By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-08/kansas-republicans-vote-bar-transgender-women-bathrooms-prisons-shelters">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers have advanced legislation 
that would bar transgender women from women’s bathrooms, women’s 
prisons, women’s locker rooms and domestic violence shelters.

Critics see <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/" target="_blank">the bill</a>
 as a political attack on transgender and intersex people, and 
organizations that support victims of sexual violence said it could 
jeopardize the money they get from the federal government.

Supporters
 say the bill — they call it a “women’s bill of rights” — would protect 
cisgender women from discrimination and sexual violence in the face of 
what they call an “endangerment of single-sex spaces.”

The bill 
was introduced by state Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, but 
is based on model legislation by a national group that opposes 
transgender rights. A similar bill based on the same model is moving 
through the Oklahoma Legislature.

It would require state agencies 
to define “women” as people whose reproductive systems are developed to 
produce ova, and “men” as people whose reproductive systems are 
developed to fertilize ova.

Republicans in the Kansas Senate 
approved the bill last month by a 26-11 vote — just one shy of what 
would be needed to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Three
 Republican senators abstained.

House lawmakers on the Committee 
on Health and Human Services passed it out of committee this week and 
sent it to the full chamber for a vote.

If passed, the Kansas 
attorney general’s office expects the constitutionality of the bill to 
be challenged, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said it protects women’s rights.

“Women
 have fought for over 50 years to gain certain rights in this country. 
And these rights are being eroded,” she said. “I really wish people 
would not take it that we’re targeting another group of people.”

Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee and the committee’s ranking minority member, spoke against the bill.

“I
 am more than opposed — I’ll try to watch my language — to this bill,” 
said Ruiz, one of the state’s first openly LGBTQ legislators. “It is 
going to be very harmful to so many people, especially children.”

The vote came after lawmakers heard heated testimony on the bill earlier this week.

Tammy
 Quayle of Wichita said that preventing her transgender daughter from 
using women’s restrooms would effectively bar her from public spaces 
like museums and ballparks.

“What this bill seeks to do is to keep
 transgender people out of the public eye by limiting their access to 
the most basic of necessities — a bathroom that matches their gender,” 
she said.

Medical experts said it would complicate the lives of 
the up to 2% of Kansans who are intersex — born with biological traits 
that don’t neatly fit into the bill’s definition of male or female.

Dr.
 Beth Oller, a family physician from Stockton, Kansas, said the bill was
 based on a misunderstanding of the science of gender and sex.

“Intersex
 is not a social construct or a gender identity — it’s a biological 
configuration where a body has both male and female features,” she said.
 “How are you going to classify them in a bill like this? Do they get 
the rights and protections this bill claims, or not?”

The bill 
could also result in domestic violence and sexual assault centers losing
 access to $14 million in federal grants annually, said Michelle 
McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
 Domestic Violence. She said it would take shelters out of compliance 
with federal non-discrimination requirements.

“When I surveyed our
 member programs,” she said, “none of them were consulted about this 
bill and the potential impact of including domestic violence centers and
 rape crisis centers in this.”

Those who spoke in support of the bill all came from outside Kansas.

“The
 (bill) doesn’t remove anyone from society or public life, it simply 
fortifies current law in order to protect women’s safety, privacy,” said
 Hadley Heath Manning, vice president of policy for the conservative 
advocacy organization Independent Women’s Voice.

She said it 
wouldn’t prevent lawmakers from passing laws to protect transgender and 
intersex people. Such proposals have repeatedly failed to gain traction 
in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Riley Gaines, a 
spokesperson with the organization, said it would help ensure fairness 
in girls' and women's sports. Gaines was a member of the University of 
Kentucky women’s swim team who competed against Lea Thomas, a 
transgender woman on the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team 
last year.

“I can wholeheartedly attest to the extreme discomfort 
in the locker room when you turn around and there’s a six-foot-four 
biological male,” she said.

Lauren Bone, who co-wrote the model 
legislation the bill was based on for the anti-transgender advocacy 
group Women’s Liberation Front, said the bill spans partisan divides.

“I
 am politically liberal, pro-choice. I have spent my career as an 
attorney fighting for women’s rights,” she said. “Opponents want to 
paint the bill as a religious, right-wing hit job, and that couldn’t be 
further from the truth.”

In Kansas, no Democrats have supported the bill.

It
 comes as Kansas lawmakers also consider bills that would restrict 
transgender Kansans’ access to gender-affirming medical care and 
participation in girl’s and women’s sports.

Republican legislators
 have failed to override vetoes from Kelly on similar bills in recent 
years, but they could face more favorable odds amid a national wave of 
laws targeting transgender people.

Rose Conlon reports on 
health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678311950031.png" alt="Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Republican from Wichita, voted to pass the "women’s bill of rights" out of committee this week. KNS" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Republican from Wichita, voted to pass the "women’s bill of rights" out of committee this week. KNS</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-08/kansas-republicans-vote-bar-transgender-women-bathrooms-prisons-shelters">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA&nbsp;— Kansas lawmakers have advanced legislation 
that would bar transgender women from women’s bathrooms, women’s 
prisons, women’s locker rooms and domestic violence shelters.Critics see <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/" target="_blank">the bill</a>
 as a political attack on transgender and intersex people, and 
organizations that support victims of sexual violence said it could 
jeopardize the money they get from the federal government.Supporters
 say the bill — they call it a “women’s bill of rights” — would protect 
cisgender women from discrimination and sexual violence in the face of 
what they call an “endangerment of single-sex spaces.”The bill 
was introduced by state Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, but 
is based on model legislation by a national group that opposes 
transgender rights. A similar bill based on the same model is moving 
through the Oklahoma Legislature.It would require state agencies 
to define “women” as people whose reproductive systems are developed to 
produce ova, and “men” as people whose reproductive systems are 
developed to fertilize ova.Republicans in the Kansas Senate 
approved the bill last month by a 26-11 vote — just one shy of what 
would be needed to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Three
 Republican senators abstained.House lawmakers on the Committee 
on Health and Human Services passed it out of committee this week and 
sent it to the full chamber for a vote.If passed, the Kansas 
attorney general’s office expects the constitutionality of the bill to 
be challenged, according to the bill’s fiscal note.Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said it protects women’s rights.“Women
 have fought for over 50 years to gain certain rights in this country. 
And these rights are being eroded,” she said. “I really wish people 
would not take it that we’re targeting another group of people.”Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee and the committee’s ranking minority member, spoke against the bill.“I
 am more than opposed — I’ll try to watch my language — to this bill,” 
said Ruiz, one of the state’s first openly LGBTQ legislators. “It is 
going to be very harmful to so many people, especially children.”The vote came after lawmakers heard heated testimony on the bill earlier this week.Tammy
 Quayle of Wichita said that preventing her transgender daughter from 
using women’s restrooms would effectively bar her from public spaces 
like museums and ballparks.“What this bill seeks to do is to keep
 transgender people out of the public eye by limiting their access to 
the most basic of necessities — a bathroom that matches their gender,” 
she said.Medical experts said it would complicate the lives of 
the up to 2% of Kansans who are intersex — born with biological traits 
that don’t neatly fit into the bill’s definition of male or female.Dr.
 Beth Oller, a family physician from Stockton, Kansas, said the bill was
 based on a misunderstanding of the science of gender and sex.“Intersex
 is not a social construct or a gender identity — it’s a biological 
configuration where a body has both male and female features,” she said.
 “How are you going to classify them in a bill like this? Do they get 
the rights and protections this bill claims, or not?”The bill 
could also result in domestic violence and sexual assault centers losing
 access to $14 million in federal grants annually, said Michelle 
McCormick, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
 Domestic Violence. She said it would take shelters out of compliance 
with federal non-discrimination requirements.“When I surveyed our
 member programs,” she said, “none of them were consulted about this 
bill and the potential impact of including domestic violence centers and
 rape crisis centers in this.”Those who spoke in support of the bill all came from outside Kansas.“The
 (bill) doesn’t remove anyone from society or public life, it simply 
fortifies current law in order to protect women’s safety, privacy,” said
 Hadley Heath Manning, vice president of policy for the conservative 
advocacy organization Independent Women’s Voice.She said it 
wouldn’t prevent lawmakers from passing laws to protect transgender and 
intersex people. Such proposals have repeatedly failed to gain traction 
in the Republican-controlled Legislature.Riley Gaines, a 
spokesperson with the organization, said it would help ensure fairness 
in girls' and women's sports. Gaines was a member of the University of 
Kentucky women’s swim team who competed against Lea Thomas, a 
transgender woman on the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team 
last year.“I can wholeheartedly attest to the extreme discomfort 
in the locker room when you turn around and there’s a six-foot-four 
biological male,” she said.Lauren Bone, who co-wrote the model 
legislation the bill was based on for the anti-transgender advocacy 
group Women’s Liberation Front, said the bill spans partisan divides.“I
 am politically liberal, pro-choice. I have spent my career as an 
attorney fighting for women’s rights,” she said. “Opponents want to 
paint the bill as a religious, right-wing hit job, and that couldn’t be 
further from the truth.”In Kansas, no Democrats have supported the bill.It
 comes as Kansas lawmakers also consider bills that would restrict 
transgender Kansans’ access to gender-affirming medical care and 
participation in girl’s and women’s sports.Republican legislators
 have failed to override vetoes from Kelly on similar bills in recent 
years, but they could face more favorable odds amid a national wave of 
laws targeting transgender people.Rose Conlon reports on 
health for KMUW and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter at @rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

