SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and made an arrest.

Just after 12:15a.m. Feb. 21, a vigilant citizen observed a white 2013 Kia Optima driving through a neighborhood in the 5000 block of NW Sterling Chase Drive in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The two men inside the vehicle were wearing masks and continuously turning the vehicle lights on and off. Deputies responded to the area and located the vehicle in the 4200 block of NW Dondee Lane. The vehicle had a tag that was reported stolen through the City of Topeka.

Deputies took the two men into custody on scene.

Ashton L. Huffstutler, 20, and Parker L. Larson, 19, both of Topeka, were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Huffstutler was held on requested charges of burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, possession of stolen property, no vehicle liability insurance and improper turn. Larson was booked on requested charges that include multiple counts of burglary, theft and possession of stolen property.

During the investigation, information was gathered regarding multiple vehicle burglaries that occurred on NW 52nd Terrace, NW 53rd Terrace, NW Sterling Chase Drive, NW Geronimo Trail and NW Kendall Drive.

The suspects are no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677249154546.png" alt="Larson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Larson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and made an arrest.Just after 12:15a.m. Feb. 21, a vigilant citizen observed a white 2013 Kia Optima driving through a neighborhood in the 5000 block of NW Sterling Chase Drive in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.The two men inside the vehicle were wearing masks and continuously turning the vehicle lights on and off. Deputies responded to the area and located the vehicle in the 4200 block of NW Dondee Lane. The vehicle had a tag that was reported stolen through the City of Topeka.Deputies took the two men into custody on scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677249104679.png" alt="Huffstutler-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Huffstutler-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ashton L. Huffstutler, 20, and Parker L. Larson, 19, both of Topeka, were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Huffstutler was held on requested charges of burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, possession of stolen property, no vehicle liability insurance and improper turn. Larson was booked on requested charges that include multiple counts of burglary, theft and possession of stolen property.During the investigation, information was gathered regarding multiple vehicle burglaries that occurred on NW 52nd Terrace, NW 53rd Terrace, NW Sterling Chase Drive, NW Geronimo Trail and NW Kendall Drive.The suspects are no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Deputies catch two wanted for series of Kansas burglaries

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities including the FBI are investigating a bank robbery have made an arrest.

Just before 4:30p.m.&nbsp; Thursday, the Chase Bank branch at 4700 W 119th Street was robbed, according to a media release from Leawood Police.

Within two hours, police took the suspect into custody. Police have not released the suspect's name or possible charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677205076740.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/fbi-leawood-police-respond-to-robbery-at-chase-bank">photo courtesy KSHB TV</a>" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/fbi-leawood-police-respond-to-robbery-at-chase-bank">photo courtesy KSHB TV</a></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities including the FBI are investigating a bank robbery have made an arrest.Just before 4:30p.m.&nbsp; Thursday, the Chase Bank branch at 4700 W 119th Street was robbed, according to a media release from Leawood Police.Within two hours, police took the suspect into custody. Police have not released the suspect's name or possible charges.

Police make arrest 2 hours after Kansas bank robbery

WASHINGTON (AP) —Cosori is recalling more than 2 million air fryers sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico because their wire connections can overheat and cause a fire risk.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Thursday. The agency said consumers should stop using the air fryers immediately.

The recall involves multiple model numbers in 3.7-quart and 5.8-quart sizes. All of the units have the Cosori brand name on the front.

The air fryers were sold between June 2018 and December 2022 in Best Buy, Target and Home Depot stores and online at Amazon, Walmart and other retailers. They cost between $70 and $130.

Consumers should contact Cosori at&nbsp;<a href="https://recall.cosori.com/country-sel">recall.cosori.com</a>&nbsp;to receive a free replacement air fryer or another product. Consumers must provide their contact information and a photo of their recalled unit. Receipts aren’t needed.

The Cosori brand is owned by Vesync, a company based in Shenzen, China. Vesync has received 205 reports of air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating or smoking. There have been 10 reports of minor burns and 23 reports of minor property damage, the agency said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Cosori is recalling more than 2 million air fryers sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico because their wire connections can overheat and cause a fire risk.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Recall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Recall</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/CosoriCooks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CosoriCooks</a> 2 Million COSORI® Air Fryers Recalled by Atekcity. A wire connection in the air fryers can overheat. 205 reports air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating, and smoking. Get replacement. Full notice: <a href="https://t.co/MJi5cAcJv5">https://t.co/MJi5cAcJv5</a> <a href="https://t.co/HxehxQj5sc">pic.twitter.com/HxehxQj5sc</a>&mdash; US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCPSC/status/1628788506804854785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall Thursday. The agency said consumers should stop using the air fryers immediately.The recall involves multiple model numbers in 3.7-quart and 5.8-quart sizes. All of the units have the Cosori brand name on the front.The air fryers were sold between June 2018 and December 2022 in Best Buy, Target and Home Depot stores and online at Amazon, Walmart and other retailers. They cost between $70 and $130.Consumers should contact Cosori at&nbsp;<a href="https://recall.cosori.com/country-sel">recall.cosori.com</a>&nbsp;to receive a free replacement air fryer or another product. Consumers must provide their contact information and a photo of their recalled unit. Receipts aren’t needed.The Cosori brand is owned by Vesync, a company based in Shenzen, China. Vesync has received 205 reports of air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating or smoking. There have been 10 reports of minor burns and 23 reports of minor property damage, the agency said.

Two million air fryers recalled due to fire risk

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — One year into Russia's war against Ukraine, China is offering a 12-point proposal to end the fighting.

<a href="https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202302/t20230224_11030713.html">Click here to read</a> the proposal

The proposal follows China's recent announcement that it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-qin-gang-dc73aa6268321fa5722db4eb067b4209">trying to act as mediator</a>&nbsp;in the war that has re-energized Western alliances viewed by Beijing and Moscow as rivals. China's top diplomat indicated that the plan was coming at a security conference this week in Munich, Germany.

With its release, President Xi Jinping's government is reiterating China's claim to being neutral, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the invasion. The document echoes Russian claims that Western governments are to blame for the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion and criticizes sanctions on Russia.

At the Munich meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about Beijing's position before the plan's release. He said China has provided non-lethal assistance that supports Russian President Vladimir Putin's war effort and said the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-antony-blinken-xi-jinping-4501b49359d73b6efbac87b2af54f189">has intelligence</a>&nbsp;that Beijing is “considering providing lethal support.” China has called the allegation a “smear” and said it lacks evidence.

China’s proposal calls for a cease-fire and peace talks, and an end to sanctions against Russia.

China placed responsibility for sanctions on other “relevant countries” without naming them. These countries, it says, “should stop abusing unilateral sanctions” and “do their share in de-escalating the Ukraine crisis.”

Many of the 12 points were very general and did not contain specific proposals.

Without mentioning either Russia or Ukraine, it says sovereignty of all countries should be upheld. It didn't specify what that would look like for Ukraine, and the land taken from it since Russia seized Crimea in 2014.

The proposal also condemns a “Cold War mentality,” a term that often refers to the United States and the U.S.-European military alliance NATO. “The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” the proposal says. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded a promise that Ukraine will not join the bloc before the invasion.

Other points call for a cease-fire, peace talks, protection for prisoners of war and stopping attacks on civilians, without elaborating, as well as keeping nuclear power plants safe and facilitating grain exports.

