WASHINGTON —Three U.S. Postal Service employees have been indicted and arrested in connection with a $1.3 million fraud and identity&nbsp;theft&nbsp;scheme, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The suspects allegedly used stolen credit cards to purchase luxury items.

The indictment charges Johnny Damus, Rashaan Richards, Devon Richards, Conrad Heron, Louis Jeune Verly,&nbsp; Kareem Shepherd, Marcus Ford, Fabiola Mompoint, Nathanael Focault and Johanathan Persaud in connection with their theft and unauthorized use of credit cards to defraud several national financial institutions, credit card companies, and major retailers, resulting in more than $1.3 million in intended losses as well as the theft of hundreds of identities.&nbsp; 

As alleged, the defendants conspired to steal credit cards from the mail; use those stolen credit cards at a variety of stores, including high-end retailers; and sell some of the merchandise purchased with the stolen cards on the website LuxurySnob.com (“LuxurySnob”).

NATHANAEL Nathanael Focault and Johnathan Persaud, U.S. Postal Employees, were arrested Sept. 30, in the Eastern District of New York and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.

Fabiola Mompoint, a U.S. Postal Employee, was arrested Sept. 30 in the District of New Jersey and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.

Devon Richards was arrested Sept. 30,&nbsp; in the Eastern District of New York and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.

According to the allegations in the Indictment:

Between in or around December 2018, up to and including the present, members of the conspiracy worked with U.S. Postal Service mail carriers, including, among others, FABIOLA MOMPOINT, NATHANAEL FOUCAULT, and JOHNATHAN PERSAUD to steal credit cards from the mail stream before those cards were delivered to the assigned credit card customers.&nbsp; After obtaining the stolen credit cards, members of the conspiracy activated the cards using stolen personally identifiable information (“PII”) of the intended recipients.&nbsp; Members of the conspiracy, including RASHAAN RICHARDS, DEVON RICHARDS, CONRAD HERON, LOUIS JEUNE VERLY, and KAREEM SHEPHERD (collectively, “the Shoppers”), and others known and unknown, then used the stolen cards to purchase luxury goods—including items manufactured by, among others, Chanel, Fendi, Hermes, and Dior—from high-end retailers, including major department stores in, among other places, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.&nbsp; Often, JOHNNY DAMUS, instructed the Shoppers to purchase particular luxury items in specific quantities.&nbsp; Working together with a close associate (“CC-1”), DAMUS functionally operated LuxurySnob.com, on which many of these fraudulently obtained luxury items were sold.&nbsp; LuxurySnob purports to be an “online consignment and personal shopping company” specializing in “pre-owned luxury items,” but, in fact, many of the items it sells were purchased using stolen credit cards.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, the defendants engaged in a years-long scheme to manipulate credit card companies and major retailers across New York and New Jersey by stealing credit cards and using those cards to purchase, and subsequently sell, luxury goods.  The defendants took advantage of the public trust we place in U.S. Postal Service employees for their own financial gain.  Thanks to the diligence of USPIS, the NYPD, and USPS-OIG, the defendants will now be held accountable for their brazen criminal conduct.”

USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said:&nbsp; “These nine defendants, three of which are postal employees, sought to enrich themselves by stealing mail directly from hundreds of postal customers.&nbsp; They further compounded their crimes by committing identity theft against those customers to facilitate their elaborate scheme to defraud several national financial institutions.&nbsp; Make no mistake, the Postal Inspection Service will not allow thieves, no matter who they are, to use the U.S. Mail to harm postal customers or the financial institutions that serve them.&nbsp; We are pleased the members of this criminal syndicate have been apprehended and their crime spree brought to an abrupt end.”

USPS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi said:&nbsp; “The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General will continue to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service and its personnel. The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to vigorously investigate postal service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. The USPS OIG is thankful for the&nbsp;relationships with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”

WASHINGTON —Three U.S. Postal Service employees have been indicted and arrested in connection with a $1.3 million fraud and identity&nbsp;theft&nbsp;scheme, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The suspects allegedly used stolen credit cards to purchase luxury items.The indictment charges Johnny Damus, Rashaan Richards, Devon Richards, Conrad Heron, Louis Jeune Verly,&nbsp; Kareem Shepherd, Marcus Ford, Fabiola Mompoint, Nathanael Focault and Johanathan Persaud in connection with their theft and unauthorized use of credit cards to defraud several national financial institutions, credit card companies, and major retailers, resulting in more than $1.3 million in intended losses as well as the theft of hundreds of identities.&nbsp; As alleged, the defendants conspired to steal credit cards from the mail; use those stolen credit cards at a variety of stores, including high-end retailers; and sell some of the merchandise purchased with the stolen cards on the website LuxurySnob.com (“LuxurySnob”).NATHANAEL Nathanael Focault and Johnathan Persaud, U.S. Postal Employees, were arrested Sept. 30, in the Eastern District of New York and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.Fabiola Mompoint, a U.S. Postal Employee, was arrested Sept. 30 in the District of New Jersey and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.Devon Richards was arrested Sept. 30,&nbsp; in the Eastern District of New York and will be presented before Judge James L. Cott.The remaining defendants are at large.According to the allegations in the Indictment:Between in or around December 2018, up to and including the present, members of the conspiracy worked with U.S. Postal Service mail carriers, including, among others, FABIOLA MOMPOINT, NATHANAEL FOUCAULT, and JOHNATHAN PERSAUD to steal credit cards from the mail stream before those cards were delivered to the assigned credit card customers.&nbsp; After obtaining the stolen credit cards, members of the conspiracy activated the cards using stolen personally identifiable information (“PII”) of the intended recipients.&nbsp; Members of the conspiracy, including RASHAAN RICHARDS, DEVON RICHARDS, CONRAD HERON, LOUIS JEUNE VERLY, and KAREEM SHEPHERD (collectively, “the Shoppers”), and others known and unknown, then used the stolen cards to purchase luxury goods—including items manufactured by, among others, Chanel, Fendi, Hermes, and Dior—from high-end retailers, including major department stores in, among other places, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.&nbsp; Often, JOHNNY DAMUS, instructed the Shoppers to purchase particular luxury items in specific quantities.&nbsp; Working together with a close associate (“CC-1”), DAMUS functionally operated LuxurySnob.com, on which many of these fraudulently obtained luxury items were sold.&nbsp; LuxurySnob purports to be an “online consignment and personal shopping company” specializing in “pre-owned luxury items,” but, in fact, many of the items it sells were purchased using stolen credit cards.U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants engaged in a years-long scheme to manipulate credit card companies and major retailers across New York and New Jersey by stealing credit cards and using those cards to purchase, and subsequently sell, luxury goods. The defendants took advantage of the public trust we place in U.S. Postal Service employees for their own financial gain. Thanks to the diligence of USPIS, the NYPD, and USPS-OIG, the defendants will now be held accountable for their brazen criminal conduct.”USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said:&nbsp; “These nine defendants, three of which are postal employees, sought to enrich themselves by stealing mail directly from hundreds of postal customers.&nbsp; They further compounded their crimes by committing identity theft against those customers to facilitate their elaborate scheme to defraud several national financial institutions.&nbsp; Make no mistake, the Postal Inspection Service will not allow thieves, no matter who they are, to use the U.S. Mail to harm postal customers or the financial institutions that serve them.&nbsp; We are pleased the members of this criminal syndicate have been apprehended and their crime spree brought to an abrupt end.”USPS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi said:&nbsp; “The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General will continue to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service and its personnel. The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to vigorously investigate postal service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. The USPS OIG is thankful for the&nbsp;relationships with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”

Postal Service workers jailed for $1.3M credit card fraud, theft scheme

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia have decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-germany-elections-d873521f8b165774de3902439dd5a6ee">slash the amount of oil they deliver</a>&nbsp;to the global economy.

And the law of supply and demand suggests that can only mean one thing: higher prices are on the way for crude, and for the diesel fuel, gasoline and heating oil that are produced from oil.

The decision by the OPEC+ alliance to cut 2 million barrels a day starting next month comes as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-prices-government-and-politics-a46c2373c53b22a03913ef00cf02b51e">Western allies are trying to cap the oil money</a>&nbsp;flowing into Moscow's war chest after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">invaded Ukraine</a>.

Here is what to know about the OPEC+ decision and what it could mean for the economy and the oil price cap:

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman says that the alliance is being proactive in adjusting supply ahead of a possible downturn in demand because a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-covid-health-2f23aa3df0f2f6916ad458785dd52c59">slowing global economy</a>&nbsp;needs less fuel for travel and industry.

