Meetings set to provide information for canola growers

K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – A decision by a Nebraska-based agribusiness to recommission an oilseed crush facility near Goodland has opened an opportunity for farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, said a Kansas State University agronomist.&nbsp;

Canola breeder Mike Stamm noted that Scoular – which lists more than 100 offices in North America and Asia and sales of more than $9 billion –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scoular.com/news/scoular-invests-in-kansas-oilseed-crush-facility-for-renewable-fuels-market/">announced in mid-March</a>&nbsp;that it would retrofit the facility to crush both soybeans and canola.&nbsp;

The facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2024.&nbsp;

“We wanted to support them by getting growers together to learn more,” Stamm said. “For alternative oilseeds like canola to be successfully grown in Kansas, it is crucial to have a readily available end market within the region, which Scoular will provide.”&nbsp;

Stamm said K-State Research and the Great Plains Canola Association will host several canola informational meetings for new and experienced growers. The meetings are scheduled for May 11 in Enid, Oklahoma, and May 18 in Montezuma, Kansas and Harper, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said the meetings will include an update from Scoular on their marketing and pricing strategies and the company’s vision for the rapidly changing renewable fuels market. Brief updates on canola research and extension activities will be given, as well as an update from the Great Plains Canola Association.&nbsp;

The meetings are free to attend, but reservations are required because a meal will be provided. Location and contacts for each meeting include:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thursday, May 11: Hoover Building, 300 E Oxford Ave, Enid, Okla.&nbsp;

RSVP to Ron Sholar,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:jrsholar@aol.com">jrsholar@aol.com</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18: Montezuma Community Building, 508 West Sunnyside Ave., Montezuma, Kansas.&nbsp;

RSVP to the Gray County Extension Office, 620-855-3821, or Kurt Werth,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:kwerth@ksu.edu">kwerth@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18, 2023 – Fencepost, 700 E. 14th St., Harper, Kansas&nbsp;

<a>RSVP to the Harper County Extension Office, 620-842-5445, or Jenni Carr,&nbsp;</a><a></a><a href="mailto:jlcarr@ksu.edu">jlcarr@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682342241976.png" alt="Photo courtesy Scoular" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Scoular</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Meetings set to provide information for canola growers</h2>K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;MANHATTAN – A decision by a Nebraska-based agribusiness to recommission an oilseed crush facility near Goodland has opened an opportunity for farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, said a Kansas State University agronomist.&nbsp;Canola breeder Mike Stamm noted that Scoular – which lists more than 100 offices in North America and Asia and sales of more than $9 billion –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scoular.com/news/scoular-invests-in-kansas-oilseed-crush-facility-for-renewable-fuels-market/">announced in mid-March</a>&nbsp;that it would retrofit the facility to crush both soybeans and canola.&nbsp;The facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2024.&nbsp;“We wanted to support them by getting growers together to learn more,” Stamm said. “For alternative oilseeds like canola to be successfully grown in Kansas, it is crucial to have a readily available end market within the region, which Scoular will provide.”&nbsp;Stamm said K-State Research and the Great Plains Canola Association will host several canola informational meetings for new and experienced growers. The meetings are scheduled for May 11 in Enid, Oklahoma, and May 18 in Montezuma, Kansas and Harper, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said the meetings will include an update from Scoular on their marketing and pricing strategies and the company’s vision for the rapidly changing renewable fuels market. Brief updates on canola research and extension activities will be given, as well as an update from the Great Plains Canola Association.&nbsp;The meetings are free to attend, but reservations are required because a meal will be provided. Location and contacts for each meeting include:&nbsp;&nbsp;Thursday, May 11: Hoover Building, 300 E Oxford Ave, Enid, Okla.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>9:30 a.m., Coffee and networking&nbsp;</li><li>10 a.m., presentation and meeting&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>RSVP to Ron Sholar,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:jrsholar@aol.com">jrsholar@aol.com</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18: Montezuma Community Building, 508 West Sunnyside Ave., Montezuma, Kansas.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>12 p.m., presentation and meal&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>RSVP to the Gray County Extension Office, 620-855-3821, or Kurt Werth,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:kwerth@ksu.edu">kwerth@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18, 2023 – Fencepost, 700 E. 14th St., Harper, Kansas&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>6 p.m., presentation and meal&nbsp;</li>
 </ul> <a>RSVP to the Harper County Extension Office, 620-842-5445, or Jenni Carr,&nbsp;</a><a></a><a href="mailto:jlcarr@ksu.edu">jlcarr@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Goodland crush facility opens opportunity for Kansas, Oklahoma farmers

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two juveniles on multiple charges after a high-speed chase

On April 22, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed a silver 2006 Chevrolet HHR that was unable to maintain a single lane of travel and speeding 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on NE 46th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop near NE Edgewood Drive and NE Indian Creek Road, however the driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit.

The driver fled north on NE Ashby Lane from Edgewood, leveled the stop sign at NE 54th Street as it continued eastbound, went south on NE Kendall Wood Drive and then west into a driveway in the 600 block of NE Margo Court. 

The two occupants exited the vehicle and attempted to enter the residence. They eventually complied with the deputy’s commands and were taken into custody.

During the investigation, an open container of alcohol, illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia were located.

The driver, Jordan J. Minger, 16, of Topeka, was given a Notice To Appear&nbsp; and faces requested charges of&nbsp; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, felony flee or attempt to elude, transporting an open container of liquor and duty of driver upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property (hit and run accident).

The passenger, Lorenzo V. Wadkins, 16, of Topeka, was found in possession of a loaded firearm and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of criminal use of weapons, possession of marijuana, possession of tobacco by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two juveniles on multiple charges after a high-speed chaseOn April 22, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed a silver 2006 Chevrolet HHR that was unable to maintain a single lane of travel and speeding 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on NE 46th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop near NE Edgewood Drive and NE Indian Creek Road, however the driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit.The driver fled north on NE Ashby Lane from Edgewood, leveled the stop sign at NE 54th Street as it continued eastbound, went south on NE Kendall Wood Drive and then west into a driveway in the 600 block of NE Margo Court. The two occupants exited the vehicle and attempted to enter the residence. They eventually complied with the deputy’s commands and were taken into custody.During the investigation, an open container of alcohol, illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia were located.The driver, Jordan J. Minger, 16, of Topeka, was given a Notice To Appear&nbsp; and faces requested charges of&nbsp; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, felony flee or attempt to elude, transporting an open container of liquor and duty of driver upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property (hit and run accident).The passenger, Lorenzo V. Wadkins, 16, of Topeka, was found in possession of a loaded firearm and was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of criminal use of weapons, possession of marijuana, possession of tobacco by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two Kan. boys were driving with open container, loaded gun

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has begun facilitating the departure of private U.S. citizens who want to leave&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sudan">Sudan</a>, according to White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jake-sullivan">Jake Sullivan</a>.

(click below to watch Sullivan's statement)

Sullivan said the U.S. has placed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets over the land evacuation route to help facilitate safe travel by land from Khartoum to the Port of Sudan, but does not have any U.S. troops on the ground.

“We have started to see a more regular pattern of convoys begin to arrive, including convoys that have Americans in them,” Sullivan said. “Once at the port then we are using diplomatic facilities in neighboring countries to help those Americans with their onward travel so that they can get safely out of the country.”

Sullivan’s comments came as foreign governments have airlifted hundreds of their diplomats and other citizens to safety as the country has spiraled into chaos amid fierce fighting between Sudan's two rival generals vying for control of the country.

In dramatic evacuation operations, convoys of foreign diplomats, civilian teachers, students, workers and families from dozens of countries wound past combatants at tense front lines in the capital of Khartoum to reach extraction points. Others drove hundreds of miles to the country’s east coast. A stream of European, Mideast, African and Asian military aircraft flew in all day Sunday and Monday to ferry them out.

U.S. special operations forces carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-embassy-personnel-sudan-evacuated-airlift-45bca52da8c65914d48c18d6ad9d065c">a precarious evacuation at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan on Sunday</a>, sweeping in and out of the capital with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.