“The basic tone and the fundamental message in the policy is quite pro-Russia,” said Li Mingjiang, a professor of Chinese foreign policy and international security at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

DOES CHINA BACK RUSSIA IN ITS WAR ON UKRAINE?

China has offered contradictory statements regarding its stance. It says Russia was provoked into taking action by NATO’s eastward expansion, but has also claimed neutrality on the war.

Ahead of Russia's attack, Xi and Putin attended the opening of last year's Winter Olympics in Beijing and issued a statement that their governments had a “no limits” friendship. China has since ignored Western criticism and reaffirmed that pledge.

Putin has said he expects Xi to visit Russia in the next few months. China has yet to confirm that.

China is “trying to have it both ways,” Blinken said Sunday on NBC.

“Publicly, they present themselves as a country striving for peace in Ukraine, but privately, as I said, we’ve seen already over these past months the provision of non-lethal assistance that does go directly to aiding and abetting Russia’s war effort.”

China’s support for Russia has been largely rhetorical and political. Beijing has helped to prevent efforts to condemn Moscow at the United Nations. There is no public evidence it is currently supplying arms to Russia, but the U.S. has said China is providing non-lethal support already and may do more.

Blinken, at the Munich conference, said the United States has long been concerned that China would provide weapons to Russia. “We have information that gives us concern that they are considering providing lethal support to Russia,” he said.

Blinken said he expressed to the Chinese envoy to the meeting, Wang Yi, that “this would be a serious problem.”

NATO's chief said Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-politics-jens-stoltenberg-e8874580698b31cdfac96a60f13eef5b">he had seen some signs that</a>&nbsp;China may be ready to provide arms and warned that would be it would be supporting a violation of international law.

Russian and Chinese forces have held joint drills since the invasion, most recently with the South African navy in a shipping lane off the South African coast.

Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksii Reznikov expressed doubt about China's willingness to send lethal aid to Russia.

“I think that if China will help them … it will not (be) weaponry. It will (be) some kinds of like clothes,” Reznikov said in Kyiv Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution Thursday that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that Moscow's aggression must stop.

The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7, with 32 abstentions.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the vote was more evidence that not only the West backs his country.

“This vote defies the argument that the global south does not stand on Ukraine’s side," Kuleba said. "Many countries representing Latin America, Africa, Asia voted in favor.”

The General Assembly has become the most important U.N. body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is paralyzed by Russia’s veto power. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, but serve as a barometer of world opinion.

The seven countries voting against Thursday's resolution were Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Mali, which has developed close military ties with Russia. Amendments proposed by Belarus would have weakened or stripped much of the language but were resoundingly defeated.

The vote was slightly below the highest total for the five previous resolutions approved by the 193-member world body since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. That tally, in an October resolution against Russia’s illegal annexations, won approval by 143 countries.

Foreign ministers and diplomats from more than 75 countries addressed the assembly during two days of debate, with many urging support for the resolution that upholds Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a basic principle of the U.N. Charter that all countries must subscribe to when they join the world organization.

The war has killed tens of thousands on both sides and has reduced entire Ukrainian cities to ruins and its impact has been felt worldwide in higher food and fuel costs and rising inflation.

Venezuela’s deputy ambassador addressed the council on behalf of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous resolutions on Ukraine: Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, St. Vincent, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

While other countries focused on Russia’s actions, Venezuelan Deputy Ambassador Joaquín Pérez Ayestarán said Wednesday that all countries without exception “must stringently comply with the United Nations Charter,” a barely veiled dig at an international order long dominated by the U.S. and Europe, and at what some call violations of the charter.

Ayestarán said the countries in his group were against what he called divisive action in the General Assembly, and for “a spirit of compromise.”

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the aggressor and the victim can’t be put on equal footing.

“Russia has not sent any positive signal of any minimum willingness to work for a peace,” Borrell said. Instead, Russia is intensifying attacks, firing 50,000 rounds every day, and has put 300,000 soldiers on the front lines, double the 150,000 it massed before the invasion, he said.

Facing this reality, Borrell said, the EU and the West have to support Ukraine militarily, impose sanctions on Russia, and try to isolate Moscow diplomatically which is what Kyiv’s supporters are trying to do at the United Nations this week.

China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dai Bing, told the assembly Thursday: “We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other. ... The international community should make joint efforts to facilitate peace talks.”

China says it is neutral in the conflict and an advocate of peace talks, but has not criticized the invasion or described it as such. Beijing has condemned the U.S. and its allies over sanctions on Moscow and military assistance to Ukraine. China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose the U.S.-led international order.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the strength of those ties when he met Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow this week.

More broadly, Russia and Ukraine have been trying to win support from around the world.

The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, spoke Tuesday about the U.N. resolution with India's national security adviser because “Ukraine is interested in the broadest possible support for the resolution, in particular from the countries of the global south,” a statement from Zelenskyy’s office said.

India had a Cold War dependence on the Soviet Union and has abstained several times from voting on U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that Russia cease its invasion.

Less-powerful countries, including many in Africa, also have been caught up in the diplomatic wrangling.

“We were colonized, and we forgive those who colonized us. Now the colonizers are asking us to be enemies with Russia, who never colonized us; is that fair?” Uganda’s foreign minister, Abubaker Jeje Odongo, told the Sputnik news agency this month.

Russia is Africa’s top arms supplier and Odongo also noted that most of his country’s military equipment is Russian-made.