“We are going through a period of diverse uncertainties which could come our way, it’s a brewing cloud,” he said, and OPEC+ sought to remain “ahead of the curve.” He described the group's role as “a moderating force, to bring about stability."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-5f010ed0b66fb71e8d46040419a70203">Oil prices had fallen</a>&nbsp;after a summer of highs. Now, after the OPEC+ decision, they are heading for their biggest weekly gain since March. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 3.2% on Friday, to $91.31 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 2.8% to $97.09, though it's still down 20% from mid-June, when it traded at over $123 per barrel.

One big reason for the slide is fears that large parts of the global economy are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/is-us-economy-in-recession-8be54810a122a2f84f0f7b3329ab1c9e">slipping into recession</a>&nbsp;as high energy prices — for oil, natural gas and electricity —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-germany-prices-cca7e5afd38fbcfc1ad72934e8e59bd9">drive inflation and rob consumers of spending power</a>.

Another reason: The summer highs came about because of fears that much of Russia's oil production would be lost to the market over the war in Ukraine.

As Western traders shunned Russian oil even without sanctions, customers in India and China bought those barrels at a steep discount, so the hit to supply wasn't as bad as expected.

Oil producers are wary of a sudden collapse in prices if the global economy goes downhill faster than expected. That’s what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and during the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.

The U.S. and Britain imposed bans that were mostly symbolic because neither country imported much Russia oil. The White House held off pressing the European Union for an import ban because EU countries got a quarter of their oil from Russia.

In the end, the 27-nation bloc decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-hungary-european-union-d0d4144c84749f84676a2f41b03b2ad4">cut off Russian oil that comes by ship</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 5, while keeping a small amount of pipeline supplies that some Eastern European countries rely on.

Beyond that, the U.S. and other Group of Seven major democracies are working out the details on a price cap on Russian oil. It would target insurers and other service providers that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-brussels-european-union-258c0a5a0ada0433fa6dd0cc8e435a1d">facilitate oil shipments from Russia</a>&nbsp;to other countries. The EU approved a measure along those lines this week.

Many of those providers are based in Europe and would be barred from dealing with Russian oil if the price is above the cap.

HOW WILL OIL CUTS, PRICE CAPS AND EMBARGOES CLASH?

The idea behind the price cap is to keep Russian oil flowing to the global market, just at lower prices. Russia, however, has threatened to simply stop deliveries to a country or companies that observe the cap. That could take more Russian oil off the market and push prices higher.

That could push costs at the pump higher, too.

U.S. gasoline prices that soared to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-business-fdcf2e9fbb835cd9bc3886b8dc4a7bc0">record highs of $5.02 a gallon</a>&nbsp;in mid-June had been falling recently, but they have been on the rise again, posing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-3e1808077371b88ae043c86584763afd">political problems for President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;a month before midterm elections.

Biden, facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-881c8411bad80180f025e138f0bd444e">inflation at near 40-year highs</a>, had touted the falling pump prices. Over the past week, the national average price for a gallon rose 9 cents, to $3.87. That's 65 cents more than Americans were paying a year ago.

“It’s a disappointment, and we’re looking at what alternatives we may have,” he told reporters about the OPEC+ decision.

WILL THE OPEC PRODUCTION CUT MAKE INFLATION WORSE?

Likely yes. Brent crude should reach $100 per barrel by December, says Jorge Leon, senior vice president at Rystad Energy. That is up from an earlier prediction of $89.

Part of the 2 million-barrel-per-day cut is only on paper as some OPEC+ countries aren't able to produce their quota. So the group can deliver only about 1.2 million barrels a day in actual cuts.

That's still going to have a “significant" effect on prices, Leon said.

“Higher oil prices will inevitably add to the inflation headache that global central banks are fighting, and higher oil prices will factor into the calculus of further&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-jackson-wyoming-economy-prices-56ec82b99e24cab74a9ed102848930a3">increasing interest rates</a>&nbsp;to cool down the economy,” he wrote in a note.

That would exacerbate an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-france-germany-prices-da1d935fa8bcba4c283f7c5b559a5c9a">energy crisis in Europe</a>&nbsp;largely tied to Russian cutbacks of natural gas supplies used for heating, electricity and in factories and would send gasoline prices up worldwide. As that fuels inflation, people have less money to spend on other things like food and rent.

Other factors also could affect oil prices, including the depth of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-russia-ukraine-covid-health-923304026448bda234d6890592f55463">any possible recession in the U.S. or Europe</a>&nbsp;and the duration of China’s COVID-19 restrictions, which have sapped demand for fuel.

Analysts say that Russia, the biggest producer among the non-OPEC members in the alliance, would benefit from higher oil prices ahead of a price cap. If Russia has to sell oil at a discount, at least the reduction starts at a higher price level.

High oil prices earlier this year offset much of Russia's sales lost from Western buyers avoiding its supply. The country also has managed to reroute some two-thirds of its typical Western sales to customers in places like India.

But then Moscow saw its take from oil slip from $21 billion in June to $19 billion in July to $17.7 billion in August as prices and sales volumes fell, according to the International Energy Agency. A third of Russia's state budget comes from oil and gas revenue, so the price caps would further erode a key source of revenue.

Meanwhile, the rest of Russia's economy is shrinking due to sanctions and the withdrawal of foreign businesses and investors.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia have decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-germany-elections-d873521f8b165774de3902439dd5a6ee">slash the amount of oil they deliver</a>&nbsp;to the global economy.And the law of supply and demand suggests that can only mean one thing: higher prices are on the way for crude, and for the diesel fuel, gasoline and heating oil that are produced from oil.The decision by the OPEC+ alliance to cut 2 million barrels a day starting next month comes as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-prices-government-and-politics-a46c2373c53b22a03913ef00cf02b51e">Western allies are trying to cap the oil money</a>&nbsp;flowing into Moscow's war chest after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=featured">invaded Ukraine</a>.Here is what to know about the OPEC+ decision and what it could mean for the economy and the oil price cap:WHY IS OPEC+ CUTTING PRODUCTION?Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman says that the alliance is being proactive in adjusting supply ahead of a possible downturn in demand because a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-covid-health-2f23aa3df0f2f6916ad458785dd52c59">slowing global economy</a>&nbsp;needs less fuel for travel and industry.“We are going through a period of diverse uncertainties which could come our way, it’s a brewing cloud,” he said, and OPEC+ sought to remain “ahead of the curve.” He described the group's role as “a moderating force, to bring about stability."<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-5f010ed0b66fb71e8d46040419a70203">Oil prices had fallen</a>&nbsp;after a summer of highs. Now, after the OPEC+ decision, they are heading for their biggest weekly gain since March. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 3.2% on Friday, to $91.31 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 2.8% to $97.09, though it's still down 20% from mid-June, when it traded at over $123 per barrel.One big reason for the slide is fears that large parts of the global economy are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/is-us-economy-in-recession-8be54810a122a2f84f0f7b3329ab1c9e">slipping into recession</a>&nbsp;as high energy prices — for oil, natural gas and electricity —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-germany-prices-cca7e5afd38fbcfc1ad72934e8e59bd9">drive inflation and rob consumers of spending power</a>.Another reason: The summer highs came about because of fears that much of Russia's oil production would be lost to the market over the war in Ukraine.As Western traders shunned Russian oil even without sanctions, customers in India and China bought those barrels at a steep discount, so the hit to supply wasn't as bad as expected.Oil producers are wary of a sudden collapse in prices if the global economy goes downhill faster than expected. That’s what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and during the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.HOW IS THE WEST TARGETING RUSSIAN OIL?The U.S. and Britain imposed bans that were mostly symbolic because neither country imported much Russia oil. The White House held off pressing the European Union for an import ban because EU countries got a quarter of their oil from Russia.In the end, the 27-nation bloc decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-hungary-european-union-d0d4144c84749f84676a2f41b03b2ad4">cut off Russian oil that comes by ship</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 5, while keeping a small amount of pipeline supplies that some Eastern European countries rely on.Beyond that, the U.S. and other Group of Seven major democracies are working out the details on a price cap on Russian oil. It would target insurers and other service providers that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-brussels-european-union-258c0a5a0ada0433fa6dd0cc8e435a1d">facilitate oil shipments from Russia</a>&nbsp;to other countries. The EU approved a measure along those lines this week.Many of those providers are based in Europe and would be barred from dealing with Russian oil if the price is above the cap.HOW WILL OIL CUTS, PRICE CAPS AND EMBARGOES CLASH?The idea behind the price cap is to keep Russian oil flowing to the global market, just at lower prices. Russia, however, has threatened to simply stop deliveries to a country or companies that observe the cap. That could take more Russian oil off the market and push prices higher.That could push costs at the pump higher, too.U.S. gasoline prices that soared to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-business-fdcf2e9fbb835cd9bc3886b8dc4a7bc0">record highs of $5.02 a gallon</a>&nbsp;in mid-June had been falling recently, but they have been on the rise again, posing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-3e1808077371b88ae043c86584763afd">political problems for President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;a month before midterm elections.Biden, facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-881c8411bad80180f025e138f0bd444e">inflation at near 40-year highs</a>, had touted the falling pump prices. Over the past week, the national average price for a gallon rose 9 cents, to $3.87. That's 65 cents more than Americans were paying a year ago.“It’s a disappointment, and we’re looking at what alternatives we may have,” he told reporters about the OPEC+ decision.WILL THE OPEC PRODUCTION CUT MAKE INFLATION WORSE?Likely yes. Brent crude should reach $100 per barrel by December, says Jorge Leon, senior vice president at Rystad Energy. That is up from an earlier prediction of $89.Part of the 2 million-barrel-per-day cut is only on paper as some OPEC+ countries aren't able to produce their quota. So the group can deliver only about 1.2 million barrels a day in actual cuts.That's still going to have a “significant" effect on prices, Leon said.“Higher oil prices will inevitably add to the inflation headache that global central banks are fighting, and higher oil prices will factor into the calculus of further&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-jackson-wyoming-economy-prices-56ec82b99e24cab74a9ed102848930a3">increasing interest rates</a>&nbsp;to cool down the economy,” he wrote in a note.That would exacerbate an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-france-germany-prices-da1d935fa8bcba4c283f7c5b559a5c9a">energy crisis in Europe</a>&nbsp;largely tied to Russian cutbacks of natural gas supplies used for heating, electricity and in factories and would send gasoline prices up worldwide. As that fuels inflation, people have less money to spend on other things like food and rent.Other factors also could affect oil prices, including the depth of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-russia-ukraine-covid-health-923304026448bda234d6890592f55463">any possible recession in the U.S. or Europe</a>&nbsp;and the duration of China’s COVID-19 restrictions, which have sapped demand for fuel.WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR RUSSIA?Analysts say that Russia, the biggest producer among the non-OPEC members in the alliance, would benefit from higher oil prices ahead of a price cap. If Russia has to sell oil at a discount, at least the reduction starts at a higher price level.High oil prices earlier this year offset much of Russia's sales lost from Western buyers avoiding its supply. The country also has managed to reroute some two-thirds of its typical Western sales to customers in places like India.But then Moscow saw its take from oil slip from $21 billion in June to $19 billion in July to $17.7 billion in August as prices and sales volumes fell, according to the International Energy Agency. A third of Russia's state budget comes from oil and gas revenue, so the price caps would further erode a key source of revenue.Meanwhile, the rest of Russia's economy is shrinking due to sanctions and the withdrawal of foreign businesses and investors.

