COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. aircraft including two F16 fighters intercepted four Russian aircraft that flew into a buffer zone of international airspace near Alaska on Monday, according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).&nbsp; 

The Alaska Region of NORAD detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted the aircraft operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. The Russian aircraft included&nbsp;a fighter jet and bomber (TU-95 BEARH-H and SU-35 fighter jet), according to the release.

“This Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative. NORAD had anticipated this Russian activity and, as a result of planning, was prepared to intercept it.”

NORAD also assessed the Russian flight activity is not related to recent UFO activity over North America, according to the release. Supporting NORAD aircraft included two F35A fighters, one E3 Sentry (AWACS) and two KC 135 Stratotankers.

COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. aircraft including two F16 fighters intercepted four Russian aircraft that flew into a buffer zone of international airspace near Alaska on Monday, according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).&nbsp; The Alaska Region of NORAD detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted the aircraft operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. The Russian aircraft included&nbsp;a fighter jet and bomber (TU-95 BEARH-H and SU-35 fighter jet), according to the release.“This Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative. NORAD had anticipated this Russian activity and, as a result of planning, was prepared to intercept it.”NORAD also assessed the Russian flight activity is not related to recent UFO activity over North America, according to the release. Supporting NORAD aircraft included two F35A fighters, one E3 Sentry (AWACS) and two KC 135 Stratotankers.

US intercepts four Russian warplanes near Alaska

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley,</a>&nbsp;the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president on Tuesday, becoming the first major challenger to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;for the 2024 Republican nomination.

The announcement, delivered in a tweeted video, marks an about-face for the ex-Trump Cabinet official, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-orangeburg-south-carolina-united-nations-nikki-haley-fda929b5d69ab0a91b97edc62207bcfb">said two years ago</a>&nbsp;that she wouldn’t challenge her former boss for the White House in 2024. But she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-south-carolina-12b85a32e670636e52e03d8d75d1e145">changed her mind</a>&nbsp;in recent months, citing, among other things, the country’s economic troubles and the need for “generational change,” a nod to the 76-year-old Trump’s age.

“You should know this about me. I don't put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you're wearing heels,” Haley said. “I'm Nikki Haley, and I'm running for president.”

Haley, 51, is the first in a long line of Republicans who are expected to launch 2024 campaigns in the coming months. Among them are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has said he intends to seek reelection in 2024, stalling any jostling for the Democratic nomination.

Haley has regularly boasted about her track record of defying political expectations, saying, “I’ve never lost an election, and I’m not going to start now.”

If elected, Haley would be the nation’s first female president and the first U.S. president of Indian descent.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley grew up enduring racist taunts in a small South Carolina town and has long referenced that impact on her personal and political arc.

In the three-and-a-half minute video, Haley referenced that past, saying she grew up “not Black, not white — I was different."

Despite that, Haley insisted that America is not a racist country: “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Playing in the background of her video were images of media reports related to The New York Times Magazine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project” — which centered the country’s history around slavery.

Haley never mentions Trump by name in the video, instead saying “the Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again." Haley leans into a call for “a new generation of leadership,” which has become the refrain of her messaging leading up to the launch.

There appears to be openness among Republicans to new leadership, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-republican-party-democratic-united-states-government-27977d3fee45201751f37898501fd9cf">new poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. In an open-ended question asking Republicans to choose who they want to lead their party, a majority of Republicans didn't choose either Trump or DeSantis, considered the former president's top rival. But they also didn't have a clear alternative in mind.

Eleven other politicians, including Haley, are named by just 1% of Republicans as their preferred leader.

In a statement, Taylor Budowich, spokesman for Trump's super PAC, said Haley was “just another career politician.”

“She started out as a Never Trumper before resigning to serve in the Trump admin,” he said. "She then resigned early to go rake in money on corporate boards. Now, she’s telling us she represents a ‘new generation.’ Sure just looks like more of the same, a career politician whose only fulfilled commitment is to herself.”

Before entering politics, Haley was an accountant. She defeated the longest-serving member of the South Carolina House in 2004 in her first bid for public office. Three terms later and with little statewide recognition, Haley mounted a long-shot campaign for governor against a large field of experienced politicians.

She racked up a number of high-profile endorsements, including from the sitting South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a tea party darling.

With her 2010 victory, Haley became South Carolina’s first female and minority governor — and the nation’s youngest at 38. She earned a speaking slot at the 2012 Republican National Convention and gave the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union in 2016.

The defining moment of Haley’s time as governor came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-religion-charleston-arrests-8747b77ae03a426e864f042454cab603">2015 murders of nine Black parishioners</a>&nbsp;in a Charleston church by a self-avowed white supremacist who had been pictured holding Confederate flags.

For years, Haley had resisted calls to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, even casting a rival’s push for its removal as a desperate stunt. But after the massacre and with the support of other leading Republicans, Haley advocated for legislation to remove the flag.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/83acf6f3ed7645168d4b9606bc94abcc">It came down</a>&nbsp;less than a month after the murders.

In the 2016 presidential primary, Haley was an early supporter of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, later shifting to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. She ultimately said she would back the party’s nominee.

Shortly after Trump’s victory, he tapped Haley to be his U.N. ambassador, a move that rewarded Henry McMaster, the lieutenant governor who was the nation’s first statewide elected official to back Trump’s 2016 campaign. Haley’s departure cleared the way for McMaster to ascend to the governorship he had sought, since losing a bruising primary to none other than Haley seven years earlier.

With her Senate confirmation, Haley became the first Indian American in a presidential Cabinet.

During her nearly two-year tenure, Haley feuded at times with other administration officials while bolstering her own public persona.

One of her most memorable moments as U.N. ambassador came in 2018 after National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow suggested Haley had suffered “momentary confusion” when she said Russian sanctions were imminent.

“With all due respect, I don’t get confused,” she responded. The first half of the quote became the title of her 2019 memoir.

Her departure from the job later that year fueled speculation that she would challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. She did neither.

Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, where she bought a home on the wealthy enclave Kiawah Island, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co., launched herself on the speaking circuit and wrote two books, including the memoir.

After the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, Haley initially cast doubts on Trump’s political future but said she wouldn’t challenge him in 2024. She later shifted course, citing inflation, crime, drugs and a “foreign policy in disarray” among her reasons for considering a White House campaign.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-new-hampshire-state-government-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-7624d58296aa9b808032e2edbcd166c3">his South Carolina stop</a>&nbsp;last month, Trump told WIS-TV that Haley had called to seek his opinion on running for president. Trump pointed out her earlier pledge not to run against him but said he made no attempt to stop her.

