KANSAS CITY (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortions</a>, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.

Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.

And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-stockpile-1c1c7c107882f7a25a181af79a1f6790">30,000 doses of the generic version</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state's residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.

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

The actions come as U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee</a>&nbsp;in Amarillo, Texas, overruled decades of scientific approval Friday and put on hold federal approval of mifepristone.

The judge stayed his ruling for a week so federal authorities could file a challenge.

The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-court-order-becerra-fda-307bcfdbb08418c6a57bc8cc789428c8">slammed the ruling</a>&nbsp;and on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">appealed the decision</a>, saying it would thwart the U.S. Food and Drug administration's scientific judgment and “severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity.”

Adding to the confusion was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a second opinion</a>&nbsp;also released on Friday by District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, directing U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.

Healey said the Kacsmaryk ruling threatens access to the medication even in states supportive of abortion rights like Massachusetts.

“It harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary,” Healey said, surrounded by fellow Democratic lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

“It is terrible. It is terrible,” she added.

Newsom said the ruling by Kacsmaryk “ignores facts, science, and the law," and puts the health of millions of women and girls at risk.

Inslee said it's important for states to take steps to ensure access to the drug.

“After we announced our actions last week to protect access to mifepristone, it’s heartening to see other states doing the same,” Inslee wrote on Twitter on Monday. “To be clear: no matter the outcome of the TX case, WA’s laws ensure we will be able to sell and distribute this medication."

The 15,000 doses in Massachusetts were purchased by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at Healey's request.

Massachusetts health care providers have also agreed to buy additional quantities of mifepristone, according to Healey, who said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health to pay for the doses.

While there are no plans yet in Connecticut to stockpile mifepristone, Attorney General William Tong said Monday that he has been contacting major pharmacy chains to remind them the drug is legal and they should not be influenced by pressure from GOP attorneys general in other states.

”(I’m) obviously deeply disappointed that my colleagues have taken that action,” he said. “We’re pushing back on that. We’re in communication with all the big pharmacy chains, advising them of their rights and obligations here in Connecticut.”

Also on Friday, Healey signed an executive order expanding a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-charlie-baker-massachusetts-67ae91877315527cb5f5166cf2b91d8a">2022 law meant to build a legal firewall</a>&nbsp;around abortion services — protecting health care providers, patients and pharmacists from out-of-state investigations into medication abortions. The law was signed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680709134368.png" alt="--Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of the court ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>--Washington state has purchased a three-year supply of a leading abortion medication in anticipation of the court ruling, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63?utm_source=apnews&amp;utm_medium=relatedcontentmodule">medication abortions</a>, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-abortion-pills-stockpile-1c1c7c107882f7a25a181af79a1f6790">30,000 doses of the generic version</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state's residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away,” Newsom said Friday.The actions come as U.S. District Judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee</a>&nbsp;in Amarillo, Texas, overruled decades of scientific approval Friday and put on hold federal approval of mifepristone.The judge stayed his ruling for a week so federal authorities could file a challenge.The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-court-order-becerra-fda-307bcfdbb08418c6a57bc8cc789428c8">slammed the ruling</a>&nbsp;and on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pills-4b65ecc66d1b908019bdf3843a428d5a">appealed the decision</a>, saying it would thwart the U.S. Food and Drug administration's scientific judgment and “severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity.”Adding to the confusion was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a second opinion</a>&nbsp;also released on Friday by District Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee, directing U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats sued in an effort to protect availability.Healey said the Kacsmaryk ruling threatens access to the medication even in states supportive of abortion rights like Massachusetts.“It harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary,” Healey said, surrounded by fellow Democratic lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse.“It is terrible. It is terrible,” she added.Newsom said the ruling by Kacsmaryk “ignores facts, science, and the law," and puts the health of millions of women and girls at risk.Inslee said it's important for states to take steps to ensure access to the drug.“After we announced our actions last week to protect access to mifepristone, it’s heartening to see other states doing the same,” Inslee wrote on Twitter on Monday. “To be clear: no matter the outcome of the TX case, WA’s laws ensure we will be able to sell and distribute this medication."The 15,000 doses in Massachusetts were purchased by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at Healey's request.Massachusetts health care providers have also agreed to buy additional quantities of mifepristone, according to Healey, who said the administration is dedicating $1 million to help providers contracted with the Department of Public Health to pay for the doses.While there are no plans yet in Connecticut to stockpile mifepristone, Attorney General William Tong said Monday that he has been contacting major pharmacy chains to remind them the drug is legal and they should not be influenced by pressure from GOP attorneys general in other states.”(I’m) obviously deeply disappointed that my colleagues have taken that action,” he said. “We’re pushing back on that. We’re in communication with all the big pharmacy chains, advising them of their rights and obligations here in Connecticut.”Also on Friday, Healey signed an executive order expanding a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-charlie-baker-massachusetts-67ae91877315527cb5f5166cf2b91d8a">2022 law meant to build a legal firewall</a>&nbsp;around abortion services — protecting health care providers, patients and pharmacists from out-of-state investigations into medication abortions. The law was signed after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

More US states stock abortion medications after court ruling

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/nbaf-ribbon-cutting-set-for-may-24/article_b3acb562-d2f2-11ed-a40d-33326569b293.html">High Plains Journal</a>

One of the longest-anticipated openings in animal health care research has been set for May 24.

U.S.
 Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, announced during a recent Senate Appropriations
 Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing in Washington D.C., that he was 
looking forward to having U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom 
Vilsack cut the ribbon at the biosafety level 4 National Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility.

“Designed to protect public 
health and our national food security, this state-of-the-art USDA 
facility will be located in the heart of the nation and near the farmers
 and ranchers who help feed our nation,” Moran said.

“NBAF
 modernizes our process and our ability to investigate and research some
 of the major challenges and threats to American agriculture,” Vilsack 
said. “Whether it’s African swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease or 
some of the other seven critical diseases that could cripple our 
livestock industry, which obviously would impact and effect our entire 
economy and our food security. In addition, this facility will also be 
where the vaccine bank is housed. As we develop vaccines to try to deal 
with some of these threats, being able to stockpile appropriately and 
safely those vaccines [is] incredibly important. Also, a great deal of 
research is going to be done on the countermeasures, the biosecurity 
initiatives that are part of protecting our livestock industry.”

Moran
 helped secure $1.25 billion in federal funding for the facility through
 his role on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and helped break 
ground for the construction of NBAF in 2015.

NBAF is the 
nation’s only large animal facility built to handle pathogens that do 
not currently have treatments or countermeasures. It will open adjacent 
to Kansas State University and near Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 
Manhattan.

The
 Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate 
will transfer ownership and operational responsibilities to the USDA. 
NBAF is designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to conduct research,
 develop vaccines, diagnose emerging diseases, and train veterinarians. 
According to the USDA, NBAF will replace the 68-year-old Plum Island 
Animal Disease Center in New York. The PIADC is where the USDA’s 
Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service conduct foreign animal disease research and diagnostics. ARS and
 APGHIS will transfer their research diagnostic missions from PIADC to 
NBAF and will operate the facility jointly. According to the USDA, even 
after the agency takes ownership of the facility from the DHS, it will 
take at least of couple of years to transfer the full science mission 
from PIADC to NBAF.