 How will OPEC+ cuts affect gas prices, inflation?

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge in Wisconsin has dismissed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/952a1f302034e872fefb69bd19276700">a lawsuit from a taxpayers group seeking to block President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program</a>, ruling that the group doesn’t have standing to bring the lawsuit.

The Brown County Taxpayers Association argued that Biden’s order unlawfully circumvented Congress’ power over spending. They also argued the plan was discriminatory by seeking to give particular help to borrowers of color.

U.S. District Judge William Griesbach, an appointee of President George W. Bush, tossed the case Thursday, writing that the group does not have standing to challenge the plan simply because they are taxpayers.

Biden enacted the debt relief plan under the HEROES Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks sparked an American-led military campaign aimed at terrorism. The act gave the executive branch authority to forgive student loan debt in association with military operations or national emergencies.

The president cited COVID-19 as reason to invoke the act. The lawsuit, filed by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of the taxpayers group, had argued it was an overextension of executive power that improperly sidestepped Congress.

Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">In Indiana, a libertarian group has argued that Biden’s plan creates additional tax burdens</a>&nbsp;for students who would have their loans forgiven by other means.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-lawsuits-covid-missouri-862d783188de45b698c54b00820d3616">Six Republican-led states also filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Missouri raising specific objections to loan forgiveness for federal loans that are owned by private banks. The Biden administration quickly removed eligibility for the estimated 770,000 borrowers with such loans.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge in Wisconsin has dismissed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/952a1f302034e872fefb69bd19276700">a lawsuit from a taxpayers group seeking to block President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program</a>, ruling that the group doesn’t have standing to bring the lawsuit.The Brown County Taxpayers Association argued that Biden’s order unlawfully circumvented Congress’ power over spending. They also argued the plan was discriminatory by seeking to give particular help to borrowers of color.U.S. District Judge William Griesbach, an appointee of President George W. Bush, tossed the case Thursday, writing that the group does not have standing to challenge the plan simply because they are taxpayers.Biden enacted the debt relief plan under the HEROES Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks sparked an American-led military campaign aimed at terrorism. The act gave the executive branch authority to forgive student loan debt in association with military operations or national emergencies.The president cited COVID-19 as reason to invoke the act. The lawsuit, filed by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of the taxpayers group, had argued it was an overextension of executive power that improperly sidestepped Congress.Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-lawsuits-executive-branch-88a53926a6583fdb7b8c311206f5357f">In Indiana, a libertarian group has argued that Biden’s plan creates additional tax burdens</a>&nbsp;for students who would have their loans forgiven by other means.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-lawsuits-covid-missouri-862d783188de45b698c54b00820d3616">Six Republican-led states also filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Missouri raising specific objections to loan forgiveness for federal loans that are owned by private banks. The Biden administration quickly removed eligibility for the estimated 770,000 borrowers with such loans.

Judge dismisses one lawsuit against student loan forgiveness

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man after a traffic stop arrest.

Just after 11:30p.m. Oct. 6, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near 118th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the scope of the stop, it was believed the driver was providing false information about his identity. 

A possible ID was discovered for the subject, Michael E Burris III, 35, of Wichita, who had a nationwide extraditable warrant for aggravated assault, distribution of opiates and numerous other charges out of Reno, County. 

The subject’s identity was confirmed to be Burris. Deputies transported him to the Jackson County Jail and booked him on requested charges of felony interference for providing false information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665230408105.png" alt="Burris-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Burris-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man after a traffic stop arrest.Just after 11:30p.m. Oct. 6, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near 118th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the scope of the stop, it was believed the driver was providing false information about his identity. A possible ID was discovered for the subject, Michael E Burris III, 35, of Wichita, who had a nationwide extraditable warrant for aggravated assault, distribution of opiates and numerous other charges out of Reno, County. The subject’s identity was confirmed to be Burris. Deputies transported him to the Jackson County Jail and booked him on requested charges of felony interference for providing false information.

Man wanted on nationwide warrant gave Kan. deputy fake name

BARTON COUNTY —Hours after a story on Great Bend Post was released depicting cyber
bullying that was reported at Hoisington Middle School, a mother of a student
at Great Bend High School came forward and said, “there’s a lot going on, and
this is just the tip of the iceberg because so many parents have a story.”