“She said she would never run against me because I was the greatest president, but people change their opinions, and they change what’s in their hearts,” Trump said. “So I said, ‘If your heart wants to do it, you have to go do it.’”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley,</a>&nbsp;the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president on Tuesday, becoming the first major challenger to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;for the 2024 Republican nomination.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Get excited! Time for a new generation. Let’s do this! 👊 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/BD5k4WY1CP">pic.twitter.com/BD5k4WY1CP</a>&mdash; Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley/status/1625461899218280448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The announcement, delivered in a tweeted video, marks an about-face for the ex-Trump Cabinet official, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-orangeburg-south-carolina-united-nations-nikki-haley-fda929b5d69ab0a91b97edc62207bcfb">said two years ago</a>&nbsp;that she wouldn’t challenge her former boss for the White House in 2024. But she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-south-carolina-12b85a32e670636e52e03d8d75d1e145">changed her mind</a>&nbsp;in recent months, citing, among other things, the country’s economic troubles and the need for “generational change,” a nod to the 76-year-old Trump’s age.“You should know this about me. I don't put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you're wearing heels,” Haley said. “I'm Nikki Haley, and I'm running for president.”Haley, 51, is the first in a long line of Republicans who are expected to launch 2024 campaigns in the coming months. Among them are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has said he intends to seek reelection in 2024, stalling any jostling for the Democratic nomination.Haley has regularly boasted about her track record of defying political expectations, saying, “I’ve never lost an election, and I’m not going to start now.”If elected, Haley would be the nation’s first female president and the first U.S. president of Indian descent.The daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley grew up enduring racist taunts in a small South Carolina town and has long referenced that impact on her personal and political arc.In the three-and-a-half minute video, Haley referenced that past, saying she grew up “not Black, not white — I was different."Despite that, Haley insisted that America is not a racist country: “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Playing in the background of her video were images of media reports related to The New York Times Magazine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project” — which centered the country’s history around slavery.Haley never mentions Trump by name in the video, instead saying “the Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again." Haley leans into a call for “a new generation of leadership,” which has become the refrain of her messaging leading up to the launch.There appears to be openness among Republicans to new leadership, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-us-republican-party-democratic-united-states-government-27977d3fee45201751f37898501fd9cf">new poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. In an open-ended question asking Republicans to choose who they want to lead their party, a majority of Republicans didn't choose either Trump or DeSantis, considered the former president's top rival. But they also didn't have a clear alternative in mind.Eleven other politicians, including Haley, are named by just 1% of Republicans as their preferred leader.In a statement, Taylor Budowich, spokesman for Trump's super PAC, said Haley was “just another career politician.”“She started out as a Never Trumper before resigning to serve in the Trump admin,” he said. "She then resigned early to go rake in money on corporate boards. Now, she’s telling us she represents a ‘new generation.’ Sure just looks like more of the same, a career politician whose only fulfilled commitment is to herself.”Before entering politics, Haley was an accountant. She defeated the longest-serving member of the South Carolina House in 2004 in her first bid for public office. Three terms later and with little statewide recognition, Haley mounted a long-shot campaign for governor against a large field of experienced politicians.She racked up a number of high-profile endorsements, including from the sitting South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a tea party darling.With her 2010 victory, Haley became South Carolina’s first female and minority governor — and the nation’s youngest at 38. She earned a speaking slot at the 2012 Republican National Convention and gave the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union in 2016.The defining moment of Haley’s time as governor came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-religion-charleston-arrests-8747b77ae03a426e864f042454cab603">2015 murders of nine Black parishioners</a>&nbsp;in a Charleston church by a self-avowed white supremacist who had been pictured holding Confederate flags.For years, Haley had resisted calls to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, even casting a rival’s push for its removal as a desperate stunt. But after the massacre and with the support of other leading Republicans, Haley advocated for legislation to remove the flag.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/83acf6f3ed7645168d4b9606bc94abcc">It came down</a>&nbsp;less than a month after the murders.In the 2016 presidential primary, Haley was an early supporter of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, later shifting to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. She ultimately said she would back the party’s nominee.Shortly after Trump’s victory, he tapped Haley to be his U.N. ambassador, a move that rewarded Henry McMaster, the lieutenant governor who was the nation’s first statewide elected official to back Trump’s 2016 campaign. Haley’s departure cleared the way for McMaster to ascend to the governorship he had sought, since losing a bruising primary to none other than Haley seven years earlier.With her Senate confirmation, Haley became the first Indian American in a presidential Cabinet.During her nearly two-year tenure, Haley feuded at times with other administration officials while bolstering her own public persona.One of her most memorable moments as U.N. ambassador came in 2018 after National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow suggested Haley had suffered “momentary confusion” when she said Russian sanctions were imminent.“With all due respect, I don’t get confused,” she responded. The first half of the quote became the title of her 2019 memoir.Her departure from the job later that year fueled speculation that she would challenge Trump in 2020 or replace Pence on the ticket. She did neither.Instead, Haley returned to South Carolina, where she bought a home on the wealthy enclave Kiawah Island, joined the board of aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co., launched herself on the speaking circuit and wrote two books, including the memoir.After the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, Haley initially cast doubts on Trump’s political future but said she wouldn’t challenge him in 2024. She later shifted course, citing inflation, crime, drugs and a “foreign policy in disarray” among her reasons for considering a White House campaign.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-new-hampshire-state-government-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-7624d58296aa9b808032e2edbcd166c3">his South Carolina stop</a>&nbsp;last month, Trump told WIS-TV that Haley had called to seek his opinion on running for president. Trump pointed out her earlier pledge not to run against him but said he made no attempt to stop her.“She said she would never run against me because I was the greatest president, but people change their opinions, and they change what’s in their hearts,” Trump said. “So I said, ‘If your heart wants to do it, you have to go do it.’”

🎥Trump has challenger for GOP presidential nomination

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Josh Hawley, Roger Marshall and Eric Schmitt on Tuesday&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/b/9/b9a2ffbe-864f-4419-88f9-49c1fadd3971/95ED5FA8C1CFAECB5C70F54BBE281CBF.chiefs.pdf" target="_blank">introduced</a>&nbsp;a Senate resolution congratulating the Kansas City Chiefs on their historic Super Bowl LVII victory.

<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/b/9/b9a2ffbe-864f-4419-88f9-49c1fadd3971/95ED5FA8C1CFAECB5C70F54BBE281CBF.chiefs.pdf">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;full resolution

“For the second time in four seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “Coach Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce cemented their Hall of Fame careers with another incredible season and Super Bowl victory. I also want to acknowledge Clark Hunt for running an exceptional organization and building the foundation for this remarkable team. Chiefs Kingdom has the best fans in the NFL, and I look forward to the fan base growing even bigger as the Chiefs continue their dynasty for many years to come. One thing is for certain, never count out the Chiefs.”

"The Chiefs had a remarkable season, finishing strong with a hard-fought and well-deserved Super Bowl win,”&nbsp;said Sen. Hawley. “The Kansas City community could not be more proud of this team's accomplishments, and we look forward to their continued success into the future.”

“How about those Chiefs! Celebrating victories like this with family and friends is truly what makes sports so great,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“Kansans are once again tremendously proud of this team, and congratulations to all the players, coaches, support staff and team management on delivering this franchise it’s second championship in the last four seasons!”

“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a hard-fought, well-deserved Super Bowl win on Sunday,”&nbsp;said Sen. Schmitt. “This season, the Chiefs have defied the odds and found a way to win in critical games, and last night was no different. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the entire Chiefs organization have represented Kansas City and Missouri well, and I wish them continued success in the future.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676403378968.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Josh Hawley, Roger Marshall and Eric Schmitt on Tuesday&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/b/9/b9a2ffbe-864f-4419-88f9-49c1fadd3971/95ED5FA8C1CFAECB5C70F54BBE281CBF.chiefs.pdf" target="_blank">introduced</a>&nbsp;a Senate resolution congratulating the Kansas City Chiefs on their historic Super Bowl LVII victory.<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/b/9/b9a2ffbe-864f-4419-88f9-49c1fadd3971/95ED5FA8C1CFAECB5C70F54BBE281CBF.chiefs.pdf">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;full resolution“For the second time in four seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “Coach Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce cemented their Hall of Fame careers with another incredible season and Super Bowl victory. I also want to acknowledge Clark Hunt for running an exceptional organization and building the foundation for this remarkable team. Chiefs Kingdom has the best fans in the NFL, and I look forward to the fan base growing even bigger as the Chiefs continue their dynasty for many years to come. One thing is for certain, never count out the Chiefs.”"The Chiefs had a remarkable season, finishing strong with a hard-fought and well-deserved Super Bowl win,”&nbsp;said Sen. Hawley. “The Kansas City community could not be more proud of this team's accomplishments, and we look forward to their continued success into the future.”“How about those Chiefs! Celebrating victories like this with family and friends is truly what makes sports so great,”&nbsp;said Sen. Marshall.&nbsp;“Kansans are once again tremendously proud of this team, and congratulations to all the players, coaches, support staff and team management on delivering this franchise it’s second championship in the last four seasons!”“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a hard-fought, well-deserved Super Bowl win on Sunday,”&nbsp;said Sen. Schmitt. “This season, the Chiefs have defied the odds and found a way to win in critical games, and last night was no different. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the entire Chiefs organization have represented Kansas City and Missouri well, and I wish them continued success in the future.”

Read the Senate resolution honoring Chiefs Super Bowl victory

BRUSSELS (AP) — The first U.S. missile fired at an unidentified aerial object over Lake Huron missed the target and “landed harmlessly" in the water before a second one successfully hit, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.

