AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department said Thursday that it will again go to the Supreme Court over abortion after a lower court ruling allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;to remain available in the U.S. but reimposed past restrictions on getting and using the drug.

At stake in the accelerating court battle that began in Texas is widespread access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ss%20than%20a%20year%20after%20the%20reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade%20resulted%20in%20more%20than%20a%20dozen%20states%20effectively%20banning%20abortion%20outright.">after the reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">ruling</a>&nbsp;preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access that could be felt even in states where abortion remains legal, some of which have already begun stockpiling mifepristone over worries that the drug will become unavailable.

The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to stop the lower court ruling from taking effect.

“We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden.

Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.

Abortion rights groups expressed both relief over FDA approval remaining in place and outrage over the appeals court reinstating restrictions. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision.

In the 2-1 decision, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.

The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department appealed last week's far-reaching ruling out of Texas that blocked the FDA’s approval of the pill. The lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing a group of anti-abortion doctors.

There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs indicated Thursday that they were content with the court's order and did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling.

“The 5th Circuit’s decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women’s health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law,” said Erin Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom.

The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely for now to allow oral arguments in the case.

Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington state last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristone’s availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case clarified Thursday that his order requires the FDA to keep access the same as it was in January in those states, leaving the agency facing conflicting court orders.

“This is just as much of a binding court order as whatever comes out of Texas,” said David S. Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

The New Orleans appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturer “warn us of significant public consequences” that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling.

But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be “difficult” to argue the changes were “so critical to the public given that the nation operated — and mifepristone was administered to millions of women — without them for 16 years” the judges wrote.

When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctor’s supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug.

If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now.

Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-states-lawsuits-ac6dc09c0dd66a146d3ddfde061fc1a6">say they are preparing</a>&nbsp;in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol.

The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abortion-pills-ruling-mifepristone-texas-c1f4530d67858f6c95cef99282b8b209">new federal rule</a>&nbsp;to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere.

At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks.

Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drug's approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDA’s authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review.

Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop.

Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited “exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events.”

More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;can still be used for now but restored restrictions on the drug in a decision that the Justice Department said Thursday it would swiftly challenge at the Supreme Court.

At stake in an accelerating legal battle that began in Texas is nationwide access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ss%20than%20a%20year%20after%20the%20reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade%20resulted%20in%20more%20than%20a%20dozen%20states%20effectively%20banning%20abortion%20outright.">after the reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">ruling</a>&nbsp;preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access and was cheered by opponents of the drug. The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to put any action on hold.

Abortion rights groups expressed relief that the FDA approval would remain in place for now but criticized the court for reinstating restrictions on the drug. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision.

In the 2-1 vote, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.

The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department swiftly appealed the far-reaching ruling by a federal judge in Texas that blocked the FDA’s approval of the pill in a lawsuit by the drug's opponents. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions.

The lawsuit challenging the drug’s approval was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which also argued for overturning Roe v. Wade and indicated it was content for now in the mifepristone case. Erin Hawley, an attorney for the group, said it had no plans to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling.

“The 5th Circuit’s decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women’s health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law,” Hawley said.

Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristone’s availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case has not yet to responded to the Justice Department seeking additional clarity this week.

The appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturer “warn us of significant public consequences” that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling.

But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be “difficult” to argue the changes were “so critical to the public given that the nation operated — and mifepristone was administered to millions of women — without them for sixteen years” the judges wrote.

Pharmaceutical executives this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">also signed a letter</a>&nbsp;that condemned the Texas ruling and warned that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision stands.