Sullivan reiterated that the administration continues to look at “every conceivable option” to help Americans get out of Sudan but is not considering peacekeeping troops.

“It is not standard practice for the United States to send in the U.S. military” into warzones to extract American citizens, Sullivan said “We didn’t do it in Libya. We didn’t do it in Syria. We didn’t do it in Yemen, and no we didn’t do it in Ukraine. Afghanistan was a unique case involving the end of the 20-year war that the United States was centrally involved in.”

An estimated 16,000 private U.S. citizens are registered with the embassy as being in Sudan. The figure is rough because not all Americans register with embassy or say when they depart.

Sullivan said the U.S. “will go to great lengths to support and facilitate" the departure of Americans but also noted that the State Department has been cautioning Americans in Sudan to leave the country for years.

He added, “Americans are free people. We cannot dictate where they travel, tell them they must go or not go to a particular place."

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said that a U.N. convoy reached Port Sudan on Monday with some evacuees. He told reporters that the Defense Department also continues to conduct continuous overhead intelligence and surveillance of the area, including to provide security assessments of land routes.

When asked about other Americans seeking to leave Sudan, Ryder said, “Right now, to our knowledge, we’re not talking about large numbers of Americans looking to come out of Sudan, but again, in the days ahead, we’ll stay closely coordinated with the State Department, they’re in the lead and we will be prepared to support them.”

Ryder said two Navy vessels, the USS Lewis B. Puller combat ship, and the USS Truxtun, a destroyer, are in the region. He said the Truxtun is off the coast of Sudan and the Puller is en route, and both will be available to help transport citizens if needed or provide medical support.

Late Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/americans-sudan-sullivan-evacuate-khartoum-biden-8b0f91ce79f5fac2f6f6419018906934">Blinken announced that he had helped broker a new 72-hour cease-fire</a>&nbsp; in Sudan. The truce would be an extension of the nominal three-day holiday cease-fire.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has begun facilitating the departure of private U.S. citizens who want to leave&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sudan">Sudan</a>, according to White House national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jake-sullivan">Jake Sullivan</a>.(click below to watch Sullivan's statement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1399726107484677%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=263" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Sullivan said the U.S. has placed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets over the land evacuation route to help facilitate safe travel by land from Khartoum to the Port of Sudan, but does not have any U.S. troops on the ground.“We have started to see a more regular pattern of convoys begin to arrive, including convoys that have Americans in them,” Sullivan said. “Once at the port then we are using diplomatic facilities in neighboring countries to help those Americans with their onward travel so that they can get safely out of the country.”Sullivan’s comments came as foreign governments have airlifted hundreds of their diplomats and other citizens to safety as the country has spiraled into chaos amid fierce fighting between Sudan's two rival generals vying for control of the country.In dramatic evacuation operations, convoys of foreign diplomats, civilian teachers, students, workers and families from dozens of countries wound past combatants at tense front lines in the capital of Khartoum to reach extraction points. Others drove hundreds of miles to the country’s east coast. A stream of European, Mideast, African and Asian military aircraft flew in all day Sunday and Monday to ferry them out.U.S. special operations forces carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-embassy-personnel-sudan-evacuated-airlift-45bca52da8c65914d48c18d6ad9d065c">a precarious evacuation at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan on Sunday</a>, sweeping in and out of the capital with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.Sullivan reiterated that the administration continues to look at “every conceivable option” to help Americans get out of Sudan but is not considering peacekeeping troops.“It is not standard practice for the United States to send in the U.S. military” into warzones to extract American citizens, Sullivan said “We didn’t do it in Libya. We didn’t do it in Syria. We didn’t do it in Yemen, and no we didn’t do it in Ukraine. Afghanistan was a unique case involving the end of the 20-year war that the United States was centrally involved in.”An estimated 16,000 private U.S. citizens are registered with the embassy as being in Sudan. The figure is rough because not all Americans register with embassy or say when they depart.Sullivan said the U.S. “will go to great lengths to support and facilitate" the departure of Americans but also noted that the State Department has been cautioning Americans in Sudan to leave the country for years.He added, “Americans are free people. We cannot dictate where they travel, tell them they must go or not go to a particular place."Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said that a U.N. convoy reached Port Sudan on Monday with some evacuees. He told reporters that the Defense Department also continues to conduct continuous overhead intelligence and surveillance of the area, including to provide security assessments of land routes.When asked about other Americans seeking to leave Sudan, Ryder said, “Right now, to our knowledge, we’re not talking about large numbers of Americans looking to come out of Sudan, but again, in the days ahead, we’ll stay closely coordinated with the State Department, they’re in the lead and we will be prepared to support them.”Ryder said two Navy vessels, the USS Lewis B. Puller combat ship, and the USS Truxtun, a destroyer, are in the region. He said the Truxtun is off the coast of Sudan and the Puller is en route, and both will be available to help transport citizens if needed or provide medical support.Late Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/americans-sudan-sullivan-evacuate-khartoum-biden-8b0f91ce79f5fac2f6f6419018906934">Blinken announced that he had helped broker a new 72-hour cease-fire</a>&nbsp; in Sudan. The truce would be an extension of the nominal three-day holiday cease-fire.

🎥Hundreds of Americans trapped amid fighting in Sudan

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A child died in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

Derby police reported, a driver lost control of a car traveling eastbound on Meadowlark Boulevard. The vehicle traveled into a Quick Trip at 1430 North Nelson Drive and struck a vehicle at the gas pump. The impact caused the pump to explode.

When fire crews arrived they found a car fully involved in flames on top of the gas pumps. A child in the vehicle at the pump died at the scene. EMS transported a woman to an area hospital, according to police.

Police have not identified the victims. Meadowlark was closed between K-15 and Nelson. The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682376168742.png" alt=" The accident remains under investigation-Photo city of Derby" />
 <figcaption> The accident remains under investigation-Photo city of Derby</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A child died in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.Derby police reported, a driver lost control of a car traveling eastbound on Meadowlark Boulevard. The vehicle traveled into a Quick Trip at 1430 North Nelson Drive and struck a vehicle at the gas pump. The impact caused the pump to explode.When fire crews arrived they found a car fully involved in flames on top of the gas pumps. A child in the vehicle at the pump died at the scene. EMS transported a woman to an area hospital, according to police.Police have not identified the victims. Meadowlark was closed between K-15 and Nelson. The accident remains under investigation.

Child dead after car crash into Kansas gas station

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) — A man shot to death a 20-year-old student Monday at Rose State College in Oklahoma, according to police, who reported no other injuries after the campus was briefly put on lockdown.

Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the suspect surrendered upon being approached by officers after the shooting near the center of the 13,000-student campus. The two-year college is just outside Oklahoma City.

In a statement, police identified the suspect as Brandon Morrissette, 30, who faces a first-degree murder charge. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney Monday night.

Porter said the victim and Morrissette's wife, who is also a student at Rose State College, were walking out of a building when they were confronted by the gunman. The victim, who police did not immediately identify, was pronounced dead on the scene. Porter did not provide any other details about what might have led to the shooting.

Kevin McCormack, a student from the suburb of Choctaw, said he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He said they looked over and saw a man hitting the ground, next to another man holding a gun and a woman who was trying to calm him down.

“Almost immediately, we said, ‘Go, go, go!’ and took off," McCormack said.

Rose State College canceled classes for the remainder of the day after lifting the lockdown order.

Porter said the first officers arrived to the scene in approximately one minute. He praised students and staff for how they responded during the lockdown and noted that weeks before the shooting, Rose State College had practiced what to do in the event of an active shooter.

“Things got locked down real quick,” Porter said. “I just think they did a fantastic job listening to the school and everybody staying down and not panicking because we didn’t know what was going on.”

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) — A man shot and killed another man Monday at Rose State College in Oklahoma, according to police, who reported no other injuries after the campus was briefly put on lockdown.

Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the men were “acquainted through a domestic situation,” but did not elaborate on exactly what their relationship was or what led to the shooting. He also did not say if either man was a student or staff member at the school.