The
 decision to replace the Plum Island facility had its roots in the 911 
Commission, Moran said. NBAF is designed to help protect public health 
and food safety, he said.

Vilsack
 attended the 2015 groundbreaking. He said building the facility was 
time-consuming because it had to meet many rigorous standards.

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/nbaf-ribbon-cutting-set-for-may-24/article_b3acb562-d2f2-11ed-a40d-33326569b293.html">High Plains Journal</a>One of the longest-anticipated openings in animal health care research has been set for May 24.U.S.
 Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, announced during a recent Senate Appropriations
 Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing in Washington D.C., that he was 
looking forward to having U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom 
Vilsack cut the ribbon at the biosafety level 4 National Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility.“Designed to protect public 
health and our national food security, this state-of-the-art USDA 
facility will be located in the heart of the nation and near the farmers
 and ranchers who help feed our nation,” Moran said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604336319153.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“NBAF
 modernizes our process and our ability to investigate and research some
 of the major challenges and threats to American agriculture,” Vilsack 
said. “Whether it’s African swine fever or foot-and-mouth disease or 
some of the other seven critical diseases that could cripple our 
livestock industry, which obviously would impact and effect our entire 
economy and our food security. In addition, this facility will also be 
where the vaccine bank is housed. As we develop vaccines to try to deal 
with some of these threats, being able to stockpile appropriately and 
safely those vaccines [is] incredibly important. Also, a great deal of 
research is going to be done on the countermeasures, the biosecurity 
initiatives that are part of protecting our livestock industry.”Moran
 helped secure $1.25 billion in federal funding for the facility through
 his role on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and helped break 
ground for the construction of NBAF in 2015.NBAF is the 
nation’s only large animal facility built to handle pathogens that do 
not currently have treatments or countermeasures. It will open adjacent 
to Kansas State University and near Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 
Manhattan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681238483498.png" alt="USDA photo" />
 <figcaption>USDA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate 
will transfer ownership and operational responsibilities to the USDA. 
NBAF is designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to conduct research,
 develop vaccines, diagnose emerging diseases, and train veterinarians. 
According to the USDA, NBAF will replace the 68-year-old Plum Island 
Animal Disease Center in New York. The PIADC is where the USDA’s 
Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service conduct foreign animal disease research and diagnostics. ARS and
 APGHIS will transfer their research diagnostic missions from PIADC to 
NBAF and will operate the facility jointly. According to the USDA, even 
after the agency takes ownership of the facility from the DHS, it will 
take at least of couple of years to transfer the full science mission 
from PIADC to NBAF.The
 decision to replace the Plum Island facility had its roots in the 911 
Commission, Moran said. NBAF is designed to help protect public health 
and food safety, he said.Vilsack
 attended the 2015 groundbreaking. He said building the facility was 
time-consuming because it had to meet many rigorous standards.Republished with permission

National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility ribbon cutting next month

KANSAS CITY— A jury convicted a a 32-year-old Kansas City man in the murder and kidnaping of Gilberto Gutierrez in May 2021, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Ahmad R. Herring, 32, was found guilty of Murder 2nd Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on May 11, 2021, on a reported missing person and the victim's family told them they had not heard from their father. But bloody clothing of the victim had been found. On May 17, 2021, a dead body was found; it was wrapped in a tarp and found near 56th and Elmwood. 

The victim was identified. He died from several stab wounds. During a search of a vehicle associated with the defendant, police detectives found receipts for drop cloths and bleach. 

Several cellphones also were recovered. Tests for DNA showed the defendant's DNA on a zip tie recovered near the victim.

Herring will be sentenced on June 21. A co-defendant is awaiting trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647428374611.png" alt="Herring-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Herring-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A jury convicted a a 32-year-old Kansas City man in the murder and kidnaping of Gilberto Gutierrez in May 2021, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Ahmad R. Herring, 32, was found guilty of Murder 2nd Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched on May 11, 2021, on a reported missing person and the victim's family told them they had not heard from their father. But bloody clothing of the victim had been found. On May 17, 2021, a dead body was found; it was wrapped in a tarp and found near 56th and Elmwood. The victim was identified. He died from several stab wounds. During a search of a vehicle associated with the defendant, police detectives found receipts for drop cloths and bleach. Several cellphones also were recovered. Tests for DNA showed the defendant's DNA on a zip tie recovered near the victim.Herring will be sentenced on June 21. A co-defendant is awaiting trial.

Kansas City man guilty of violent, deadly kidnapping

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has begun sharing with a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-trump-side-by-side-fb2c4ebccdbdbb9039c1c5e227b1da53">classified documents found in the possession</a>&nbsp;of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, according to five people familiar with the matter.

Top lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had for months been asking the Justice Department to provide access to the documents — or at least an assessment of what was in them — so that Congress could gauge the potential national security harm.

That process recently got underway, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private interactions between the Justice Department and Congress.

“They’re finally moving. We’ve got a lot more documents to review and, more importantly, to make sure there was mitigation taken,” Warner said Wednesday, adding that the documents were being received on a rolling basis. He said that while he was “glad to see progress,” it is “still unacceptable for me that it took this long.”

A Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, is investigating whether Trump mishandled roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-6351944983a137dd6bbccc16966bdaac">several hundred documents with classified markings</a>&nbsp;that were taken after his term ended to Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s Florida estate, and whether he or his representatives sought to obstruct that probe. Another special counsel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">Robert Hur,</a>&nbsp;is also investigating the improper retention of documents from Biden’s time as vice president that have been located in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank office. Biden has said he had no knowledge the documents were there.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">A lawyers for Pence also said in January</a>&nbsp;that an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to his Indiana home at the end of the Trump administration.

Punchbowl News first reported the development.

The Biden administration held a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/intelligence-classified-documents-trump-biden-pence-c061d26139cbe811026962e531163c3e">classified briefing on the documents earlier this year</a>&nbsp;for members of Congress, but senators accused the executive branch of stonewalling and insisted that they needed for national security reasons to see for themselves what materials the men had been holding.

