FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murders of a mother and daughter from Spearville, Kansas.

Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.

While they were inside the home, law enforcement officers noticed evidence that a crime had occurred in the residence. The man, identified as Michael A. Peterson, 31, of Spearville, was detained for questioning.

Just before 4 p.m., the Ford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene to investigate.

KBI agents and deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search for Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez. They were later assisted by the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office.

Just after 4 a.m. Thursday, authorities located the body of Kayla Vasquez in rural Ford County. Then at around 5:40 a.m., the body of Aalilyah Vasquez was discovered in Kinsley. Autopsies will be conducted.

At approximately 7:35 a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; authorities arrested Peterson on requested charges of capital murder connected to the deaths.

No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-227-4501.

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the disappearance of a Kansas woman and 4-year-old girl.

The sheriff's office requested assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist them in the investigation.

Kayla Vasquez is described as 5-foot-5 inches tall, 200 pounds, with dark hair and hazel eyes.&nbsp; Aalilyah is 3-foot-five inches tall with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on the disappearance is asked to call law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655373990456.png" alt="Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez-photo Ford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez-photo Ford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murders of a mother and daughter from Spearville, Kansas.Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.While they were inside the home, law enforcement officers noticed evidence that a crime had occurred in the residence. The man, identified as Michael A. Peterson, 31, of Spearville, was detained for questioning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655398104068.png" alt="Peterson-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Peterson-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 4 p.m., the Ford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene to investigate.KBI agents and deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search for Kayla and Aalilyah Vasquez. They were later assisted by the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office.Just after 4 a.m. Thursday, authorities located the body of Kayla Vasquez in rural Ford County. Then at around 5:40 a.m., the body of Aalilyah Vasquez was discovered in Kinsley. Autopsies will be conducted.At approximately 7:35 a.m. Thursday,&nbsp; authorities arrested Peterson on requested charges of capital murder connected to the deaths.No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident.Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-227-4501.--------FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the disappearance of a Kansas woman and 4-year-old girl.Just before 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to 203 West Avenue B in Spearville, according to a media release from the Ford County Sheriff's Department. A man at the residence told deputies his girlfriend 31-year-old Kayla Vasquez and daughter 4-year-old Aalilyah were missing.The sheriff's office requested assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist them in the investigation.Kayla Vasquez is described as 5-foot-5 inches tall, 200 pounds, with dark hair and hazel eyes.&nbsp; Aalilyah is 3-foot-five inches tall with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on the disappearance is asked to call law enforcement.

Update KBI: Man arrested after bodies of SW Kan. woman, daughter found 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Jan. 6 committee plunged into Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to salvage the 2020 election by pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to reject the electoral count.

(Click below to watch a replay of Thursday's hearing)

Gripping new evidence also detailed how the mob that stormed the Capitol that day came within 40 feet of where Pence and his team were sheltering, highlighting the danger Trump had put him in. Thursday's witnesses, including Pence's counsel, dissected a strategy Trump embraced from conservative law professor John Eastman to have Pence refuse to certify Joe Biden’s election victory in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">The 1/6 committee</a>&nbsp;is set to plunge into Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to salvage the 2020 election by pressuring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;to reject the electoral count — powers Pence didn’t have — in the run-up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-conspiracy-crime-c2e427dc0fa16077d7fb98c06e61149f">the U.S. Capitol riot</a>.

Click below to watch a replay of the hearing

With two witnesses Thursday, the House panel intends to show how Trump’s false claims of a fraudulent election left him grasping for alternatives as courts turned back dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote.

Trump latched onto&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-elections-california-donald-trump-election-2020-f37b212a35ab87ddce10d141bb80ae28">conservative law professor John Eastman’s obscure plan</a>&nbsp;and launched a public and private pressure campaign on Pence days before the vice president was to preside over the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-elections-crime-donald-trump-presidential-elections-7b25a5f116f56f73d60b6cb298386bb9">federal judge has said it is “more likely than not” Trump committed crimes</a>&nbsp;in his attempt to stop the certification.

“The illegality of the plan was obvious,” the Jan. 6 panel said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-crime-donald-trump-united-states-presidential-elections-d6f316446682ea36e85e2fc4e0581a87">court filing against Eastman</a>. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., committee co-chair, said in her opening statement last week: “What President Trump demanded that Mike Pence do wasn’t just wrong, it was illegal and it was unconstitutional.”

The committee will hear from Greg Jacob, the vice president’s counsel who fended off Eastman’s ideas for Pence to carry out the plan; and retired federal judge Michael Luttig, who called the plan from Eastman, his former law clerk, “incorrect at every turn.”

Thursday’s session is also expected to divulge new evidence about the danger Pence faced that day as the mob stormed the Capitol shouting “hang Mike Pence!” with a gallows on the Capitol grounds as the vice president fled with senators into hiding. Nine people died in the riot and its aftermath.

The session is expected to show how Trump’s pressure on Pence “directly contributed” to the attack on the Capitol, according to a committee aide who insisted on anonymity to discuss the upcoming hearing.