The two-year college has about 13,000 students and is just outside Oklahoma City. Crime scene tape surrounded the humanities building in the center of campus and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene.

Porter said the victim was shot one time and that the suspect was confronted by officers who work on campus.

“They ordered him to drop the gun, which he did, and they took him into custody,” Porter said.

Rose State College canceled classes for the remainder of the day after lifting the lockdown order. A person who answered the phone at the university’s public safety office Monday referred questions to police.

Porter praised students and staff for how they responded during the lockdown and noted that weeks before the shooting, Rose State College had practiced what to do in the event of an active shooter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682417098613.png" alt="Brandon Morrissette-photo Oklahoma Co." />
 <figcaption>Brandon Morrissette-photo Oklahoma Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) — A man shot to death a 20-year-old student Monday at Rose State College in Oklahoma, according to police, who reported no other injuries after the campus was briefly put on lockdown.Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the suspect surrendered upon being approached by officers after the shooting near the center of the 13,000-student campus. The two-year college is just outside Oklahoma City.In a statement, police identified the suspect as Brandon Morrissette, 30, who faces a first-degree murder charge. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney Monday night.Porter said the victim and Morrissette's wife, who is also a student at Rose State College, were walking out of a building when they were confronted by the gunman. The victim, who police did not immediately identify, was pronounced dead on the scene. Porter did not provide any other details about what might have led to the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682365450225.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting photo courtesy KOTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting photo courtesy KOTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin McCormack, a student from the suburb of Choctaw, said he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He said they looked over and saw a man hitting the ground, next to another man holding a gun and a woman who was trying to calm him down.“Almost immediately, we said, ‘Go, go, go!’ and took off," McCormack said.Rose State College canceled classes for the remainder of the day after lifting the lockdown order.Porter said the first officers arrived to the scene in approximately one minute. He praised students and staff for how they responded during the lockdown and noted that weeks before the shooting, Rose State College had practiced what to do in the event of an active shooter.“Things got locked down real quick,” Porter said. “I just think they did a fantastic job listening to the school and everybody staying down and not panicking because we didn’t know what was going on.”----------------MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) — A man shot and killed another man Monday at Rose State College in Oklahoma, according to police, who reported no other injuries after the campus was briefly put on lockdown.Midwest City Police Chief Sid Porter said the men were “acquainted through a domestic situation,” but did not elaborate on exactly what their relationship was or what led to the shooting. He also did not say if either man was a student or staff member at the school.The two-year college has about 13,000 students and is just outside Oklahoma City. Crime scene tape surrounded the humanities building in the center of campus and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene.Porter said the victim was shot one time and that the suspect was confronted by officers who work on campus.“They ordered him to drop the gun, which he did, and they took him into custody,” Porter said.Kevin McCormack, a student from the suburb of Choctaw, said he was meeting a friend on campus when he heard gunfire. He said they looked over and saw a man hitting the ground, next to another man holding a gun and a woman who was trying to calm him down.“Almost immediately, we said, ‘Go, go, go!’ and took off," McCormack said.Rose State College canceled classes for the remainder of the day after lifting the lockdown order. A person who answered the phone at the university’s public safety office Monday referred questions to police.Porter praised students and staff for how they responded during the lockdown and noted that weeks before the shooting, Rose State College had practiced what to do in the event of an active shooter.“Things got locked down real quick,” Porter said. “I just think they did a fantastic job listening to the school and everybody staying down and not panicking because we didn’t know what was going on.”

Police ID suspect in deadly Oklahoma college shooting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri ACLU on Monday sued to block&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-health-care-andrew-baily-65c388ae85f610a2a885e2dff486bfe8">new state restrictions</a>&nbsp;on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care, which are set to kick in Thursday.

ACLU, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton LLP attorneys representing transgender Missourians and health care providers asked a St. Louis County judge to stop the first-of-its-kind rule from taking effect.

They argue that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has no authority to use a state consumer-protection law to regulate gender-affirming care through emergency rule-making.

The rule is "a baseless and discriminatory attempt to limit the healthcare options for transgender individuals, who already face several barriers accessing necessary and life-saving medical care,” said Dr. Samuel Tochtrop of plaintiff Southampton Community Healthcare, in a statement.

Before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians, the regulation requires people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months. Patients also would first have to be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.

Some individuals will be allowed to maintain their prescriptions while they promptly receive the required assessments.

Bailey marketed the restrictions as a way to protect minors from what he describes as experimental treatments when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minors-gender-affirming-care-attorney-general-missouri-7332d7baee1580d1aec122cc4210792c">announced plans to create the rule in March</a>. He applied limits to adults as well in the final rule.

“We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state. But we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care,” Bailey spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-missouri-4def2189dac9979a00d298efb3baf12a">after the rule was filed April 13</a>.

The rule is an unusual step by Missouri's attorney general, who has limited jurisdiction under state law. The office is responsible for defending state laws, handling felony criminal appeals, and prosecuting financial crimes and consumer fraud.

The lawsuit alleges the rule “is an improper, extra-legislative overreach by an un-elected political appointee” seeking to use the state's consumer-protection law, which plaintiffs describe as “an act purposed on making sure that cars are sold with titles and that hardware stores abide by a warranty on a vacuum.”

If the rule takes effect, doctors who provide gender-affirming health care must first provide a lengthy list of potential negative side effects and information warning against those treatments.

Health care providers will need to ensure “any psychiatric symptoms from existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved” before providing gender-affirming treatments under the new rule. Physicians also must screen patients for social media addiction, autism and signs of “social contagion with respect to the patient’s gender identity.”

The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.

The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental.

Critics have raise concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri ACLU on Monday sued to block&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-transgender-health-care-andrew-baily-65c388ae85f610a2a885e2dff486bfe8">new state restrictions</a>&nbsp;on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care, which are set to kick in Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The ACLU of Missouri, <a href="https://twitter.com/LambdaLegal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LambdaLegal</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/BCLPlaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCLPlaw</a> filed a petition seeking a temporary restraining order to block implementation of the MO AG’s unprecedented and extreme restrictions on gender affirming care for trans people of all ages in the state. <a href="https://t.co/BZzZ02zZKb">pic.twitter.com/BZzZ02zZKb</a>&mdash; ACLU of Missouri (@aclu_mo) <a href="https://twitter.com/aclu_mo/status/1650621585227673603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>ACLU, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton LLP attorneys representing transgender Missourians and health care providers asked a St. Louis County judge to stop the first-of-its-kind rule from taking effect.They argue that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has no authority to use a state consumer-protection law to regulate gender-affirming care through emergency rule-making.The rule is "a baseless and discriminatory attempt to limit the healthcare options for transgender individuals, who already face several barriers accessing necessary and life-saving medical care,” said Dr. Samuel Tochtrop of plaintiff Southampton Community Healthcare, in a statement.Before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians, the regulation requires people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months. Patients also would first have to be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.Some individuals will be allowed to maintain their prescriptions while they promptly receive the required assessments.Bailey marketed the restrictions as a way to protect minors from what he describes as experimental treatments when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minors-gender-affirming-care-attorney-general-missouri-7332d7baee1580d1aec122cc4210792c">announced plans to create the rule in March</a>. He applied limits to adults as well in the final rule.“We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state. But we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care,” Bailey spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-missouri-4def2189dac9979a00d298efb3baf12a">after the rule was filed April 13</a>.The rule is an unusual step by Missouri's attorney general, who has limited jurisdiction under state law. The office is responsible for defending state laws, handling felony criminal appeals, and prosecuting financial crimes and consumer fraud.The lawsuit alleges the rule “is an improper, extra-legislative overreach by an un-elected political appointee” seeking to use the state's consumer-protection law, which plaintiffs describe as “an act purposed on making sure that cars are sold with titles and that hardware stores abide by a warranty on a vacuum.”If the rule takes effect, doctors who provide gender-affirming health care must first provide a lengthy list of potential negative side effects and information warning against those treatments.Health care providers will need to ensure “any psychiatric symptoms from existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved” before providing gender-affirming treatments under the new rule. Physicians also must screen patients for social media addiction, autism and signs of “social contagion with respect to the patient’s gender identity.”The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental.Critics have raise concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses.

