disrupt the certification of electoral votes in Congress. More than 1,000 people accused of participating in the riot have been charged.

Smith's probe has centered on a broad range of schemes from Trump and allies to keep him in power, including the use of slates of so-called fake electors in battleground states won by Biden and disputed by Trump.

Trump, who is currently the dominant early frontrunner for the Republican nomination, is scheduled to travel to Iowa Tuesday, where he is taping a town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

One purpose of the target letter is to advise a potential defendant that he or she has a right to appear before the grand jury. Trump said in his post that he has been given “a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and indictment,” but aides did not immediately respond to questions seeking clarity.

Prosecutors in Georgia are conducting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-grand-jury-election-485ca85e57fd80af7455a59174d10d4f">separate investigation into efforts by Trump</a>&nbsp;to reverse his election loss in that state, with the top prosecutor in Fulton County signaling that she expects to announce charging decisions next month.

In his post, Trump wrote that “they have now effectively indicted me three times.... with a probably fourth coming from Atlanta” and added in capital letters, “This witch hunt is all about election interference and a complete and total (political) weaponization of law enforTrump was indicted last month on 37 felony counts accusing him of illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. He has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial conference in that case was set for Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Fla.cement!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686700913232.png" alt="&nbsp;One purpose of the target letter is to advise a potential defendant that he or she has a right to appear before the grand jury. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;One purpose of the target letter is to advise a potential defendant that he or she has a right to appear before the grand jury. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he has received a letter informing him that he is a target of the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election, an indication that he could soon be indicted by federal prosecutors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689691291162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying he received the target letter while with his family on Sunday night. Such a letter can precede an indictment and is used to advise individuals that prosecutors have evidence linking them to a crime; Trump received one ahead of being charged last month in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-judge-cannon-b4e51c8a2721cdf15d1b0cfaf02dcdd3">separate investigation into the mishandling of classified documents.</a>A spokesman for special counsel Jack Smith, whose office is leading the investigation, declined to comment.Smith's team has cast a broad net in its investigation into attempts by Trump and his allies to block the legitimate transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden in the days leading up to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol,</a>&nbsp;when Trump loyalists stormed the building in a bid to disrupt the certification of electoral votes in Congress. More than 1,000 people accused of participating in the riot have been charged.Smith's probe has centered on a broad range of schemes from Trump and allies to keep him in power, including the use of slates of so-called fake electors in battleground states won by Biden and disputed by Trump.Trump, who is currently the dominant early frontrunner for the Republican nomination, is scheduled to travel to Iowa Tuesday, where he is taping a town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity.One purpose of the target letter is to advise a potential defendant that he or she has a right to appear before the grand jury. Trump said in his post that he has been given “a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and indictment,” but aides did not immediately respond to questions seeking clarity.Prosecutors in Georgia are conducting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-grand-jury-election-485ca85e57fd80af7455a59174d10d4f">separate investigation into efforts by Trump</a>&nbsp;to reverse his election loss in that state, with the top prosecutor in Fulton County signaling that she expects to announce charging decisions next month.In his post, Trump wrote that “they have now effectively indicted me three times.... with a probably fourth coming from Atlanta” and added in capital letters, “This witch hunt is all about election interference and a complete and total (political) weaponization of law enforTrump was indicted last month on 37 felony counts accusing him of illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. He has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial conference in that case was set for Tuesday in Fort Pierce, Fla.cement!”

Read Trump's statement on expected indictment for 1/6

BARTON COUNTY —A powerful supercell thunderstorm tracked straight south during the early evening of hours Sunday. It&nbsp; produced extreme wind gusts but no tornado, according to meteorologist Chance Hayes with the National Weather Service in Wichita.&nbsp;

The weather service conducted a damage survey across Barton County on Monday and determined there were only straight line winds of 70 to 80 miles per hour.

The Russell Airport reported a 77 mph wind gust. The strong winds moved into Great Bend, which resulted in widespread wind damage throughout community.&nbsp; There were two pockets of extremely strong winds. Those included&nbsp; an area south to southeast from the court house downtown and another on the west side of the town.

 In addition to the strong winds, the storm produced wind driven hail up to softball size.&nbsp;&nbsp;The weather service expects to do additional storm damage survey work this week in Russell County, according to Hayes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689688267549.png" alt="Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Midwest Energy" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Midwest Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A powerful supercell thunderstorm tracked straight south during the early evening of hours Sunday. It&nbsp; produced extreme wind gusts but no tornado, according to meteorologist Chance Hayes with the National Weather Service in Wichita.&nbsp;The weather service conducted a damage survey across Barton County on Monday and determined there were only straight line winds of 70 to 80 miles per hour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689688250119.png" alt="Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Midwest Energy" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Midwest Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>The Russell Airport reported a 77 mph wind gust. The strong winds moved into Great Bend, which resulted in widespread wind damage throughout community.&nbsp; There were two pockets of extremely strong winds. Those included&nbsp; an area south to southeast from the court house downtown and another on the west side of the town. In addition to the strong winds, the storm produced wind driven hail up to softball size.&nbsp;&nbsp;The weather service expects to do additional storm damage survey work this week in Russell County, according to Hayes.