“Countries in Africa have traditionally been attached in the Cold War division to the Soviet Union, having the old nostalgia, but also Russia has good tools, how to motivate them to be on their side,” Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer told reporters in New York on Thursday. “And then there are others, like China, who are big powers, and are very carefully following what’s going on, and calculating what’s good for them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677205747640.png" alt="China abstained Thursday when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-china-united-nations-6965d19c953c2f6e45f483c1dfe04a7f">U.N. General Assembly</a>&nbsp;approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. It is one of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous U.N. resolutions on Ukraine." />
 <figcaption>China abstained Thursday when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-china-united-nations-6965d19c953c2f6e45f483c1dfe04a7f">U.N. General Assembly</a>&nbsp;approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. It is one of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous U.N. resolutions on Ukraine.</figcaption>
 </figure>TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — One year into Russia's war against Ukraine, China is offering a 12-point proposal to end the fighting.<a href="https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/202302/t20230224_11030713.html">Click here to read</a> the proposalThe proposal follows China's recent announcement that it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-united-states-government-qin-gang-dc73aa6268321fa5722db4eb067b4209">trying to act as mediator</a>&nbsp;in the war that has re-energized Western alliances viewed by Beijing and Moscow as rivals. China's top diplomat indicated that the plan was coming at a security conference this week in Munich, Germany.With its release, President Xi Jinping's government is reiterating China's claim to being neutral, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the invasion. The document echoes Russian claims that Western governments are to blame for the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion and criticizes sanctions on Russia.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The General Assembly has called for an end to the war in Ukraine and demanded Russia’s immediate withdrawal from the country, in line with the UN Charter. The special <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA</a> session comes one year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/HTW3SeutBj">https://t.co/HTW3SeutBj</a> <a href="https://t.co/HGIkLIE0Hq">pic.twitter.com/HGIkLIE0Hq</a>&mdash; United Nations (@UN) <a href="https://twitter.com/UN/status/1628892411345661955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At the Munich meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about Beijing's position before the plan's release. He said China has provided non-lethal assistance that supports Russian President Vladimir Putin's war effort and said the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-antony-blinken-xi-jinping-4501b49359d73b6efbac87b2af54f189">has intelligence</a>&nbsp;that Beijing is “considering providing lethal support.” China has called the allegation a “smear” and said it lacks evidence.WHAT HAS CHINA PROPOSED?China’s proposal calls for a cease-fire and peace talks, and an end to sanctions against Russia.China placed responsibility for sanctions on other “relevant countries” without naming them. These countries, it says, “should stop abusing unilateral sanctions” and “do their share in de-escalating the Ukraine crisis.”Many of the 12 points were very general and did not contain specific proposals.Without mentioning either Russia or Ukraine, it says sovereignty of all countries should be upheld. It didn't specify what that would look like for Ukraine, and the land taken from it since Russia seized Crimea in 2014.The proposal also condemns a “Cold War mentality,” a term that often refers to the United States and the U.S.-European military alliance NATO. “The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” the proposal says. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded a promise that Ukraine will not join the bloc before the invasion.Other points call for a cease-fire, peace talks, protection for prisoners of war and stopping attacks on civilians, without elaborating, as well as keeping nuclear power plants safe and facilitating grain exports.“The basic tone and the fundamental message in the policy is quite pro-Russia,” said Li Mingjiang, a professor of Chinese foreign policy and international security at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.DOES CHINA BACK RUSSIA IN ITS WAR ON UKRAINE?China has offered contradictory statements regarding its stance. It says Russia was provoked into taking action by NATO’s eastward expansion, but has also claimed neutrality on the war.Ahead of Russia's attack, Xi and Putin attended the opening of last year's Winter Olympics in Beijing and issued a statement that their governments had a “no limits” friendship. China has since ignored Western criticism and reaffirmed that pledge.Putin has said he expects Xi to visit Russia in the next few months. China has yet to confirm that.China is “trying to have it both ways,” Blinken said Sunday on NBC.“Publicly, they present themselves as a country striving for peace in Ukraine, but privately, as I said, we’ve seen already over these past months the provision of non-lethal assistance that does go directly to aiding and abetting Russia’s war effort.”HAS CHINA PROVIDED SUPPORT TO RUSSIA?China’s support for Russia has been largely rhetorical and political. Beijing has helped to prevent efforts to condemn Moscow at the United Nations. There is no public evidence it is currently supplying arms to Russia, but the U.S. has said China is providing non-lethal support already and may do more.Blinken, at the Munich conference, said the United States has long been concerned that China would provide weapons to Russia. “We have information that gives us concern that they are considering providing lethal support to Russia,” he said.Blinken said he expressed to the Chinese envoy to the meeting, Wang Yi, that “this would be a serious problem.”NATO's chief said Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-politics-jens-stoltenberg-e8874580698b31cdfac96a60f13eef5b">he had seen some signs that</a>&nbsp;China may be ready to provide arms and warned that would be it would be supporting a violation of international law.Russian and Chinese forces have held joint drills since the invasion, most recently with the South African navy in a shipping lane off the South African coast.Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksii Reznikov expressed doubt about China's willingness to send lethal aid to Russia.“I think that if China will help them … it will not (be) weaponry. It will (be) some kinds of like clothes,” Reznikov said in Kyiv Monday.----------UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution Thursday that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that Moscow's aggression must stop.The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7, with 32 abstentions.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the vote was more evidence that not only the West backs his country.“This vote defies the argument that the global south does not stand on Ukraine’s side," Kuleba said. "Many countries representing Latin America, Africa, Asia voted in favor.”The General Assembly has become the most important U.N. body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is paralyzed by Russia’s veto power. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, but serve as a barometer of world opinion.The seven countries voting against Thursday's resolution were Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Mali, which has developed close military ties with Russia. Amendments proposed by Belarus would have weakened or stripped much of the language but were resoundingly defeated.The vote was slightly below the highest total for the five previous resolutions approved by the 193-member world body since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. That tally, in an October resolution against Russia’s illegal annexations, won approval by 143 countries.Foreign ministers and diplomats from more than 75 countries addressed the assembly during two days of debate, with many urging support for the resolution that upholds Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a basic principle of the U.N. Charter that all countries must subscribe to when they join the world organization.The war has killed tens of thousands on both sides and has reduced entire Ukrainian cities to ruins and its impact has been felt worldwide in higher food and fuel costs and rising inflation.Venezuela’s deputy ambassador addressed the council on behalf of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous resolutions on Ukraine: Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, St. Vincent, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.While other countries focused on Russia’s actions, Venezuelan Deputy Ambassador Joaquín Pérez Ayestarán said Wednesday that all countries without exception “must stringently comply with the United Nations Charter,” a barely veiled dig at an international order long dominated by the U.S. and Europe, and at what some call violations of the charter.Ayestarán said the countries in his group were against what he called divisive action in the General Assembly, and for “a spirit of compromise.”European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that the aggressor and the victim can’t be put on equal footing.“Russia has not sent any positive signal of any minimum willingness to work for a peace,” Borrell said. Instead, Russia is intensifying attacks, firing 50,000 rounds every day, and has put 300,000 soldiers on the front lines, double the 150,000 it massed before the invasion, he said.Facing this reality, Borrell said, the EU and the West have to support Ukraine militarily, impose sanctions on Russia, and try to isolate Moscow diplomatically which is what Kyiv’s supporters are trying to do at the United Nations this week.China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dai Bing, told the assembly Thursday: “We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other. ... The international community should make joint efforts to facilitate peace talks.”China says it is neutral in the conflict and an advocate of peace talks, but has not criticized the invasion or described it as such. Beijing has condemned the U.S. and its allies over sanctions on Moscow and military assistance to Ukraine. China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose the U.S.-led international order.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the strength of those ties when he met Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow this week.More broadly, Russia and Ukraine have been trying to win support from around the world.The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, spoke Tuesday about the U.N. resolution with India's national security adviser because “Ukraine is interested in the broadest possible support for the resolution, in particular from the countries of the global south,” a statement from Zelenskyy’s office said.India had a Cold War dependence on the Soviet Union and has abstained several times from voting on U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that Russia cease its invasion.Less-powerful countries, including many in Africa, also have been caught up in the diplomatic wrangling.“We were colonized, and we forgive those who colonized us. Now the colonizers are asking us to be enemies with Russia, who never colonized us; is that fair?” Uganda’s foreign minister, Abubaker Jeje Odongo, told the Sputnik news agency this month.Russia is Africa’s top arms supplier and Odongo also noted that most of his country’s military equipment is Russian-made.“Countries in Africa have traditionally been attached in the Cold War division to the Soviet Union, having the old nostalgia, but also Russia has good tools, how to motivate them to be on their side,” Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer told reporters in New York on Thursday. “And then there are others, like China, who are big powers, and are very carefully following what’s going on, and calculating what’s good for them.”___

China calls for Russia-Ukraine cease-fire; U.S. doubts neutrality

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A commercial sprinkler system saved some work for Hutchinson firefighters Thursday night.

Just after 9:30p.m. Firefighters were called to Uptown Hutch at 1500 East 11th Street, according to a media release.

There was no smoke showing outside the Ulta Beauty store when they arrived, but crews went into the building and went back to the back storage room where they found smoke.

