DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Lawrence Police Sergeant was treated at a local hospital Monday night after injuries he received while arresting a man who fled from police and put several residents and officers at risk, according to police spokesperson Laurie McCabe.

Dash camera video shows the officers as they witness a white pickup truck driving recklessly near 7th&nbsp;and Vermont about 8:20p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; Officers move to their patrol vehicles, activate lights and sirens, attempt to pull the vehicle over, and begin pursuit when the driver doesn’t comply.&nbsp; 

The truck continues and drives the wrong way on Tennessee Street, stops at a red light but remains in the truck, cuts in front of a city bus, then continues driving erratically through neighborhood streets and ultimately through a yard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 The suspect eventually pulls into a residence in the 800 block of Morning Dove Court and refuses to exit the vehicle.&nbsp; After several attempts to get the driver to exit the truck, he flees into the residence and officers follow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inside the residence, the suspect continued to resist, using physical force, but officers were able to get him into custody after a physical struggle.&nbsp;

One officer suffered minor injuries and did not require medical attention. The injured Sergeant, who was first in line entering the home, was taken to the hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries and contusions, and subsequently released.

The suspect, 44-year-old Craig Gunther, was arrested on numerous requested charges including Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Felony Interference.

The Sergeant is at home recovering.&nbsp; He is expected to make a full recovery, but authorities do not have an estimated timeline.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Lawrence Police Sergeant was treated at a local hospital Monday night after injuries he received while arresting a man who fled from police and put several residents and officers at risk, according to police spokesperson Laurie McCabe.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A Lawrence Police sergeant was treated at a local hospital last night following a vehicle pursuit that ended with the suspect allegedly assaulting multiple officers as he attempted to evade capture by fleeing on foot into a residence. Full details below: <a href="https://t.co/wWh7tofJF2">pic.twitter.com/wWh7tofJF2</a>&mdash; Lawrence Police (@LawrenceKS_PD) <a href="https://twitter.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1653474442310238223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Dash camera video shows the officers as they witness a white pickup truck driving recklessly near 7th&nbsp;and Vermont about 8:20p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp; Officers move to their patrol vehicles, activate lights and sirens, attempt to pull the vehicle over, and begin pursuit when the driver doesn’t comply.&nbsp; The truck continues and drives the wrong way on Tennessee Street, stops at a red light but remains in the truck, cuts in front of a city bus, then continues driving erratically through neighborhood streets and ultimately through a yard.&nbsp;&nbsp; The suspect eventually pulls into a residence in the 800 block of Morning Dove Court and refuses to exit the vehicle.&nbsp; After several attempts to get the driver to exit the truck, he flees into the residence and officers follow.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inside the residence, the suspect continued to resist, using physical force, but officers were able to get him into custody after a physical struggle.&nbsp;One officer suffered minor injuries and did not require medical attention. The injured Sergeant, who was first in line entering the home, was taken to the hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries and contusions, and subsequently released.The suspect, 44-year-old Craig Gunther, was arrested on numerous requested charges including Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Felony Interference.The Sergeant is at home recovering.&nbsp; He is expected to make a full recovery, but authorities do not have an estimated timeline.

🎥Kan. officer injured during arrest of fleeing suspect

LABETTE COUNTY – Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents, along with the Parsons Police Department and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, arrested two subjects following an investigation, and the execution of a search warrant in Parsons, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop, and executed a search warrant at 1720 Dirr Avenue in Parsons.

Pills believed to contain fentanyl were located at the residence. Also discovered was cocaine, methamphetamine, drug use paraphernalia, and drug sale paraphernalia.

Following the search, Vincent S. Janssen Sr., 56, of Parsons, was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, possession of cocaine, possession of sale drug paraphernalia, possession of use paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a firearm.

Melissa L. Oja, 50, of Parsons, was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, possession of cocaine, possession of sale drug paraphernalia, possession of use paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a firearm.

Both are being held in the Labette County Jail.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683060905194.png" alt="Janssen-photo Labette Co." />
 <figcaption>Janssen-photo Labette Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY – Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents, along with the Parsons Police Department and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, arrested two subjects following an investigation, and the execution of a search warrant in Parsons, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop, and executed a search warrant at 1720 Dirr Avenue in Parsons.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683060849745.png" alt="Oja-photo Labette Co." />
 <figcaption>Oja-photo Labette Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Pills believed to contain fentanyl were located at the residence. Also discovered was cocaine, methamphetamine, drug use paraphernalia, and drug sale paraphernalia.Following the search, Vincent S. Janssen Sr., 56, of Parsons, was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, possession of cocaine, possession of sale drug paraphernalia, possession of use paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a firearm.Melissa L. Oja, 50, of Parsons, was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property, possession of cocaine, possession of sale drug paraphernalia, possession of use paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a firearm.Both are being held in the Labette County Jail.&nbsp;

KBI agents find fentanyl pills, cocaine at home near a school

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration have been tracking a balloon that was flying off the coast of Hawaii last week, but a defense official said Tuesday there's no indication it is connected to China or any other adversary, and it presents no threats to aviation or national security.

The balloon was first detected by radar on Friday and “Pacific Air Forces launched three F-22s to assess the situation and visually identified a spherical object,” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said. “We monitored the transit of the object and assessed that it posed no threat.”

The defense official said the balloon was floating at about 36,000 feet (11,000 meters), and it did not fly over any critical defense infrastructure or sensitive sites. After determining that the balloon presented no threat to people on the ground or to aviation over Hawaii, the military took no action to bring it down, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

It’s not clear who owns the balloon, which has now passed out of Hawaii’s airspace, the official said.

The latest balloon sighting comes about three months after the U.S. military shot down what officials said was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-balloon-military-involvement-e45c759cb00294e83989fa35970935bc">Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;that crossed Alaska and part of Canada before returning to the U.S. and triggering widespread interest as it flew across the country. It was shot down over the Atlantic off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4. Large portions of the balloon were recovered by the U.S. military.

U.S. officials said it was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals as part of a huge, military-linked aerial surveillance program that targeted more than 40 countries. Beijing insisted the balloon was just an errant civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research that went off course due to winds and had only limited “self-steering” capabilities.

The U.S. military acknowledged there have been several other balloons that have been tracked over and near the U.S. in recent years, but none lingered over America for as long as that one did. The incident further eroded relations between the U.S. and China.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675547938768.png" alt="Image of the spy balloon that flew over Kansas in February and was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean-p hoto by meteorologist Robert Whitehurst courtesy WMBF TV" />
 <figcaption>Image of the spy balloon that flew over Kansas in February and was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean-p hoto by meteorologist Robert Whitehurst courtesy WMBF TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration have been tracking a balloon that was flying off the coast of Hawaii last week, but a defense official said Tuesday there's no indication it is connected to China or any other adversary, and it presents no threats to aviation or national security.The balloon was first detected by radar on Friday and “Pacific Air Forces launched three F-22s to assess the situation and visually identified a spherical object,” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said. “We monitored the transit of the object and assessed that it posed no threat.”The defense official said the balloon was floating at about 36,000 feet (11,000 meters), and it did not fly over any critical defense infrastructure or sensitive sites. After determining that the balloon presented no threat to people on the ground or to aviation over Hawaii, the military took no action to bring it down, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.It’s not clear who owns the balloon, which has now passed out of Hawaii’s airspace, the official said.The latest balloon sighting comes about three months after the U.S. military shot down what officials said was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-balloon-military-involvement-e45c759cb00294e83989fa35970935bc">Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;that crossed Alaska and part of Canada before returning to the U.S. and triggering widespread interest as it flew across the country. It was shot down over the Atlantic off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4. Large portions of the balloon were recovered by the U.S. military.U.S. officials said it was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals as part of a huge, military-linked aerial surveillance program that targeted more than 40 countries. Beijing insisted the balloon was just an errant civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research that went off course due to winds and had only limited “self-steering” capabilities.The U.S. military acknowledged there have been several other balloons that have been tracked over and near the U.S. in recent years, but none lingered over America for as long as that one did. The incident further eroded relations between the U.S. and China.

US tracking another balloon; not believed connected to China

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged ID theft.