NWS: Straight line winds, no tornado in Great Bend storm

LONDON (AP) — Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-food-security-ba7f9146b745337a1948a964cb30331c">has suspended a wartime deal</a>&nbsp;designed to move grain from Ukraine to parts of the world where millions are going hungry.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, has allowed 32.9 million metric tons (36.2 million tons) of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-grain-farmers-food-a9df0827d8009c3fef347378061f9dd7">food to be exported from Ukraine</a>&nbsp;since August, more than half to developing countries, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

Kansas junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used social media to call for immediate action in response, "Putin ending the Ukraine Grain Deal will cause starvation across the world. It is time we finally get tough on Russia and quit dragging this war out. We must fully implement bank sanctions on Russia."

Some analysts don't foresee a lasting rise in the cost of commodities like wheat because there’s enough grain in the world to go around. But many countries are already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-prices-inflation-ukraine-war-economy-8daa7e3d92666d290d87932dc8f25a94">struggling with high local food prices</a>, which are helping fuel hunger.

Here's a look at the crucial accord and what it means for the world:

Ukraine and Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-middle-east-global-trade-a2c89d94a0f8473b40a1fcde5710bda8">signed separate agreements</a>&nbsp;in July 2022, one that reopened three of Ukraine's Black Sea ports that were blocked for months following Moscow's invasion. The other facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer amid Western sanctions.

Both countries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-africa-lifestyle-middle-east-1b41faaa7ac0984d0673023b68d39a70">major suppliers of wheat</a>, barley,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-business-health-africa-688a358195a4723fc862cfe3f9e60474">sunflower oil</a>&nbsp;and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-health-europe-c6a2d11380d3cb0c48d4c22703d1954e">Russia of fertilizer</a>&nbsp;— other critical parts of the food chain.

Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the “breadbasket of the world,” exacerbated a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-politics-health-middle-east-58bb99da6bf9fc6af5a5a645022bc4d7">global food crisis</a>&nbsp;and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide.

The deal provided assurances that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-grain-shipping-risks-6adc97731965377e2f1db5f91adefa92">ships won't be attacked</a>&nbsp;entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels were checked by Russian, Ukrainian, U.N. and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food.

Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope and was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-food-security-67e9fd1b5ee8b46fdd9c28955dbcb465">renewed three times</a>&nbsp;— the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up. That's despite Moscow shipping record amounts of wheat.

No new ships have joined the initiative since June 27, and Ukraine blames Moscow. The last vessel left Ukraine on Sunday.

The deal helped bring down global prices of food commodities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-business-climate-and-environment-00539505ec5db37de5877137b9febeb8">wheat that hit record highs</a>&nbsp;after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Once the grain deal was struck, the World Food Program got back a top supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tons of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the precipice of famine, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-humanitarian-food-aid-theft-us-un-c129b6942663cbfc44c6605fed97928b">Ethiopia</a>, Afghanistan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-civil-wars-famine-081076dd0f56f3c3cf19e3d5fce71a7b">Yemen</a>.

“It is a pretty unique phenomenon to have two warring parties and two intermediaries agree to establish this sort of corridor to get humanitarian products — which is ostensibly what this is — out to markets that need it most,” said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the world’s commercial fleet.

After Russia exited the deal, wheat prices in Chicago trading rose about 3% on Monday, to $6.81 a bushel, still about half what they were during last year's peaks. Prices fell later in the day.

Russia has said it wants an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-deal-exports-cde16aa076f5285a7ca72dcb822e673b">restrictions on shipping and insurance</a>&nbsp;that Moscow insists have hampered its agricultural exports.

Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of sanctions, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-macky-sall-european-union-9a323f94f1dfc8c9b955a08973248dac">Western allies have made assurances</a>&nbsp;that food and fertilizer are exempt.

“It’s not uncommon in situations like this for countries to use whatever levers they have to try and get sanctions regimes changed," said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Russia also has complained that a commitment to pipe its ammonia, a key component of fertilizer, to a Ukrainian port to be exported has never started under the deal. That’s true, but the U.N. says the pipeline has been damaged in the fighting.

“Regrettably, the part of the Black Sea agreements related to Russia hasn’t been fulfilled,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-russia-ukraine-food-exports-7027edafa7e5b5ff90740df6e559e98b">proposing to ease transactions</a>&nbsp;through the agricultural bank, a spokesperson said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday that the last-minute offer was not feasible and couldn’t be implemented.

Russian “claims that its agriculture sector is suffering are countered by the reality" that production and exports are up since before the war, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Russia exported a record 45.5 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another all-time high of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.

The International Rescue Committee calls the grain deal a “lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-drought-climate-food-security-ramadan-c04b48a83d6bba88fc05bdb69dbf438f">frontlines of food insecurity</a>."

Losing millions of tons of food from Ukraine at a time when many countries are increasingly reliant on imported food because of conflict and drought, "will result in inaccessibility and unavailability of food but also will increase prices and impact affordability for households,” Shashwat Saraf, the group’s regional emergency director for East Africa, said in an interview Monday.

While global prices for grain may stabilize, countries that depend on imported food, from Lebanon to Egypt, may see their costs rise for a while if they need to find suppliers that are farther away, analysts say.

That will compound costs for countries that also have seen their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-middle-east-africa-business-global-trade-bee68344b1812dd48ca9c0735395b868">currencies weaken</a>&nbsp;and debt levels grow because they pay for food shipments in dollars.

For low-income countries and people, food “will be less affordable," World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters last week.

Ukraine's economy depends on agriculture, and before the war, 75% of its grain exports went through the Black Sea.

