BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;

The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>

The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.

The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.

Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.

The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.

The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.

Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.

The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.

The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.

Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.

Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.

One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.

She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.

Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.

Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.

Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.

Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.

Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.

At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.

An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.

At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.

Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship.

The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department.

During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims’ families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12.

Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing.

“It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul.”

Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A magistrate judge has placed the attorneys and others involved in the case under a sweeping gag order barring them from talking publicly about the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924870681.png" alt="Kohberger-photo Latah Co." />
 <figcaption>Kohberger-photo Latah Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship.The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department.During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims’ families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12.Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing.“It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul.”Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A magistrate judge has placed the attorneys and others involved in the case under a sweeping gag order barring them from talking publicly about the case.___

Read the full police affidavit in the Idaho college murders

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution">Kansas News Service</a>

Canadian company TC Energy has temporarily diverted a north-central 
Kansas stream to isolate a four-mile stretch fouled by its busted 
Keystone oil pipeline.

Last month’s spill primarily polluted that 
stretch of Mill Creek, though benzene and other chemicals turned up 
farther downstream in levels that could ultimately harm wildlife — but 
that remain too low to pose concerns for public drinking water. (No 
towns or cities draw their water from the immediate area.)

TC 
Energy and its contractor are using giant bladders filled with water to 
block off the four-mile stretch from the rest of creek — both upstream 
and downstream — and began bypassing that section on Thursday by pumping
 the clean water upstream of the spill through a 1.2-mile-long 
above-ground hose that empties back into the creek bed farther 
downstream.

This could mean carrying upward of 5,000 gallons of 
water per minute. (Streamflow varies seasonally and depending on the 
weather, TC Energy says.)

“We are committed to diverting the full 
flow of the creek and we’re able to add additional pumps and equipment 
as necessary,” the company wrote in an email.

Federal and state regulators overseeing the spill site say that diverting the Washington County creek will help.

“This
 will reduce the possibility of chemicals moving downstream and enhance 
oil recovery efforts,” the state health department said in an email. 
“Additionally, reducing the flow will allow the teams on-site to 
determine if the oil has sunk to the bottom of the creek.”

Searching
 for sunken oil is critical to a thorough cleanup because the Dec. 7 
Keystone accident in Washington County — estimated by TC Energy at 
nearly 600,000 gallons — was the second-largest <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-15/not-just-any-oil-spill-the-keystone-pipeline-dumped-notoriously-hard-to-clean-dilbit-in-kansas" target="_blank">spill of dilbit oil</a> on U.S. soil.

Dilbit, or diluted bitumen, comes from Canadian tar sands and doesn’t behave like conventional crude oil. Top scientists warned <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/21834/chapter/1" target="_blank">nearly a decade ago</a>
 that the federal government should pass special regulations to prepare 
for the particular difficulties of cleaning dilbit spills.

When dilbit pours into a river or stream, it soon starts sinking — 
flummoxing traditional cleanup methods that focus on containing and 
recovering floating oil.

This raised a risk that dilbit could flow
 through large, underwater holes in the two emergency dams that were set
 up to stop the huge slick of floating crude oil in Mill Creek from 
moving downstream.

A National Academies of Sciences study found 
little in the way of reliable options to detect dilbit once it begins 
moving below the water’s surface. The weathering process that causes the
 stuff to sink can start within a matter of days. The spill occurred 
nearly one month ago.

TC Energy hasn’t offered specifics on what 
methods it is using to check for sunken dilbit, but the EPA says it has 
heavy crude oil experts offering technical guidance and that “efforts to
 identify and contain submerged oil are being conducted.”

A scientist who worked on the 2016 National Academies study and advised the Environmental Protection Agency on <a href="https://www.epa.gov/enbridge-spill-michigan/enbridge-spill-response-timeline" target="_blank">a major dilbit spill in Michigan</a>
 suggested crews in Kansas could run tests for sunken dilbit in Mill 
Creek by placing fine meshes over the underwater holes for short periods
 of time in search of the stuff.

“But estimating the amount is 
much harder unless and until (sunken dilbit) settles out in some kind of
 slack water area and can be measured in sediment cores,” Steve 
Hamilton, a Michigan State University professor of ecology &amp; biogeochemistry, wrote in an email.

Eventually,
 he said, crews searched successfully for sunken oil in the Kalamazoo 
River by disturbing the riverbed with special poles to release globules 
and sheen that floated to the surface.

“(This) turned out to be 
the most practical indicator,” he said. “But it may take awhile for the 
(sunken) oil to produce a sheen. We do not understand what makes it more
 prone to float up at a later time.”

Hamilton suspects sunken 
dilbit may bind to organic matter that only frees globules once it 
decomposes, but that theory remains untested. If it proves true, he 
said, that could mean dilbit that sinks now and attaches to organic 
matter in Mill Creek wouldn’t shake free and reveal a sheen until the 
creek water warms up months from now.

TC Energy and environmental 
regulators haven’t publicly estimated how long the Mill Creek cleanup 
will take or how long they will divert the creek with pumps and an 
above-ground hose.

“Once the remediation work is completed and the
 area has been tested,” the company said by email, “the creek and water 
will return to (their) normal flow route prior to the incident.”

The
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in an email that the timeline
 for restoring normal flow would depend on water and sediment samples 
and work to rehabilitate the streambanks.

State environment 
officials signaled weeks ago in an update to the Kansas Water Authority 
that diverting the stream could help prevent further environmental 
damage.

“It’ll really help the stream quality further down(stream)
 on Mill Creek,” said Erich Glave, who directs the Bureau of 
Environmental Field Services at the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment. “So we’re really hoping all that process gets done.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that it knows about the plan and will help with permits as needed.

“We
 are communicating with the (Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment) and EPA on whether regulatory support is needed in the form
 of any additional permits,” it said in an email.

About 740 workers are on site in Washington County.

Cold weather complicated the cleanup, requiring crews to apply indirect heat to prevent ice buildup.

The
 EPA says more than 800,000 gallons of liquid have been pulled from the 
four-mile stretch of the contaminated creek so far — that includes water
 and oil.

TC Energy finished pipeline repairs last week, putting 
the Keystone system back in service to all its delivery points. The 
Keystone transports oil from the Canadian tar sands in Alberta to 
facilities in the Midwest and as far as Houston, Texas.