ACLU sues to block Missouri rule on transgender health care

KANSAS CITY— A man was sentenced in federal court Monday for a $215,000 cattle fraud scheme that he attempted to cover up by murdering two Wisconsin brothers, according to United State's Attorney.

Garland Joseph Nelson, 28, Braymer, Mo, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 32 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Nelson to pay $260,925 in restitution to his victims.

On Oct. 4, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nelson admitted that he defrauded a Shawano County, Wisconsin company, Diemel’s Livestock, LLC, of $215,000 in a cattle contract.

Nelson is also serving two life sentences in a separate state case related to the murders of Nicholas and Justin Diemel, two brothers who were principals in Diemel’s Livestock. Nelson’s federal prison sentence must be served consecutively to his state sentence.

Nelson – an employee of J4s Farm Enterprises, Inc., a business started by his mother – agreed to care for cattle belonging to Diemel’s Livestock. Diemel’s Livestock invested and traded in cattle and other livestock. Nelson agreed to feed and pasture the cattle, then sell the cattle and send Diemel’s Livestock the proceeds (minus the costs of raising the cattle).

The Diemels sent several loads of cattle to Nelson from November 2018 through April 2019. Nelson sold some loads of cattle and paid the Diemels. However, Nelson admitted he killed many of the Diemels’s cattle and then fraudulently billed the Diemels for feed and yardage for the dead cattle.

Nelson admitted that he did not properly care for cattle due to incompetence, neglect, or maltreatment. Hundreds of calves entrusted to Nelson died due to underfeeding, neglect, and/or maltreatment. Nelson fed cattle inadequately and poorly. For example, he dropped feed bales in a pasture for calves but did not remove the plastic covering so that calves ate the plastic and died.

Throughout the spring of 2019, Nicholas Diemel pressed Nelson for payment for his cattle.&nbsp; He sent no more loads of cattle to Nelson while he awaited his payment.

To deprive the Diemels of their cattle or their money and to prevent them from recovering either their cattle or their money, in June 2019 Nelson fraudulently sent the Diemels a bad check for $215,936 while his bank account had a balance of 21 cents. The check had been intentionally torn and damaged so that it could not be submitted for payment.

Nelson told the Diemels they could come to Missouri to get their money. On July 17, 2019, Nicholas Diemel bought two round-trip airline tickets from Milwaukee to Kansas City. On July 20, 2019, Nicholas and Justin Diemel arrived in Kansas City and rented a pickup truck from Budget.

On July 21, 2019, the Diemels drove their rental truck to Nelson’s mother’s farm in Braymer. Nelson’s mother and other family members were in Branson for the weekend, so Nelson was alone on the farm. Nelson murdered both of the Diemels and attempted to dispose of their bodies, but the remains were later found by investigators.

Nelson also was in possession of a Marlin 30-30 rifle and ammunition from July 18 to July 21, 2019. &nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Nelson has a 2015 federal felony conviction for an earlier cattle fraud scheme that resulted in losses of more than $262,000 to his victims, as well as two prior state felony convictions for passing bad checks.

According to court documents, Nelson engaged in at least two more cattle fraud schemes. In December 2018, Nelson was entrusted with feeding and caring for 131 calves he co-owned with a Kansas farmer (less than a year after he was released from prison for his 2015 conviction and in direct contravention to the conditions of his supervised release). On May 23, 2019, Nelson dropped off 35 calves at the co-owner’s farm in Kansas, apparently all that survived of the 131. Of the surviving 35 calves, many were emaciated and had ringworm; some could not even walk onto a truck to be transported. Some calves had their ears torn as though identifying ear tags had been removed.

According to court documents, those calves were involved in another cattle fraud scheme engaged by Nelson. Nelson told a Bogard, Mo., farmer that he would furnish all the food and medicine for 131 bottle calves and pay the farmer a dollar per day per calf for the use of his barn and the time he would spend feeding the calves. Nelson bought almost no food or medicine for the calves in the five months he kept them at the Bogard farm. Instead, the farmer paid $14,363 out of his own pocket for food and veterinary care for the calves. Nor did Nelson ever pay anything to the farmer for the use of his barn and time spent feeding and caring for the calves as he had promised. (Nelson’s mother later paid the farmer $2,000.) In late April 2019, Nelson picked up the living bottle calves from the Bogard farm and took them to his mother’s farm. On May 23, 2019, Nelson dumped the 35 remaining calves without warning at the Kansas farm. This was a problem because the Kansas farmer had a closed dairy herd and bringing unvaccinated and potentially diseased calves onto his property put his existing herd at risk.

On Sept. 30, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the first degree in Johnson County, Mo., and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on each count to run consecutively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682368271807.png" alt="Nelson -photo&nbsp; Caldwell Co." />
 <figcaption>Nelson -photo&nbsp; Caldwell Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A man was sentenced in federal court Monday for a $215,000 cattle fraud scheme that he attempted to cover up by murdering two Wisconsin brothers, according to United State's Attorney.Garland Joseph Nelson, 28, Braymer, Mo, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 32 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Nelson to pay $260,925 in restitution to his victims.On Oct. 4, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nelson admitted that he defrauded a Shawano County, Wisconsin company, Diemel’s Livestock, LLC, of $215,000 in a cattle contract.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565280147807.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nelson is also serving two life sentences in a separate state case related to the murders of Nicholas and Justin Diemel, two brothers who were principals in Diemel’s Livestock. Nelson’s federal prison sentence must be served consecutively to his state sentence.Nelson – an employee of J4s Farm Enterprises, Inc., a business started by his mother – agreed to care for cattle belonging to Diemel’s Livestock. Diemel’s Livestock invested and traded in cattle and other livestock. Nelson agreed to feed and pasture the cattle, then sell the cattle and send Diemel’s Livestock the proceeds (minus the costs of raising the cattle).The Diemels sent several loads of cattle to Nelson from November 2018 through April 2019. Nelson sold some loads of cattle and paid the Diemels. However, Nelson admitted he killed many of the Diemels’s cattle and then fraudulently billed the Diemels for feed and yardage for the dead cattle.Nelson admitted that he did not properly care for cattle due to incompetence, neglect, or maltreatment. Hundreds of calves entrusted to Nelson died due to underfeeding, neglect, and/or maltreatment. Nelson fed cattle inadequately and poorly. For example, he dropped feed bales in a pasture for calves but did not remove the plastic covering so that calves ate the plastic and died.Throughout the spring of 2019, Nicholas Diemel pressed Nelson for payment for his cattle.&nbsp; He sent no more loads of cattle to Nelson while he awaited his payment.To deprive the Diemels of their cattle or their money and to prevent them from recovering either their cattle or their money, in June 2019 Nelson fraudulently sent the Diemels a bad check for $215,936 while his bank account had a balance of 21 cents. The check had been intentionally torn and damaged so that it could not be submitted for payment.Nelson told the Diemels they could come to Missouri to get their money. On July 17, 2019, Nicholas Diemel bought two round-trip airline tickets from Milwaukee to Kansas City. On July 20, 2019, Nicholas and Justin Diemel arrived in Kansas City and rented a pickup truck from Budget.On July 21, 2019, the Diemels drove their rental truck to Nelson’s mother’s farm in Braymer. Nelson’s mother and other family members were in Branson for the weekend, so Nelson was alone on the farm. Nelson murdered both of the Diemels and attempted to dispose of their bodies, but the remains were later found by investigators.Nelson also was in possession of a Marlin 30-30 rifle and ammunition from July 18 to July 21, 2019. &nbsp;Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Nelson has a 2015 federal felony conviction for an earlier cattle fraud scheme that resulted in losses of more than $262,000 to his victims, as well as two prior state felony convictions for passing bad checks.According to court documents, Nelson engaged in at least two more cattle fraud schemes. In December 2018, Nelson was entrusted with feeding and caring for 131 calves he co-owned with a Kansas farmer (less than a year after he was released from prison for his 2015 conviction and in direct contravention to the conditions of his supervised release). On May 23, 2019, Nelson dropped off 35 calves at the co-owner’s farm in Kansas, apparently all that survived of the 131. Of the surviving 35 calves, many were emaciated and had ringworm; some could not even walk onto a truck to be transported. Some calves had their ears torn as though identifying ear tags had been removed.According to court documents, those calves were involved in another cattle fraud scheme engaged by Nelson. Nelson told a Bogard, Mo., farmer that he would furnish all the food and medicine for 131 bottle calves and pay the farmer a dollar per day per calf for the use of his barn and the time he would spend feeding the calves. Nelson bought almost no food or medicine for the calves in the five months he kept them at the Bogard farm. Instead, the farmer paid $14,363 out of his own pocket for food and veterinary care for the calves. Nor did Nelson ever pay anything to the farmer for the use of his barn and time spent feeding and caring for the calves as he had promised. (Nelson’s mother later paid the farmer $2,000.) In late April 2019, Nelson picked up the living bottle calves from the Bogard farm and took them to his mother’s farm. On May 23, 2019, Nelson dumped the 35 remaining calves without warning at the Kansas farm. This was a problem because the Kansas farmer had a closed dairy herd and bringing unvaccinated and potentially diseased calves onto his property put his existing herd at risk.On Sept. 30, 2022, Nelson pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the first degree in Johnson County, Mo., and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on each count to run consecutively.