The acknowledgment of the errant missile by Gen. Mark Milley came amid questions about whether the government was creating unnecessary risk by shooting down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-high-altitude-balloons-in-airspace-8d8b9e7474027e1305264b2c7b8b04fb">aerial objects</a>&nbsp;that military officials say didn’t pose a security threat.

In Washington, Pentagon officials met with senators for a classified briefing on the shootdowns. Lawmakers conveyed concerns from their constituents about a need to keep them informed and came away assured the objects were not extraterrestrial in nature. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the recent spate of interceptions was likely to have a “calming influence” and make future shootdowns less likely.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters after exiting the briefing that he didn’t think the objects posed a threat.

“They’re trying to figure out — you know there’s a bunch of junk up there. So you got to figure out what’s the threat, what’s not. You see something, you shouldn’t always have to shoot it down," Graham said.

Milley said the military went to “great lengths” to make sure the strikes did not put civilians at risk, including identifying what the debris field size was likely to be and the maximum effective range of the missiles used. He also said in each case the Pentagon works to make sure that the air space is clear, and to evaluate the potential debris field, before embarking on such a strike.

“We’re very, very careful to make sure that those shots are in fact safe,” Milley said. “And that’s the guidance from the president. Shoot it down, but make sure we minimize collateral damage and we preserve the safety of the American people."

The object taken down Sunday was the third in as many days to be shot from the skies. The White House has said the objects differed in size and maneuverability from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese surveillance balloon</a>&nbsp;that U.S. fighter jets shot down earlier this month, but that their altitude was low enough to pose a risk to civilian air traffic.

Weather challenges and the remote locations of where the three objects were shot down over Alaska, Canada and Lake Huron have impeded recovery efforts so far, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Monday.

Milley was in Brussels with Austin to meet with members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on additional weapons and defense needs for Kyiv in advance of Russia's anticipated spring offensive.

Fox News was the first to report the missed missile strike.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The first U.S. missile fired at an unidentified aerial object over Lake Huron missed the target and “landed harmlessly" in the water before a second one successfully hit, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gen. Mark Milley (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejointstaff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thejointstaff</a>): &quot;Yes, the first shot missed on the fourth balloon. We&#39;re talking about the balloon that was downed over Lake Huron…the first shot missed, the second shot hit.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Vb0XQOCwYy">pic.twitter.com/Vb0XQOCwYy</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1625525857333698564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The acknowledgment of the errant missile by Gen. Mark Milley came amid questions about whether the government was creating unnecessary risk by shooting down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-high-altitude-balloons-in-airspace-8d8b9e7474027e1305264b2c7b8b04fb">aerial objects</a>&nbsp;that military officials say didn’t pose a security threat.In Washington, Pentagon officials met with senators for a classified briefing on the shootdowns. Lawmakers conveyed concerns from their constituents about a need to keep them informed and came away assured the objects were not extraterrestrial in nature. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the recent spate of interceptions was likely to have a “calming influence” and make future shootdowns less likely.Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters after exiting the briefing that he didn’t think the objects posed a threat.“They’re trying to figure out — you know there’s a bunch of junk up there. So you got to figure out what’s the threat, what’s not. You see something, you shouldn’t always have to shoot it down," Graham said.Milley said the military went to “great lengths” to make sure the strikes did not put civilians at risk, including identifying what the debris field size was likely to be and the maximum effective range of the missiles used. He also said in each case the Pentagon works to make sure that the air space is clear, and to evaluate the potential debris field, before embarking on such a strike.“We’re very, very careful to make sure that those shots are in fact safe,” Milley said. “And that’s the guidance from the president. Shoot it down, but make sure we minimize collateral damage and we preserve the safety of the American people."The object taken down Sunday was the third in as many days to be shot from the skies. The White House has said the objects differed in size and maneuverability from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">Chinese surveillance balloon</a>&nbsp;that U.S. fighter jets shot down earlier this month, but that their altitude was low enough to pose a risk to civilian air traffic.Weather challenges and the remote locations of where the three objects were shot down over Alaska, Canada and Lake Huron have impeded recovery efforts so far, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The White House said there is no indication the recently shot down objects are extraterrestrial or part of Chinese espionage. <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, what are they? The American people need to know so we can stop the fear-mongering. <a href="https://t.co/lG8Kr6g6Pa">pic.twitter.com/lG8Kr6g6Pa</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1625565912362364928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Milley was in Brussels with Austin to meet with members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on additional weapons and defense needs for Kyiv in advance of Russia's anticipated spring offensive.Fox News was the first to report the missed missile strike.

🎥US military missed Lake Huron UFO with first missile strike

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 463,000 older vehicles because the emblem on the steering wheel can come loose when the air bag is deployed and injure drivers.

The recall mainly in North America covers certain Frontier small pickups, Titan large pickups and Xterra, Pathfinder and Armada SUVs from 2008 through 2011. Also included are Quest minivans from 2008 and 2009, as well as about 11,000 parts used for service.

Nissan says it has four reports alleging injuries due to the problem.

The company hasn't developed a repair yet. Customers will get an interim letter in early April, followed by a letter telling them when to go to a dealer for service.

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling more than 463,000 older vehicles because the emblem on the steering wheel can come loose when the air bag is deployed and injure drivers.The recall mainly in North America covers certain Frontier small pickups, Titan large pickups and Xterra, Pathfinder and Armada SUVs from 2008 through 2011. Also included are Quest minivans from 2008 and 2009, as well as about 11,000 parts used for service.Nissan says it has four reports alleging injuries due to the problem.The company hasn't developed a repair yet. Customers will get an interim letter in early April, followed by a letter telling them when to go to a dealer for service.

Nissan recall: Air bag can knock steering wheel emblem loose

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following an altercation in Manhattan.

Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, officers filed for battery in the 200 block of N. 9th Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 24-year-old man reported a 40-year-old man slapped him and bit him in the face. When officers arrived and attempted to place the suspect under arrest, he resisted by physically fighting the officers. 

Police arrested Wendell Parrish of Manhattan on requested charges of battery, battery on LEO, and interference with LEO. He remains confined in the Riley County Jail with a total bond of $7,000.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following an altercation in Manhattan.Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, officers filed for battery in the 200 block of N. 9th Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 24-year-old man reported a 40-year-old man slapped him and bit him in the face. When officers arrived and attempted to place the suspect under arrest, he resisted by physically fighting the officers. Police arrested Wendell Parrish of Manhattan on requested charges of battery, battery on LEO, and interference with LEO. He remains confined in the Riley County Jail with a total bond of $7,000.

Suspect allegedly bit man, fought with Kan. officers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —New Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan lost a Super Bowl bet with Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/WPDChiefSearch/Documents/Joe%20Sullivan%20Bio.pdf">Sullivan, who served</a> more than 25 years in law enforcement and management in the Philadelphia Police Department, is a big Eagles fan.

<a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff/about/">Easter, a native Kansan,</a> who has been the Sedgwick County Sheriff since 2012 is a Chiefs fan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sullivan promptly paid off on the bet Monday at Central and Main in Wichita.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —New Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan lost a Super Bowl bet with Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/WPDChiefSearch/Documents/Joe%20Sullivan%20Bio.pdf">Sullivan, who served</a> more than 25 years in law enforcement and management in the Philadelphia Police Department, is a big Eagles fan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to Chiefs Kingdom, <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_p_Sullivan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Joe_p_Sullivan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cheifskingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cheifskingdom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoChiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoChiefs</a> <a href="https://t.co/s4Em5J6YbG">pic.twitter.com/s4Em5J6YbG</a>&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1625244169223434254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff/about/">Easter, a native Kansan,</a> who has been the Sedgwick County Sheriff since 2012 is a Chiefs fan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sullivan promptly paid off on the bet Monday at Central and Main in Wichita.

New Wichita Police Chief pays off Super Bowl bet

HAVILAND, Kan. —Barclay College has been approved to offer the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, according to a media release from the school.

The Kansas State Board of Nursing approved the program in July 2022. Barclay College School of Nursing will immediately begin accepting applications. Courses will be administered on campus in a face-to-face format.

The approval finishes the work taken on by the Barclay College Board of Trustees in 2019. The initiative included raising over $1 million to finance the program and remodel facilities for classroom and clinical instruction.