Ahead of the hearing, Pence’s former chief of staff, Marc Short, said his boss was determined to stay at the Capitol that night and finish the job, despite the threats.

“He knew his job was to stay at his post,” Short said on CNN on Wednesday.

Short said Pence didn’t want the world seeing the vice president leaving the Capitol when “a hallmark of democracy” was under siege.

“He thought it was important that he stay there and make sure the work of the American people was completed that night,” said Short, who testified under subpoena to the committee for eight hours, but has not yet appeared as a live witness.

The panel is reconvening for a third hearing this month after a blockbuster prime-time start last week, followed by logistical setbacks in recent days. Monday’s key witness, former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, abruptly declined to appear in person because his wife was in labor with their child. Wednesday’s scheduled hearing with witnesses from the Justice Department who tried to convince Trump that his claims of voter fraud were just not true was postponed.

Nevertheless, the panel’s yearlong investigation is showcasing Trump’s final weeks in office as the defeated president clung to “the big lie” of a rigged election even as those around him — his family, his top aides, officials at the highest levels of government — were telling him he simply lost the election.

Former Attorney General William Barr, who resigned at the end of 2020 rather than be part of Trump’s plans, testified earlier that the president was becoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">“detached from reality”</a>&nbsp;if he believed the lies. He said he told the president his claims of voter fraud were “bull-—.”

With 1,000 interviews and reams of 140,000 documents, the committee is connecting the dots, showing how Trump’s false claims of election fraud became a battle cry as he summoned thousands of Americans to Washington for a Jan. 6 rally and then sent them to Capitol Hill to “fight like hell” for his presidency.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-conspiracy-crime-c2e427dc0fa16077d7fb98c06e61149f">More than 800 people have been arrested</a>&nbsp;in the Capitol siege, and the panel is considering whether to send a referral for criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department. No president or former president has ever been indicted by the Justice Department, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he and his team are following the proceedings in Congress.

For now, the panel is pressing ahead with its hearings, with more scheduled for next week.

Thursday’s will unpack the Eastman plan to have the states send alternative slates of electors from the five or seven states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan.

Pence refused the plan, believing the founding fathers would not have left it to one person, the vice president, to decide the outcome, Jacob told the panel in previous testimony. Jacob said the idea was utterly against some 130 years of precedent in American history, “entirely made up.”

The committee in hearings ahead will be delving into the roles of extremist groups and others who heeded Trump’s call to Washington. Leaders and others from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">rare sedition charges</a>&nbsp;over their roles in the Capitol attack.

Several members of Congress are also under scrutiny, including Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., whom the committee has asked for an interview to discuss a Capitol tour he gave that included basement tunnels to a group of people the day before the attack.

The panel is also probing several candidates for elected office, including the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, who were among the rioters.

The panel, which is expected to deliver a final report on its findings later this year, intends for its work to be a record for history of the most violent attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812. Unlike other national traumas that have pulled the country together, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack appears to have left many Americans divided. Congress splintered over forming the committee, which most Republicans opposed.