The Justice Department had said that it wanted to be cooperative with the lawmakers’ demands within the confines of the ongoing investigations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661941600753.jpeg" alt="This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice on Aug. 30, 2022, and redacted by in part by the FBI, shows a photo of documents seized during the Aug. 8 search by the FBI of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The Justice Department says it has uncovered efforts to obstruct its investigation into the discovery of classified records at former President Donald Trump's Florida estate. (Department of Justice via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice on Aug. 30, 2022, and redacted by in part by the FBI, shows a photo of documents seized during the Aug. 8 search by the FBI of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The Justice Department says it has uncovered efforts to obstruct its investigation into the discovery of classified records at former President Donald Trump's Florida estate. (Department of Justice via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has begun sharing with a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-trump-side-by-side-fb2c4ebccdbdbb9039c1c5e227b1da53">classified documents found in the possession</a>&nbsp;of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, according to five people familiar with the matter.Top lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had for months been asking the Justice Department to provide access to the documents — or at least an assessment of what was in them — so that Congress could gauge the potential national security harm.That process recently got underway, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private interactions between the Justice Department and Congress.“They’re finally moving. We’ve got a lot more documents to review and, more importantly, to make sure there was mitigation taken,” Warner said Wednesday, adding that the documents were being received on a rolling basis. He said that while he was “glad to see progress,” it is “still unacceptable for me that it took this long.”A Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, is investigating whether Trump mishandled roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-6351944983a137dd6bbccc16966bdaac">several hundred documents with classified markings</a>&nbsp;that were taken after his term ended to Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s Florida estate, and whether he or his representatives sought to obstruct that probe. Another special counsel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">Robert Hur,</a>&nbsp;is also investigating the improper retention of documents from Biden’s time as vice president that have been located in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank office. Biden has said he had no knowledge the documents were there.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-classified-documents-791bba57abaf50377f0938f0d293f36e">A lawyers for Pence also said in January</a>&nbsp;that an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to his Indiana home at the end of the Trump administration.Punchbowl News first reported the development.The Biden administration held a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/intelligence-classified-documents-trump-biden-pence-c061d26139cbe811026962e531163c3e">classified briefing on the documents earlier this year</a>&nbsp;for members of Congress, but senators accused the executive branch of stonewalling and insisted that they needed for national security reasons to see for themselves what materials the men had been holding.The Justice Department had said that it wanted to be cooperative with the lawmakers’ demands within the confines of the ongoing investigations.

Key lawmakers get to see Biden, Trump classified documents 

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 4a.m. Monday, police and fire crews responded to fire in a&nbsp; multi-residence structure at 825 Congress Street in Emporia, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

&nbsp;The fire was extinguished before first responders arrived.

Police and fire officials conducted a joint investigation and found a homemade incendiary device had gone through a window of the home, causing the fire. There were multiple people, including children inside the structure at the time of the fire. There were no apparent injuries, according to Hayes.

Through the investigation authorities identified a suspect 32-year-old Donovan Williams of Emporia. 

Williams was found in possession of an additional homemade incendiary device. 

Monday afternoon, Emporia Police arrested Williams on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Arson and Criminal Use of an Explosive. 

As the investigation continues, Emporia Police detectives anticipate proposing additional charges of Attempted Murder be formally brought against Williams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681249560015.png" alt="Williams-photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire and have a suspect in custody.Just after 4a.m. Monday, police and fire crews responded to fire in a&nbsp; multi-residence structure at 825 Congress Street in Emporia, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.&nbsp;The fire was extinguished before first responders arrived.Police and fire officials conducted a joint investigation and found a homemade incendiary device had gone through a window of the home, causing the fire. There were multiple people, including children inside the structure at the time of the fire. There were no apparent injuries, according to Hayes.Through the investigation authorities identified a suspect 32-year-old Donovan Williams of Emporia. Williams was found in possession of an additional homemade incendiary device. Monday afternoon, Emporia Police arrested Williams on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Arson and Criminal Use of an Explosive. As the investigation continues, Emporia Police detectives anticipate proposing additional charges of Attempted Murder be formally brought against Williams.

Man started Kan. house fire with homemade explosive

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been convicted of murder after his 2-year-old daughter died of malnutrition while he was passed out for days from intoxication, prosecutors said.

Jeffrey J. Exon was convicted Monday in the death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka, The Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2023/04/11/topekan-convicted-in-malnutrition-death-of-his-2-year-old-daughter/70102083007/">reported</a>.

Investigators found that Exon would not feed or attend to his children for days because of his addiction issues, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a news release Tuesday.

Exon's 6-year-old son, who was 4 when his sister died, testified at trial that his dad locked them in their rooms for several days without food while he “slept,” Kagay said.

Jeffrey Exon called authorities to the home on Jan. 5, 2021, when Aurora was found dead. Five empty liquor bottles were found in his bedroom, investigators said.

Exon was convicted of aggravated child endangerment, first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, reckless but unintentional second-degree murder and failure by a parent to report the death of a child.

Seonaid Nichols, the children's mother, said she agreed to give James Exon custody of the children because her living conditions didn't allow her to take care of them.

Exon is scheduled to be sentenced July 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617140051622.png" alt="Exon-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Exon-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been convicted of murder after his 2-year-old daughter died of malnutrition while he was passed out for days from intoxication, prosecutors said.Jeffrey J. Exon was convicted Monday in the death of Aurora Exon at their home in Topeka, The Topeka Capital Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2023/04/11/topekan-convicted-in-malnutrition-death-of-his-2-year-old-daughter/70102083007/">reported</a>.Investigators found that Exon would not feed or attend to his children for days because of his addiction issues, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in a news release Tuesday.Exon's 6-year-old son, who was 4 when his sister died, testified at trial that his dad locked them in their rooms for several days without food while he “slept,” Kagay said.Jeffrey Exon called authorities to the home on Jan. 5, 2021, when Aurora was found dead. Five empty liquor bottles were found in his bedroom, investigators said.Exon was convicted of aggravated child endangerment, first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, reckless but unintentional second-degree murder and failure by a parent to report the death of a child.Seonaid Nichols, the children's mother, said she agreed to give James Exon custody of the children because her living conditions didn't allow her to take care of them.Exon is scheduled to be sentenced July 28.

6-year-old testified at father's trial for death of 2-year-old

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged drug distribution allegations.

Just after noon Monday, a sheriff’s investigator conducted a traffic stop Interstate 35 at the Kansas 31 South Waverly exit for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

The driver of the vehicle, Jason M. Monroe, 41, of Lake Delton, Wisconsin, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681207847977.png" alt="Monroe-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Monroe-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged drug distribution allegations.Just after noon Monday, a sheriff’s investigator conducted a traffic stop Interstate 35 at the Kansas 31 South Waverly exit for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.The driver of the vehicle, Jason M. Monroe, 41, of Lake Delton, Wisconsin, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Wisconsin man was attempting to sell cocaine in Kansas

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that injured a child.

Just before 6p.m. Monday, police responded to a vehicle, pedestrian accident near the intersection of 11th and Lincoln in Concordia, according to Police Chief Brent Gering.

EMS transported the child to North Central Medical Center and later to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The child was listed in serious but stable condition, according to Gering.

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that injured a child.Just before 6p.m. Monday, police responded to a vehicle, pedestrian accident near the intersection of 11th and Lincoln in Concordia, according to Police Chief Brent Gering.EMS transported the child to North Central Medical Center and later to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The child was listed in serious but stable condition, according to Gering.Police released no additional details.

Police investigate accident that injured Kansas child

KANSAS CITY— A passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight has been charged in a federal criminal complaint after the flight was diverted from its course and landed at Kansas City International Airport, according to the United State's Attorney.

Chloe M. Dasilva, 32, was charged with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, April 7. Dasilva, who remains in federal custody, will have her initial court appearance today.

An affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint alleges that Dasilva interfered with the duties of flight attendants while she was a passenger aboard Alaska Airlines flight 456. The flight was scheduled for nonstop service from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, to Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill. However, the flight was diverted into Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., at approximately 4:20 a.m. Friday, April 7.

According to the affidavit, Dasilva, who had been disruptive during the flight, was involved in a confrontation with a male flight attendant, cussing and yelling and threatening to kill him. A flight attendant, with the assistance of two passengers, used zip ties to restrain her. One of the passengers switched seats with a mother and her infant who was seated directly in front of Dasilva for their safety.

