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.

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.

<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.___

Appeals court temporarily preserves access to abortion pill 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have a suspect in custody.

Just after 2.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1300 block of SW Polk Street in Topeka, according police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

First responders located one individual with life-threatening injuries. That individual was then transported to a local hospital to be treated.

On Wednesday afternoon, investigators arrested 23-year-old&nbsp; Jeremy B. Rath of Topeka, on requested charges of Aggravated battery, Criminal possession of firearm, Felony obstruction and for two Warrants.

Police did not release on update on the condition of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681333676937.png" alt="Rath-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rath-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have a suspect in custody.Just after 2.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1300 block of SW Polk Street in Topeka, according police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.First responders located one individual with life-threatening injuries. That individual was then transported to a local hospital to be treated.On Wednesday afternoon, investigators arrested 23-year-old&nbsp; Jeremy B. Rath of Topeka, on requested charges of Aggravated battery, Criminal possession of firearm, Felony obstruction and for two Warrants.Police did not release on update on the condition of the victim.

Kansas man accused in shooting that critically injured victim

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests.

Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-nuclear-threat-810afe432743ba9ab0d8543daac160b2">evolving missile threats</a>.

The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement.

It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japan’s government said it likely had an intercontinental range.

South Korea’s military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules.

If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the North’s first test of such a weapon. North Korea’s known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-63ddab6200055a838ad84b5a67c0626e">But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon</a>&nbsp;is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster.

A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.” Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-japan-united-states-tokyo-south-korea-7397d3c81ecc6ceff76a4f0ffe25ec24">security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies</a>.

During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japan’s response.

The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a “decisive and united international response” to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program.

North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically don’t issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japan’s exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate.

The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministry’s early assessment of the missile’s path and was an “appropriate” step to prioritize people’s safety.

Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seoul-south-korea-north-joint-chiefs-of-staff-1026206c80666f1fcdb3983ebf45e14b">North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan</a>&nbsp;in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

Thursday’s launch was the North’s first long-range missile firing since the country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launch-us-military-drills-fbbe3be09a9bd812baa541ea9b84832e">tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM</a>&nbsp;on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his country’s attack plans Monday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-jong-un-nuclear-arsenal-9b1093e2939b87facfdf1f74612d3738">vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal</a>&nbsp;in more “practical and offensive” ways.

North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance.

The North’s testing spree is largely in protest of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missiles-f7584ba0845643c1e5892720092ccebf">South Korean-U.S. military drills</a>&nbsp;that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.

Later Thursday, China, North Korea’s last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea.

“The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing.

North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-north-korea-south-nuclear-weapons-f409b488bb38ad3cfc37d1f8d29a6857">Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads</a>&nbsp;small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles.

South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary.

On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed “strong regret” over what he called North Korea’s “unilateral and irresponsible attitude” over the hotlines.

North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington.

Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japan’s Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667483523229.png" alt="A TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage is seen at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)" />
 <figcaption>A TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage is seen at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ALERT: The Japanese government is warning that North Korea appears to have launched at least one ballistic missile. The government is urging everyone in Hokkaido to seek shelter. Follow local media for guidance. <a href="https://t.co/Pw4PeRBqav">pic.twitter.com/Pw4PeRBqav</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Tokyo, ACS (@ACSTokyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1646289607699431426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-nuclear-threat-810afe432743ba9ab0d8543daac160b2">evolving missile threats</a>.The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement.It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japan’s government said it likely had an intercontinental range.South Korea’s military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules.If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the North’s first test of such a weapon. North Korea’s known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-63ddab6200055a838ad84b5a67c0626e">But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon</a>&nbsp;is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster.A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite.Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite.U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.” Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-japan-united-states-tokyo-south-korea-7397d3c81ecc6ceff76a4f0ffe25ec24">security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies</a>.During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japan’s response.The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a “decisive and united international response” to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program.North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically don’t issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction.Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japan’s exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate.The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministry’s early assessment of the missile’s path and was an “appropriate” step to prioritize people’s safety.Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seoul-south-korea-north-joint-chiefs-of-staff-1026206c80666f1fcdb3983ebf45e14b">North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan</a>&nbsp;in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.Thursday’s launch was the North’s first long-range missile firing since the country&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launch-us-military-drills-fbbe3be09a9bd812baa541ea9b84832e">tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM</a>&nbsp;on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his country’s attack plans Monday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-jong-un-nuclear-arsenal-9b1093e2939b87facfdf1f74612d3738">vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal</a>&nbsp;in more “practical and offensive” ways.North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance.The North’s testing spree is largely in protest of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missiles-f7584ba0845643c1e5892720092ccebf">South Korean-U.S. military drills</a>&nbsp;that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.Later Thursday, China, North Korea’s last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea.“The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing.North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-north-korea-south-nuclear-weapons-f409b488bb38ad3cfc37d1f8d29a6857">Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads</a>&nbsp;small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles.South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary.On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed “strong regret” over what he called North Korea’s “unilateral and irresponsible attitude” over the hotlines.North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington.Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japan’s Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia’s war on Ukraine.___

N. Korea fires missile that may have been new type of weapon

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities in southeast Kansas are investigating "Pothole Bandits."

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, police responded to the 700 block of north Montgomery Street in Sedan for the report of a mysterious growth sprouting from several potholes, according to a social media report.