The crew on scene pulled a line to the back of the store, but the fire had triggered the sprinklers and was out before crews got there.&nbsp;

Firefighters shut the sprinklers off and got the smoke and water out of the store. Minor fire damage was done to the store. The fire is under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677232947670.jpeg" alt="Photo Hutchinson Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hutchinson Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A commercial sprinkler system saved some work for Hutchinson firefighters Thursday night.Just after 9:30p.m. Firefighters were called to Uptown Hutch at 1500 East 11th Street, according to a media release.There was no smoke showing outside the Ulta Beauty store when they arrived, but crews went into the building and went back to the back storage room where they found smoke.The crew on scene pulled a line to the back of the store, but the fire had triggered the sprinklers and was out before crews got there.&nbsp;Firefighters shut the sprinklers off and got the smoke and water out of the store. Minor fire damage was done to the store. The fire is under investigation.

Sprinkler system saves fire crews some work in Hutchinson

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after a standoff.

The Coffeyville Police Dept. arrested 38-year-old Timothy Padilla of Coffeyville at a residence in the 1100 block of west 3rd street.

Just after 2a.m. Feb. 18, a police officer attempted to make contact with 38-year-old Timothy Padilla in the 1100 block of west 3rd street in Coffeyville, according to a media release.

 The officer was aware that Padilla had outstanding warrants for felony drug charges. Padilla fled from the officer and ran into a residence in that area. 

Officers formed a perimeter around the residence with the assistance from deputies of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Officers then began making announcements for the suspect to surrender. Other occupants of the residence exited and confirmed Padilla had run into the home.

After several hours with no contact from Padilla and due to the nature of the incident and other contributing factors, the Coffeyville Police Special Operations Team was activated. 

&nbsp;After an extensive search, police found Padilla hiding in the attic area of the home.&nbsp; Officers were able to take Padilla into custody without incident on requested charges with felony interference with law enforcement and arrested for the outstanding warrants. According to online jail records, he remains jailed on requested charges of Distribute or possess w/ intent to distribute, Theft of property/services from 3 businesses in 72 hours, Counterfeiting currency; Distribute or possess w/ intent to distribute, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of opiate opium narcotic or certain stimulant and Possession of stolen property.

Padilla has a previous conviction for aggravated battery in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677152728730.png" alt="Padilla-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Padilla-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after a standoff.The Coffeyville Police Dept. arrested 38-year-old Timothy Padilla of Coffeyville at a residence in the 1100 block of west 3rd street.Just after 2a.m. Feb. 18, a police officer attempted to make contact with 38-year-old Timothy Padilla in the 1100 block of west 3rd street in Coffeyville, according to a media release. The officer was aware that Padilla had outstanding warrants for felony drug charges. Padilla fled from the officer and ran into a residence in that area. Officers formed a perimeter around the residence with the assistance from deputies of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Officers then began making announcements for the suspect to surrender. Other occupants of the residence exited and confirmed Padilla had run into the home.After several hours with no contact from Padilla and due to the nature of the incident and other contributing factors, the Coffeyville Police Special Operations Team was activated. &nbsp;After an extensive search, police found Padilla hiding in the attic area of the home.&nbsp; Officers were able to take Padilla into custody without incident on requested charges with felony interference with law enforcement and arrested for the outstanding warrants. According to online jail records, he remains jailed on requested charges of Distribute or possess w/ intent to distribute, Theft of property/services from 3 businesses in 72 hours, Counterfeiting currency; Distribute or possess w/ intent to distribute, Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of opiate opium narcotic or certain stimulant and Possession of stolen property.Padilla has a previous conviction for aggravated battery in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police: Wanted Kansas felon found hiding in attic of home

PAWNEE COUNTY —A semi truck driver accused of drug crimes after an accident avoided a trial this week and changed his plea in Pawnee County.

&nbsp;Javier Rubio Montoya, 45 of Horizon City, Texas, pleaded Guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine and Improper Stopping or Parking on a Roadway, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

In exchange for the plea, the state agreed to dismiss charges of Fleeing and Eluding resulting in an accident and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

In support of the plea, McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that at around 3:00 a.m. on February 18, 2022, law enforcement dispatch received a 911 call from a concerned citizen that there was a semi-tractor trailer with its lights on parked in the southbound lane of US Highway 183 in northern Pawnee County. 

A Pawnee County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the location. Montoya was discovered to be the sole occupant of the semi.

The deputy requested Montoya follow the deputy to a flatter location so that their vehicles could be more easily seen by any oncoming traffic. When the officer pulled over, however, the semi continued southbound. 

The deputy activated his emergency lights and began following the semi. After several miles the semi began weaving erratically, striking guardrails on both sides of the roadway, and ultimately came to rest in the west ditch. No one was injured in the accident. 

The deputy arrested Montoya at the scene without incident. Montoya advised the deputy he had fallen asleep. Law enforcement conducted an inventory search prior to the semi being towed away, and a small quantity of methamphetamine was found in the Montoya’s belongings.

Montoya is scheduled for sentencing on May 18, 2023. He remains free on bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677019482972.png" alt="Montoya-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Montoya-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A semi truck driver accused of drug crimes after an accident avoided a trial this week and changed his plea in Pawnee County.&nbsp;Javier Rubio Montoya, 45 of Horizon City, Texas, pleaded Guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine and Improper Stopping or Parking on a Roadway, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.In exchange for the plea, the state agreed to dismiss charges of Fleeing and Eluding resulting in an accident and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.In support of the plea, McNett advised the Court that had the matter proceeded to trial the evidence would have shown that at around 3:00 a.m. on February 18, 2022, law enforcement dispatch received a 911 call from a concerned citizen that there was a semi-tractor trailer with its lights on parked in the southbound lane of US Highway 183 in northern Pawnee County. A Pawnee County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the location. Montoya was discovered to be the sole occupant of the semi.The deputy requested Montoya follow the deputy to a flatter location so that their vehicles could be more easily seen by any oncoming traffic. When the officer pulled over, however, the semi continued southbound. The deputy activated his emergency lights and began following the semi. After several miles the semi began weaving erratically, striking guardrails on both sides of the roadway, and ultimately came to rest in the west ditch. No one was injured in the accident. The deputy arrested Montoya at the scene without incident. Montoya advised the deputy he had fallen asleep. Law enforcement conducted an inventory search prior to the semi being towed away, and a small quantity of methamphetamine was found in the Montoya’s belongings.Montoya is scheduled for sentencing on May 18, 2023. He remains free on bond.

Texas semi driver enters plea in Kansas drug arrest

LINN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a vehicle theft have recovered the vehicle with the help of&nbsp;Kansas Game Wardens.

According to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, " You never know what they may come across when on patrol."&nbsp; Two game wardens found a stolen vehicle on the LaCygne Wildlife Area. 

The wardens used some extra effort to recover the vehicle which was stolen recently in Cass County, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677180132225.png" alt="photo KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>photo KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>LINN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a vehicle theft have recovered the vehicle with the help of&nbsp;Kansas Game Wardens.According to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, " You never know what they may come across when on patrol."&nbsp; Two game wardens found a stolen vehicle on the LaCygne Wildlife Area. The wardens used some extra effort to recover the vehicle which was stolen recently in Cass County, Missouri.

Kansas game wardens recover vehicle stolen out of state

KANSAS CITY, KS&nbsp;– On Thursday at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly cashed in on Kansas' first legal sports bet, her September wager on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. 

According to a media release from her office, Governor Kelly will be donating the $150 she won, in addition to her original $15 bet, to Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes’ charity, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The PENN Entertainment Foundation is donating an additional $1,500 to the charity as well.&nbsp;

“I was thrilled to be in Kansas City today to cash in on our state’s first legal sports bet, and to send my winnings to such a great cause,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “I can’t think of a better way to honor the Chiefs and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes than by giving my wins to his foundation, which is doing so much good for our children. I’m grateful to the PENN Entertainment Foundation for joining me in supporting 15 and the Mahomies with such a generous donation.”