More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="-About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>-About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department said Thursday that it will again go to the Supreme Court over abortion after a lower court ruling allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;to remain available in the U.S. but reimposed past restrictions on getting and using the drug.At stake in the accelerating court battle that began in Texas is widespread access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ss%20than%20a%20year%20after%20the%20reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade%20resulted%20in%20more%20than%20a%20dozen%20states%20effectively%20banning%20abortion%20outright.">after the reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">ruling</a>&nbsp;preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access that could be felt even in states where abortion remains legal, some of which have already begun stockpiling mifepristone over worries that the drug will become unavailable.The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to stop the lower court ruling from taking effect.“We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden.Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.Abortion rights groups expressed both relief over FDA approval remaining in place and outrage over the appeals court reinstating restrictions. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision.In the 2-1 decision, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department appealed last week's far-reaching ruling out of Texas that blocked the FDA’s approval of the pill. The lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing a group of anti-abortion doctors.There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions.Attorneys for the plaintiffs indicated Thursday that they were content with the court's order and did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling.“The 5th Circuit’s decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women’s health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law,” said Erin Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom.The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely for now to allow oral arguments in the case.Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington state last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristone’s availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case clarified Thursday that his order requires the FDA to keep access the same as it was in January in those states, leaving the agency facing conflicting court orders.“This is just as much of a binding court order as whatever comes out of Texas,” said David S. Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.The New Orleans appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturer “warn us of significant public consequences” that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling.But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be “difficult” to argue the changes were “so critical to the public given that the nation operated — and mifepristone was administered to millions of women — without them for 16 years” the judges wrote.When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctor’s supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug.If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now.Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-states-lawsuits-ac6dc09c0dd66a146d3ddfde061fc1a6">say they are preparing</a>&nbsp;in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol.The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abortion-pills-ruling-mifepristone-texas-c1f4530d67858f6c95cef99282b8b209">new federal rule</a>&nbsp;to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere.At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks.Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drug's approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDA’s authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review.Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop.Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited “exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events.”More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.___AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;can still be used for now but restored restrictions on the drug in a decision that the Justice Department said Thursday it would swiftly challenge at the Supreme Court.At stake in an accelerating legal battle that began in Texas is nationwide access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ss%20than%20a%20year%20after%20the%20reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade%20resulted%20in%20more%20than%20a%20dozen%20states%20effectively%20banning%20abortion%20outright.">after the reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">ruling</a>&nbsp;preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access and was cheered by opponents of the drug. The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to put any action on hold.“We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden.Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.Abortion rights groups expressed relief that the FDA approval would remain in place for now but criticized the court for reinstating restrictions on the drug. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision.In the 2-1 vote, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department swiftly appealed the far-reaching ruling by a federal judge in Texas that blocked the FDA’s approval of the pill in a lawsuit by the drug's opponents. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions.The lawsuit challenging the drug’s approval was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which also argued for overturning Roe v. Wade and indicated it was content for now in the mifepristone case. Erin Hawley, an attorney for the group, said it had no plans to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling.“The 5th Circuit’s decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women’s health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law,” Hawley said.The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely for now to allow oral arguments in the case.Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristone’s availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case has not yet to responded to the Justice Department seeking additional clarity this week.The appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturer “warn us of significant public consequences” that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling.But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be “difficult” to argue the changes were “so critical to the public given that the nation operated — and mifepristone was administered to millions of women — without them for sixteen years” the judges wrote.When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctor’s supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug.If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now.Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-states-lawsuits-ac6dc09c0dd66a146d3ddfde061fc1a6">say they are preparing</a>&nbsp;in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol.The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abortion-pills-ruling-mifepristone-texas-c1f4530d67858f6c95cef99282b8b209">new federal rule</a>&nbsp;to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere.Pharmaceutical executives this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">also signed a letter</a>&nbsp;that condemned the Texas ruling and warned that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision stands.At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks.Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drug's approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDA’s authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review.Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop.Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited “exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events.”More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one tenth of 1% of women who took the drug.

Battle over abortion pill going to the Supreme Court 

WASHINGTON COUNTY—&nbsp;Kansas Forest Service teams helped fight grass fire Thursday in Washington, Republic and Ellis Counties.

The tankers made nine drops Thursday and then were released. The task forces remained to assist local resources overnight.

Crews were also in Republic County Wednesday.

The Forest Service reminded the public that Friday is forecasted to be another Critical Fire weather day. "Please report any fires immediately and check and recheck all previous burns."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681467810586.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON COUNTY—&nbsp;Kansas Forest Service teams helped fight grass fire Thursday in Washington, Republic and Ellis Counties.The tankers made nine drops Thursday and then were released. The task forces remained to assist local resources overnight.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkansasforestservice%2Fvideos%2F248034490954549%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>Crews were also in Republic County Wednesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkansasforestservice%2Fvideos%2F174736548825112%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=5" 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>The Forest Service reminded the public that Friday is forecasted to be another Critical Fire weather day. "Please report any fires immediately and check and recheck all previous burns."

Kansas Forest Service crews busy across the state this week

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Two wanted suspects were injured in an accident during a high speed chase and crash in Douglas County.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy recognized a Maroon Jeep and the driver as someone wanted on an outstanding warrant, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's office.

The&nbsp; driver immediately began to evade the deputy and the pursuit was discontinued east of Lawrence.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Law enforcement later saw the Jeep in the 1700 Block of North 1500 Road where the driver evaded stop spikes and continued east on 1625 Road. The Jeep, traveling recklessly at a high rate of speed nearly caused a head-on collision with a Lawrence Police Department vehicle on East 11th Street.

Just after 8p.m., the Jeep was traveling&nbsp; too fast for the curve at 11th and Haskell Avenue. The vehicle left the road, struck an electrical box, a guy-wire, a fire hydrant and flipped onto its roof.

EMS transported the 29-year-old male driver and his 29-year-old female passenger to LMH Health for treatment. The driver had eight outstanding warrants and the passenger had four, according to the sheriff's department. When they are released from the hospital, deputies will book them into the Douglas County Jail.&nbsp; The sheriff's department did not release their names.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Two wanted suspects were injured in an accident during a high speed chase and crash in Douglas County.Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy recognized a Maroon Jeep and the driver as someone wanted on an outstanding warrant, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's office.The&nbsp; driver immediately began to evade the deputy and the pursuit was discontinued east of Lawrence.&nbsp;&nbsp;Law enforcement later saw the Jeep in the 1700 Block of North 1500 Road where the driver evaded stop spikes and continued east on 1625 Road. The Jeep, traveling recklessly at a high rate of speed nearly caused a head-on collision with a Lawrence Police Department vehicle on East 11th Street.Just after 8p.m., the Jeep was traveling&nbsp; too fast for the curve at 11th and Haskell Avenue. The vehicle left the road, struck an electrical box, a guy-wire, a fire hydrant and flipped onto its roof.EMS transported the 29-year-old male driver and his 29-year-old female passenger to LMH Health for treatment. The driver had eight outstanding warrants and the passenger had four, according to the sheriff's department. When they are released from the hospital, deputies will book them into the Douglas County Jail.&nbsp; The sheriff's department did not release their names.

2 hospitalized after Kan. high-speed chase, violent crash

HAVEN— The inspection was closed last September into the explosion and fire at the Tenawa Haven Midstream gas facility on April 14, 2022. 