The panel’s two Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-wyoming-presidential-4fd397e5ba68de1924f52c79507eff2f">Cheney</a>&nbsp;and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, have been shunned by the GOP for their work with Democrats leading the investigation into Trump and his role in the Capitol attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609956651601.png" alt="Former Vice President Mike Pence as he&nbsp;presided over the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election victory-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former Vice President Mike Pence as he&nbsp;presided over the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election victory-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Jan. 6 committee plunged into Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to salvage the 2020 election by pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to reject the electoral count.(Click below to watch a replay of Thursday's hearing)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBjUWVKuDj0?start=250" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Gripping new evidence also detailed how the mob that stormed the Capitol that day came within 40 feet of where Pence and his team were sheltering, highlighting the danger Trump had put him in. Thursday's witnesses, including Pence's counsel, dissected a strategy Trump embraced from conservative law professor John Eastman to have Pence refuse to certify Joe Biden’s election victory in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress.”----------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">The 1/6 committee</a>&nbsp;is set to plunge into Donald Trump’s last-ditch effort to salvage the 2020 election by pressuring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Vice President Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;to reject the electoral count — powers Pence didn’t have — in the run-up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-conspiracy-crime-c2e427dc0fa16077d7fb98c06e61149f">the U.S. Capitol riot</a>.Click below to watch a replay of the hearing<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBjUWVKuDj0?start=250" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>With two witnesses Thursday, the House panel intends to show how Trump’s false claims of a fraudulent election left him grasping for alternatives as courts turned back dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote.Trump latched onto&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-elections-california-donald-trump-election-2020-f37b212a35ab87ddce10d141bb80ae28">conservative law professor John Eastman’s obscure plan</a>&nbsp;and launched a public and private pressure campaign on Pence days before the vice president was to preside over the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-elections-crime-donald-trump-presidential-elections-7b25a5f116f56f73d60b6cb298386bb9">federal judge has said it is “more likely than not” Trump committed crimes</a>&nbsp;in his attempt to stop the certification.“The illegality of the plan was obvious,” the Jan. 6 panel said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-crime-donald-trump-united-states-presidential-elections-d6f316446682ea36e85e2fc4e0581a87">court filing against Eastman</a>. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., committee co-chair, said in her opening statement last week: “What President Trump demanded that Mike Pence do wasn’t just wrong, it was illegal and it was unconstitutional.”The committee will hear from Greg Jacob, the vice president’s counsel who fended off Eastman’s ideas for Pence to carry out the plan; and retired federal judge Michael Luttig, who called the plan from Eastman, his former law clerk, “incorrect at every turn.”Thursday’s session is also expected to divulge new evidence about the danger Pence faced that day as the mob stormed the Capitol shouting “hang Mike Pence!” with a gallows on the Capitol grounds as the vice president fled with senators into hiding. Nine people died in the riot and its aftermath.The session is expected to show how Trump’s pressure on Pence “directly contributed” to the attack on the Capitol, according to a committee aide who insisted on anonymity to discuss the upcoming hearing.Ahead of the hearing, Pence’s former chief of staff, Marc Short, said his boss was determined to stay at the Capitol that night and finish the job, despite the threats.“He knew his job was to stay at his post,” Short said on CNN on Wednesday.Short said Pence didn’t want the world seeing the vice president leaving the Capitol when “a hallmark of democracy” was under siege.“He thought it was important that he stay there and make sure the work of the American people was completed that night,” said Short, who testified under subpoena to the committee for eight hours, but has not yet appeared as a live witness.The panel is reconvening for a third hearing this month after a blockbuster prime-time start last week, followed by logistical setbacks in recent days. Monday’s key witness, former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, abruptly declined to appear in person because his wife was in labor with their child. Wednesday’s scheduled hearing with witnesses from the Justice Department who tried to convince Trump that his claims of voter fraud were just not true was postponed.Nevertheless, the panel’s yearlong investigation is showcasing Trump’s final weeks in office as the defeated president clung to “the big lie” of a rigged election even as those around him — his family, his top aides, officials at the highest levels of government — were telling him he simply lost the election.Former Attorney General William Barr, who resigned at the end of 2020 rather than be part of Trump’s plans, testified earlier that the president was becoming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">“detached from reality”</a>&nbsp;if he believed the lies. He said he told the president his claims of voter fraud were “bull-—.”With 1,000 interviews and reams of 140,000 documents, the committee is connecting the dots, showing how Trump’s false claims of election fraud became a battle cry as he summoned thousands of Americans to Washington for a Jan. 6 rally and then sent them to Capitol Hill to “fight like hell” for his presidency.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-conspiracy-crime-c2e427dc0fa16077d7fb98c06e61149f">More than 800 people have been arrested</a>&nbsp;in the Capitol siege, and the panel is considering whether to send a referral for criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department. No president or former president has ever been indicted by the Justice Department, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he and his team are following the proceedings in Congress.For now, the panel is pressing ahead with its hearings, with more scheduled for next week.Thursday’s will unpack the Eastman plan to have the states send alternative slates of electors from the five or seven states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan.Pence refused the plan, believing the founding fathers would not have left it to one person, the vice president, to decide the outcome, Jacob told the panel in previous testimony. Jacob said the idea was utterly against some 130 years of precedent in American history, “entirely made up.”The committee in hearings ahead will be delving into the roles of extremist groups and others who heeded Trump’s call to Washington. Leaders and others from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">rare sedition charges</a>&nbsp;over their roles in the Capitol attack.Several members of Congress are also under scrutiny, including Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., whom the committee has asked for an interview to discuss a Capitol tour he gave that included basement tunnels to a group of people the day before the attack.The panel is also probing several candidates for elected office, including the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, who were among the rioters.The panel, which is expected to deliver a final report on its findings later this year, intends for its work to be a record for history of the most violent attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812. Unlike other national traumas that have pulled the country together, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack appears to have left many Americans divided. Congress splintered over forming the committee, which most Republicans opposed.The panel’s two Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-wyoming-presidential-4fd397e5ba68de1924f52c79507eff2f">Cheney</a>&nbsp;and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, have been shunned by the GOP for their work with Democrats leading the investigation into Trump and his role in the Capitol attack.

🎥 Day 3 replay: 1/6 panel probes Trump pressure on Pence to reject election

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas teenager died in a accident just after 12:30p.m. Wednesday northwest of Salina.

According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, a 15-year-old boy was riding a four-wheeler in a field behind his family's home in the 4700 block of W. Pleasant Hill Road.

The boy attempted to ride through a gate and instead struck a wire fence.

EMS transported the boy to Salina Regional Health Center where he later died.&nbsp; Soldan did not release the boy's name.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —A Kansas teenager died in a accident just after 12:30p.m. Wednesday northwest of Salina.According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, a 15-year-old boy was riding a four-wheeler in a field behind his family's home in the 4700 block of W. Pleasant Hill Road.The boy attempted to ride through a gate and instead struck a wire fence.EMS transported the boy to Salina Regional Health Center where he later died.&nbsp; Soldan did not release the boy's name.

