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

OLATHE — Crystal Tucker’s 22-year-old son suffered chronic back and 
chest pain from an old skateboarding accident and decided to buy four 
oxycodone pills on the black market in an attempt to find temporary 
relief.

At 11:49 p.m. March 3, 2020, Lantz texted a friend to say the aches 
were severe and he was desperate for restful sleep. His text said he’d 
decided to try one of the pills before going to bed.

“The next day I went in to wake him up for work and found that he was
 completely lifeless,” Tucker said. “I used to be an EMT, so I knew 
right away it was far too late. We had no idea what happened.”

Tucker said her son didn’t have a drug addiction. She was curious if 
he had an undiagnosed heart condition. And, she agonized about never 
securing the right combination of health care to lower her son’s pain to
 a tolerable level.

“It wasn’t until 12 weeks later that we got the toxicology report 
that said Lantz died of a fentanyl overdose,” Tucker said. “He only took
 one pill. One time, one pill.”

Tucker, speaking during a panel discussion Wednesday with Gov. Laura 
Kelly on the opioid crisis in Kansas, said she appreciated work done to 
help heal people with addictions. She said more could be invested on the
 prevention side to make youth and young adults keenly aware drugs could
 be adulterated by fentanyl — a synthetic drug up to 100 times more 
potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.

She urged the Kansas Legislature to decriminalize fentanyl test 
strips so individuals who choose to take drugs had a tool to shield 
themselves from accidental poisoning or death. Kansas law recognizes 
fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia, making them out of bounds.

“I have absolutely no doubt that if fentanyl test strips were legal 
and easily accessible, Lantz would have had them and I know he would 
have used them,” she said. “If it spares one momma from burying their 
baby, then it will have been worth it. We’ve got to do something. This 
epidemic is killing our kids.”

Kelly, joined for the roundtable discussion by health care, 
addiction, counseling and research professionals, said urgency of the 
situation dictated Kansas move ahead with decriminalization of fentanyl 
test strips.

“We are experiencing an incredible opioid crisis. It has hit Kansas 
and hit Kansas hard,” the governor said. “Communities across our state 
are hurting. We must join the many states across the country that have 
made fentanyl test strips and other tools available to prevent exposure 
to fentanyl long before it kills.”

She said Senate Bill 174, subject to negotiations by the House and 
Senate, included language to make test strips accessible. She said the 
approach had been adopted this year in Mississippi, Georgia and North 
Dakota — states led by Republican governors.

Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister endorsed the reform idea 
because it would be a step toward making community members safer from 
the curse of fentanyl.

“Opponents of this lifesaving policy must ask themselves: Are you 
afraid these test strips may save a life you disagree with or find 
little value in saving? Are you willing to stand in front of a mother 
and tell her that her son’s or daughter’s life was not worth saving?” 
the sheriff said.

Kevin Kufeldt, clinical director of addiction services at the Johnson
 County Mental Health Center, said the incidence of opioid addiction 
among youth entering a residential program had grown from 7% in 2021 to 
35% in 2022. The trend in 2023 suggested the figure could escalate to 
50%, he said.

He said the state’s harm-reduction strategies ought to include access
 to fentanyl test strips so people could reasonably test substances for 
opioids.

“As the rate of opioid-related deaths continues to rise,
 we owe it to our fellow Kansans to equip them with the necessary tools 
to make cognizant decisions about their use,” he said. “Fentanyl test 
strips help a person who uses drugs be more informed, while reducing 
their risk of overdose and providing them with additional opportunities 
to seek treatment for their substance use disorder.”

Kufeldt said lawmakers should be open to different 
strategies because it wasn’t rational to believe a state could arrest 
and incarcerate its way out of the overdose problem.

Zijun Wang, assistant professor of pharmacology and 
toxicology at the University of Kansas, said it was important to 
appreciate the potency of fentanyl. She said a fatal dose of fentanyl 
was 2 milligrams, perhaps equivalent to no more than 10 grains of table 
salt.

“It is very important to know that whatever they’re 
taking is fentanyl free,” Wang said. “That will help them to want to 
shape their behavior, to be more responsible … for their own lives.”

She said research indicated youth were more likely to 
engage in risky behaviors because their prefrontal cortex, which 
controls decision making, had yet to fully develop. Other factors, 
including genetics, contributed to whether people became addicted to 
drugs, she said.

Drug addiction should be regarded as a disease rather than some sort of moral failing, she said.

Zahra Nasrazadani, an emergency medical clinical 
pharmacist at the Salina Regional Health Center, said it didn’t take 
long for a tainted batch of drugs to leave a mark on the community.

“I can tell you that when there is a bad batch going 
around we know about it pretty quickly and we start to see those 
patients in the emergency room,” she said.

She said a comprehensive response would include drug 
test strips, but also investment in psychosocial services, which would 
include mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and 
families. She said child care could be important to people fighting 
addiction. Naloxone and other medicines capable of reversing an opioid 
overdose should be available over-the-counter at no cost, Nasrazadani 
said.

In addition, she recommended implementation of syringe 
programs that could serve to draw people in for treatment of infectious 
diseases and other health challenges.

Erika Holliday, substance use coordinator in the public 
health department of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and 
Kansas City, Kansas, said influx of black-market pharmaceuticals 
necessitated legalization of test strips.

“We have youth overdosing more than ever because of 
counterfeit pills. They go to a party and try a pill to experiment. Now 
these pills have fentanyl,” she said.

Holliday said allowing health centers to legally 
distribute test strips would benefit chronic drug users who faced 
greater likelihood of overdose because manufacturers blend fentanyl with
 methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin to make the drug concoction more 
powerful and cheaper to make.

“It would be such a helpful tool,” she said. “Not only 
save lives, but be a bridge to engage with folks to say, ‘Hey, the 
health department is a trusting agency. They’re give us these strips to 
help save our lives.'”