On Monday, police conducted an investigation after an 80 year old victim reported fraud involving her bank account, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Police determined that on April 27 and April 28 the unlawful transfer of bank funds, through the use of PayPal, had occurred to the victim’s account. Investigators identified 22-year-old Andrew Sinclair as the suspect. 

Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police located him 7th and Commercial in Atchison and took him into custody. He is being held on requested charges of unlawful computer acts, criminal use of a financial card and theft, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683036276500.png" alt="Sinclair-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Sinclair-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged ID theft.On Monday, police conducted an investigation after an 80 year old victim reported fraud involving her bank account, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.Police determined that on April 27 and April 28 the unlawful transfer of bank funds, through the use of PayPal, had occurred to the victim’s account. Investigators identified 22-year-old Andrew Sinclair as the suspect. Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police located him 7th and Commercial in Atchison and took him into custody. He is being held on requested charges of unlawful computer acts, criminal use of a financial card and theft, according to Wilson.

Kan. man accused of computer crimes involving 80-year-old

BARTON COUNTY —The Britt Spaugh in Great Bend on Tuesday shared the news of the passing of their geriatric African Leopard, Toby, who was 19 years old. 

Since mid-March staff have been closely monitoring and treating Toby, including palliative care around the clock. Unfortunately, we were fighting against aging, which is a losing battle. African Leopards typically live 10-12 years in the wild and while they can live to 23 years under human care, 15-20 is more common.

A necropsy was performed, and preliminary results show he had kidney failure. Additional samples were sent to the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for further testing. Renal (kidney) disease is common in aging felines and can be managed but not cured.

Toby came to the zoo in 2004 as a cub and was raised by the keepers. He was a special cat to all who met him, and he held a special place in his keepers’ hearts. Toby always ran out to greet you in the morning and one of his favorite activities was playing hide and seek with his keepers. Please keep the zookeepers in mind as his passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts and he will be greatly missed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683053623999.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —The Britt Spaugh in Great Bend on Tuesday shared the news of the passing of their geriatric African Leopard, Toby, who was 19 years old. Since mid-March staff have been closely monitoring and treating Toby, including palliative care around the clock. Unfortunately, we were fighting against aging, which is a losing battle. African Leopards typically live 10-12 years in the wild and while they can live to 23 years under human care, 15-20 is more common.A necropsy was performed, and preliminary results show he had kidney failure. Additional samples were sent to the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for further testing. Renal (kidney) disease is common in aging felines and can be managed but not cured.Toby came to the zoo in 2004 as a cub and was raised by the keepers. He was a special cat to all who met him, and he held a special place in his keepers’ hearts. Toby always ran out to greet you in the morning and one of his favorite activities was playing hide and seek with his keepers. Please keep the zookeepers in mind as his passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts and he will be greatly missed.1.

Kansas zoo mourns loss of 19-year-old leopard

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will send 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of an expected migrant surge following the end of coronavirus pandemic-era restrictions, according to four administration officials.

Military personnel will do data entry, warehouse support and other administrative tasks so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork, the officials said. The troops will not do law enforcement work and will be sent down for roughly 90 days, though their presence can be extended if necessary. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. It's unclear when the troops would be deployed.

The COVID-19 restrictions allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">restrictions will lift May 11</a>, and border officials are bracing for an expected surge of migrants. Even amid the restrictions, the administration has seen record numbers of people crossing the border, and President Joe Biden has responded by cracking down on those who cross illegally and by creating new pathways meant to offer alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.

Biden’s actions follow similar moves by then-President Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-latin-america-e7ffd2d5764244cdb1d1474bd895a863">deployed active duty troops</a>&nbsp;to the border to assist border patrol personnel in processing large migrant caravans, on top of National Guard forces that were already working in that capacity. There are already roughly 2,700 National Guard members at the border.

The Pentagon on Tuesday approved the request for troops by the Department of Homeland Security, which manages the border, one of the officials said.

But the deployments have a catch: As a condition for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's previous approval of National Guard troops to support the border mission throughout fiscal year 2023, which ends this Oct. 1, DHS had to agree to work with the White House and Congress “to develop a plan and implement solutions to staffing and funding shortfalls to maintain border security and the safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants that do not involve the continued use of DOD personnel and resources after FY2023,” said Pentagon spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Devin Robinson.

As part of the agreement, DOD requested quarterly updates from DHS on how it would staff its border mission without service members throughout this fiscal year; it was not immediately clear if those updates have happened or if DHS will be able to meet its terms of the agreement — particularly under the strain of another migrant surge.

For Biden, who announced his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">Democratic reelection campaign</a>&nbsp;a week ago, the decision signals his administration is taking seriously an effort to tamp down the number of illegal crossings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-mexico-el-paso-2e30ea26bbc55c7af509a6e60ad3d33c">a potent source of Republican attacks</a>, and sends a message to potential border crossers not to attempt the journey. But it also draws potentially unwelcome comparisons to Biden's Republican predecessor, whose policies Biden frequently criticized. Congress, meanwhile, has refused to take any substantial immigration-related actions.

It's another line of defense in an effort to manage overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise as border officials move away from the COVID-19 restrictions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-biden-asylum-75d8c0e67d5521fb48ac04f6bf017a49">Last week, administration officials announced</a>&nbsp;they would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-screenings-border-credible-fear-biden-0baadca5c41bb9ccdc4b074d2034fb94">work to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border</a>, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border.

They will also open centers outside the United States for people fleeing violence and poverty to apply to fly in legally and settle in the United States, Spain or Canada. The first processing centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia, with others expected to follow.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">COVID-19 immigration restrictions</a>&nbsp;set to expire, the Biden administration on Thursday announced measures meant to stop migrants from illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, both by cracking down on many of those who do come, and by creating new pathways meant to offer an alternative to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/border-security">the dangerous journey.</a>

The effort includes opening processing centers outside the United States for people fleeing violence and poverty to apply to fly in legally and settle in the United States, Spain or Canada. The first processing centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia, with others expected to follow.

The administration also plans to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalizing people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border.

But it is unclear whether the measures will do much to slow the tide of migrants fleeing countries marred by political and economic strife. Further increasing the pressure is the looming end of public health rules instituted amid the pandemic that allowed for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-canada-mexico-health-57c1906f9d83a318a9d570278735255b">quickly expelling many migrants</a>&nbsp;and set to expire on May 11.

“This is a hemispheric challenge that demands hemispheric solutions,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a news conference as he laid out how the U.S. is working with other countries in the region.

Mayorkas also warned that migrants and human smugglers should not interpret the upcoming deadline to mean that everyone should come: ”Let me be clear, our border is not open and will not be open after May 11."

Immigration has vexed Biden throughout his presidency, with top GOP leaders hammering him as soft on border security. Immigrant advocates, meanwhile, argue that the president is abandoning humanitarian efforts with stricter measures meant to keep migrants from coming illegally.

The topic isn’t going away. As he announces his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">2024 reelection bid</a>, Biden is trying to strike a balance that could be difficult to achieve, particularly if crowds of migrants end up in border facilities after May 11.

The administration has also repeatedly pointed to Congress, saying it has been unable to come to an agreement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f">on comprehensive immigration reform</a>.

The efforts announced Thursday build on a carrot-and-stick approach to immigration that the administration has been increasingly using, whereby they offer incentives like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-ken-paxton-austin-texas-6faa8fb9039ea614c917c2e696668991">humanitarian parole visas for</a>&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of people and harsh consequences for many who come to the border. Those have so far included:

— Processing centers: The administration will open migration centers in numerous countries starting with Guatemala and Colombia to be run by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iom.int/">International Organization of Migration</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unhcr.org/">U.N. agency tasked with helping refugees</a>. There potential migrants can get information on various ways they can migrate to the United States, such as applying for refugee status or a worker program. The administration said both Canada and Spain have said they'd take migrants referred from these centers, although no specific numbers were given. The U.S. also said it would double the number of refugees taken from Central and South America. No specific number was given there, either, but during fiscal year 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/09/27/memorandum-on-presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2023/">the U.S. pledged to accept 15,000 refugees</a>&nbsp;from Latin America and the Caribbean.