 Once on scene, officers discovered a number of potholes had been filled with plants. 

"We are asking the public's assistance in the apprehension of these suspects who have been aptly dubbed, 'The Pothole Bandits.' These bandits are described as having a facetious look in their eye, ornery grins, green thumbs and wearing fast running shoes. Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated. 

"Seriously though, we absolutely get the humor in your prank, but the only people you're hurting are the city employees who have the laborious task of cleaning these holes out. If you have questions, comments, ideas or concerns about the roadways in Sedan, please reach out to the mayor, a council person or address the council at the next meeting."

Sedan is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681330525098.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sedan Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sedan Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities in southeast Kansas are investigating "Pothole Bandits."During the early morning hours of Wednesday, police responded to the 700 block of north Montgomery Street in Sedan for the report of a mysterious growth sprouting from several potholes, according to a social media report. Once on scene, officers discovered a number of potholes had been filled with plants. "We are asking the public's assistance in the apprehension of these suspects who have been aptly dubbed, 'The Pothole Bandits.' These bandits are described as having a facetious look in their eye, ornery grins, green thumbs and wearing fast running shoes. Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated. "Seriously though, we absolutely get the humor in your prank, but the only people you're hurting are the city employees who have the laborious task of cleaning these holes out. If you have questions, comments, ideas or concerns about the roadways in Sedan, please reach out to the mayor, a council person or address the council at the next meeting."Sedan is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Wichita.

Kan. community doesn't want flowers planted in potholes

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a deadly drug deal shooting he committed in 2019. Orlando Howard, 19, was sentenced to nearly 14 years in&nbsp;prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;Howard was&nbsp;one of four who were charged in the killing of Jerome Armbeck. Just after 6 p.m. Aug. 19, 2019, police&nbsp; responded to a shooting call in the 4600 block of east Boston in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

First responders found Armbeck in an open field with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Investigators learned a disturbance occurred between Howard, then just 17, Armbeck, 18-year-old Pierce Jackson and 20-year-old Marcus Lamar&nbsp; in the 4600 block of east Boston when a suspect fired multiple times from a firearm, striking Armbeck. 

The crime was not a random incident. It was drug related, according to Davidson.&nbsp;

Earlier, co-defendant Marcus Lamar was sentenced to five years in&nbsp;prison for his role in the crime, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622208321450.png" alt="-Howard photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>-Howard photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a deadly drug deal shooting he committed in 2019. Orlando Howard, 19, was sentenced to nearly 14 years in&nbsp;prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Howard was&nbsp;one of four who were charged in the killing of Jerome Armbeck. Just after 6 p.m. Aug. 19, 2019, police&nbsp; responded to a shooting call in the 4600 block of east Boston in Wichita, according to office Charley Davidson.&nbsp;First responders found Armbeck in an open field with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned a disturbance occurred between Howard, then just 17, Armbeck, 18-year-old Pierce Jackson and 20-year-old Marcus Lamar&nbsp; in the 4600 block of east Boston when a suspect fired multiple times from a firearm, striking Armbeck. The crime was not a random incident. It was drug related, according to Davidson.&nbsp;Earlier, co-defendant Marcus Lamar was sentenced to five years in&nbsp;prison for his role in the crime, according to the district attorney.---------

Prison for Kan. drug deal killing committed at the age of 17

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An 80-year-old Kansas man was pursued by police and tased by a deputy — all for driving 3 mph (5 kph) over the speed limit, a federal lawsuit claims.

John J. Sigg sued Monday, naming Allen County Sheriff Bryan J. Murphy and former Deputy Joseph Stotler. Sigg's lawsuit seeks $250,000 in actual damages and an equal amount in punitive damages.

Murphy and Stotler do not yet have attorneys. An email message left Wednesday with the sheriff wasn't immediately returned. No phone listing for Stotler could be found and it wasn't immediately clear when, or why, he left the department.

On April 16, 2021, Sigg was clocked by an Iola, Kansas, officer going 38 mph (61 kph) in a 35 mph (56 kph) speed zone. A pursuit began. The lawsuit said Sigg was unaware police were following him even though law enforcement vehicles from other departments joined the pursuit in an area that is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.

Sigg drove to a car lot operated by his family. When he got out of his car, officers surrounded him and two officers from nearby Chanute, Kansas, drew their guns, the lawsuit said.

“Sigg looked at them quizzically and raised his hands,” the lawsuit stated. That's when Stotler demanded that Sigg get on the ground and without warning, used the Taser on him, even though the maker of the stun gun had warned against using it on the elderly, the lawsuit stated.

“At no time after exiting his vehicle did Sigg make a hostile motion or make physical or verbal threats,” the lawsuit stated. “There was no risk that the 80 year old man was going to run from the officers and they had no concern that Sigg had a firearm.”