Sheriff: Kansas teen dies after 4-wheeler strikes a fence

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Highland Ridge Dr. in Manhattan.

Just before 3:30p.m Wednesday, MH Development and a 52-year-old woman reported carpet, light fixtures, walls, a refrigerator, doors, cabinets, couch, mattress, glass tables, dresser, weight bench and more were damaged&nbsp; inside of an apartment, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $100,000.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Highland Ridge Dr. in Manhattan.Just before 3:30p.m Wednesday, MH Development and a 52-year-old woman reported carpet, light fixtures, walls, a refrigerator, doors, cabinets, couch, mattress, glass tables, dresser, weight bench and more were damaged&nbsp; inside of an apartment, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $100,000.

Police investigate $100,000 damage to apartment in Manhattan

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Republican candidate Kris Kobach on Wednesday endorsed lowering Kansas’ legal drinking age to 18 and promised that if he’s elected attorney general this year, he will challenge the federal policy preventing such a move.

(Click below to watch a replay of the debate courtesy KCPT)

Kobach criticized a 1980s federal law that threatens states with the loss of highway dollars if their drinking ages are below 21. He said he believes the U.S. Supreme Court is now conservative enough that it would overturn that law and allow states to set their own policies.

The issue arose during a debate in Overland Park between Kobach and the other two GOP attorney general candidates, state Sen. Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi. All three candidates support gun rights, and a viewer of the public television station livestreaming the debate asked whether the drinking age also should be 18 if people can buy guns at that age.

“When you’re 18 years old and you can vote — you can fight for this country — you should have all of the rights that other citizens enjoy,” Kobach said.

Both Warren and Mattivi said the issues are different because gun rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment while there is no constitutional right to drink alcohol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655322316826.png" alt="The issue arose during a debate in Overland Park between Kobach and the other two GOP attorney general candidates, state Sen. Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi.-image courtesy Kansas City PBS" />
 <figcaption>The issue arose during a debate in Overland Park between Kobach and the other two GOP attorney general candidates, state Sen. Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi.-image courtesy Kansas City PBS</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Republican candidate Kris Kobach on Wednesday endorsed lowering Kansas’ legal drinking age to 18 and promised that if he’s elected attorney general this year, he will challenge the federal policy preventing such a move.(Click below to watch a replay of the debate courtesy KCPT)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkansascitypbs%2Fvideos%2F430578798915600%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=443" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Kobach criticized a 1980s federal law that threatens states with the loss of highway dollars if their drinking ages are below 21. He said he believes the U.S. Supreme Court is now conservative enough that it would overturn that law and allow states to set their own policies.The issue arose during a debate in Overland Park between Kobach and the other two GOP attorney general candidates, state Sen. Kellie Warren and former federal prosecutor Tony Mattivi. All three candidates support gun rights, and a viewer of the public television station livestreaming the debate asked whether the drinking age also should be 18 if people can buy guns at that age.“When you’re 18 years old and you can vote — you can fight for this country — you should have all of the rights that other citizens enjoy,” Kobach said.Both Warren and Mattivi said the issues are different because gun rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment while there is no constitutional right to drink alcohol.___

🎥Kansas AG's race: Kobach backs lowering drinking age to 18

Sturgis, Mich. (AP) —Severe weather has forced Abbott Nutrition to pause production at a Michigan baby formula factory that had just restarted after being closed for several months.

The facility is closely tied to the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-health-thunderstorms-weather-f7d8a9df5ac176a6ac7e97802e05673b" target="_blank">baby formula shortage</a>.

Production for its EleCare specialty formula has been suspended, but there is enough supply to meet demand until production is restarted, the company said. The company put a priority on ramping up production of the specialty formula for infants with severe food allergies and digestive problems who have few other options for nutrition.

Abbott says it needs to assess damage and re-sanitize the factory after severe thunderstorms and heavy rains swept through southwestern Michigan late Monday. The company didn’t indicate how much damage the factory sustained.

Abbott had restarted the Sturgis, Michigan, factory on June 4 after it had been closed since February due to contamination.

The factory was closed after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Two of the babies died. The company continues to state that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains.

FDA inspectors eventually uncovered a host of violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols.

Abbott recalled several leading brands of formula in February, including Similac. That squeezed squeezed supplies that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns.