— Stiffer, faster penalties: The administration says it will process asylum-seekers who come to the southern border faster — in days, not weeks — with the goal of sending people back quickly who don't clear initial screenings. Those removed from the country would be barred from entering the U.S. for five years. The administration says it aims to dramatically increase flights on which migrants are sent home from the U.S. Officials also said a previously announced rule which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-donald-trump-mobile-phones-1502c6d6125c1dede583002722144488">would limit asylum</a>&nbsp;for those who pass through another country without first seeking protection there, or who enter the U.S. illegally, is also set to go into effect before the May 11 deadline passes.

— No family detention: The administration stopped short of saying they'd detain families crossing the border illegally. That step would have sparked widespread condemnation from immigration advocates and Biden allies. But they said they'd monitor families through things like curfews and GPS monitoring and stressed that families would be removed if found unqualified to stay in the U.S.

— Family reunification: DHS is creating a new family reunification parole process for people from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia. And the agency is “modernizing” the existing family reunification process for people from Cuba and Haiti.

— Smuggler crackdown: Mayorkas stressed efforts to more strictly combat smuggling networks that facilitate travel from across the region to the U.S. border.

Andrew Selee, who heads the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/">Migration Policy Institute</a>, said the plans announced are the “clearest we’ve seen of a strategy" from the administration on how to deal with immigration. But he cautioned that it would still require a lot of time and commitment for the plan to be successful.

"I think it’s the closest we’ve seen to a comprehensive plan," Selee said. He said the administration was betting a lot on the processing centers, and said potentially they can serve to give people information about migration options in a way that a U.S. Embassy, for example, cannot.

But Selee said they would have to be closely linked to local networks in various countries so prospective migrants know about them, and so local organization who know the people who are most desperate to flee can refer them to the centers.

Thursday's announcement was met with criticism by many immigration advocates, including members of the president's own party who have been troubled by Biden's increasing efforts to make it harder to access asylum at the border.

Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said he was “disappointed” in the plan, especially after spending recent weeks urging the White House to adopt a different immigration strategy, including extending temporary protected status to people from several Central American countries. He also cast doubt on how parts of the plan would be implemented.

“The question is, how are we going to set up those processing centers? What are the entities that will be there to make sure that a person is being processed in the appropriate way? What are we doing with third countries to be able to accept individuals and make sure that they are safe?" said Menendez.

Many groups that work to assist refugees and other migrants said they welcomed some aspects of the president's plan, such as allowing in more refugees from South and Central America and speeding up family reunification efforts. But they said that shouldn't come at the expense of people applying for asylum at the border.

The International Refugee Assistance Project said in a statement that it is concerned at the lack of details in the plan, how it will be implemented and where the money will come from. The group also said that the U.S.'s refugee resettlement program is still struggling to recover after cuts during the Trump administration.

“We have more questions than answers,” said Lacy Broemel, a project policy analyst.

Others, including right-leaning groups already intensely critical of Biden, lambasted the plan, saying that faster processing of migrants simply means they're entering the country faster. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairus.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwuqiiBhBtEiwATgvixDoce6e3PdACymT6mfG3a2P7oYgEHg5MoIWmmx2HqHpc_f6PDWEtbhoCsa4QAvD_BwE">Federation for American Immigration Reform</a>&nbsp;said the initiatives amount ”to a massive and illegal scheme designed to accommodate unlimited numbers of migrants."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="Immigration has vexed Biden throughout his presidency, with top GOP leaders hammering him as soft on border security.Border -photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Immigration has vexed Biden throughout his presidency, with top GOP leaders hammering him as soft on border security.Border -photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will send 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of an expected migrant surge following the end of coronavirus pandemic-era restrictions, according to four administration officials.Military personnel will do data entry, warehouse support and other administrative tasks so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork, the officials said. The troops will not do law enforcement work and will be sent down for roughly 90 days, though their presence can be extended if necessary. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. It's unclear when the troops would be deployed.The COVID-19 restrictions allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">restrictions will lift May 11</a>, and border officials are bracing for an expected surge of migrants. Even amid the restrictions, the administration has seen record numbers of people crossing the border, and President Joe Biden has responded by cracking down on those who cross illegally and by creating new pathways meant to offer alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.Biden’s actions follow similar moves by then-President Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-latin-america-e7ffd2d5764244cdb1d1474bd895a863">deployed active duty troops</a>&nbsp;to the border to assist border patrol personnel in processing large migrant caravans, on top of National Guard forces that were already working in that capacity. There are already roughly 2,700 National Guard members at the border.The Pentagon on Tuesday approved the request for troops by the Department of Homeland Security, which manages the border, one of the officials said.But the deployments have a catch: As a condition for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's previous approval of National Guard troops to support the border mission throughout fiscal year 2023, which ends this Oct. 1, DHS had to agree to work with the White House and Congress “to develop a plan and implement solutions to staffing and funding shortfalls to maintain border security and the safe, orderly, and humane processing of migrants that do not involve the continued use of DOD personnel and resources after FY2023,” said Pentagon spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Devin Robinson.As part of the agreement, DOD requested quarterly updates from DHS on how it would staff its border mission without service members throughout this fiscal year; it was not immediately clear if those updates have happened or if DHS will be able to meet its terms of the agreement — particularly under the strain of another migrant surge.For Biden, who announced his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">Democratic reelection campaign</a>&nbsp;a week ago, the decision signals his administration is taking seriously an effort to tamp down the number of illegal crossings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-mexico-el-paso-2e30ea26bbc55c7af509a6e60ad3d33c">a potent source of Republican attacks</a>, and sends a message to potential border crossers not to attempt the journey. But it also draws potentially unwelcome comparisons to Biden's Republican predecessor, whose policies Biden frequently criticized. Congress, meanwhile, has refused to take any substantial immigration-related actions.It's another line of defense in an effort to manage overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise as border officials move away from the COVID-19 restrictions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-biden-asylum-75d8c0e67d5521fb48ac04f6bf017a49">Last week, administration officials announced</a>&nbsp;they would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asylum-screenings-border-credible-fear-biden-0baadca5c41bb9ccdc4b074d2034fb94">work to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border</a>, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border.They will also open centers outside the United States for people fleeing violence and poverty to apply to fly in legally and settle in the United States, Spain or Canada. The first processing centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia, with others expected to follow.___WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-immigration-covid-93d735b9b55c15121c8fc7763fba7e78">COVID-19 immigration restrictions</a>&nbsp;set to expire, the Biden administration on Thursday announced measures meant to stop migrants from illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, both by cracking down on many of those who do come, and by creating new pathways meant to offer an alternative to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/border-security">the dangerous journey.</a>The effort includes opening processing centers outside the United States for people fleeing violence and poverty to apply to fly in legally and settle in the United States, Spain or Canada. The first processing centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia, with others expected to follow.The administration also plans to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border itself, quickly deport those deemed as not being qualified, and penalizing people who cross illegally into the U.S. or illegally through another country on their way to the U.S. border.But it is unclear whether the measures will do much to slow the tide of migrants fleeing countries marred by political and economic strife. Further increasing the pressure is the looming end of public health rules instituted amid the pandemic that allowed for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-canada-mexico-health-57c1906f9d83a318a9d570278735255b">quickly expelling many migrants</a>&nbsp;and set to expire on May 11.“This is a hemispheric challenge that demands hemispheric solutions,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a news conference as he laid out how the U.S. is working with other countries in the region.Mayorkas also warned that migrants and human smugglers should not interpret the upcoming deadline to mean that everyone should come: ”Let me be clear, our border is not open and will not be open after May 11."Immigration has vexed Biden throughout his presidency, with top GOP leaders hammering him as soft on border security. Immigrant advocates, meanwhile, argue that the president is abandoning humanitarian efforts with stricter measures meant to keep migrants from coming illegally.The topic isn’t going away. As he announces his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">2024 reelection bid</a>, Biden is trying to strike a balance that could be difficult to achieve, particularly if crowds of migrants end up in border facilities after May 11.The administration has also repeatedly pointed to Congress, saying it has been unable to come to an agreement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f">on comprehensive immigration reform</a>.The efforts announced Thursday build on a carrot-and-stick approach to immigration that the administration has been increasingly using, whereby they offer incentives like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-ken-paxton-austin-texas-6faa8fb9039ea614c917c2e696668991">humanitarian parole visas for</a>&nbsp;hundreds of thousands of people and harsh consequences for many who come to the border. Those have so far included:— Processing centers: The administration will open migration centers in numerous countries starting with Guatemala and Colombia to be run by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iom.int/">International Organization of Migration</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unhcr.org/">U.N. agency tasked with helping refugees</a>. There potential migrants can get information on various ways they can migrate to the United States, such as applying for refugee status or a worker program. The administration said both Canada and Spain have said they'd take migrants referred from these centers, although no specific numbers were given. The U.S. also said it would double the number of refugees taken from Central and South America. No specific number was given there, either, but during fiscal year 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/09/27/memorandum-on-presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2023/">the U.S. pledged to accept 15,000 refugees</a>&nbsp;from Latin America and the Caribbean.— Stiffer, faster penalties: The administration says it will process asylum-seekers who come to the southern border faster — in days, not weeks — with the goal of sending people back quickly who don't clear initial screenings. Those removed from the country would be barred from entering the U.S. for five years. The administration says it aims to dramatically increase flights on which migrants are sent home from the U.S. Officials also said a previously announced rule which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-donald-trump-mobile-phones-1502c6d6125c1dede583002722144488">would limit asylum</a>&nbsp;for those who pass through another country without first seeking protection there, or who enter the U.S. illegally, is also set to go into effect before the May 11 deadline passes.— No family detention: The administration stopped short of saying they'd detain families crossing the border illegally. That step would have sparked widespread condemnation from immigration advocates and Biden allies. But they said they'd monitor families through things like curfews and GPS monitoring and stressed that families would be removed if found unqualified to stay in the U.S.— Family reunification: DHS is creating a new family reunification parole process for people from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia. And the agency is “modernizing” the existing family reunification process for people from Cuba and Haiti.— Smuggler crackdown: Mayorkas stressed efforts to more strictly combat smuggling networks that facilitate travel from across the region to the U.S. border.Andrew Selee, who heads the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/">Migration Policy Institute</a>, said the plans announced are the “clearest we’ve seen of a strategy" from the administration on how to deal with immigration. But he cautioned that it would still require a lot of time and commitment for the plan to be successful."I think it’s the closest we’ve seen to a comprehensive plan," Selee said. He said the administration was betting a lot on the processing centers, and said potentially they can serve to give people information about migration options in a way that a U.S. Embassy, for example, cannot.But Selee said they would have to be closely linked to local networks in various countries so prospective migrants know about them, and so local organization who know the people who are most desperate to flee can refer them to the centers.Thursday's announcement was met with criticism by many immigration advocates, including members of the president's own party who have been troubled by Biden's increasing efforts to make it harder to access asylum at the border.Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said he was “disappointed” in the plan, especially after spending recent weeks urging the White House to adopt a different immigration strategy, including extending temporary protected status to people from several Central American countries. He also cast doubt on how parts of the plan would be implemented.“The question is, how are we going to set up those processing centers? What are the entities that will be there to make sure that a person is being processed in the appropriate way? What are we doing with third countries to be able to accept individuals and make sure that they are safe?" said Menendez.Many groups that work to assist refugees and other migrants said they welcomed some aspects of the president's plan, such as allowing in more refugees from South and Central America and speeding up family reunification efforts. But they said that shouldn't come at the expense of people applying for asylum at the border.The International Refugee Assistance Project said in a statement that it is concerned at the lack of details in the plan, how it will be implemented and where the money will come from. The group also said that the U.S.'s refugee resettlement program is still struggling to recover after cuts during the Trump administration.“We have more questions than answers,” said Lacy Broemel, a project policy analyst.Others, including right-leaning groups already intensely critical of Biden, lambasted the plan, saying that faster processing of migrants simply means they're entering the country faster. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairus.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwuqiiBhBtEiwATgvixDoce6e3PdACymT6mfG3a2P7oYgEHg5MoIWmmx2HqHpc_f6PDWEtbhoCsa4QAvD_BwE">Federation for American Immigration Reform</a>&nbsp;said the initiatives amount ”to a massive and illegal scheme designed to accommodate unlimited numbers of migrants."