She also said closure of the county’s only in-patient 
treatment center intensified the challenge of grappling with addiction. 
More addicts in recovery should be hired to work as counselors because a
 peer workforce was more effective in connecting with people, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680803055199.png" alt="Olathe resident Crystal Tucker described during a forum with Gov. Laura Kelly the agony of losing her son, Lantz, to an accidental opioid overdose in March 2022. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Olathe resident Crystal Tucker described during a forum with Gov. Laura Kelly the agony of losing her son, Lantz, to an accidental opioid overdose in March 2022. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>OLATHE — Crystal Tucker’s 22-year-old son suffered chronic back and 
chest pain from an old skateboarding accident and decided to buy four 
oxycodone pills on the black market in an attempt to find temporary 
relief.At 11:49 p.m. March 3, 2020, Lantz texted a friend to say the aches 
were severe and he was desperate for restful sleep. His text said he’d 
decided to try one of the pills before going to bed.“The next day I went in to wake him up for work and found that he was
 completely lifeless,” Tucker said. “I used to be an EMT, so I knew 
right away it was far too late. We had no idea what happened.”Tucker said her son didn’t have a drug addiction. She was curious if 
he had an undiagnosed heart condition. And, she agonized about never 
securing the right combination of health care to lower her son’s pain to
 a tolerable level.“It wasn’t until 12 weeks later that we got the toxicology report 
that said Lantz died of a fentanyl overdose,” Tucker said. “He only took
 one pill. One time, one pill.”Tucker, speaking during a panel discussion Wednesday with Gov. Laura 
Kelly on the opioid crisis in Kansas, said she appreciated work done to 
help heal people with addictions. She said more could be invested on the
 prevention side to make youth and young adults keenly aware drugs could
 be adulterated by fentanyl — a synthetic drug up to 100 times more 
potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.She urged the Kansas Legislature to decriminalize fentanyl test 
strips so individuals who choose to take drugs had a tool to shield 
themselves from accidental poisoning or death. Kansas law recognizes 
fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia, making them out of bounds.“I have absolutely no doubt that if fentanyl test strips were legal 
and easily accessible, Lantz would have had them and I know he would 
have used them,” she said. “If it spares one momma from burying their 
baby, then it will have been worth it. We’ve got to do something. This 
epidemic is killing our kids.”<h2>Testing the idea</h2>Kelly, joined for the roundtable discussion by health care, 
addiction, counseling and research professionals, said urgency of the 
situation dictated Kansas move ahead with decriminalization of fentanyl 
test strips.“We are experiencing an incredible opioid crisis. It has hit Kansas 
and hit Kansas hard,” the governor said. “Communities across our state 
are hurting. We must join the many states across the country that have 
made fentanyl test strips and other tools available to prevent exposure 
to fentanyl long before it kills.”She said Senate Bill 174, subject to negotiations by the House and 
Senate, included language to make test strips accessible. She said the 
approach had been adopted this year in Mississippi, Georgia and North 
Dakota — states led by Republican governors.Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister endorsed the reform idea 
because it would be a step toward making community members safer from 
the curse of fentanyl.“Opponents of this lifesaving policy must ask themselves: Are you 
afraid these test strips may save a life you disagree with or find 
little value in saving? Are you willing to stand in front of a mother 
and tell her that her son’s or daughter’s life was not worth saving?” 
the sheriff said.Kevin Kufeldt, clinical director of addiction services at the Johnson
 County Mental Health Center, said the incidence of opioid addiction 
among youth entering a residential program had grown from 7% in 2021 to 
35% in 2022. The trend in 2023 suggested the figure could escalate to 
50%, he said.He said the state’s harm-reduction strategies ought to include access
 to fentanyl test strips so people could reasonably test substances for 
opioids.“As the rate of opioid-related deaths continues to rise,
 we owe it to our fellow Kansans to equip them with the necessary tools 
to make cognizant decisions about their use,” he said. “Fentanyl test 
strips help a person who uses drugs be more informed, while reducing 
their risk of overdose and providing them with additional opportunities 
to seek treatment for their substance use disorder.”Kufeldt said lawmakers should be open to different 
strategies because it wasn’t rational to believe a state could arrest 
and incarcerate its way out of the overdose problem.<h2>Psychosocial issues</h2>Zijun Wang, assistant professor of pharmacology and 
toxicology at the University of Kansas, said it was important to 
appreciate the potency of fentanyl. She said a fatal dose of fentanyl 
was 2 milligrams, perhaps equivalent to no more than 10 grains of table 
salt.“It is very important to know that whatever they’re 
taking is fentanyl free,” Wang said. “That will help them to want to 
shape their behavior, to be more responsible … for their own lives.”She said research indicated youth were more likely to 
engage in risky behaviors because their prefrontal cortex, which 
controls decision making, had yet to fully develop. Other factors, 
including genetics, contributed to whether people became addicted to 
drugs, she said.Drug addiction should be regarded as a disease rather than some sort of moral failing, she said.Zahra Nasrazadani, an emergency medical clinical 
pharmacist at the Salina Regional Health Center, said it didn’t take 
long for a tainted batch of drugs to leave a mark on the community.“I can tell you that when there is a bad batch going 
around we know about it pretty quickly and we start to see those 
patients in the emergency room,” she said.She said a comprehensive response would include drug 
test strips, but also investment in psychosocial services, which would 
include mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and 
families. She said child care could be important to people fighting 
addiction. Naloxone and other medicines capable of reversing an opioid 
overdose should be available over-the-counter at no cost, Nasrazadani 
said.In addition, she recommended implementation of syringe 
programs that could serve to draw people in for treatment of infectious 
diseases and other health challenges.<h2>Building that bridge</h2>Erika Holliday, substance use coordinator in the public 
health department of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and 
Kansas City, Kansas, said influx of black-market pharmaceuticals 
necessitated legalization of test strips.“We have youth overdosing more than ever because of 
counterfeit pills. They go to a party and try a pill to experiment. Now 
these pills have fentanyl,” she said.Holliday said allowing health centers to legally 
distribute test strips would benefit chronic drug users who faced 
greater likelihood of overdose because manufacturers blend fentanyl with
 methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin to make the drug concoction more 
powerful and cheaper to make.“It would be such a helpful tool,” she said. “Not only 
save lives, but be a bridge to engage with folks to say, ‘Hey, the 
health department is a trusting agency. They’re give us these strips to 
help save our lives.'”She also said closure of the county’s only in-patient 
treatment center intensified the challenge of grappling with addiction. 
More addicts in recovery should be hired to work as counselors because a
 peer workforce was more effective in connecting with people, she said.

Grieving mom’s to Kan. lawmakers: ‘This epidemic is killing our kids’

DETROIT (AP) — Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number in 16 years with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.

The 2021 final numbers,&nbsp;<a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813435">released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a>, confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-pandemics-transportation-8388d8ca4b1ad141939fe07ce00f9c7f">earlier estimates by the agency</a>&nbsp;showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. That's the highest number since 2005 and the largest percentage increase since 1975.

Data shows a 12% rise in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, with 3,522 people killed. That prompted the agency to kick off a $5 million advertising campaign in an effort to keep drivers focused on the road. Agency officials said such cases likely are under-reported by police.

The number of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up 2% for the year. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving were up 14%.

Speeding-related deaths increased 7.9%, while crash deaths involving large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds were up 17%.

At a news conference Monday in Seattle, NHTSA focused on distracted driving fatalities, which speakers said are entirely preventable if people stop using their cell phones, eating, or doing other things that divert attention from the road.

“Remember it only takes a moment to change your life forever,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator.

Steve Kiefer, a retired General Motors executive whose son, Mitchel, was killed in a 2016 distracted driving crash, said cell phones are a primary cause of distraction. But technology is available to prevent it including “do not disturb” modes, as well as apps and in-car systems that watch drivers to make sure they're paying attention.

“All of this technology is available today, and there's no reason we can't use it and roll it out quickly,” Kiefer said.

Distracted driving deaths are related to America's addiction to cell phones, said Kiefer, who started a foundation with the goal of ending distracted driving. He said 90% of people are aware of the danger of distracted driving, yet 80% admit to doing it. In 25 states with laws against hand-held cell phone use, traffic deaths, crashes and insurance rates have dropped, he said.

"We believe that legislation will change behavior," Kiefer said.

Mitchel Kiefer was driving from home to Michigan State University on Interstate 96 when traffic slowed and his car was hit from behind by a driver who was distracted by her phone, Kiefer said. His car was knocked across the median and into oncoming traffic, where he was killed instantly.

The crash was not reported as involving a distracted driver, illustrating how distracted driving deaths are under-reported, Kiefer said.