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/5e86d4f6-a91c-4a40-8b5d-37725960fb40">RELATED STORY: Report of photos taken of Hoisington student undressing in locker room</a> 
The mother said her son, who is autistic and was in the special needs classroom
at Great Bend High School, went to the restroom where another student took a
video of her son with his pants down and posted the video on social media. "I don't think there should be cell phones in the school district at all. I think most teenagers don't have the mindset and the maturity level to have cell phones to be able to take pictures of others. It's a distraction. We send them to school to learn. We don't send them to take pictures and videos of other students to harass and bully." 
The incident occurred May 17, 2022 and the mother was told the student
that took the video was suspended for the rest of the school year. The young
man was given a diversion and returned to school this fall. 
The mother, not wanting her son to have to go to school with his “predator”
removed her child from Great Bend High School in September and now travels 25 miles to another
school with the special needs care needed for her son. 
"My son is defenseless. He's not going to defend himself. I didn't want the other student anywhere near my kid. School officials told me they 'kept their schedules and they should not be anywhere in the building at the same time. If they are, then your son can come back to the special education room.' I don't understand why my son had to cater to this other young man when my son did nothing wrong." 
Many resources are available to identify bullying, how to protect yourself and
ways to report bullying.&nbsp; USD 428 Great Bend has anti-bullying curriculum, procedures and a place to report bullying at <a href="https://www.greatbendschools.net/parents-students/bullying">greatbendschools.net</a>. You can also visit <a href="https://www.stopbullying.gov/">stopbullying.gov</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659408772654.jpeg" alt="Great Bend High School" />
 <figcaption>Great Bend High School</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend PostBARTON COUNTY —Hours after a story on Great Bend Post was released depicting cyber
bullying that was reported at Hoisington Middle School, a mother of a student
at Great Bend High School came forward and said, “there’s a lot going on, and
this is just the tip of the iceberg because so many parents have a story.”<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/5e86d4f6-a91c-4a40-8b5d-37725960fb40">RELATED STORY: Report of photos taken of Hoisington student undressing in locker room</a> 
The mother said her son, who is autistic and was in the special needs classroom
at Great Bend High School, went to the restroom where another student took a
video of her son with his pants down and posted the video on social media. "I don't think there should be cell phones in the school district at all. I think most teenagers don't have the mindset and the maturity level to have cell phones to be able to take pictures of others. It's a distraction. We send them to school to learn. We don't send them to take pictures and videos of other students to harass and bully." 
The incident occurred May 17, 2022 and the mother was told the student
that took the video was suspended for the rest of the school year. The young
man was given a diversion and returned to school this fall. 
The mother, not wanting her son to have to go to school with his “predator”
removed her child from Great Bend High School in September and now travels 25 miles to another
school with the special needs care needed for her son. 
"My son is defenseless. He's not going to defend himself. I didn't want the other student anywhere near my kid. School officials told me they 'kept their schedules and they should not be anywhere in the building at the same time. If they are, then your son can come back to the special education room.' I don't understand why my son had to cater to this other young man when my son did nothing wrong." 
Many resources are available to identify bullying, how to protect yourself and
ways to report bullying.&nbsp; USD 428 Great Bend has anti-bullying curriculum, procedures and a place to report bullying at <a href="https://www.greatbendschools.net/parents-students/bullying">greatbendschools.net</a>. You can also visit <a href="https://www.stopbullying.gov/">stopbullying.gov</a>.&nbsp;

Son bullied, Kan. mother wants cell phones removed from school

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s warning that the world is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-nuclear-risk-1d0f1e40cff3a92c662c57f274ce0e25?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">at risk of a nuclear “Armageddon”</a>&nbsp;was designed to send an unvarnished message that no one should underestimate the extraordinary danger if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-middle-east-business-5b8bcee162e155e58423f64671c7b3a5?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_06">its war against Ukraine</a>, administration officials said Friday.

The president’s grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. security officials continue to say they have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-nuclear-weapons-961200d584e048cecd15fa29ee8c2057?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_05">no evidence that Vladimir Putin has imminent plans</a>&nbsp;for a nuclear strike.

Biden veered into talk about Ukraine at the end of his standard fundraising remarks, saying that Putin was “not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.”

“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” he added. He suggested the threat from Putin is real “because his military is — you might say — significantly underperforming.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday did not directly respond to a question about whether Biden had gone into the event intending to invoke Armageddon, as the White House sought to clarify the president's off-the-cuff comments.

She told reporters: “Russia’s talk of using nuclear weapons is irresponsible and there’s no way to use them without unintended consequences. It cannot happen.” She added that "if the Cuban missile crisis has taught us anything, it is the value of reducing nuclear risk and not brandishing it.”

Biden’s national security team for months has warned that Russia could use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine as it has faced a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-general-assembly-russia-ukraine-kyiv-business-d1355f7c528a10c872e2a26b9d532e16">strategic setbacks on the battlefield</a>. But the president's remarks were the starkest warnings yet by the U.S. government about the nuclear stakes.

One U.S. official said Biden was also trying to warn against underestimating the danger any level of tactical nuclear weapons.

There’s some concern in the administration that Russia has determined it can use its nuclear arsenal in a manner short of a “full-blown” nuclear attack on Ukraine and face only limited reaction from U.S. and Western allies who are determined to keep the Ukraine conflict from turning into a broader war, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration thinking

Putin has repeatedly alluded to using his country’s vast nuclear arsenal, including last month when he announced plans to conscript Russian men to serve in Ukraine.

“I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal,” Putin said. “It’s not a bluff.”

In Europe, leaders sought to turn down the volume after Biden’s stark warning.

Asked about Biden’s remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was crucial to speak with care on the nuclear threat.

“I have always refused to engage in political fiction, and especially ... when speaking of nuclear weapons,” Macron said at a EU summit in Prague. “On this issue, we must be very careful.”

European Council President Charles Michel told reporters that leaders take “every escalation very seriously,”

“Threats will not intimidate us,” Michel said. “Instead, we are going to remain calm. We are going to keep cool heads and we will, each time, denounce the irresponsible character of these threats.”

Jean-Pierre reiterated on Friday the U.S. has “not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons.”

It’s not the first time that Biden’s comments have appeared to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">push against the margins of U.S. policy</a>.

Last month, Biden, in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview, said that “U.S. forces, U.S. men and women,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-biden-china-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-abe8b7b0c6600e5fa869effae0d76ef2">would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.</a>&nbsp;”

The White House said after the interview that U.S. policy toward Taiwan hasn’t changed. That policy says Washington wants to see Taiwan’s status resolved peacefully but doesn’t say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack.

In March, as he wrapped up a speech in Warsaw, Biden seemed to call for the ouster of Putin, saying, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” Before Biden could even board Air Force One to begin the flight back to Washington, aides were scrambling to clarify that he wasn’t calling for an immediate change in government in Moscow.

Earlier that month, Biden called Putin a “war criminal” for the Russian onslaught in Ukraine before the White House walked back the comments. The White House had been avoiding applying the “war criminal” label to Putin, because it requires investigation and an international determination.

After Biden used the term, his then-press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the president was “speaking from his heart” and clarified that the administration acknowledged there is a process for making a formal determination.

As for Biden's latest eyebrow-raising remarks, “People sort of say, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s Biden. You know, he says this stuff,’” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, and a veteran of nuclear policy research.

“But overseas countries are saying, ‘Whoa, this is what the U.S. president says,”’ Kristensen said. “And so that means we have to be really careful about using big words” that in themselves can escalate nuclear tensions unintentionally.

Biden’s strong choice of words could have an have an unintended impact with Russia, Kristensen said, the biggest problem with the president’s latest comments.