Biden sending 1,500 troops for Mexico border migrant surge

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas cold case sexual assault crime have made an arrest.

In November of 2007, police were dispatched to a reported sex assault case at 1900 S Tara Falls in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Investigators learned that a suspect had broken into a home and sexually assaulted a female victim. Investigators worked to identify a suspect but were unable to despite exhausting all available resources at the time.

Recently, in collaboration with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Cold Case Team and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Wichita Police Investigators were able to utilize genealogical investigative techniques to assist them in identifying a potential suspect. 

The suspect’s identity was confirmed through DNA as Ted Foy.

On Monday, police arrested Foy and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Rape, Aggravated Sexual Battery and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682984799056.png" alt="Foy-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Foy-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a Kansas cold case sexual assault crime have made an arrest.In November of 2007, police were dispatched to a reported sex assault case at 1900 S Tara Falls in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.Investigators learned that a suspect had broken into a home and sexually assaulted a female victim. Investigators worked to identify a suspect but were unable to despite exhausting all available resources at the time.Recently, in collaboration with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Cold Case Team and the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, Wichita Police Investigators were able to utilize genealogical investigative techniques to assist them in identifying a potential suspect. The suspect’s identity was confirmed through DNA as Ted Foy.On Monday, police arrested Foy and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Rape, Aggravated Sexual Battery and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy.

Police make arrest in 16-year-old Kansas sex assault case

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Revenue announced Monday that total tax collections for April 2023 were $1.3 billion. That is 2.3%, or $30.1 million, below the estimate, according to a media release from Governor Kelly's office. Total collections are down 14.7% from April 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Individual income tax collections were $593.5 million. That is $76.0 million, or 11.4%, below the estimate, and 41.7%, or 425.3 million, below what was collected in April 2022. Part of the decrease in the individual income tax receipts is attributable to having two fewer processing days after the April 18 due date than in April 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $354.2 million. That is $50.2 million, or 16.5%, more than the month’s estimate and 150.4% more than in April 2022.&nbsp;

“The lower individual income tax receipts and higher corporate income tax receipts reflect the impact of the SALT Parity Act, which allows owners of pass-through entities to elect to have the pass-through income taxed at the entity level rather than at the entity owner level,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.&nbsp;

Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $308.6 million, which is $2.2 million, or 0.7%, below the estimate, and down $1.4 million, or 0.4%, from April 2022.&nbsp; The continued impact of reducing the food sales tax can be seen in the year-over-year decrease in the combined sales and compensating use tax collections.&nbsp;&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Revenue announced Monday that total tax collections for April 2023 were $1.3 billion. That is 2.3%, or $30.1 million, below the estimate, according to a media release from Governor Kelly's office. Total collections are down 14.7% from April 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;Individual income tax collections were $593.5 million. That is $76.0 million, or 11.4%, below the estimate, and 41.7%, or 425.3 million, below what was collected in April 2022. Part of the decrease in the individual income tax receipts is attributable to having two fewer processing days after the April 18 due date than in April 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $354.2 million. That is $50.2 million, or 16.5%, more than the month’s estimate and 150.4% more than in April 2022.&nbsp;“The lower individual income tax receipts and higher corporate income tax receipts reflect the impact of the SALT Parity Act, which allows owners of pass-through entities to elect to have the pass-through income taxed at the entity level rather than at the entity owner level,”&nbsp;Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.&nbsp;Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $308.6 million, which is $2.2 million, or 0.7%, below the estimate, and down $1.4 million, or 0.4%, from April 2022.&nbsp; The continued impact of reducing the food sales tax can be seen in the year-over-year decrease in the combined sales and compensating use tax collections.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. total tax collections down 14% from April 2022

HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) — A woman said Tuesday that her daughter and three teenage grandchildren were among the seven people found shot to death at a rural Oklahoma property during a search for two missing teens and a convicted sex offender.

Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said Monday that the seven bodies found near the town of Henryetta, were believed to include those of Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16, along with Jesse McFadden, the felon with whom authorities said the teens had been traveling. But Rice said the state medical examiner would have to confirm the victims' identities.