“The challenge of adding a nursing program fits well within the mission of Barclay College,” said President Royce Frazier. “Both supporters and people in the medical profession affirmed that an institution that is committed to both faith and healing has a relevant place in our culture and our world today,” remarked President Frazier. “Holding to our deeply grounded roots in partnering any degree with an additional degree in biblical studies sets our students apart.”

As the only fully accredited college in Southwest Kansas and with the lack of face-to-face nursing programs in the region, it also affirms the commitment of Barclay College to the future of the region.

In July 2019, Kim Hansen, MSN/Ed, RN, CNE, was hired as the Dean of the Barclay College School of Nursing with the task of preparing the college for the accreditation process.

Community support was abundant. Susan Page, former President and CEO of Pratt Regional Medical Center, said, “We absolutely support Barclay College’s initiative to pursue accreditation toward a nursing program that could be so beneficial for the residents of Southwest Kansas! We stand ready to assist in any way we can.”

The decision came only months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the nursing shortage became even more apparent. Momentum continued to build as a team of nursing professionals from the community and local hospitals, recruited by Hansen, met with an architectural team to discuss the details of what the simulation laboratory, skills laboratory, classrooms, and supporting faculty office requirements would be for our nursing program. Jackson Hall was remodeled to support two classrooms, a skills laboratory, and a simulation hospital.

The traditional BSN program will be offered at the campus location in Haviland. The program meets the needs of the traditional or non-traditional student who desires licensure as a registered professional nurse at the baccalaureate level. This is a full-time offering with clinicals in healthcare facilities and on campus. As a faith-based school, Barclay College includes a dual degree in Biblical Studies (BBS). Applications to the Traditional BSN program are currently being accepted for Fall 2024. General applications are encouraged to be submitted immediately for pre-nursing students who have the goal of entering the traditional BSN program in the future. A Full Tuition Scholarship is available to all students who live in the dorms.

The program is designed around high-quality professional nursing courses, taught by a faculty with over 34 years of combined nursing education experience. Kim Hansen, Dean of the School of Nursing, said, "As a faith-based college, the Barclay program offers an environment that integrates faith with nursing skills.”

More
information and the BSN program application can be found
at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barclaycollege.edu/nursing/">https://www.barclaycollege.edu/nursing/</a>.

Students
may also contact the Admissions
office at (800) 862.0226 or by email
at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nursingadmissions@barclaycollege.edu">nursingadmissions@barclaycollege.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676383874507.jpeg" alt="Kim Hansen, Dean, Barclay College School of Nursing, shows one of the demonstrator models used in clinical training." />
 <figcaption>Kim Hansen, Dean, Barclay College School of Nursing, shows one of the demonstrator models used in clinical training.</figcaption>
 </figure>HAVILAND, Kan. —Barclay College has been approved to offer the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, according to a media release from the school.The Kansas State Board of Nursing approved the program in July 2022. Barclay College School of Nursing will immediately begin accepting applications. Courses will be administered on campus in a face-to-face format.The approval finishes the work taken on by the Barclay College Board of Trustees in 2019. The initiative included raising over $1 million to finance the program and remodel facilities for classroom and clinical instruction.“The challenge of adding a nursing program fits well within the mission of Barclay College,” said President Royce Frazier. “Both supporters and people in the medical profession affirmed that an institution that is committed to both faith and healing has a relevant place in our culture and our world today,” remarked President Frazier. “Holding to our deeply grounded roots in partnering any degree with an additional degree in biblical studies sets our students apart.”As the only fully accredited college in Southwest Kansas and with the lack of face-to-face nursing programs in the region, it also affirms the commitment of Barclay College to the future of the region.In July 2019, Kim Hansen, MSN/Ed, RN, CNE, was hired as the Dean of the Barclay College School of Nursing with the task of preparing the college for the accreditation process.Community support was abundant. Susan Page, former President and CEO of Pratt Regional Medical Center, said, “We absolutely support Barclay College’s initiative to pursue accreditation toward a nursing program that could be so beneficial for the residents of Southwest Kansas! We stand ready to assist in any way we can.”The decision came only months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the nursing shortage became even more apparent. Momentum continued to build as a team of nursing professionals from the community and local hospitals, recruited by Hansen, met with an architectural team to discuss the details of what the simulation laboratory, skills laboratory, classrooms, and supporting faculty office requirements would be for our nursing program. Jackson Hall was remodeled to support two classrooms, a skills laboratory, and a simulation hospital.The traditional BSN program will be offered at the campus location in Haviland. The program meets the needs of the traditional or non-traditional student who desires licensure as a registered professional nurse at the baccalaureate level. This is a full-time offering with clinicals in healthcare facilities and on campus. As a faith-based school, Barclay College includes a dual degree in Biblical Studies (BBS). Applications to the Traditional BSN program are currently being accepted for Fall 2024. General applications are encouraged to be submitted immediately for pre-nursing students who have the goal of entering the traditional BSN program in the future. A Full Tuition Scholarship is available to all students who live in the dorms.The program is designed around high-quality professional nursing courses, taught by a faculty with over 34 years of combined nursing education experience. Kim Hansen, Dean of the School of Nursing, said, "As a faith-based college, the Barclay program offers an environment that integrates faith with nursing skills.”
More
information and the BSN program application can be found
at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barclaycollege.edu/nursing/">https://www.barclaycollege.edu/nursing/</a>.Students
may also contact the Admissions
office at (800) 862.0226 or by email
at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nursingadmissions@barclaycollege.edu">nursingadmissions@barclaycollege.edu</a>.

SW Kan. college approved to offer nursing degree program

BOURBON COUNTY—A firefighter avoided serious injury in a crash just after 3p.m. Monday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner fire truck driven by 20-year-old Matthew B. Troyer, Pittsburg, was southbound on Kansas 3 at Hickory Road responding to a fire call.

The passenger side tires dropped off the edge of the road. The driver overcorrected to the left and back to the right. The firetruck overturned in the northbound ditch and came to rest on its side.

EMS transported Troyer to Via Christi. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

BOURBON COUNTY—A firefighter avoided serious injury in a crash just after 3p.m. Monday in Bourbon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner fire truck driven by 20-year-old Matthew B. Troyer, Pittsburg, was southbound on Kansas 3 at Hickory Road responding to a fire call.The passenger side tires dropped off the edge of the road. The driver overcorrected to the left and back to the right. The firetruck overturned in the northbound ditch and came to rest on its side.EMS transported Troyer to Via Christi. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Fire truck responding to fire overturns on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON —Efforts continue to recover remnants of an object shot down over Lake Huron by a U.S. fighter jet on Sunday — the third object downed over North America since a U.S. missile took down a Chinese surveillance balloon on Feb. 4, according to&nbsp;David Vergun in a statement from with U.S. Department of Defense.

(click below to listen to the White House statement on aliens and UFOs)

The weeks-long succession of objects, starting with a giant white orb first detected over U.S. skies in late January, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-balloon-espionage-1cca3467f32a2751b35ec1686aadc310">puzzled American officials and stirred curiosity around the world.</a>&nbsp;Though the three most recent objects differed in size, maneuverability and other characteristics from the surveillance balloon shot down Feb. 4 off the Carolina coast, officials moved to eliminate each one from the sky — actions that Pentagon officials believe have no peacetime precedent.

“Because we have not been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are, we acted out of an abundance of caution to protect our security, our interests and flight safety,” Kirby said.

One possibility that the U.S. has been able to rule out is any connection to extraterrestrial activity, the White House said Monday, tamping down lighthearted public speculation about aliens and outer space.

“I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no — again, no — indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the outset of a press briefing.

Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, confirmed the latest incident at a weekend briefing.

Radar at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, first detected the airborne object at 4:45 p.m. Saturday when it was in Canadian airspace about 70 miles north of the U.S. border. &nbsp;

NORAD is a United States-Canada organization with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America.&nbsp;

Aerospace warning includes the detection, validation and warning of an attack against North America — whether by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles — through mutual support arrangements with other commands.&nbsp;

The object entered the airspace over Montana and drifted eastward before being taken down at 2:42 p.m. yesterday by a U.S. AIM-9X Sidewinder missile. Additionally, objects were shot down over Alaska and northwest Canada on Friday and Saturday.