Kansas transgender bathroom, prison, shelter ban advances

WASHINGTON— Gigi Sohn,&nbsp;President Biden’s nominee to run the&nbsp;Federal Communications Commission withdrew her name from consideration Tuesday, according to a statement from the White House. It was clear her nomination didn't have the votes necessary for confirmation after West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced late Tuesday he would not vote for her.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-to-vote-no-on-gigi-sohn-for-fcc-commissioner">According to a statement from Manchin's</a> office, "Sohn has faced unprecedented, bipartisan opposition to her nomination as a result of her years of partisan activism, inflammatory statements online, and work with far-left groups. She has also spent many years as a public interest advocate, using similarly inflammatory language on social media."

Sohn would have been the first openly gay FCC commissioner.

The commission currently comprises two Republican and two Democrat members. Sohn would have been the tie-breaking vote if she had been confirmed.

Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, has long supported Sohn’s nomination and made clear she wanted President Biden to renominate her to break the deadlock at the commission.&nbsp;

“While I am disappointed, I respect Gigi Sohn’s &nbsp;decision to withdraw her nomination as an FCC Commissioner.&nbsp;Throughout the past 16 months, Ms. Sohn has demonstrated her expertise in telecommunications law, deep experience and commitment to ensuring that every American has access to affordable broadband regardless of where they live."

Sen. Cantwell also made clear the intent of the smear campaign orchestrated by opponents, calling the personal attacks “distractions from the fact that Ms. Sohn is immensely qualified for this position and a highly effective, would be, FCC commissioner…this is a proxy fight for net neutrality.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678297064058.png" alt="Gigi Sohn during her February confirmation hearing -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Gigi Sohn during her February confirmation hearing -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Gigi Sohn,&nbsp;President Biden’s nominee to run the&nbsp;Federal Communications Commission withdrew her name from consideration Tuesday, according to a statement from the White House. It was clear her nomination didn't have the votes necessary for confirmation after West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced late Tuesday he would not vote for her.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-to-vote-no-on-gigi-sohn-for-fcc-commissioner">According to a statement from Manchin's</a> office, "Sohn has faced unprecedented, bipartisan opposition to her nomination as a result of her years of partisan activism, inflammatory statements online, and work with far-left groups. She has also spent many years as a public interest advocate, using similarly inflammatory language on social media."Sohn would have been the first openly gay FCC commissioner.The commission currently comprises two Republican and two Democrat members. Sohn would have been the tie-breaking vote if she had been confirmed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;ll have much more to say in the coming days and weeks, but I want to thank everyone for their love and support here, in messages, emails and phone calls. I&#39;m especially moved by the support of those who have disagreed with me on the left and the right.&mdash; Gigi Sohn (@gigibsohn) <a href="https://twitter.com/gigibsohn/status/1633479326367711233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, has long supported Sohn’s nomination and made clear she wanted President Biden to renominate her to break the deadlock at the commission.&nbsp;“While I am disappointed, I respect Gigi Sohn’s &nbsp;decision to withdraw her nomination as an FCC Commissioner.&nbsp;Throughout the past 16 months, Ms. Sohn has demonstrated her expertise in telecommunications law, deep experience and commitment to ensuring that every American has access to affordable broadband regardless of where they live."Sen. Cantwell also made clear the intent of the smear campaign orchestrated by opponents, calling the personal attacks “distractions from the fact that Ms. Sohn is immensely qualified for this position and a highly effective, would be, FCC commissioner…this is a proxy fight for net neutrality.”

Controversial choice to run FCC withdraws nomination

KANSAS CITY —The FBI has announced a $5,000&nbsp; reward for information regarding the whereabouts of missing juvenile Jayden Robker.

The boy was last seen Feb. 2 at 3p.m. in the are of NW Plaza Drive and NW Plaza Avenue in Kansas City. He was wearing a green camouflage hoodie, grey sweat pants, black puma tennis shoes and was riding a black razor skate board.&nbsp;

Anyone with information on Jayden's whereabouts is encouraged to call law enforcement immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678305651900.png" alt="Jayden Robker-photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Jayden Robker-photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The FBI has announced a $5,000&nbsp; reward for information regarding the whereabouts of missing juvenile Jayden Robker.The boy was last seen Feb. 2 at 3p.m. in the are of NW Plaza Drive and NW Plaza Avenue in Kansas City. He was wearing a green camouflage hoodie, grey sweat pants, black puma tennis shoes and was riding a black razor skate board.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEW</a> - The FBI has announced a $5k reward for information regarding the whereabouts of missing juvenile Jayden Robker. Anyone with information on Jayden&#39;s whereabouts is encouraged to call law enforcement immediately. <a href="https://t.co/EEIvoHaie2">pic.twitter.com/EEIvoHaie2</a>&mdash; FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity/status/1633500779117166593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anyone with information on Jayden's whereabouts is encouraged to call law enforcement immediately.

FBI offers reward for information on missing KC-area juvenile

Walgreens says it will not start selling an abortion pill in 20 states that had warned of legal consequences if it did so.

The drugstore chain’s announcement signals that access to mifepristone may not expand as broadly as federal regulators intended in January, when they finalized a rule change allowing more pharmacies to provide the pill.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in 2000 to end pregnancy, when used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. The combination is approved for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy.

Mifepristone is taken first to dilate the cervix and block a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken a day or two later, causing contractions to empty the uterus.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are now done with pills rather than with a procedure, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. In rare cases, the drug combination can cause excess bleeding, requiring emergency care.

For more than 20 years, the FDA limited dispensing of mifepristone to a subset of specialty offices and clinics due to safety concerns.

The agency has repeatedly eased restrictions and expanded access, increasing demand even as state laws make the pills harder to get for many women.

In late 2021, the agency eliminated an in-person requirement for getting the pill, saying a new scientific review showed no increase in safety complications if the drug is taken at home. That change also permitted the pill to be prescribed via telehealth and shipped by mail-order pharmacies.

Earlier this year, the FDA further loosened restrictions by allowing pharmacies like Walgreens to start dispensing the drug after they undergo certification. That includes meeting standards for shipping, tracking and confidentially storing prescribing information.

Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drug access has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning the federal right to abortion.

Last month, attorneys general in 20 conservative-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-state-government-west-virginia-united-states-us-food-and-drug-administration-a1b1a387788bb5aaa39c9ce4128d77ab">warned</a>&nbsp;CVS and Walgreens in a letter that they could face legal consequences if they sell abortion pills by mail in their states.

In addition to state laws, attorneys general from conservative states have argued that shipments of mifepristone run afoul of a 19th century law that prohibited sending items used in abortion through the mail.

A spokesman says the company told the attorneys general that it will not dispense mifepristone in their states and it doesn't plan to ship the drug to them as well.

But Walgreens is working to become eligible through the FDA’s certification process. It plans to dispense the pills where it can legally do so.

The company is not currently dispensing the pills anywhere.