The explosion left two people injured and caused extensive damage to the plant. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. OSHA spokesperson Scott Allen told Hutch Post in an email this week that the inspection was closed on Sept. 23, 2022.

"The main focus of the inspection was to determine the cause of the incident and determine if the company had followed OSHA standards and regulations," Allen said. "After examining the physical evidence, employer programs, and interviews with the employer and employees, the cause of the explosion could not be determined and no OSHA violations were discovered."

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/6c5617a8-de81-4dec-86e8-f6f4704a677e">A fire unit from the refinery in McPherson and hazardous material units from Wichita were called to deal with the situation</a>.

The fire forced the evacuation of numerous rural residents near the property and several businesses along the west side of Haven. 

Eventually, the city itself was briefly evacuated because of an explosion risk, though that was quickly mitigated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649963142916.jpeg" alt="A photo from Paul Phillips of the April 14, 2022, gas explosion near Haven." />
 <figcaption>A photo from Paul Phillips of the April 14, 2022, gas explosion near Haven.</figcaption>
 </figure>HAVEN— The inspection was closed last September into the explosion and fire at the Tenawa Haven Midstream gas facility on April 14, 2022. The explosion left two people injured and caused extensive damage to the plant. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. OSHA spokesperson Scott Allen told Hutch Post in an email this week that the inspection was closed on Sept. 23, 2022.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LEBUQpySIdk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"The main focus of the inspection was to determine the cause of the incident and determine if the company had followed OSHA standards and regulations," Allen said. "After examining the physical evidence, employer programs, and interviews with the employer and employees, the cause of the explosion could not be determined and no OSHA violations were discovered."<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/6c5617a8-de81-4dec-86e8-f6f4704a677e">A fire unit from the refinery in McPherson and hazardous material units from Wichita were called to deal with the situation</a>.The fire forced the evacuation of numerous rural residents near the property and several businesses along the west side of Haven. Eventually, the city itself was briefly evacuated because of an explosion risk, though that was quickly mitigated.

Cause still undetermined a year after Reno Co. gas explosion

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; —A Kansas City man faces felony charges for the fatal shooting of his son in a Kansas City residence earlier this month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jose P. Pilar, 43, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Cambridge &nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City on a reported shooting. 

The calling party said "Raul was shot by father."

 Witnesses told police that the victim, Raul Pilar Sanchez, and the defendant, his father, argued over a family friend coming over to visit. 

The defendant left the residence and soon after a family member found the victim suffering &nbsp;from gunshot wounds. Family members told police their father shot their brother.

This case was filed under seal, which has now been removed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681261186307.png" alt="Pilar-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Pilar-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; —A Kansas City man faces felony charges for the fatal shooting of his son in a Kansas City residence earlier this month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jose P. Pilar, 43, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Cambridge &nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City on a reported shooting. The calling party said "Raul was shot by father." Witnesses told police that the victim, Raul Pilar Sanchez, and the defendant, his father, argued over a family friend coming over to visit. The defendant left the residence and soon after a family member found the victim suffering &nbsp;from gunshot wounds. Family members told police their father shot their brother.This case was filed under seal, which has now been removed.

Kansas City man charged in the murder of his adult son 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Missouri man who spent more than 40 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit alleges in a lawsuit that Kansas City police conducted a reckless investigation that led to his conviction.

Kevin Strickland, 63, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Jackson County Court against the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners, which oversees the police department, and five officers who have retired.

Strickland alleges that officers attributed false statements to him during the investigation and pressured the only eyewitness to the murders to identify him as the killer, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article273731775.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.

The Kansas City Police Department said it does not comment on pending lawsuits.

Strickland was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-bba67efd61eaa165165e29a7298a1dc3">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in November 2021 after a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of killing three people in Kansas City in 1978. That decision followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-kansas-city-kansas-c077050b39526e271b02219c4d9c44d0">a hearing</a>&nbsp;held after Jackson County prosecutors said a review of the case led them to believe Strickland was innocent.

Strickland has always maintained that he was home watching television and had nothing to do with the killings, which happened when he was 18 years old.

The lawsuit contends detectives pressured the only eyewitness to the triple murder to name Strickland as the shooter, even though they “knew or should have known” that he was innocent. The prosecution's case against Strickland rested largely on the eyewitness' testimony.

After Strickland refused to confess to the killings, the detectives concocted inflammatory statements they attributed to him about loving to “kill people,” according to his lawsuit.

Two men later confessed to being involved in the killings and swore for decades that Strickland was not at the home where the victims were slain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681407374874.png" alt="Kevin Strickland, 62, smiled while talking to the media after his release from prison, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in Cameron, Missouri. (Rich Sugg/The Kansas City Star via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Strickland, 62, smiled while talking to the media after his release from prison, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in Cameron, Missouri. (Rich Sugg/The Kansas City Star via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Missouri man who spent more than 40 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit alleges in a lawsuit that Kansas City police conducted a reckless investigation that led to his conviction.Kevin Strickland, 63, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Jackson County Court against the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners, which oversees the police department, and five officers who have retired.Strickland alleges that officers attributed false statements to him during the investigation and pressured the only eyewitness to the murders to identify him as the killer, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article273731775.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>.The Kansas City Police Department said it does not comment on pending lawsuits.Strickland was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-bba67efd61eaa165165e29a7298a1dc3">released from prison</a>&nbsp;in November 2021 after a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of killing three people in Kansas City in 1978. That decision followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-kansas-city-kansas-c077050b39526e271b02219c4d9c44d0">a hearing</a>&nbsp;held after Jackson County prosecutors said a review of the case led them to believe Strickland was innocent.Strickland has always maintained that he was home watching television and had nothing to do with the killings, which happened when he was 18 years old.The lawsuit contends detectives pressured the only eyewitness to the triple murder to name Strickland as the shooter, even though they “knew or should have known” that he was innocent. The prosecution's case against Strickland rested largely on the eyewitness' testimony.After Strickland refused to confess to the killings, the detectives concocted inflammatory statements they attributed to him about loving to “kill people,” according to his lawsuit.Two men later confessed to being involved in the killings and swore for decades that Strickland was not at the home where the victims were slain.