The lawsuit said Sigg began mumbling in a way that was “hard to understand,” and told an officer he didn't feel right. Sigg was treated at an emergency room.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — An 80-year-old Kansas man was pursued by police and tased by a deputy — all for driving 3 mph (5 kph) over the speed limit, a federal lawsuit claims.John J. Sigg sued Monday, naming Allen County Sheriff Bryan J. Murphy and former Deputy Joseph Stotler. Sigg's lawsuit seeks $250,000 in actual damages and an equal amount in punitive damages.Murphy and Stotler do not yet have attorneys. An email message left Wednesday with the sheriff wasn't immediately returned. No phone listing for Stotler could be found and it wasn't immediately clear when, or why, he left the department.On April 16, 2021, Sigg was clocked by an Iola, Kansas, officer going 38 mph (61 kph) in a 35 mph (56 kph) speed zone. A pursuit began. The lawsuit said Sigg was unaware police were following him even though law enforcement vehicles from other departments joined the pursuit in an area that is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.Sigg drove to a car lot operated by his family. When he got out of his car, officers surrounded him and two officers from nearby Chanute, Kansas, drew their guns, the lawsuit said.“Sigg looked at them quizzically and raised his hands,” the lawsuit stated. That's when Stotler demanded that Sigg get on the ground and without warning, used the Taser on him, even though the maker of the stun gun had warned against using it on the elderly, the lawsuit stated.“At no time after exiting his vehicle did Sigg make a hostile motion or make physical or verbal threats,” the lawsuit stated. “There was no risk that the 80 year old man was going to run from the officers and they had no concern that Sigg had a firearm.”The lawsuit said Sigg began mumbling in a way that was “hard to understand,” and told an officer he didn't feel right. Sigg was treated at an emergency room.

80-year-old Kan. man says he was chased, tased for speeding

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of thefts and have a suspect in custody.

On Monday, police were investigating a series of past retail thefts that were reported over the weekend in Topeka, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols

 These thefts occurred in the 2900 block of SW Wanamaker Road, the 5900 block of SW Huntoon Avenue and the 2600 block of SE California Avenue.

The suspect was identified, with assistance from the State of Kansas Parole Office, as Dustin J. Spooner, 38, of Topeka. 

Just before 8 p.m. on Monday, officers located Spooner near SE 26th Street and SE California Avnue, where they arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Felony Theft, and Parole Violation Warrant

Spooner has 12 prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas, which include four prior theft convictions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681224995770.png" alt="Spooner-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Spooner-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of thefts and have a suspect in custody.On Monday, police were investigating a series of past retail thefts that were reported over the weekend in Topeka, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols These thefts occurred in the 2900 block of SW Wanamaker Road, the 5900 block of SW Huntoon Avenue and the 2600 block of SE California Avenue.The suspect was identified, with assistance from the State of Kansas Parole Office, as Dustin J. Spooner, 38, of Topeka. Just before 8 p.m. on Monday, officers located Spooner near SE 26th Street and SE California Avnue, where they arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Felony Theft, and Parole Violation WarrantSpooner has 12 prior felony convictions in the state of Kansas, which include four prior theft convictions.------------

Kan. felon with a dozen convictions jailed for alleged theft

SHAWNEE COUNTY— A man accused in connection with an accident that left a former Kansas State University student dead in December of 2021 has been charged with vehicular homicide.

&nbsp;John Alfred Moulden, 38, Knoxville, Tennessee also faces charges that include failure to stop at an accident known to result in death and driving at an unsafe speed for prevailing conditions, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He was booked in Shawnee County last week and is no longer in custody, according to the department of corrections.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after 3:30p.m. on Sunday December 5, 2021, an International semi driven by&nbsp; Moulden was westbound in the left lane on Interstate 70 and unable to move into the right lane due to a rollover accident near SW West Union Road involving a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by&nbsp;Dakota B. Swader, 20, of Topeka that entered the center median and came to rest upside down.&nbsp;

A pedestrian identified as Autumn Johnson, a 21-year-old Kansas State University student from Wasilla, Alaska,&nbsp; parked her vehicle on the right shoulder of west bound Interstate 70 along with other vehicles.

Johnson exited the vehicle and ran through traffic toward the median to assist Swader, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian. The semi struck Johnson.

EMS transported Johnson to Stormont Vail in Topeka where she died.&nbsp; &nbsp; American Medical Response transported Swader to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp;

Johnson was<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/about/news-events-publications/lifelines/2112.html"> hailed as a hero</a> following the tragedy.&nbsp; She was a first-year veterinary science student at K-State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681295093233.png" alt="Moulden-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Moulden-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— A man accused in connection with an accident that left a former Kansas State University student dead in December of 2021 has been charged with vehicular homicide.&nbsp;John Alfred Moulden, 38, Knoxville, Tennessee also faces charges that include failure to stop at an accident known to result in death and driving at an unsafe speed for prevailing conditions, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He was booked in Shawnee County last week and is no longer in custody, according to the department of corrections.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after 3:30p.m. on Sunday December 5, 2021, an International semi driven by&nbsp; Moulden was westbound in the left lane on Interstate 70 and unable to move into the right lane due to a rollover accident near SW West Union Road involving a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by&nbsp;Dakota B. Swader, 20, of Topeka that entered the center median and came to rest upside down.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639150010314.png" alt="Autumn Johnson-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Autumn Johnson-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>A pedestrian identified as Autumn Johnson, a 21-year-old Kansas State University student from Wasilla, Alaska,&nbsp; parked her vehicle on the right shoulder of west bound Interstate 70 along with other vehicles.Johnson exited the vehicle and ran through traffic toward the median to assist Swader, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian. The semi struck Johnson.EMS transported Johnson to Stormont Vail in Topeka where she died.&nbsp; &nbsp; American Medical Response transported Swader to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp;Johnson was<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/about/news-events-publications/lifelines/2112.html"> hailed as a hero</a> following the tragedy.&nbsp; She was a first-year veterinary science student at K-State.