Rite Aid Corp. said it was “monitoring the latest federal, state, legal and regulatory developments” and would keep evaluating its policies. The Associated Press also sought comment from CVS Health Corp., retail giant Walmart and the grocery chain Kroger.

Some independent pharmacists would like to become certified to dispense the pills, said Andrea Pivarunas, a spokeswoman for the National Community Pharmacists Association. She added that this would be a “personal business decision," based partly on state laws. The association has no specifics on how many will do it.

In November, an anti-abortion group filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Texas seeking to revoke mifepristone's approval, claiming the FDA approved the drug 23 years ago without adequate evidence of safety.

A federal judge could rule soon. If he sides with abortion opponents, mifepristone could potentially be removed from the U.S. market.

In January, abortion rights supporters filed separate lawsuits challenging abortion pill restrictions imposed in North Carolina and West Virginia.

Legal experts foresee years of court battles over access to the pills.

AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this story.

By TOM MURPHY AP Health WriterWalgreens says it will not start selling an abortion pill in 20 states that had warned of legal consequences if it did so.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">California won&#39;t be doing business with <a href="https://twitter.com/Walgreens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@walgreens</a> -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women&#39;s lives at risk. We&#39;re done.<a href="https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H">https://t.co/OB10cYfm8H</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1632811406344192000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The drugstore chain’s announcement signals that access to mifepristone may not expand as broadly as federal regulators intended in January, when they finalized a rule change allowing more pharmacies to provide the pill.Here’s a closer look at the issue.ABOUT THE ABORTION PILLThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone in 2000 to end pregnancy, when used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. The combination is approved for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy.Mifepristone is taken first to dilate the cervix and block a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken a day or two later, causing contractions to empty the uterus.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">More than half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are now done with pills rather than with a procedure, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. In rare cases, the drug combination can cause excess bleeding, requiring emergency care.WIDENING ACCESSFor more than 20 years, the FDA limited dispensing of mifepristone to a subset of specialty offices and clinics due to safety concerns.The agency has repeatedly eased restrictions and expanded access, increasing demand even as state laws make the pills harder to get for many women.In late 2021, the agency eliminated an in-person requirement for getting the pill, saying a new scientific review showed no increase in safety complications if the drug is taken at home. That change also permitted the pill to be prescribed via telehealth and shipped by mail-order pharmacies.Earlier this year, the FDA further loosened restrictions by allowing pharmacies like Walgreens to start dispensing the drug after they undergo certification. That includes meeting standards for shipping, tracking and confidentially storing prescribing information.STATES STEP INTypically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drug access has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning the federal right to abortion.Last month, attorneys general in 20 conservative-led states&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-state-government-west-virginia-united-states-us-food-and-drug-administration-a1b1a387788bb5aaa39c9ce4128d77ab">warned</a>&nbsp;CVS and Walgreens in a letter that they could face legal consequences if they sell abortion pills by mail in their states.In addition to state laws, attorneys general from conservative states have argued that shipments of mifepristone run afoul of a 19th century law that prohibited sending items used in abortion through the mail.WALGREENS' REACTIONA spokesman says the company told the attorneys general that it will not dispense mifepristone in their states and it doesn't plan to ship the drug to them as well.But Walgreens is working to become eligible through the FDA’s certification process. It plans to dispense the pills where it can legally do so.The company is not currently dispensing the pills anywhere.OTHER DRUGSTORESRite Aid Corp. said it was “monitoring the latest federal, state, legal and regulatory developments” and would keep evaluating its policies. The Associated Press also sought comment from CVS Health Corp., retail giant Walmart and the grocery chain Kroger.Some independent pharmacists would like to become certified to dispense the pills, said Andrea Pivarunas, a spokeswoman for the National Community Pharmacists Association. She added that this would be a “personal business decision," based partly on state laws. The association has no specifics on how many will do it.OTHER LEGAL ISSUESIn November, an anti-abortion group filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">federal lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Texas seeking to revoke mifepristone's approval, claiming the FDA approved the drug 23 years ago without adequate evidence of safety.A federal judge could rule soon. If he sides with abortion opponents, mifepristone could potentially be removed from the U.S. market.In January, abortion rights supporters filed separate lawsuits challenging abortion pill restrictions imposed in North Carolina and West Virginia.Legal experts foresee years of court battles over access to the pills.___AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this story.______

The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 1,747&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 March 1, to March 8, for a total of 937,870 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 1,943 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;11 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on March 1, for a total of 10,066 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 is providing 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 1,747&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 March 1, to March 8, for a total of 937,870 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 1,943 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;11 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on March 1, for a total of 10,066 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 is providing 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 reports drop in COVID cases; 11 more deaths

WASHINGTON—International Women's Day is March 8. A day set aside to honor and recognize the accomplishments of women while acknowledging there is still progress to be made toward gender equality.

President Biden issued a statement recognizing the day.

"International Women’s Day&nbsp;honors a truth we live every day—that women and girls&nbsp;are essential to success and progress in every aspect of our society."

"Promoting opportunities for women and girls strengthens security, stability, and prosperity for everyone.&nbsp;And we know&nbsp;that we cannot solve any of the great global challenges of our time if half the population is left behind."

"So today, as we celebrate&nbsp;the accomplishments&nbsp;and contributions&nbsp;of women and girls around the world,&nbsp;we also&nbsp;reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all people&nbsp;can reach their full potential." "Despite decades of progress, in&nbsp;far&nbsp;too many places around&nbsp;the world, the rights of women and girls are&nbsp;still under&nbsp;attack, holding back entire communities."

"We see it in Afghanistan, where the Taliban bars women and girls&nbsp;from&nbsp;attending&nbsp;school and&nbsp;pursuing&nbsp;employment. We see it in Iran, where the regime is brutally repressing the voices of women who are courageously standing up for their freedom. And in the face of&nbsp;Russia’s&nbsp;vicious and&nbsp;unjust invasion of Ukraine, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, we see countless stories of women&nbsp;bravely fighting for&nbsp;the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all&nbsp;Ukrainians." "The United States stands with women and girls around the world&nbsp;in the critical work of protecting and advancing&nbsp;human rights. My&nbsp;Administration&nbsp;is&nbsp;working with&nbsp;dedicated partners&nbsp;and local communities in every part of the world to expand&nbsp;economic security&nbsp;for women and girls, defend access to health care—including reproductive health care—safeguard women’s political participation and human rights, and promote the&nbsp;full participation of women and girls&nbsp;in all facets of society."

"Through initiatives like the&nbsp;Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, we are supporting the infrastructure of the care economy in low- and middle-income countries."

"We have also redoubled our commitment to eliminating gender-based violence wherever it occurs, promoting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, and expanding protection services for women and girls in humanitarian emergences." "Here in the United States, we&nbsp;have&nbsp;made landmark investments&nbsp;to give families&nbsp;more&nbsp;breathing room and support&nbsp;women’s&nbsp;participation in the&nbsp;labor force.&nbsp;This includes&nbsp;signing into law important workplace protections for pregnant and nursing workers in the United States.&nbsp;And last year, I was particularly proud to sign legislation strengthening&nbsp;and reauthorizing&nbsp;the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and increasing VAWA funding to $700 million, the highest funding level in history.&nbsp;This critical legislation will&nbsp;advance access to services, justice, and healing for survivors." "As we continue working to implement our first-ever National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, we are&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;lifting&nbsp;up&nbsp;the rights of women and girls through every aspect of both our foreign and domestic policy."