"In light of the People's Republic of China balloon that we took Feb. 4, we have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we've detected over the past week,"&nbsp;Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, said.&nbsp;

The object shot down Sunday had soared over sensitive Defense Department sites, and its altitude of about 20,000 feet posed a potential hazard to civilian aviation, DOD officials&nbsp;said.

VanHerck said an abundance of caution was used in the take-down to prevent potential collateral damage. DOD also worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to clear the airspace and the area was also checked for vessels.&nbsp;

Other Western nations are also trying to assess the spate of incidents.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1038US1038&amp;oq=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59l3.5745j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday</a>&nbsp;that the government would do “whatever it takes” to protect the country, as the U.K. announced a security review. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “there is some sort of pattern” to the balloon and three other objects, though the U.S. has not echoed that claim.

None of the three most recent objects has been recovered, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Brussels, where he was scheduled to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting this week.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

WASHINGTON —Efforts continue to recover remnants of an object shot down over Lake Huron by a U.S. fighter jet on Sunday — the third object downed over North America since a U.S. missile took down a Chinese surveillance balloon on Feb. 4, according to&nbsp;David Vergun in a statement from with U.S. Department of Defense.(click below to listen to the White House statement on aliens and UFOs)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F723262652590113%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=255" 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>The weeks-long succession of objects, starting with a giant white orb first detected over U.S. skies in late January, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-balloon-espionage-1cca3467f32a2751b35ec1686aadc310">puzzled American officials and stirred curiosity around the world.</a>&nbsp;Though the three most recent objects differed in size, maneuverability and other characteristics from the surveillance balloon shot down Feb. 4 off the Carolina coast, officials moved to eliminate each one from the sky — actions that Pentagon officials believe have no peacetime precedent.“Because we have not been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are, we acted out of an abundance of caution to protect our security, our interests and flight safety,” Kirby said.One possibility that the U.S. has been able to rule out is any connection to extraterrestrial activity, the White House said Monday, tamping down lighthearted public speculation about aliens and outer space.“I know there have been questions and concerns about this, but there is no — again, no — indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the outset of a press briefing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676045566817.png" alt="Agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the China spy balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina-photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the China spy balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina-photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, confirmed the latest incident at a weekend briefing.Radar at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, first detected the airborne object at 4:45 p.m. Saturday when it was in Canadian airspace about 70 miles north of the U.S. border. &nbsp;NORAD is a United States-Canada organization with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America.&nbsp;Aerospace warning includes the detection, validation and warning of an attack against North America — whether by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles — through mutual support arrangements with other commands.&nbsp;The object entered the airspace over Montana and drifted eastward before being taken down at 2:42 p.m. yesterday by a U.S. AIM-9X Sidewinder missile. Additionally, objects were shot down over Alaska and northwest Canada on Friday and Saturday."In light of the People's Republic of China balloon that we took Feb. 4, we have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we've detected over the past week,"&nbsp;Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, said.&nbsp;The object shot down Sunday had soared over sensitive Defense Department sites, and its altitude of about 20,000 feet posed a potential hazard to civilian aviation, DOD officials&nbsp;said.VanHerck said an abundance of caution was used in the take-down to prevent potential collateral damage. DOD also worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to clear the airspace and the area was also checked for vessels.&nbsp;Other Western nations are also trying to assess the spate of incidents.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1038US1038&amp;oq=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59l3.5745j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday</a>&nbsp;that the government would do “whatever it takes” to protect the country, as the U.K. announced a security review. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “there is some sort of pattern” to the balloon and three other objects, though the U.S. has not echoed that claim.None of the three most recent objects has been recovered, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Brussels, where he was scheduled to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting this week.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

🎥No aliens but none of recent shot down UFOs have been recovered

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-university-campus-shootings-b52b808c621273dcad1c233ed4080fe4">opened fire at Michigan State University</a>&nbsp;killed three students and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday.

Police at a news conference later Tuesday identified the gunman as 43-year-old Anthony McRae. They said he shot himself miles away from campus while being confronted by police.

Officials earlier said the gunman was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university.

The shooting began Monday night at an academic building and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study. As hundreds of officers scoured the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, students hid where they could. Four hours after the first shots were reported, police announced the man’s death.

“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.

Dominik Molotky said he was learning about Cuban history around 8:15 p.m. when he and the other students heard a gunshot outside the classroom. He told ABC’s “Good Morning America" that a few seconds later, the gunman entered and fired three to four more rounds while the students took cover.

“I was ducking and covering, and the same with the rest of the students. He let off four more rounds and when it went silent for about 30 seconds to a minute, two of my classmates started breaking open a window, and that took about 30 seconds to happen. There was glass everywhere,” Molotky said.

“After that, we broke out the window and I climbed out of there, and then I booked it back to my apartment,” he said. He was unsure whether gunfire hit any of the students.

Ryan Kunkel, 22, was attending a class in the Engineering Building when he became aware of the shooting from a university email. Kunkel and about 13 other students turned off the lights and acted like there “was a shooter right outside the door,” he said.

“Nothing came out of anyone’s mouth” for over four hours, he said.

“I wasn’t ready to accept that this is really going on next door,” Kunkel said. “This is supposed to be a place where I’m coming, learning and bettering myself. And instead, students are getting hurt.”

The shooting is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-victims-98c7124322ca58ad5911f26b2b8efbf8">where 11 people were killed</a>&nbsp;as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.

In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls">Gun Violence Archive</a>.

“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented.

Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.

Police eventually confronted the shooter, who then died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman said.

“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.

Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his dorm when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”

“She told me, ‘Someone came in our classroom and started shooting,’” Zimbo told The Associated Press. “Her hands were completely covered in blood. It was on her pants and her shoes. She said, ‘It’s my friend’s blood.’”

Zimbo said the woman left to find a friend’s car while he returned to his SUV and threw a blanket over himself to hide for three hours.

Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were canceled for 48 hours.

Interim university President Teresa Woodruff said it would be a time “to think and grieve and come together.”

“This Spartan community — this family — will come back together,” Woodruff said.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-university-campus-shootings-b52b808c621273dcad1c233ed4080fe4">opened fire at Michigan State University</a>&nbsp;killed three people and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday.

Officials do not know why the 43-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, targeted the campus. He was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university, according to campus police.

The shooting at Michigan State is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-victims-98c7124322ca58ad5911f26b2b8efbf8">where 11 people were killed</a>&nbsp;as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.

Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his residence hall when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”

During the manhunt, WDIV-TV meteorologist Kim Adams, whose daughter attends Michigan State, told viewers that students were worn down by the hourslong saga.

“They’ve been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room,” Adams said.

Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile (less than a kilometer) east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.” Sirens were constant, and a helicopter hovered overhead.