A federal order requires the pipeline to operate for now at a lower pressure than it did prior to the spill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672958551473.png" alt="TC Energy installed floating booms and emergency dams on Mill Creek to hold back crude oil that spilled on Dec. 7. EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>TC Energy installed floating booms and emergency dams on Mill Creek to hold back crude oil that spilled on Dec. 7. EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution">Kansas News Service</a>Canadian company TC Energy has temporarily diverted a north-central 
Kansas stream to isolate a four-mile stretch fouled by its busted 
Keystone oil pipeline.Last month’s spill primarily polluted that 
stretch of Mill Creek, though benzene and other chemicals turned up 
farther downstream in levels that could ultimately harm wildlife — but 
that remain too low to pose concerns for public drinking water. (No 
towns or cities draw their water from the immediate area.)TC 
Energy and its contractor are using giant bladders filled with water to 
block off the four-mile stretch from the rest of creek — both upstream 
and downstream — and began bypassing that section on Thursday by pumping
 the clean water upstream of the spill through a 1.2-mile-long 
above-ground hose that empties back into the creek bed farther 
downstream.This could mean carrying upward of 5,000 gallons of 
water per minute. (Streamflow varies seasonally and depending on the 
weather, TC Energy says.)“We are committed to diverting the full 
flow of the creek and we’re able to add additional pumps and equipment 
as necessary,” the company wrote in an email.Federal and state regulators overseeing the spill site say that diverting the Washington County creek will help.“This
 will reduce the possibility of chemicals moving downstream and enhance 
oil recovery efforts,” the state health department said in an email. 
“Additionally, reducing the flow will allow the teams on-site to 
determine if the oil has sunk to the bottom of the creek.”Searching
 for sunken oil is critical to a thorough cleanup because the Dec. 7 
Keystone accident in Washington County — estimated by TC Energy at 
nearly 600,000 gallons — was the second-largest <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-15/not-just-any-oil-spill-the-keystone-pipeline-dumped-notoriously-hard-to-clean-dilbit-in-kansas" target="_blank">spill of dilbit oil</a> on U.S. soil.Dilbit, or diluted bitumen, comes from Canadian tar sands and doesn’t behave like conventional crude oil. Top scientists warned <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/21834/chapter/1" target="_blank">nearly a decade ago</a>
 that the federal government should pass special regulations to prepare 
for the particular difficulties of cleaning dilbit spills.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672958610044.png" alt="This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a four-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy" />
 <figcaption>This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a four-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>When dilbit pours into a river or stream, it soon starts sinking — 
flummoxing traditional cleanup methods that focus on containing and 
recovering floating oil.This raised a risk that dilbit could flow
 through large, underwater holes in the two emergency dams that were set
 up to stop the huge slick of floating crude oil in Mill Creek from 
moving downstream.A National Academies of Sciences study found 
little in the way of reliable options to detect dilbit once it begins 
moving below the water’s surface. The weathering process that causes the
 stuff to sink can start within a matter of days. The spill occurred 
nearly one month ago.TC Energy hasn’t offered specifics on what 
methods it is using to check for sunken dilbit, but the EPA says it has 
heavy crude oil experts offering technical guidance and that “efforts to
 identify and contain submerged oil are being conducted.”A scientist who worked on the 2016 National Academies study and advised the Environmental Protection Agency on <a href="https://www.epa.gov/enbridge-spill-michigan/enbridge-spill-response-timeline" target="_blank">a major dilbit spill in Michigan</a>
 suggested crews in Kansas could run tests for sunken dilbit in Mill 
Creek by placing fine meshes over the underwater holes for short periods
 of time in search of the stuff.“But estimating the amount is 
much harder unless and until (sunken dilbit) settles out in some kind of
 slack water area and can be measured in sediment cores,” Steve 
Hamilton, a Michigan State University professor of ecology &amp; biogeochemistry, wrote in an email.Eventually,
 he said, crews searched successfully for sunken oil in the Kalamazoo 
River by disturbing the riverbed with special poles to release globules 
and sheen that floated to the surface.“(This) turned out to be 
the most practical indicator,” he said. “But it may take awhile for the 
(sunken) oil to produce a sheen. We do not understand what makes it more
 prone to float up at a later time.”Hamilton suspects sunken 
dilbit may bind to organic matter that only frees globules once it 
decomposes, but that theory remains untested. If it proves true, he 
said, that could mean dilbit that sinks now and attaches to organic 
matter in Mill Creek wouldn’t shake free and reveal a sheen until the 
creek water warms up months from now.TC Energy and environmental 
regulators haven’t publicly estimated how long the Mill Creek cleanup 
will take or how long they will divert the creek with pumps and an 
above-ground hose.“Once the remediation work is completed and the
 area has been tested,” the company said by email, “the creek and water 
will return to (their) normal flow route prior to the incident.”The
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in an email that the timeline
 for restoring normal flow would depend on water and sediment samples 
and work to rehabilitate the streambanks.State environment 
officials signaled weeks ago in an update to the Kansas Water Authority 
that diverting the stream could help prevent further environmental 
damage.“It’ll really help the stream quality further down(stream)
 on Mill Creek,” said Erich Glave, who directs the Bureau of 
Environmental Field Services at the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment. “So we’re really hoping all that process gets done.”The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that it knows about the plan and will help with permits as needed.“We
 are communicating with the (Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment) and EPA on whether regulatory support is needed in the form
 of any additional permits,” it said in an email.About 740 workers are on site in Washington County.Cold weather complicated the cleanup, requiring crews to apply indirect heat to prevent ice buildup.The
 EPA says more than 800,000 gallons of liquid have been pulled from the 
four-mile stretch of the contaminated creek so far — that includes water
 and oil.TC Energy finished pipeline repairs last week, putting 
the Keystone system back in service to all its delivery points. The 
Keystone transports oil from the Canadian tar sands in Alberta to 
facilities in the Midwest and as far as Houston, Texas.A federal order requires the pipeline to operate for now at a lower pressure than it did prior to the spill.

Keystone begins diversion of Kan. creek at site of oil spill

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas high school teacher on sex crime allegations.

On Dec. 15, USD 470/ Arkansas City High School administration contacted the police regarding an alleged incident reported by a student, according to a media release from police.

 An 18-year-old female student reported to the administration and later to the police that a teacher at the high school had touched her inappropriately without her consent. 

Arkansas City police conducted a complete investigation, that included numerous interviews and presented the case to the Cowley County Attorney’s office for review.