"This is a defining feature of who we are as a nation and the values we hold dear&nbsp;as Americans. So&nbsp;let us&nbsp;continue to strive toward a future&nbsp;where women have an equal&nbsp;seat at the table, an equal&nbsp;voice in&nbsp;shaping decisions, and&nbsp;an&nbsp;equal&nbsp;opportunity to contribute fully to their nations. "&nbsp;

WASHINGTON—International Women's Day is March 8. A day set aside to honor and recognize the accomplishments of women while acknowledging there is still progress to be made toward gender equality.President Biden issued a statement recognizing the day."International Women’s Day&nbsp;honors a truth we live every day—that women and girls&nbsp;are essential to success and progress in every aspect of our society."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On International Women’s Day, we celebrate a group of incredible, courageous women and their extraordinary work pursuing justice, freedom, and peace around the world. <a href="https://t.co/ZnY17IF67H">pic.twitter.com/ZnY17IF67H</a>&mdash; Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1633611365666660352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Promoting opportunities for women and girls strengthens security, stability, and prosperity for everyone.&nbsp;And we know&nbsp;that we cannot solve any of the great global challenges of our time if half the population is left behind.""So today, as we celebrate&nbsp;the accomplishments&nbsp;and contributions&nbsp;of women and girls around the world,&nbsp;we also&nbsp;reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all people&nbsp;can reach their full potential." "Despite decades of progress, in&nbsp;far&nbsp;too many places around&nbsp;the world, the rights of women and girls are&nbsp;still under&nbsp;attack, holding back entire communities." "We see it in Afghanistan, where the Taliban bars women and girls&nbsp;from&nbsp;attending&nbsp;school and&nbsp;pursuing&nbsp;employment. We see it in Iran, where the regime is brutally repressing the voices of women who are courageously standing up for their freedom. And in the face of&nbsp;Russia’s&nbsp;vicious and&nbsp;unjust invasion of Ukraine, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, we see countless stories of women&nbsp;bravely fighting for&nbsp;the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all&nbsp;Ukrainians." "The United States stands with women and girls around the world&nbsp;in the critical work of protecting and advancing&nbsp;human rights. My&nbsp;Administration&nbsp;is&nbsp;working with&nbsp;dedicated partners&nbsp;and local communities in every part of the world to expand&nbsp;economic security&nbsp;for women and girls, defend access to health care—including reproductive health care—safeguard women’s political participation and human rights, and promote the&nbsp;full participation of women and girls&nbsp;in all facets of society." "Through initiatives like the&nbsp;Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, we are supporting the infrastructure of the care economy in low- and middle-income countries.""We have also redoubled our commitment to eliminating gender-based violence wherever it occurs, promoting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, and expanding protection services for women and girls in humanitarian emergences." "Here in the United States, we&nbsp;have&nbsp;made landmark investments&nbsp;to give families&nbsp;more&nbsp;breathing room and support&nbsp;women’s&nbsp;participation in the&nbsp;labor force.&nbsp;This includes&nbsp;signing into law important workplace protections for pregnant and nursing workers in the United States.&nbsp;And last year, I was particularly proud to sign legislation strengthening&nbsp;and reauthorizing&nbsp;the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and increasing VAWA funding to $700 million, the highest funding level in history.&nbsp;This critical legislation will&nbsp;advance access to services, justice, and healing for survivors." "As we continue working to implement our first-ever National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, we are&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;lifting&nbsp;up&nbsp;the rights of women and girls through every aspect of both our foreign and domestic policy." "This is a defining feature of who we are as a nation and the values we hold dear&nbsp;as Americans. So&nbsp;let us&nbsp;continue to strive toward a future&nbsp;where women have an equal&nbsp;seat at the table, an equal&nbsp;voice in&nbsp;shaping decisions, and&nbsp;an&nbsp;equal&nbsp;opportunity to contribute fully to their nations. "&nbsp;

President Biden celebrates International Women's Day

Washington—Every five years, Congress passes legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy, commonly referred to as the “Farm Bill.”

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall launched a&nbsp;web site this week that will allow the Kansas agriculture community to share&nbsp; input on the 2023 Farm Bill.

The U.S. Senate Ag committee also has a web site collection input. Members of congress are currently in the early stages of writing the 2023 Farm Bill, which will impact agriculture in Kansas and around the world for the foreseeable future.

<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/services/farm-bill/">CLICK HERE </a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/farm-bill-input">click here&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;to include your input

“This legislation needs to deliver the critical resources and support that our farmers, ranchers, growers and producers have long relied upon,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“That is why I am asking members of Kansas agriculture community to take our 2023 Farm Bill survey. Your input through this survey will be informative as we continue our work on this important piece of legislation. We only write a Farm Bill every five years so it is important we get it right.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674229042242.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Washington—Every five years, Congress passes legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy, commonly referred to as the “Farm Bill.”U.S. Senator Roger Marshall launched a&nbsp;web site this week that will allow the Kansas agriculture community to share&nbsp; input on the 2023 Farm Bill. The U.S. Senate Ag committee also has a web site collection input. Members of congress are currently in the early stages of writing the 2023 Farm Bill, which will impact agriculture in Kansas and around the world for the foreseeable future.<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/services/farm-bill/">CLICK HERE </a>or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/farm-bill-input">click here&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;to include your input<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4PXuGcLCN2Y?start=4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“This legislation needs to deliver the critical resources and support that our farmers, ranchers, growers and producers have long relied upon,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“That is why I am asking members of Kansas agriculture community to take our 2023 Farm Bill survey. Your input through this survey will be informative as we continue our work on this important piece of legislation. We only write a Farm Bill every five years so it is important we get it right.”

Senator Marshall wants your input on 2023 Farm Bill

RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred in February 2023 involving a 13-year-old boy known to her, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested 28-year-old Elizabeth Butry on requested charges that include three counts of rape, two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct, and one count each of attempted rape and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

She remains confined in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond pending her first appearance in court.

RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred in February 2023 involving a 13-year-old boy known to her, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested 28-year-old Elizabeth Butry on requested charges that include three counts of rape, two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct, and one count each of attempted rape and furnishing alcohol to a minor.She remains confined in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond pending her first appearance in court.

Police: Kan. woman accused of sex crimes with 13-year-old

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/07/kansas-state-representative-calls-rainbow-drawings-proof-of-indoctrination-at-leavenworth-school/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LEAVENWORTH — A local parent was 
outraged when she opened up her representative’s February newsletter and
 found her daughter’s rainbow drawing published as an example of 
indoctrination in the school system.&nbsp;

Courtney Ricard said her 
fourth-grader drew the picture to show that everyone was welcome in the 
David Brewer Elementary library.

“I found it and was irate, because he
 didn’t ask for permission,” Ricard said. “He bleeped out her name, 
which he thinks is acceptable, but you can’t go to an art museum and 
print out a picture of someone’s artwork without asking their 
permission.”&nbsp;

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth 
Republican, published the drawing in his February newsletter. The 
picture was one of several drawings done by third and fourth graders at 
David Brewer Elementary School put up in the library.&nbsp;

The drawings were done on sheets of 
paper that had the words “My school library is for every student!” 
printed on top. Other drawings on the wall included stick figures, cats,
 a Japanese flag and what appeared to be a depiction of biracial 
friendship.&nbsp;

Proctor said there was more LGBTQ 
content put on the wall than the drawings mentioned in the newsletter 
and felt it was necessary to alert the Leavenworth community about the 
issue. He said blacking out the students’ names gave them enough 
privacy.&nbsp;

“It was impossible to identify what 
students did what artworks, and nobody on the planet would know who had 
done that drawing if the kid’s mom hadn’t thrown a fit in the school 
board meeting,” Proctor said during a Tuesday interview with the 
Reflector.&nbsp;

While parents said the children were 
allowed to draw whatever they wanted, Proctor felt they had been coached
 into creating LGBTQ content, and didn’t think it was appropriate to 
teach this subject matter.&nbsp;

“I find it impossible to believe that
 an entire grade of third graders and fourth graders, all on their own, 
decided to draw rainbow flags and talk about LGBTQ and spell those 
things out on their artwork,” Proctor said. “I find it impossible to 
believe that was not the assignment and that they were not coached to do
 that by the teacher. That’s just implausible in the extreme.”&nbsp;

Brandi Bond, library aide at the school, said this was a fairly new 
issue, and had only begun hearing complaints about book displays and 
drawings in the library this school year.

“Politics don’t belong in elementary schools,” Bond said. “Our kids deserve to be protected.”

Though there are gay parents who have
 a child at the school, Proctor said this couldn’t have greatly 
influenced the drawings without teachers promoting a “radical, woke 
agenda.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;Proctor is one of many Kansas 
Republicans at the local and state level who have emphasized what they 
describe as a “woke, sexualized agenda,” as well as a “radical, woke 
agenda” that is putting students in danger, though few have given 
specifics about <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/10/kansas-gop-rails-against-woke-agenda-will-work-toward-stricter-abortion-rules/">what this agenda entails</a>.&nbsp;

When asked to define this agenda, Proctor said he didn’t want to 
discuss it but knew schools should stick to educational basics, such as 
reading, writing and arithmetic.