Man freed from prison after 40 years for crime he didn't commit files lawsuit

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas violent offender arrested in connection with a Texas murder investigation made a court appearance in Wichita Wednesday.

Derek Daigneault, 27, is charged with 3 counts of flee or attempt to elude, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of THC, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

Just after 7 p.m. April 8, Police in Wichita began a pursuit with a vehicle driven by Daigneault after it was detected&nbsp; the WPD FLOCK system.&nbsp; Daigneault refused to stop and crashed into several at the intersection of 13th and Tyler. There were no injuries.

In addition to charges in Sedgwick County, Daigneault is being held for another agency. Officials in Texas have not confirmed possible charges he faces there.

He has been listed as a Registered Violent Offender since 2013 for convictions that include aggravated robbery, burglary and a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Offender Registry.

He is being held in Sedgwick County of a bond at $100,000, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681216750585.png" alt="Daigneault-photo Sedgwick County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Daigneault-photo Sedgwick County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas violent offender arrested in connection with a Texas murder investigation made a court appearance in Wichita Wednesday.Derek Daigneault, 27, is charged with 3 counts of flee or attempt to elude, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of THC, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.Just after 7 p.m. April 8, Police in Wichita began a pursuit with a vehicle driven by Daigneault after it was detected&nbsp; the WPD FLOCK system.&nbsp; Daigneault refused to stop and crashed into several at the intersection of 13th and Tyler. There were no injuries.In addition to charges in Sedgwick County, Daigneault is being held for another agency. Officials in Texas have not confirmed possible charges he faces there.He has been listed as a Registered Violent Offender since 2013 for convictions that include aggravated robbery, burglary and a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Offender Registry.He is being held in Sedgwick County of a bond at $100,000, according to the district attorney's office.

Violent Kansas offender charged after chase, crash

KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging six people with conspiring to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.

Dale Gaver III, 35, Dale Gaver II, 54, Joshua Hamilton, 37, and Rex Hill, 33, all of Omaha, Nebraska, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison.

Additionally, Melvin Edwards, 44, and Tamarae Hollman, 36, of Riverside, California, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison.

According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2021, Edwards, Gaver II, Gaver III, Hamilton, Hill, and Hollman are accused of conspiring to smuggle prohibited items into Leavenworth Penitentiary by allegedly using a drone to drop contraband such as cellular phones, K2 (synthetic cannabinoid), marijuana, and tobacco into the yard.

Hill is also charged with one count of attempting to provide prison contraband. Gaver III, an inmate at Leavenworth Penitentiary during the conspiracy time frame, is also charged with one count of attempted possession of prison contraband and one count of possession of prison contraband.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568322047493.png" alt="Leavenworth-photo Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Leavenworth-photo Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging six people with conspiring to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.Dale Gaver III, 35, Dale Gaver II, 54, Joshua Hamilton, 37, and Rex Hill, 33, all of Omaha, Nebraska, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison.Additionally, Melvin Edwards, 44, and Tamarae Hollman, 36, of Riverside, California, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison.According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2021, Edwards, Gaver II, Gaver III, Hamilton, Hill, and Hollman are accused of conspiring to smuggle prohibited items into Leavenworth Penitentiary by allegedly using a drone to drop contraband such as cellular phones, K2 (synthetic cannabinoid), marijuana, and tobacco into the yard.Hill is also charged with one count of attempting to provide prison contraband. Gaver III, an inmate at Leavenworth Penitentiary during the conspiracy time frame, is also charged with one count of attempted possession of prison contraband and one count of possession of prison contraband.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Feds bust conspiracy using drones to drop contraband to Kan. inmates

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leaked-documents-russia-ukraine-pentagon-750fdefc8ece4a4d50647c1c60162145">highly classified military documents</a>&nbsp;about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about America's ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets.

The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. He is to be charged under a provision of the Espionage Act that makes it a crime to remove or transmit classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat room where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology.

While Thursday's arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a “very serious risk to national security,” could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member.

“We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. He referred all questions about the investigation to the Justice Department.

Teixeira was a “cyber transport systems specialist,” essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks, including their cabling and hubs.

In that role Teixeira would have had a higher level of security clearance because he would have also been tasked with responsibility for ensuring protection for the networks, a defense official told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to “examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks.”

Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned.

The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the disclosures, but President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday, said “there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of great consequence.”

The classified documents — which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials — range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons.

There’s no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds.

The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games and where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes — and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets.

The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira.

In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as “the O.G.” by a member of the online chat group where Teixeira and others have posted for years. The member of the chat group declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety.

The chat group, called “Thug Shaker Central,” drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In that discussion, “the O.G.” would for months post material that he said was classified — originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings weren’t being taken seriously, the person said.

Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement.

There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents — and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout.

For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information.

“When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance,” Ryder said. “And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, you’re going to go through the proper vetting.”

Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement and is trained on the military’s strict guidelines for handling classified material. The leaks were “a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leaked-documents-russia-ukraine-pentagon-750fdefc8ece4a4d50647c1c60162145">highly classified military documents</a>&nbsp;was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced.

Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information.

FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, “without incident," Garland said.

He will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information, Garland said, and will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts.

It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned.

Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that “he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I'm sure.”

The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member.

The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters.

The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, “We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents.”

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: “We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those."

The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a “very serious risk to national security,” and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible.

“We're getting close,” President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, "there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of great consequence.”

The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday.

It’s possible the leak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-leaks-chatroom-discord-social-media-5fff130f2ca9581bc14514a4e29c7b64">may have started</a>&nbsp;on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place “where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community.”

In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the poster’s own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers.

There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically.

That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents — and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout.

It’s those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters — almost as if they’d been stuffed into someone’s pocket.

In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that it’s a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/two-active-duty-marines-charged-indictment-alleging-drug-trafficking-conspiracy-after">arrested on drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681415684529.png" alt="Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Merrick Garland&nbsp;identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leaked-documents-russia-ukraine-pentagon-750fdefc8ece4a4d50647c1c60162145">highly classified military documents</a>&nbsp;about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about America's ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets.The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. He is to be charged under a provision of the Espionage Act that makes it a crime to remove or transmit classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat room where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology.While Thursday's arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a “very serious risk to national security,” could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member.“We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. He referred all questions about the investigation to the Justice Department.Teixeira was a “cyber transport systems specialist,” essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks, including their cabling and hubs.In that role Teixeira would have had a higher level of security clearance because he would have also been tasked with responsibility for ensuring protection for the networks, a defense official told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to “examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks.”Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned.The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the disclosures, but President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday, said “there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of great consequence.”The classified documents — which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials — range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons.There’s no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds.The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games and where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes — and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets.The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira.In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as “the O.G.” by a member of the online chat group where Teixeira and others have posted for years. The member of the chat group declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety.The chat group, called “Thug Shaker Central,” drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.In that discussion, “the O.G.” would for months post material that he said was classified — originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings weren’t being taken seriously, the person said.Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement.There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents — and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout.For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information.“When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance,” Ryder said. “And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, you’re going to go through the proper vetting.”Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement and is trained on the military’s strict guidelines for handling classified material. The leaks were “a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines.”-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leaked-documents-russia-ukraine-pentagon-750fdefc8ece4a4d50647c1c60162145">highly classified military documents</a>&nbsp;was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced.Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information.FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, “without incident," Garland said.He will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information, Garland said, and will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts.It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned.Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that “he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I'm sure.”The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member.The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters.The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, “We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents.”Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: “We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those."The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a “very serious risk to national security,” and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible.“We're getting close,” President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, "there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of great consequence.”The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday.It’s possible the leak&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-leaks-chatroom-discord-social-media-5fff130f2ca9581bc14514a4e29c7b64">may have started</a>&nbsp;on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place “where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community.”In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the poster’s own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers.Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement.There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically.That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents — and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout.It’s those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters — almost as if they’d been stuffed into someone’s pocket.In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that it’s a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/two-active-duty-marines-charged-indictment-alleging-drug-trafficking-conspiracy-after">arrested on drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said.

Guardsman arrested in leak of classified military documents

TOPEKA— Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach Wednesday joined the states of Texas and Oklahoma in bringing a lawsuit against the Biden administration. The states argue that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke the law by designating the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species in Kansas under the Endangered Species Act.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/2023-04-11-states'-amended-complaint.pdf?sfvrsn=3ea3bd1a_2">Click here to read the</a> lawsuit

“These DC bureaucrats have probably never even stepped foot in the state of Kansas, let alone seen a prairie chicken. Yet there they sit in their offices 1,000 miles away making decisions that will directly affect Kansans’ lives. This listing will make drilling new oil wells in western Kansas almost impossible. It will force ranchers to get approval from federally designated agencies to graze cattle on their own property. It will have devastating impacts on Kansas ranchers, Kansas oil producers and even Kansas wind farms. And on top of that, it’s illegal,” Kobach said.

According to the lawsuit, the listing fails to adequately consider pre-existing and ongoing voluntary measures to protect the lesser prairie chickens, as well as the fact that rainfall amounts are the dominant factor in prairie chicken populations.&nbsp; It also restricts the personal property rights of Kansas landowners. And, the suit argues, it is unconstitutional.

&nbsp;“Lesser prairie chicken numbers are substantially driven by rainfall,” Kobach said. “Historically, their numbers decline when there is a drought, but they rebound dramatically once the rain returns.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615523825324.png" alt="Photo KDWP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDWP</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach Wednesday joined the states of Texas and Oklahoma in bringing a lawsuit against the Biden administration. The states argue that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke the law by designating the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species in Kansas under the Endangered Species Act.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/2023-04-11-states'-amended-complaint.pdf?sfvrsn=3ea3bd1a_2">Click here to read the</a> lawsuit“These DC bureaucrats have probably never even stepped foot in the state of Kansas, let alone seen a prairie chicken. Yet there they sit in their offices 1,000 miles away making decisions that will directly affect Kansans’ lives. This listing will make drilling new oil wells in western Kansas almost impossible. It will force ranchers to get approval from federally designated agencies to graze cattle on their own property. It will have devastating impacts on Kansas ranchers, Kansas oil producers and even Kansas wind farms. And on top of that, it’s illegal,” Kobach said.According to the lawsuit, the listing fails to adequately consider pre-existing and ongoing voluntary measures to protect the lesser prairie chickens, as well as the fact that rainfall amounts are the dominant factor in prairie chicken populations.&nbsp; It also restricts the personal property rights of Kansas landowners. And, the suit argues, it is unconstitutional.&nbsp;“Lesser prairie chicken numbers are substantially driven by rainfall,” Kobach said. “Historically, their numbers decline when there is a drought, but they rebound dramatically once the rain returns.”