“We are very proud to support Patrick and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation,"&nbsp;said Amanda Garber, Executive Director of the PENN Entertainment Foundation.&nbsp;"Patrick&nbsp;is a quintessential leader, whether it be at the helm of the Chiefs winning another Super Bowl or caring for the health and wellness of communities in need here in Kansas City and across the country."&nbsp;

Mahomes’ organization, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, is dedicated to improving the lives of children by enacting initiatives that target health and wellness in communities in need. The foundation’s signature program, 15 for 15, supports 15 initiatives that focus on youth academics, science, the arts, classroom supplies, athletics, children with disabilities, after-school programs, and more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677183879921.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KS&nbsp;– On Thursday at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly cashed in on Kansas' first legal sports bet, her September wager on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. According to a media release from her office, Governor Kelly will be donating the $150 she won, in addition to her original $15 bet, to Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes’ charity, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The PENN Entertainment Foundation is donating an additional $1,500 to the charity as well.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677183951487.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“I was thrilled to be in Kansas City today to cash in on our state’s first legal sports bet, and to send my winnings to such a great cause,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “I can’t think of a better way to honor the Chiefs and Super Bowl LVII MVP Patrick Mahomes than by giving my wins to his foundation, which is doing so much good for our children. I’m grateful to the PENN Entertainment Foundation for joining me in supporting 15 and the Mahomies with such a generous donation.”“We are very proud to support Patrick and the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation,"&nbsp;said Amanda Garber, Executive Director of the PENN Entertainment Foundation.&nbsp;"Patrick&nbsp;is a quintessential leader, whether it be at the helm of the Chiefs winning another Super Bowl or caring for the health and wellness of communities in need here in Kansas City and across the country."&nbsp;Mahomes’ organization, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, is dedicated to improving the lives of children by enacting initiatives that target health and wellness in communities in need. The foundation’s signature program, 15 for 15, supports 15 initiatives that focus on youth academics, science, the arts, classroom supplies, athletics, children with disabilities, after-school programs, and more.

Gov. Kelly cashes out her winning  Super Bowl bet

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and run involving a motorcycle at a Wichita intersection have identified the victim as 48-year-old Kristine Sheffield from Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20071435">Chase Faimon, 21, Valley Center</a> turned himself in after police released security camera images of the suspect on a motorcycle, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;

Just after 7 p.m. Monday, police responded to the intersection of 11th Street North and Broadway for an injury hit-and-run collision, according to Rebolledo.

First responders located Sheffield in the street unresponsive. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

During the investigation, officers learned Sheffield was struck by a black dirt bike while crossing the street. After the collision, the driver of the motorcycle left the scene northbound on Broadway.

Faimon is being held on requested charges of murder in the 2nd degree, unintentional but reckless, no valid drivers license and failure to stop and an injury accident, according to online jail records.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and run involving a motorcycle at a Wichita intersection have identified the victim as 48-year-old Kristine Sheffield from Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677064202271.png" alt="Faimon-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Faimon-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20071435">Chase Faimon, 21, Valley Center</a> turned himself in after police released security camera images of the suspect on a motorcycle, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676999156108.png" alt="photos Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photos Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 7 p.m. Monday, police responded to the intersection of 11th Street North and Broadway for an injury hit-and-run collision, according to Rebolledo.First responders located Sheffield in the street unresponsive. EMS transported her to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.During the investigation, officers learned Sheffield was struck by a black dirt bike while crossing the street. After the collision, the driver of the motorcycle left the scene northbound on Broadway.Faimon is being held on requested charges of murder in the 2nd degree, unintentional but reckless, no valid drivers license and failure to stop and an injury accident, according to online jail records.

Police ID Kan. woman who died in hit-and-run motorcycle crash

RENO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Bryon Michael Young, 27, Hutchinson, was eastbound on K96 three miles east of Haven.

The pickup rear-ended a 2013 Peterbilt semi driven by Robert Francis&nbsp;Heimerman, 57, Conway Springs., who slowed to make a right turn onto Worthington Road.

A passenger in the pickup identified as Brian Lee&nbsp;Garza, 43, Hutchinson, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported young to&nbsp;Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Heimerman was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seatbelt usage information.

RENO COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday on K-96 at Worthington just east of Haven in Reno County

According to Kansas Highway Patrol, Lt. Aaron McGuire, the truck rear-ended an eastbound semi was who slowed to make a turn onto southbound Worthington.

A passenger in the truck died. EMS transported the pickup driver to a local hospital. The semi driver was not injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677187189547.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the crash-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the crash-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday in Reno County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Bryon Michael Young, 27, Hutchinson, was eastbound on K96 three miles east of Haven.The pickup rear-ended a 2013 Peterbilt semi driven by Robert Francis&nbsp;Heimerman, 57, Conway Springs., who slowed to make a right turn onto Worthington Road.A passenger in the pickup identified as Brian Lee&nbsp;Garza, 43, Hutchinson, was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported young to&nbsp;Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Heimerman was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seatbelt usage information.----------------RENO COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 10a.m. Thursday on K-96 at Worthington just east of Haven in Reno CountyAccording to Kansas Highway Patrol, Lt. Aaron McGuire, the truck rear-ended an eastbound semi was who slowed to make a turn onto southbound Worthington.A passenger in the truck died. EMS transported the pickup driver to a local hospital. The semi driver was not injured.

Kansas man dies after pickup rear-ends a semi 

WASHINGTON—The United States has not yet seen China giving lethal aid to Russia in its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese also haven't taken that aid off the table, according to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh in a briefing of the media at the Pentagon Wednesday, according to a media release from&nbsp;David Vergun with U.S. Department of Defense.

(Click below to listen to the Pentagon press briefing)

There would&nbsp;be consequences for doing so, she emphasized.&nbsp;

Separately, regarding the U.S.-Russia New START treaty, which Russia just suspended, Singh said: "Well, we certainly think it's unfortunate ... [and] we think it's irresponsible. Any nuclear power has to behave in a responsible manner. And we certainly take our obligations under the New START Treaty seriously."

Regarding satellite links for Ukraine, Singh said the U.S. is providing Ukraine with satellite communications and Starlink is still operating over the nation.&nbsp;

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX.

About the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Singh said: "Let me just make this very clear. We're not at war with Russia. We're not fighting with Russia. We are supporting the Ukrainians in [the] war that Russia started. So, let's just be clear about that. I think it's important to remember that. Again: Ukraine was invaded by Russia. This administration has been committed to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes. And that's what we're going to continue to do."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677173692127.png" alt="Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh speaks during an on-camera press briefing at the Pentagon Wednesday." />
 <figcaption>Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh speaks during an on-camera press briefing at the Pentagon Wednesday.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON—The United States has not yet seen China giving lethal aid to Russia in its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese also haven't taken that aid off the table, according to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh in a briefing of the media at the Pentagon Wednesday, according to a media release from&nbsp;David Vergun with U.S. Department of Defense.(Click below to listen to the Pentagon press briefing)<div><iframe width='500' height='300' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' style='border: none; overflow: hidden; width: 500px; height: 300px;' allowtransparency='true' src='https://www.dvidshub.net/video/embed/874211'></iframe></div>There would&nbsp;be consequences for doing so, she emphasized.&nbsp;Separately, regarding the U.S.-Russia New START treaty, which Russia just suspended, Singh said: "Well, we certainly think it's unfortunate ... [and] we think it's irresponsible. Any nuclear power has to behave in a responsible manner. And we certainly take our obligations under the New START Treaty seriously."Regarding satellite links for Ukraine, Singh said the U.S. is providing Ukraine with satellite communications and Starlink is still operating over the nation.&nbsp;Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX.About the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Singh said: "Let me just make this very clear. We're not at war with Russia. We're not fighting with Russia. We are supporting the Ukrainians in [the] war that Russia started. So, let's just be clear about that. I think it's important to remember that. Again: Ukraine was invaded by Russia. This administration has been committed to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes. And that's what we're going to continue to do."