“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676373148382.png" alt="Security camera image of the suspect released by police&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image of the suspect released by police&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-university-campus-shootings-b52b808c621273dcad1c233ed4080fe4">opened fire at Michigan State University</a>&nbsp;killed three students and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday.Police at a news conference later Tuesday identified the gunman as 43-year-old Anthony McRae. They said he shot himself miles away from campus while being confronted by police.Officials earlier said the gunman was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university.The shooting began Monday night at an academic building and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study. As hundreds of officers scoured the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, students hid where they could. Four hours after the first shots were reported, police announced the man’s death.“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.Dominik Molotky said he was learning about Cuban history around 8:15 p.m. when he and the other students heard a gunshot outside the classroom. He told ABC’s “Good Morning America" that a few seconds later, the gunman entered and fired three to four more rounds while the students took cover.“I was ducking and covering, and the same with the rest of the students. He let off four more rounds and when it went silent for about 30 seconds to a minute, two of my classmates started breaking open a window, and that took about 30 seconds to happen. There was glass everywhere,” Molotky said.“After that, we broke out the window and I climbed out of there, and then I booked it back to my apartment,” he said. He was unsure whether gunfire hit any of the students.Ryan Kunkel, 22, was attending a class in the Engineering Building when he became aware of the shooting from a university email. Kunkel and about 13 other students turned off the lights and acted like there “was a shooter right outside the door,” he said.“Nothing came out of anyone’s mouth” for over four hours, he said.“I wasn’t ready to accept that this is really going on next door,” Kunkel said. “This is supposed to be a place where I’m coming, learning and bettering myself. And instead, students are getting hurt.”The shooting is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-victims-98c7124322ca58ad5911f26b2b8efbf8">where 11 people were killed</a>&nbsp;as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls">Gun Violence Archive</a>.“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented.Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.Police eventually confronted the shooter, who then died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman said.“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his dorm when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”“She told me, ‘Someone came in our classroom and started shooting,’” Zimbo told The Associated Press. “Her hands were completely covered in blood. It was on her pants and her shoes. She said, ‘It’s my friend’s blood.’”Zimbo said the woman left to find a friend’s car while he returned to his SUV and threw a blanket over himself to hide for three hours.Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were canceled for 48 hours.Interim university President Teresa Woodruff said it would be a time “to think and grieve and come together.”“This Spartan community — this family — will come back together,” Woodruff said.EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-university-campus-shootings-b52b808c621273dcad1c233ed4080fe4">opened fire at Michigan State University</a>&nbsp;killed three people and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE: The suspect has been located off campus. It appears he has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There is no longer a threat to campus and the shelter-in-place has been lifted. <a href="https://t.co/6s2KGvoKpV">pic.twitter.com/6s2KGvoKpV</a>&mdash; MSU Police and Public Safety (@msupolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/msupolice/status/1625366344899100672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Officials do not know why the 43-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, targeted the campus. He was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university, according to campus police.The shooting began Monday night at an academic building and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study. As hundreds of officers scoured the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, students hid where they could. Four hours after the first shots were reported, police announced the man’s death.“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.Dominik Molotky said he was learning about Cuban history around 8:15 p.m. when he and the other students heard a gunshot outside the classroom. He told ABC’s “Good Morning America" that a few seconds later, the gunman entered and fired three to four more rounds while the students took cover.“I was ducking and covering, and the same with the rest of the students. He let off four more rounds and when it went silent for about 30 seconds to a minute, two of my classmates started breaking open a window, and that took about 30 seconds to happen. There was glass everywhere,” Molotky said.“After that, we broke out the window and I climbed out of there, and then I booked it back to my apartment,” he said. He was unsure whether gunfire hit any of the students.Ryan Kunkel, 22, was attending a class in the Engineering Building when he became aware of the shooting from a university email. Kunkel and about 13 other students turned off the lights and acted like there “was a shooter right outside the door,” he said.“Nothing came out of anyone’s mouth” for over four hours, he said.“I wasn’t ready to accept that this is really going on next door,” Kunkel said. “This is supposed to be a place where I’m coming, learning and bettering myself. And instead, students are getting hurt.”The shooting is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-victims-98c7124322ca58ad5911f26b2b8efbf8">where 11 people were killed</a>&nbsp;as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls">Gun Violence Archive</a>.“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented.Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.Police eventually confronted the shooter, who then died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman said.“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his dorm when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”“She told me, ‘Someone came in our classroom and started shooting,’” Zimbo told The Associated Press. “Her hands were completely covered in blood. It was on her pants and her shoes. She said, ‘It’s my friend’s blood.’”Zimbo said the woman left to find a friend’s car while he returned to his SUV and threw a blanket over himself to hide for three hours.Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were canceled for 48 hours.Interim university President Teresa Woodruff said it would be a time “to think and grieve and come together.”“This Spartan community — this family — will come back together,” Woodruff said.___EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-university-campus-shootings-b52b808c621273dcad1c233ed4080fe4">opened fire at Michigan State University</a>&nbsp;killed three people and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday.Officials do not know why the 43-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, targeted the campus. He was not a student or employee and had no affiliation with the university, according to campus police.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UPDATE: All five victims at Sparrow Hospital are in critical condition. The suspect is a 43-year-old male and is not affiliated in any way with MSU. <a href="https://t.co/ckKwl72fqM">pic.twitter.com/ckKwl72fqM</a>&mdash; MSU Police and Public Safety (@msupolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/msupolice/status/1625385162547638273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shooting began Monday night at an academic building and later moved to the nearby student union, a popular gathering spot for students to eat or study. As hundreds of officers scoured the East Lansing campus, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, students hid where they could. Four hours after the first shots were reported, police announced the man’s death.“This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department.Ryan Kunkel, 22, was attending a class in the Engineering Building when he became aware of the shooting from a university email. Kunkel and about 13 other students turned off the lights and acted like there “was a shooter right outside the door,” he said.“Nothing came out of anyone’s mouth” for over four hours, he said.“I wasn’t ready to accept that this is really going on next door,” Kunkel said. “This is supposed to be a place where I’m coming, learning and bettering myself. And instead, students are getting hurt.”The shooting at Michigan State is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S. Dozens of people have died in mass shootings so far in 2023, most notably in California&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-shooting-victims-98c7124322ca58ad5911f26b2b8efbf8">where 11 people were killed</a>&nbsp;as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans.In 2022, there were more than 600 mass shootings in the U.S. in which at least four people were killed or wounded, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls">Gun Violence Archive</a>.“This is a uniquely American problem,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented.Rozman, of the campus police, said two people were killed at Berkey Hall and another was killed at the MSU Union, while five people were in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital.Police eventually confronted the shooter, who then died by a “self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman said.“We have no idea why he came to campus to do this tonight. That is part of our ongoing investigation,” the deputy chief said.Ted Zimbo said he was walking to his residence hall when he encountered a woman with a “ton of blood on her.”“She told me, ‘Someone came in our classroom and started shooting,’” Zimbo told The Associated Press. “Her hands were completely covered in blood. It was on her pants and her shoes. She said, ‘It’s my friend’s blood.’”Zimbo said the woman left to find a friend’s car while he returned to his SUV and threw a blanket over himself to hide for three hours.During the manhunt, WDIV-TV meteorologist Kim Adams, whose daughter attends Michigan State, told viewers that students were worn down by the hourslong saga.“They’ve been hiding, all the lights off in a dark room,” Adams said.Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile (less than a kilometer) east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.” Sirens were constant, and a helicopter hovered overhead.“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said. “And then I have all these people texting me wondering if I’m OK, which is overwhelming.”Michigan State has about 50,000 students, including 19,000 who live on campus. All classes, sports and other activities were canceled for 48 hours.Interim university President Teresa Woodruff said it would be a time “to think and grieve and come together.”“This Spartan community — this family — will come back together,” Woodruff said.___

Police name gunman who killed 3 at Michigan State University

LYON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Monday in Lyon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Toyota Corolla driven by William D. Bond, 60, Emporia, was southbound on Interstate 35 approximately four miles south of the Matfield Green service area.

The driver had a medical incident. The car left the roadway, traveled through the ditch and struck a tree head-on.

EMS transported Bond to Newman hospital where he died. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

LYON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Monday in Lyon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Toyota Corolla driven by William D. Bond, 60, Emporia, was southbound on Interstate 35 approximately four miles south of the Matfield Green service area.The driver had a medical incident. The car left the roadway, traveled through the ditch and struck a tree head-on.EMS transported Bond to Newman hospital where he died. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. man with medical incident dies after car strikes a tree

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City police officer was hit by gunfire and wounded at the department's headquarters shortly after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, authorities said Monday.

The Kansas City Police Department said the officer's injuries are not life-threatening.

Police said in a news release Monday afternoon that detectives were investigating a “potential connection" with several shots fired about six blocks from police headquarters in downtown Kansas City around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, when the officer was injured.

Police said evidence, including apparent bullet damage to buildings, suggested several shots were fired in the area.

The shooting occurred just blocks from a large Super Bowl viewing party and about 15 minutes after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35.</a>

The officer was immediately taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. Police asked for help from anyone in the area at the time. No further information was immediately released.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City police officer was hit by gunfire and wounded at the department's headquarters shortly after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, authorities said Monday.The Kansas City Police Department said the officer's injuries are not life-threatening.Police said in a news release Monday afternoon that detectives were investigating a “potential connection" with several shots fired about six blocks from police headquarters in downtown Kansas City around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, when the officer was injured.Police said evidence, including apparent bullet damage to buildings, suggested several shots were fired in the area.The shooting occurred just blocks from a large Super Bowl viewing party and about 15 minutes after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35.</a>The officer was immediately taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. Police asked for help from anyone in the area at the time. No further information was immediately released.