Kansas sues Biden administration over lesser prairie chicken listing

WASHINGTON— A federal appeals court ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;can still be used for now but restored restrictions on the drug in a decision that the Justice Department said Thursday it would swiftly challenge at the Supreme Court.

(Click below to watch the Task Force meeting)

Vice President Harris was quick to criticize the decision. In a statement from her office she wrote, "Last night, the Fifth Circuit issued a decision which invalidates the scientific, independent judgment of the FDA about when and how a medicine is available to Americans. The Justice Department has already announced that they are seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court." "More than 20 years ago, the FDA approved medication abortion as safe and effective for the American people. Last week, a Texas district court ruled to block access to this medication in every state in the country." "The Fifth Circuit’s decision—just like the district court’s—second-guesses the agency’s medical experts. If this decision stands, no medication—from chemotherapy drugs, to asthma medicine, to blood pressure pills, to insulin—would be safe from attacks. This decision threatens the rights of Americans across the country, who can look in their medicine cabinets and find medication prescribed by a doctor because the FDA engaged in a process to determine the efficacy and safety of that medication." "This lawsuit is the next step to a nationwide abortion ban. The decision severely limits access to mifepristone, standing between doctors and their patients. President Biden and our Administration remain firmly committed to protecting access to medication abortion, as the President and I have made clear since the day of the Supreme Court’s decision in&nbsp;Dobbs." "There is a reproductive health care crisis in America. Our Administration will continue fighting to protect women’s health and the right to make decisions about one’s own&nbsp;body."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681335836017.png" alt="Vice President Harris Convenes the Interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access Wednesday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Harris Convenes the Interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access Wednesday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— A federal appeals court ruled that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;can still be used for now but restored restrictions on the drug in a decision that the Justice Department said Thursday it would swiftly challenge at the Supreme Court.(Click below to watch the Task Force meeting)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QN8ldI--Q18?start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>At stake in an accelerating legal battle that began in Texas is nationwide access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/ss%20than%20a%20year%20after%20the%20reversal%20of%20Roe%20v.%20Wade%20resulted%20in%20more%20than%20a%20dozen%20states%20effectively%20banning%20abortion%20outright.">after the reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.Vice President Harris was quick to criticize the decision. In a statement from her office she wrote, "Last night, the Fifth Circuit issued a decision which invalidates the scientific, independent judgment of the FDA about when and how a medicine is available to Americans. The Justice Department has already announced that they are seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court." "More than 20 years ago, the FDA approved medication abortion as safe and effective for the American people. Last week, a Texas district court ruled to block access to this medication in every state in the country." "The Fifth Circuit’s decision—just like the district court’s—second-guesses the agency’s medical experts. If this decision stands, no medication—from chemotherapy drugs, to asthma medicine, to blood pressure pills, to insulin—would be safe from attacks. This decision threatens the rights of Americans across the country, who can look in their medicine cabinets and find medication prescribed by a doctor because the FDA engaged in a process to determine the efficacy and safety of that medication." "This lawsuit is the next step to a nationwide abortion ban. The decision severely limits access to mifepristone, standing between doctors and their patients. President Biden and our Administration remain firmly committed to protecting access to medication abortion, as the President and I have made clear since the day of the Supreme Court’s decision in&nbsp;Dobbs." "There is a reproductive health care crisis in America. Our Administration will continue fighting to protect women’s health and the right to make decisions about one’s own&nbsp;body." In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">ruling</a>&nbsp;preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access and was cheered by opponents of the drug. The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to put any action on hold.

🎥Vice President: There is a reproductive health care crisis in America

PAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement officers in rural Pawnee County had a surprise during a traffic stop Wednesday.

According to a social media report from Great Bend Police, both of the K9 teams assisted in an enforcement activity in Pawnee Co. During the course of the enforcement, Officer Taylor Reed conducted a traffic stop for a minor violation. 

The driver was 28-year-old Rudy Ford, a defensive back with the Green Bay Packers. The seven-year NFL veteran played college football at Auburn, according <a href="https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/rudy-ford-2/">to his Packer bio.</a>

"This interaction went great, but it makes you think. We have over 18,000 cars a day drive down 10th Street in Great Bend. Good, bad or otherwise, you just don’t know who is passing through our communities."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681403259712.png" alt="photo courtesy Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement officers in rural Pawnee County had a surprise during a traffic stop Wednesday.According to a social media report from Great Bend Police, both of the K9 teams assisted in an enforcement activity in Pawnee Co. During the course of the enforcement, Officer Taylor Reed conducted a traffic stop for a minor violation. The driver was 28-year-old Rudy Ford, a defensive back with the Green Bay Packers. The seven-year NFL veteran played college football at Auburn, according <a href="https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/rudy-ford-2/">to his Packer bio.</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgreatbendpd%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0ag8xZxjUM7Qg2PzMNBkNgtsrzeoZ2eL2ZGF78AcwSqET7BBjWMRtGxzHpic92rXzl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="538" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>"This interaction went great, but it makes you think. We have over 18,000 cars a day drive down 10th Street in Great Bend. Good, bad or otherwise, you just don’t know who is passing through our communities."