“It’s quite clear to me that Putin will be looking at this and say to himself ’Wow, you know, I got their attention now. So they’re really afraid.'”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665104777267.png" alt="The president’s grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The president’s grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s warning that the world is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-nuclear-risk-1d0f1e40cff3a92c662c57f274ce0e25?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">at risk of a nuclear “Armageddon”</a>&nbsp;was designed to send an unvarnished message that no one should underestimate the extraordinary danger if Russia deploys tactical nuclear weapons in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-middle-east-business-5b8bcee162e155e58423f64671c7b3a5?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_06">its war against Ukraine</a>, administration officials said Friday.The president’s grim assessment, delivered during a Democratic fundraiser on Thursday night, rippled around the globe and appeared to edge beyond the boundaries of current U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. security officials continue to say they have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-business-nuclear-weapons-961200d584e048cecd15fa29ee8c2057?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_05">no evidence that Vladimir Putin has imminent plans</a>&nbsp;for a nuclear strike.Biden veered into talk about Ukraine at the end of his standard fundraising remarks, saying that Putin was “not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.”“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” he added. He suggested the threat from Putin is real “because his military is — you might say — significantly underperforming.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday did not directly respond to a question about whether Biden had gone into the event intending to invoke Armageddon, as the White House sought to clarify the president's off-the-cuff comments.She told reporters: “Russia’s talk of using nuclear weapons is irresponsible and there’s no way to use them without unintended consequences. It cannot happen.” She added that "if the Cuban missile crisis has taught us anything, it is the value of reducing nuclear risk and not brandishing it.”Biden’s national security team for months has warned that Russia could use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine as it has faced a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-general-assembly-russia-ukraine-kyiv-business-d1355f7c528a10c872e2a26b9d532e16">strategic setbacks on the battlefield</a>. But the president's remarks were the starkest warnings yet by the U.S. government about the nuclear stakes.One U.S. official said Biden was also trying to warn against underestimating the danger any level of tactical nuclear weapons.There’s some concern in the administration that Russia has determined it can use its nuclear arsenal in a manner short of a “full-blown” nuclear attack on Ukraine and face only limited reaction from U.S. and Western allies who are determined to keep the Ukraine conflict from turning into a broader war, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration thinkingPutin has repeatedly alluded to using his country’s vast nuclear arsenal, including last month when he announced plans to conscript Russian men to serve in Ukraine.“I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction ... and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal,” Putin said. “It’s not a bluff.”In Europe, leaders sought to turn down the volume after Biden’s stark warning.Asked about Biden’s remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was crucial to speak with care on the nuclear threat.“I have always refused to engage in political fiction, and especially ... when speaking of nuclear weapons,” Macron said at a EU summit in Prague. “On this issue, we must be very careful.”European Council President Charles Michel told reporters that leaders take “every escalation very seriously,”“Threats will not intimidate us,” Michel said. “Instead, we are going to remain calm. We are going to keep cool heads and we will, each time, denounce the irresponsible character of these threats.”Jean-Pierre reiterated on Friday the U.S. has “not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons.”It’s not the first time that Biden’s comments have appeared to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-migration-world-war-ii-warsaw-652da1c2ab1c88de3032241089bfa516">push against the margins of U.S. policy</a>.Last month, Biden, in a CBS “60 Minutes” interview, said that “U.S. forces, U.S. men and women,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-biden-china-nancy-pelosi-government-and-politics-abe8b7b0c6600e5fa869effae0d76ef2">would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.</a>&nbsp;”The White House said after the interview that U.S. policy toward Taiwan hasn’t changed. That policy says Washington wants to see Taiwan’s status resolved peacefully but doesn’t say whether U.S. forces might be sent in response to a Chinese attack.In March, as he wrapped up a speech in Warsaw, Biden seemed to call for the ouster of Putin, saying, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” Before Biden could even board Air Force One to begin the flight back to Washington, aides were scrambling to clarify that he wasn’t calling for an immediate change in government in Moscow.Earlier that month, Biden called Putin a “war criminal” for the Russian onslaught in Ukraine before the White House walked back the comments. The White House had been avoiding applying the “war criminal” label to Putin, because it requires investigation and an international determination.After Biden used the term, his then-press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the president was “speaking from his heart” and clarified that the administration acknowledged there is a process for making a formal determination.As for Biden's latest eyebrow-raising remarks, “People sort of say, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s Biden. You know, he says this stuff,’” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, and a veteran of nuclear policy research.“But overseas countries are saying, ‘Whoa, this is what the U.S. president says,”’ Kristensen said. “And so that means we have to be really careful about using big words” that in themselves can escalate nuclear tensions unintentionally.Biden’s strong choice of words could have an have an unintended impact with Russia, Kristensen said, the biggest problem with the president’s latest comments.“It’s quite clear to me that Putin will be looking at this and say to himself ’Wow, you know, I got their attention now. So they’re really afraid.'”___

Biden's 'nuclear warning' edges beyond bounds of US intel

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Three Kansas children died in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Kenworth semi driven by Robert Hosey Russell, 70, Huntsville, Alabama, was southbound on Interstate 335, the Kansas Turnpike, just south of Topeka.

The semi struck a 2018 Dodge van driven by Amber Marie Peery, 32, Topeka, as the driver attempted to turn through the barrier wall, according to the KHP.

Three children including two 9-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl all from Topeka died in the crash. 

EMS transported Peery, a 5-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl both of Topeka to Stormont Vail. Russell was not injured.

The girls who died were Auburn-Washburn elementary school students, according to a statement from USD 437 Superintendent&nbsp;Scott McWilliams. "These students include a Jay Shideler Elementary third grader along with two Farley Elementary fourth graders."

"We are keeping these students and their families in our thoughts. Such a loss raises emotions and questions for our entire school community, especially our students."

"Our schools have crisis teams made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this."

"On Monday morning, Farley Elementary and Jay Shideler Elementary students will be notified in an age-appropriate manner about what occurred. There will be designated areas of support offered to students who need time to process, discuss, or grieve. We will have counselors and social workers available to meet with students and staff members as needed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665414813534.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the weekend accident -photo courtesy WIBW TV&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the weekend accident -photo courtesy WIBW TV&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Three Kansas children died in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Kenworth semi driven by Robert Hosey Russell, 70, Huntsville, Alabama, was southbound on Interstate 335, the Kansas Turnpike, just south of Topeka.The semi struck a 2018 Dodge van driven by Amber Marie Peery, 32, Topeka, as the driver attempted to turn through the barrier wall, according to the KHP.Three children including two 9-year-old girls and an 8-year-old girl all from Topeka died in the crash. EMS transported Peery, a 5-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl both of Topeka to Stormont Vail. Russell was not injured.The girls who died were Auburn-Washburn elementary school students, according to a statement from USD 437 Superintendent&nbsp;Scott McWilliams. "These students include a Jay Shideler Elementary third grader along with two Farley Elementary fourth graders.""We are keeping these students and their families in our thoughts. Such a loss raises emotions and questions for our entire school community, especially our students.""Our schools have crisis teams made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this.""On Monday morning, Farley Elementary and Jay Shideler Elementary students will be notified in an age-appropriate manner about what occurred. There will be designated areas of support offered to students who need time to process, discuss, or grieve. We will have counselors and social workers available to meet with students and staff members as needed.”

3 Kansas girls dead after semi, van crash on Kansas Turnpike

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new sex crime allegations.

On Thursday, Jeremy Vanness, 36, of Cheney was indicted on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are investigating the case.&nbsp;

In 2007, Vanness was convicted on two counts of possessing a video, visual depiction of an unclothed minor child engaging in sexual explicit behavior, according to the KBI offender registry. He has been a registered offender since 2010.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665080479030.png" alt="Vanness-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Vanness-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas sex offender on new sex crime allegations.On Thursday, Jeremy Vanness, 36, of Cheney was indicted on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are investigating the case.&nbsp;In 2007, Vanness was convicted on two counts of possessing a video, visual depiction of an unclothed minor child engaging in sexual explicit behavior, according to the KBI offender registry. He has been a registered offender since 2010.

Kan. sex offender accused of distributing child pornography

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman for her role in an alleged domestic disturbance.

Just after 6:30 a.m. Oct. 5, police responded to a home in the 300 block of German Avenue in Haysville, according to a media release.

Officers learned there had been a disturbance between household members, resulting in a resident using a firearm inside the home.&nbsp;

Police arrested the suspect identified as 23-year-old Elizabeth&nbsp;Vanwilpe, according to the <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18828584">Sedgwick County booking report.</a>

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18828584">&nbsp;Vanwilpe remains in custody on </a>requested charges of attempted second-degree murder, an aggravated weapons violation, domestic violence, criminal damage to property and failure to appear, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665071853430.png" alt="Vanwilpe-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vanwilpe-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman for her role in an alleged domestic disturbance.Just after 6:30 a.m. Oct. 5, police responded to a home in the 300 block of German Avenue in Haysville, according to a media release.Officers learned there had been a disturbance between household members, resulting in a resident using a firearm inside the home.&nbsp;Police arrested the suspect identified as 23-year-old Elizabeth&nbsp;Vanwilpe, according to the <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18828584">Sedgwick County booking report.</a><a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18828584">&nbsp;Vanwilpe remains in custody on </a>requested charges of attempted second-degree murder, an aggravated weapons violation, domestic violence, criminal damage to property and failure to appear, according to online jail records.

Kan. woman allegedly fired gun in a home during disturbance

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Friday.&nbsp;

A 2016 Dodge Charger driven by Deputy Sidnee Carter, 22, Bel Aire, was southbound on 135th Street at 29th Street north one mile west of Northwest Wichita and Maize responding to a disturbance, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. 

A westbound 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Kelvin W. Burgett, 28, Prescott Valley, Arizona, failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the drivers side of the Dodge Charger, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

 Deputy Carter was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported Burgett to a local hospital.