“We are no longer looking,” Rice said Monday morning, adding: "Our hearts go out to the families and friends, schoolmates and everyone else.”

Janette Mayo, 59, of Westville, Oklahoma, said the sheriff’s office notified her late Monday that the other four victims were her daughter, Holly Guess, 35, and her grandchildren, Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17; Michael James Mayo, 15; and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13. Mayo said Tiffany Guess was close friends with Webster and Brewer, who were spending the weekend with the family.

While Rice declined to provide details of how they died, Mayo said the sheriff’s office told her that her daughter and grandchildren were all found shot to death on the property.

Mayo said she and her family did not know about McFadden’s criminal history until a couple of months ago.

“He lied to my daughter, and he convinced her it was all just a huge mistake,” Mayo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday morning. "He was very demure. He was very standoffish, generally very quiet, but he kept my daughter and the kids basically under lock and key. He had to know where they were at all times, which sent red flags up.”

The grim discovery in Oklahoma keeps the U.S. on a torrid pace for mass killings in 2023 and could push the number of people slain in mass killings past 100 for the year.

The four people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-mojave-desert-four-dead-15dd8707198fbae3ba464850a5db4b10">found shot to death</a>&nbsp;in an RV in a small Mojave Desert community in California over the weekend represented the 19th mass killing of the year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University, the most during the first four months of the year since data was first recorded in 2006.

As of the Mojave shooting, 97 people had been killed in the 19 mass killings this year, exceeding the record set in 2009 when 93 people were killed in 17 incidents by the end of April.

The number killed is a fraction of the total number of people who died by homicide for the year. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator, the same standard as the FBI, and tracks a number of variables for each.

The bodies were found Monday during a search near Henryetta, a town of about 6,000 about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Gerald Davidson said.

A missing endangered person advisory issued earlier Monday said Webster and Brewer were reportedly seen traveling with McFadden, who was on the state's sex offender registry. Oklahoma Department of Corrections prison records show McFadden was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in October 2020.

Court records show McFadden was scheduled to appear in court Monday for the start of a jury trial on charges of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography. A message left Monday evening with McFadden's attorney in that case was not immediately returned.

Brittany Brewer's father told KOTV in Tulsa that one of the bodies discovered was his daughter.

“Brittany was an outgoing person. She was actually selected to be Miss Henryetta ... coming up in July for this Miss National Miss pageant in Tulsa. And now she ain't gonna make it because she's dead. She's gone,” Nathan Brewer said.

At a Monday night vigil, Brewer told hundreds of people: “It’s just a parent’s worst nightmare, and I’m living it."

He said his daughter had aspired to be a teacher or a veterinarian.

Mayo described her daughter, Holly Guess, as a doting mother who cared deeply for her children.

“She was a fantastic mother. She loved her children beyond belief. She was overprotective,” Mayo said. “She was supportive if they wanted to do something. She’d go out 100%.”

Granddaughter Rylee Allen "had a talent with a paint brush,” she said. “Rylee wanted to be an artist and wanted to be a doctor so she could help people.”

Michael Mayo ran track and cross-country, and when he wanted to play football, his mother went out and bought the family T-shirts and sweatshirts to support the team, Mayo said. Tiffany Guess also ran cross-country, she performed in the choir and had just tried out for the cheerleading squad.

“She was the sweetest, most loving girl you’d ever met,” Mayo said. “We called her ‘Tiffasaurus’ because when she’d get mad at you, she’d growl.”

Henryetta Public Schools posted on Facebook and its website that it is grieving over the loss of several of its students.

“Our hearts are hurting, and we have considered what would be best for our students in the coming days,” the note said. Officials said school would be in session, and mental health professionals and clergy would be on hand to help counsel students. But they said they would understand if families want to keep their children home from school.

In a separate Okmulgee County case, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-ac64b7207c71be139fc9125a53d88ce4">bodies of four men were found Oct. 14</a>&nbsp;in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a town of around 11,000 people about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Henryetta. Joseph Kennedy, 68, is facing four counts of first-degree murder in that case.

HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) — Authorities searching a rural Oklahoma property for two missing teenagers discovered the bodies of seven people Monday, including the suspected remains of the teens and a convicted sex offender who was sought along with them, the local sheriff said.

Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said the state medical examiner will have to confirm the identities of the victims, but “we believe that we have found the persons.” He said the bodies were believed to include those of 14-year-old Ivy Webster and 16-year-old Brittany Brewer, along with Jesse McFadden, the felon authorities had said the teens were traveling with.

“We are no longer looking,” Rice said. “We believe to have found everything that we were seeking this morning. Our hearts go out to the families and friends, schoolmates and everyone else.”

He declined to provide details of how they died or other details.

The bodies were found during a search near the town of Henryetta, a town of about 6,000 located about 90 miles east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Gerald Davidson said.

A missing endangered person advisory had been issued earlier in the day for the two teenagers before it was canceled Monday afternoon by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The advisory for Webster and Brewer had said they were reportedly seen traveling with McFadden, who was on the state's sex offender registry. Oklahoma Department of Corrections prison records show McFadden was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in October 2020.