Part of the increase in crash deaths is due to people driving more as the coronavirus pandemic waned. NHTSA reported that the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased 2.2% to 1.37 in 2021.

NHTSA also estimates that 2.5 million people were injured in crashes during 2021, up 9.4% from 2020.

The agency said it will release preliminary 2022 traffic death data in the coming weeks. NHTSA estimates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recessions-and-depressions-accidents-detroit-business-34890b827ea0d3cf3e4eff8f3a8df6b6">31,785 people were killed in crashes from January through September last year,</a>&nbsp;down 0.2% from the same period of 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640619556891.png" alt="-A Kansas man died in a crash on Christmas Day 2021 in Sedgwick County. Speed was a contributing factor, according to Officer Charley Davidson -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-A Kansas man died in a crash on Christmas Day 2021 in Sedgwick County. Speed was a contributing factor, according to Officer Charley Davidson -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Nearly 43,000 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number in 16 years with deaths due to speeding and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.The 2021 final numbers,&nbsp;<a href="https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813435">released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a>, confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-pandemics-transportation-8388d8ca4b1ad141939fe07ce00f9c7f">earlier estimates by the agency</a>&nbsp;showing a 10.5% increase in deaths over 2020. That's the highest number since 2005 and the largest percentage increase since 1975.Data shows a 12% rise in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, with 3,522 people killed. That prompted the agency to kick off a $5 million advertising campaign in an effort to keep drivers focused on the road. Agency officials said such cases likely are under-reported by police.The number of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up 2% for the year. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving were up 14%.Speeding-related deaths increased 7.9%, while crash deaths involving large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds were up 17%.At a news conference Monday in Seattle, NHTSA focused on distracted driving fatalities, which speakers said are entirely preventable if people stop using their cell phones, eating, or doing other things that divert attention from the road.“Remember it only takes a moment to change your life forever,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator.Steve Kiefer, a retired General Motors executive whose son, Mitchel, was killed in a 2016 distracted driving crash, said cell phones are a primary cause of distraction. But technology is available to prevent it including “do not disturb” modes, as well as apps and in-car systems that watch drivers to make sure they're paying attention.“All of this technology is available today, and there's no reason we can't use it and roll it out quickly,” Kiefer said.Distracted driving deaths are related to America's addiction to cell phones, said Kiefer, who started a foundation with the goal of ending distracted driving. He said 90% of people are aware of the danger of distracted driving, yet 80% admit to doing it. In 25 states with laws against hand-held cell phone use, traffic deaths, crashes and insurance rates have dropped, he said."We believe that legislation will change behavior," Kiefer said.Mitchel Kiefer was driving from home to Michigan State University on Interstate 96 when traffic slowed and his car was hit from behind by a driver who was distracted by her phone, Kiefer said. His car was knocked across the median and into oncoming traffic, where he was killed instantly.The crash was not reported as involving a distracted driver, illustrating how distracted driving deaths are under-reported, Kiefer said.Part of the increase in crash deaths is due to people driving more as the coronavirus pandemic waned. NHTSA reported that the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased 2.2% to 1.37 in 2021.NHTSA also estimates that 2.5 million people were injured in crashes during 2021, up 9.4% from 2020.The agency said it will release preliminary 2022 traffic death data in the coming weeks. NHTSA estimates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recessions-and-depressions-accidents-detroit-business-34890b827ea0d3cf3e4eff8f3a8df6b6">31,785 people were killed in crashes from January through September last year,</a>&nbsp;down 0.2% from the same period of 2021.

Report: 2021 saw the highest number of traffic deaths in years

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities made five arrests Friday stemming from a narcotics investigation.

Just after 5:30a.m. Friday, a narcotics search warrant was executed by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team after the Patrol South Community Response Team developed information that a residence in the 6000 block of South Hydraulic in Wichita was involved in the distribution of Methamphetamines, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

The assistance of the Patrol West Community Response Team was also used to execute the warrant.

Investigators seized 9 pounds of Methamphetamines, 300 grams of cocaine, 2 ounces of marijuana, 7 rifles, 4 handguns, two reported stolen, and over $68,000 in cash from the residence.

Police arrested 61-year-old Timothy Finley on requested charges&nbsp; of distribution of methamphetamines and cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of two stolen firearms, possession of paraphernalia, and two Sedgwick County warrants.

John Doub, 58, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and a city warrant.

Sherri Horkavy is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines and possession of paraphernalia

Carlos Moran, 35,&nbsp;is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and two city warrants.

Kara Horkavy was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and a city warrant.

&nbsp;Melissa Bingham, 23, being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of cocaine and possession of paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680888116534.png" alt="Photos Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities made five arrests Friday stemming from a narcotics investigation.Just after 5:30a.m. Friday, a narcotics search warrant was executed by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team after the Patrol South Community Response Team developed information that a residence in the 6000 block of South Hydraulic in Wichita was involved in the distribution of Methamphetamines, according to Officer Chad Ditch.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680888162401.png" alt="-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The assistance of the Patrol West Community Response Team was also used to execute the warrant.Investigators seized 9 pounds of Methamphetamines, 300 grams of cocaine, 2 ounces of marijuana, 7 rifles, 4 handguns, two reported stolen, and over $68,000 in cash from the residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680903940373.png" alt="Finley-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Finley-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested 61-year-old Timothy Finley on requested charges&nbsp; of distribution of methamphetamines and cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of two stolen firearms, possession of paraphernalia, and two Sedgwick County warrants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680903972602.png" alt="Doub-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Doub-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>John Doub, 58, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and a city warrant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680904032935.png" alt="Sherri Horkavy-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Sherri Horkavy-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sherri Horkavy is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines and possession of paraphernalia<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680904070033.png" alt="Moran-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Moran-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Carlos Moran, 35,&nbsp;is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and two city warrants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680904147467.png" alt="Kara Horkavy&nbsp;-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Kara Horkavy&nbsp;-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kara Horkavy was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of paraphernalia and a city warrant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680916128424.png" alt="Bingham-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Bingham-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Melissa Bingham, 23, being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamines, possession of cocaine and possession of paraphernalia.

Police seize rifles, $68K in cash and drugs from Kan. home

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. plunged into uncertainty Friday following conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone that has been widely available for more than 20 years.

For now, the drug the Food and Drug Administration approved in 2000 appeared to remain at least immediately available in wake of two separate rulings that were issued just minutes apart by federal judges in Texas and Washington.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval. But that decision came at nearly same time that U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-lawsuit-fda-1857d1a4fd356c61ad76e00621e93b44">ordered the opposite</a>&nbsp;and directed 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.

The extraordinary timing of the competing orders revealed the high stakes surrounding the drug nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and curtailed access to abortion across the country.

“FDA is under one order that says you can do nothing and another that says in seven days I’m going to require you to vacate the approval of mifepristone,” said Glenn Cohen of Harvard Law School.

The abortion drug has been widely used in the U.S. since securing FDA approval and there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the medical decisions of the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortion</a>&nbsp;in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.

Kacsmaryk signed an injunction directing the FDA to stay mifepristone’s approval while a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the drug continues. His 67-page order gave the government seven days to appeal.

“Simply put, FDA stonewalled judicial review — until now,” Kacsmaryk wrote.