Other lawmakers have said parents need more control over classroom materials to prevent indoctrination. The Kansas House has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/23/kansas-house-and-senate-both-pass-legislation-targeting-transgender-youth/">passed a transgender student athlete</a>
 ban, and the Senate passed a bill effectively banning doctors from 
providing gender-affirming care to minors. One week in February <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/13/kansas-democrats-describe-attempt-to-ban-transgender-student-athletes-as-crushing-weight/">referred to as “hate week,”&nbsp;</a>because of the amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation debated.

LGBTQ activists have said there is an increasingly worrying trend toward intolerance in schools statewide, with curriculum and<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/16/community-divided-over-kansas-school-district-book-ban-push/"> library books under scrutiny</a>. Lawmakers have framed the discussion in terms of parental rights to dictate education.

&nbsp;“You cannot tell me that all those 
third graders and fourth graders learned to do that from two gay parents
 that showed up at a school board meeting,” Proctor said.&nbsp;

Krista Nussbaum and her partner, 
Teagan Andrews, are a gay couple with several children in the 
Leavenworth school system and one at David Brewer. They attended the 
Monday Leavenworth Board of Education meeting to address the newsletter.

The two have ongoing issues with 
Proctor and Vanessa Reid, a conservative Leavenworth board of education 
member who has joined forces with Proctor to fight the “radical woke 
agenda” in local schools.

Nussbaum said Reid has used bullying 
tactics on Facebook in an attempt to manufacture outrage against local 
schools and libraries.&nbsp;

Reid didn’t attend the Monday meeting, and has not responded to the Reflector’s inquiries to comment.&nbsp;

“It’s not anyone else’s business to attack a child for their beliefs, ever,” Nussbaum said. “Keep your politics off my kids.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678227626341.png" alt="Courtney Ricard said she was angry at the politicization of her daughter’s drawing by state Rep. Pat Proctor. (Courtney Ricard)" />
 <figcaption>Courtney Ricard said she was angry at the politicization of her daughter’s drawing by state Rep. Pat Proctor. (Courtney Ricard)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/07/kansas-state-representative-calls-rainbow-drawings-proof-of-indoctrination-at-leavenworth-school/">Kansas Reflector</a>LEAVENWORTH — A local parent was 
outraged when she opened up her representative’s February newsletter and
 found her daughter’s rainbow drawing published as an example of 
indoctrination in the school system.&nbsp;Courtney Ricard said her 
fourth-grader drew the picture to show that everyone was welcome in the 
David Brewer Elementary library.“I found it and was irate, because he
 didn’t ask for permission,” Ricard said. “He bleeped out her name, 
which he thinks is acceptable, but you can’t go to an art museum and 
print out a picture of someone’s artwork without asking their 
permission.”&nbsp;Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth 
Republican, published the drawing in his February newsletter. The 
picture was one of several drawings done by third and fourth graders at 
David Brewer Elementary School put up in the library.&nbsp;The drawings were done on sheets of 
paper that had the words “My school library is for every student!” 
printed on top. Other drawings on the wall included stick figures, cats,
 a Japanese flag and what appeared to be a depiction of biracial 
friendship.&nbsp;Proctor said there was more LGBTQ 
content put on the wall than the drawings mentioned in the newsletter 
and felt it was necessary to alert the Leavenworth community about the 
issue. He said blacking out the students’ names gave them enough 
privacy.&nbsp;“It was impossible to identify what 
students did what artworks, and nobody on the planet would know who had 
done that drawing if the kid’s mom hadn’t thrown a fit in the school 
board meeting,” Proctor said during a Tuesday interview with the 
Reflector.&nbsp;While parents said the children were 
allowed to draw whatever they wanted, Proctor felt they had been coached
 into creating LGBTQ content, and didn’t think it was appropriate to 
teach this subject matter.&nbsp;“I find it impossible to believe that
 an entire grade of third graders and fourth graders, all on their own, 
decided to draw rainbow flags and talk about LGBTQ and spell those 
things out on their artwork,” Proctor said. “I find it impossible to 
believe that was not the assignment and that they were not coached to do
 that by the teacher. That’s just implausible in the extreme.”&nbsp;Brandi Bond, library aide at the school, said this was a fairly new 
issue, and had only begun hearing complaints about book displays and 
drawings in the library this school year.“Politics don’t belong in elementary schools,” Bond said. “Our kids deserve to be protected.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678227721245.png" alt="Brandi Bond, library aide at David Brewer, said politics have no place in elementary schools. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Brandi Bond, library aide at David Brewer, said politics have no place in elementary schools. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Though there are gay parents who have
 a child at the school, Proctor said this couldn’t have greatly 
influenced the drawings without teachers promoting a “radical, woke 
agenda.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Proctor is one of many Kansas 
Republicans at the local and state level who have emphasized what they 
describe as a “woke, sexualized agenda,” as well as a “radical, woke 
agenda” that is putting students in danger, though few have given 
specifics about <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/10/kansas-gop-rails-against-woke-agenda-will-work-toward-stricter-abortion-rules/">what this agenda entails</a>.&nbsp;When asked to define this agenda, Proctor said he didn’t want to 
discuss it but knew schools should stick to educational basics, such as 
reading, writing and arithmetic.Other lawmakers have said parents need more control over classroom materials to prevent indoctrination. The Kansas House has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/23/kansas-house-and-senate-both-pass-legislation-targeting-transgender-youth/">passed a transgender student athlete</a>
 ban, and the Senate passed a bill effectively banning doctors from 
providing gender-affirming care to minors. One week in February <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/13/kansas-democrats-describe-attempt-to-ban-transgender-student-athletes-as-crushing-weight/">referred to as “hate week,”&nbsp;</a>because of the amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation debated.LGBTQ activists have said there is an increasingly worrying trend toward intolerance in schools statewide, with curriculum and<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/16/community-divided-over-kansas-school-district-book-ban-push/"> library books under scrutiny</a>. Lawmakers have framed the discussion in terms of parental rights to dictate education.&nbsp;“You cannot tell me that all those 
third graders and fourth graders learned to do that from two gay parents
 that showed up at a school board meeting,” Proctor said.&nbsp;Krista Nussbaum and her partner, 
Teagan Andrews, are a gay couple with several children in the 
Leavenworth school system and one at David Brewer. They attended the 
Monday Leavenworth Board of Education meeting to address the newsletter.The two have ongoing issues with 
Proctor and Vanessa Reid, a conservative Leavenworth board of education 
member who has joined forces with Proctor to fight the “radical woke 
agenda” in local schools.Nussbaum said Reid has used bullying 
tactics on Facebook in an attempt to manufacture outrage against local 
schools and libraries.&nbsp;Reid didn’t attend the Monday meeting, and has not responded to the Reflector’s inquiries to comment.&nbsp;“It’s not anyone else’s business to attack a child for their beliefs, ever,” Nussbaum said. “Keep your politics off my kids.”&nbsp;

Kan. state rep: Rainbow drawings proof of school indoctrination

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a building fire and have made an arrest.

Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a vacant commercial building fire at 1221 SW Huntoon Street in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

First responders&nbsp;found smoke and flames coming from the single story building. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack.

Investigators determine the fire was intentionally set and police arrested 65-year-year-old Joslynn Y. Barnett of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested arson charges.

The total estimated loss from the fire is $18,000, all of which is associated with structural loss. There were no injuries. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the building.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678211305098.png" alt="The result of the fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The result of the fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a building fire and have made an arrest.Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a vacant commercial building fire at 1221 SW Huntoon Street in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;First responders&nbsp;found smoke and flames coming from the single story building. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678211155970.png" alt="Barnett-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnett-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators determine the fire was intentionally set and police arrested 65-year-year-old Joslynn Y. Barnett of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested arson charges.The total estimated loss from the fire is $18,000, all of which is associated with structural loss. There were no injuries. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the building.

Kansas woman accused of starting fire that caused $18K damage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is considering detaining migrant families who cross into the U.S. illegally as it prepares to end COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans. That would be a major reversal after officials in late 2021 stopped holding families in detention facilities.