🎥 Pentagon issues another warning to China over arming Russia

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

An investigation into an unrelated case led to the arrest of a Salina man in connection to multiple damaged vehicles and a missing mailbox.

On Wednesday, an officer was at 1007 W. North Street attempting to contact Michael Sampson, 54, of Salina, concerning a trespassing investigation, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

While there, the officer was contacted by Scott Echer who said he believed that Sampson's white Dodge Ram flatbed pickup had been involved in damaging vehicles nearby at The Car Shoppe Service Center, 424 N. Broadway Boulevard, on Tuesday night. The officer observed that the Ram had front bumper damage and blue and gray paint transfer. 

The officer went with Echer to The Car Shoppe Service Center, where a blue 2000 Chevrolet S10 pickup and a blue 2000 Chevrolet Silverado both were damaged. Surveillance video showed the Ram drive through the parking lot at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday and drive behind the building at TCS Auto, 432 N. Broadway. When the Ram reappears on the video, it can be seen striking the S10 pickup and then the Silverado, which was dragged approximately 20 feet by the Ram, Forrester said.

Damage to the S10 and the Silverado was estimated at $3,000 each.

The officer then made contact with a representative of TCS Auto, where a gray 2013 Ford Focus that was parked behind the building had been hit. Forrester said the car had been along the same path that the Ram took when it went behind the building in the video.

Damage to the Focus also was estimated at $3,000.

The officer then was contacted by the owner of Randy's Auto, Randy Otto, who told the officer that there had been a disturbance between himself and Sampson. He told the officer that at the time of the disturbance, he believed there would be some sort of retaliation, Forrester said. Surveillance video from Randy's Auto, 1015 W. North Street, showed the Ram drive through the grass and strike a Chevrolet Tahoe. It then left through the nearby Log Cabin Motel parking lot.

Damage to the Tahoe also was estimated at $3,000.

Earlier on Tuesday, another officer responded to the 1900 block of Valley View Drive, where a mailbox was missing. The four-inch by four-inch post and attached mailbox had been pulled from the ground, Forrester said. Loss was estimated at $25.

Home security video showed the Ram pull up next to the mailbox. Someone got out of the pickup and went around to the other side of the pickup for several minutes. When the person left, the mailbox and post were missing.

Forrester said Sampson was located at his residence at 1007 W. North Street, and arrested on the following requested charges that include Four counts of felony criminal damage to property, Criminal trespass and Theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677160961063.jpeg" alt="Michael Sampson. Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Michael Sampson. Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostAn investigation into an unrelated case led to the arrest of a Salina man in connection to multiple damaged vehicles and a missing mailbox.On Wednesday, an officer was at 1007 W. North Street attempting to contact Michael Sampson, 54, of Salina, concerning a trespassing investigation, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.While there, the officer was contacted by Scott Echer who said he believed that Sampson's white Dodge Ram flatbed pickup had been involved in damaging vehicles nearby at The Car Shoppe Service Center, 424 N. Broadway Boulevard, on Tuesday night. The officer observed that the Ram had front bumper damage and blue and gray paint transfer. The officer went with Echer to The Car Shoppe Service Center, where a blue 2000 Chevrolet S10 pickup and a blue 2000 Chevrolet Silverado both were damaged. Surveillance video showed the Ram drive through the parking lot at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday and drive behind the building at TCS Auto, 432 N. Broadway. When the Ram reappears on the video, it can be seen striking the S10 pickup and then the Silverado, which was dragged approximately 20 feet by the Ram, Forrester said.Damage to the S10 and the Silverado was estimated at $3,000 each.The officer then made contact with a representative of TCS Auto, where a gray 2013 Ford Focus that was parked behind the building had been hit. Forrester said the car had been along the same path that the Ram took when it went behind the building in the video.Damage to the Focus also was estimated at $3,000.The officer then was contacted by the owner of Randy's Auto, Randy Otto, who told the officer that there had been a disturbance between himself and Sampson. He told the officer that at the time of the disturbance, he believed there would be some sort of retaliation, Forrester said. Surveillance video from Randy's Auto, 1015 W. North Street, showed the Ram drive through the grass and strike a Chevrolet Tahoe. It then left through the nearby Log Cabin Motel parking lot.Damage to the Tahoe also was estimated at $3,000.Earlier on Tuesday, another officer responded to the 1900 block of Valley View Drive, where a mailbox was missing. The four-inch by four-inch post and attached mailbox had been pulled from the ground, Forrester said. Loss was estimated at $25.Home security video showed the Ram pull up next to the mailbox. Someone got out of the pickup and went around to the other side of the pickup for several minutes. When the person left, the mailbox and post were missing.Forrester said Sampson was located at his residence at 1007 W. North Street, and arrested on the following requested charges that include Four counts of felony criminal damage to property, Criminal trespass and Theft.

Man accused of damaging multiple vehicles at Kan. dealership

LYON COUNTY—There were no serious injuries after a&nbsp;chlorine gas leak in Emporia Wednesday.

Just after 4p.m., the Emporia Fire Department was dispatched to the water treatment plant, 2910 W 24th Avenue in Emporia for a reported chlorine leak, according to Batallion Chief Ryan Conley.

A&nbsp; 1-ton chlorine cylinder had a damaged valve that was leaking during a standard cylinder replacement procedure. The on scene water treatment plant staff were able to stop the leak quickly.

The Emporia Fire Department deployed their haz-mat team to isolate the valve and monitor the building and surrounding area for any impact to public safety.&nbsp;EMS treated one employee on scene and they were released, according Fire Chief Jesse Taylor.

All safety measures worked appropriately and there was no chlorine exposure outside of the containment building.&nbsp; EMS treated one person on scene and they were released, according Fire Chief Jesse Taylor.

Water service was uninterrupted and there was no impact to public safety. The cause was determined to be an accidental release from a faulty valve.

LYON COUNTY—There were no serious injuries after a&nbsp;chlorine gas leak in Emporia Wednesday.Just after 4p.m., the Emporia Fire Department was dispatched to the water treatment plant, 2910 W 24th Avenue in Emporia for a reported chlorine leak, according to Batallion Chief Ryan Conley.A&nbsp; 1-ton chlorine cylinder had a damaged valve that was leaking during a standard cylinder replacement procedure. The on scene water treatment plant staff were able to stop the leak quickly.The Emporia Fire Department deployed their haz-mat team to isolate the valve and monitor the building and surrounding area for any impact to public safety.&nbsp;EMS treated one employee on scene and they were released, according Fire Chief Jesse Taylor.All safety measures worked appropriately and there was no chlorine exposure outside of the containment building.&nbsp; EMS treated one person on scene and they were released, according Fire Chief Jesse Taylor.Water service was uninterrupted and there was no impact to public safety. The cause was determined to be an accidental release from a faulty valve.