Man sentenced for cattle fraud scheme that led to murders

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (AP) — A former respiratory therapist has pleaded guilty in the deaths of two patients at a Missouri hospital two decades ago.

Jennifer Hall, 42, initially was charged with two counts of first-degree murder but pleaded guilty instead Friday to reduced first-degree involuntary manslaughter counts in the deaths of 75-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-franco-missouri-f12909fae1c25aa5b5f6d2ff70f2aec3">Fern Franco</a>&nbsp;and 37-year-old David Wesley Harper, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article274609711.html">reported.</a>&nbsp;She also pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree assault.

Franco and Harper were among nine patients who died at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe over several months in 2002 in what charging documents describe as “medically suspicious” events.

From December 2001, when Hall started working at the hospital, until she was placed on administrative leave the following May, there also were 18 cardiac arrests or “Code Blue” events, up from an average of one a year before then.

The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found morphine and a powerful muscle relaxant used in anesthesia in her system. Neither drug was prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, investigators said.

Some staff at the hospital believed Hall was responsible because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient’s cardiac emergency, according to court documents.

Hall had previously denied any involvement in the deaths.

Families of patients who died during Hall’s employment later sued the hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652474493585.png" alt="U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12, 2022 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Marshals arrested Hall in Kansas on May 12, 2022 -photo Johnson Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (AP) — A former respiratory therapist has pleaded guilty in the deaths of two patients at a Missouri hospital two decades ago.Jennifer Hall, 42, initially was charged with two counts of first-degree murder but pleaded guilty instead Friday to reduced first-degree involuntary manslaughter counts in the deaths of 75-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-franco-missouri-f12909fae1c25aa5b5f6d2ff70f2aec3">Fern Franco</a>&nbsp;and 37-year-old David Wesley Harper, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article274609711.html">reported.</a>&nbsp;She also pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree assault.Franco and Harper were among nine patients who died at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe over several months in 2002 in what charging documents describe as “medically suspicious” events.From December 2001, when Hall started working at the hospital, until she was placed on administrative leave the following May, there also were 18 cardiac arrests or “Code Blue” events, up from an average of one a year before then.The case was revived after an analysis of Franco’s tissue samples found morphine and a powerful muscle relaxant used in anesthesia in her system. Neither drug was prescribed or ordered for her by her doctors, investigators said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652204964045.png" alt="Photo Livingston Co. Missouri Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Livingston Co. Missouri Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Some staff at the hospital believed Hall was responsible because of her proximity to the stricken patients, her access to deadly pharmaceuticals, and because she notified staff of every patient’s cardiac emergency, according to court documents.Hall had previously denied any involvement in the deaths.Families of patients who died during Hall’s employment later sued the hospital.

Respiratory therapist arrested in Kan. pleads guilty in deaths of patients

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY, Kansas—Police credited a Flock vehicle tag/traffic cameras for helping them arrest a Wyoming man with a stolen U-Haul in Kansas.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday, one of the new Flock cameras got a hit on a stolen U-Haul out of Wyoming and sent the alert to all Salina police personnel who were logged into the reader system, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The department's Flock system interfaces with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), so that if one of the department's cameras gets a hit on a vehicle wanted for a crime that has been input into NCIC, that information is sent out to all Salina Police Department personnel who are logged into the Flock system.

An officer near the intersection of N. Broadway Boulevard and University Place in Salina located the vehicle and stopped the driver, who was identified as Michael Keck, 53, of Cheyenne, Wyoming. During the stop, it was determined that Keck had an active felony warrant for burglary out of Laramie County, Wyoming.

Forrester said that while Keck was in custody, he had a medical episode and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center. While Keck was in the emergency room, the officer with him stepped out of the room. Forrester said Keck then allegedly removed medical apparatus connections and fled out a back door of the emergency room.

Keck eventually was located in a restroom inside the hospital.

Forrester said that a search warrant executed on the U-Haul found a Smith &amp; Wesson .22 caliber pistol with the serial number removed. Additionally, some marijuana and some psilocybin mushrooms also were located in the U-Haul.

Keck was jailed on requested charges of Aggravated attempted escape from custody, Defacing a firearm, Possession of marijuana, Possession of a hallucinogen and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682254131095.jpeg" alt="Michael Keck&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Michael Keck&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY, Kansas—Police credited a Flock vehicle tag/traffic cameras for helping them arrest a Wyoming man with a stolen U-Haul in Kansas.At approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday, one of the new Flock cameras got a hit on a stolen U-Haul out of Wyoming and sent the alert to all Salina police personnel who were logged into the reader system, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The department's Flock system interfaces with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), so that if one of the department's cameras gets a hit on a vehicle wanted for a crime that has been input into NCIC, that information is sent out to all Salina Police Department personnel who are logged into the Flock system.An officer near the intersection of N. Broadway Boulevard and University Place in Salina located the vehicle and stopped the driver, who was identified as Michael Keck, 53, of Cheyenne, Wyoming. During the stop, it was determined that Keck had an active felony warrant for burglary out of Laramie County, Wyoming.Forrester said that while Keck was in custody, he had a medical episode and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center. While Keck was in the emergency room, the officer with him stepped out of the room. Forrester said Keck then allegedly removed medical apparatus connections and fled out a back door of the emergency room.Keck eventually was located in a restroom inside the hospital.Forrester said that a search warrant executed on the U-Haul found a Smith &amp; Wesson .22 caliber pistol with the serial number removed. Additionally, some marijuana and some psilocybin mushrooms also were located in the U-Haul.Keck was jailed on requested charges of Aggravated attempted escape from custody, Defacing a firearm, Possession of marijuana, Possession of a hallucinogen and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wanted burglary suspect captured in Kan. hospital bathroom

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 1100 Block of S. Cottage Avenue in Independence, according to a media release.

Officers located a 17-year-old boy outside the residence with a gunshot wound.  The victim was rendered medical aid at the scene and transported to a local hospital. He later died from his injuries. 

 There were several other people at the scene, and they were cooperating with detectives. Police have not released any suspect information or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 1100 Block of S. Cottage Avenue in Independence, according to a media release.Officers located a 17-year-old boy outside the residence with a gunshot wound. The victim was rendered medical aid at the scene and transported to a local hospital. He later died from his injuries. There were several other people at the scene, and they were cooperating with detectives. Police have not released any suspect information or additional details.

Police: 17-year-old KC-area boy dies after weekend shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nothing will change for now. That's what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;said Friday evening about access to a widely used abortion pill.