Homeland Security officials are working through how to manage an expected increase of migrants at the border once the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place since 2020 are lifted in May. Detention is one of several ideas under discussion and nothing has been finalized, the officials said.

If families were detained, they would be held for short periods of time, perhaps just a few days, and their cases expedited through immigration court, one official said. The officials were unauthorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on “rumors" that the policy was under consideration. “I’m not saying that it is, I'm not saying that it’s not,” she said. She refused to say whether President Joe Biden believed that detention of families was humane.

Under current policy, families who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border are released into the U.S. and told to appear in immigration court at a later date. During the height of the pandemic, few families were held in custody, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are now using those facilities to hold single adults who cross the border illegally.

But the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-costa-rica-donald-trump-1a5a89459fb0b61f04f8500789b9b221">has increasingly moved to restrict migrants</a>&nbsp;as it faces record numbers of people coming to the Mexico border seeking asylum and is seeing some success at bringing down the number of migrants making a dangerous and often deadly journey.

The suggestion to again detain families was met with disdain from immigration advocates, who point to studies that show how detrimental detention can be for children and families. Many said they were surprised to hear of the possibility because they had been told families would no longer be detained.

“The Biden administration is seeking to find a balance that protects the rights of those fleeing persecution and violence and the desire to enhance the orderliness of asylum processing," said Sergio Gonzales, executive director of the Immigration Hub. "Detaining families has no place in this quest. We implore the administration to reject this shameful, retrograde practice.”

In 2020, Biden himself said in a tweet after reports that children were being released but not their parents: “Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately. This is pretty simple, and I can’t believe I have to say it: Families belong together.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-immigration-poll-biden-border-dbfb4af09d4beb81f4f1d450d4d66f29">A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;shows some support for changing the number of immigrants and asylum-seekers allowed into the country. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say the level of immigration and asylum-seekers should be lowered, while about 2 in 10 say it should be higher, according to the poll. About a third want the numbers to remain the same.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-immigration-af0643a4fb8f45388fe247e44c9b2c5e">Illegal border crossings plummeted after Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Jan. 5 that Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans would be returned to Mexico if they crossed illegally. At the same time, the administration announced that up to 30,000 people from those four countries could come monthly if they applied online, arrived at an airport and had a financial sponsor. The Border Patrol stopped migrants 128,410 times on the Mexican border in January, down 42% from December, which was the highest month on record. February numbers have not been publicly released, but one of the officials told the AP migrants were stopped about 130,000 times.

Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-costa-rica-donald-trump-1a5a89459fb0b61f04f8500789b9b221">the administration said it would generally</a>&nbsp;deny asylum to migrants who show up at the U.S. southern border without first seeking protection in a country they passed through, mirroring an attempt by the Trump administration that never took effect because it was blocked in court.

But most of these efforts do not include families, which are treated differently because of the children traveling. But parents who fear detention may also start sending their children alone, and the number of unaccompanied migrants is also rising.

“I’m alarmed by news reports that the administration is considering reinstating family detention policies," said Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. “Not only are these policies cruel and harmful to children, but they don’t prevent families from traveling to the United States.”

The administration has the capacity to house roughly 3,000 people in two family detention centers in Texas.

Both the Obama and Trump administrations detained families in those facilities until their immigration cases played out,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-border-patrols-texas-9b959d739d59f03dd5873927171f2e29">though a court order prevents the government from holding children beyond 20 days</a>. A third detention center in Pennsylvania was shut down a few months ago.

Jean-Pierre pushed back against criticism that Biden was reinstating some of the policies of former President Donald Trump, who, among the major changes he made to the immigration system, severely curbed asylum and forcibly separated children from their parents at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ap-top-news-politics-latin-america-immigration-63e7e47666914bf79eff7366e8eb411b">border in a policy denounced worldwide as inhumane.</a>

″A lot of people have compared what the president is doing, is either extending what Trump did or being very Trump-like,” Jean-Pierre said. “That is not what is happening here.”

Administration officials are ending the national emergency on May 11 that was brought on by the pandemic. Because the border restrictions known as Title 42 are tied to the national emergency, the administration is also planning to end them on May 11. The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a Republican-led effort to leave them in place, but it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-canada-mexico-health-57c1906f9d83a318a9d570278735255b">removed oral arguments on the case from its calendar.</a>

The majority of migrants who come seeking asylum do not actually win asylum, according to data from the U.S. government. Only about 30% are deemed eligible under U.S. law, which narrowly defines who qualifies. Many people coming are seeking a better life and fleeing poverty and devastation in their home countries, but it doesn't often mean they get to stay in the U.S.

The two Texas detention centers are in Karnes City and in Dilley. Families would likely be held again in Dilley, which was used to detain families during the Obama and Trump administrations. The New York Times first reported that officials were considering detaining families again.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317779595.png" alt="White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on “rumors" that the policy was under consideration. “I’m not saying that it is, I'm not saying that it’s not,” she said. She refused to say whether President Joe Biden believed that detention of families was humane.&nbsp; photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on “rumors" that the policy was under consideration. “I’m not saying that it is, I'm not saying that it’s not,” she said. She refused to say whether President Joe Biden believed that detention of families was humane.&nbsp; photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is considering detaining migrant families who cross into the U.S. illegally as it prepares to end COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans. That would be a major reversal after officials in late 2021 stopped holding families in detention facilities.Homeland Security officials are working through how to manage an expected increase of migrants at the border once the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place since 2020 are lifted in May. Detention is one of several ideas under discussion and nothing has been finalized, the officials said.If families were detained, they would be held for short periods of time, perhaps just a few days, and their cases expedited through immigration court, one official said. The officials were unauthorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on “rumors" that the policy was under consideration. “I’m not saying that it is, I'm not saying that it’s not,” she said. She refused to say whether President Joe Biden believed that detention of families was humane.Under current policy, families who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border are released into the U.S. and told to appear in immigration court at a later date. During the height of the pandemic, few families were held in custody, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are now using those facilities to hold single adults who cross the border illegally.But the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-costa-rica-donald-trump-1a5a89459fb0b61f04f8500789b9b221">has increasingly moved to restrict migrants</a>&nbsp;as it faces record numbers of people coming to the Mexico border seeking asylum and is seeing some success at bringing down the number of migrants making a dangerous and often deadly journey.The suggestion to again detain families was met with disdain from immigration advocates, who point to studies that show how detrimental detention can be for children and families. Many said they were surprised to hear of the possibility because they had been told families would no longer be detained.“The Biden administration is seeking to find a balance that protects the rights of those fleeing persecution and violence and the desire to enhance the orderliness of asylum processing," said Sergio Gonzales, executive director of the Immigration Hub. "Detaining families has no place in this quest. We implore the administration to reject this shameful, retrograde practice.”In 2020, Biden himself said in a tweet after reports that children were being released but not their parents: “Children should be released from ICE detention with their parents immediately. This is pretty simple, and I can’t believe I have to say it: Families belong together.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-immigration-poll-biden-border-dbfb4af09d4beb81f4f1d450d4d66f29">A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;shows some support for changing the number of immigrants and asylum-seekers allowed into the country. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults say the level of immigration and asylum-seekers should be lowered, while about 2 in 10 say it should be higher, according to the poll. About a third want the numbers to remain the same.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-immigration-af0643a4fb8f45388fe247e44c9b2c5e">Illegal border crossings plummeted after Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Jan. 5 that Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans would be returned to Mexico if they crossed illegally. At the same time, the administration announced that up to 30,000 people from those four countries could come monthly if they applied online, arrived at an airport and had a financial sponsor. The Border Patrol stopped migrants 128,410 times on the Mexican border in January, down 42% from December, which was the highest month on record. February numbers have not been publicly released, but one of the officials told the AP migrants were stopped about 130,000 times.Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-costa-rica-donald-trump-1a5a89459fb0b61f04f8500789b9b221">the administration said it would generally</a>&nbsp;deny asylum to migrants who show up at the U.S. southern border without first seeking protection in a country they passed through, mirroring an attempt by the Trump administration that never took effect because it was blocked in court.But most of these efforts do not include families, which are treated differently because of the children traveling. But parents who fear detention may also start sending their children alone, and the number of unaccompanied migrants is also rising.“I’m alarmed by news reports that the administration is considering reinstating family detention policies," said Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. “Not only are these policies cruel and harmful to children, but they don’t prevent families from traveling to the United States.”The administration has the capacity to house roughly 3,000 people in two family detention centers in Texas.Both the Obama and Trump administrations detained families in those facilities until their immigration cases played out,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-coronavirus-pandemic-border-patrols-texas-9b959d739d59f03dd5873927171f2e29">though a court order prevents the government from holding children beyond 20 days</a>. A third detention center in Pennsylvania was shut down a few months ago.Jean-Pierre pushed back against criticism that Biden was reinstating some of the policies of former President Donald Trump, who, among the major changes he made to the immigration system, severely curbed asylum and forcibly separated children from their parents at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ap-top-news-politics-latin-america-immigration-63e7e47666914bf79eff7366e8eb411b">border in a policy denounced worldwide as inhumane.</a>″A lot of people have compared what the president is doing, is either extending what Trump did or being very Trump-like,” Jean-Pierre said. “That is not what is happening here.”Administration officials are ending the national emergency on May 11 that was brought on by the pandemic. Because the border restrictions known as Title 42 are tied to the national emergency, the administration is also planning to end them on May 11. The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing a Republican-led effort to leave them in place, but it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-canada-mexico-health-57c1906f9d83a318a9d570278735255b">removed oral arguments on the case from its calendar.</a>The majority of migrants who come seeking asylum do not actually win asylum, according to data from the U.S. government. Only about 30% are deemed eligible under U.S. law, which narrowly defines who qualifies. Many people coming are seeking a better life and fleeing poverty and devastation in their home countries, but it doesn't often mean they get to stay in the U.S.The two Texas detention centers are in Karnes City and in Dilley. Families would likely be held again in Dilley, which was used to detain families during the Obama and Trump administrations. The New York Times first reported that officials were considering detaining families again.