Crews contain chlorine gas leak at Kan. water treatment plant

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' ethics commission has been investigating Republican campaign activities for at least a year, and the GOP-controlled Legislature is moving to reduce the agency's power and legalize practices apparently under scrutiny.

Republicans backing a bill to overhaul&nbsp;<a href="https://ethics.kansas.gov/">the state Governmental Ethics Commission</a>&nbsp;and rewrite campaign finance laws said Wednesday they're trying to ensure fair treatment of the people and groups scrutinized by the commission. But lawmakers drafted this year's measure amid a court battle over the commission's demand for documents from Kansas Republican Party officials, and critics see the bill as an effort to kneecap the agency.

Documents filed in court over subpoenas issued by the commission indicate that it has been investigating whether Republicans funneled national GOP funds through various committees to legislative candidates in 2020 to avoid contribution limits. One commission report made public in October includes transactions involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-wichita-elections-topeka-b356a78372fd6db9d62ac996459ea641">Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-topeka-wichita-dan-hawkins-00703940e631419a6347afeee59e342a">House Speaker Dan Hawkins,</a>&nbsp;both Wichita-area Republicans, before they took over those offices. The report does not specifically allege wrongdoing by them, however, and the commission has yet to file any complaints over such issues.

It was not lost on the bill's older critics that this year marks the 50th anniversary of investigations into Watergate, the political dirty tricks and obstruction of justice scandal that later forced then-President Richard Nixon to resign. Those scandals prompted Kansas lawmakers to create the ethics commission and enact campaign, lobbying and ethics laws.

“Perhaps we’ve forgotten what happens when government runs amok in the darkness of the night,” said Democratic state Rep. John Carmichael, of Wichita, a lawyer in his mid-60s.

Republicans argue that the ethics commission is engaged in an unwarranted fishing expedition and lawmakers need to see that people's right to due legal process is protected.

Masterson told reporters earlier this month that the commission had asked about his communications but “they’ve since dropped that.” Hawkins said Wednesday that he has not been subpoenaed.

“It’s like you’re guilty until proven innocent, like you’re guilty of something. I didn’t do anything,” Masterson said. “I’m not worried about any of it.”

The GOP-dominated House Elections Committee approved the bill Tuesday on an 8-4 party-line vote, sending it to the full House for a debate as early as this week.

Committee Chair Pat Proctor, a Kansas City-area Republican, said Wednesday that because the bill is not retroactive, it wouldn't interfere with the commission's current investigation. He argued that money represents speech when it’s used for political purposes, making the ethics commission an agency that regulates speech, so that warrants scrutiny.

“It’s a spurious argument that we are not allowed to talk about ethics because there may or may not be some investigation going on,” Proctor said.

This year's bill would limit commission fines and require the commission to get a state district court judge's permission to issue a subpoena. A judge could sanction the commission for subpoenas deemed to create “an undue burden or expense” and the subjects of complaints could have their hearings handled by an outside administrative judge instead of the commission.

It would no longer be illegal in most instances for one donor to give money to a person or group specifically to pass along to the first donor's favored candidate — making it easier to evade contribution limits. Restrictions would be removed on candidates funneling contributions meant for their campaigns to other candidates, party groups or political action committees.

Critics say such changes would render the state's campaign finance laws meaningless. After the bill cleared committee, Skoglund told reporters the measure “stands exactly for the premise that if you are powerful enough, you just change the law to make what you are doing legal.”

State Rep. Cindy Neighbor, a Kansas City-area Democrat, said Wednesday, “This to me is more of a witch hunt and trying to tear down something because I didn't like the outcome.”

In February 2020, the commission issued subpoenas to at least seven Kansas Republican Party officials, seeking all communications — including emails, texts and social media messages — between them and at least 20 other people, including Masterson, for the last seven months of 2020.

In April, a Kansas Chamber of Commerce lobbyist told reporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-campaigns-legislature-kansas-elections-a0e42fb5eb9b235f49946747ce644e50">the group also had received a subpoena.</a>&nbsp;His disclosure came as GOP lawmakers sought for a few hours to rewrite laws organizing the commission so that Skoglund no longer would be qualified for his job.

In August, the commission went to state district court in Shawnee County, home to Kansas' capital of Topeka, to get subpoenas enforced. An attorney for several recipients made theirs public, along with the commission's related “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.”

In late December, a judge heard arguments on quashing the subpoenas and she indicated from the bench that she was considering whether they were too broad. She had not ruled as of Wednesday.

By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' ethics commission has been investigating Republican campaign activities for at least a year, and the GOP-controlled Legislature is moving to reduce the agency's power and legalize practices apparently under scrutiny.Republicans backing a bill to overhaul&nbsp;<a href="https://ethics.kansas.gov/">the state Governmental Ethics Commission</a>&nbsp;and rewrite campaign finance laws said Wednesday they're trying to ensure fair treatment of the people and groups scrutinized by the commission. But lawmakers drafted this year's measure amid a court battle over the commission's demand for documents from Kansas Republican Party officials, and critics see the bill as an effort to kneecap the agency.Documents filed in court over subpoenas issued by the commission indicate that it has been investigating whether Republicans funneled national GOP funds through various committees to legislative candidates in 2020 to avoid contribution limits. One commission report made public in October includes transactions involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-wichita-elections-topeka-b356a78372fd6db9d62ac996459ea641">Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-kansas-topeka-wichita-dan-hawkins-00703940e631419a6347afeee59e342a">House Speaker Dan Hawkins,</a>&nbsp;both Wichita-area Republicans, before they took over those offices. The report does not specifically allege wrongdoing by them, however, and the commission has yet to file any complaints over such issues.It was not lost on the bill's older critics that this year marks the 50th anniversary of investigations into Watergate, the political dirty tricks and obstruction of justice scandal that later forced then-President Richard Nixon to resign. Those scandals prompted Kansas lawmakers to create the ethics commission and enact campaign, lobbying and ethics laws.“Perhaps we’ve forgotten what happens when government runs amok in the darkness of the night,” said Democratic state Rep. John Carmichael, of Wichita, a lawyer in his mid-60s.Republicans argue that the ethics commission is engaged in an unwarranted fishing expedition and lawmakers need to see that people's right to due legal process is protected.Masterson told reporters earlier this month that the commission had asked about his communications but “they’ve since dropped that.” Hawkins said Wednesday that he has not been subpoenaed.“It’s like you’re guilty until proven innocent, like you’re guilty of something. I didn’t do anything,” Masterson said. “I’m not worried about any of it.”The GOP-dominated House Elections Committee approved the bill Tuesday on an 8-4 party-line vote, sending it to the full House for a debate as early as this week.Committee Chair Pat Proctor, a Kansas City-area Republican, said Wednesday that because the bill is not retroactive, it wouldn't interfere with the commission's current investigation. He argued that money represents speech when it’s used for political purposes, making the ethics commission an agency that regulates speech, so that warrants scrutiny.“It’s a spurious argument that we are not allowed to talk about ethics because there may or may not be some investigation going on,” Proctor said.This year's bill would limit commission fines and require the commission to get a state district court judge's permission to issue a subpoena. A judge could sanction the commission for subpoenas deemed to create “an undue burden or expense” and the subjects of complaints could have their hearings handled by an outside administrative judge instead of the commission.It would no longer be illegal in most instances for one donor to give money to a person or group specifically to pass along to the first donor's favored candidate — making it easier to evade contribution limits. Restrictions would be removed on candidates funneling contributions meant for their campaigns to other candidates, party groups or political action committees.Critics say such changes would render the state's campaign finance laws meaningless. After the bill cleared committee, Skoglund told reporters the measure “stands exactly for the premise that if you are powerful enough, you just change the law to make what you are doing legal.”State Rep. Cindy Neighbor, a Kansas City-area Democrat, said Wednesday, “This to me is more of a witch hunt and trying to tear down something because I didn't like the outcome.”In February 2020, the commission issued subpoenas to at least seven Kansas Republican Party officials, seeking all communications — including emails, texts and social media messages — between them and at least 20 other people, including Masterson, for the last seven months of 2020.In April, a Kansas Chamber of Commerce lobbyist told reporters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-campaigns-legislature-kansas-elections-a0e42fb5eb9b235f49946747ce644e50">the group also had received a subpoena.</a>&nbsp;His disclosure came as GOP lawmakers sought for a few hours to rewrite laws organizing the commission so that Skoglund no longer would be qualified for his job.In August, the commission went to state district court in Shawnee County, home to Kansas' capital of Topeka, to get subpoenas enforced. An attorney for several recipients made theirs public, along with the commission's related “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.”In late December, a judge heard arguments on quashing the subpoenas and she indicated from the bench that she was considering whether they were too broad. She had not ruled as of Wednesday.