In a separate Okmulgee County case, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-ac64b7207c71be139fc9125a53d88ce4">bodies of four men were found Oct. 14</a>&nbsp;in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a town of around 11,000 people that is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Tulsa. Joseph Kennedy, 68, is facing four counts of first-degree murder in that case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683023829812.png" alt="Oklahoma Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Oklahoma Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) — A woman said Tuesday that her daughter and three teenage grandchildren were among the seven people found shot to death at a rural Oklahoma property during a search for two missing teens and a convicted sex offender.Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said Monday that the seven bodies found near the town of Henryetta, were believed to include those of Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16, along with Jesse McFadden, the felon with whom authorities said the teens had been traveling. But Rice said the state medical examiner would have to confirm the victims' identities.“We are no longer looking,” Rice said Monday morning, adding: "Our hearts go out to the families and friends, schoolmates and everyone else.”Janette Mayo, 59, of Westville, Oklahoma, said the sheriff’s office notified her late Monday that the other four victims were her daughter, Holly Guess, 35, and her grandchildren, Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17; Michael James Mayo, 15; and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13. Mayo said Tiffany Guess was close friends with Webster and Brewer, who were spending the weekend with the family.While Rice declined to provide details of how they died, Mayo said the sheriff’s office told her that her daughter and grandchildren were all found shot to death on the property.Mayo said she and her family did not know about McFadden’s criminal history until a couple of months ago.“He lied to my daughter, and he convinced her it was all just a huge mistake,” Mayo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday morning. "He was very demure. He was very standoffish, generally very quiet, but he kept my daughter and the kids basically under lock and key. He had to know where they were at all times, which sent red flags up.”The grim discovery in Oklahoma keeps the U.S. on a torrid pace for mass killings in 2023 and could push the number of people slain in mass killings past 100 for the year.The four people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-mojave-desert-four-dead-15dd8707198fbae3ba464850a5db4b10">found shot to death</a>&nbsp;in an RV in a small Mojave Desert community in California over the weekend represented the 19th mass killing of the year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">database</a>&nbsp;maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University, the most during the first four months of the year since data was first recorded in 2006.As of the Mojave shooting, 97 people had been killed in the 19 mass killings this year, exceeding the record set in 2009 when 93 people were killed in 17 incidents by the end of April.The number killed is a fraction of the total number of people who died by homicide for the year. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator, the same standard as the FBI, and tracks a number of variables for each.The bodies were found Monday during a search near Henryetta, a town of about 6,000 about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Gerald Davidson said.A missing endangered person advisory issued earlier Monday said Webster and Brewer were reportedly seen traveling with McFadden, who was on the state's sex offender registry. Oklahoma Department of Corrections prison records show McFadden was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in October 2020.Court records show McFadden was scheduled to appear in court Monday for the start of a jury trial on charges of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography. A message left Monday evening with McFadden's attorney in that case was not immediately returned.Brittany Brewer's father told KOTV in Tulsa that one of the bodies discovered was his daughter.“Brittany was an outgoing person. She was actually selected to be Miss Henryetta ... coming up in July for this Miss National Miss pageant in Tulsa. And now she ain't gonna make it because she's dead. She's gone,” Nathan Brewer said.At a Monday night vigil, Brewer told hundreds of people: “It’s just a parent’s worst nightmare, and I’m living it."He said his daughter had aspired to be a teacher or a veterinarian.“I am just lost,” he said.Mayo described her daughter, Holly Guess, as a doting mother who cared deeply for her children.“She was a fantastic mother. She loved her children beyond belief. She was overprotective,” Mayo said. “She was supportive if they wanted to do something. She’d go out 100%.”Granddaughter Rylee Allen "had a talent with a paint brush,” she said. “Rylee wanted to be an artist and wanted to be a doctor so she could help people.”Michael Mayo ran track and cross-country, and when he wanted to play football, his mother went out and bought the family T-shirts and sweatshirts to support the team, Mayo said. Tiffany Guess also ran cross-country, she performed in the choir and had just tried out for the cheerleading squad.“She was the sweetest, most loving girl you’d ever met,” Mayo said. “We called her ‘Tiffasaurus’ because when she’d get mad at you, she’d growl.”Henryetta Public Schools posted on Facebook and its website that it is grieving over the loss of several of its students.“Our hearts are hurting, and we have considered what would be best for our students in the coming days,” the note said. Officials said school would be in session, and mental health professionals and clergy would be on hand to help counsel students. But they said they would understand if families want to keep their children home from school.In a separate Okmulgee County case, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-ac64b7207c71be139fc9125a53d88ce4">bodies of four men were found Oct. 14</a>&nbsp;in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a town of around 11,000 people about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Henryetta. Joseph Kennedy, 68, is facing four counts of first-degree murder in that case.--------------HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) — Authorities searching a rural Oklahoma property for two missing teenagers discovered the bodies of seven people Monday, including the suspected remains of the teens and a convicted sex offender who was sought along with them, the local sheriff said.Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said the state medical examiner will have to confirm the identities of the victims, but “we believe that we have found the persons.” He said the bodies were believed to include those of 14-year-old Ivy Webster and 16-year-old Brittany Brewer, along with Jesse McFadden, the felon authorities had said the teens were traveling with.“We are no longer looking,” Rice said. “We believe to have found everything that we were seeking this morning. Our hearts go out to the families and friends, schoolmates and everyone else.”He declined to provide details of how they died or other details.The bodies were found during a search near the town of Henryetta, a town of about 6,000 located about 90 miles east of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Gerald Davidson said.A missing endangered person advisory had been issued earlier in the day for the two teenagers before it was canceled Monday afternoon by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.The advisory for Webster and Brewer had said they were reportedly seen traveling with McFadden, who was on the state's sex offender registry. Oklahoma Department of Corrections prison records show McFadden was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in October 2020.Court records show McFadden was scheduled to appear in court Monday for the start of a jury trial on charges of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography. A message left Monday evening with McFadden's attorney in that case was not immediately returned.Brittany Brewer's father told KOTV in Tulsa that one of the bodies discovered was his daughter.“Brittany was an outgoing person. She was actually selected to be Miss Henryetta ... coming up in July for this Miss National Miss pageant in Tulsa. And now she ain't gonna make it because she's dead. She's gone,” Nathan Brewer said.At a Monday night vigil, Brewer told hundreds of people: “It’s just a parent’s worst nightmare, and I’m living it."He said his daughter had aspired to be a teacher or a veterinarian.“I am just lost,” he added.Henryetta Public Schools posted on Facebook and its website that it is grieving over the loss of several of its students.“Our hearts are hurting, and we have considered what would be best for our students in the coming days,” the note said. Officials said school would be in session, and mental health professionals and clergy would be on hand to help counsel students. But they said they would understand if families want to keep their children home from school.In a separate Okmulgee County case, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-ac64b7207c71be139fc9125a53d88ce4">bodies of four men were found Oct. 14</a>&nbsp;in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a town of around 11,000 people that is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Tulsa. Joseph Kennedy, 68, is facing four counts of first-degree murder in that case.

Woman IDs 4 of 7 Oklahoma bodies as daughter, grandchildren

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON— Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas is optimistic that gas prices are stabilizing at the moment.

"For the time being, it seems like we may have reached the peak price," Steward said. "Right now, in Kansas, we're at $3.35 a gallon. That's down six cents from a week ago. We saw some upward pressure, but less than a month following the announcement of OPEC+ production cuts, crude oil prices have dropped back to where they were before. There's still some global demand concerns, and those seem to be tempering the trend of crude oil price increases that initially followed the news of that OPEC production cut, but then again, in the United States, we're still seeing strong and even increasing demand."

"It really just goes to show you that it's a global perspective, with regard to what those crude oil prices come in at and how that impacts what we see here at the pump locally," Steward said.&nbsp;

It's not that there won't continue to be upward pressure as families prepare to go on their summer vacations.&nbsp;

"Demand is strong," Steward said. "This is our seasonal high demand period, as we're less than a month from Memorial Day. Lots of summer road trips for people. Demand will be strong for gasoline throughout the summer, It typically always has been, but right now, there's just a lot of things going on, on a global perspective, that are keeping crude oil prices relatively calm."

Crude oil makes up a little more than half of the base price of any given gallon of gasoline in the United States.

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON— Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas is optimistic that gas prices are stabilizing at the moment."For the time being, it seems like we may have reached the peak price," Steward said. "Right now, in Kansas, we're at $3.35 a gallon. That's down six cents from a week ago. We saw some upward pressure, but less than a month following the announcement of OPEC+ production cuts, crude oil prices have dropped back to where they were before. There's still some global demand concerns, and those seem to be tempering the trend of crude oil price increases that initially followed the news of that OPEC production cut, but then again, in the United States, we're still seeing strong and even increasing demand.""It really just goes to show you that it's a global perspective, with regard to what those crude oil prices come in at and how that impacts what we see here at the pump locally," Steward said.&nbsp;It's not that there won't continue to be upward pressure as families prepare to go on their summer vacations.&nbsp;"Demand is strong," Steward said. "This is our seasonal high demand period, as we're less than a month from Memorial Day. Lots of summer road trips for people. Demand will be strong for gasoline throughout the summer, It typically always has been, but right now, there's just a lot of things going on, on a global perspective, that are keeping crude oil prices relatively calm."Crude oil makes up a little more than half of the base price of any given gallon of gasoline in the United States.

AAA: Gas prices appear to have peaked, for now

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the cause of a fire in rural central Kansas.

On Monday, the Great Bend Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 600 block of Main Street in Heizer, according to a media release.

First responders found one residence fully involved in fire with the blaze spreading to an adjacent house and a shop.

Along with the three structures on fire, a grass fire was ignited and spreading. Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to the interior of the home. The fully involved structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was fought defensively from the exterior due to the large amount of heat and fire. This structure is considered a total loss. The shop was also fully involved, was extinguished and is considered a total loss.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.

The fire is being investigated by fire investigators from the Great Bend Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal and detectives from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time but is being investigated as suspicious in nature, according to the release.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682987050191.jpeg" alt="Photo Great Bend Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photo Great Bend Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the cause of a fire in rural central Kansas.On Monday, the Great Bend Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 600 block of Main Street in Heizer, according to a media release.First responders found one residence fully involved in fire with the blaze spreading to an adjacent house and a shop.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682991698089.jpeg" alt="Photos Great Bend Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photos Great Bend Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>Along with the three structures on fire, a grass fire was ignited and spreading. Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to the interior of the home. The fully involved structure was unoccupied at the time of the fire and was fought defensively from the exterior due to the large amount of heat and fire. This structure is considered a total loss. The shop was also fully involved, was extinguished and is considered a total loss.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported.The fire is being investigated by fire investigators from the Great Bend Fire Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal and detectives from the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time but is being investigated as suspicious in nature, according to the release.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cause of rural Kansas fire considered suspicious

HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspect for alleged theft.

Just after 8p.m. Sunday, Colorado authorities alerted the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office that a stolen tiny house was possibly headed towards Coolidge Kansas, according to a media release.