Deputy Carter had only worked in the field alone for a week, according to Sheriff Easter. She began field training this summer and completed that training Oct. 1.&nbsp;

Deputy Carter had served the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office for one and a half years in the Sedgwick County Detention Facility before transferring to the Law Enforcement Bureau in February 2022. She graduated the Law Enforcement Academy on July 21, 2022.&nbsp;

Deputy Carter is survived by her parents, sisters and brothers. The sheriff's office is working with the family on funeral arrangements, according to Sheriff Easter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665249753989.png" alt="Deputy Sidnee Carter-photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Deputy Sidnee Carter-photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy died in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Friday.&nbsp;A 2016 Dodge Charger driven by Deputy Sidnee Carter, 22, Bel Aire, was southbound on 135th Street at 29th Street north one mile west of Northwest Wichita and Maize responding to a disturbance, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. A westbound 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Kelvin W. Burgett, 28, Prescott Valley, Arizona, failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the drivers side of the Dodge Charger, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Deputy Carter was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported Burgett to a local hospital.Deputy Carter had only worked in the field alone for a week, according to Sheriff Easter. She began field training this summer and completed that training Oct. 1.&nbsp;Deputy Carter had served the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office for one and a half years in the Sedgwick County Detention Facility before transferring to the Law Enforcement Bureau in February 2022. She graduated the Law Enforcement Academy on July 21, 2022.&nbsp;Deputy Carter is survived by her parents, sisters and brothers. The sheriff's office is working with the family on funeral arrangements, according to Sheriff Easter.

Kan. deputy completing first week of work alone dies in crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Airlines will be required to give flight attendants at least 10 hours off duty between shifts, one more hour than currently, under a rule announced this week by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said that the extra hour of rest would contribute to safety.

The rule goes into effect in 30 days, and airlines have up to 90 days to comply.

Congress directed the FAA in 2018 to increase the rest requirement for flight attendants and eliminate a provision that let crews work with less rest under some circumstances.

“It took us way too long, but we are finally here,” Nolen said at a news conference at Reagan Washington National Airport, where he was flanked by more than a dozen flight attendants.

Current federal rules allow flight attendants to work up to 14 hours in a day and get nine hours of rest between shifts.

The Association of Flight Attendants has fought for years for a longer break between shifts. The union thought it had prevailed four years ago, when Congress voted by large margins to require more rest. The union’s president, Sara Nelson, appeared with Nolen at the news conference and accused the Trump administration of attempting to kill the expansion through regulatory foot-dragging.

Union officials have pointed to a 2020-2021 increase in incidents involving unruly passengers as demonstrating the need to give cabin crews more rest between shifts. Airlines have reported fewer incidents since the federal requirement to wear face masks on flights ended in April.

“This is a small handful of people making it hell for flight attendants on the front lines,” Nelson said.

The FAA took public comments on the extra rest requirement in both 2019 and 2021 and received more than 1,000 comments from airlines, flight attendants and the public.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing the largest U.S. airlines, said safety is always the industry's top priority, and “having rested and alert flight attendants who are prepared to carry out their responsibilities, including cabin safety and other duties, is critical to this goal.” The group said it supports “scientifically validated and data-driven countermeasures to prevent fatigue.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Airlines will be required to give flight attendants at least 10 hours off duty between shifts, one more hour than currently, under a rule announced this week by the Federal Aviation Administration.Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said that the extra hour of rest would contribute to safety.The rule goes into effect in 30 days, and airlines have up to 90 days to comply.Congress directed the FAA in 2018 to increase the rest requirement for flight attendants and eliminate a provision that let crews work with less rest under some circumstances.“It took us way too long, but we are finally here,” Nolen said at a news conference at Reagan Washington National Airport, where he was flanked by more than a dozen flight attendants.Current federal rules allow flight attendants to work up to 14 hours in a day and get nine hours of rest between shifts.The Association of Flight Attendants has fought for years for a longer break between shifts. The union thought it had prevailed four years ago, when Congress voted by large margins to require more rest. The union’s president, Sara Nelson, appeared with Nolen at the news conference and accused the Trump administration of attempting to kill the expansion through regulatory foot-dragging.Union officials have pointed to a 2020-2021 increase in incidents involving unruly passengers as demonstrating the need to give cabin crews more rest between shifts. Airlines have reported fewer incidents since the federal requirement to wear face masks on flights ended in April.“This is a small handful of people making it hell for flight attendants on the front lines,” Nelson said.The FAA took public comments on the extra rest requirement in both 2019 and 2021 and received more than 1,000 comments from airlines, flight attendants and the public.Airlines for America, a trade group representing the largest U.S. airlines, said safety is always the industry's top priority, and “having rested and alert flight attendants who are prepared to carry out their responsibilities, including cabin safety and other duties, is critical to this goal.” The group said it supports “scientifically validated and data-driven countermeasures to prevent fatigue.”

New FAA rule: More rest between shifts for flight attendants

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an off-duty law enforcement officer for an alleged DUI.

Early Saturday,&nbsp;the Wichita Police Department (WPD) was made aware of the arrest of an off-duty officer by the Newton Police Department, according to Officer Trevor Macy. 

The Wichita Police Department learned that officer Louis Hebert was arrested and booked into the Harvey County Jail on requested charges of DUI and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

Hebert has been employed by the WPD for two years and was assigned to the Field Services division, according to Macy. He has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal and internal investigation. The Newton Police Department is investigating the case.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an off-duty law enforcement officer for an alleged DUI.Early Saturday,&nbsp;the Wichita Police Department (WPD) was made aware of the arrest of an off-duty officer by the Newton Police Department, according to Officer Trevor Macy. The Wichita Police Department learned that officer Louis Hebert was arrested and booked into the Harvey County Jail on requested charges of DUI and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.Hebert has been employed by the WPD for two years and was assigned to the Field Services division, according to Macy. He has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal and internal investigation. The Newton Police Department is investigating the case.

Off-duty Kansas officer accused of DUI

Figures show fentanyl-related deaths on the rise

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/05/kansas-child-death-report-finds-greater-risk-of-sucide-for-youth-in-state-custody/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas children involved in the foster care system have an increased suicide risk, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/reports/scdrb/2022-scdrb-annual-report.pdf?sfvrsn=bac7a21a_2">a new report on adolescent deaths</a> in the state.&nbsp;

Half of all deaths by suicide in 2020
 were children who had a history with child protective services. In 35% 
of the cases, the child had a history of being in state custody or had a
 sibling in state custody.&nbsp;

Out of the 26 suicide deaths reported
 for that year, 22 were male youths. In eight of the cases, the child 
was under the age of 15. In about 54% of cases, the youth had expressed 
suicidal thoughts or actions before.

While LGBTQ youth have a higher risk 
of suicide in national statistics, sexual orientation wasn’t tracked in a
 majority of the cases, and gender identity for four of the youths who 
died by suicide remains unknown.&nbsp;

The review of child fatalities in the
 state is conducted by a board of health professionals, law enforcement 
officers, educators and attorneys who examine each child death in 
Kansas. The Attorney General’s Office provides oversight of the board. The board said tracking gender identity and sexual orientation was difficult.&nbsp;

“It should be noted that the Board 
will rarely have information that would confirm a youth’s gender 
identity or sexual orientation,” the report said.&nbsp;

The state has ongoing efforts to 
reduce the problem, including a Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force, 
which was introduced in June 2018, and a statewide, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week suicide prevention hotline introduced in June of this year.&nbsp;

Barb Mares, area director for the 
Greater Kansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide 
Prevention, said she noticed a change with the hotline implementation.&nbsp;

“The calls have increased since the change, and I feel that they are doing such an improvement
 with how everybody’s being trained,” Mares said. “With everybody being 
on the same page, this is only going to get better for those that need 
the services.”

The rate of youth suicide fell 
slightly from 2019, which had 28 reported youth suicides. Mares said she
 was optimistic about current changes, but she urged more firearm 
safety.&nbsp;

“Sometimes you don’t see signs, but I
 feel safety is always the key,” Mares said. “So lock up those firearms,
 just in case. I would rather be safe than experiencing a tragedy. So if
 you do have firearms in the home, I would just suggest always be on the
 safe side.”&nbsp;

In Kansas, 74% of all weapon-related 
deaths in the last five years were caused by firearms, the report says. 
Out of the 125 firearm-related deaths in the last five years, 45 were 
homicide cases, and 68 were suicide cases.&nbsp;

The majority of 2020 child deaths in 
Kansas were from natural causes, such as disease or congenital 
conditions. Out of the total 365 child fatalities in 2020, 197 deaths 
fell into this category. Of these 197 deaths, 45% were caused by 
premature birth.&nbsp;

For the same year, 63 deaths were 
caused by unintentional injuries, most of which were motor vehicle 
crashes. There were also 22 child homicides, six of those from child 
abuse. Thirteen of the 22 families of homicide victims had child 
protective services involved before the death.