It can send its food by land or river through Europe, but those routes can handle lower amounts compared to sea shipments and their use has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poland-ukraine-grain-imports-war-eu-hungary-43ebb8cd01ccf679d190e5690b8d4c23">stirred anger in neighboring countries</a>.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-grain-exports-us-danube-romania-1d506df3c6e30df86f8ed4e6d7e04df0">send more grain through the Danube River</a>&nbsp;to neighboring Romania's Black Sea ports, saying it's possible to double monthly exports along that route to 4 million metric tons.

Ukraine’s wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40% from its pre-war average, with the USDA expecting 10.5 million metric tons exported in the coming year.

Ukraine accused Russia of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-russia-government-united-nations-business-b2f6bb9e50b7440ea6c18f66e016e145">slowing down inspections of ships</a>. Combined with no new ships joining the effort, that has led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-business-02978d1ab61d70939ff1581b1129d18a">drop in exports</a>&nbsp;from a high under the deal of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 2 million in June.

Fallout from the pandemic, conflict, economic crises, drought and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate factors</a>&nbsp;affect the ability of people to get enough to eat.

There are 45 countries that need food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a July report. High domestic food prices are driving hunger in most of those countries, including Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela and several in Africa and Asia.

While drought can also be a problem for major grain suppliers, analysts see other countries producing enough grain to counterbalance losses from Ukraine.

Besides Russia's huge exports, Europe and Argentina are increasing wheat shipments, while Brazil saw a banner year for corn.

“These markets adapt and producers adapt — and boy, the wheat and corn markets have adapted very, very quickly,” said Peter Meyer, head of grain analytics at S&amp;P Global Commodity Insights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-food-security-ba7f9146b745337a1948a964cb30331c">has suspended a wartime deal</a>&nbsp;designed to move grain from Ukraine to parts of the world where millions are going hungry.The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, has allowed 32.9 million metric tons (36.2 million tons) of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-grain-farmers-food-a9df0827d8009c3fef347378061f9dd7">food to be exported from Ukraine</a>&nbsp;since August, more than half to developing countries, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.Kansas junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall used social media to call for immediate action in response, "Putin ending the Ukraine Grain Deal will cause starvation across the world. It is time we finally get tough on Russia and quit dragging this war out. We must fully implement bank sanctions on Russia."Some analysts don't foresee a lasting rise in the cost of commodities like wheat because there’s enough grain in the world to go around. But many countries are already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-prices-inflation-ukraine-war-economy-8daa7e3d92666d290d87932dc8f25a94">struggling with high local food prices</a>, which are helping fuel hunger.Here's a look at the crucial accord and what it means for the world:WHAT IS THE GRAIN DEAL? Ukraine and Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-middle-east-global-trade-a2c89d94a0f8473b40a1fcde5710bda8">signed separate agreements</a>&nbsp;in July 2022, one that reopened three of Ukraine's Black Sea ports that were blocked for months following Moscow's invasion. The other facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer amid Western sanctions.Both countries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-africa-lifestyle-middle-east-1b41faaa7ac0984d0673023b68d39a70">major suppliers of wheat</a>, barley,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-business-health-africa-688a358195a4723fc862cfe3f9e60474">sunflower oil</a>&nbsp;and other affordable food products that Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on. Ukraine is also a huge exporter of corn, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-health-europe-c6a2d11380d3cb0c48d4c22703d1954e">Russia of fertilizer</a>&nbsp;— other critical parts of the food chain.Interrupted shipments from Ukraine, dubbed the “breadbasket of the world,” exacerbated a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-politics-health-middle-east-58bb99da6bf9fc6af5a5a645022bc4d7">global food crisis</a>&nbsp;and sent prices for grain soaring worldwide.The deal provided assurances that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-grain-shipping-risks-6adc97731965377e2f1db5f91adefa92">ships won't be attacked</a>&nbsp;entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Vessels were checked by Russian, Ukrainian, U.N. and Turkish officials to ensure they carry only food.Meant to be extended every four months, the deal was hailed as a beacon of hope and was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-food-security-67e9fd1b5ee8b46fdd9c28955dbcb465">renewed three times</a>&nbsp;— the last two for only two months as Russia insisted its exports were being held up. That's despite Moscow shipping record amounts of wheat.No new ships have joined the initiative since June 27, and Ukraine blames Moscow. The last vessel left Ukraine on Sunday.WHAT HAS IT ACCOMPLISHED? The deal helped bring down global prices of food commodities like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-business-climate-and-environment-00539505ec5db37de5877137b9febeb8">wheat that hit record highs</a>&nbsp;after Russia invaded Ukraine.Once the grain deal was struck, the World Food Program got back a top supplier, allowing 725,000 metric tons of humanitarian food aid to leave Ukraine and reach countries on the precipice of famine, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-humanitarian-food-aid-theft-us-un-c129b6942663cbfc44c6605fed97928b">Ethiopia</a>, Afghanistan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-civil-wars-famine-081076dd0f56f3c3cf19e3d5fce71a7b">Yemen</a>.“It is a pretty unique phenomenon to have two warring parties and two intermediaries agree to establish this sort of corridor to get humanitarian products — which is ostensibly what this is — out to markets that need it most,” said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the world’s commercial fleet.After Russia exited the deal, wheat prices in Chicago trading rose about 3% on Monday, to $6.81 a bushel, still about half what they were during last year's peaks. Prices fell later in the day.WHY DID RUSSIA END THE DEAL? Russia has said it wants an end to sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-grain-deal-exports-cde16aa076f5285a7ca72dcb822e673b">restrictions on shipping and insurance</a>&nbsp;that Moscow insists have hampered its agricultural exports.Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of sanctions, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-macky-sall-european-union-9a323f94f1dfc8c9b955a08973248dac">Western allies have made assurances</a>&nbsp;that food and fertilizer are exempt.“It’s not uncommon in situations like this for countries to use whatever levers they have to try and get sanctions regimes changed," said Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economic development at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Russia also has complained that a commitment to pipe its ammonia, a key component of fertilizer, to a Ukrainian port to be exported has never started under the deal. That’s true, but the U.N. says the pipeline has been damaged in the fighting.“Regrettably, the part of the Black Sea agreements related to Russia hasn’t been fulfilled,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-russia-ukraine-food-exports-7027edafa7e5b5ff90740df6e559e98b">proposing to ease transactions</a>&nbsp;through the agricultural bank, a spokesperson said.The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday that the last-minute offer was not feasible and couldn’t be implemented.Russian “claims that its agriculture sector is suffering are countered by the reality" that production and exports are up since before the war, said Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Russia exported a record 45.5 million metric tons of wheat in the 2022-2023 trade year, with another all-time high of 47.5 million metric tons expected in 2023-2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.WHO IS AFFECTED? The International Rescue Committee calls the grain deal a “lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-drought-climate-food-security-ramadan-c04b48a83d6bba88fc05bdb69dbf438f">frontlines of food insecurity</a>."Losing millions of tons of food from Ukraine at a time when many countries are increasingly reliant on imported food because of conflict and drought, "will result in inaccessibility and unavailability of food but also will increase prices and impact affordability for households,” Shashwat Saraf, the group’s regional emergency director for East Africa, said in an interview Monday.While global prices for grain may stabilize, countries that depend on imported food, from Lebanon to Egypt, may see their costs rise for a while if they need to find suppliers that are farther away, analysts say.That will compound costs for countries that also have seen their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-middle-east-africa-business-global-trade-bee68344b1812dd48ca9c0735395b868">currencies weaken</a>&nbsp;and debt levels grow because they pay for food shipments in dollars.For low-income countries and people, food “will be less affordable," World Food Program chief economist Arif Husain told reporters last week.WHAT ABOUT UKRAINE? Ukraine's economy depends on agriculture, and before the war, 75% of its grain exports went through the Black Sea.It can send its food by land or river through Europe, but those routes can handle lower amounts compared to sea shipments and their use has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poland-ukraine-grain-imports-war-eu-hungary-43ebb8cd01ccf679d190e5690b8d4c23">stirred anger in neighboring countries</a>.Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-grain-exports-us-danube-romania-1d506df3c6e30df86f8ed4e6d7e04df0">send more grain through the Danube River</a>&nbsp;to neighboring Romania's Black Sea ports, saying it's possible to double monthly exports along that route to 4 million metric tons.Ukraine’s wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40% from its pre-war average, with the USDA expecting 10.5 million metric tons exported in the coming year.Ukraine accused Russia of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-russia-government-united-nations-business-b2f6bb9e50b7440ea6c18f66e016e145">slowing down inspections of ships</a>. Combined with no new ships joining the effort, that has led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-business-02978d1ab61d70939ff1581b1129d18a">drop in exports</a>&nbsp;from a high under the deal of 4.2 million metric tons in October to 2 million in June.WHAT ELSE AFFECTS FOOD SUPPLY? Fallout from the pandemic, conflict, economic crises, drought and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate factors</a>&nbsp;affect the ability of people to get enough to eat.There are 45 countries that need food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a July report. High domestic food prices are driving hunger in most of those countries, including Haiti, Ukraine, Venezuela and several in Africa and Asia.While drought can also be a problem for major grain suppliers, analysts see other countries producing enough grain to counterbalance losses from Ukraine.Besides Russia's huge exports, Europe and Argentina are increasing wheat shipments, while Brazil saw a banner year for corn.“These markets adapt and producers adapt — and boy, the wheat and corn markets have adapted very, very quickly,” said Peter Meyer, head of grain analytics at S&amp;P Global Commodity Insights.