The county attorney charged <a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">38-year old Jacob Sumpter</a> with Sexual Battery regarding the reported incident. Sumpter is an Ag teacher and is now on paid leave, according to a statement from USD 470. The school district has assigned a long-term substitute teacher for Sumpter's classes.

<a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">Sumpter</a> is scheduled to have a court appearance on January 30 at 9 a.m. in the Arkansas City District Court, according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672944710940.png" alt="Sumpter-photo USD 470" />
 <figcaption>Sumpter-photo USD 470</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas high school teacher on sex crime allegations.On Dec. 15, USD 470/ Arkansas City High School administration contacted the police regarding an alleged incident reported by a student, according to a media release from police. An 18-year-old female student reported to the administration and later to the police that a teacher at the high school had touched her inappropriately without her consent. Arkansas City police conducted a complete investigation, that included numerous interviews and presented the case to the Cowley County Attorney’s office for review.The county attorney charged <a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">38-year old Jacob Sumpter</a> with Sexual Battery regarding the reported incident. Sumpter is an Ag teacher and is now on paid leave, according to a statement from USD 470. The school district has assigned a long-term substitute teacher for Sumpter's classes.<a href="https://www.usd470.com/88866_2">Sumpter</a> is scheduled to have a court appearance on January 30 at 9 a.m. in the Arkansas City District Court, according to the release.

Kansas teacher placed on leave after charged with sexual battery

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/05/derek-schmidt-reflects-on-his-12-years-as-kansas-attorney-general-in-farewell-letter/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt lists suing the national 
government, fighting vaccine mandates and advocating against illegal 
immigration as notable accomplishments in the position he held for more 
than a decade.

In <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2022/12/14/a-farewell-letter-from-kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt">a farewell letter reflecting on</a>
 his 12 years as the state’s top legal officer, Schmidt said he helped 
shape the role of the attorney general by protecting modern federalism 
and challenging illegal federal actions. The attorney general provides 
legal service to state agencies and boards over four-year terms.

Schmidt chose to run for governor instead of seeking another term. 
The Republican lost to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November.

In his letter, Schmidt said his list of accomplishments “includes 
successful challenges to parts of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”),
 the Waters of the United States rule, various emissions regulations 
that would have increased energy costs for working families, 
‘jab-or-job’ vaccine mandates that threatened the livelihood of 
thousands of Kansans.”

His administration also successfully argued eight cases before the 
U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas, increased the office’s capacity 
to investigate and prosecute elder abuse and prosecuted more child sex 
abusers than any previous administration, according to the letter. Under
 his guidance, the office also created a youth-orientated suicide 
prevention app, and increased appellate capacity.

Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita 
Democrat, said he had mixed feelings about Schmidt’s legacy. Carmichael 
said Schmidt was competent in running the day-to-day administration of 
the office but had become more radicalized over the years.

“He did a workmanlike job as attorney
 general,” Carmichael said. “He served Kansas citizens well. However, he
 did become distracted by the political fray of the day. And that 
resulted in him, during the Trump administration in particular, moving 
farther and farther to the right.”

Carmichael said he didn’t support many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, such as Schmidt’s support of a controversial lawsuit initiated by the Texas attorney general with the U.S. Supreme Court contesting administration of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/23/legal-advocacy-group-files-ethics-complaint-against-schmidt-tied-to-2020-election-lawsuit/">2020 presidential election</a>.&nbsp;

“The example that I was thinking of 
that probably most disturbs me during his term was him joining in 
lawsuits trying to affect the outcome of the presidential election two 
years ago in which Donald Trump was defeated,” Carmichael said. “And 
that is a step that he didn’t need, to challenge the electors or the 
counting of votes from states like Georgia. He did that gratuitously.”

During the pandemic,&nbsp;Schmidt was a 
vocal opponent of federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates, authoring 
legislation that allowed Kansas workers to opt out of vaccine 
requirements for philosophical or religious reasons.

During his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/22/derek-schmidt-says-no-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-kansas-kids-not-on-my-watch/">he emphasized</a>
 he wouldn’t require Kansas students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, though
 the authority to do so lies with the state health secretary, not the 
governor.

“As governor,” Schmidt <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/30/schmidt-challenges-kellys-disruption-of-in-person-instruction-early-in-covid-19-pandemic/">said in August</a>,
 “I pledge I will never again lock our children out of their schools, 
and I hope that Governor Kelly will take that same pledge. I think our 
families and our kids deserve to know they don’t need to worry about a 
repeat of this terrible error.”&nbsp;

In March 2022, he gave a general opinion to the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/ag-opinions/2022/2022-004.pdf?sfvrsn=65a2a71a_6">on ivermectin and&nbsp; hydroxychloroquine</a>,
 saying Kansas law didn’t prevent physicians or other prescribers from 
using these controversial drugs in COVID-19 treatment as long as a 
certain standard of care and conduct was met.

The FDA cautioned against using these
 drugs in COVID-19 treatment, and peer-reviewed clinical trials have 
shown the drugs provide no benefit in the prevention or treatment of 
COVID-19.

In his farewell letter, Schmidt also 
mentioned his efforts to limit illegal immigration, saying he took 
“numerous actions related to the federal government’s failure to secure 
our southern border.” He was part of a coalition of attorneys general 
who demanded Trump terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,
 or DACA, established by Obama.

Schmidt has spoken in favor of 
tightening border control multiple times, including on the gubernatorial
 campaign trail, saying that illegal immigration was driving an increase
 in Kansas crime rates and drugs.

He was also known for filing several 
lawsuits against the Biden administration, including challenging the 
administration’s student loan cancellation program and guidance on 
transgender student sport policies.

Other topics mentioned in Schmidt’s 
farewell letter included the modernization of information technology, 
prosecution of child abusers, anti-human trafficking laws and handling 
of county criminal appeals.&nbsp;

Carmichael said while he didn’t 
approve of many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, he was more 
concerned over the future of the office, which Republican Kris Kobach 
will take over on Monday. He said Kobach, unlike his predecessors, is 
unqualified for the position.