Biden is considering reinstating detention of migrant families

CASS COUNTY —A juvenile died and six people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Sarah P. Hollister, 65, Brinkley, Arkansas, was eastbound on MO 7 just east of Freedom Road.

The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMS transported Hollister and passengers Tyrone C. Harris, 41; Ashley V. Payne, 26; Kevon T. Johnson, 23, and two 10-year-old boys all of Brinkley, Arkansas to Cass Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; Only one of the 10-year-olds was wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678275340789.png" alt="The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —A juvenile died and six people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Cass County, Missouri south of Kansas City.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Sarah P. Hollister, 65, Brinkley, Arkansas, was eastbound on MO 7 just east of Freedom Road.The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene.EMS transported Hollister and passengers Tyrone C. Harris, 41; Ashley V. Payne, 26; Kevon T. Johnson, 23, and two 10-year-old boys all of Brinkley, Arkansas to Cass Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; Only one of the 10-year-olds was wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

3-year-old dead, 6 injured after crash south of Kansas City

CRAWFORD COUNTY —The manhunt for a Kansas felon wanted as part of a shooting investigation ended Tuesday in Crawford County.&nbsp; Aaron Swink was taken into custody near South 220 Street in Pittsburg about 6:30 p.m, according to law enforcement authorities.

Swink is the suspect in several shootings that occurred late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. 

Citizens last reported seeing him in southeast city limits of Pittsburg on south Rouse entering the woods. There was a&nbsp;large law enforcement presence in that area.&nbsp;

Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections and was reported as an absconder March 6.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities have not released new charges against him.

CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and working to locate a suspect.

Aaron Swink, 39, is described as&nbsp; 6-foot tall, 200 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the Crawford County Sheriff.

He was last seen in southeast city limits of Pittsburg on south Rouse entering the woods. There is a&nbsp;large law enforcement presence in that area.&nbsp;

Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections and was reported as an absconder March 6.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678202919269.png" alt="Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTY —The manhunt for a Kansas felon wanted as part of a shooting investigation ended Tuesday in Crawford County.&nbsp; Aaron Swink was taken into custody near South 220 Street in Pittsburg about 6:30 p.m, according to law enforcement authorities.Swink is the suspect in several shootings that occurred late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Citizens last reported seeing him in southeast city limits of Pittsburg on south Rouse entering the woods. There was a&nbsp;large law enforcement presence in that area.&nbsp;Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections and was reported as an absconder March 6.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities have not released new charges against him.------------------CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and working to locate a suspect.Aaron Swink, 39, is described as&nbsp; 6-foot tall, 200 pounds and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the Crawford County Sheriff.Swink is the suspect in several shootings that occurred late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. He was last seen in southeast city limits of Pittsburg on south Rouse entering the woods. There is a&nbsp;large law enforcement presence in that area.&nbsp;Swink has previous convictions for kidnapping and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Dept of Corrections and was reported as an absconder March 6.

Sheriff: Wanted Kansas felon is in custsody

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors.

<a href="https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20230307">Click here to see</a> the elections results

Oklahoma would have become the 22nd state to legalize adult use of cannabis and join conservative states like Montana and Missouri that have approved similar proposals in recent years. Many conservative states have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-legalization-2022-midterm-elections-c693f5e23e0faf2f39168df6a2f80ab2">rejected the idea</a>, including Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota last year.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and many of the state’s GOP legislators, including nearly every Republican senator, opposed the idea. Former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent, and Terri White, the former head of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, led the "no" campaign.

“We’re pleased the voters have spoken," said Pat McFerron, a Republican political strategist who ran the opposition campaign. "We think this sends a clear signal that voters are not happy with the recreational nature of our medicinal system. We also think it shows voters recognize the criminal aspects, as well as the need for addressing mental health needs of the state.”

Oklahoma voters already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mary-fallin-oklahoma-politics-ok-state-wire-70b6fafb4c0f4d2ea920cba5fa227737">approved medical marijuana in 2018</a>&nbsp;by 14 percentage points and the state has one of the most liberal programs in the country, with more than 2,800 licensed dispensaries and roughly 10% of the state’s adult population having a medical license to buy and consume cannabis.

On Tuesday's legalization question, the “no” side was outspent more than 20-to-1, with supporters of the initiative spending more than $4.9 million, compared to about $219,000 against, last-minute campaign finance reports show.

State Question 820, the result of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-marijuana-oklahoma-general-6f4ba121d09542c4bb3615fdcf56f98d">signature gathering drive</a>&nbsp;last year, was the only item on the statewide ballot, and early results showed heavy opposition in rural areas.

“Oklahoma is a law and order state," Stitt said in a statement after Tuesday's vote. "I remain committed to protecting Oklahomans and my administration will continue to hold bad actors accountable and crack down on illegal marijuana operations in our state.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">proposal</a>, if passed, would have allowed anyone over the age of 21 to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. Recreational sales would have been subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the state’s general revenue fund.

The prospect of having more Oklahomans smoking anything, including marijuana, didn't sit well with Mark Grossman, an attorney who voted against the proposal Tuesday at the Crown Heights Christian Church in Oklahoma City.

“I was a no vote because I'm against smoking,” Grossman said. “Tobacco smoking was a huge problem for my family.”

The low barriers for entry into Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry has led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-us-news-ap-top-news-ar-state-wire-health-58daeb2ed452710e03ea4542976a620a">flood of growers</a>, processors and dispensary operators competing for a limited number of customers. Supporters had hoped the state's marijuana industry would be buoyed by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-recreational-marijuana-tourism-texas-7f42b209187570a2640f92cf30a3ca3e">rush of out-of-state customers</a>, particularly from Texas, which has close to 8 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area just a little more than an hour drive from the Oklahoma border.

Michelle Tilley, campaign director for Yes on 820, said despite Tuesday's result, full marijuana legalization was inevitable. She noted that almost 400,000 Oklahomans already use marijuana legally and “many thousands more” use it illegally.

“A two-tiered system, where one group of Oklahomans is free to use this product and the other is treated like criminals does not make logical sense,” she said in a statement.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to make the state one of the most conservative to green light cannabis use for adults.