He didn’t go as far as the plaintiffs wanted by withdrawing or suspending approval of the chemical abortion drug and removing it from the list of approved drugs.

Federal lawyers representing the FDA are expected to swiftly appeal. The White House was reviewing the decision.

Clinics and doctors that prescribe the two-drug combination have said that if mifepristone were pulled from the market, they would switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach has a slightly lower rate of effectiveness in ending pregnancies, but it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.

Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has long been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S. Clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination have said they plan to switch to using only misoprostol. The single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies.

The lawsuit in the Texas case was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom</a>, which was also involved in the Mississippi case that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned. At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because it did not adequately review its safety risks.

Courts have long deferred to the FDA on issues of drug safety and effectiveness. But the agency’s authority faces new challenges in a post-Roe legal environment in which abortions are banned or unavailable in 14 states, while 16 states have laws specifically targeting abortion medications.

Democrats and abortion rights groups slammed the ruling out of Texas.

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

Legal experts warned that the ruling could upend decades of precedent, setting the stage for political groups to overturn other FDA approvals of controversial drugs and vaccines.

“This has never happened before in history — it’s a huge deal,” said Greer Donley, a professor specializing in reproductive health care at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. “You have a federal judge who has zero scientific background second guessing every scientific decision that the FDA made."

Still, because of the contradictory nature of the rulings, Greer and other experts said there would be little immediate impact.

“In the short term, nothing’s going to change,” Greer said. “This is the time to be preparing for the fact that in a week, potentially, mifepristone becomes an unapproved drug in this country.”

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of a court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medication-abortion-pill-texas-judge-f2ffc6fca3ad4b8cd8171eef65a9c29e">ruling that could limit its availability</a>, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.

The Democratic governor said he ordered the Department of Corrections, which has a pharmacy license, to buy 30,000 doses of the generic version of mifepristone at a cost of about $1.28 million, or $42.50 per pill. The shipment arrived in late March.

A two-pill combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is the most common form of abortion in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-medication-abortion-783874945633">Research shows</a>&nbsp;that medication-induced abortions are safe and effective. They were approved by the Food and Drug Administration over 20 years ago.

The awaited ruling in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-texas-fda-roe-wade-5306714113f3be4233a9e11a84a992aa">Texas lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a Christian group — in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year to strip away the constitutional right to end a pregnancy — would affect states where abortion is legal as well as those that outlaw it.

“This Texas lawsuit is a clear and present danger to patients and providers all across the country," Inslee said in a statement. “Washington will not sit by idly and risk the devastating consequences of inaction.”

Former President Donald Trump-appointed Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard debate in March over the Alliance Defending Freedom’s request to revoke or suspend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. The conservative group claims it was improperly approved.

Kacsmaryk said he would rule “as soon as possible” without giving any clear indication of how he might decide.

The bulk pill purchase also comes as Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson pursues the issue from another angle: He's helping to lead a multistate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-challenges-fda-over-unlawful-unnecessary-restrictions-medication#:~:text=In%20the%20lawsuit%2C%20Ferguson%20notes,Washington%20state%20were%20medication%20abortions.">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in federal court meant to further ease restrictions to the medication.

The lawsuit filed with Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in February against the FDA accuses it of singling out mifepristone for excessively burdensome regulation despite evidence that the drug is safer than Tylenol, Ferguson said in a statement at the time.

The lawsuit asks the court to find certain FDA restrictions unlawful and to stop the federal agency from enforcing or applying them to mifepristone.

State lawmakers are also bringing legislation that will authorize the state Department of Corrections to sell or distribute the drug stockpile to licensed providers in Washington.

The bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Karen Keiser, of Des Moines, said the last year has made it clear that they can't be complacent when it comes to reproductive health.

“The Legislature is taking a number of crucial steps this session to protect abortion rights," Keiser said, “but those rights are meaningless without access to care.”

Several moves have been made in Washington to strengthen abortion access, including a directive from Inslee instructing the Washington State Patrol not to cooperate with out-of-state abortion investigations. Other abortion and gender-affirming care bills are expected to pass the Washington Legislature this session.

Abortion has been legal in Washington since a 1970 statewide ballot referendum.

<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&nbsp;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&nbsp;ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S. plunged into uncertainty Friday following conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone that has been widely available for more than 20 years.For now, the drug the Food and Drug Administration approved in 2000 appeared to remain at least immediately available in wake of two separate rulings that were issued just minutes apart by federal judges in Texas and Washington.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581004285984.jpeg" alt=" About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval. But that decision came at nearly same time that U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-lawsuit-fda-1857d1a4fd356c61ad76e00621e93b44">ordered the opposite</a>&nbsp;and directed 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.The extraordinary timing of the competing orders revealed the high stakes surrounding the drug nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and curtailed access to abortion across the country.“FDA is under one order that says you can do nothing and another that says in seven days I’m going to require you to vacate the approval of mifepristone,” said Glenn Cohen of Harvard Law School.The abortion drug has been widely used in the U.S. since securing FDA approval and there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the medical decisions of the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortion</a>&nbsp;in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.Kacsmaryk signed an injunction directing the FDA to stay mifepristone’s approval while a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the drug continues. His 67-page order gave the government seven days to appeal.“Simply put, FDA stonewalled judicial review — until now,” Kacsmaryk wrote.He didn’t go as far as the plaintiffs wanted by withdrawing or suspending approval of the chemical abortion drug and removing it from the list of approved drugs.Federal lawyers representing the FDA are expected to swiftly appeal. The White House was reviewing the decision.Clinics and doctors that prescribe the two-drug combination have said that if mifepristone were pulled from the market, they would switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach has a slightly lower rate of effectiveness in ending pregnancies, but it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has long been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S. Clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination have said they plan to switch to using only misoprostol. The single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies.The lawsuit in the Texas case was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom</a>, which was also involved in the Mississippi case that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned. At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because it did not adequately review its safety risks.Courts have long deferred to the FDA on issues of drug safety and effectiveness. But the agency’s authority faces new challenges in a post-Roe legal environment in which abortions are banned or unavailable in 14 states, while 16 states have laws specifically targeting abortion medications.Democrats and abortion rights groups slammed the ruling out of Texas.“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.Legal experts warned that the ruling could upend decades of precedent, setting the stage for political groups to overturn other FDA approvals of controversial drugs and vaccines.“This has never happened before in history — it’s a huge deal,” said Greer Donley, a professor specializing in reproductive health care at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. “You have a federal judge who has zero scientific background second guessing every scientific decision that the FDA made."Still, because of the contradictory nature of the rulings, Greer and other experts said there would be little immediate impact.“In the short term, nothing’s going to change,” Greer said. “This is the time to be preparing for the fact that in a week, potentially, mifepristone becomes an unapproved drug in this country.”___BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of a court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medication-abortion-pill-texas-judge-f2ffc6fca3ad4b8cd8171eef65a9c29e">ruling that could limit its availability</a>, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.The Democratic governor said he ordered the Department of Corrections, which has a pharmacy license, to buy 30,000 doses of the generic version of mifepristone at a cost of about $1.28 million, or $42.50 per pill. The shipment arrived in late March.A two-pill combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is the most common form of abortion in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-medication-abortion-783874945633">Research shows</a>&nbsp;that medication-induced abortions are safe and effective. They were approved by the Food and Drug Administration over 20 years ago.The awaited ruling in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-texas-fda-roe-wade-5306714113f3be4233a9e11a84a992aa">Texas lawsuit</a>&nbsp;brought by a Christian group — in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year to strip away the constitutional right to end a pregnancy — would affect states where abortion is legal as well as those that outlaw it.“This Texas lawsuit is a clear and present danger to patients and providers all across the country," Inslee said in a statement. “Washington will not sit by idly and risk the devastating consequences of inaction.”Former President Donald Trump-appointed Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard debate in March over the Alliance Defending Freedom’s request to revoke or suspend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone. The conservative group claims it was improperly approved.Kacsmaryk said he would rule “as soon as possible” without giving any clear indication of how he might decide.The bulk pill purchase also comes as Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson pursues the issue from another angle: He's helping to lead a multistate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-challenges-fda-over-unlawful-unnecessary-restrictions-medication#:~:text=In%20the%20lawsuit%2C%20Ferguson%20notes,Washington%20state%20were%20medication%20abortions.">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in federal court meant to further ease restrictions to the medication.The lawsuit filed with Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum in February against the FDA accuses it of singling out mifepristone for excessively burdensome regulation despite evidence that the drug is safer than Tylenol, Ferguson said in a statement at the time.The lawsuit asks the court to find certain FDA restrictions unlawful and to stop the federal agency from enforcing or applying them to mifepristone.State lawmakers are also bringing legislation that will authorize the state Department of Corrections to sell or distribute the drug stockpile to licensed providers in Washington.The bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Karen Keiser, of Des Moines, said the last year has made it clear that they can't be complacent when it comes to reproductive health.“The Legislature is taking a number of crucial steps this session to protect abortion rights," Keiser said, “but those rights are meaningless without access to care.”Several moves have been made in Washington to strengthen abortion access, including a directive from Inslee instructing the Washington State Patrol not to cooperate with out-of-state abortion investigations. Other abortion and gender-affirming care bills are expected to pass the Washington Legislature this session.Abortion has been legal in Washington since a 1970 statewide ballot referendum.