KC officer shot after Super Bowl; search for suspects continues

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/9ff92816-18be-422f-b13b-d2095201b9aa">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — KFEQ celebrates 100 years on the air February 15th.

In a “Brief History of KFEQ,” longtime KFEQ engineer Kenny Lux reported John Scroggin began his first broadcast on <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/9ff92816-18be-422f-b13b-d2095201b9aa">KFEQ</a> at three o’clock in the afternoon of Feb. 15, 1923. Yet, the “License for Land Radio Station” issued by the Department of Commerce contains a date of issue of Feb. 16, 1923.

No matter, KFEQ is one of the oldest radio stations in the country with its temporary 200-watt transmitter issued for three months to a University of Nebraska engineering student predating even creation of the Federal Communications Commission.

KFEQ now operates with a&nbsp;5,000 watt&nbsp;directional antennae&nbsp;at 680 AM&nbsp;that serves St. Joseph, northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa.&nbsp;The powerhouse radio station serving the Midland Empire is a leader in providing commodity market reports, agricultural news, as well as news, talk, and sports.

And, it all began 100 years ago in tiny Oak, Neb.

Scroggin had been an engineering student&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when a bout of measles forced him to return home to Oak. While recuperating, Scroggin began experimenting with a new medium called radio, first building a ham radio before starting KFEQ in the back of his father’s bank building in Oak. Scroggin moved the station to his home, broadcasting farm market reports from throughout the Midwest and entertainment from local musicians.

In 1926, the St. Joseph Booster Club, the St. Joseph Grain Exchange, and the St. Joseph Livestock Exchange convinced Scroggin to move his station to St. Joseph where it would grow to become one of the heritage agricultural market stations in the nation.

KFEQ has been serving St. Joseph and the region ever since, providing comprehensive agricultural reports, news about the community and the four-state region, as well as talk through the KFEQ Hotline, and sports, especially as the voice of the Missouri Western State University Griffons, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals.

One hundred years ago, KFEQ received a license from the federal Department of Commerce “for broadcasting entertainment and like matter” and continues to stay true to that vision and more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676320696365.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/9ff92816-18be-422f-b13b-d2095201b9aa">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — KFEQ celebrates 100 years on the air February 15th.Or 16th.It depends on the source.In a “Brief History of KFEQ,” longtime KFEQ engineer Kenny Lux reported John Scroggin began his first broadcast on <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/9ff92816-18be-422f-b13b-d2095201b9aa">KFEQ</a> at three o’clock in the afternoon of Feb. 15, 1923. Yet, the “License for Land Radio Station” issued by the Department of Commerce contains a date of issue of Feb. 16, 1923.No matter, KFEQ is one of the oldest radio stations in the country with its temporary 200-watt transmitter issued for three months to a University of Nebraska engineering student predating even creation of the Federal Communications Commission.KFEQ now operates with a&nbsp;5,000 watt&nbsp;directional antennae&nbsp;at 680 AM&nbsp;that serves St. Joseph, northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa.&nbsp;The powerhouse radio station serving the Midland Empire is a leader in providing commodity market reports, agricultural news, as well as news, talk, and sports.And, it all began 100 years ago in tiny Oak, Neb.Scroggin had been an engineering student&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when a bout of measles forced him to return home to Oak. While recuperating, Scroggin began experimenting with a new medium called radio, first building a ham radio before starting KFEQ in the back of his father’s bank building in Oak. Scroggin moved the station to his home, broadcasting farm market reports from throughout the Midwest and entertainment from local musicians.In 1926, the St. Joseph Booster Club, the St. Joseph Grain Exchange, and the St. Joseph Livestock Exchange convinced Scroggin to move his station to St. Joseph where it would grow to become one of the heritage agricultural market stations in the nation.KFEQ has been serving St. Joseph and the region ever since, providing comprehensive agricultural reports, news about the community and the four-state region, as well as talk through the KFEQ Hotline, and sports, especially as the voice of the Missouri Western State University Griffons, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals.One hundred years ago, KFEQ received a license from the federal Department of Commerce “for broadcasting entertainment and like matter” and continues to stay true to that vision and more.

Eagle Radio station marks its 100th anniversary this month

PRATT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.

Following a two-year investigation, the Pratt Police Department completed the extradition of 33-year-old Andrew P. Thornton II&nbsp; of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, according to a media release.

Thornton is accused of child sex crimes involving a fifteen-year-old and a six-year-old in 2016. Thornton is being held in the Pratt County Jail in lieu of a $250,000.00 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676076671054.png" alt="Thornton photo Pratt County" />
 <figcaption>Thornton photo Pratt County</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations. Following a two-year investigation, the Pratt Police Department completed the extradition of 33-year-old Andrew P. Thornton II&nbsp; of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, according to a media release.Thornton is accused of child sex crimes involving a fifteen-year-old and a six-year-old in 2016. Thornton is being held in the Pratt County Jail in lieu of a $250,000.00 bond.

Man extradited from Ohio faces child sex accusations in Kansas

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City-area man was sentenced in federal court in two separate indictments for leading an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy and a separate bank fraud conspiracy, and for illegally possessing firearms.

Wandale J. Fulton, 41, Lee's Summit, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a total of 15 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Fulton to pay $380,985 in restitution to the victims of his fraud schemes.

On Jan. 27, 2022, Fulton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use fire in the commission of wire and mail fraud, one count of arson in the commission of a federal felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Fulton also pleaded guilty to the charge contained in a separate federal indictment, one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.

Fulton led an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy from 2013 through 2019. Fulton and co-conspirators bought houses in Kansas City, Mo., insured them, had them burned or vandalized, and then filed insurance claims on the houses. In each arson, according to court documents, the fire was set in the middle of the night. First responders arrived to find these homes — in densely populated neighborhoods — engulfed in flames and burning out of control. Fulton’s scheme resulted in the total destruction of three houses by fire and the ruinous vandalism of his personal residence, all to support false claims on insurance policies.

Fulton’s scheme to burn or destroy homes for insurance proceeds resulted in an intended loss of approximately $740,000 and an actual loss of $336,756 paid by insurance companies. To perpetrate his scheme, Fulton required the assistance of accomplices and co-conspirators to participate as straw home buyers and renters, to create and submit false documents to the insurance companies, and to set fire to the homes. Four of his co-conspirators have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their role in the conspiracy.

Fulton also led another criminal conspiracy to receive fraudulent car loans from Heartland Community Credit Union. According to court documents, Heartland approved a series of loans totaling approximately $121,500 based on fraudulent loan applications and supporting documents submitted by conspirators from April to August 2018. In each instance, the applicant defaulted on the loan and Heartland was unable to contact or recover payment from the applicant. The loan applicants appeared to be unrelated, but each loan was for a car supposedly purchased from C.E. Sales, a company controlled by Fulton. In each of those instances, Heartland issued a check to the loan applicant and the checks were delivered directly to Fulton, who deposited them into his own bank account.