Driver in I-70 crash that killed KSU student faces charges

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states that is intended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">protect thousands of small streams</a>, wetlands and other waterways throughout the nation.

U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland in Bismarck, North Dakota, halted the regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the 24 states, most of which are led by Republicans. The regulations were finalized in December 2022, repealing a rule implemented during President Donald Trump's administration but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-2998bdb80aadc14ef8d4c6d2fe040988">thrown out by federal courts</a>.

Opponents of the regulations, which define which “waters of the United States” are protected by the Clean Water Act, have called the rules an example of federal overreach and argued they would unfairly burden farmers and ranchers.

The preliminary injunction affects Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. An injunction was previously issued that halted the rules in Texas and Idaho.

"Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to America’s beef farmers and ranchers,” said Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer and president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. “Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal government’s proper jurisdiction over water.”

The EPA said in a statement that the agency and the Army Corps of Engineers were reviewing the decision but still believe the regulations were “the best” interpretation of the Clean Water Act. The agency says its rules would still stand in states not included in the injunction.

“The agencies remain committed to establishing and implementing a durable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ informed by diverse perspectives,” the EPA said in the statement. “Our goal is to protect public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and industries that depend on clean water.”

The injunction comes less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-epa-clean-water-wotus-congress-07bb00728e9411106828676e321f7e43">President Joe Biden vetoed</a>&nbsp;a congressional resolution that would have overturned the rule. The House and Senate had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-biden-water-sackett-wotus-congress-senate-ec5a4b66376fdc9252f77575e29043ce">used the Congressional Review Act</a>&nbsp;to block the regulations, with several Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the regulations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631029867595.jpeg" alt="The preliminary injunction affects 24 states -Photo (Unsplash)" />
 <figcaption>The preliminary injunction affects 24 states -Photo (Unsplash)</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states that is intended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">protect thousands of small streams</a>, wetlands and other waterways throughout the nation.U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland in Bismarck, North Dakota, halted the regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the 24 states, most of which are led by Republicans. The regulations were finalized in December 2022, repealing a rule implemented during President Donald Trump's administration but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-2998bdb80aadc14ef8d4c6d2fe040988">thrown out by federal courts</a>.Opponents of the regulations, which define which “waters of the United States” are protected by the Clean Water Act, have called the rules an example of federal overreach and argued they would unfairly burden farmers and ranchers.The preliminary injunction affects Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. An injunction was previously issued that halted the rules in Texas and Idaho."Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to America’s beef farmers and ranchers,” said Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer and president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. “Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal government’s proper jurisdiction over water.”The EPA said in a statement that the agency and the Army Corps of Engineers were reviewing the decision but still believe the regulations were “the best” interpretation of the Clean Water Act. The agency says its rules would still stand in states not included in the injunction.“The agencies remain committed to establishing and implementing a durable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ informed by diverse perspectives,” the EPA said in the statement. “Our goal is to protect public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and industries that depend on clean water.”The injunction comes less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-epa-clean-water-wotus-congress-07bb00728e9411106828676e321f7e43">President Joe Biden vetoed</a>&nbsp;a congressional resolution that would have overturned the rule. The House and Senate had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-biden-water-sackett-wotus-congress-senate-ec5a4b66376fdc9252f77575e29043ce">used the Congressional Review Act</a>&nbsp;to block the regulations, with several Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the regulations.

Judge blocks rule in Kansas, Missouri intended to protect waterways

KANSAS CITY —After a brawl that saw dozens of teens kicked out of Worlds of Fun on Saturday, the park announced a new <a href="https://www.worldsoffun.com/code-of-conduct?fbclid=IwAR36RYGMub8iU1oMP2Pv9OtZJFg1Yf_ixuOYsi10bNyhsNweBHOfKL3QvgQ">code of conduct, chaperone po</a>licy on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.worldsoffun.com/code-of-conduct?fbclid=IwAR36RYGMub8iU1oMP2Pv9OtZJFg1Yf_ixuOYsi10bNyhsNweBHOfKL3QvgQ">Click here for more on&nbsp;</a>the policy and and answers to questions.

Just before 7:30 p.m. April 8, a sheriff's deputy working off-duty security at the Kansas City theme park heard on the radio from park security about a fight involving multiple juveniles and a large crowd inside the park, according to the Clay County Sheriff's office.

There were an estimated 100 to 150 teenagers involved, none of whom appeared to be accompanied by an adult. Deputies working off duty, Worlds of Fun security officers, and KCPD officers working off duty attempted to break up the crowd and move them out of the park.

Multiple fights continued to break out among the juveniles as officials tried to move them out. More Clay County Sheriff deputies and KCPD officers arrived to assist. Some juveniles said another juvenile had displayed a gun, but law enforcement was never able to verify that claim.

As a Clay County deputy escorted a group of juveniles from the park, a teenage girl refused to leave and punched him in the face. She was arrested and turned over to her parents. He had only superficial injuries.

Once the group had been pushed out to the parking lot, fights broke out in the parking lot. Deputies and KCPD officers then broke up those fights and dispersed the crowd. The park was cleared by about 8:30 p.m.