“They were the types of leaders in 
that office that qualified lawyers would want to work for,” Carmichael 
said. “And that’s not the case with Kris Kobach. Kris Kobach is an 
embarrassment as a lawyer. He’s an embarrassment as a Kansan. He’s an 
embarrassment to his party.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672944139100.png" alt="Derek Schmidt said he was proud of blocking federal actions that he considered to be illegal during his 12-year AG career. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Derek Schmidt said he was proud of blocking federal actions that he considered to be illegal during his 12-year AG career. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/05/derek-schmidt-reflects-on-his-12-years-as-kansas-attorney-general-in-farewell-letter/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt lists suing the national 
government, fighting vaccine mandates and advocating against illegal 
immigration as notable accomplishments in the position he held for more 
than a decade.In <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2022/12/14/a-farewell-letter-from-kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt">a farewell letter reflecting on</a>
 his 12 years as the state’s top legal officer, Schmidt said he helped 
shape the role of the attorney general by protecting modern federalism 
and challenging illegal federal actions. The attorney general provides 
legal service to state agencies and boards over four-year terms.Schmidt chose to run for governor instead of seeking another term. 
The Republican lost to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in November.In his letter, Schmidt said his list of accomplishments “includes 
successful challenges to parts of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”),
 the Waters of the United States rule, various emissions regulations 
that would have increased energy costs for working families, 
‘jab-or-job’ vaccine mandates that threatened the livelihood of 
thousands of Kansans.”His administration also successfully argued eight cases before the 
U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas, increased the office’s capacity 
to investigate and prosecute elder abuse and prosecuted more child sex 
abusers than any previous administration, according to the letter. Under
 his guidance, the office also created a youth-orientated suicide 
prevention app, and increased appellate capacity.Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita 
Democrat, said he had mixed feelings about Schmidt’s legacy. Carmichael 
said Schmidt was competent in running the day-to-day administration of 
the office but had become more radicalized over the years.“He did a workmanlike job as attorney
 general,” Carmichael said. “He served Kansas citizens well. However, he
 did become distracted by the political fray of the day. And that 
resulted in him, during the Trump administration in particular, moving 
farther and farther to the right.”Carmichael said he didn’t support many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, such as Schmidt’s support of a controversial lawsuit initiated by the Texas attorney general with the U.S. Supreme Court contesting administration of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/23/legal-advocacy-group-files-ethics-complaint-against-schmidt-tied-to-2020-election-lawsuit/">2020 presidential election</a>.&nbsp;“The example that I was thinking of 
that probably most disturbs me during his term was him joining in 
lawsuits trying to affect the outcome of the presidential election two 
years ago in which Donald Trump was defeated,” Carmichael said. “And 
that is a step that he didn’t need, to challenge the electors or the 
counting of votes from states like Georgia. He did that gratuitously.”During the pandemic,&nbsp;Schmidt was a 
vocal opponent of federal COVID-19 vaccination mandates, authoring 
legislation that allowed Kansas workers to opt out of vaccine 
requirements for philosophical or religious reasons.During his 2022 gubernatorial campaign, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/22/derek-schmidt-says-no-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-kansas-kids-not-on-my-watch/">he emphasized</a>
 he wouldn’t require Kansas students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, though
 the authority to do so lies with the state health secretary, not the 
governor.“As governor,” Schmidt <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/30/schmidt-challenges-kellys-disruption-of-in-person-instruction-early-in-covid-19-pandemic/">said in August</a>,
 “I pledge I will never again lock our children out of their schools, 
and I hope that Governor Kelly will take that same pledge. I think our 
families and our kids deserve to know they don’t need to worry about a 
repeat of this terrible error.”&nbsp;In March 2022, he gave a general opinion to the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/ag-opinions/2022/2022-004.pdf?sfvrsn=65a2a71a_6">on ivermectin and&nbsp; hydroxychloroquine</a>,
 saying Kansas law didn’t prevent physicians or other prescribers from 
using these controversial drugs in COVID-19 treatment as long as a 
certain standard of care and conduct was met.The FDA cautioned against using these
 drugs in COVID-19 treatment, and peer-reviewed clinical trials have 
shown the drugs provide no benefit in the prevention or treatment of 
COVID-19.In his farewell letter, Schmidt also 
mentioned his efforts to limit illegal immigration, saying he took 
“numerous actions related to the federal government’s failure to secure 
our southern border.” He was part of a coalition of attorneys general 
who demanded Trump terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,
 or DACA, established by Obama.Schmidt has spoken in favor of 
tightening border control multiple times, including on the gubernatorial
 campaign trail, saying that illegal immigration was driving an increase
 in Kansas crime rates and drugs.He was also known for filing several 
lawsuits against the Biden administration, including challenging the 
administration’s student loan cancellation program and guidance on 
transgender student sport policies.Other topics mentioned in Schmidt’s 
farewell letter included the modernization of information technology, 
prosecution of child abusers, anti-human trafficking laws and handling 
of county criminal appeals.&nbsp;Carmichael said while he didn’t 
approve of many of Schmidt’s actions in recent years, he was more 
concerned over the future of the office, which Republican Kris Kobach 
will take over on Monday. He said Kobach, unlike his predecessors, is 
unqualified for the position.“They were the types of leaders in 
that office that qualified lawyers would want to work for,” Carmichael 
said. “And that’s not the case with Kris Kobach. Kris Kobach is an 
embarrassment as a lawyer. He’s an embarrassment as a Kansan. He’s an 
embarrassment to his party.”

Schmidt reflects on his 12 years as Kansas AG in farewell letter

The Kansas Lottery kicked off the new year with a bang this week, as not only was the winning <a href="https://kslottery.com/news-releases/hmr-2022-final-numbers/">Holiday Millionaire Raffle</a>
 number announced, but the winner of the $92 million Powerball jackpot 
hit in Kansas on November 19 has come forward to claim their prize as 
well.

The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 –
 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The winner has chosen to take the lump sum 
payment of $47,309,601.39.&nbsp;

The Johnson County resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said
 they waited until the new year to claim their prize and have been 
working with a financial advisor for several weeks preparing for their 
new wealth.&nbsp;

“We have taken a lot of time to make sure that the winnings will go 
to the right places so that it doesn’t get wasted,” the winner said. “We
 know exactly what we’re going to do with most of the money, which is 
why we’ve waited to come in to claim it.”&nbsp;

The winner said they plan to donate some of the winnings to some 
charities that they have worked with in the past, as well as set aside 
some for family. 