The pilot decided to divert to Kansas City instead of going to Chicago because he was concerned for the safety of the passengers.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Blackwood. It was investigated by the FBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681244266012.png" alt="The pilot decided to divert to Kansas City instead of going to Chicago because he was concerned for the safety of the passengers.- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The pilot decided to divert to Kansas City instead of going to Chicago because he was concerned for the safety of the passengers.- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight has been charged in a federal criminal complaint after the flight was diverted from its course and landed at Kansas City International Airport, according to the United State's Attorney.Chloe M. Dasilva, 32, was charged with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, April 7. Dasilva, who remains in federal custody, will have her initial court appearance today.An affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint alleges that Dasilva interfered with the duties of flight attendants while she was a passenger aboard Alaska Airlines flight 456. The flight was scheduled for nonstop service from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, to Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill. However, the flight was diverted into Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., at approximately 4:20 a.m. Friday, April 7.According to the affidavit, Dasilva, who had been disruptive during the flight, was involved in a confrontation with a male flight attendant, cussing and yelling and threatening to kill him. A flight attendant, with the assistance of two passengers, used zip ties to restrain her. One of the passengers switched seats with a mother and her infant who was seated directly in front of Dasilva for their safety.The pilot decided to divert to Kansas City instead of going to Chicago because he was concerned for the safety of the passengers.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Blackwood. It was investigated by the FBI.

Female passenger charged after flight diverted to Kansas City

SAN JOSE (AP) —Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been rebuffed in her attempt to stay out of federal prison while she appeals her conviction for the fraud she committed while overseeing a blood-testing scam that exposed Silicon Valley’s dark side.

In an 11-page ruling issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded there wasn't compelling enough evidence to allow Holmes to remain free on bail while her lawyers try to persuade an appeals court that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial led to an unjust verdict.

The judge’s decision means Holmes, 39, will have to surrender to authorities April 27 to start the more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-technology-health-sentencing-crime-7ea71f015b874c6e454dcdd4f0857bd4">11-year prison sentence</a>&nbsp;that Davila imposed in November. The punishment came 10 months after a jury found her guilty on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-trial-theranos-ceo-fb79a29d3c426a5cadee7ec5734b6f24">four counts of fraud and conspiracy</a>&nbsp;against the Thearanos investors who believed in her promises to revolutionize the health care industry.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-fraud-prison-sentence-754b44bc47eb200f032b75f45969cb07">Holmes had accompanied</a>&nbsp;her lawyers to a San Jose, California, courtroom on March 17 to try to convince Davila that various missteps by federal prosecutors, and the omission of key evidence, will culminate in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exonerating her.

Holmes' prison sentence is scheduled to start roughly 20 years after she dropped out of Stanford University when she was 19 years old to start Theranos in Palo Alto, California — the same city where William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a small garage and planted the seeds of what grew into Silicon Valley.

Holmes could still file another appeal of Davila's latest ruling,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sunny-balwani-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-prison-ae37f16ae10da104a3f1f7c8d60e62fe">a maneuver</a>&nbsp;her co-conspirator at Theranos — Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani — successfully used to delay his scheduled March 16 date to begin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-technology-business-crime-sentencing-d3ce3925bbe9e82708054730d4dcf75c">a nearly 13-year prison sentence</a>. But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theranos-sunny-balwani-elizabeth-holmes-prison-237bb4da8af239078729791f3f7a7d6c">Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected that appeal</a>, and Balwani is now scheduled to report to a Southern California prison on April 20.

Davila has recommended Holmes serve her sentence in a Bryan, Texas, prison. It hasn’t yet been publicly confirmed if that will be the facility where she reports.

Unless she can find a way to stay free, Holmes will be separated from the two children she had leading up to the trial and after her conviction.

Her first child, a boy, was born shortly before her trial began in September 2021. The youngest child, whose gender hasn’t been disclosed in court documents,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-gives-birth-a0baf297ce677e262a92a82f92368054">was born</a>&nbsp;at some point after her November sentencing. She conceived both with her current partner, William “Billy” Evans, whom she met after breaking up with Balwani in the midst of Theranos’ downfall.

The denial of Holmes’ request to remain free is the latest twist in a long-running saga that has already been the subject of an acclaimed HBO documentary and an award-winning Hulu TV series.

Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos’ blood-testing system as a breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors and at one point anointed Holmes with a $4.5 billion fortune, based on her 50% stake in Theranos.

Holmes also parlayed the buzz surrounding Theranos to speaking engagements on the same stage as former President Bill Clinton and glowing cover stories in business publications that likened her to tech visionaries such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

But Theranos’ technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in the company’s scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-inc-conviction-bf6be8f233d53d908d508d3feb14fc2e">on Silicon Valley greed and hubris</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668810636574.jpeg" alt="-Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, walks into federal court with her partner Billy Evans, right, and her parents in San Jose, Calif., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A federal judge sentenced Holmes to prison for duping investors and endangering patients while peddling a bogus blood-testing technology. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)" />
 <figcaption>-Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, walks into federal court with her partner Billy Evans, right, and her parents in San Jose, Calif., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A federal judge sentenced Holmes to prison for duping investors and endangering patients while peddling a bogus blood-testing technology. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN JOSE (AP) —Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been rebuffed in her attempt to stay out of federal prison while she appeals her conviction for the fraud she committed while overseeing a blood-testing scam that exposed Silicon Valley’s dark side.In an 11-page ruling issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded there wasn't compelling enough evidence to allow Holmes to remain free on bail while her lawyers try to persuade an appeals court that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial led to an unjust verdict.The judge’s decision means Holmes, 39, will have to surrender to authorities April 27 to start the more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-technology-health-sentencing-crime-7ea71f015b874c6e454dcdd4f0857bd4">11-year prison sentence</a>&nbsp;that Davila imposed in November. The punishment came 10 months after a jury found her guilty on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-trial-theranos-ceo-fb79a29d3c426a5cadee7ec5734b6f24">four counts of fraud and conspiracy</a>&nbsp;against the Thearanos investors who believed in her promises to revolutionize the health care industry.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-fraud-prison-sentence-754b44bc47eb200f032b75f45969cb07">Holmes had accompanied</a>&nbsp;her lawyers to a San Jose, California, courtroom on March 17 to try to convince Davila that various missteps by federal prosecutors, and the omission of key evidence, will culminate in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exonerating her.Holmes' prison sentence is scheduled to start roughly 20 years after she dropped out of Stanford University when she was 19 years old to start Theranos in Palo Alto, California — the same city where William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a small garage and planted the seeds of what grew into Silicon Valley.Holmes could still file another appeal of Davila's latest ruling,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sunny-balwani-elizabeth-holmes-theranos-prison-ae37f16ae10da104a3f1f7c8d60e62fe">a maneuver</a>&nbsp;her co-conspirator at Theranos — Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani — successfully used to delay his scheduled March 16 date to begin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-technology-business-crime-sentencing-d3ce3925bbe9e82708054730d4dcf75c">a nearly 13-year prison sentence</a>. But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theranos-sunny-balwani-elizabeth-holmes-prison-237bb4da8af239078729791f3f7a7d6c">Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected that appeal</a>, and Balwani is now scheduled to report to a Southern California prison on April 20.Davila has recommended Holmes serve her sentence in a Bryan, Texas, prison. It hasn’t yet been publicly confirmed if that will be the facility where she reports.Unless she can find a way to stay free, Holmes will be separated from the two children she had leading up to the trial and after her conviction.Her first child, a boy, was born shortly before her trial began in September 2021. The youngest child, whose gender hasn’t been disclosed in court documents,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-gives-birth-a0baf297ce677e262a92a82f92368054">was born</a>&nbsp;at some point after her November sentencing. She conceived both with her current partner, William “Billy” Evans, whom she met after breaking up with Balwani in the midst of Theranos’ downfall.The denial of Holmes’ request to remain free is the latest twist in a long-running saga that has already been the subject of an acclaimed HBO documentary and an award-winning Hulu TV series.Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos’ blood-testing system as a breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors and at one point anointed Holmes with a $4.5 billion fortune, based on her 50% stake in Theranos.Holmes also parlayed the buzz surrounding Theranos to speaking engagements on the same stage as former President Bill Clinton and glowing cover stories in business publications that likened her to tech visionaries such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.But Theranos’ technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in the company’s scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-inc-conviction-bf6be8f233d53d908d508d3feb14fc2e">on Silicon Valley greed and hubris</a>.___