KANSAS CITY —After a brawl that saw dozens of teens kicked out of Worlds of Fun on Saturday, the park announced a new <a href="https://www.worldsoffun.com/code-of-conduct?fbclid=IwAR36RYGMub8iU1oMP2Pv9OtZJFg1Yf_ixuOYsi10bNyhsNweBHOfKL3QvgQ">code of conduct, chaperone po</a>licy on Wednesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fworldsoffun%2Fphotos%2Fa.129663303249%2F10159529519533250%2F&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="737" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><a href="https://www.worldsoffun.com/code-of-conduct?fbclid=IwAR36RYGMub8iU1oMP2Pv9OtZJFg1Yf_ixuOYsi10bNyhsNweBHOfKL3QvgQ">Click here for more on&nbsp;</a>the policy and and answers to questions.Just before 7:30 p.m. April 8, a sheriff's deputy working off-duty security at the Kansas City theme park heard on the radio from park security about a fight involving multiple juveniles and a large crowd inside the park, according to the Clay County Sheriff's office.There were an estimated 100 to 150 teenagers involved, none of whom appeared to be accompanied by an adult. Deputies working off duty, Worlds of Fun security officers, and KCPD officers working off duty attempted to break up the crowd and move them out of the park.Multiple fights continued to break out among the juveniles as officials tried to move them out. More Clay County Sheriff deputies and KCPD officers arrived to assist. Some juveniles said another juvenile had displayed a gun, but law enforcement was never able to verify that claim.As a Clay County deputy escorted a group of juveniles from the park, a teenage girl refused to leave and punched him in the face. She was arrested and turned over to her parents. He had only superficial injuries.Once the group had been pushed out to the parking lot, fights broke out in the parking lot. Deputies and KCPD officers then broke up those fights and dispersed the crowd. The park was cleared by about 8:30 p.m.

Changes at Worlds of Fun following weekend brawl at the park

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. has named a <a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/Xylazine.pdf">veterinary tranquilizer</a> as an “emerging threat” when it's mixed with the powerful opioid fentanyl, clearing the way for more efforts to stop the spread of xylazine.

<a href="https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-reports-widespread-threat-fentanyl-mixed-xylazine">Click here to read the DEA</a> warning

The Office of National Drug Control Policy announced the designation Wednesday, the first time the office has used it since the category for fast-growing drug dangers was created in 2019.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the drug policy office, said xylazine (pronounced ZAI’-luh-zeen) has become increasingly common in all regions of the country.

It was detected in about 800 drug deaths in the U.S. in 2020 — most of them in the Northeast. By 2021, it was present in more than 3,000 fatalities —with the most in the South — according to a report last year from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We cannot ignore what we’re seeing," Gupta said. "We must act and act now.”

Xylazine was approved for veterinary use in 1971. Sometimes known as “tranq,” it's been showing up in supplies of illicit drugs used by humans in major quantities in only the last several years.

It's believed to be added to other drugs to increase profits. Officials are trying to understand how much of it is diverted from veterinary uses and how much is made illicitly.

The drug causes breathing and heart rates to slow down, sometimes to deadly levels, and causes skin abscesses and ulcers that can require amputation. Withdrawal is also painful.

While it's often used in conjunction with opioids, including fentanyl and related illicit lab-made drugs, it's not an opioid. And there are no known antidotes.

Gupta said his office is requesting $11 million as part of its budget to develop a strategy to tackle the drug's spread. Plans include developing an antidote, learning more about how it is introduced into illicit drug supplies so that can be disrupted, and looking into whether Congress should classify it as a controlled substance.

Gupta said it needs to be available for veterinary uses even amid crackdowns on the supply used by people. He also said systems to detect the drug and data about where it's being used need to be improved.

The drug is part of a deepening overdose crisis in the U.S.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 107,000 people died from overdoses in the 12 months that ended Oct. 31, 2022. Before 2020, the number of overdose deaths had never topped 100,000.

Most of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Like xylazine, they're often added to other drugs — and users don't always know they're getting them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681297269107.png" alt="Photo DEA" />
 <figcaption>Photo DEA</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. has named a <a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/Xylazine.pdf">veterinary tranquilizer</a> as an “emerging threat” when it's mixed with the powerful opioid fentanyl, clearing the way for more efforts to stop the spread of xylazine.<a href="https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-reports-widespread-threat-fentanyl-mixed-xylazine">Click here to read the DEA</a> warningThe Office of National Drug Control Policy announced the designation Wednesday, the first time the office has used it since the category for fast-growing drug dangers was created in 2019.Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the drug policy office, said xylazine (pronounced ZAI’-luh-zeen) has become increasingly common in all regions of the country.It was detected in about 800 drug deaths in the U.S. in 2020 — most of them in the Northeast. By 2021, it was present in more than 3,000 fatalities —with the most in the South — according to a report last year from the Drug Enforcement Administration.“We cannot ignore what we’re seeing," Gupta said. "We must act and act now.”Xylazine was approved for veterinary use in 1971. Sometimes known as “tranq,” it's been showing up in supplies of illicit drugs used by humans in major quantities in only the last several years.It's believed to be added to other drugs to increase profits. Officials are trying to understand how much of it is diverted from veterinary uses and how much is made illicitly.The drug causes breathing and heart rates to slow down, sometimes to deadly levels, and causes skin abscesses and ulcers that can require amputation. Withdrawal is also painful.While it's often used in conjunction with opioids, including fentanyl and related illicit lab-made drugs, it's not an opioid. And there are no known antidotes.Gupta said his office is requesting $11 million as part of its budget to develop a strategy to tackle the drug's spread. Plans include developing an antidote, learning more about how it is introduced into illicit drug supplies so that can be disrupted, and looking into whether Congress should classify it as a controlled substance.Gupta said it needs to be available for veterinary uses even amid crackdowns on the supply used by people. He also said systems to detect the drug and data about where it's being used need to be improved.The drug is part of a deepening overdose crisis in the U.S.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 107,000 people died from overdoses in the 12 months that ended Oct. 31, 2022. Before 2020, the number of overdose deaths had never topped 100,000.Most of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Like xylazine, they're often added to other drugs — and users don't always know they're getting them.