Kan. Senator: Putin ending grain deal will cause starvation across the world

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.

No ticket for Monday’s drawing matched the white balls 5, 8, 9, 17, 41 and red Powerball 2. The jackpot was estimated at $900 million.

The new jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">the third highest</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history and will keep growing until someone wins. Ticket buyers have a chance at $1 billion paid out in yearly increments or a $516.8 million one-time lump sum before taxes.

Three people won $2 million after matching all five numbers plus the Power Play, lottery officials said. The winning tickets were sold in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.

Five people won $1 million after matching all five numbers. The winning tickets were sold in Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;last November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 38 consecutive drawings.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.No ticket for Monday’s drawing matched the white balls 5, 8, 9, 17, 41 and red Powerball 2. The jackpot was estimated at $900 million.The new jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing would be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">the third highest</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history and will keep growing until someone wins. Ticket buyers have a chance at $1 billion paid out in yearly increments or a $516.8 million one-time lump sum before taxes.Three people won $2 million after matching all five numbers plus the Power Play, lottery officials said. The winning tickets were sold in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.Five people won $1 million after matching all five numbers. The winning tickets were sold in Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;last November.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 38 consecutive drawings.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 No Powerball winner yet, jackpot hits $1 billion

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an ATM bank robbery that occurred just before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Witnesses reported two unknown individuals approached a victim, working on an ATM at the bank. The two men threatened the victim and then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.

The first suspect is described as a black male wearing a black jacket with a hood, dark colored pants and white shoes with orange gloves.