Amid probe, Kansas lawmakers move to overhaul ethics agency

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a fire Thursday morning in Topeka.

Just after 2a.m. Thursday, fire crews were dispatched to a fire at in a detached garage behind a home at 1435 NW Jackson Street in Topeka, according to city spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.&nbsp;

Crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from the garage and while&nbsp;performing an offensive fire attack, found an adult victim inside the garage who was deceased.

 The fire was quickly contained and no other structures were damaged.

The garage was converted into a make shift residence and the victim was living in the space. Authorities have not released the victim's name or possible cause of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677152894823.png" alt="The garage was converted into a make shift residence and the victim was living in the space.-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The garage was converted into a make shift residence and the victim was living in the space.-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a fire Thursday morning in Topeka.Just after 2a.m. Thursday, fire crews were dispatched to a fire at in a detached garage behind a home at 1435 NW Jackson Street in Topeka, according to city spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.&nbsp;Crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from the garage and while&nbsp;performing an offensive fire attack, found an adult victim inside the garage who was deceased. The fire was quickly contained and no other structures were damaged.The garage was converted into a make shift residence and the victim was living in the space. Authorities have not released the victim's name or possible cause of the fire.

One dead after Kan. fire in garage converted to living space 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;seemed skeptical Wednesday of a lawsuit trying to hold social media companies responsible for a terrorist attack at a Turkish nightclub that killed 39 people.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-1496">Click here to</a> listen to arguments in&nbsp;Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-1333">Click here to&nbsp;</a>listen to arguments in&nbsp;Gonzalez v. Google LLC

During arguments at the high court several justices underscored that there was no evidence linking Twitter, Facebook and Google directly to the 2017 attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul. The family of a man killed in the attack says the companies aided and abetted the attack because they assisted in the growth of the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attack . A lower court let the lawsuit go forward.

What the court does with Wednesday’s case and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-technology-crime-business-internet-6e4551a3f39461e77a82ff577e24e6e7">a related one it heard a day earlier</a>&nbsp;is important, particularly because the companies have been shielded from liability on the internet, allowing them to grow into global giants.

If the court bars the lawsuit involving the attack in Turkey from going forward it could avoid a major ruling on the companies' legal immunity. That outcome would leave the current system in place, but also leave open the possibility that the justices could take up the issue again in a later case.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett was among the members of the court who suggested that the suit against the companies lacks the kind of facts required under a federal anti-terrorism law to hold platforms responsible.

Barrett suggested that a lawsuit against a company such as Twitter would need to have more, such as direct messages, comment threads or other evidence that the platform was being used to coordinate activities for a terrorist attack, “not just general recruitment or radicalizing people.”

Justice Neil Gorsuch, participating remotely for a second straight day because of illness, said he was having difficulty with the argument of a lawyer for the family of Nawras Alassaf, who was killed in the nightclub attack. Gorsuch told lawyer Eric Schnapper that he was "struggling with how your complaint lines up with the three requirements of the statute” that the companies knowingly helped a person commit a terrorist act.

The justices seemed more willing to accept the arguments of a lawyer for Twitter, Facebook and Google, Seth Waxman. At one point during two and a half hours of arguments, Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Waxman to help her sketch out what an opinion would look like if the court ruled for his clients. “Write it for me,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669216816189.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;seemed skeptical Wednesday of a lawsuit trying to hold social media companies responsible for a terrorist attack at a Turkish nightclub that killed 39 people.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-1496">Click here to</a> listen to arguments in&nbsp;Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2022/21-1333">Click here to&nbsp;</a>listen to arguments in&nbsp;Gonzalez v. Google LLCDuring arguments at the high court several justices underscored that there was no evidence linking Twitter, Facebook and Google directly to the 2017 attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul. The family of a man killed in the attack says the companies aided and abetted the attack because they assisted in the growth of the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attack . A lower court let the lawsuit go forward.What the court does with Wednesday’s case and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-technology-crime-business-internet-6e4551a3f39461e77a82ff577e24e6e7">a related one it heard a day earlier</a>&nbsp;is important, particularly because the companies have been shielded from liability on the internet, allowing them to grow into global giants.If the court bars the lawsuit involving the attack in Turkey from going forward it could avoid a major ruling on the companies' legal immunity. That outcome would leave the current system in place, but also leave open the possibility that the justices could take up the issue again in a later case.Justice Amy Coney Barrett was among the members of the court who suggested that the suit against the companies lacks the kind of facts required under a federal anti-terrorism law to hold platforms responsible.Barrett suggested that a lawsuit against a company such as Twitter would need to have more, such as direct messages, comment threads or other evidence that the platform was being used to coordinate activities for a terrorist attack, “not just general recruitment or radicalizing people.”Justice Neil Gorsuch, participating remotely for a second straight day because of illness, said he was having difficulty with the argument of a lawyer for the family of Nawras Alassaf, who was killed in the nightclub attack. Gorsuch told lawyer Eric Schnapper that he was "struggling with how your complaint lines up with the three requirements of the statute” that the companies knowingly helped a person commit a terrorist act.The justices seemed more willing to accept the arguments of a lawyer for Twitter, Facebook and Google, Seth Waxman. At one point during two and a half hours of arguments, Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Waxman to help her sketch out what an opinion would look like if the court ruled for his clients. “Write it for me,” she said.Justice Brett Kavanaugh summarized Waxman's argument this way: “When there’s a legitimate business that provides services on a widely available basis ... it’s not going to be liable under this statute even if it knows bad people use its services for bad things.”Seeming to agree with that idea, Justice Samuel Alito suggested that it would be outlandish if telephone companies were held responsible for criminal activity of people using their phones. What if, he said, the phone company “knows that a particular person is -- has a criminal background and is probably engaging in criminal activity and is using the phone to communicate with other members of that person’s gang. Is that aiding and abetting the crimes that they commit?”The law the case involves is the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows Americans injured by a terrorist attack abroad to sue for money damages in federal court.A decision in the case — Twitter v. Taamneh, 21-1496 — is expected by the end of June before the court recesses for its summer break.___