Emerging U.S. threat: Fentanyl laced animal tranquilizer 

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 903&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">&nbsp;new</a> <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">coronavirus cases</a> in Kansas from April 5, to April 12, for a total of 943,653 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 1,006 cases the previous week.

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">the state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;13 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 5 for a total of 10,167 since the state started reporting COVID illness and deaths.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas provides fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 903&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">&nbsp;new</a> <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">coronavirus cases</a> in Kansas from April 5, to April 12, for a total of 943,653 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 1,006 cases the previous week.On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">the state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;13 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 5 for a total of 10,167 since the state started reporting COVID illness and deaths.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas provides fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE: Slight drop in COVID cases, 13 more deaths

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing another student at a Kansas City middle school last year.

The boy, whose name has not been released, pleaded guilty Monday in Family Court to voluntary manslaughter, according to a Jackson County Court spokeswoman.

He was charged after 14-year-old Manuel Guzman was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-79683ee877cb44a6854c690cdfb7fbdf">found injured</a>&nbsp;in a bathroom at Northeast Middle School in Kansas City on April 12, 2022, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-arrests-890fc0efb2e9934a78cfd539562dfb65">died at a hospital.</a>

The boy, who was 14 at the time Guzman was killed, was initially charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

The boy is being detained at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center. He will have a disposition hearing May 17 to determine his future treatment.

Police said the two boys had a confrontation but have never publicly disclosed a possible motive for the stabbing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649783049453.png" alt="Police on the scene at the school one year ago -photo by Greg Payne courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene at the school one year ago -photo by Greg Payne courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing another student at a Kansas City middle school last year.The boy, whose name has not been released, pleaded guilty Monday in Family Court to voluntary manslaughter, according to a Jackson County Court spokeswoman.He was charged after 14-year-old Manuel Guzman was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-79683ee877cb44a6854c690cdfb7fbdf">found injured</a>&nbsp;in a bathroom at Northeast Middle School in Kansas City on April 12, 2022, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-arrests-890fc0efb2e9934a78cfd539562dfb65">died at a hospital.</a>The boy, who was 14 at the time Guzman was killed, was initially charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.The boy is being detained at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center. He will have a disposition hearing May 17 to determine his future treatment.Police said the two boys had a confrontation but have never publicly disclosed a possible motive for the stabbing.

Boy pleads guilty to fatal stabbing at Kansas City middle school

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jim Robb with the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale said as the war still continues in Ukraine so does the support of the Mennonite Central Committee, the group that receives the money made from the sale.

"We still have a group of people that are there," Robb said. "They are called MCC partners. They are the people who are on the ground there working with refugees, people who have lost their homes, remnants of churches, we try to get them what they need, as much as we can, food and medical assistance, just try to make sure that they know they are not forgotten and we can give them a little bit of hope."

The goal of the whole sale is to help the Mennonite Central Committee in their work around the globe. The Mennonite Central Committee strives to make peace a part of everything they do. The original organization in 1920 was to help Mennonites from what is now Ukraine avoid starvation. The efforts of the sale bring together volunteers from across the state's Mennonite churches.

"We have a group of thousands," Robb said. "It's really hard to figure, when you think in terms of, we send out requests to churches to provide pies and bread and peppernuts and poppyseed rolls and cinnamon rolls and all of those kinds of things. You start multiplying that out and it gets to be well over 1000 pretty fast. We had a verenike making day two Saturdays ago, that in itself, we had 150 volunteers in the morning and probably another 80 in the afternoon. That's 230 volunteers, right there."

The schedule of events starts with sale booths opening at 4 p.m. Friday, with the feeding of the multitude also starting at that time, and the silent auction starting at 5 p.m. and packing of hygiene kits starts at 6 p.m. Friday.

"Last year, some 42,000 hygiene kits went out around the world," Robb said. "It's things like toothbrushes and bars of soap and towels and the kinds of things that would fit easily into a bag that people can pick up and take with them and be able to take care of one of the basic human needs."

On Saturday, breakfast starts in Cottonwood Court at 7 a.m., with booths open at 8 a.m. The 5K Run for Relief is at 8 a.m., with the silent auction bidding reopening from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The quilt and general auctions both starting at 8:45 a.m. and the children's auction at 10 a.m. Feeding the multitude is on again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a Pepsi collectibles auction at 11 a.m. and the big ticket items in the general auction around 2 p.m. and the remainders to be auctioned off around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