“I want to make sure that we allocate some to my 
family, for things like houses, college tuition, etc. This is a win for 
all of us, not just me,” the winner added.&nbsp;

It isn’t all investment accounts and savings for the winner, however. They are ready to have some long overdue fun as well!&nbsp;

“We haven’t decided where our first trip will be but it’s being 
discussed. It has been a dream of mine to travel, but obviously my 
options were limited. I know I want to go to Europe and Central 
America,” the winner said. “We’re also considering investing in a 
vacation home in the mountains somewhere. This is all crazy to be 
talking about, but it is a dream come true!”&nbsp;

The winning ticket was sold at Cosentino’s Price Chopper 119 at 7418 119th Street in Overland Park. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer is eligible for a selling bonus.&nbsp;

Kansas LotteryThe Kansas Lottery kicked off the new year with a bang this week, as not only was the winning <a href="https://kslottery.com/news-releases/hmr-2022-final-numbers/">Holiday Millionaire Raffle</a>
 number announced, but the winner of the $92 million Powerball jackpot 
hit in Kansas on November 19 has come forward to claim their prize as 
well.The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 –
 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The winner has chosen to take the lump sum 
payment of $47,309,601.39.&nbsp;The Johnson County resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said
 they waited until the new year to claim their prize and have been 
working with a financial advisor for several weeks preparing for their 
new wealth.&nbsp;“We have taken a lot of time to make sure that the winnings will go 
to the right places so that it doesn’t get wasted,” the winner said. “We
 know exactly what we’re going to do with most of the money, which is 
why we’ve waited to come in to claim it.”&nbsp;The winner said they plan to donate some of the winnings to some 
charities that they have worked with in the past, as well as set aside 
some for family. “I want to make sure that we allocate some to my 
family, for things like houses, college tuition, etc. This is a win for 
all of us, not just me,” the winner added.&nbsp;It isn’t all investment accounts and savings for the winner, however. They are ready to have some long overdue fun as well!&nbsp;“We haven’t decided where our first trip will be but it’s being 
discussed. It has been a dream of mine to travel, but obviously my 
options were limited. I know I want to go to Europe and Central 
America,” the winner said. “We’re also considering investing in a 
vacation home in the mountains somewhere. This is all crazy to be 
talking about, but it is a dream come true!”&nbsp;The winning ticket was sold at Cosentino’s Price Chopper 119 at 7418 119th Street in Overland Park. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer is eligible for a selling bonus.&nbsp;

$92M Powerball jackpot claimed in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling Bed Bath &amp; Beyond warned on Thursday that the home goods retailer may need to file for bankruptcy as sales continue to drop and it struggles to attract shoppers.

The company, with 8 stores in Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/locations/state/MO">12 in Missouri,</a>&nbsp;said that it’s looking at several options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court, but it acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful. Shares lost a quarter of their value on the news to trade at $1.82, their lowest level since November 1992.

“There is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the retailer said in a statement.

The company’s assessment came as its dismal performance continued through the holiday season.

Bed Bath &amp; Beyond expects to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 26. That would be a 32% drop from a year earlier. It also anticipates a net loss of roughly $385.8 million for the third quarter, wider than its loss of $276.4 million in the year-earlier period.

The company’s recently-appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-cbbc4dbc9bcef6a17a8016df9a1e08a4">CEO and president, Sue Gove,</a>&nbsp;blamed the poor performance on inventory constraints and reduced credit limits that resulted in shortages of merchandise on the shelves.

In August, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">shutter stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. It closed about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company’s current fiscal year. It also said in August that it had lined up more than $500 million of new financing.

Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced back in August that it would revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels.

That reversed a strategy embraced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33fa91f0e8114f4536dd0d1271ae1d2b">former CEO Mark Tritton</a>, who was ousted last June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so. Besides Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, the company also runs the buybuy Baby and Harmon chains.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote in a report Thursday that Bed Bath &amp; Beyond is “too far gone to be saved in its present form.” He noted that the company could restructure under Chapter 11, but it would still need to come up with a credible plan to reinvent the business, and that is going to be challenging, particularly in a weakening economic environment.

“A catalogue of missteps has run the company into the ground and has made it increasingly irrelevant,” he wrote. “Only very radical action will allow it to survive and even if it does, it will be a shadow of its former self.”

The company is set to release final third-quarter results on Tuesday.

Bed Bath &amp; Beyond locations in Kansas include Manhattan, Lawrence, Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Overland Park and two in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672935113513.png" alt="Bed Bath and Beyond in Olathe -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Bed Bath and Beyond in Olathe -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Struggling Bed Bath &amp; Beyond warned on Thursday that the home goods retailer may need to file for bankruptcy as sales continue to drop and it struggles to attract shoppers.The company, with 8 stores in Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/locations/state/MO">12 in Missouri,</a>&nbsp;said that it’s looking at several options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court, but it acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful. Shares lost a quarter of their value on the news to trade at $1.82, their lowest level since November 1992.“There is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the retailer said in a statement.The company’s assessment came as its dismal performance continued through the holiday season.Bed Bath &amp; Beyond expects to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 26. That would be a 32% drop from a year earlier. It also anticipates a net loss of roughly $385.8 million for the third quarter, wider than its loss of $276.4 million in the year-earlier period.The company’s recently-appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-cbbc4dbc9bcef6a17a8016df9a1e08a4">CEO and president, Sue Gove,</a>&nbsp;blamed the poor performance on inventory constraints and reduced credit limits that resulted in shortages of merchandise on the shelves.In August, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-offerings-chewy-inc-6af2d83aec7cde2cd7b0706b892a4c0c">shutter stores and lay off workers</a>&nbsp;in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. It closed about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company’s current fiscal year. It also said in August that it had lined up more than $500 million of new financing.Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced back in August that it would revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels.That reversed a strategy embraced by its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/33fa91f0e8114f4536dd0d1271ae1d2b">former CEO Mark Tritton</a>, who was ousted last June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so. Besides Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, the company also runs the buybuy Baby and Harmon chains.Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote in a report Thursday that Bed Bath &amp; Beyond is “too far gone to be saved in its present form.” He noted that the company could restructure under Chapter 11, but it would still need to come up with a credible plan to reinvent the business, and that is going to be challenging, particularly in a weakening economic environment.“A catalogue of missteps has run the company into the ground and has made it increasingly irrelevant,” he wrote. “Only very radical action will allow it to survive and even if it does, it will be a shadow of its former self.”The company is set to release final third-quarter results on Tuesday.Bed Bath &amp; Beyond locations in Kansas include Manhattan, Lawrence, Olathe, Topeka, Shawnee, Overland Park and two in Wichita.

Bed Bath & Beyond warns of potential bankruptcy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged kidnappings involving juveniles near a Kansas elementary school.

Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.

Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.

A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took him into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.

Police believe strongly that the person they have in custody is the suspect in these cases, according to Ditch.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name or additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged kidnappings involving juveniles near a Kansas elementary school.Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took him into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.Police believe strongly that the person they have in custody is the suspect in these cases, according to Ditch.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name or additional details.

3 juveniles kidnapped, assaulted near Kan. elementary school

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have identified the victim who has died as 41-year-old Jennifer Christine Rodriguez of Belton, Missouri, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.

Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Kelly.

First responders found a woman in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Late Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported her death.

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have identified the victim who has died as 41-year-old Jennifer Christine Rodriguez of Belton, Missouri, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Kelly.First responders found a woman in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Late Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported her death.

Sheriff: Woman shot, found in Kansas ditch has died

BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man found a live grenade in his garage on Wednesday.

Just after 10:30 a.m., the Hoisington Police Department was notified about a hand grenade located in a garage in the 500 block of East 1st Street in Hoisington, according to a media release.

The man advised law enforcement he was cleaning out the garage and located the grenade. When officer arrived, it was confirmed the hand grenade was live with the pin still in it. Police contacted the McConnell Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. They collected the grenade, which was then transported to the City of Hoisington compost site where it was properly destroyed. There were no injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;

BARTON COUNTY—A Kansas man found a live grenade in his garage on Wednesday.Just after 10:30 a.m., the Hoisington Police Department was notified about a hand grenade located in a garage in the 500 block of East 1st Street in Hoisington, according to a media release.The man advised law enforcement he was cleaning out the garage and located the grenade. When officer arrived, it was confirmed the hand grenade was live with the pin still in it. Police contacted the McConnell Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. They collected the grenade, which was then transported to the City of Hoisington compost site where it was properly destroyed. There were no injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Police: Kansas man found live grenade in garage

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's has begun to communicate in writing with his family and others who have been at his bedside since he went into cardiac arrest Monday — and his first question was “Did we win?” his doctors said Thursday.

“The answer is yes, Demar, you won. You’ve won the game of life." Dr. Timothy Pritts said in a conference call with reporters from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was rushed after collapsing and being resuscitated on the field during the Bills' game against the Bengals on Monday night.

Hamlin remains critically ill and in the hospital's intensive care unit, but he began to wake up Wednesday night, and it appears his neurological function is intact, meaning he can follow commands and move, Pritts said.

"He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care,” the doctor said.

“His first question that he wrote when he started to awaken was, 'Did we win?′" Pritts said. “So we know that it’s not only that the lights are on. We know that he’s home. And it appears that all the cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly gratifying for all of us.”

Dr. William Knight IV said doctors had not yet determined the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and that testing is ongoing.

It’s also too early to say whether Hamlin could return to football after undergoing rehabilitation, Knight said.

The developments came as the Bills returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed when his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle during the game's first quarter.

The game was suspended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-cincinnati-bengals-sports-nfl-football-damar-hamlin-6fae43906c6c26ccb349ea3044c44ca7">and will not be resumed,</a>&nbsp;two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league is still figuring out how to determine playoff seedings and scheduling. The NFL Players Association must approve changes.

Hamlin, a second-year player from the Pittsburgh area, spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.

Pritts said in the conference call that neurological signs of improvement began Wednesday night as Hamlin gradually woke up, with the rest of his body healing. Hamlin still cannot speak because of a breathing tube in his throat.

Knight credited the quick medical response with saving Hamlin's life.

He said a physician was within Hamlin’s side within a minute of him collapsing and recognized that the defensive back did not have a pulse. Knight said Hamlin required CPR and resuscitation on the field.

“It’s been a long and difficult road for the last three days ... he has made a pretty remarkable improvement,” Knight said.

“Great news,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet. “Damar, like I told your mom and dad yesterday, Jill and I – along with all of America – are praying for you and your family.”

Along with being able to write, his doctors said Hamlin was able to hold the hands of family and members of the Bills’ administrative and medical teams at his bedside.

Although Hamlin is following commands, doctors have not yet fully assessed his speech and other functions, in part because he is under sedation to accommodate the breathing tube.

“When we talk about neurologically intact, it’s a very gross term of big motor movements and following commands. When we talk about the finer things that make us human — cognition, emotion, speech, language, etc., we’re looking forward to learning more about that,” Knight said.

Over the past days, numerous players across the league — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what unfolded in front of a North American TV audience.

Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.

“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.

Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.

Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/damar-hamlin-fundraiser-toy-drive-gofundme-bills-cd61ceed517af7c53637ba23644801c9">donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation</a>, which had raised more than $7.4 million by Thursday afternoon.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the team announced Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.

“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Bills said in a statement. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”

Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam also posted a message on his Twitter account that said Hamlin “is doing better, awake and showing signs of improvement.”

The developments came as the Bills were scheduled to return to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed after his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle and was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals on Monday night.

The second-year player has spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.

The Bills' announcement comes as they prepare to play a home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and with the team still dealing with the shock of seeing their teammate collapse on the field, his heart not beating.

After returning home early Tuesday once the game was suspended, the Bills held meetings and a walkthrough practice without any media availability on Wednesday. On Thursday, players were spotted arriving at the facility, though the team has not yet released a practice schedule.

The chilling sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football," has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league.

Numerous players — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what happened.

Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said Wednesday that the player’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness.

“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”

What remains unclear is whether the NFL will reschedule the Bills’ game against the Bengals, which has major implications in determining the top spot in the AFC. The playoffs are set to open on Jan. 14.

The Chiefs (13-3) have a half-game lead over Buffalo (12-3), with the Bills owning the tiebreaker after beating Kansas City this season. The Bengals (11-4) are currently the third seed and have also defeated the Chiefs.

Hamlin was hurt in the first quarter when he was struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be routine tackle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-joe-burrow-chicago-bears-dallas-cowboys-cincinnati-bengals-9875968d091a1188a31431348cf1c1b5">Bengals receiver Tee Higgins</a>. Hamlin briefly got up and adjusted his facemask before collapsing backward.

Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $7 million by Thursday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672714269393.png" alt="Damar Hamlin photo courtesy Buffalo Bills" />
 <figcaption>Damar Hamlin photo courtesy Buffalo Bills</figcaption>
 </figure>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's has begun to communicate in writing with his family and others who have been at his bedside since he went into cardiac arrest Monday — and his first question was “Did we win?” his doctors said Thursday.“The answer is yes, Demar, you won. You’ve won the game of life." Dr. Timothy Pritts said in a conference call with reporters from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was rushed after collapsing and being resuscitated on the field during the Bills' game against the Bengals on Monday night.Hamlin remains critically ill and in the hospital's intensive care unit, but he began to wake up Wednesday night, and it appears his neurological function is intact, meaning he can follow commands and move, Pritts said."He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care,” the doctor said.“His first question that he wrote when he started to awaken was, 'Did we win?′" Pritts said. “So we know that it’s not only that the lights are on. We know that he’s home. And it appears that all the cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly gratifying for all of us.”Dr. William Knight IV said doctors had not yet determined the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and that testing is ongoing.It’s also too early to say whether Hamlin could return to football after undergoing rehabilitation, Knight said.The developments came as the Bills returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed when his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle during the game's first quarter.The game was suspended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-cincinnati-bengals-sports-nfl-football-damar-hamlin-6fae43906c6c26ccb349ea3044c44ca7">and will not be resumed,</a>&nbsp;two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league is still figuring out how to determine playoff seedings and scheduling. The NFL Players Association must approve changes.Hamlin, a second-year player from the Pittsburgh area, spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.Pritts said in the conference call that neurological signs of improvement began Wednesday night as Hamlin gradually woke up, with the rest of his body healing. Hamlin still cannot speak because of a breathing tube in his throat.Knight credited the quick medical response with saving Hamlin's life.He said a physician was within Hamlin’s side within a minute of him collapsing and recognized that the defensive back did not have a pulse. Knight said Hamlin required CPR and resuscitation on the field.“It’s been a long and difficult road for the last three days ... he has made a pretty remarkable improvement,” Knight said.“Great news,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet. “Damar, like I told your mom and dad yesterday, Jill and I – along with all of America – are praying for you and your family.”Along with being able to write, his doctors said Hamlin was able to hold the hands of family and members of the Bills’ administrative and medical teams at his bedside.Although Hamlin is following commands, doctors have not yet fully assessed his speech and other functions, in part because he is under sedation to accommodate the breathing tube.“When we talk about neurologically intact, it’s a very gross term of big motor movements and following commands. When we talk about the finer things that make us human — cognition, emotion, speech, language, etc., we’re looking forward to learning more about that,” Knight said.Over the past days, numerous players across the league — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what unfolded in front of a North American TV audience.Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/damar-hamlin-fundraiser-toy-drive-gofundme-bills-cd61ceed517af7c53637ba23644801c9">donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation</a>, which had raised more than $7.4 million by Thursday afternoon.___ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the team announced Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/4Fyd2JZVLb">pic.twitter.com/4Fyd2JZVLb</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1611021908849352704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Bills said in a statement. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam also posted a message on his Twitter account that said Hamlin “is doing better, awake and showing signs of improvement.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!&mdash; Kaiir Elam (@kaiirelam5) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaiirelam5/status/1611019806651867137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The developments came as the Bills were scheduled to return to practice on Thursday for the first time since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/Bills-damar-hamlin-collapse-what-happened-d73a76f2f7f736b652e95896dfaa0900">Hamlin collapsed after his heart stopped</a>&nbsp;after making a tackle and was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals on Monday night.The second-year player has spent the past two days sedated and listed in critical condition.The Bills' announcement comes as they prepare to play a home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and with the team still dealing with the shock of seeing their teammate collapse on the field, his heart not beating.After returning home early Tuesday once the game was suspended, the Bills held meetings and a walkthrough practice without any media availability on Wednesday. On Thursday, players were spotted arriving at the facility, though the team has not yet released a practice schedule.The chilling sight of Hamlin collapsing, which was broadcast to a North American TV audience on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football," has led to an outpouring of support from fans and players from across the league.Numerous players — former teammates and those who didn’t know Hamlin until Monday — voiced their support, while saying they were shaken by what happened.Colts safety Rodney Thomas made the two-hour drive from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on Tuesday just to be by the side of his former high school teammate.“He’s a fighter. I know he’s a fighter and there’s no other thought in my mind other than him walking out under his own power,” Thomas said Wednesday.Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, who spent the previous four seasons playing for Buffalo, had dinner delivered to the hospital for Hamlin’s family and medical staff.Hamlin’s marketing representative Jordon Rooney said Wednesday that the player’s family was buoyed by the words and acts of kindness.“They are elated right now,” Rooney said. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family is going to be incredible.”What remains unclear is whether the NFL will reschedule the Bills’ game against the Bengals, which has major implications in determining the top spot in the AFC. The playoffs are set to open on Jan. 14.The Chiefs (13-3) have a half-game lead over Buffalo (12-3), with the Bills owning the tiebreaker after beating Kansas City this season. The Bengals (11-4) are currently the third seed and have also defeated the Chiefs.Hamlin was hurt in the first quarter when he was struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be routine tackle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-joe-burrow-chicago-bears-dallas-cowboys-cincinnati-bengals-9875968d091a1188a31431348cf1c1b5">Bengals receiver Tee Higgins</a>. Hamlin briefly got up and adjusted his facemask before collapsing backward.Hamlin was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Pitt. He spent his rookie season limited to special teams roles, and took over the starting safety job in Week 3 in place of veteran Micah Hyde, who remains sidelined by a neck injury.Fans, team owners and players — including Tom Brady and Russell Wilson — have made donations to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which had raised more than $7 million by Thursday morning.___

Doctors: Damar Hamlin communicating, showing improvement

BARTON COUNTY—A police officer is being credited with helping save a family from a fire at their home.

Just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire crews responded to the report of a fire a a home in the 900 block of Jefferson Street in Great Bend, according to a media release.

Crews found a detached garage and a full size pickup fully involved in fire under a carport which was also on fire. The fire was also spreading to another vehicle in the drive and was approaching the residence.

Prior to the fire department's arrival, Great Bend Police Department Officer Taylor Reed arrived on scene, forced entry into the residence waking up the occupants and successfully removed them from the residence.

&nbsp;The garage, carport and both vehicles are considered a total loss.