Blood-test scam: Theranos CEO loses bid to stay out of prison

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Kansas 3rd district Representative Sharice Davids&nbsp;urged&nbsp;United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to address poor mail service in Kansas, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

They highlighted recent complaints received from Kansans who rely on the postal service to obtain medication, bills, tax returns and more. Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids also asked for an update on implementation of the&nbsp;Postal Service Reform Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at shoring up the Postal Service’s finances and improving reliability for consumers. “We write in response to numerous reports of significant mail delays impacting Kansans across the state,”&nbsp;wrote Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids. “In recent months, our offices have received a growing number of messages from Kansans concerned about missing mail, delayed postal delivery, and extended periods with no delivery service at all.” “One year ago Congress provided strong, bipartisan action to improve the USPS by successfully passing postal reform legislation,”&nbsp;Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids continued.&nbsp;“We were proud to join our colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting for the Postal Service Reform Act, which removes burdensome budget requirements that have contributed to the Postal Service's deepening financial troubles, improves transparency, and mandates six-day mail delivery for mail and packages. It is unacceptable that implementation of certain provisions, including the six-day-a-week delivery service, is not being accomplished by USPS.” The bipartisan&nbsp;Postal Service Reform Act, which was signed into law one year ago with Sen. Moran’s and Rep. Davids’ support, removes burdensome budget requirements that have contributed to the Postal Service’s consistent financial troubles, saving the service $27 billion and requires the mail to be delivered six days a week. It also includes transparency measures to ensure USPS is making progress on service improvements. Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids encourage all constituents who are having issues navigating or accessing a federal agency to reach out to their offices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596998721849.png" alt="One year ago Congress provided strong, bipartisan action to improve the USPS by successfully passing postal reform legislation-Google image" />
 <figcaption>One year ago Congress provided strong, bipartisan action to improve the USPS by successfully passing postal reform legislation-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Kansas 3rd district Representative Sharice Davids&nbsp;urged&nbsp;United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to address poor mail service in Kansas, according to a statement from the Senator's office.They highlighted recent complaints received from Kansans who rely on the postal service to obtain medication, bills, tax returns and more. Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids also asked for an update on implementation of the&nbsp;Postal Service Reform Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at shoring up the Postal Service’s finances and improving reliability for consumers. “We write in response to numerous reports of significant mail delays impacting Kansans across the state,”&nbsp;wrote Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids. “In recent months, our offices have received a growing number of messages from Kansans concerned about missing mail, delayed postal delivery, and extended periods with no delivery service at all.” “One year ago Congress provided strong, bipartisan action to improve the USPS by successfully passing postal reform legislation,”&nbsp;Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids continued.&nbsp;“We were proud to join our colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting for the Postal Service Reform Act, which removes burdensome budget requirements that have contributed to the Postal Service's deepening financial troubles, improves transparency, and mandates six-day mail delivery for mail and packages. It is unacceptable that implementation of certain provisions, including the six-day-a-week delivery service, is not being accomplished by USPS.” The bipartisan&nbsp;Postal Service Reform Act, which was signed into law one year ago with Sen. Moran’s and Rep. Davids’ support, removes burdensome budget requirements that have contributed to the Postal Service’s consistent financial troubles, saving the service $27 billion and requires the mail to be delivered six days a week. It also includes transparency measures to ensure USPS is making progress on service improvements. Sen. Moran and Rep. Davids encourage all constituents who are having issues navigating or accessing a federal agency to reach out to their offices.

Moran wants postal service to address poor mail delivery in Kansas

TOPEKA —The legal age for buying cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products in Kansas is now 21.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly reported she signed House Bill&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMjY5LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MTEuNzQ5ODEwNzEifQ.a5Cw908uqKS-atns-j5-rfeZJ6hDDrPY1oaiKbvb6BU/s/1303160919/br/157844539475-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;2269</a>&nbsp;that Amends the Kansas Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act to raise the minimum age to 21 years old for the sale, purchase, or possession of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The bill passed the Kansas House on a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230302115606_550943/">68-53 vot</a>e and the Senate 28-11.

Officials with the state Department of Revenue and the Department for Aging and Disability Services supported the measure. Public health officials believe raising the age to purchase tobacco products will reduce their use and the resulting health care costs.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, disease and disability in the U.S. and nine out of 10 adults who smoke started by age 18.

Forty-one other states have increased their legal age to 21, including the tobacco-producing states of Kentucky and Virginia. The federal government raised its age to 21 in 2019 and told states they'd have to enforce the higher age to receive federal funds for substance abuse programs.

Supporters of the legislation included the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Kansas Hospital Association, the Kansas National Education Association and the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

TOPEKA —The legal age for buying cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products in Kansas is now 21.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Governor Laura Kelly reported she signed House Bill&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMjY5LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MTEuNzQ5ODEwNzEifQ.a5Cw908uqKS-atns-j5-rfeZJ6hDDrPY1oaiKbvb6BU/s/1303160919/br/157844539475-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;2269</a>&nbsp;that Amends the Kansas Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act to raise the minimum age to 21 years old for the sale, purchase, or possession of cigarettes and other tobacco products.The bill passed the Kansas House on a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230302115606_550943/">68-53 vot</a>e and the Senate 28-11.Officials with the state Department of Revenue and the Department for Aging and Disability Services supported the measure. Public health officials believe raising the age to purchase tobacco products will reduce their use and the resulting health care costs.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, disease and disability in the U.S. and nine out of 10 adults who smoke started by age 18.Forty-one other states have increased their legal age to 21, including the tobacco-producing states of Kentucky and Virginia. The federal government raised its age to 21 in 2019 and told states they'd have to enforce the higher age to receive federal funds for substance abuse programs.Supporters of the legislation included the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Kansas Hospital Association, the Kansas National Education Association and the University of Kansas Cancer Center.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Legal age to buy tobacco products in Kansas is now 21

GEARY COUNTY—Two suspects arrested in Michigan and accused in the murder of a couple in Junction City are back in a Kansas Jail.