Green Bay Packer stopped for traffic violation in rural Kansas

DICKINSON COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Herington man on Wednesday for allegedly intimidating a witness in a felony investigation, according to a media release from the KBI.

Shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Russell L. Thomas, 61, of Herington, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated intimidation of a witness. This crime is alleged to have occurred on April 7. Thomas is a middle school science teacher at Herington USD 487, according to the district web site.

Thomas was booked into the Dickinson County Jail. Bond was set at $50,000. He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681400869626.png" alt="Thomas-photo Dickinson County." />
 <figcaption>Thomas-photo Dickinson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Herington man on Wednesday for allegedly intimidating a witness in a felony investigation, according to a media release from the KBI.Shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Russell L. Thomas, 61, of Herington, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated intimidation of a witness. This crime is alleged to have occurred on April 7. Thomas is a middle school science teacher at Herington USD 487, according to the district web site.Thomas was booked into the Dickinson County Jail. Bond was set at $50,000. He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kan. teacher accused of witness intimidation is out on bond

HUGOTON –&nbsp; Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday attended the groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate upcoming improvements to the Cimarron Valley Railroad in southwest Kansas from Dodge City to Hugoton, according to a media release from her office.

 The railway was awarded nearly $15 million from both private and public sources, including the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) fund and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), to complete the Southwest Kansas Infrastructure Upgrade Project.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor Kelly directly advocated for the project’s grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“These upgrades are not just an investment in our infrastructure, but an investment in our agriculture industry – and our economy as a whole,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“By rehabilitating over 85 miles of an essential rail line in southwest Kansas, this project will make it easier and more efficient for local businesses to transport biodiesel and other agricultural products.”&nbsp;

“The Cimarron Valley Railroad has been committed to transporting Kansas-grown goods across the country and the world in a safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient way for over two decades. These funds will help us continue to do that,”&nbsp;said Nathan Champion, President of the Cimarron Valley Railroad.&nbsp;“We are thankful for the partnerships – both public and private – that have helped make these upgrades happen to ensure uninterrupted transportation of essential goods throughout local, national, and international markets.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

State legislators also attended the event.&nbsp;

“Upgrading the Cimarron Valley Railroad is essential to keeping our communities connected and their economies thriving,”&nbsp;said Representative David Younger. “Investing in our rural areas will improve rail operations, our economic competitiveness, and safety in the region and statewide. This is a great day for Southwest Kansas and our state as a whole.” &nbsp;

The upgrades are particularly beneficial to our agriculture communities: these funds will transform the line into an efficient agricultural thoroughfare that will connect Kansas to more markets. Freight is crucial to Kansas agricultural communities, and these upgrades ensure it remains one of the safest, most efficient modes of transportation at their disposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

HUGOTON –&nbsp; Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday attended the groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate upcoming improvements to the Cimarron Valley Railroad in southwest Kansas from Dodge City to Hugoton, according to a media release from her office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It was a pleasure to be in Hugoton today to break ground on a $15M project to upgrade the Cimarron Valley Railroad. This makes food and fuel transport across southwest Kansas easier and more efficient than ever, boosting our agriculture industry and economy. <a href="https://t.co/mrNR8PZ2O4">pic.twitter.com/mrNR8PZ2O4</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1646210742222307328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> The railway was awarded nearly $15 million from both private and public sources, including the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) fund and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), to complete the Southwest Kansas Infrastructure Upgrade Project.&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Kelly directly advocated for the project’s grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;“These upgrades are not just an investment in our infrastructure, but an investment in our agriculture industry – and our economy as a whole,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“By rehabilitating over 85 miles of an essential rail line in southwest Kansas, this project will make it easier and more efficient for local businesses to transport biodiesel and other agricultural products.”&nbsp;“The Cimarron Valley Railroad has been committed to transporting Kansas-grown goods across the country and the world in a safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient way for over two decades. These funds will help us continue to do that,”&nbsp;said Nathan Champion, President of the Cimarron Valley Railroad.&nbsp;“We are thankful for the partnerships – both public and private – that have helped make these upgrades happen to ensure uninterrupted transportation of essential goods throughout local, national, and international markets.”&nbsp;&nbsp;State legislators also attended the event.&nbsp;“Upgrading the Cimarron Valley Railroad is essential to keeping our communities connected and their economies thriving,”&nbsp;said Representative David Younger. “Investing in our rural areas will improve rail operations, our economic competitiveness, and safety in the region and statewide. This is a great day for Southwest Kansas and our state as a whole.” &nbsp;The upgrades are particularly beneficial to our agriculture communities: these funds will transform the line into an efficient agricultural thoroughfare that will connect Kansas to more markets. Freight is crucial to Kansas agricultural communities, and these upgrades ensure it remains one of the safest, most efficient modes of transportation at their disposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. breaks ground on $15M railroad upgrades in Southwest Kansas

KINGMAN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. Thursday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Kenworth semi driven by Lawrence Eugene Kempf, 57, Amarillo, Texas, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles east of Kingman.

The semi struck a pedestrian identified as Daniel&nbsp;Guevara, 63, Kansas City, Missouri, who was in the roadway near the center line.&nbsp;

Guevara was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Livingston's Funeral Home.