ATF agents executed a search warrant at Fulton’s residence on March 26, 2019. During the search, agents found a Taurus .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun in a shoebox in the bedroom closet and an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 semi-automatic firearm in a backpack in a closet. Agents later found a Taurus 9mm pistol in a computer bag. Fulton, to avoid detection by law enforcement, utilized an accomplice to purchase at least two of the firearms recovered from his home.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Fulton has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter for his involvement in a fatal shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676326116173.png" alt="Fulton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Fulton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City-area man was sentenced in federal court in two separate indictments for leading an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy and a separate bank fraud conspiracy, and for illegally possessing firearms.Wandale J. Fulton, 41, Lee's Summit, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a total of 15 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Fulton to pay $380,985 in restitution to the victims of his fraud schemes.On Jan. 27, 2022, Fulton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use fire in the commission of wire and mail fraud, one count of arson in the commission of a federal felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Fulton also pleaded guilty to the charge contained in a separate federal indictment, one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.Fulton led an arson and insurance fraud conspiracy from 2013 through 2019. Fulton and co-conspirators bought houses in Kansas City, Mo., insured them, had them burned or vandalized, and then filed insurance claims on the houses. In each arson, according to court documents, the fire was set in the middle of the night. First responders arrived to find these homes — in densely populated neighborhoods — engulfed in flames and burning out of control. Fulton’s scheme resulted in the total destruction of three houses by fire and the ruinous vandalism of his personal residence, all to support false claims on insurance policies.Fulton’s scheme to burn or destroy homes for insurance proceeds resulted in an intended loss of approximately $740,000 and an actual loss of $336,756 paid by insurance companies. To perpetrate his scheme, Fulton required the assistance of accomplices and co-conspirators to participate as straw home buyers and renters, to create and submit false documents to the insurance companies, and to set fire to the homes. Four of his co-conspirators have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their role in the conspiracy.Fulton also led another criminal conspiracy to receive fraudulent car loans from Heartland Community Credit Union. According to court documents, Heartland approved a series of loans totaling approximately $121,500 based on fraudulent loan applications and supporting documents submitted by conspirators from April to August 2018. In each instance, the applicant defaulted on the loan and Heartland was unable to contact or recover payment from the applicant. The loan applicants appeared to be unrelated, but each loan was for a car supposedly purchased from C.E. Sales, a company controlled by Fulton. In each of those instances, Heartland issued a check to the loan applicant and the checks were delivered directly to Fulton, who deposited them into his own bank account.ATF agents executed a search warrant at Fulton’s residence on March 26, 2019. During the search, agents found a Taurus .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun in a shoebox in the bedroom closet and an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 semi-automatic firearm in a backpack in a closet. Agents later found a Taurus 9mm pistol in a computer bag. Fulton, to avoid detection by law enforcement, utilized an accomplice to purchase at least two of the firearms recovered from his home.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Fulton has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter for his involvement in a fatal shooting.

KC-area man sentenced for arson, insurance fraud conspiracy

RENO COUNTY —&nbsp;Hutchinson Regional Medical Center on Monday announced it will adjust staffing levels and reduce workforce by 85 employees as a direct result of the healthcare landscape being profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing supply costs, lower health insurance reimbursement rates and decreased patient volumes compared to pre-pandemic days, according to a media release from the organization.

Jeff Egbert, interim CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System said that, while difficult, the reduction is necessary as the system continues to navigate the substantial and lasting financial impacts of the global pandemic. Egbert says the hospital also has taken several actions to manage expenses by aligning the cost structure and service line staffing models with current patient volumes.

“These challenges aren’t unique to Hutchinson,” Egbert said. “Many hospitals and healthcare systems across our nation are facing similar challenges, including many in the Midwest.”

Impacted employees are eligible for a paid notice period, as well as the continuation of health benefits through COBRA.

According to the organization's 2019 Form 990, as reported by ProPublica, <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/480774005/05_2021_prefixes_47-52%2F480774005_202006_990_2021051118085427">the healthcare system lost over $11 million</a> in the period on the form through June 2020, which is the last year for which a Form 990 is available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583428390224.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —&nbsp;Hutchinson Regional Medical Center on Monday announced it will adjust staffing levels and reduce workforce by 85 employees as a direct result of the healthcare landscape being profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing supply costs, lower health insurance reimbursement rates and decreased patient volumes compared to pre-pandemic days, according to a media release from the organization.Jeff Egbert, interim CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System said that, while difficult, the reduction is necessary as the system continues to navigate the substantial and lasting financial impacts of the global pandemic. Egbert says the hospital also has taken several actions to manage expenses by aligning the cost structure and service line staffing models with current patient volumes.“These challenges aren’t unique to Hutchinson,” Egbert said. “Many hospitals and healthcare systems across our nation are facing similar challenges, including many in the Midwest.”Impacted employees are eligible for a paid notice period, as well as the continuation of health benefits through COBRA.According to the organization's 2019 Form 990, as reported by ProPublica, <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/480774005/05_2021_prefixes_47-52%2F480774005_202006_990_2021051118085427">the healthcare system lost over $11 million</a> in the period on the form through June 2020, which is the last year for which a Form 990 is available.

Hutchinson hospital cutting jobs, adjusting staffing levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday defended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-charles-schumer-jake-sullivan-china-acc1a333326c50ee9649760c569c300f">shootdowns of three unidentified objects</a>&nbsp;in as many days even as it acknowledged that officials had no indication the objects were intended for surveillance in the same manner as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">high-altitude Chinese balloon</a>&nbsp;that traversed American airspace earlier this month.

(Click below to watch a portion of the White House press briefing)

The three objects, including one shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, were traveling at such a low altitude as to pose a risk to civilian air traffic, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. While the Biden administration does not yet have evidence that they were equipped for spying purposes — or even belonged to China — officials have not ruled that out, he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday defended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-charles-schumer-jake-sullivan-china-acc1a333326c50ee9649760c569c300f">shootdowns of three unidentified objects</a>&nbsp;in as many days even as it acknowledged that officials had no indication the objects were intended for surveillance in the same manner as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">high-altitude Chinese balloon</a>&nbsp;that traversed American airspace earlier this month.(Click below to watch a portion of the White House press briefing)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F723262652590113%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=523" 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>The three objects, including one shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, were traveling at such a low altitude as to pose a risk to civilian air traffic, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. While the Biden administration does not yet have evidence that they were equipped for spying purposes — or even belonged to China — officials have not ruled that out, he said.“These were decisions based purely and simply on what was in the best interests of the American people,” Kirby said.The weeks-long succession of objects, starting with a giant white orb first detected over U.S. skies in late January, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-balloon-espionage-1cca3467f32a2751b35ec1686aadc310">puzzled American officials and captivated curiosity around the world.</a>&nbsp;Though the three most recent objects differed in size, maneuverability and other characteristics from the surveillance balloon shot down Feb. 4 off the Carolina coast, officials moved to eliminate each one from the sky — actions that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent.“Because we have not been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are, we acted out of an abundance of caution,” Kirby said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby: &quot;I don&#39;t think the American people need to worry about aliens, with respect to these craft. Period.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dZxLKIbh6D">pic.twitter.com/dZxLKIbh6D</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1625211225658298408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>One possibility that the U.S. has been able to rule out, officials said Monday, is any connection to extraterrestrial activity.Other Western nations are also trying to assess the spate of incidents.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1038US1038&amp;oq=rishi+sunak+apnews+balloon&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59l3.5745j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday</a>&nbsp;that the government would do “whatever it takes” to protect the country, as the U.K. announced a security review. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “there is some sort of pattern” to the balloon and three other objects, though the U.S. has not echoed that claim.Kirby spoke from the White House podium hours after China alleged that more than 10 U.S. high-altitude balloons have flown in its airspace during the past year without its permission. American officials have vigorously denied the claim, with Kirby saying Monday, “We are not flying surveillance balloons over China.”The Chinese allegation came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-china-antony-blinken-51e49202f2a0a50541cde059934c4cfb">U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;that had crossed from above Alaska to South Carolina over a period of multiple days, sparking a new crisis in bilateral relations that have sunk to their lowest level in decades and prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a planned visit to China.The latest of the the three objects was shot down Sunday over Lake Huron after being detected a day earlier over Montana.On Friday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined U.S.-Canada organization known as NORAD that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected and shot down an object near sparsely populated Deadhorse, Alaska.Later that evening, NORAD detected a second object, flying at a high altitude over Alaska, U.S. officials said. It crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday and was over the Yukon, a remote territory, when it was ordered shot down by Trudeau.In both of those incidents, the objects were flying at roughly 40,000 feet. The object on Sunday was flying at about 20,000 feet.None of the three most recent objects has been recovered, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Brussels, where he was scheduled to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting this week.Austin said weather has impeded recovery efforts in Alaska, while in Canada the object was shut down in a very remote area that was also impeding efforts. In Alaska, where the object landed on sea ice, windchill and safety concerns “are dictating recovery timelines,” he said.____