The board warned about a rise in 
fentanyl-related fatalities. Eleven out of the 16 drug-related deaths 
reported statewide in 2020 were caused by fentanyl. Drug-related deaths 
rose from 2019, when there were only five reported cases of drug-related
 deaths, none caused by fentanyl.&nbsp;

“The increase in drug overdoses and 
the continued loss of our youth by suicide are blunt reminders that we 
have much more work to do in Kansas to ensure the wellbeing of our 
children,” Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a press release on the
 board’s findings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665000528119.png" alt="Half of all deaths by suicide in 2020 were children who had a history with child protective services, a new report shows. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Half of all deaths by suicide in 2020 were children who had a history with child protective services, a new report shows. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Figures show fentanyl-related deaths on the rise</h2>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/05/kansas-child-death-report-finds-greater-risk-of-sucide-for-youth-in-state-custody/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas children involved in the foster care system have an increased suicide risk, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/reports/scdrb/2022-scdrb-annual-report.pdf?sfvrsn=bac7a21a_2">a new report on adolescent deaths</a> in the state.&nbsp;Half of all deaths by suicide in 2020
 were children who had a history with child protective services. In 35% 
of the cases, the child had a history of being in state custody or had a
 sibling in state custody.&nbsp;Out of the 26 suicide deaths reported
 for that year, 22 were male youths. In eight of the cases, the child 
was under the age of 15. In about 54% of cases, the youth had expressed 
suicidal thoughts or actions before.While LGBTQ youth have a higher risk 
of suicide in national statistics, sexual orientation wasn’t tracked in a
 majority of the cases, and gender identity for four of the youths who 
died by suicide remains unknown.&nbsp;The review of child fatalities in the
 state is conducted by a board of health professionals, law enforcement 
officers, educators and attorneys who examine each child death in 
Kansas. The Attorney General’s Office provides oversight of the board. The board said tracking gender identity and sexual orientation was difficult.&nbsp;“It should be noted that the Board 
will rarely have information that would confirm a youth’s gender 
identity or sexual orientation,” the report said.&nbsp;The state has ongoing efforts to 
reduce the problem, including a Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force, 
which was introduced in June 2018, and a statewide, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week suicide prevention hotline introduced in June of this year.&nbsp;Barb Mares, area director for the 
Greater Kansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide 
Prevention, said she noticed a change with the hotline implementation.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665000579882.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“The calls have increased since the change, and I feel that they are doing such an improvement
 with how everybody’s being trained,” Mares said. “With everybody being 
on the same page, this is only going to get better for those that need 
the services.”The rate of youth suicide fell 
slightly from 2019, which had 28 reported youth suicides. Mares said she
 was optimistic about current changes, but she urged more firearm 
safety.&nbsp;“Sometimes you don’t see signs, but I
 feel safety is always the key,” Mares said. “So lock up those firearms,
 just in case. I would rather be safe than experiencing a tragedy. So if
 you do have firearms in the home, I would just suggest always be on the
 safe side.”&nbsp;In Kansas, 74% of all weapon-related 
deaths in the last five years were caused by firearms, the report says. 
Out of the 125 firearm-related deaths in the last five years, 45 were 
homicide cases, and 68 were suicide cases.&nbsp;The majority of 2020 child deaths in 
Kansas were from natural causes, such as disease or congenital 
conditions. Out of the total 365 child fatalities in 2020, 197 deaths 
fell into this category. Of these 197 deaths, 45% were caused by 
premature birth.&nbsp;For the same year, 63 deaths were 
caused by unintentional injuries, most of which were motor vehicle 
crashes. There were also 22 child homicides, six of those from child 
abuse. Thirteen of the 22 families of homicide victims had child 
protective services involved before the death.The board warned about a rise in 
fentanyl-related fatalities. Eleven out of the 16 drug-related deaths 
reported statewide in 2020 were caused by fentanyl. Drug-related deaths 
rose from 2019, when there were only five reported cases of drug-related
 deaths, none caused by fentanyl.&nbsp;“The increase in drug overdoses and 
the continued loss of our youth by suicide are blunt reminders that we 
have much more work to do in Kansas to ensure the wellbeing of our 
children,” Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a press release on the
 board’s findings.

Report: Greater risk of suicide for Kansas youth in state custody

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man pleaded guilty Friday in the shooting deaths of a teenage Wichita couple whose bodies were found three days apart.

Dontenzie Kelly, 24, is scheduled to be sentenced next month after admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley.

Beasley’s body was found Feb. 1, 2021, outside an abandoned church. At the time, authorities said Blackmon might be in danger and launched a search. Her body later was found inside her SUV at a Wichita apartment complex.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.

On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.

As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.

Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;

Kelly is being held&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a>&nbsp;of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612284535821.png" alt="In Feb. of 2021, Officer Charley Davidson reported police found Blackmon's SUV" />
 <figcaption>In Feb. of 2021, Officer Charley Davidson reported police found Blackmon's SUV</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man pleaded guilty Friday in the shooting deaths of a teenage Wichita couple whose bodies were found three days apart.Dontenzie Kelly, 24, is scheduled to be sentenced next month after admitting to two counts of second-degree murder in the killings of 18-year-old Kaylah Blackmon and 17-year-old Michael Beasley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665229579077.png" alt="Kelly-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Kelly-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Beasley’s body was found Feb. 1, 2021, outside an abandoned church. At the time, authorities said Blackmon might be in danger and launched a search. Her body later was found inside her SUV at a Wichita apartment complex.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement&nbsp;authorities investigating the murder of two Kansas teens have arrested of&nbsp;22-year-old Dontenize Kelly of Wichita, according to Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.On Tuesday, police alerted the public that 18-year-old Kayla Blackmon may be in danger and asked the public for help to find her SUV.&nbsp; Police found her 17-year-old boyfriend Michael Beasley deceased in the 1000 block of North Ash in Wichita on Monday.As part of the the investigation police learned of Kelly's involvement and arrested him without incident Friday evening.Both teens were victims of gunshot wounds and killed in Blackmon's Ford Escape, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Dan Hardy. Police have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive as they continue to investigate.&nbsp;Kelly is being held&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20045382">on requested charges</a>&nbsp;of capital murder and a probation violation, according to Ramsey. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal possession of a weapon and for attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.--------

Man pleads guilty in deaths of Kansas teen and her boyfriend  

KANSAS CITY (AP) —At least 66 clinics in 15 states have stopped providing abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to an analysis released Thursday.

The number of clinics providing abortions in the 15 states dropped from 79 before the June 24 decision to 13 as of Oct. 2, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/">Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research group that supports abortion rights.

All 13 of the remaining clinics are in Georgia. The other states have no providers offering abortions, though some of their clinics are offering care other than abortions.

Nationally, there were more than 800 abortion clinics in 2020, the institute said.

“Much more research will need to be conducted to grasp the full extent of the chaos, confusion and harm that the U.S. Supreme Court has unleashed on people needing abortions, but the picture that is starting to emerge should alarm anyone who supports reproductive freedom and the right to bodily autonomy,” said Rachel Jones, a Guttmacher researcher.

The new report does not include data on hospitals and physician offices that provided abortion and stopped them after the court ruling, but Jones noted that clinics provide most U.S. abortions, including procedures and dispensing abortion medication. Recent Guttmacher data show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">just over half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are done with medication.

States without abortion providers are concentrated in the South. In some of those places, many women seeking abortions would need to travel so far that the journey will be impossible, Jones said.

Dr. Jeanne Corwin, who provides abortions in Indiana and Ohio, said clinic closures “will result in immeasurable harm to women’s physical health, mental health and financial health.’’

In several states, access is under threat because bans were put on hold only temporarily by court injunctions. These include Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina, the analysis found.

“It is precarious from a medical standpoint and certainly from a business standpoint,’’ said Dr. Katie McHugh, an OB-GYN who provides abortions in Indiana. “It’s difficult to keep the doors open and the lights on when you don’t know if you’re going to be a felon tomorrow."