For more information and everything you need to know about the sale, go to the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansas.mccsale.org/">Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681301164607.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jim Robb with the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale said as the war still continues in Ukraine so does the support of the Mennonite Central Committee, the group that receives the money made from the sale."We still have a group of people that are there," Robb said. "They are called MCC partners. They are the people who are on the ground there working with refugees, people who have lost their homes, remnants of churches, we try to get them what they need, as much as we can, food and medical assistance, just try to make sure that they know they are not forgotten and we can give them a little bit of hope."The goal of the whole sale is to help the Mennonite Central Committee in their work around the globe. The Mennonite Central Committee strives to make peace a part of everything they do. The original organization in 1920 was to help Mennonites from what is now Ukraine avoid starvation. The efforts of the sale bring together volunteers from across the state's Mennonite churches."We have a group of thousands," Robb said. "It's really hard to figure, when you think in terms of, we send out requests to churches to provide pies and bread and peppernuts and poppyseed rolls and cinnamon rolls and all of those kinds of things. You start multiplying that out and it gets to be well over 1000 pretty fast. We had a verenike making day two Saturdays ago, that in itself, we had 150 volunteers in the morning and probably another 80 in the afternoon. That's 230 volunteers, right there."The schedule of events starts with sale booths opening at 4 p.m. Friday, with the feeding of the multitude also starting at that time, and the silent auction starting at 5 p.m. and packing of hygiene kits starts at 6 p.m. Friday."Last year, some 42,000 hygiene kits went out around the world," Robb said. "It's things like toothbrushes and bars of soap and towels and the kinds of things that would fit easily into a bag that people can pick up and take with them and be able to take care of one of the basic human needs."On Saturday, breakfast starts in Cottonwood Court at 7 a.m., with booths open at 8 a.m. The 5K Run for Relief is at 8 a.m., with the silent auction bidding reopening from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The quilt and general auctions both starting at 8:45 a.m. and the children's auction at 10 a.m. Feeding the multitude is on again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a Pepsi collectibles auction at 11 a.m. and the big ticket items in the general auction around 2 p.m. and the remainders to be auctioned off around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.For more information and everything you need to know about the sale, go to the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansas.mccsale.org/">Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale website</a>.

Annual Mennonite Relief Sale will help Ukraine

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged home invasion incident that sent one person to the hospital.

Just after 10am Tuesday, police responded to the 7800 block of W. 61st Terrace in Overland in reference to an armed disturbance, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.

The tenant received notification on his video doorbell of a person attempting to enter his residence. The tenant was in the immediate area and responded to the residence and confronted the person trying to enter his residence. 

A physical altercation occurred between the tenant and the suspect. Both individuals had firearms in their possession. During the incident, the suspect was shot and injured. 

The suspect was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The tenant was not injured.&nbsp; The Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident, according to Lacy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681246372532.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged home invasion incident that sent one person to the hospital.Just after 10am Tuesday, police responded to the 7800 block of W. 61st Terrace in Overland in reference to an armed disturbance, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.The tenant received notification on his video doorbell of a person attempting to enter his residence. The tenant was in the immediate area and responded to the residence and confronted the person trying to enter his residence. A physical altercation occurred between the tenant and the suspect. Both individuals had firearms in their possession. During the incident, the suspect was shot and injured. The suspect was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. The tenant was not injured.&nbsp; The Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident, according to Lacy.

Kan. man shot suspect after Ring camera alert of attempted break-in

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortions</a>, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.

Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.

And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-stockpile-1c1c7c107882f7a25a181af79a1f6790">30,000 doses of the generic version</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state's residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.

“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away,” Newsom said Friday.

The actions come as U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee</a>&nbsp;in Amarillo, Texas, overruled decades of scientific approval Friday and put on hold federal approval of mifepristone.

The judge stayed his ruling for a week so federal authorities could file a challenge.

The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-court-order-becerra-fda-307bcfdbb08418c6a57bc8cc789428c8">slammed the ruling</a>&nbsp;and on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">appealed the decision</a>, saying it would thwart the U.S. Food and Drug administration's scientific judgment and “severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity.”

Adding to the confusion was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a second opinion</a>&nbsp;also released on Friday by District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, directing U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.

Healey said the Kacsmaryk ruling threatens access to the medication even in states supportive of abortion rights like Massachusetts.

“It harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary,” Healey said, surrounded by fellow Democratic lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

“It is terrible. It is terrible,” she added.

Newsom said the ruling by Kacsmaryk “ignores facts, science, and the law," and puts the health of millions of women and girls at risk.

Inslee said it's important for states to take steps to ensure access to the drug.

“After we announced our actions last week to protect access to mifepristone, it’s heartening to see other states doing the same,” Inslee wrote on Twitter on Monday. “To be clear: no matter the outcome of the TX case, WA’s laws ensure we will be able to sell and distribute this medication."

The 15,000 doses in Massachusetts were purchased by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at Healey's request.

Massachusetts health care providers have also agreed to buy additional quantities of mifepristone, according to Healey, who said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health to pay for the doses.

While there are no plans yet in Connecticut to stockpile mifepristone, Attorney General William Tong said Monday that he has been contacting major pharmacy chains to remind them the drug is legal and they should not be influenced by pressure from GOP attorneys general in other states.

”(I’m) obviously deeply disappointed that my colleagues have taken that action,” he said. “We’re pushing back on that. We’re in communication with all the big pharmacy chains, advising them of their rights and obligations here in Connecticut.”