The second suspect is also a black male wearing a white hoodie with light colored jeans, black shoes and black gloves. Both men were wearing black masks. C<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">lick here to </a>submit a tip online

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689472844952.png" alt="FBI image" />
 <figcaption>FBI image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an ATM bank robbery that occurred just before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.Witnesses reported two unknown individuals approached a victim, working on an ATM at the bank. The two men threatened the victim and then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.The first suspect is described as a black male wearing a black jacket with a hood, dark colored pants and white shoes with orange gloves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689472899719.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The second suspect is also a black male wearing a white hoodie with light colored jeans, black shoes and black gloves. Both men were wearing black masks. C<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">lick here to </a>submit a tip online

Police investigating ATM bank robbery in Kansas City

TOPEKA&nbsp;– In response to increased reports of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card thefts across the U.S., the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is accepting requests for replacement of the stolen Food Assistance (also known as SNAP) benefits, according to a media release from the agency.

“Access to healthy food is a key component of a family’s well-being,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This program will help Kansans whose benefits have been stolen recoup those resources, helping to ensure they can provide healthy, nutritious meals for their family members.”

There have been fewer than 20 reports of stolen benefits in Kansas. Nationally the numbers are higher, which prompted the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 by President Joe Biden in December 2022. The act includes a provision for the replacement of stolen EBT benefits with federal funds.

Food Assistance benefits eligible for replacement include those stolen from card skimming, card cloning, and other types of fraudulent methods between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024. Cardholders have 45 calendar days from the day of the theft to make a report to DCF. If the incident occurred between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 12, 2023, a report must be made by Aug. 26, 2023.

If a Kansan believes their Food Assistance benefits have been stolen, they should contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 or by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-432-3913.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Services offers the following tips to prevent the theft of benefits through fraudulent activities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685114143831.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– In response to increased reports of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card thefts across the U.S., the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is accepting requests for replacement of the stolen Food Assistance (also known as SNAP) benefits, according to a media release from the agency.“Access to healthy food is a key component of a family’s well-being,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This program will help Kansans whose benefits have been stolen recoup those resources, helping to ensure they can provide healthy, nutritious meals for their family members.”There have been fewer than 20 reports of stolen benefits in Kansas. Nationally the numbers are higher, which prompted the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 by President Joe Biden in December 2022. The act includes a provision for the replacement of stolen EBT benefits with federal funds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689674819900.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Food Assistance benefits eligible for replacement include those stolen from card skimming, card cloning, and other types of fraudulent methods between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024. Cardholders have 45 calendar days from the day of the theft to make a report to DCF. If the incident occurred between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 12, 2023, a report must be made by Aug. 26, 2023.<ul>
 <li>Skimming&nbsp;– A method of obtaining personal data from EBT cards while they are used at an ATM machine or POS.</li><li>Cloning&nbsp;– A type of card theft in which the thief makes a digital copy of the card information using a concealed or disguised electronic scanner to create a new physical card.</li><li>Similar Fraudulent Events&nbsp;– Phishing or scamming attacks by criminals to obtain EBT card numbers to clone EBT cards or conduct online transactions.</li>
 </ul>If a Kansan believes their Food Assistance benefits have been stolen, they should contact DCF at 1-888-369-4777 or by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-432-3913.The USDA Food and Nutrition Services offers the following tips to prevent the theft of benefits through fraudulent activities.<ul>
 <li>Avoid simple PINs. Number combinations such as 1111, 1234, or 9876 may be easy for others to guess.</li><li>Keep your PIN and card number secret. Do not share your PIN or card number with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.</li><li>Beware of phishing. State agencies and EBT processors will never call or text to ask for your PIN or card number.</li><li>Change your PIN often. Change your PIN at least once a month, right before your benefit issuance date.</li><li>Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see any, change your PIN right away to stop the thief from making new purchases. Report suspicious activity to your&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZucy51c2RhLmdvdi9zbmFwL3N0YXRlLWRpcmVjdG9yeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MTcuNzk3NjExNjEifQ.anIslrPxiUgBRTPe7Zo-vNerWi6FRfUSVj2XQBveHlo/s/1303160919/br/222772694821-l" target="_blank">local SNAP office</a>.</li>
 </ul>

Program in Kan. will now replace stolen food assistance benefits

SEDGWICK COUNTY- A man is going to prison for killing one person and injuring&nbsp; others in September 2020 crash in Wichita.&nbsp;

On July 13, a judge sentenced 27-year-old&nbsp;Gabriel Ortiz to 43 months with 36 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. 

In May, Ortiz&nbsp; pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated battery.&nbsp;

On Jan. 25, 2021 , members of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office extradition unit arrested&nbsp; Ortiz at the San Diego, California County Jail and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail to face charges in the crash, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

On September 5, 2020, an Infinity Q50 SUV driven by Ortiz crossed the centerline of the roadway at 5600 W MacArthur and struck a Toyota Sienna van head-on.&nbsp;

The passenger in the van, 55-year-old Sonia Lopez of Wichita, died from injuries sustained during the collision.&nbsp; Two passengers in the Infinity and the driver of the Sienna sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643215327769.png" alt="Ortiz-photo Sedgwick&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Ortiz-photo Sedgwick&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY- A man is going to prison for killing one person and injuring&nbsp; others in September 2020 crash in Wichita.&nbsp;On July 13, a judge sentenced 27-year-old&nbsp;Gabriel Ortiz to 43 months with 36 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In May, Ortiz&nbsp; pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated battery.&nbsp;On Jan. 25, 2021 , members of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office extradition unit arrested&nbsp; Ortiz at the San Diego, California County Jail and transported him to the Sedgwick County Jail to face charges in the crash, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.On September 5, 2020, an Infinity Q50 SUV driven by Ortiz crossed the centerline of the roadway at 5600 W MacArthur and struck a Toyota Sienna van head-on.&nbsp;The passenger in the van, 55-year-old Sonia Lopez of Wichita, died from injuries sustained during the collision.&nbsp; Two passengers in the Infinity and the driver of the Sienna sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Man arrested in California sentenced for fatal Kansas crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged burglary.