KANSAS CITY (AP) —At least 66 clinics in 15 states have stopped providing abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to an analysis released Thursday.The number of clinics providing abortions in the 15 states dropped from 79 before the June 24 decision to 13 as of Oct. 2, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/">Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research group that supports abortion rights.All 13 of the remaining clinics are in Georgia. The other states have no providers offering abortions, though some of their clinics are offering care other than abortions.Nationally, there were more than 800 abortion clinics in 2020, the institute said.“Much more research will need to be conducted to grasp the full extent of the chaos, confusion and harm that the U.S. Supreme Court has unleashed on people needing abortions, but the picture that is starting to emerge should alarm anyone who supports reproductive freedom and the right to bodily autonomy,” said Rachel Jones, a Guttmacher researcher.The new report does not include data on hospitals and physician offices that provided abortion and stopped them after the court ruling, but Jones noted that clinics provide most U.S. abortions, including procedures and dispensing abortion medication. Recent Guttmacher data show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-56972af9e9b0fc2fc97e06041f6e96ce">just over half</a>&nbsp;of U.S. abortions are done with medication.States without abortion providers are concentrated in the South. In some of those places, many women seeking abortions would need to travel so far that the journey will be impossible, Jones said.Dr. Jeanne Corwin, who provides abortions in Indiana and Ohio, said clinic closures “will result in immeasurable harm to women’s physical health, mental health and financial health.’’In several states, access is under threat because bans were put on hold only temporarily by court injunctions. These include Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina, the analysis found.“It is precarious from a medical standpoint and certainly from a business standpoint,’’ said Dr. Katie McHugh, an OB-GYN who provides abortions in Indiana. “It’s difficult to keep the doors open and the lights on when you don’t know if you’re going to be a felon tomorrow."___

Institute report: At least 66 US clinics have halted abortions

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/07/as-election-looms-kansas-republicans-rally-around-fentanyl-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — At national and local 
levels, Kansas Republicans are rallying around the issue of battling 
fentanyl to win over voters in a close race.&nbsp;

During Wednesday’s GOP rally in Topeka, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall told the crowd that, unlike Gov. Laura Kelly, Attorney General Derek Schmidt would take fentanyl off the streets.&nbsp;

“We need a governor who supports law 
and order, and will keep our families safe, and who gets fentanyl off 
the streets and out of social media,” Marshall said.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid
 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Legal fentanyl is prescribed
 for pain relief. Illegal fentanyl is commonly mixed with other drugs 
because it’s a cheap way to create a more powerful high. Because 
fentanyl isn’t detectable without a test strip, people taking 
fentanyl-laced drugs are at a greater risk of overdose.&nbsp;

Marshall introduced legislation in 
September aimed at holding social media companies accountable for their 
role in fentanyl distribution. Marshall believes drug cartels are using 
social media such as TikTok to traffic fentanyl throughout the U.S.&nbsp;

Schmidt, the GOP nominee for 
governor, blamed Kelly for rising fentanyl abuse in the state, saying 
that the “poison” was manufactured in China by a branch of the Chinese 
Communist Party and then shipped to Mexico, where it is “mixed up and 
put together by drug cartels” and then smuggled over the border.

Schmidt said Kelly wasn’t doing enough to help southern governors with immigration problems.&nbsp;

“When she was asked for help by the 
border governors down on the southern border of the United States, she 
didn’t just say no,” Schmidt said. “She said they’re engaged in 
political games. That was her phrase.”&nbsp;

Kansas Democrats have pushed back 
against Schmidt’s rhetoric. State Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, said 
Republicans needed to focus on the state’s fentanyl problem at the local
 level instead of talking about border issues.&nbsp;

“I would challenge any Republican to 
tell me what Kansas can do about securing the border with Mexico. We 
have absolutely zero authority over that,” Probst said. “So for them to 
try to capture the fentanyl issue, which is a very real issue in our 
communities, and tie it to border security, it’s a dog whistle, because 
they can get people scared about immigration and tie it to fentanyl. And
 try to conflate those two issues.”

Probst also said Schmidt was silent 
about the fentanyl issue when Senate Republicans blocked legislation 
that would legalize fentanyl testing strips earlier this year.&nbsp;

“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a 
little skeptical and jaded and cynical when I now hear Republicans 
talking about this as an issue they care about,” Probst said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665157348961.png" alt="Attendees turn out for a GOP rally Wednesday in Topeka in support of Derek Schmidt, the Republican nominee for governor. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Attendees turn out for a GOP rally Wednesday in Topeka in support of Derek Schmidt, the Republican nominee for governor. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/07/as-election-looms-kansas-republicans-rally-around-fentanyl-crisis/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — At national and local 
levels, Kansas Republicans are rallying around the issue of battling 
fentanyl to win over voters in a close race.&nbsp;During Wednesday’s GOP rally in Topeka, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall told the crowd that, unlike Gov. Laura Kelly, Attorney General Derek Schmidt would take fentanyl off the streets.&nbsp;“We need a governor who supports law 
and order, and will keep our families safe, and who gets fentanyl off 
the streets and out of social media,” Marshall said.Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid
 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Legal fentanyl is prescribed
 for pain relief. Illegal fentanyl is commonly mixed with other drugs 
because it’s a cheap way to create a more powerful high. Because 
fentanyl isn’t detectable without a test strip, people taking 
fentanyl-laced drugs are at a greater risk of overdose.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665157411600.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall speaks at a rally Wednesday in Topeka in support of Derek Schmidt. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall speaks at a rally Wednesday in Topeka in support of Derek Schmidt. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Marshall introduced legislation in 
September aimed at holding social media companies accountable for their 
role in fentanyl distribution. Marshall believes drug cartels are using 
social media such as TikTok to traffic fentanyl throughout the U.S.&nbsp;Schmidt, the GOP nominee for 
governor, blamed Kelly for rising fentanyl abuse in the state, saying 
that the “poison” was manufactured in China by a branch of the Chinese 
Communist Party and then shipped to Mexico, where it is “mixed up and 
put together by drug cartels” and then smuggled over the border.Schmidt said Kelly wasn’t doing enough to help southern governors with immigration problems.&nbsp;“When she was asked for help by the 
border governors down on the southern border of the United States, she 
didn’t just say no,” Schmidt said. “She said they’re engaged in 
political games. That was her phrase.”&nbsp;Kansas Democrats have pushed back 
against Schmidt’s rhetoric. State Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, said 
Republicans needed to focus on the state’s fentanyl problem at the local
 level instead of talking about border issues.&nbsp;“I would challenge any Republican to 
tell me what Kansas can do about securing the border with Mexico. We 
have absolutely zero authority over that,” Probst said. “So for them to 
try to capture the fentanyl issue, which is a very real issue in our 
communities, and tie it to border security, it’s a dog whistle, because 
they can get people scared about immigration and tie it to fentanyl. And
 try to conflate those two issues.”Probst also said Schmidt was silent 
about the fentanyl issue when Senate Republicans blocked legislation 
that would legalize fentanyl testing strips earlier this year.&nbsp;“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a 
little skeptical and jaded and cynical when I now hear Republicans 
talking about this as an issue they care about,” Probst said.&nbsp;During the rally, former
 Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said if elected, he would take 
legal action against President Joe Biden, saying his immigration 
policies opened the door for drugs brought across the Mexican border.&nbsp;“If Joe Biden comes up with yet 
another way to open our borders, to bring in more fentanyl to our 
streets, what are we going to do?” Kobach said, in a call-and-response 
with the audience.&nbsp;The audience chorused back: “Sue Joe Biden.”&nbsp;U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner said Kansas, 
and the U.S. in general, was being swamped with illegal immigrants 
bringing fentanyl across the border.&nbsp;“The Border Patrol is being overrun 
right here in Kansas,” LaTurner said. “We’re dealing with this on a 
daily basis. The No. 1 killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45
 is fentanyl. Over 300 Americans every single day are dying of this. 
It’s pouring across our southern border, and this administration isn’t 
doing anything about it.”&nbsp;LaTurner’s statistics have not been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm">leading</a> causes of death <a target="_blank" href="https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D176/D306F953">among all American adults</a> in 2020 were heart disease, cancer and COVID-19. Preliminary CDC data for 2021 shows a similar trend.&nbsp;Opioid overdoses are on the rise, though. CDC data for 2021 showed more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm">than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in a single year</a>, with most of these overdoses involving opioids.In 2021, the Kansas Department of 
Health and Environment said that out of the 338 drug overdoses reported 
between Jan. 1 and June. 30 of that year, 149 were related to fentanyl 
or fentanyl analogs. The provisional report showed a 54% increase in fatalities from an overdose during the same six-month period in 2020.A new report of child deaths across the state showed six fentanyl-related deaths in children under the age of 17 in 2020.&nbsp;Kelly announced a $17.2 million 
federal grant given to the state and the Kickapoo Tribe to address the 
opioid crisis on Thursday, a day after Schmidt’s comments.&nbsp;The funding will be used to treat 
opioid addiction and increase access to recovery support services, among
 others, with the goal of reducing opioid overdose deaths. According to 
the press release, recovery support services will go to those using 
prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and 
psychostimulants.“The opioid crisis impacts families 
across Kansas, which is why it’s critical that we make opioid treatment 
and prevention resources available in every community,” Kelly said in 
the news release. “This funding will help make that possible, and in 
doing so save lives and bring relief to struggling Kansans.”