The company offered no time frame in its statement for when production will resume.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac made at the plant in Sturgis, Michigan-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac made at the plant in Sturgis, Michigan-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>Sturgis, Mich. (AP) —Severe weather has forced Abbott Nutrition to pause production at a Michigan baby formula factory that had just restarted after being closed for several months.The facility is closely tied to the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-health-thunderstorms-weather-f7d8a9df5ac176a6ac7e97802e05673b" target="_blank">baby formula shortage</a>.Production for its EleCare specialty formula has been suspended, but there is enough supply to meet demand until production is restarted, the company said. The company put a priority on ramping up production of the specialty formula for infants with severe food allergies and digestive problems who have few other options for nutrition.Abbott says it needs to assess damage and re-sanitize the factory after severe thunderstorms and heavy rains swept through southwestern Michigan late Monday. The company didn’t indicate how much damage the factory sustained.Abbott had restarted the Sturgis, Michigan, factory on June 4 after it had been closed since February due to contamination.The factory was closed after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Two of the babies died. The company continues to state that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains.FDA inspectors eventually uncovered a host of violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols.Abbott recalled several leading brands of formula in February, including Similac. That squeezed squeezed supplies that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns.The company offered no time frame in its statement for when production will resume.

Production at recently opened baby formula factory stopped again

KANSAS CITY—Charges have been filed against a 19-year-old suspect in connection with a threat that closed ten Kansas City-area schools on Wednesday.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker thanked Blue Springs police department, Chief Bob Muenz and the FBI for their quick action regarding a threat of a mass shooting on Wednesday. "Their handling of this case was thoughtful and professional and I appreciate their partnership," Baker said.

"Their work however only came from an anonymous reporter of the threat. This brave individual deserves everyone’s praise and gratitude for reporting this social media post to law enforcement. &nbsp;This case shows that citizens can make a difference. Taking someone’s threat seriously is the best way to mitigate potential harm."

"My ask today is pretty simple – if you see a credible threat, please report it to law enforcement. School districts are working through stressful times knowing that their main priority is to keep kids safe and they did so."

Baker made the public announcement of charges but she said, "I intentionally am not going to use the suspect’s name or likeness in the statement. We will carry this case affording him with proper due process but he does not deserve to be made famous for his threat. Likewise I would ask that you consider not using his name or likeness in your reporting of this charge."

We charged him with the single count of making a terroristic threat and asked for a bond to hold him in custody. Further, we have been assured that mental health services will be offered to him while incarcerated.

KANSAS CITY—Charges have been filed against a 19-year-old suspect in connection with a threat that closed ten Kansas City-area schools on Wednesday.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker thanked Blue Springs police department, Chief Bob Muenz and the FBI for their quick action regarding a threat of a mass shooting on Wednesday. "Their handling of this case was thoughtful and professional and I appreciate their partnership," Baker said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FBI Kansas City was made aware of a threat received by the Blue Springs Police Department yesterday. We take all threats of violence seriously and work with our local partners to provide resources as needed. <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueSpringsPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueSpringsPD</a> is the lead investigative agency regarding this matter.&mdash; FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity/status/1537060955837804545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Their work however only came from an anonymous reporter of the threat. This brave individual deserves everyone’s praise and gratitude for reporting this social media post to law enforcement. &nbsp;This case shows that citizens can make a difference. Taking someone’s threat seriously is the best way to mitigate potential harm.""My ask today is pretty simple – if you see a credible threat, please report it to law enforcement. School districts are working through stressful times knowing that their main priority is to keep kids safe and they did so."Baker made the public announcement of charges but she said, "I intentionally am not going to use the suspect’s name or likeness in the statement. We will carry this case affording him with proper due process but he does not deserve to be made famous for his threat. Likewise I would ask that you consider not using his name or likeness in your reporting of this charge."We charged him with the single count of making a terroristic threat and asked for a bond to hold him in custody. Further, we have been assured that mental health services will be offered to him while incarcerated.

Felony charges filed for threats that closed KC-area schools

WASHINGTON (AP) The first COVID-19 shots for U.S. infants, toddlers and preschoolers moved a step closer Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisers gave a thumbs-up to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the littlest kids.

The outside experts voted unanimously that the benefits of the shots outweigh any risks for children under 5 — that’s roughly 18 million youngsters. They are the last age group in the U.S. without access to COVID-19 vaccines and many parents have been anxious to protect their little children.

If all the regulatory steps are cleared,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-government-and-politics-152ad81fe8b76025772f0659e521acee">shots should be available next week.</a>

“This is a long-awaited vaccine,” said one panel member, Dr. Jay Portnoy of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. “There are so many parents who are absolutely desperate to get this vaccine and I think we owe it to them to give them a choice to have the vaccine if they want to.”

Dr. Peter Marks, FDA’s vaccine chief, opened the meeting with data showing a “quite troubling surge” in young children’s hospitalizations during the omicron wave, and noted 442 children under 4 have died during the pandemic. That’s far fewer than adult deaths, but should not be dismissed in considering the need for vaccinating the youngest kids, he said.

“Each child that’s lost essentially fractures a family,” Marks said.

While endorsing the vaccines, some panel members said they believe chances are minimal for severe illness and death in young children.

“Risks from vaccination are very low, but so are risks from COVID-19 for the youngest kids,” said Dr. Cody Meissner of Tufts University.