A court case that began in Texas has sought to roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug, mifepristone. Lower courts had said that women seeking the drug should face more restrictions on getting it while the case continues, but the Supreme Court disagreed.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22a901_3d9g.pdf">court’s action</a>&nbsp;almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court.

The new abortion controversy comes less than a year after the Supreme Court's conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

The following is a look at the drug at issue in the new case, how the case got to the nation's highest court and what's next in the legal case.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration more than two decades ago. It has been used by more than 5 million women to safely end their pregnancies, and today more than half of women who end a pregnancy rely on the drug, the Justice Department said.

Over the years, the FDA has loosened restrictions on the drug’s use, extending from seven to 10 weeks of pregnancy when it can be used, reducing the dosage needed to safely end a pregnancy, eliminating the requirement to visit a doctor in person to get it and allowing pills to be obtained by mail. The FDA also approved a generic version of mifepristone that its manufacturer, Las Vegas-based GenBioPro, says makes up two-thirds of the domestic market.

Mifepristone is one of two pills used in medication abortions, along with misoprostol. Health care providers have said they could switch to misoprostol only if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain. Misoprostol is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

A lawsuit over mifepristone was filed in Amarillo, Texas, late last year. Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, represents the pill's opponents, who say the FDA's approval of mifepristone was flawed.

Why Amarillo?&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, who was nominated by then-President Donald Trump, is the sole district court judge there, ensuring that all cases filed in the west Texas city land in front of him. Since taking the bench, he has ruled against President Joe Biden's administration on several other issues, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-new-orleans-mexico-statutes-0a3b7c93a6e6bdf06b0eee4935d7dc8f">immigration</a>&nbsp;and LGBTQ protections.

On April 7, Kacsmaryk issued a ruling that would completely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone</a>, but he put the decision on hold for a week to allow an appeal.

Complicating matters, however, on the same day Kacsmaryk issued his order, a court in Washington state issued a separate ruling in a lawsuit brought by liberal states seeking to preserve access to mifepristone. The Washington judge, Spokane-based Thomas O. Rice, whom then-President Barack Obama nominated, ordered the FDA not to do anything that might affect the availability of mifepristone in the suing states. The Biden administration had said it would be impossible to follow both judges' directives at the same time.

HOW DID THE CASE GET TO THE SUPREME COURT?

The Biden administration responded to Kacsmaryk's ruling by asking the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">Court of Appeals</a>&nbsp;to prevent it from taking effect for now.

The appeals court didn't do that, but it narrowed Kacsmaryk's ruling so that the initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 wouldn't be revoked. And it agreed with him that changes the FDA made to relax the rules for prescribing and dispensing the drug should be put on hold. It said those rules, including expanding when the drug could be taken and allowing for the drug's delivery through the mail, should be on hold while the case continued.

The appeals court acted by a 2-1 vote. The judges in the majority, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both Trump picks.

The Biden administration and the maker of mifepristone, New York-based Danco Laboratories,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pill-appeal-fe13d36218f1fb43590aff29b5ba4e9c">appealed to the Supreme Court</a>, saying that allowing the appeals court's restrictions to take effect would cause chaos. At first, facing a tight deadline, the Supreme Court gave itself some breathing room and issued an order suggesting it would act by Wednesday evening. But no decision came Wednesday and the court instead just gave itself an extension until just before midnight Friday. It wasn't clear why.

The court did make its second self-imposed deadline, issuing its brief decision around 6:30 p.m. in Washington. Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, said they disagreed with the court's action but no other justice commented.

The case is on a fast track. Now that the high court has set out the rules that will govern access for now, the case can continue on its path through the courts.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already announced it will hear arguments in the case in less than a month, on May 17. Both sides as well as interest groups will submit written briefs ahead of those arguments. And a three-judge panel of the court will hear the case, though the court has not yet said who those three judges will be. The group won't issue a decision from the bench but instead hear arguments and ask questions. That will give the public a sense of what they're thinking. Their decision will be made privately after oral arguments, and at some point they'll issue a written decision announcing it.

Both sides then have an opportunity to appeal, taking the case to all the judges of the appeals court or directly to the Supreme Court. The justices take a break for the summer, however, and don't start hearing cases again until October.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="The new abortion controversy comes less than a year after the Supreme Court's conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright." />
 <figcaption>The new abortion controversy comes less than a year after the Supreme Court's conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Nothing will change for now. That's what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;said Friday evening about access to a widely used abortion pill.A court case that began in Texas has sought to roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug, mifepristone. Lower courts had said that women seeking the drug should face more restrictions on getting it while the case continues, but the Supreme Court disagreed.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22a901_3d9g.pdf">court’s action</a>&nbsp;almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court.The new abortion controversy comes less than a year after the Supreme Court's conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.The following is a look at the drug at issue in the new case, how the case got to the nation's highest court and what's next in the legal case.___WHAT IS MIFEPRISTONE?Mifepristone was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration more than two decades ago. It has been used by more than 5 million women to safely end their pregnancies, and today more than half of women who end a pregnancy rely on the drug, the Justice Department said.Over the years, the FDA has loosened restrictions on the drug’s use, extending from seven to 10 weeks of pregnancy when it can be used, reducing the dosage needed to safely end a pregnancy, eliminating the requirement to visit a doctor in person to get it and allowing pills to be obtained by mail. The FDA also approved a generic version of mifepristone that its manufacturer, Las Vegas-based GenBioPro, says makes up two-thirds of the domestic market.Mifepristone is one of two pills used in medication abortions, along with misoprostol. Health care providers have said they could switch to misoprostol only if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain. Misoprostol is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.___HOW DID THE CASE GET STARTED?A lawsuit over mifepristone was filed in Amarillo, Texas, late last year. Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, represents the pill's opponents, who say the FDA's approval of mifepristone was flawed.Why Amarillo?&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, who was nominated by then-President Donald Trump, is the sole district court judge there, ensuring that all cases filed in the west Texas city land in front of him. Since taking the bench, he has ruled against President Joe Biden's administration on several other issues, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-new-orleans-mexico-statutes-0a3b7c93a6e6bdf06b0eee4935d7dc8f">immigration</a>&nbsp;and LGBTQ protections.On April 7, Kacsmaryk issued a ruling that would completely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone</a>, but he put the decision on hold for a week to allow an appeal.Complicating matters, however, on the same day Kacsmaryk issued his order, a court in Washington state issued a separate ruling in a lawsuit brought by liberal states seeking to preserve access to mifepristone. The Washington judge, Spokane-based Thomas O. Rice, whom then-President Barack Obama nominated, ordered the FDA not to do anything that might affect the availability of mifepristone in the suing states. The Biden administration had said it would be impossible to follow both judges' directives at the same time.___HOW DID THE CASE GET TO THE SUPREME COURT?The Biden administration responded to Kacsmaryk's ruling by asking the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">Court of Appeals</a>&nbsp;to prevent it from taking effect for now.The appeals court didn't do that, but it narrowed Kacsmaryk's ruling so that the initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 wouldn't be revoked. And it agreed with him that changes the FDA made to relax the rules for prescribing and dispensing the drug should be put on hold. It said those rules, including expanding when the drug could be taken and allowing for the drug's delivery through the mail, should be on hold while the case continued.The appeals court acted by a 2-1 vote. The judges in the majority, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both Trump picks.The Biden administration and the maker of mifepristone, New York-based Danco Laboratories,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pill-appeal-fe13d36218f1fb43590aff29b5ba4e9c">appealed to the Supreme Court</a>, saying that allowing the appeals court's restrictions to take effect would cause chaos. At first, facing a tight deadline, the Supreme Court gave itself some breathing room and issued an order suggesting it would act by Wednesday evening. But no decision came Wednesday and the court instead just gave itself an extension until just before midnight Friday. It wasn't clear why.The court did make its second self-imposed deadline, issuing its brief decision around 6:30 p.m. in Washington. Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, said they disagreed with the court's action but no other justice commented.___WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?The case is on a fast track. Now that the high court has set out the rules that will govern access for now, the case can continue on its path through the courts.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has already announced it will hear arguments in the case in less than a month, on May 17. Both sides as well as interest groups will submit written briefs ahead of those arguments. And a three-judge panel of the court will hear the case, though the court has not yet said who those three judges will be. The group won't issue a decision from the bench but instead hear arguments and ask questions. That will give the public a sense of what they're thinking. Their decision will be made privately after oral arguments, and at some point they'll issue a written decision announcing it.Both sides then have an opportunity to appeal, taking the case to all the judges of the appeals court or directly to the Supreme Court. The justices take a break for the summer, however, and don't start hearing cases again until October.___

Abortion pill battle on fast track after Supreme Court's order

Two teens were arrested after a series of small fires were set in Salina Friday.&nbsp; According to Saline Police Captain Paul Forrester, the first fires were set early Friday morning.