Deputies located the tiny house at Scoular Grain,&nbsp;12501 West, US-50 Scenic, in Coolidge. Three men were attempting to install lights on the tiny house. Deputies arrested them on a requested charge of possession of stolen property. Deputies also recovered a stolen trailer and bobcat.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682969537930.png" alt="photo Hamilton County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Hamilton County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspect for alleged theft.Just after 8p.m. Sunday, Colorado authorities alerted the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office that a stolen tiny house was possibly headed towards Coolidge Kansas, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682969492049.png" alt="photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies located the tiny house at Scoular Grain,&nbsp;12501 West, US-50 Scenic, in Coolidge. Three men were attempting to install lights on the tiny house. Deputies arrested them on a requested charge of possession of stolen property. Deputies also recovered a stolen trailer and bobcat.&nbsp;

Kansas deputies find stolen tiny house, make 3 arrests

WICHITA —Over the weekend, Wichita State University took proactive measures and disconnected several University systems to isolate an unauthorized attempt by a third party to access the University’s systems, according to a statement of the school's website.

Most of the University system access has been restored and there has been no indication that any of the University’s secure data or information has been compromised. The University will continue to engage its security protocols in restoring full availability of all networks and systems, prioritizing student needs.

At this time, we anticipate that the University will have restoration of all networks and major systems by Tuesday but are also mindful that these incidents often create residual issues and future interruptions may occur. 

Cyber incidents have unfortunately become more common, especially in large organizations like WSU. The University has and continues to devote the necessary resources to its digital infrastructure to guard against unauthorized access.&nbsp;

WICHITA —Over the weekend, Wichita State University took proactive measures and disconnected several University systems to isolate an unauthorized attempt by a third party to access the University’s systems, according to a statement of the school's website.Most of the University system access has been restored and there has been no indication that any of the University’s secure data or information has been compromised. The University will continue to engage its security protocols in restoring full availability of all networks and systems, prioritizing student needs.At this time, we anticipate that the University will have restoration of all networks and major systems by Tuesday but are also mindful that these incidents often create residual issues and future interruptions may occur. Cyber incidents have unfortunately become more common, especially in large organizations like WSU. The University has and continues to devote the necessary resources to its digital infrastructure to guard against unauthorized access.&nbsp;

Wichita State restoring systems after cyber attack

TORONTO (AP) — Gordon Lightfoot, the legendary folk singer-songwriter known for “If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown” and for songs that told tales of Canadian identity, died Monday. He was 84.

Representative Victoria Lord said the musician died at a Toronto hospital. His cause of death was not immediately available.

Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot recorded 20 studio albums and penned hundreds of songs, including “Carefree Highway," “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

In the 1970s, Lightfoot garnered five Grammy nominations, three platinum records and nine gold records for albums and singles. He performed in well over 1,500 concerts and recorded 500 songs.

He toured late into his life. Just last month he canceled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues.

“We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. “Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.”

Once called a “rare talent” by Bob Dylan, Lightfoot has been covered by dozens of artists, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane’s Addiction and Sarah McLachlan.

Most of his songs are deeply autobiographical with lyrics that probe his own experiences in a frank manner and explore issues surrounding the Canadian national identity. “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the construction of the railway.

“I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from,” he once said. “I take situations and write poems about them.”

Lightfoot’s music had a style all its own. “It’s not country, not folk, not rock,” he said in a 2000 interview. Yet it has strains of all three.

“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” for instance, is a haunting tribute to the 29 men who died in the 1975 sinking of the ship in Lake Superior during a storm.

While Lightfoot’s parents recognized his musical talents early, he didn’t set out to become a renowned balladeer.

He began singing in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a jazz musician. At age 13, the soprano won a talent contest at the Kiwanis Music Festival, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

“I remember the thrill of being in front of the crowd,” Lightfoot said in a 2018 interview. “It was a stepping stone for me...”

The appeal of those early days stuck and in high school, his barbershop quartet, The Collegiate Four, won a CBC talent competition. He strummed his first guitar in 1956 and began to dabble in songwriting in the months that followed. Perhaps distracted by his taste for music, he flunked algebra the first time. After taking the class again, he graduated in 1957.

By then, Lightfoot had already penned his first serious composition — “The Hula Hoop Song,” inspired by the toy that was sweeping the culture. Attempts to sell the song went nowhere so at 18, he headed to the U.S. to study music for a year. The trip was funded in part by money saved from a job delivering linens to resorts around his hometown.

Life in Hollywood wasn’t a good fit, however, and it wasn’t long before Lightfoot returned to Canada. He pledged to move to Toronto to pursue his musical ambitions, taking any job available, including a position at a bank before landing a gig as a square dancer on CBC’s “Country Hoedown.”

His first gig was at Fran’s Restaurant, a downtown family-owned diner that warmed to his folk sensibilities. It was there he met fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins.

The singer was living with a few friends in a condemned building in Yorkville, then a bohemian area where future stars including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell would learn their trade at smoke-filled clubs.

Lightfoot made his popular radio debut with the single ”(Remember Me) I’m the One” in 1962, which led to a number of hit songs and partnerships with other local musicians. When he started playing the Mariposa Folk Festival in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario that same year, Lightfoot forged a relationship that made him the festival’s most loyal returning performer.

By 1964, he was garnering positive word-of-mouth around town and audiences were starting to gather in growing numbers. By the next year, Lightfoot’s song “I’m Not Sayin’” was a hit in Canada, which helped spread his name in the United States.

A couple of covers by other artists didn’t hurt either. Marty Robbins’ 1965 recording of “Ribbon of Darkness” reached No. 1 on U.S. country charts, while Peter, Paul and Mary took Lightfoot’s composition, “For Lovin’ Me,” into the U.S. Top 30. The song, which Dylan once said he wished he’d recorded, has since been covered by hundreds of other musicians.

That summer, Lightfoot performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the same year Dylan rattled audiences when he shed his folkie persona by playing an electric guitar.

As the folk music boom came to an end in the late 1960s, Lightfoot was already making his transition to pop music with ease.

In 1971, he made his first appearance on the Billboard chart with “If You Could Read My Mind." It reached No. 5 and has since spawned scores of covers.

Lightfoot’s popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album, “Sundown,” topped the Billboard charts, his first and only time doing so.

During his career, Lightfoot collected 12 Juno Awards, including one in 1970 when it was called the Gold Leaf.