Judge halts FDA approval of abortion pill; 2nd judge protects access

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy has deployed a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the Middle East, a spokesman said Saturday, in what appeared to be a show of force toward Iran following recent tensions.

The Navy rarely acknowledges the location or deployment of submarines. Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the 5th Fleet based in the Gulf nation of Bahrain, declined to comment on the submarine's mission or what had prompted the deployment.

He said the nuclear-powered submarine, based out of Kings Bay, Georgia, passed through the Suez Canal on Friday. “It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability,” Hawkins said.

The 5th Fleet patrols the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil transits. Its region includes the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen and the Red Sea stretching up to the Suez Canal, the Egyptian waterway linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean Sea.

The U.S., the U.K. and Israel have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-iran-persian-gulf-tensions-419efc522acbd213a79696c9876af6dc">accused Iran of targeting oil tankers and commercial ships</a>&nbsp;in recent years, allegations denied by Tehran. The U.S. Navy has also reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-navy-dubai-abf52e1f3bc472239906a5ebaf4156f1">a series of tense encounters at sea</a>&nbsp;with Iranian forces that it said were being recklessly aggressive.

Last month, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-syria-iran-db9ac72843a0a71c995d6ea04392cdbf">launched airstrikes</a>&nbsp;against Iran-backed forces in Syria after a rocket attack killed a U.S. contractor and wounded seven other Americans in that country's northeast.

Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from ships or submarines can hit targets up to 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles away). They were famously employed during the opening hours of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-syria-ap-top-news-george-w-bush-cbe39f31fcc84dacbbc05fa1f8820c12">in response to a Syrian chemical weapons attack in 2018</a>.

U.S.-Iranian tensions have soared since then-President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 agreement with world powers that provided sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing its nuclear activities and placing them under enhanced surveillance.

The Biden administration's efforts to restore the agreement hit a wall last year. The tensions have worsened as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-europe-middle-east-dubai-united-arab-emirates-c1255814129259a97e301d84548a37bb">supplied attack drones to Russian forces</a>&nbsp;in Ukraine and as Israel and Iran have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-israel-strikes-iran-shadow-8c34143296c23593d35aa1078c2c6067">escalated their yearslong shadow war</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East.

In addition to drawing closer to Moscow, Tehran has sought improved relations with China, which brokered an agreement last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-iran-saudi-diplomatic-relations-beijing-d12dc5dc4049052c6228caceaa2a2b9f">to restore diplomatic ties</a>&nbsp;between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy has deployed a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the Middle East, a spokesman said Saturday, in what appeared to be a show of force toward Iran following recent tensions.The Navy rarely acknowledges the location or deployment of submarines. Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the 5th Fleet based in the Gulf nation of Bahrain, declined to comment on the submarine's mission or what had prompted the deployment.He said the nuclear-powered submarine, based out of Kings Bay, Georgia, passed through the Suez Canal on Friday. “It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability,” Hawkins said.The 5th Fleet patrols the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil transits. Its region includes the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen and the Red Sea stretching up to the Suez Canal, the Egyptian waterway linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean Sea.The U.S., the U.K. and Israel have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-iran-persian-gulf-tensions-419efc522acbd213a79696c9876af6dc">accused Iran of targeting oil tankers and commercial ships</a>&nbsp;in recent years, allegations denied by Tehran. The U.S. Navy has also reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-navy-dubai-abf52e1f3bc472239906a5ebaf4156f1">a series of tense encounters at sea</a>&nbsp;with Iranian forces that it said were being recklessly aggressive.Last month, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-syria-iran-db9ac72843a0a71c995d6ea04392cdbf">launched airstrikes</a>&nbsp;against Iran-backed forces in Syria after a rocket attack killed a U.S. contractor and wounded seven other Americans in that country's northeast.Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from ships or submarines can hit targets up to 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles away). They were famously employed during the opening hours of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-syria-ap-top-news-george-w-bush-cbe39f31fcc84dacbbc05fa1f8820c12">in response to a Syrian chemical weapons attack in 2018</a>.U.S.-Iranian tensions have soared since then-President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 agreement with world powers that provided sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing its nuclear activities and placing them under enhanced surveillance.The Biden administration's efforts to restore the agreement hit a wall last year. The tensions have worsened as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-europe-middle-east-dubai-united-arab-emirates-c1255814129259a97e301d84548a37bb">supplied attack drones to Russian forces</a>&nbsp;in Ukraine and as Israel and Iran have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-israel-strikes-iran-shadow-8c34143296c23593d35aa1078c2c6067">escalated their yearslong shadow war</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East.In addition to drawing closer to Moscow, Tehran has sought improved relations with China, which brokered an agreement last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-iran-saudi-diplomatic-relations-beijing-d12dc5dc4049052c6228caceaa2a2b9f">to restore diplomatic ties</a>&nbsp;between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

US deploys guided-missile submarine amid tensions with Iran

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Maintaining his defense to the very end that he was drugged, raped, and shot at, Kyle V. Hardwick was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Marion Edward “Ed” Bates, 56, and Phillip “Phil” D. Anstine, 58, both of Hutchinson, on April 7.&nbsp;