At 5a.m. Sunday, officers were called to a burglary in progress at a residence in the 500 block Park Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 A 65 -year-old victim reported he was awakened when a subject had unlawfully entered his residence and was taking some food.&nbsp;

The suspect later identified as 50-year-old Mark Walker of Atchison fled the residence when confronted by the resident.

 A police officer responding to the scene spotted Walker at 5th and Park and he was taken into custody.&nbsp;Walker is being held on requested charges aggravated burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689600042345.png" alt="Walker-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Walker-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged burglary.At 5a.m. Sunday, officers were called to a burglary in progress at a residence in the 500 block Park Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A 65 -year-old victim reported he was awakened when a subject had unlawfully entered his residence and was taking some food.&nbsp;The suspect later identified as 50-year-old Mark Walker of Atchison fled the residence when confronted by the resident. A police officer responding to the scene spotted Walker at 5th and Park and he was taken into custody.&nbsp;Walker is being held on requested charges aggravated burglary.

Police: Kansas man jailed for alleged home invasion burglary

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-special-session-506e5e3fcd5517024a94a8e3a52d627e">new ban on most abortions</a>&nbsp;after about six weeks of pregnancy, just days after Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-2024-election-216e52ef9ba77deda0b59ba4c41b6406">Kim Reynolds</a>&nbsp;signed the measure into law.

That means abortion is once again legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy while the courts assess the new law’s constitutionality.

The new law prohibits almost all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the measure in a rare, all-day special session last week, prompting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-lawsuit-eeeec320fc6453e69075da5a118bf0c8">legal challenge</a>&nbsp;by the ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Judge Joseph Seidlin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-signing-lawsuit-a93ee0bfd11e5ff40d3c8d815f846c5c">held a hearing</a>&nbsp;on the matter Friday, but said he would take the issue under advisement — just as Reynolds signed the bill into law about a mile away.

Abortion providers said they scrambled last week to fit in as many appointments as possible before the governor put pen to paper, preemptively making hundreds of calls to prepare patients for the uncertainty and keeping clinics open late.

Reynolds swiftly put out a statement underscoring her intention to fight the issue in the state Supreme Court.

“The abortion industry’s attempt to thwart the will of Iowans and the voices of their elected representatives continues today," she said.

The ruling Monday does specify that while the law is temporarily paused, the state's Board of Medicine should proceed with rules for enforcement so that specific rules for health care providers will be well defined if the law were to be in effect in the future.

There are limited circumstances under the law that would allow for abortion after the point in a pregnancy where cardiac activity is detected: rape, if reported to law enforcement or a health provider within 45 days; incest, if reported within 145 days; if the fetus has a fetal abnormality “incompatible with life;” or if the pregnancy is endangering the life of the pregnant woman.

Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-divide-republican-democratic-states-fd2e6fffffec2fdcf328d7bca1e6fd78">Republican-led states</a>&nbsp;have drastically limited abortion access in the year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and handed authority on abortion law to the states. More than a dozen states have bans with limited exceptions and one state, Georgia, bans abortion after cardiac activity is detected.

Several other states have similar restrictions that are on hold pending court rulings, as is now the case in Iowa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689627069496.png" alt="Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds celebrating the Heartbeat Bill last week-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds celebrating the Heartbeat Bill last week-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge on Monday temporarily blocked the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-special-session-506e5e3fcd5517024a94a8e3a52d627e">new ban on most abortions</a>&nbsp;after about six weeks of pregnancy, just days after Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-2024-election-216e52ef9ba77deda0b59ba4c41b6406">Kim Reynolds</a>&nbsp;signed the measure into law.That means abortion is once again legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy while the courts assess the new law’s constitutionality.The new law prohibits almost all abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the measure in a rare, all-day special session last week, prompting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-lawsuit-eeeec320fc6453e69075da5a118bf0c8">legal challenge</a>&nbsp;by the ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Judge Joseph Seidlin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-abortion-ban-signing-lawsuit-a93ee0bfd11e5ff40d3c8d815f846c5c">held a hearing</a>&nbsp;on the matter Friday, but said he would take the issue under advisement — just as Reynolds signed the bill into law about a mile away.Abortion providers said they scrambled last week to fit in as many appointments as possible before the governor put pen to paper, preemptively making hundreds of calls to prepare patients for the uncertainty and keeping clinics open late.Reynolds swiftly put out a statement underscoring her intention to fight the issue in the state Supreme Court.“The abortion industry’s attempt to thwart the will of Iowans and the voices of their elected representatives continues today," she said.The ruling Monday does specify that while the law is temporarily paused, the state's Board of Medicine should proceed with rules for enforcement so that specific rules for health care providers will be well defined if the law were to be in effect in the future.There are limited circumstances under the law that would allow for abortion after the point in a pregnancy where cardiac activity is detected: rape, if reported to law enforcement or a health provider within 45 days; incest, if reported within 145 days; if the fetus has a fetal abnormality “incompatible with life;” or if the pregnancy is endangering the life of the pregnant woman.Most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-divide-republican-democratic-states-fd2e6fffffec2fdcf328d7bca1e6fd78">Republican-led states</a>&nbsp;have drastically limited abortion access in the year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and handed authority on abortion law to the states. More than a dozen states have bans with limited exceptions and one state, Georgia, bans abortion after cardiac activity is detected.Several other states have similar restrictions that are on hold pending court rulings, as is now the case in Iowa.