According to Junction City Police, 33-year-old Steven P. Pierce and 29-year-old Kallie R. Peters have been extradited from Michigan are currently in custody at the Geary County Detention Facility.

Authorities in Michigan arrested them in Saginaw County Michigan on requested charges of Felony Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery, and 1 count of Felony Theft in connection with the deaths of&nbsp; 75-year-old Valerie J. Krissman and 80-year-old Roland C. Krissman.&nbsp; A criminal complaint is the case said the killing happened in Junction City during the theft of the Krissman's 2006 Buick Lacrosse.

Pierce and Peters both currently have a bond set at $1,500,000.00, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679429689565.png" alt="Pierce -photo Saginaw Co." />
 <figcaption>Pierce -photo Saginaw Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY—Two suspects arrested in Michigan and accused in the murder of a couple in Junction City are back in a Kansas Jail.According to Junction City Police, 33-year-old Steven P. Pierce and 29-year-old Kallie R. Peters have been extradited from Michigan are currently in custody at the Geary County Detention Facility.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679429653515.png" alt="Peters-photo Saginaw Co." />
 <figcaption>Peters-photo Saginaw Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities in Michigan arrested them in Saginaw County Michigan on requested charges of Felony Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery, and 1 count of Felony Theft in connection with the deaths of&nbsp; 75-year-old Valerie J. Krissman and 80-year-old Roland C. Krissman.&nbsp; A criminal complaint is the case said the killing happened in Junction City during the theft of the Krissman's 2006 Buick Lacrosse.Pierce and Peters both currently have a bond set at $1,500,000.00, according to online jail records.------------

2 accused of couple’s murder are back in Kansas jail

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A rookie police officer who was shot in the head while responding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/downtown-louisville-shooting-dc7b45a9c5d2b384a16d653864f8b735">mass shooting at a Louisville bank</a>&nbsp;remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday morning, the police chief said.

"It's looking hopeful," Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told WDRB-TV about Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had graduated from training just 10 days earlier.

She said Wilt and other officers “unflinchingly” engaged the shooter at Old National Bank and stopped him from killing more people.

Authorities said Tuesday that the investigation into the shooting was continuing and body camera video will be released later.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, an employee of the bank, opened fire with a rifle at his workplace Monday morning,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/louisville-shooting-victim-vigil-tribute-6e5b6c1e805ece80d48304f6fa0506b3">killing five people</a>&nbsp;— including a close friend of Kentucky's governor — while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said. Another eight people were wounded.

Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside the building and killed the shooter, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

“The act of heroism can't be overstated on yesterday. They did what they were called to do. They answered that call to protect and serve,” she said.

The shooting, the 15th&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-list-us-53011c9a7f052adb4a7254f116e178d3">mass killing</a>&nbsp;in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state's governor and his wife&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">also had friends killed</a>&nbsp;in that shooting.

Four of the injured remained hospitalized Tuesday — one in critical condition and three in stable but fair condition, University of Louisville Hospital said in a statement.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting.

“Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. "He's one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.”

Also killed in the shooting were Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt, Juliana Farmer and Deana Eckert, police said.

“There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured,” Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg told WDRB-TV that his focus moving forward would be on trying to unify residents in the city.

“We can't let the targeted acts of evil violence that we saw yesterday in our city deter us from continuing on the path to make our city the vibrant, safe, strong healthy city that we all know it can be and all want it to be,” he said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A rookie police officer who was shot in the head while responding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/downtown-louisville-shooting-dc7b45a9c5d2b384a16d653864f8b735">mass shooting at a Louisville bank</a>&nbsp;remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday morning, the police chief said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Officer Nickolas Wilt, a new officer to the LMPD, ran towards the gunfire today to save lives. He remains in critical condition after being shot in the head. <a href="https://t.co/yPNZBfAl7I">pic.twitter.com/yPNZBfAl7I</a>&mdash; LMPD (@LMPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/LMPD/status/1645513532895641604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"It's looking hopeful," Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told WDRB-TV about Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had graduated from training just 10 days earlier.She said Wilt and other officers “unflinchingly” engaged the shooter at Old National Bank and stopped him from killing more people.Authorities said Tuesday that the investigation into the shooting was continuing and body camera video will be released later.Connor Sturgeon, 25, an employee of the bank, opened fire with a rifle at his workplace Monday morning,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/louisville-shooting-victim-vigil-tribute-6e5b6c1e805ece80d48304f6fa0506b3">killing five people</a>&nbsp;— including a close friend of Kentucky's governor — while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said. Another eight people were wounded.Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside the building and killed the shooter, Gwinn-Villaroel said.“The act of heroism can't be overstated on yesterday. They did what they were called to do. They answered that call to protect and serve,” she said.The shooting, the 15th&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-list-us-53011c9a7f052adb4a7254f116e178d3">mass killing</a>&nbsp;in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state's governor and his wife&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">also had friends killed</a>&nbsp;in that shooting.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Louisville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Louisville</a> mass shooting patients: • 5 patients are still currently being treated at UofL Health – UofL Hospital • 1 patient remains in critical condition • 4 patients are stable and in fair condition, meaning 1 patient was upgraded from critical to fair condition <a href="https://t.co/QYT0nOQL9a">pic.twitter.com/QYT0nOQL9a</a>&mdash; UofL Health (@UofLHealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofLHealth/status/1645794530954981377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Four of the injured remained hospitalized Tuesday — one in critical condition and three in stable but fair condition, University of Louisville Hospital said in a statement.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost one of his closest friends in the shooting.“Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. "He's one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.”Also killed in the shooting were Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt, Juliana Farmer and Deana Eckert, police said.“There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured,” Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement.Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg told WDRB-TV that his focus moving forward would be on trying to unify residents in the city.“We can't let the targeted acts of evil violence that we saw yesterday in our city deter us from continuing on the path to make our city the vibrant, safe, strong healthy city that we all know it can be and all want it to be,” he said.

Chief: Outlook 'hopeful' for officer hit in mass shooting

KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is alerting the public about using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. 

The FBI office in Denver reported, "Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead"

The Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">has warned </a>about the cyber-theft tactic since 2021 and offered tips to avoid being the victim of such a crime:

Public WiFi networks are another way that cyber criminals target travelers.&nbsp; To learn more about mobile phone and online security, check out the FCC consumer guide:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips</a>.

KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is alerting the public about using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. <a href="https://t.co/9T62SYen9T">pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T</a>&mdash; FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDenver/status/1643947117650538498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The FBI office in Denver reported, "Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead"The Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">has warned </a>about the cyber-theft tactic since 2021 and offered tips to avoid being the victim of such a crime: <ul>
 <li>Bring your own charger for an electrical outlet, a car charger, and your own USB cables when traveling.</li><li>Carry a portable charger or external battery.</li><li>Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.</li>
 </ul>Public WiFi networks are another way that cyber criminals target travelers.&nbsp; To learn more about mobile phone and online security, check out the FCC consumer guide:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips</a>.