Kyle V. Hardwick was represented by Scott Loftis, an attorney from Ponca City, Oklahoma. Hardwick pled not guilty through the entire trial. &nbsp;

Two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

One count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000, and an alternating count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

One count of solicitation perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Aug. 27, 2021 Reno County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to 1016 N. Palomino Trail in Reno County based on information they received&nbsp;regarding the owners of that property. &nbsp;

When they arrived at the scene, deputies spoke to three witnesses present at the property who were concerned because they had been unable to contact Ed Bates or Phil Anstine since the evening of Aug. 25, 2021. &nbsp;

A search of the property followed.&nbsp;They eventually discovered a body in a shallow and mostly dry pond on the property that had been covered by tree branches. A further check of the property resulted in the discovery of the badly burned and charred remains of a second body in a burn pit that had been covered by a pallet and metal sheeting.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;search warrant for the property, called “the compound,” was obtained and then executed on August 28, 2021. &nbsp;

Both bodies were recovered. Along with the charred body in the burn pit, other items such as the remains of a shotgun barrel were recovered. &nbsp;

Forensic investigation conducted by Dr. Scott Kipper with the Sedgwick County Forensic Center and Reno County District Attorney’s Office determined the bodies to be of Ed Bates and Phil Anstine. &nbsp;

Autopsies determined they were killed by a shotgun, and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;

Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Kyle V. Hardwick on Sept. 1 in Maize, Kansas near a Dollar General where he had made purchases. Formal charges of premeditated intentional murder of each victim and two alternative counts of theft were filed in Reno County District Court by the Reno County District Attorney’s Office. &nbsp;

A count of solicitation to commit perjury was added to the complaint after a May 19, 2022, telephone conversation during which it was alleged that the defendant attempted to solicit perjury from a witness, identified as a woman intimately known to him as Sherry Reed. &nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/03e0722b-52f8-4b48-9a71-cca42becd55a" target="_blank">A jury trial commenced on the complaint on Jan. 24, 2023</a>. &nbsp;

The Reno County District Attorney’s Office called approximately 60 witnesses and submitted more than 130 exhibits during the trial which lasted about two weeks. &nbsp;

The defendant, Hardwick, claimed at trial that he had killed Ed Bates and Phil Anstine in self-defense.&nbsp;

Described by the state in their opening statement, the "compound" is a property east of Hutchinson, where Ed&nbsp;Bates and Phil Anstine would frequent. It had various other additions like buildings built on it, a camper, a dried-up pond, and burn pits. The two men would hang out there, shoot firearms, and overall hone their survival techniques. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Of the two male victims, Hardwick knew Phil Anstine.&nbsp;

Hardwick did not know Marion Bates, but had a prior association with Phil Anstine through work that included building houses, akin to Habitat for Humanity. Anstine was said to have overseen much of the work, while Hardwick assisted with installation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick called Anstine a friend and they were said to have a mutual interest in firearms. They were said to be close enough that they would travel to visit each other from time to time, but not frequently. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s last visit to see Anstine was said to be because of personal problems in his life. He wanted get out of Kansas City for a while. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick was said to have taken a Greyhound bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Hutchinson, Kansas to visit Anstine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis told the jury that Anstine had dropped off Hardwick at the compound with a set of keys. Hardwick was said to have permission to drive Anstine’s truck and had those keys as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine then returned shortly after with Little Caesar’s pizza and Samuel Adams beer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s defense by his attorney and by his own testimony, said he began to feel strange or ill after consuming some of the beer and the pizza.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s symptoms were described as&nbsp;stomach pains, light-headedness, and disorientation. Hardwick was said to have voiced his sudden illness to Anstine, and then went to the camper on the property where he passed out. Hardwick was said to not remember passing out in the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick alleged he woke up the next day, still disoriented, face down on a bed in the camper with his pants down, and a pain in his anus.&nbsp;

He said he&nbsp;surmised he was raped.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Upon leaving the camper to search for Anstine out of concern, Hardwick returned to the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine is said to have returned to the compound with a shotgun in his hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick said he&nbsp;tried to tell Anstine of his situation, but became suspicious when Anstine was said to have been dismissive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

When Hardwick then accused Anstine of raping him, Anstine cocked and aimed his shotgun at Hardwick.&nbsp;

Hardwick said he wrestled the shotgun out of Anstine’s hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine was said to have then pulled a .380 semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Hardwick, causing Hardwick to fatally shoot him with the shotgun. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Still disoriented from the prior drugging and rape, the defense said that Hardwick then made his way to the pumphouse, north of the camper, for water. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis described to the jury what happened next as, “one of the real tragedies of this case.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Another man, unknown to Hardwick, appeared and shot at Hardwick. Hardwick shot back with the shotgun he had taken from Anstine, striking the second man. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

After a while, determining the man is dead, Hardwick approached the body and searched the man and discovered his identity as Ed&nbsp;Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis said, more than likely Bates was not part of Hardwick’s alleged rape, and only came to aid his friend, Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state, consisting of District Attorney (DA) Thomas Stanton and Deputy District Attorney Andrew Davidson, called a number of witnesses, including friends of the victims, forensic analysts with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and Sherry Reed herself, who corroborated the state’s opening statement that accused Hardwick of killing the pair for different reasons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KBI’s testimony mostly addressed the recovery and forensic testing of a red&nbsp;truck, which belonged to Phil Anstine, which was found at Pretty Prairie Road and Victory Road in October 2021. &nbsp;

Hardwick’s DNA was found on multiple places on the truck as well as on items of evidence found in the truck. &nbsp;

Sherry Reed was the key witness of the trial, having turned in numerous evidence to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;

During his testimony, Chase Mattingly, the boyfriend of Sherry Reed’s daughter, said he had overheard part of a phone conversation between Hardwick and Reed on Aug. 31,&nbsp;2021. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He only understood part of the conversation, and said he had heard Hardwick tell Reed he had messed up. &nbsp;&nbsp;

During cross-examination by the defense, Mattingly said he did not know what Hardwick was referring to at the time. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s&nbsp;additional count of solicitation to commit perjury stems from&nbsp;a FaceTime call between the defendant and Reed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FaceTime call had been played in court prior when Hardwick was bound over in June 2022, and was played again on Jan. 27. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In the recorded FaceTime conversation, Hardwick repeatedly tells Reed not to show up for the hearing and, if she did testify, to tell the court she was mentally unstable and on drugs. At one time he said, “Please don’t come,” and repeatedly said, “you don’t have to show up.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick was also noted as telling Reed to “just tell the truth.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick is also quoted to have said that “Phil was a friend and he dropped like a martyr.”&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Reed grew to become inconsistent with her testimony, claiming to not remember things she said even when her prior testimonies were presented to her. &nbsp;

Brought up during the case, Hardwick was said to have told Reed he would have to kill his mother. &nbsp;

During his own testimony when cross-examined, Hardwick would also prove inconsistent and become frustrated to the point he would accuse the state of “putting words in his mouth.” &nbsp;

Hardwick also told the jury he had thoughts of suicide when he arrived to Hutchinson. &nbsp;

The presentation of evidence concluded on Feb. 1. &nbsp;

It was determined that Hardwick was stealing various guns, ammunition, and other items when Ed Bates caught him, prompting Hardwick to shoot him and move his body. &nbsp;