FDA reviewers said both brands appear to be safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old in&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/search/text?all=false&amp;sourceType=allSources&amp;dateRangeType=live&amp;mediaSortType=newest&amp;pagesize=100&amp;viewType=conversation&amp;keyword=tags:sam&amp;storyType=all&amp;mediatype=text&amp;pagenumber=0" target="_blank">analyses posted</a>&nbsp;ahead of the all-day meeting. Side effects, including fever and fatigue, were generally minor in both, and less common than seen in adults.

The two vaccines use the same technology but there are differences. In a call with reporters earlier this week, vaccine experts noted that the shots haven’t been tested against each other, so there’s no way to tell parents if one is superior.

“You can’t compare the vaccines directly,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.

If the FDA agrees with its advisers and authorizes the shots, there’s one more step. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide on a formal recommendation after its own advisers vote on Saturday. If the CDC signs off, shots could be available as soon as Monday or Tuesday at doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies.

Pfizer’s vaccine is for children 6 months through 4 years; Moderna’s vaccine is for 6 months through 5 years.

Moderna’s shots are one-quarter the dose of the company’s adult shots. Two doses appeared strong enough to prevent severe illness but only about 40% to 50% effective at preventing milder infections. Moderna added a booster to its tests and expects to eventually offer one.

Pfizer’s shots are just one-tenth its adult dose. Pfizer and partner BioNTech found that two shots didn’t provide enough protection in testing, so a third was added during the omicron wave.

Pfizer’s submitted data found no safety concerns and suggested that three shots were 80% effective in preventing symptomatic coronavirus infections. But that was based on just 10 COVID-19 cases; the calculation could change as more cases occur in the company’s ongoing studies.

Several advisers, noting that protection is low after two Pfizer doses, worried that some parents might end up skipping the third shot, or mistakenly thinking their kids are better protected between shots, leaving them vulnerable.

Educating parents must be done “very very carefully so that they are not misled about what the vaccines actually provide,” said Dr. Archana Chatterjee of Rosalind Franklin University.

The same&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-316714ee5cc37b87def488c41877ce38">FDA panel on Tuesday backed Moderna’s half-sized shots for ages 6 to 11 and full-sized doses for teens.</a>&nbsp;If authorized by the FDA, it would be the second option for those age groups. Currently Pfizer vaccine is their only choice.

The nation’s vaccination campaign started in December 2020 with the rollout of adult vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, with health care workers and nursing home residents first in line. Teens and school-age children were added last year.

Moderna said in April that it is also seeking regulatory approval outside the U.S. for its little kid shots. According to the World Health Organization, 12 countries already vaccinate kids under 5, with other brands.

In the U.S., it remains uncertain how many parents want their youngest vaccinated. By some estimates, three-quarters of all children have already been infected. And only about 29% of children aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated since Pfizer’s shots opened to them last November, a rate far lower than public health authorities consider ideal.

Dr. Nimmi Rajagopal, a family medicine physician at Cook County Health in Chicago, said she’s been preparing parents for months.