&nbsp;Kempf was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665405753233.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KINGMAN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. Thursday in Kingman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Kenworth semi driven by Lawrence Eugene Kempf, 57, Amarillo, Texas, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles east of Kingman.The semi struck a pedestrian identified as Daniel&nbsp;Guevara, 63, Kansas City, Missouri, who was in the roadway near the center line.&nbsp;Guevara was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Livingston's Funeral Home.&nbsp;Kempf was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Man dead after struck by a semi on Kansas highway

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex crime and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

Just before 3p.m. Monday,&nbsp; Sheriff's Deputies responded to report of an alleged sexual assault in the 300 block of Seventh Street, in the Lyon County community of Americus, according to&nbsp;Detective Eric Williams.

A 14-year-old girl in the home reported that she was raped. The girl was home alone at the time of the assault and stated that an unknown man entered the home through the unlocked back door. 

She described the suspect as a middle-aged Hispanic male. The girl told investigators she had seen a suspicious man driving a white/silver passenger car while walking just prior to the assault. The girl was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and treatment.

If you have any information about this incident or any video evidence, please contact Lyon County Communications at (620) 341-3205 and request to speak to a deputy. At this time the Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is a threat to the public.

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex crime and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.Just before 3p.m. Monday,&nbsp; Sheriff's Deputies responded to report of an alleged sexual assault in the 300 block of Seventh Street, in the Lyon County community of Americus, according to&nbsp;Detective Eric Williams.A 14-year-old girl in the home reported that she was raped. The girl was home alone at the time of the assault and stated that an unknown man entered the home through the unlocked back door. She described the suspect as a middle-aged Hispanic male. The girl told investigators she had seen a suspicious man driving a white/silver passenger car while walking just prior to the assault. The girl was taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and treatment.If you have any information about this incident or any video evidence, please contact Lyon County Communications at (620) 341-3205 and request to speak to a deputy. At this time the Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is a threat to the public.

Sheriff investigating alleged Kan. home invasion sex assault

KANSAS CITY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department have initiated a death investigation after a body was discovered Wednesday afternoon in the Kansas River, according to a media release.

Just after 4:30p.m. first responders were dispatched to the area of S. 26th and Kansas Avenue. Due to the location of the body, KCK Fire Dept. Water Rescue launched from Kaw Point, and a short time later, were able to recover the body of an adult male. 

Police released no additional details late Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681383507977.png" alt="File photo courtesy KCK Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy KCK Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department have initiated a death investigation after a body was discovered Wednesday afternoon in the Kansas River, according to a media release.Just after 4:30p.m. first responders were dispatched to the area of S. 26th and Kansas Avenue. Due to the location of the body, KCK Fire Dept. Water Rescue launched from Kaw Point, and a short time later, were able to recover the body of an adult male. Police released no additional details late Wednesday.

Man’s body recovered from Kansas River

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court preserved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">access to the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used and said it could not be dispensed by mail.

The ruling late Wednesday temporarily narrowed a decision by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the nation’s most commonly used method of abortion. Still, preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another major curtailing of abortion access, less than a year after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;resulted in more than a dozen states effectively banning abortion outright.

The case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking to reporters from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal appeals court preserved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">access to the abortion pill mifepristone</a>&nbsp;for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used and said it could not be dispensed by mail.The ruling late Wednesday temporarily narrowed a decision by a lower court judge in Texas that had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-ee181214988044c096757696cf2a5f67">completely blocked</a>&nbsp;the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the nation’s most commonly used method of abortion. Still, preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another major curtailing of abortion access, less than a year after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;resulted in more than a dozen states effectively banning abortion outright.The case is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.“We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking to reporters from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden.Mifepristone was approved for use by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol.In a far-reaching ruling last week, a federal judge blocked the FDA’s approval of the pill following a lawsuit by the drug's opponents. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions.The ruling was put on pause to allow an appeal.Just before midnight Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 could remain in effect.But in the 2-1 vote, the panel of judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10, and also allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctor’s office.The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely for now to allow oral arguments in the case.Either side, or both, could take the case to the Supreme Court. Opponents of the drug could seek to keep the full lower court ruling in effect. The Biden administration, meanwhile, could ask the high court to allow all the FDA changes to remain in place while the case continues to play out.Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristone’s availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case has not yet to responded to the Justice Department seeking additional clarity this week.The appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone’s manufacturer “warn us of significant public consequences” that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling.But the judges suggested changes the FDA made making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be “difficult” to argue the changes were “so critical to the public given that the nation operated — and mifepristone was administered to millions of women — without them for sixteen years” the judges wrote.When the drug was initially approved in 2000, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug misoprostol and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctor’s supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences associated with the drug.If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now.Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-states-lawsuits-ac6dc09c0dd66a146d3ddfde061fc1a6">say they are preparing</a>&nbsp;in case mifepristone becomes restricted.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol.The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off on detailing them while the legal action continued. Instead, she detailed a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-abortion-pills-ruling-mifepristone-texas-c1f4530d67858f6c95cef99282b8b209">a new federal rule</a>&nbsp;to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere.Pharmaceutical executives this week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">also signed a letter</a>&nbsp;that condemned the Texas ruling and warned that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision stands.The lawsuit challenging mifepristone's approval was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which was also involved in the Mississippi case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned</a>. At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks.A spokesperson for the Alliance Defending Freedom did not immediately return a message Thursday morning asking what steps it might take next.Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years, and complications from mifepristone occur at a lower rate than problems in wisdom teeth removal, colonoscopies and other routine procedures, medical groups have recently noted.___