Phil Anstine later discovered Hardwick and was killed in an execution style in the burn pit. &nbsp;

Closing statements were made to the jury, and the jury began its deliberations,&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/4ab76543-081a-4c03-b2e4-be61806d0e55" target="_blank">reaching one the morning of Feb. 2 at 10:45 a.m.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

The jury delivered a verdict of guilty in the case of the State of Kansas v. Kyle V. Hardwick. &nbsp;

Hardwick was convicted of two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree and one count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000, along with one count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000 and a count of solicitation of perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp; &nbsp;

During sentencing, two months later, the family and friends of Marion Edward “Ed” Bates and Phillip “Phil” D. Anstine delivered statements to Hardwick. &nbsp;

They informed how Hardwick’s actions had impacted their lives. Many of them implored the court to hand down the maximum punishment. &nbsp;

In the State of Kansas, the burden of proof on the prosecution is extremely high in murder cases and if there is an element of doubt in a defendant’s&nbsp;guilt, a jury will not be able to reach conviction. &nbsp;

Judge Keith Schroeder reminded the jury and the gallery of this throughout the case. &nbsp;

When sentencing Hardwick, Judge Schroeder made note of the lack of sympathy from Hardwick for his actions, and that he would return in kind. &nbsp;

Stipulated with Hardwick’s life convictions, he will not receive good time credit. Additionally, he will be required to register as a violent offender. &nbsp;

Concurrent with his life convictions, Hardwick will serve eight months for his third alternative count of theft and seven months for solicitation of perjury. &nbsp;

“The Bates family is very satisfied with the outcome,” Ken Bates, brother of Ed Bates, said. “Justice is served.” &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630599777911.png" alt="Hardwick-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Hardwick-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JUDD WEIL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Maintaining his defense to the very end that he was drugged, raped, and shot at, Kyle V. Hardwick was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Marion Edward “Ed” Bates, 56, and Phillip “Phil” D. Anstine, 58, both of Hutchinson, on April 7.&nbsp;Kyle V. Hardwick was represented by Scott Loftis, an attorney from Ponca City, Oklahoma. Hardwick pled not guilty through the entire trial. &nbsp;He was initially charged with:&nbsp;Two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000, and an alternating count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One count of solicitation perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On Aug. 27, 2021 Reno County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to 1016 N. Palomino Trail in Reno County based on information they received&nbsp;regarding the owners of that property. &nbsp;When they arrived at the scene, deputies spoke to three witnesses present at the property who were concerned because they had been unable to contact Ed Bates or Phil Anstine since the evening of Aug. 25, 2021. &nbsp;A search of the property followed.&nbsp;They eventually discovered a body in a shallow and mostly dry pond on the property that had been covered by tree branches. A further check of the property resulted in the discovery of the badly burned and charred remains of a second body in a burn pit that had been covered by a pallet and metal sheeting.&nbsp;A&nbsp;search warrant for the property, called “the compound,” was obtained and then executed on August 28, 2021. &nbsp;Both bodies were recovered. Along with the charred body in the burn pit, other items such as the remains of a shotgun barrel were recovered. &nbsp;Forensic investigation conducted by Dr. Scott Kipper with the Sedgwick County Forensic Center and Reno County District Attorney’s Office determined the bodies to be of Ed Bates and Phil Anstine. &nbsp;Autopsies determined they were killed by a shotgun, and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Kyle V. Hardwick on Sept. 1 in Maize, Kansas near a Dollar General where he had made purchases. Formal charges of premeditated intentional murder of each victim and two alternative counts of theft were filed in Reno County District Court by the Reno County District Attorney’s Office. &nbsp;A count of solicitation to commit perjury was added to the complaint after a May 19, 2022, telephone conversation during which it was alleged that the defendant attempted to solicit perjury from a witness, identified as a woman intimately known to him as Sherry Reed. &nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/03e0722b-52f8-4b48-9a71-cca42becd55a" target="_blank">A jury trial commenced on the complaint on Jan. 24, 2023</a>. &nbsp;The Reno County District Attorney’s Office called approximately 60 witnesses and submitted more than 130 exhibits during the trial which lasted about two weeks. &nbsp;The defendant, Hardwick, claimed at trial that he had killed Ed Bates and Phil Anstine in self-defense.&nbsp;Described by the state in their opening statement, the "compound" is a property east of Hutchinson, where Ed&nbsp;Bates and Phil Anstine would frequent. It had various other additions like buildings built on it, a camper, a dried-up pond, and burn pits. The two men would hang out there, shoot firearms, and overall hone their survival techniques. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the two male victims, Hardwick knew Phil Anstine.&nbsp;Hardwick did not know Marion Bates, but had a prior association with Phil Anstine through work that included building houses, akin to Habitat for Humanity. Anstine was said to have overseen much of the work, while Hardwick assisted with installation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick called Anstine a friend and they were said to have a mutual interest in firearms. They were said to be close enough that they would travel to visit each other from time to time, but not frequently. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s last visit to see Anstine was said to be because of personal problems in his life. He wanted get out of Kansas City for a while. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick was said to have taken a Greyhound bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Hutchinson, Kansas to visit Anstine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis told the jury that Anstine had dropped off Hardwick at the compound with a set of keys. Hardwick was said to have permission to drive Anstine’s truck and had those keys as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine then returned shortly after with Little Caesar’s pizza and Samuel Adams beer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s defense by his attorney and by his own testimony, said he began to feel strange or ill after consuming some of the beer and the pizza.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s symptoms were described as&nbsp;stomach pains, light-headedness, and disorientation. Hardwick was said to have voiced his sudden illness to Anstine, and then went to the camper on the property where he passed out. Hardwick was said to not remember passing out in the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick alleged he woke up the next day, still disoriented, face down on a bed in the camper with his pants down, and a pain in his anus.&nbsp;He said he&nbsp;surmised he was raped.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon leaving the camper to search for Anstine out of concern, Hardwick returned to the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine is said to have returned to the compound with a shotgun in his hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick said he&nbsp;tried to tell Anstine of his situation, but became suspicious when Anstine was said to have been dismissive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Hardwick then accused Anstine of raping him, Anstine cocked and aimed his shotgun at Hardwick.&nbsp;Hardwick said he wrestled the shotgun out of Anstine’s hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine was said to have then pulled a .380 semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Hardwick, causing Hardwick to fatally shoot him with the shotgun. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still disoriented from the prior drugging and rape, the defense said that Hardwick then made his way to the pumphouse, north of the camper, for water. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis described to the jury what happened next as, “one of the real tragedies of this case.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another man, unknown to Hardwick, appeared and shot at Hardwick. Hardwick shot back with the shotgun he had taken from Anstine, striking the second man. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After a while, determining the man is dead, Hardwick approached the body and searched the man and discovered his identity as Ed&nbsp;Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis said, more than likely Bates was not part of Hardwick’s alleged rape, and only came to aid his friend, Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The state, consisting of District Attorney (DA) Thomas Stanton and Deputy District Attorney Andrew Davidson, called a number of witnesses, including friends of the victims, forensic analysts with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and Sherry Reed herself, who corroborated the state’s opening statement that accused Hardwick of killing the pair for different reasons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The KBI’s testimony mostly addressed the recovery and forensic testing of a red&nbsp;truck, which belonged to Phil Anstine, which was found at Pretty Prairie Road and Victory Road in October 2021. &nbsp;Hardwick’s DNA was found on multiple places on the truck as well as on items of evidence found in the truck. &nbsp;Sherry Reed was the key witness of the trial, having turned in numerous evidence to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;During his testimony, Chase Mattingly, the boyfriend of Sherry Reed’s daughter, said he had overheard part of a phone conversation between Hardwick and Reed on Aug. 31,&nbsp;2021. &nbsp;&nbsp;He only understood part of the conversation, and said he had heard Hardwick tell Reed he had messed up. &nbsp;&nbsp;During cross-examination by the defense, Mattingly said he did not know what Hardwick was referring to at the time. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s&nbsp;additional count of solicitation to commit perjury stems from&nbsp;a FaceTime call between the defendant and Reed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The FaceTime call had been played in court prior when Hardwick was bound over in June 2022, and was played again on Jan. 27. &nbsp;&nbsp;In the recorded FaceTime conversation, Hardwick repeatedly tells Reed not to show up for the hearing and, if she did testify, to tell the court she was mentally unstable and on drugs. At one time he said, “Please don’t come,” and repeatedly said, “you don’t have to show up.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick was also noted as telling Reed to “just tell the truth.” &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick is also quoted to have said that “Phil was a friend and he dropped like a martyr.”&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Reed grew to become inconsistent with her testimony, claiming to not remember things she said even when her prior testimonies were presented to her. &nbsp;Brought up during the case, Hardwick was said to have told Reed he would have to kill his mother. &nbsp;During his own testimony when cross-examined, Hardwick would also prove inconsistent and become frustrated to the point he would accuse the state of “putting words in his mouth.” &nbsp;Hardwick also told the jury he had thoughts of suicide when he arrived to Hutchinson. &nbsp;The presentation of evidence concluded on Feb. 1. &nbsp;It was determined that Hardwick was stealing various guns, ammunition, and other items when Ed Bates caught him, prompting Hardwick to shoot him and move his body. &nbsp;Phil Anstine later discovered Hardwick and was killed in an execution style in the burn pit. &nbsp;Closing statements were made to the jury, and the jury began its deliberations,&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/4ab76543-081a-4c03-b2e4-be61806d0e55" target="_blank">reaching one the morning of Feb. 2 at 10:45 a.m.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The jury delivered a verdict of guilty in the case of the State of Kansas v. Kyle V. Hardwick. &nbsp;Hardwick was convicted of two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree and one count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000, along with one count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000 and a count of solicitation of perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp; &nbsp;During sentencing, two months later, the family and friends of Marion Edward “Ed” Bates and Phillip “Phil” D. Anstine delivered statements to Hardwick. &nbsp;They informed how Hardwick’s actions had impacted their lives. Many of them implored the court to hand down the maximum punishment. &nbsp;In the State of Kansas, the burden of proof on the prosecution is extremely high in murder cases and if there is an element of doubt in a defendant’s&nbsp;guilt, a jury will not be able to reach conviction. &nbsp;Judge Keith Schroeder reminded the jury and the gallery of this throughout the case. &nbsp;When sentencing Hardwick, Judge Schroeder made note of the lack of sympathy from Hardwick for his actions, and that he would return in kind. &nbsp;Stipulated with Hardwick’s life convictions, he will not receive good time credit. Additionally, he will be required to register as a violent offender. &nbsp;Concurrent with his life convictions, Hardwick will serve eight months for his third alternative count of theft and seven months for solicitation of perjury. &nbsp;“The Bates family is very satisfied with the outcome,” Ken Bates, brother of Ed Bates, said. “Justice is served.” &nbsp;