FBI warns of cyber threat from public USB charging stations

MORRIS COUNT —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 5:30p.m. April 4, police stopped a vehicle in the 600 block of W. Main St.&nbsp; in Council Grove for for an alleged traffic violation.

During the stop, the&nbsp;Morris Co. Sheriff’s Office’s&nbsp;K-9 Kimber was deployed and alerted to illegal drugs in the vehicle.

Following a probable cause search, deputies arrested the driver, 61-year-old Scott Berry of Council Grove, and a passenger identified as 24-year-old Wolphen Smith of Latimer.

Both were booked on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681161854893.png" alt="Berry is being held in Dickinson CO." />
 <figcaption>Berry is being held in Dickinson CO.</figcaption>
 </figure>MORRIS COUNT —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 5:30p.m. April 4, police stopped a vehicle in the 600 block of W. Main St.&nbsp; in Council Grove for for an alleged traffic violation.During the stop, the&nbsp;Morris Co. Sheriff’s Office’s&nbsp;K-9 Kimber was deployed and alerted to illegal drugs in the vehicle.Following a probable cause search, deputies arrested the driver, 61-year-old Scott Berry of Council Grove, and a passenger identified as 24-year-old Wolphen Smith of Latimer.Both were booked on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas sheriff's K9 found meth, marijuana during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a “very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday. 

And as the public airing of the data sends shockwaves across the U.S. government, the White House said there are concerns there could be additional leaks.&nbsp;

(Click below to watch Monday's White House statement on the leak.)

Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">the Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;and intelligence involving other nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-documents-16d4f601b12c3080df1125cd0d723732">were leaked</a>.

In the days since, Austin has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess the damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at “how this type of information is distributed and to whom,” Meagher said, but would not say if steps had already been taken to tighten control over who can access it.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked if the U.S. was bracing for more online releases.

“The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don’t know," he said. "And is that a matter of concern to us? You’re darn right it is.”

Kirby said at this point, “we don't know who’s behind this, we don’t know what the motive is.”

And he said as U.S. authorities go through the documents that were posted online, they are still trying to determine their validity, but have found that at least some of the papers "have been doctored.”

He and others would not go into detail, but at least one of the documents shows estimates of Russian troops deaths in the Ukraine war that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials. Under a section titled “Total Assessed Losses,” one document lists 16,000-17,500 Russian casualties and up to 71,000 Ukrainian casualties. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said publicly last November that Russia has lost “well over” 100,000 soldiers, and Ukraine had lost about that many also. And those estimates have continued to climb in recent months, although officials have stopped providing more exact numbers.

At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters Monday that U.S. officials “are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.”

The U.S. officials declined to provide any specifics, including about the expanse of the release, how it happened and to which country leaders the U.S. has spoken. Patel added that there is “no question” the documents' release present a risk to national security.

Investigators who specialize in tracking social media, including at the journalism organization Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform. Asked if the Pentagon has contacted Discord, Meagher referred questions to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.

The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail U.S. training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the U.S. is monitoring on key allies and strategic partners, and what moves Russia may be taking to undermine those relationships.

While the Pentagon has been careful not to authenticate the information contained in any specific document, overall "they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation,” said Meagher. “We’re being very careful and watching where this is being posted and amplified.”

The documents are labeled secret and top secret and in some cases resemble routine updates that the U.S. military’s Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war present a “very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesman said Monday. And as the public airing of the data sends shockwaves across the U.S. government, the White House said there are concerns there could be additional leaks.&nbsp;(Click below to watch Monday's White House statement on the leak.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1242909983002300%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=634" 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>Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the U.S. military efforts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">the Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;and intelligence involving other nations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-documents-16d4f601b12c3080df1125cd0d723732">were leaked</a>.In the days since, Austin has reached out to allies, held daily meetings to assess the damage and set up a group not only to assess the scope of the information lost but review who has access to those briefings. The department is looking closely at “how this type of information is distributed and to whom,” Meagher said, but would not say if steps had already been taken to tighten control over who can access it.At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked if the U.S. was bracing for more online releases.“The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don’t know," he said. "And is that a matter of concern to us? You’re darn right it is.”Kirby said at this point, “we don't know who’s behind this, we don’t know what the motive is.”And he said as U.S. authorities go through the documents that were posted online, they are still trying to determine their validity, but have found that at least some of the papers "have been doctored.”He and others would not go into detail, but at least one of the documents shows estimates of Russian troops deaths in the Ukraine war that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials. Under a section titled “Total Assessed Losses,” one document lists 16,000-17,500 Russian casualties and up to 71,000 Ukrainian casualties. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said publicly last November that Russia has lost “well over” 100,000 soldiers, and Ukraine had lost about that many also. And those estimates have continued to climb in recent months, although officials have stopped providing more exact numbers.At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters Monday that U.S. officials “are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.”The U.S. officials declined to provide any specifics, including about the expanse of the release, how it happened and to which country leaders the U.S. has spoken. Patel added that there is “no question” the documents' release present a risk to national security.Investigators who specialize in tracking social media, including at the journalism organization Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform. Asked if the Pentagon has contacted Discord, Meagher referred questions to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail U.S. training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the U.S. is monitoring on key allies and strategic partners, and what moves Russia may be taking to undermine those relationships.While the Pentagon has been careful not to authenticate the information contained in any specific document, overall "they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation,” said Meagher. “We’re being very careful and watching where this is being posted and amplified.”The documents are labeled secret and top secret and in some cases resemble routine updates that the U.S. military’s Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

🎥Security risk: Who leaked classified Ukraine documents?

SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Kansas State Fire Marshall are investigating the cause of a house fire&nbsp; Sunday in Wichita that left a 48-year-old Kendal James dead.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a house fire near South Parkridge Street and West Blake Street,&nbsp;according to Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief  Jose Ocadiz.

While traveling to the scene, additional callers were reporting an explosion in the home. As crews were beginning to attack the blaze, another explosion occurred. This forced fire crews into a defensive mode before they could attempt to make entry into the residence.&nbsp; 

When firefighters did get inside the home, investigators found James and several pets that had died.&nbsp; A second resident was not at home when the fire started, according to Ocadiz.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Ocadiz. Due to the number of explosions, possibly three. One from the initial explosion, another as fire crews arrived and one later during the incident.&nbsp;

There have been initial reports from neighbors and a second resident of the home that fireworks were being manufactured, according to Ocadiz. 

Wichita Police Explosive Ordinance team did remove some fireworks from the home, according to Ocadiz. However, investigators have not reported the specific type and the amount of fireworks discovered. Ocadiz did not release a damage estimate Monday morning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681143538045.png" alt="Wichita Police Explosive Ordinance team removed some fireworks from the home, according to Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz-photo Wichita Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Wichita Police Explosive Ordinance team removed some fireworks from the home, according to Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz-photo Wichita Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Kansas State Fire Marshall are investigating the cause of a house fire&nbsp; Sunday in Wichita that left a 48-year-old Kendal James dead.Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a house fire near South Parkridge Street and West Blake Street,&nbsp;according to Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz.While traveling to the scene, additional callers were reporting an explosion in the home. As crews were beginning to attack the blaze, another explosion occurred. This forced fire crews into a defensive mode before they could attempt to make entry into the residence.&nbsp; When firefighters did get inside the home, investigators found James and several pets that had died.&nbsp; A second resident was not at home when the fire started, according to Ocadiz.The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Ocadiz. Due to the number of explosions, possibly three. One from the initial explosion, another as fire crews arrived and one later during the incident.&nbsp;There have been initial reports from neighbors and a second resident of the home that fireworks were being manufactured, according to Ocadiz. Wichita Police Explosive Ordinance team did remove some fireworks from the home, according to Ocadiz. However, investigators have not reported the specific type and the amount of fireworks discovered. Ocadiz did not release a damage estimate Monday morning.