Abortion in Iowa is legal again after a judge blocks new restrictions

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the homicide of 39-year-old Felix Whitfield of Wichita.

Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting the 1800 block of S. Exchange in Wichita, according to Officer&nbsp; Kris Gupilan.

 Officers arrived on the scene and located Whitfield in a driveway with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigations revealed an altercation occurred between Felix and an acquaintance and shots were fired. There were no other reports of any additional shooting victims, and this was not a random incident.

&nbsp;Detectives are actively working on this case and interviewing multiple people who may have witnessed the shooting.&nbsp; Police have not released any possible suspect information.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the homicide of 39-year-old Felix Whitfield of Wichita.Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting the 1800 block of S. Exchange in Wichita, according to Officer&nbsp; Kris Gupilan. Officers arrived on the scene and located Whitfield in a driveway with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigations revealed an altercation occurred between Felix and an acquaintance and shots were fired. There were no other reports of any additional shooting victims, and this was not a random incident.&nbsp;Detectives are actively working on this case and interviewing multiple people who may have witnessed the shooting.&nbsp; Police have not released any possible suspect information.

Homicide: Police found Kan. man in driveway with gunshot wound 

BUTLER COUNTY—One person died in accident just after 1pm. Saturday in Butler County.

According to Butler County Undersheriff&nbsp;Daimon Cundiff, a Nissan passenger car driven by 64-year-old Melinda Redmond, Gentry, Arkansas, was southbound on NW River Valley Road, rural Burns, Kansas.

 The driver&nbsp; failed to stop at a stop sign at NW 150th Street.

The car collided with an eastbound Chevrolet SUV driven by a 63-year-old woman from Cunningham, Kansas.

Redmond was pronounce dead at the scene. EMS transported the woman&nbsp;from Cunningham, Kansas, to a Wichita hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

BUTLER COUNTY—One person died in accident just after 1pm. Saturday in Butler County.According to Butler County Undersheriff&nbsp;Daimon Cundiff, a Nissan passenger car driven by 64-year-old Melinda Redmond, Gentry, Arkansas, was southbound on NW River Valley Road, rural Burns, Kansas. The driver&nbsp; failed to stop at a stop sign at NW 150th Street.The car collided with an eastbound Chevrolet SUV driven by a 63-year-old woman from Cunningham, Kansas.Redmond was pronounce dead at the scene. EMS transported the woman&nbsp;from Cunningham, Kansas, to a Wichita hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Undersheriff IDs woman who died in 2-vehicle Kansas crash

First District’s Mann separates from peers by siding with far-right GOP faction

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas congressional delegation found rare agreement while weighing amendments to the U.S. Department of Defense budget bill by jointly opposing reduction in the number of nuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed in the United States.

U.S. Reps. Jake LaTurner, Ron Estes and Tracey Mann, all Republicans, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids stood with an overwhelming majority in the House to block insertion of the ICBM amendment into the defense bill.

Votes on a majority of controversial amendments to the Defense Department funding deal fell along party lines, including those diluting attention to challenges of racism in the military and efforts to further restrict rights of women and transgender service members.

Mann, who serves the 1st District stretched from Colorado to Lawrence and featuring the U.S. Army based at Fort Riley, stood alone among Kansas’ representatives in Congress on three amendments tied to Ukraine’s response to an invasion by Russia.

He voted to block future military assistance to Ukraine, to end a lend-lease program with Ukraine and to forbid sale or transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine. Those amendments, which were soundly rejected by the U.S. House, were offered by U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Andrew Ogles, R-Tennessee.

The House forwarded the package Friday to the U.S. Senate by a margin of 219-210, with Mann, Estes and LaTurner voting “yes” and Davids casting a “no” vote. It stood little chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“As America faces growing threats from our adversaries, it’s vital that we strengthen our military readiness and ensure our servicemen and women have the resources they need to defend America’s interests at home and abroad,” LaTurner said.

LaTurner said the House bill would improve quality of life for troops and their families by raising wages 5.2%, broaden investment in deterring China and bring an end to “woke programs” pushed on military personnel by the administration of President Joe Biden.

Mann, Estes and LaTurner voted for — with Davids against — an amendment to end a Defense Department policy of providing time off and reimbursement to service members traveling out of state for abortion services. The amendment passed 221-213. The policy was implemented after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision granting women a nationwide right to abortion.

The same 3-1 division marked House passage of an amendment preventing the Pentagon from providing health coverage for gender reassignment surgeries or gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals. The state’s delegation split in the same manner as the House passed a measure offered by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, to keep Defense Department schools from buying or holding books espousing a “radical gender ideology.”

Estes, who serves the 4th District around Wichita, said the House bill was a strong message against the Biden administration’s “radical political agenda that does nothing to promote military readiness.”