Kansas man sentenced for August 2021 double-murder

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a bank robbery and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 3:30p.m. April 5, police were dispatched to bank robbery in progress at Goppert Financial Bank, 2100 N. Highway 7, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, according to a media release.

While responding to the scene, officers were provided with a description of the suspect and the suspect vehicle. Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle traveling south on Highway 7 near the area of Timber Street. 

Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and took the female driver later identified as 78-year-old Bonnie Gooch of Pleasant Hill into custody.&nbsp;

A search warrant was served on the suspect vehicle where evidence linking the woman to the bank robbery was located.&nbsp; On Thursday,&nbsp;Gooch was charged by the Cass County Prosecutors Office with Stealing or attempted stealing from a Financial Institution. Gooch is being held on a bond of $25,000 cash only.

In 2020, the Jackson County prosecutors charged Gooch in connection with a bank robbery in Lee's Summit.

She was charged with stealing more than $750, a Class-D felony.&nbsp;

According to court records, police were called to a Lee’s Summit home on Jan. 23, where Gooch's son told police that his mother was "off her rocker" and had stated she was going to rob a bank before she left the house.

Later that afternoon, police were called to the Bank of the West on Highway 291. Witnesses told police that Gooch handed a teller a note, demanding $3,000, according to court documents.

Gooch left after getting some cash. She was taken into custody in a Nissan SUV a short time later.

Court records said that police found the money and the note she passed to the teller inside.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680817861086.png" alt="Gooch-photo Pleasant Hill Police" />
 <figcaption>Gooch-photo Pleasant Hill Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a bank robbery and have a suspect in custody.Just before 3:30p.m. April 5, police were dispatched to bank robbery in progress at Goppert Financial Bank, 2100 N. Highway 7, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, according to a media release.While responding to the scene, officers were provided with a description of the suspect and the suspect vehicle. Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle traveling south on Highway 7 near the area of Timber Street. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and took the female driver later identified as 78-year-old Bonnie Gooch of Pleasant Hill into custody.&nbsp;A search warrant was served on the suspect vehicle where evidence linking the woman to the bank robbery was located.&nbsp; On Thursday,&nbsp;Gooch was charged by the Cass County Prosecutors Office with Stealing or attempted stealing from a Financial Institution. Gooch is being held on a bond of $25,000 cash only.In 2020, the Jackson County prosecutors charged Gooch in connection with a bank robbery in Lee's Summit.She was charged with stealing more than $750, a Class-D felony.&nbsp;According to court records, police were called to a Lee’s Summit home on Jan. 23, where Gooch's son told police that his mother was "off her rocker" and had stated she was going to rob a bank before she left the house.Later that afternoon, police were called to the Bank of the West on Highway 291. Witnesses told police that Gooch handed a teller a note, demanding $3,000, according to court documents.Gooch left after getting some cash. She was taken into custody in a Nissan SUV a short time later.Court records said that police found the money and the note she passed to the teller inside.

78-year-old woman jailed again for KC-area bank robbery

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen in connection with a stolen gun.

On April 5, the parent of a 15-year-boy in Atchison spoke to a police officer after she found a handgun in the boy's room at their home, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Police recovered the gun and determined that it had been reported stolen in July 2022. Police arrested the teen and later released him to a parent, according to Wilson.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen in connection with a stolen gun.On April 5, the parent of a 15-year-boy in Atchison spoke to a police officer after she found a handgun in the boy's room at their home, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Police recovered the gun and determined that it had been reported stolen in July 2022. Police arrested the teen and later released him to a parent, according to Wilson.