“We have some that are hesitant, and some that are just raring to go,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) The first COVID-19 shots for U.S. infants, toddlers and preschoolers moved a step closer Wednesday.The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisers gave a thumbs-up to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the littlest kids.The outside experts voted unanimously that the benefits of the shots outweigh any risks for children under 5 — that’s roughly 18 million youngsters. They are the last age group in the U.S. without access to COVID-19 vaccines and many parents have been anxious to protect their little children.If all the regulatory steps are cleared,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-government-and-politics-152ad81fe8b76025772f0659e521acee">shots should be available next week.</a>“This is a long-awaited vaccine,” said one panel member, Dr. Jay Portnoy of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. “There are so many parents who are absolutely desperate to get this vaccine and I think we owe it to them to give them a choice to have the vaccine if they want to.”Dr. Peter Marks, FDA’s vaccine chief, opened the meeting with data showing a “quite troubling surge” in young children’s hospitalizations during the omicron wave, and noted 442 children under 4 have died during the pandemic. That’s far fewer than adult deaths, but should not be dismissed in considering the need for vaccinating the youngest kids, he said.“Each child that’s lost essentially fractures a family,” Marks said.While endorsing the vaccines, some panel members said they believe chances are minimal for severe illness and death in young children.“Risks from vaccination are very low, but so are risks from COVID-19 for the youngest kids,” said Dr. Cody Meissner of Tufts University.FDA reviewers said both brands appear to be safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old in&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/search/text?all=false&amp;sourceType=allSources&amp;dateRangeType=live&amp;mediaSortType=newest&amp;pagesize=100&amp;viewType=conversation&amp;keyword=tags:sam&amp;storyType=all&amp;mediatype=text&amp;pagenumber=0" target="_blank">analyses posted</a>&nbsp;ahead of the all-day meeting. Side effects, including fever and fatigue, were generally minor in both, and less common than seen in adults.The two vaccines use the same technology but there are differences. In a call with reporters earlier this week, vaccine experts noted that the shots haven’t been tested against each other, so there’s no way to tell parents if one is superior.“You can’t compare the vaccines directly,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.If the FDA agrees with its advisers and authorizes the shots, there’s one more step. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide on a formal recommendation after its own advisers vote on Saturday. If the CDC signs off, shots could be available as soon as Monday or Tuesday at doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies.Pfizer’s vaccine is for children 6 months through 4 years; Moderna’s vaccine is for 6 months through 5 years.Moderna’s shots are one-quarter the dose of the company’s adult shots. Two doses appeared strong enough to prevent severe illness but only about 40% to 50% effective at preventing milder infections. Moderna added a booster to its tests and expects to eventually offer one.Pfizer’s shots are just one-tenth its adult dose. Pfizer and partner BioNTech found that two shots didn’t provide enough protection in testing, so a third was added during the omicron wave.Pfizer’s submitted data found no safety concerns and suggested that three shots were 80% effective in preventing symptomatic coronavirus infections. But that was based on just 10 COVID-19 cases; the calculation could change as more cases occur in the company’s ongoing studies.Several advisers, noting that protection is low after two Pfizer doses, worried that some parents might end up skipping the third shot, or mistakenly thinking their kids are better protected between shots, leaving them vulnerable.Educating parents must be done “very very carefully so that they are not misled about what the vaccines actually provide,” said Dr. Archana Chatterjee of Rosalind Franklin University.The same&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-316714ee5cc37b87def488c41877ce38">FDA panel on Tuesday backed Moderna’s half-sized shots for ages 6 to 11 and full-sized doses for teens.</a>&nbsp;If authorized by the FDA, it would be the second option for those age groups. Currently Pfizer vaccine is their only choice.The nation’s vaccination campaign started in December 2020 with the rollout of adult vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, with health care workers and nursing home residents first in line. Teens and school-age children were added last year.Moderna said in April that it is also seeking regulatory approval outside the U.S. for its little kid shots. According to the World Health Organization, 12 countries already vaccinate kids under 5, with other brands.In the U.S., it remains uncertain how many parents want their youngest vaccinated. By some estimates, three-quarters of all children have already been infected. And only about 29% of children aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated since Pfizer’s shots opened to them last November, a rate far lower than public health authorities consider ideal.Dr. Nimmi Rajagopal, a family medicine physician at Cook County Health in Chicago, said she’s been preparing parents for months.“We have some that are hesitant, and some that are just raring to go,” she said.

1st COVID-19 shots for kids under 5 could be available next week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Two U.S. veterans from Alabama who were in Ukraine assisting in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;against Russia haven’t been heard from in days and are missing, members of the state’s congressional delegation said Wednesday.

Relatives of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Trinity and Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa have been in contact with both Senate and House offices seeking information about the men’s whereabouts, press aides said.

Rep. Robert Aderholt said Huynh had volunteered to go fight with the Ukrainian army against Russia, but relatives haven’t heard from him since June 8, when he was in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, which is near the Russian border. Huynh and Drueke were together, an aide to Aderholt said.

“As you can imagine, his loved ones are very concerned about him,” Aderholt said in a statement. “My office has placed inquires with both the United States Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation trying to get any information possible.”

Rep. Terri Sewell said Drueke’s mother reached out to her office earlier this week after she lost contact with her son.

The U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Russian or Russian-backed separatist forces in Ukraine had captured at least two American citizens. If confirmed, they would be the first Americans fighting for Ukraine known to have been captured since the war began Feb. 24.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with Ukrainian authorities,” the department said in a statement emailed to reporters. It declined further comment, citing privacy considerations.

John Kirby, a national security spokesman at the White House, said Wednesday that the administration wasn’t able to confirm the reports about missing Americans.

“We’ll do the best we can to monitor this and see what we can learn about it,” he said.

However, he reiterated his warnings against Americans going to Ukraine.

“Ukraine is not the place for Americans to be traveling,” he said. “If you feel passionate about supporting Ukraine, there’s any number of ways to do that that that are safer and just as effective.”

A court in Donetsk, under separatist control,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-london-moscow-donetsk-9284bb1ee2c215ed8a3920941a67eb16">sentenced two Britons and a Moroccan man to death last week</a>. The Britons and Moroccan were accused of being mercenaries and seeking the violent overthrow of the separatist government in the Donetsk region. The Russian military has said it considers foreigners fighting with Ukraine to be mercenaries and claims they are not protected as combatants under the Geneva Convention.

Huynh’s fiancee, Joy Black, posted publicly on Facebook that his family was in contact with the Drueke family and government officials, and that nothing had been confirmed other than that the two were missing.

“Please keep Andy, and Alex, and all of their loved ones in prayer. We just want them to come home,” she wrote.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger tweeted that the Americans “have enlisted in the Ukrainian army, and thus are afforded legal combatant protections. As such, we expect members of the Legion to be treated in accordance with the Geneva convention.” It was unclear whether Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, had any further information about the men.