In 1986, he was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame, now the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He received the Governor General’s award in 1997 and was ushered into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683021500169.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO (AP) — Gordon Lightfoot, the legendary folk singer-songwriter known for “If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown” and for songs that told tales of Canadian identity, died Monday. He was 84.Representative Victoria Lord said the musician died at a Toronto hospital. His cause of death was not immediately available.Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot recorded 20 studio albums and penned hundreds of songs, including “Carefree Highway," “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."In the 1970s, Lightfoot garnered five Grammy nominations, three platinum records and nine gold records for albums and singles. He performed in well over 1,500 concerts and recorded 500 songs.He toured late into his life. Just last month he canceled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues.“We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. “Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.”Once called a “rare talent” by Bob Dylan, Lightfoot has been covered by dozens of artists, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane’s Addiction and Sarah McLachlan.Most of his songs are deeply autobiographical with lyrics that probe his own experiences in a frank manner and explore issues surrounding the Canadian national identity. “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the construction of the railway.“I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from,” he once said. “I take situations and write poems about them.”Lightfoot’s music had a style all its own. “It’s not country, not folk, not rock,” he said in a 2000 interview. Yet it has strains of all three.“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” for instance, is a haunting tribute to the 29 men who died in the 1975 sinking of the ship in Lake Superior during a storm.While Lightfoot’s parents recognized his musical talents early, he didn’t set out to become a renowned balladeer.He began singing in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a jazz musician. At age 13, the soprano won a talent contest at the Kiwanis Music Festival, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall.“I remember the thrill of being in front of the crowd,” Lightfoot said in a 2018 interview. “It was a stepping stone for me...”The appeal of those early days stuck and in high school, his barbershop quartet, The Collegiate Four, won a CBC talent competition. He strummed his first guitar in 1956 and began to dabble in songwriting in the months that followed. Perhaps distracted by his taste for music, he flunked algebra the first time. After taking the class again, he graduated in 1957.By then, Lightfoot had already penned his first serious composition — “The Hula Hoop Song,” inspired by the toy that was sweeping the culture. Attempts to sell the song went nowhere so at 18, he headed to the U.S. to study music for a year. The trip was funded in part by money saved from a job delivering linens to resorts around his hometown.Life in Hollywood wasn’t a good fit, however, and it wasn’t long before Lightfoot returned to Canada. He pledged to move to Toronto to pursue his musical ambitions, taking any job available, including a position at a bank before landing a gig as a square dancer on CBC’s “Country Hoedown.”His first gig was at Fran’s Restaurant, a downtown family-owned diner that warmed to his folk sensibilities. It was there he met fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins.The singer was living with a few friends in a condemned building in Yorkville, then a bohemian area where future stars including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell would learn their trade at smoke-filled clubs.Lightfoot made his popular radio debut with the single ”(Remember Me) I’m the One” in 1962, which led to a number of hit songs and partnerships with other local musicians. When he started playing the Mariposa Folk Festival in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario that same year, Lightfoot forged a relationship that made him the festival’s most loyal returning performer.By 1964, he was garnering positive word-of-mouth around town and audiences were starting to gather in growing numbers. By the next year, Lightfoot’s song “I’m Not Sayin’” was a hit in Canada, which helped spread his name in the United States.A couple of covers by other artists didn’t hurt either. Marty Robbins’ 1965 recording of “Ribbon of Darkness” reached No. 1 on U.S. country charts, while Peter, Paul and Mary took Lightfoot’s composition, “For Lovin’ Me,” into the U.S. Top 30. The song, which Dylan once said he wished he’d recorded, has since been covered by hundreds of other musicians.That summer, Lightfoot performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the same year Dylan rattled audiences when he shed his folkie persona by playing an electric guitar.As the folk music boom came to an end in the late 1960s, Lightfoot was already making his transition to pop music with ease.In 1971, he made his first appearance on the Billboard chart with “If You Could Read My Mind." It reached No. 5 and has since spawned scores of covers.Lightfoot’s popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album, “Sundown,” topped the Billboard charts, his first and only time doing so.During his career, Lightfoot collected 12 Juno Awards, including one in 1970 when it was called the Gold Leaf.In 1986, he was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame, now the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He received the Governor General’s award in 1997 and was ushered into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001.

Folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating human remains&nbsp;found on April 16 have positively identified as that of Justin Siwek, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas police.

Siwek, who was 32 years-old at the time, was last seen on Father’s Day 2021 at the Days Inn at 7721 Elizabeth in Kansas City, Kan. 

A resident hiking through a wooded area of Wyandotte County discovered his remains. Forensic testing using DNA previously obtained from family allowed police to positively identify him.

“While this is certainly a pivotal point in this case, there is still much work to be done to determine what led to his death, according to KCK Police Detective Bryan Minich.

This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683022876588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating human remains&nbsp;found on April 16 have positively identified as that of Justin Siwek, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas police.Siwek, who was 32 years-old at the time, was last seen on Father’s Day 2021 at the Days Inn at 7721 Elizabeth in Kansas City, Kan. A resident hiking through a wooded area of Wyandotte County discovered his remains. Forensic testing using DNA previously obtained from family allowed police to positively identify him.“While this is certainly a pivotal point in this case, there is still much work to be done to determine what led to his death, according to KCK Police Detective Bryan Minich.This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

Police ID remains found as Kansas man missing since 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Monday that the U.S. could default on its debt as early as June 1, if legislators do not raise or suspend the nation's statutory borrowing authority before then.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Yellen urged congressional leaders “to protect the full faith and credit of the United States by acting as soon as possible” to address the $31.4 trillion limit on its legal borrowing authority. She added that it is impossible to predict with certainty the exact date of when the U.S. will run out of cash.

“We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States," Yellen said in the letter.

Also Monday, the Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59119">reported</a>&nbsp;that it saw a greater risk of the U.S. running out of funds in early June. CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel said because of less-than-expected tax receipts this filing season and a faster IRS having processed already received returns, “Treasury’s extraordinary measures will be exhausted sooner than we previously projected.”

In January, Yellen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-government-us-department-of-the-treasury-janet-yellen-business-cf6cf1dcfc3d0d81fb5a20f8ad442f7a">sent a letter to congressional leaders</a>, stating that her department had begun resorting to “extraordinary measures” to avoid a federal government default.

The Treasury said Monday it plans to increase its borrowing during the April to June quarter of this year, even as the federal government is close to breaching the debt limit.

The U.S. plans to borrow $726 billion during the quarter. That’s $449 billion more than projected in January, due to a lower beginning-of-quarter cash balance and projections of lower-than-expected income tax receipts and higher spending.

While Russia's invasion of Ukraine remains a burden on U.S. economic growth, Treasury officials say the debate over the debt ceiling poses the greatest risk to the U.S. financial position.

Eric Van Nostrand, acting assistant secretary for economy policy, said in a statement that “even if Congress ultimately raises the debt limit before a default occurs, the ensuing uncertainty could raise borrowing costs and induce other financial stress that would weaken our labor market and our standing in the world."

“There is no time to waste,” said Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, which forecasts the so-called X-date when the government exhausts its extraordinary measures. His organization will also provide an updated X-date projection in the coming days, he says.

“The U.S. government is again within mere months or even weeks of failing to make good on all its obligations. That is not a position befitting of a country considered the bedrock of the financial system, and only adds uncertainty to an already shaky economy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682981391201.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Monday that the U.S. could default on its debt as early as June 1, if legislators do not raise or suspend the nation's statutory borrowing authority before then.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682981566255.png" alt="image courtesy Dept. of Treasury" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy Dept. of Treasury</figcaption>
 </figure>In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Yellen urged congressional leaders “to protect the full faith and credit of the United States by acting as soon as possible” to address the $31.4 trillion limit on its legal borrowing authority. She added that it is impossible to predict with certainty the exact date of when the U.S. will run out of cash.“We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States," Yellen said in the letter.Also Monday, the Congressional Budget Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59119">reported</a>&nbsp;that it saw a greater risk of the U.S. running out of funds in early June. CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel said because of less-than-expected tax receipts this filing season and a faster IRS having processed already received returns, “Treasury’s extraordinary measures will be exhausted sooner than we previously projected.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1682981782228.png" alt="Courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>In January, Yellen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-government-us-department-of-the-treasury-janet-yellen-business-cf6cf1dcfc3d0d81fb5a20f8ad442f7a">sent a letter to congressional leaders</a>, stating that her department had begun resorting to “extraordinary measures” to avoid a federal government default.The Treasury said Monday it plans to increase its borrowing during the April to June quarter of this year, even as the federal government is close to breaching the debt limit.The U.S. plans to borrow $726 billion during the quarter. That’s $449 billion more than projected in January, due to a lower beginning-of-quarter cash balance and projections of lower-than-expected income tax receipts and higher spending.While Russia's invasion of Ukraine remains a burden on U.S. economic growth, Treasury officials say the debate over the debt ceiling poses the greatest risk to the U.S. financial position.Eric Van Nostrand, acting assistant secretary for economy policy, said in a statement that “even if Congress ultimately raises the debt limit before a default occurs, the ensuing uncertainty could raise borrowing costs and induce other financial stress that would weaken our labor market and our standing in the world."“There is no time to waste,” said Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, which forecasts the so-called X-date when the government exhausts its extraordinary measures. His organization will also provide an updated X-date projection in the coming days, he says.“The U.S. government is again within mere months or even weeks of failing to make good on all its obligations. That is not a position befitting of a country considered the bedrock of the financial system, and only adds uncertainty to an already shaky economy.”Democrats and the White House are pushing for Congress to increase the federal debt limit. President Joe Biden wants the cap raised without negotiation. The House Republican majority has most recently passed a bill to secure spending cuts in exchange for a debt limit increase.Yellen said last week, at the Cap-to-Cap policy conference in Washington that “Congress must vote to raise or suspend the debt limit, and it should do so without conditions and it should not wait until the last minute. I believe that is a basic responsibility of our nation’s leaders to get this done.”