Chief: Police found fireworks after deadly Kan. home explosion

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday appealed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a Texas court ruling that would halt approval</a>&nbsp;of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S., calling the decision “extraordinary and unprecedented."

The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days. The Biden administration asked the New Orleans-based appellate court to extend the pause on the Texas order.

“If allowed to take effect, the court’s order would thwart FDA’s scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity,” the Justice Department wrote.

Kacsmaryk's decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in the state of Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000.

The whiplash of the conflicting decisions is likely to put the issue on an accelerated path to the Supreme Court.

Underlining that confusion, the Justice Department on Monday also separately asked the federal court in Washington state for clarity since that ruling and the one in Texas were issued just 20 minutes apart.

The abortion drug has been widely used in the U.S. since securing FDA approval and there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling that agency's medical decisions. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medication abortion in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.

Many providers have to wait and see what legal filings are made between now and Friday before deciding what to do next, Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters.

If the ruling takes effect, some providers are prepared to pivot to a misoprostol-only regimen while others may transition to only surgical abortions.

“We don’t know exactly what will happen” in the courts, Dalven said. “What we do know is that there will be significant confusion and chaos as providers try to provide the best care they possibly can for their patients.”

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday appealed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-mifepristone-misoprostol-kacsmaryk-74cb1c4cfab2c04f6cf2696151bc86ef">a Texas court ruling that would halt approval</a>&nbsp;of the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S., calling the decision “extraordinary and unprecedented."The request to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed just days after conflicting court rulings over the legality of the abortion medication mifepristone put in doubt access to the drug that has been widely available for more than 20 years.U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of Donald Trump, issued his decision Friday but ruled it would not take effect for seven days. The Biden administration asked the New Orleans-based appellate court to extend the pause on the Texas order.“If allowed to take effect, the court’s order would thwart FDA’s scientific judgment and severely harm women, particularly those for whom mifepristone is a medical or practical necessity,” the Justice Department wrote.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">While last week’s Texas decision threatens access to mifepristone nationwide, medication abortion continues to be approved and available for the time being. This Administration will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights. To learn more, visit <a href="https://t.co/98LbdNbG6N">https://t.co/98LbdNbG6N</a>. <a href="https://t.co/mmFRHJ9dig">https://t.co/mmFRHJ9dig</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1645521732499898376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kacsmaryk's decision came at nearly the same time a separate federal judge in the state of Washington directed U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in at least 17 states where Democrats had sued.The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of mifepristone in 2000.The whiplash of the conflicting decisions is likely to put the issue on an accelerated path to the Supreme Court.Underlining that confusion, the Justice Department on Monday also separately asked the federal court in Washington state for clarity since that ruling and the one in Texas were issued just 20 minutes apart.The abortion drug has been widely used in the U.S. since securing FDA approval and there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling that agency's medical decisions. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medication abortion in the United States, along with misoprostol, which is also used to treat other medical conditions.Many providers have to wait and see what legal filings are made between now and Friday before deciding what to do next, Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters.If the ruling takes effect, some providers are prepared to pivot to a misoprostol-only regimen while others may transition to only surgical abortions.“We don’t know exactly what will happen” in the courts, Dalven said. “What we do know is that there will be significant confusion and chaos as providers try to provide the best care they possibly can for their patients.”

Controversial abortion pill ruling now before appeals court judge

&nbsp;BARTON COUNTY —William Thomas Frederick Jr., 38, is wanted for attempted 2nd degree murder of a police officer, which occurred in Hoisington on April 1, 2023, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The Barton County District Court issued a warrant for Frederick on the charge. Frederick is to be considered armed and dangerous.&nbsp; If anyone has any information on Frederick’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or P3Tips.com.

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged aggravated assault on a police officer in Hoisington and asking the pubic for help finding&nbsp; 38-year-old William Thomas Frederick Jr.&nbsp;

Just before 2:30a.m. April 1, a Hoisington police officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle near a business in&nbsp; Hoisington, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, at which point it fled eastbound on Kansas 4 Highway at a high rate of speed. 

During the pursuit, the Hoisington officer reported on the radio he heard a backfire or gunshot. His vehicle then began to overheat and was disabled. It was later discovered a bullet had struck the radiator in the patrol car.

By this time, a Barton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. had caught up to the chase and continued pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued east on Kansas 4 Highway, entering the City of Claflin turning onto city streets when it crashed into a utility box and the vehicle was disabled. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680559144029.jpeg" alt="William Frederick-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>William Frederick-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;BARTON COUNTY —William Thomas Frederick Jr., 38, is wanted for attempted 2nd degree murder of a police officer, which occurred in Hoisington on April 1, 2023, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The Barton County District Court issued a warrant for Frederick on the charge. Frederick is to be considered armed and dangerous.&nbsp; If anyone has any information on Frederick’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or P3Tips.com.--------------BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged aggravated assault on a police officer in Hoisington and asking the pubic for help finding&nbsp; 38-year-old William Thomas Frederick Jr.&nbsp;Just before 2:30a.m. April 1, a Hoisington police officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle near a business in&nbsp; Hoisington, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, at which point it fled eastbound on Kansas 4 Highway at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, the Hoisington officer reported on the radio he heard a backfire or gunshot. His vehicle then began to overheat and was disabled. It was later discovered a bullet had struck the radiator in the patrol car.By this time, a Barton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. had caught up to the chase and continued pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued east on Kansas 4 Highway, entering the City of Claflin turning onto city streets when it crashed into a utility box and the vehicle was disabled. Review of the dash camera in the Sheriff’s Office vehicle indicates a suspect fired at least three shots while the Sheriff’s Office was in pursuit. Sheriff’s deputies captured two of the three occupants of the vehicle at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680559184588.jpeg" alt="Witmer-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Witmer-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver was identified as Rylan J. Witmer, age 21 of Wilson and is being held on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, felony attempt to flee and elude and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Witmer was booked in the Barton County Jail and released&nbsp; Monday on a $10,000 bond.A passenger in the vehicle identified as Frederick Jr., fled from the scene and is believed to be the shooter. Frederick's last known address was in the Salina area. He may also be in Ellsworth or Rice counties.Law Enforcement agencies including the United States Marshals Service are currently seeking the whereabouts of Frederick. He is wanted for questioning in reference to attempted murder on the Hoisington officer and aggravated assault of law enforcement officer regarding the deputies. Frederick was on Community Corrections and listed as an absconder at the time of the incident. Frederick is described as a white male, medium build, 5-foot -6, 165 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.After the chase, a vehicle was stolen in the Claflin area. It is believed Frederick may be driving a 2015 Toyota RAV4 bearing Kansas tag 602 CVU, bronze in color.