State Question 820, the result of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-marijuana-oklahoma-general-6f4ba121d09542c4bb3615fdcf56f98d">signature gathering drive</a>&nbsp;last year, is the only item on the statewide ballot. Other conservative states have legalized recreational cannabis use, including Montana in 2020 and Missouri last year, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-legalization-2022-midterm-elections-c693f5e23e0faf2f39168df6a2f80ab2">several have rejected it</a>, including Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The plan faces opposition from leaders of several faith groups, along with law enforcement and prosecutors, led by former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent, and Terri White, the former head of the state's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

“We don't want a stoned society,” Keating said Monday, flanked by district attorneys and law enforcement officers from across the state.

The “no” side was outspent more than 20-to-1, with supporters of the initiative spending more than $4.9 million, compared to about $219,000 against, last-minute campaign finance reports show.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">proposal</a>, if passed, would allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. People could also legally grow up to 12 marijuana plants. Recreational sales would be subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the state’s general revenue fund.

The proposal also outlines a judicial process for people to seek expungement or dismissal of prior marijuana-related convictions.

State officials would have three months after the question passes to establish the rules necessary to implement the new law.

Passage of the state question would result in an increase of $1.8 billion in recreational sales that would generate about $434 million in excise tax revenue alone from 2024 to 2028, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://vicentellp.com/img/content/downloads/An_Economic_Impact_and_Tax_Analysis_of_Oklahoma_State_Question_820.pdf">economic impact study</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the cannabis industry. By far the largest number of out-of-state consumers would be from Texas, followed by Arkansas and Kansas, the report shows.

Both the additional revenue for the state and the expungement of prior convictions appealed to Redeana Moton, who voted for the proposal Tuesday at Crown Heights Christian Church in Oklahoma City.

“I just don't see marijuana as a harsh drug,” Moton said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677941306901.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected the legalization of recreational marijuana, following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors.<a href="https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20230307">Click here to see</a> the elections resultsOklahoma would have become the 22nd state to legalize adult use of cannabis and join conservative states like Montana and Missouri that have approved similar proposals in recent years. Many conservative states have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-legalization-2022-midterm-elections-c693f5e23e0faf2f39168df6a2f80ab2">rejected the idea</a>, including Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota last year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Oklahomans rejected SQ 820. I believe this is the best thing to keep our kids safe and for our state as a whole. I remain committed to protecting Oklahomans and my administration will continue to hold bad actors accountable and crack down on illegal marijuana operations.&mdash; Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovStitt/status/1633295525381300226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and many of the state’s GOP legislators, including nearly every Republican senator, opposed the idea. Former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent, and Terri White, the former head of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, led the "no" campaign.“We’re pleased the voters have spoken," said Pat McFerron, a Republican political strategist who ran the opposition campaign. "We think this sends a clear signal that voters are not happy with the recreational nature of our medicinal system. We also think it shows voters recognize the criminal aspects, as well as the need for addressing mental health needs of the state.”Oklahoma voters already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mary-fallin-oklahoma-politics-ok-state-wire-70b6fafb4c0f4d2ea920cba5fa227737">approved medical marijuana in 2018</a>&nbsp;by 14 percentage points and the state has one of the most liberal programs in the country, with more than 2,800 licensed dispensaries and roughly 10% of the state’s adult population having a medical license to buy and consume cannabis.On Tuesday's legalization question, the “no” side was outspent more than 20-to-1, with supporters of the initiative spending more than $4.9 million, compared to about $219,000 against, last-minute campaign finance reports show.State Question 820, the result of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-marijuana-oklahoma-general-6f4ba121d09542c4bb3615fdcf56f98d">signature gathering drive</a>&nbsp;last year, was the only item on the statewide ballot, and early results showed heavy opposition in rural areas.“Oklahoma is a law and order state," Stitt said in a statement after Tuesday's vote. "I remain committed to protecting Oklahomans and my administration will continue to hold bad actors accountable and crack down on illegal marijuana operations in our state.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">proposal</a>, if passed, would have allowed anyone over the age of 21 to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. Recreational sales would have been subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the state’s general revenue fund.The prospect of having more Oklahomans smoking anything, including marijuana, didn't sit well with Mark Grossman, an attorney who voted against the proposal Tuesday at the Crown Heights Christian Church in Oklahoma City.“I was a no vote because I'm against smoking,” Grossman said. “Tobacco smoking was a huge problem for my family.”The low barriers for entry into Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry has led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-us-news-ap-top-news-ar-state-wire-health-58daeb2ed452710e03ea4542976a620a">flood of growers</a>, processors and dispensary operators competing for a limited number of customers. Supporters had hoped the state's marijuana industry would be buoyed by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-recreational-marijuana-tourism-texas-7f42b209187570a2640f92cf30a3ca3e">rush of out-of-state customers</a>, particularly from Texas, which has close to 8 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area just a little more than an hour drive from the Oklahoma border.Michelle Tilley, campaign director for Yes on 820, said despite Tuesday's result, full marijuana legalization was inevitable. She noted that almost 400,000 Oklahomans already use marijuana legally and “many thousands more” use it illegally.“A two-tiered system, where one group of Oklahomans is free to use this product and the other is treated like criminals does not make logical sense,” she said in a statement.___----------------OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to make the state one of the most conservative to green light cannabis use for adults.State Question 820, the result of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-marijuana-oklahoma-general-6f4ba121d09542c4bb3615fdcf56f98d">signature gathering drive</a>&nbsp;last year, is the only item on the statewide ballot. Other conservative states have legalized recreational cannabis use, including Montana in 2020 and Missouri last year, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-legalization-2022-midterm-elections-c693f5e23e0faf2f39168df6a2f80ab2">several have rejected it</a>, including Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.The plan faces opposition from leaders of several faith groups, along with law enforcement and prosecutors, led by former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent, and Terri White, the former head of the state's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.“We don't want a stoned society,” Keating said Monday, flanked by district attorneys and law enforcement officers from across the state.The “no” side was outspent more than 20-to-1, with supporters of the initiative spending more than $4.9 million, compared to about $219,000 against, last-minute campaign finance reports show.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">proposal</a>, if passed, would allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. People could also legally grow up to 12 marijuana plants. Recreational sales would be subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the state’s general revenue fund.The proposal also outlines a judicial process for people to seek expungement or dismissal of prior marijuana-related convictions.State officials would have three months after the question passes to establish the rules necessary to implement the new law.Passage of the state question would result in an increase of $1.8 billion in recreational sales that would generate about $434 million in excise tax revenue alone from 2024 to 2028, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://vicentellp.com/img/content/downloads/An_Economic_Impact_and_Tax_Analysis_of_Oklahoma_State_Question_820.pdf">economic impact study</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the cannabis industry. By far the largest number of out-of-state consumers would be from Texas, followed by Arkansas and Kansas, the report shows.Both the additional revenue for the state and the expungement of prior convictions appealed to Redeana Moton, who voted for the proposal Tuesday at Crown Heights Christian Church in Oklahoma City.“I just don't see marijuana as a harsh drug,” Moton said.The prospect of having more Oklahomans smoking anything, including marijuana, didn't sit well with Mark Grossman, an Oklahoma City attorney who voted against the proposal.“I was a no vote because I'm against smoking,” Grossman said. “Tobacco smoking was a huge problem for my family.”Oklahoma voters already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mary-fallin-oklahoma-politics-ok-state-wire-70b6fafb4c0f4d2ea920cba5fa227737">approved medical marijuana in 2018</a>&nbsp;by 14 percentage points and the state has one of the most liberal programs in the country, with roughly 10% of the state’s adult population having a medical license.The low barriers for entry into the industry has led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-us-news-ap-top-news-ar-state-wire-health-58daeb2ed452710e03ea4542976a620a">flood of growers</a>, processors and dispensary operators competing for a limited number of customers. Supporters also say the state's marijuana industry would be buoyed by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-recreational-marijuana-tourism-texas-7f42b209187570a2640f92cf30a3ca3e">rush of out-of-state customers</a>, particularly from Texas, which has close to 8 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area just a little more than an hour drive from the Oklahoma border.“We do have one of the most permissible (medical) programs in the country, but the idea that you have to spend your time and money to go to a doctor and basically buy immunity from criminal prosecution is a pay-to-play system that I just don’t like,” said Ryan Kiesel, a former state lawmaker and one of the organizers of the Yes on 820 campaign.___