Sunset Park, 700 Sunset Drive At approximately 12:37 a.m. Friday, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to the west side of Sunset Park for the report of a grass fire. When they arrived they found some brush on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. Damage was estimated at $500.

Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum Avenue At about that same time, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to the north side of the park for a report of a grass fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire. Damage was estimated at $500.

Sunset Park At approximately 2 a.m. Friday, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to another location on the west side of Sunset Park for the report of a brush fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire. Damage again was estimated at $500.

Taco Bell, 2315 S. Ninth Street At approximately 2:45 a.m., officers and firefighters were sent to the restaurant for the report of a dumpster on fire. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters. Damage was estimated at $100.

Two additional incidents occurred late Friday night, Forrester said. They are as follows.

Sunset Park At approximately 10:59 p.m. Friday, officers and firefighters were sent to the south side of Sunset Park, where someone had set some cardboard on fire under some bushes. The fire was extinguished. Damage was estimated at $500.

Indian Rock Park At approximately 11:25 p.m., officers and firefighters were sent to the upper part of the park for the report of a grass fire.

While they were there, the person who reported this last fire, a 17-year-old Salina boy, told officers that he had put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher he had with him,  Forrester said. A 13-year-old boy was accompanying him.

Damage caused by that fire was estimated at $500.

Forrester said that through the investigation, it was determined that the two boys had allegedly set all of the fires. Police arrested both on six requested counts of arson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681221164871.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostTwo teens were arrested after a series of small fires were set in Salina Friday.&nbsp; According to Saline Police Captain Paul Forrester, the first fires were set early Friday morning.Sunset Park, 700 Sunset Drive At approximately 12:37 a.m. Friday, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to the west side of Sunset Park for the report of a grass fire. When they arrived they found some brush on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. Damage was estimated at $500.Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum Avenue At about that same time, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to the north side of the park for a report of a grass fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire. Damage was estimated at $500.Sunset Park At approximately 2 a.m. Friday, officers and Salina Fire Department personnel were sent to another location on the west side of Sunset Park for the report of a brush fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire. Damage again was estimated at $500.Taco Bell, 2315 S. Ninth Street At approximately 2:45 a.m., officers and firefighters were sent to the restaurant for the report of a dumpster on fire. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters. Damage was estimated at $100.Two additional incidents occurred late Friday night, Forrester said. They are as follows.Sunset Park At approximately 10:59 p.m. Friday, officers and firefighters were sent to the south side of Sunset Park, where someone had set some cardboard on fire under some bushes. The fire was extinguished. Damage was estimated at $500.Indian Rock Park At approximately 11:25 p.m., officers and firefighters were sent to the upper part of the park for the report of a grass fire.While they were there, the person who reported this last fire, a 17-year-old Salina boy, told officers that he had put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher he had with him, Forrester said. A 13-year-old boy was accompanying him.Damage caused by that fire was estimated at $500.Forrester said that through the investigation, it was determined that the two boys had allegedly set all of the fires. Police arrested both on six requested counts of arson.

Police: 2 teens accused of setting 6 fires in Salina

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly visited Elmont Elementary School in Seaman School District to announce her veto of House Substitute for Senate Bill 169. 

The bill, which would overhaul the state’s tax structure to establish a flat tax rate, would cost the state $1.3 billion over the next three years and put public education funding at risk. Governor Kelly also announced her proposal to spend the one-time budget surplus on a tax rebate of $450 for individuals and $900 for married taxpayers filing jointly. &nbsp;

“Our public schools were one of the biggest victims in the legislature’s last tax experiment and are one of the many services that would take a hit should this bill become law,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“In my first term, I made a commitment to getting our state back on track. I’m proud of how far we have come, but we can’t risk turning back now. I’m calling on legislators to put this one-time surplus back in the hands of taxpayers -- without risking our ability to continue fully funding schools and investing in roads, bridges, and essential services.”

Included in H Sub SB 169 is a 5.15 percent flat income tax – or a single tax rate applied to all taxpayers. Just like with the “tax experiment” under Governor Brownback, the flat tax poses risks to funding for public education, roads and bridges, and other essential services. Middle-class taxpayers would see less than $100 in annual savings from the flat tax, but it would cost Kansans their public schools. Already, legislators are proposing cutting money from public schools in this year’s K-12 Education budget in order to pay for this tax cut.

Governor Kelly’s proposal for a one-time tax rebate provides relief to all Kansas resident taxpayers without breaking the bank or jeopardizing funds for our public schools.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly visited Elmont Elementary School in Seaman School District to announce her veto of House Substitute for Senate Bill 169. The bill, which would overhaul the state’s tax structure to establish a flat tax rate, would cost the state $1.3 billion over the next three years and put public education funding at risk. Governor Kelly also announced her proposal to spend the one-time budget surplus on a tax rebate of $450 for individuals and $900 for married taxpayers filing jointly. &nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kansans know all too well that costly tax experiments devastate public schools. That&#39;s why today I vetoed the irresponsible flat tax package that would leave middle-class students, teachers, and families worse off. <a href="https://t.co/n9Txvl2nST">pic.twitter.com/n9Txvl2nST</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1650511990870220802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Our public schools were one of the biggest victims in the legislature’s last tax experiment and are one of the many services that would take a hit should this bill become law,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“In my first term, I made a commitment to getting our state back on track. I’m proud of how far we have come, but we can’t risk turning back now. I’m calling on legislators to put this one-time surplus back in the hands of taxpayers -- without risking our ability to continue fully funding schools and investing in roads, bridges, and essential services.”Included in H Sub SB 169 is a 5.15 percent flat income tax – or a single tax rate applied to all taxpayers. Just like with the “tax experiment” under Governor Brownback, the flat tax poses risks to funding for public education, roads and bridges, and other essential services. Middle-class taxpayers would see less than $100 in annual savings from the flat tax, but it would cost Kansans their public schools. Already, legislators are proposing cutting money from public schools in this year’s K-12 Education budget in order to pay for this tax cut.Governor Kelly’s proposal for a one-time tax rebate provides relief to all Kansas resident taxpayers without breaking the bank or jeopardizing funds for our public schools.

Gov. vetoes flat tax, proposes $450 rebate per Kan. tax payer

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daunte-wright-kim-potter-police-shooting-93c1d847f2188571ce70285d0ac55406">Kim Potter</a>, the former Minnesota police officer who said she mistook her gun for a Taser when she shot and killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright">Daunte Wright</a>&nbsp;in 2021, was released from prison early Monday.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections said Potter was released at about 4 a.m. “out of an abundance of caution" for Potter's safety. The department confirmed Friday she would be released Monday from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, but declined to say what time due to security concerns.

Potter, a white former officer for the Brooklyn Center Police Department in suburban Minneapolis, fatally shot Wright, who was Black, during a traffic stop in April 2021. The shooting happened during the trial of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-sentencing-23c52021812168c579b3886f8139c73d">Derek Chauvin</a>, the officer who killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, and Wright’s death set off several days of protests.