Also on Friday, Healey signed an executive order expanding a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-charlie-baker-massachusetts-67ae91877315527cb5f5166cf2b91d8a">2022 law meant to build a legal firewall</a>&nbsp;around abortion services — protecting health care providers, patients and pharmacists from out-of-state investigations into medication abortions. The law was signed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680709134368.png" alt="--Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of the court ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>--Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of the court ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortions</a>, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-stockpile-1c1c7c107882f7a25a181af79a1f6790">30,000 doses of the generic version</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state's residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away,” Newsom said Friday.The actions come as U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee</a>&nbsp;in Amarillo, Texas, overruled decades of scientific approval Friday and put on hold federal approval of mifepristone.The judge stayed his ruling for a week so federal authorities could file a challenge.The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-court-order-becerra-fda-307bcfdbb08418c6a57bc8cc789428c8">slammed the ruling</a>&nbsp;and on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">appealed the decision</a>, saying it would thwart the U.S. Food and Drug administration's scientific judgment and “severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity.”Adding to the confusion was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a second opinion</a>&nbsp;also released on Friday by District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, directing U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.Healey said the Kacsmaryk ruling threatens access to the medication even in states supportive of abortion rights like Massachusetts.“It harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary,” Healey said, surrounded by fellow Democratic lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse.“It is terrible. It is terrible,” she added.Newsom said the ruling by Kacsmaryk “ignores facts, science, and the law," and puts the health of millions of women and girls at risk.Inslee said it's important for states to take steps to ensure access to the drug.“After we announced our actions last week to protect access to mifepristone, it’s heartening to see other states doing the same,” Inslee wrote on Twitter on Monday. “To be clear: no matter the outcome of the TX case, WA’s laws ensure we will be able to sell and distribute this medication."The 15,000 doses in Massachusetts were purchased by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at Healey's request.Massachusetts health care providers have also agreed to buy additional quantities of mifepristone, according to Healey, who said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health to pay for the doses.While there are no plans yet in Connecticut to stockpile mifepristone, Attorney General William Tong said Monday that he has been contacting major pharmacy chains to remind them the drug is legal and they should not be influenced by pressure from GOP attorneys general in other states.”(I’m) obviously deeply disappointed that my colleagues have taken that action,” he said. “We’re pushing back on that. We’re in communication with all the big pharmacy chains, advising them of their rights and obligations here in Connecticut.”Also on Friday, Healey signed an executive order expanding a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-charlie-baker-massachusetts-67ae91877315527cb5f5166cf2b91d8a">2022 law meant to build a legal firewall</a>&nbsp;around abortion services — protecting health care providers, patients and pharmacists from out-of-state investigations into medication abortions. The law was signed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

More US states stock abortion medications after court ruling

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/nbaf-ribbon-cutting-set-for-may-24/article_b3acb562-d2f2-11ed-a40d-33326569b293.html">High Plains Journal</a>

One of the longest-anticipated openings in animal health care research has been set for May 24.

U.S.
 Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, announced during a recent Senate Appropriations
 Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing in Washington D.C., that he was 
looking forward to having U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom 
Vilsack cut the ribbon at the biosafety level 4 National Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility.

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/nbaf-ribbon-cutting-set-for-may-24/article_b3acb562-d2f2-11ed-a40d-33326569b293.html">High Plains Journal</a>One of the longest-anticipated openings in animal health care research has been set for May 24.U.S.
 Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, announced during a recent Senate Appropriations
 Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing in Washington D.C., that he was 
looking forward to having U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom 
Vilsack cut the ribbon at the biosafety level 4 National Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility.“Designed to protect public 
health and our national food security, this state-of-the-art USDA 
facility will be located in the heart of the nation and near the farmers
 and ranchers who help feed our nation,” Moran said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604336319153.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“NBAF
 modernizes our process and our ability to investigate and research some
 of the major challenges and threats to American agriculture,” Vilsack 
said. “Whether it’s African swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease or 
some of the other seven critical diseases that could cripple our 
livestock industry, which obviously would impact and effect our entire 
economy and our food security. In addition, this facility will also be 
where the vaccine bank is housed. As we develop vaccines to try to deal 
with some of these threats, being able to stockpile appropriately and 
safely those vaccines [is] incredibly important. Also, a great deal of 
research is going to be done on the countermeasures, the biosecurity 
initiatives that are part of protecting our livestock industry.”Moran
 helped secure $1.25 billion in federal funding for the facility through
 his role on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and helped break 
ground for the construction of NBAF in 2015.NBAF is the 
nation’s only large animal facility built to handle pathogens that do 
not currently have treatments or countermeasures. It will open adjacent 
to Kansas State University and near Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 
Manhattan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681238483498.png" alt="USDA photo" />
 <figcaption>USDA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate 
will transfer ownership and operational responsibilities to the USDA. 
NBAF is designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to conduct research,
 develop vaccines, diagnose emerging diseases, and train veterinarians. 
According to the USDA, NBAF will replace the 68-year-old Plum Island 
Animal Disease Center in New York. The PIADC is where the USDA’s 
Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service conduct foreign animal disease research and diagnostics. ARS and
 APGHIS will transfer their research diagnostic missions from PIADC to 
NBAF and will operate the facility jointly. According to the USDA, even 
after the agency takes ownership of the facility from the DHS, it will 
take at least of couple of years to transfer the full science mission 
from PIADC to NBAF.The
 decision to replace the Plum Island facility had its roots in the 911 
Commission, Moran said. NBAF is designed to help protect public health 
and food safety, he said.Vilsack
 attended the 2015 groundbreaking. He said building the facility was 
time-consuming because it had to meet many rigorous standards.Republished with permission