Due to the freezing temperatures at the time of the fire, off-duty crews were called to the scene to assist with the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672929670685.jpeg" alt="The Great Bend Fire Department gave special recognition to Officer Taylor Reed for going above and beyond in removing the occupants from the residence. Photo Great Bend Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>The Great Bend Fire Department gave special recognition to Officer Taylor Reed for going above and beyond in removing the occupants from the residence. Photo Great Bend Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—A police officer is being credited with helping save a family from a fire at their home.Just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, fire crews responded to the report of a fire a a home in the 900 block of Jefferson Street in Great Bend, according to a media release.Crews found a detached garage and a full size pickup fully involved in fire under a carport which was also on fire. The fire was also spreading to another vehicle in the drive and was approaching the residence.Prior to the fire department's arrival, Great Bend Police Department Officer Taylor Reed arrived on scene, forced entry into the residence waking up the occupants and successfully removed them from the residence.&nbsp;The garage, carport and both vehicles are considered a total loss.Due to the freezing temperatures at the time of the fire, off-duty crews were called to the scene to assist with the fire.The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Great Bend Fire Department and the Kansas State Fire Marshal Office.&nbsp;

Police officer alerts residents to fire at their Kansas home

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting have charged on suspect and have another in custody.

Just after 4p.m. Monday, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call of a possible shooting and battery in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway near Timber, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; 

Deputies responded and located a woman who suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the lower leg.&nbsp; Town and Country Ambulance transported her&nbsp; to Amberwell Hospital in Hiawatha.

Investigators learned that the suspect had fled the scene before deputies arrived and an Attempt To Locate was immediately issued by Brown County Dispatch to surrounding areas.

A short time later deputies learned the suspect had been located in St Joseph, Missouri and was arrested. His name has not been released.

During the investigation, deputies arrested 55-year-old Shane Meggison&nbsp; on charges of Child Endangerment,&nbsp; Felony Obstruction, Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and&nbsp; No Drug Tax Stamp. His bond issued Wednesday is $25,000, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672861101652.png" alt="Meggison -photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Meggison -photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting have charged on suspect and have another in custody.Just after 4p.m. Monday, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call of a possible shooting and battery in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway near Timber, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; Deputies responded and located a woman who suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the lower leg.&nbsp; Town and Country Ambulance transported her&nbsp; to Amberwell Hospital in Hiawatha.Investigators learned that the suspect had fled the scene before deputies arrived and an Attempt To Locate was immediately issued by Brown County Dispatch to surrounding areas. A short time later deputies learned the suspect had been located in St Joseph, Missouri and was arrested. His name has not been released.During the investigation, deputies arrested 55-year-old Shane Meggison&nbsp; on charges of Child Endangerment,&nbsp; Felony Obstruction, Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and&nbsp; No Drug Tax Stamp. His bond issued Wednesday is $25,000, according to Merchant.

Kansas man charged after woman found with gunshot wound

WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-vote-updates-669e23dc963da9579ab10e4b3da78911?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Republicans continue to squabble</a>&nbsp;over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect.

Without a speaker, none of the them can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned in favor of controlled chaos. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions on the floor because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. Committees can't be formed and legislation can't be passed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672882073686.png" alt="Lawmakers in the well of the House chamber shouting as votes were counted to adjourn late Wednesday night -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers in the well of the House chamber shouting as votes were counted to adjourn late Wednesday night -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-vote-updates-669e23dc963da9579ab10e4b3da78911?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Republicans continue to squabble</a>&nbsp;over who will be the next speaker, there are essentially no members in the U.S. House of Representatives — only members-elect.Without a speaker, none of the them can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned in favor of controlled chaos. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions on the floor because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. Committees can't be formed and legislation can't be passed.“I don’t know what my status is,” said Democrat Ted Lieu of California. “I don’t know if I have health care, I don’t know if my staff get paid. We’re looking at all of that now because this hasn’t happened for 100 years.”Former Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, who just retired, has been tweeting about what he calls “Bizaroland.” At one point he openly wondered in his Twitter bio whether he was still a congressman (he isn't).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672856507291.png" alt="Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes on the House floor ahead of the fifth vote for Speaker on Wednesday afternoon -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The rule-less, member-less House may only be a blip in history if Republicans are able to find a way forward this week and elect a new speaker. While that remains a strong possibility, a resolution to the standoff seemed distant on Wednesday, as Republican Kevin McCarthy of California lost a second day of roll call votes on the floor.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-mccarthy-hard-right-foes-5edc1d9468e606a3f1230e98702d9a23?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">Supporters and opponents all appeared dug in.</a>The uncertainty added to the surreal, looser-than usual atmosphere on the House floor Wednesday as members sat in their seats for vote after vote, hour after hour, negotiating, gossiping and wondering what comes next. Some relaxed with books or newspapers, or scrolled their phones. Some took photos and selfies, a practice that is usually forbidden by the rules.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672856599990.png" alt="McCarthy consoled by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green following a fifth vote on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>McCarthy consoled by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green following a fifth vote on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Others still had children with them in the chamber, a holdover from Tuesday’s proceedings when family often accompany members to watch them be sworn in. Only they weren’t sworn in on the first day of the new Congress -- the first time that had happened in a century.In 1923, the process of selecting a speaker lasted for three days. In 1855, it dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots.“It’s a very strange limbo,” said Democrat Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, who had hoped her visiting grandchildren would get to see her sworn in on Tuesday. “We are operating by precedent.”On the House floor, clerk Cheryl Johnson is holding the gavel, not the Republican majority.“Madam speaker,” Republican Chip Roy of Texas said at one point, addressing the rostrum as members usually do, before correcting himself. “Madam clerk,” he amended.Off the floor, members are operating under the rules for the last Congress — they think. No one really seems to know, and there are concerns about what would happen if the stalemate were to last until mid-January, when paychecks are expected. Some staff are in limbo — only provisionally employed if they are new hires or switching jobs.Republican Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the incoming chairman of the House Rules Committee, said that members-elect were operating under the rules of the previous Congress, when Democrats were in control. But he added: “I don’t know if that’s written down.”Without a speaker, “there’s a lot we can’t do,” Cole said. Staff and members will be paid, he said, “but at some point it shuts off.”As the hours ticked by, members started to ponder what-if scenarios. Lieu said he worried that lawmakers aren’t able to look at classified documents important to national security, and wouldn’t be able to respond to a world crisis. Could websites be updated? Would emails continue to work?“Who can legally help any and all of our citizens with issues we normally handle everyday?” tweeted Long, the former Missouri congressman. “Passports, IRS, #Veteran’s issues, SBA, Post Office, Immigration issues, Corps of Engineers, etc. who’s getting paid?”“This brings up a ton of legitimate questions,” wrote Long.-----------