She was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and given a two-year sentence. Under Minnesota law, those sent to prison typically serve two-thirds of their sentence behind bars and the remaining time on supervised release. In Potter’s case, she served 16 months of her two-year sentence behind bars, said Department of Corrections spokesman Andy Skoogman.

Skoogman said Potter will be on supervised release until Dec. 21, and she will live in Wisconsin during that time.

Potter, now 50, appeared much thinner in a new photo released last week by the Department of Corrections. Her attorney, Earl Gray, said Friday he had “no idea” why her appearance had changed.

Potter's two-year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-death-of-george-floyd-minnesota-george-floyd-minneapolis-a43a48970e37392efd85adfeae79ddf0">sentence</a>&nbsp;from Judge Regina Chu drew strong criticism from Wright's family and their attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. The state attorney general’s office had sought a sentence recommended by state guidelines of just over seven years in prison.

Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, said after the sentencing that Potter “murdered my son,” adding: “Today the justice system murdered him all over again.”

Defense attorneys argued at the sentencing hearing that Potter deserved leniency because Wright was trying to drive away and Potter had the right to defend herself. Chu said at the time that the case was not the same as other high-profile killings, including Floyd’s death, which resulted in a 22 1/2-year sentence for Chauvin.

“This is a cop who made a tragic mistake,” she said of Potter.

Wright, a 20-year-old father, was killed on April 11, 2021, after Brooklyn Center officers pulled him over for having expired license tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. Officers discovered he had a warrant for a misdemeanor weapons possession charge and he was shot during a struggle as officers tried to arrest him.

Potter said she thought she was holding her Taser at the time, not her gun. She is heard on video yelling “Taser” several times just before she fires her pistol as Wright tried to drive away.

Potter, a 26-year police veteran, apologized to Wright’s family at the sentencing hearing and spoke directly to his mother: “Katie, I understand a mother’s love. I’m sorry I broke your heart ... my heart is broken and devastated for all of you.”

Civil rights advocates say laws against hanging objects from rearview mirrors have been used as a pretext for stopping Black motorists.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640352112509.png" alt="Potter's booking photo shows her smiling following her conviction in December 2021-photo Hennepin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Potter's booking photo shows her smiling following her conviction in December 2021-photo Hennepin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daunte-wright-kim-potter-police-shooting-93c1d847f2188571ce70285d0ac55406">Kim Potter</a>, the former Minnesota police officer who said she mistook her gun for a Taser when she shot and killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright">Daunte Wright</a>&nbsp;in 2021, was released from prison early Monday.The Minnesota Department of Corrections said Potter was released at about 4 a.m. “out of an abundance of caution" for Potter's safety. The department confirmed Friday she would be released Monday from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, but declined to say what time due to security concerns.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682343245082.png" alt="Potter as shown in the most recent photo released from the Minnesota Dpt. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Potter as shown in the most recent photo released from the Minnesota Dpt. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Potter, a white former officer for the Brooklyn Center Police Department in suburban Minneapolis, fatally shot Wright, who was Black, during a traffic stop in April 2021. The shooting happened during the trial of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-sentencing-23c52021812168c579b3886f8139c73d">Derek Chauvin</a>, the officer who killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, and Wright’s death set off several days of protests.She was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and given a two-year sentence. Under Minnesota law, those sent to prison typically serve two-thirds of their sentence behind bars and the remaining time on supervised release. In Potter’s case, she served 16 months of her two-year sentence behind bars, said Department of Corrections spokesman Andy Skoogman.Skoogman said Potter will be on supervised release until Dec. 21, and she will live in Wisconsin during that time.Potter, now 50, appeared much thinner in a new photo released last week by the Department of Corrections. Her attorney, Earl Gray, said Friday he had “no idea” why her appearance had changed.Potter's two-year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-daunte-wright-death-of-george-floyd-minnesota-george-floyd-minneapolis-a43a48970e37392efd85adfeae79ddf0">sentence</a>&nbsp;from Judge Regina Chu drew strong criticism from Wright's family and their attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. The state attorney general’s office had sought a sentence recommended by state guidelines of just over seven years in prison.Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, said after the sentencing that Potter “murdered my son,” adding: “Today the justice system murdered him all over again.”Defense attorneys argued at the sentencing hearing that Potter deserved leniency because Wright was trying to drive away and Potter had the right to defend herself. Chu said at the time that the case was not the same as other high-profile killings, including Floyd’s death, which resulted in a 22 1/2-year sentence for Chauvin.“This is a cop who made a tragic mistake,” she said of Potter.Wright, a 20-year-old father, was killed on April 11, 2021, after Brooklyn Center officers pulled him over for having expired license tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. Officers discovered he had a warrant for a misdemeanor weapons possession charge and he was shot during a struggle as officers tried to arrest him.Potter said she thought she was holding her Taser at the time, not her gun. She is heard on video yelling “Taser” several times just before she fires her pistol as Wright tried to drive away.Potter, a 26-year police veteran, apologized to Wright’s family at the sentencing hearing and spoke directly to his mother: “Katie, I understand a mother’s love. I’m sorry I broke your heart ... my heart is broken and devastated for all of you.”Civil rights advocates say laws against hanging objects from rearview mirrors have been used as a pretext for stopping Black motorists.

Officer who pulled gun instead of Taser released from prison

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities in Wichita have learned that someone created a fake Wichita Police Department TikTok page, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Police alerted the public that the page is not from the Wichita Police Department and they have reported this page to TikTok and hope to have it taken down in the very near future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682297143501.png" alt="photo courtesy Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities in Wichita have learned that someone created a fake Wichita Police Department TikTok page, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Police alerted the public that the page is not from the Wichita Police Department and they have reported this page to TikTok and hope to have it taken down in the very near future.

Someone made a fake Wichita Police TikTok page

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is joining a fledgling effort that could one day make it easier to hire teachers from other states.

A bill that Gov. Laura Kelly signed Thursday makes Kansas the latest member of the <a href="https://compacts.csg.org/compact-updates/teaching/">Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.</a>

The compact is a creation of the Council of State Governments, with heavy backing from the U.S. Department of Defense, which wanted to create an easier pathway to teacher licensure for military personnel and their spouses as they move around the country.

It would effectively allow teaching licenses to be viable across members of the compact, cutting through the current 50-state patchwork of disparate requirements.

It's not off the ground yet. Ten states are required to fully enact the compact, and Kansas is only the fourth to join. The three others are Utah, Colorado and Kentucky.

Legislation, however, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-state-government-teaching-education-550490b3b5a00998b67d4464a07b9b3a">pending in about a dozen other states</a>. Depending on what happens, the compact could be operational in a year or two.

The Kansas chapter of the National Education Association has raised concerns about the potential for underqualified educators.

Schools have championed the compact as a way to help fill vacant teaching jobs.

Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat and retired educator who sponsored the bill, described the effort in a statement as "one more tool to the State Board of Education Licensure tool box.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682331291256.png" alt="Image courtesy the Council of State Governments" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy the Council of State Governments</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is joining a fledgling effort that could one day make it easier to hire teachers from other states.A bill that Gov. Laura Kelly signed Thursday makes Kansas the latest member of the <a href="https://compacts.csg.org/compact-updates/teaching/">Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.</a>The compact is a creation of the Council of State Governments, with heavy backing from the U.S. Department of Defense, which wanted to create an easier pathway to teacher licensure for military personnel and their spouses as they move around the country.It would effectively allow teaching licenses to be viable across members of the compact, cutting through the current 50-state patchwork of disparate requirements.It's not off the ground yet. Ten states are required to fully enact the compact, and Kansas is only the fourth to join. The three others are Utah, Colorado and Kentucky.Legislation, however, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-state-government-teaching-education-550490b3b5a00998b67d4464a07b9b3a">pending in about a dozen other states</a>. Depending on what happens, the compact could be operational in a year or two.The Kansas chapter of the National Education Association has raised concerns about the potential for underqualified educators.Schools have championed the compact as a way to help fill vacant teaching jobs.Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat and retired educator who sponsored the bill, described the effort in a statement as "one more tool to the State Board of Education Licensure tool box.”