“In addition to prioritizing military readiness and service members’ needs,” he said, “this bill curbs waste by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons and unnecessary bureaucracy in the Pentagon.”

The delegation again divided 3-1 while the full House approved culture-war amendments aimed at deleting the Pentagon’s office of diversity, equity and inclusion, preventing the Department of Defense from creating new DEI administrative positions and forbidding use of affirmative action policies on race or ethnicity in determining admissions to military academies.

The three Kansas Republicans also favored an amendment to halt federal funding of DEI training, but that measure fell short of a majority.

In addition, the three Kansas GOP members helped pass a House amendment withdrawing Defense Department funding from efforts promoting the notion of the United States as a racist country or labeling the Declaration of Independence or U.S. Constitution as racists documents.

The LaTurner, Estes and Mann coalition voted for an amendment, which failed, to exempt the Department of Defense from the federal endangered species act. The three Kansas Republicans supported an amendment that passed 217-216 to deny the Defense Department an opportunity to implement climate change executive orders issued by Biden.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689509427030.png" alt=" U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, sided with some of the House’s most conservative members on a series of votes against U.S. funding of Ukraine’s war against Russia. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, sided with some of the House’s most conservative members on a series of votes against U.S. funding of Ukraine’s war against Russia. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>First District’s Mann separates from peers by siding with far-right GOP faction</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas congressional delegation found rare agreement while weighing amendments to the U.S. Department of Defense budget bill by jointly opposing reduction in the number of nuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed in the United States.U.S. Reps. Jake LaTurner, Ron Estes and Tracey Mann, all Republicans, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids stood with an overwhelming majority in the House to block insertion of the ICBM amendment into the defense bill.Votes on a majority of controversial amendments to the Defense Department funding deal fell along party lines, including those diluting attention to challenges of racism in the military and efforts to further restrict rights of women and transgender service members.Mann, who serves the 1st District stretched from Colorado to Lawrence and featuring the U.S. Army based at Fort Riley, stood alone among Kansas’ representatives in Congress on three amendments tied to Ukraine’s response to an invasion by Russia.He voted to block future military assistance to Ukraine, to end a lend-lease program with Ukraine and to forbid sale or transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine. Those amendments, which were soundly rejected by the U.S. House, were offered by U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Andrew Ogles, R-Tennessee.<h2>‘Defend America’s interests’</h2>The House forwarded the package Friday to the U.S. Senate by a margin of 219-210, with Mann, Estes and LaTurner voting “yes” and Davids casting a “no” vote. It stood little chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate.“As America faces growing threats from our adversaries, it’s vital that we strengthen our military readiness and ensure our servicemen and women have the resources they need to defend America’s interests at home and abroad,” LaTurner said.LaTurner said the House bill would improve quality of life for troops and their families by raising wages 5.2%, broaden investment in deterring China and bring an end to “woke programs” pushed on military personnel by the administration of President Joe Biden.Mann, Estes and LaTurner voted for — with Davids against — an amendment to end a Defense Department policy of providing time off and reimbursement to service members traveling out of state for abortion services. The amendment passed 221-213. The policy was implemented after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision granting women a nationwide right to abortion.The same 3-1 division marked House passage of an amendment preventing the Pentagon from providing health coverage for gender reassignment surgeries or gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals. The state’s delegation split in the same manner as the House passed a measure offered by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, to keep Defense Department schools from buying or holding books espousing a “radical gender ideology.”Estes, who serves the 4th District around Wichita, said the House bill was a strong message against the Biden administration’s “radical political agenda that does nothing to promote military readiness.”“In addition to prioritizing military readiness and service members’ needs,” he said, “this bill curbs waste by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons and unnecessary bureaucracy in the Pentagon.”<h2>Denounce DEI policies</h2>The delegation again divided 3-1 while the full House approved culture-war amendments aimed at deleting the Pentagon’s office of diversity, equity and inclusion, preventing the Department of Defense from creating new DEI administrative positions and forbidding use of affirmative action policies on race or ethnicity in determining admissions to military academies.The three Kansas Republicans also favored an amendment to halt federal funding of DEI training, but that measure fell short of a majority.In addition, the three Kansas GOP members helped pass a House amendment withdrawing Defense Department funding from efforts promoting the notion of the United States as a racist country or labeling the Declaration of Independence or U.S. Constitution as racists documents.The LaTurner, Estes and Mann coalition voted for an amendment, which failed, to exempt the Department of Defense from the federal endangered species act. The three Kansas Republicans supported an amendment that passed 217-216 to deny the Defense Department an opportunity to implement climate change executive orders issued by Biden.

Kan. congressional delegation takes stand on Ukraine, abortion and ‘woke’ politics

SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in southwest Kansas.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of gunshots at the Capital Sport Bar, 737 South Kansas Avenue in Liberal, according to a media release.

First responders found two gunshot victims and a suspect. Police took the suspect into custody and recovered a firearm.&nbsp; EMS transported both victims to Southwest Medical Center. One of the victims later died of his injuries.&nbsp;

Police released no additional details Monday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689612467069.png" alt="The incident occurred early Sunday -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The incident occurred early Sunday -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in southwest Kansas.Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of gunshots at the Capital Sport Bar, 737 South Kansas Avenue in Liberal, according to a media release.First responders found two gunshot victims and a suspect. Police took the suspect into custody and recovered a firearm.&nbsp; EMS transported both victims to Southwest Medical Center. One of the victims later died of his injuries.&nbsp;Police released no additional details Monday morning.