He was commenting on a tweet sent earlier Wednesday by Task Force Baguette, a group of former U.S. and French servicemen, saying that two Americans fighting with them were captured a week ago. The group said Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the information.

Early in the war, Ukraine created the International Legion for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-afghanistan-europe-united-states-5757a2eb0d9774a35e63edce491a06e9">foreign citizens</a>&nbsp;who wanted to help defend against the Russian invasion.

Huynh spoke to his local newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/morgan_county/hartselle/hartselle-man-leaving-friday-for-europe-to-join-ukrainian-foreign-legion/article_2f5663de-3cf8-5012-bf42-ba9ff47feb92.html" target="_blank">the Decatur Daily</a>, shortly before flying to Eastern Europe in April.

He explained that he was studying robotics at Calhoun Community College but couldn’t stop thinking about Russia’s invasion.

“I know it wasn’t my problem, but there was that gut feeling that I felt I had to do something,” Huynh told the Decatur Daily. “Two weeks after the war began, it kept eating me up inside and it just felt wrong. I was losing sleep. ... All I could think about was the situation in Ukraine.”

He said he decided to fly out once he learned that young Ukrainians were being drafted into service.

“Right when they turned 18, they were forced to enlist in the military to defend their homeland,” Huynh said. “Honestly, that broke my heart. I would say that is probably the moment where I decided that I have to do something.”

According to the newspaper, Huynh enlisted in the Marines when he was 19 and served for four years, though he did not see active combat.

He was born and raised in Orange County, California, to Vietnamese immigrants and moved to northern Alabama two years ago to be closer to his fiancee, the newspaper reported.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Two U.S. veterans from Alabama who were in Ukraine assisting in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;against Russia haven’t been heard from in days and are missing, members of the state’s congressional delegation said Wednesday.Relatives of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Trinity and Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa have been in contact with both Senate and House offices seeking information about the men’s whereabouts, press aides said.Rep. Robert Aderholt said Huynh had volunteered to go fight with the Ukrainian army against Russia, but relatives haven’t heard from him since June 8, when he was in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, which is near the Russian border. Huynh and Drueke were together, an aide to Aderholt said.“As you can imagine, his loved ones are very concerned about him,” Aderholt said in a statement. “My office has placed inquires with both the United States Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation trying to get any information possible.”Rep. Terri Sewell said Drueke’s mother reached out to her office earlier this week after she lost contact with her son.The U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Russian or Russian-backed separatist forces in Ukraine had captured at least two American citizens. If confirmed, they would be the first Americans fighting for Ukraine known to have been captured since the war began Feb. 24.“We are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with Ukrainian authorities,” the department said in a statement emailed to reporters. It declined further comment, citing privacy considerations.John Kirby, a national security spokesman at the White House, said Wednesday that the administration wasn’t able to confirm the reports about missing Americans.“We’ll do the best we can to monitor this and see what we can learn about it,” he said.However, he reiterated his warnings against Americans going to Ukraine.“Ukraine is not the place for Americans to be traveling,” he said. “If you feel passionate about supporting Ukraine, there’s any number of ways to do that that that are safer and just as effective.”A court in Donetsk, under separatist control,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-london-moscow-donetsk-9284bb1ee2c215ed8a3920941a67eb16">sentenced two Britons and a Moroccan man to death last week</a>. The Britons and Moroccan were accused of being mercenaries and seeking the violent overthrow of the separatist government in the Donetsk region. The Russian military has said it considers foreigners fighting with Ukraine to be mercenaries and claims they are not protected as combatants under the Geneva Convention.Huynh’s fiancee, Joy Black, posted publicly on Facebook that his family was in contact with the Drueke family and government officials, and that nothing had been confirmed other than that the two were missing.“Please keep Andy, and Alex, and all of their loved ones in prayer. We just want them to come home,” she wrote.U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger tweeted that the Americans “have enlisted in the Ukrainian army, and thus are afforded legal combatant protections. As such, we expect members of the Legion to be treated in accordance with the Geneva convention.” It was unclear whether Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, had any further information about the men.He was commenting on a tweet sent earlier Wednesday by Task Force Baguette, a group of former U.S. and French servicemen, saying that two Americans fighting with them were captured a week ago. The group said Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the information.Early in the war, Ukraine created the International Legion for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-afghanistan-europe-united-states-5757a2eb0d9774a35e63edce491a06e9">foreign citizens</a>&nbsp;who wanted to help defend against the Russian invasion.Huynh spoke to his local newspaper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.decaturdaily.com/news/morgan_county/hartselle/hartselle-man-leaving-friday-for-europe-to-join-ukrainian-foreign-legion/article_2f5663de-3cf8-5012-bf42-ba9ff47feb92.html" target="_blank">the Decatur Daily</a>, shortly before flying to Eastern Europe in April.He explained that he was studying robotics at Calhoun Community College but couldn’t stop thinking about Russia’s invasion.“I know it wasn’t my problem, but there was that gut feeling that I felt I had to do something,” Huynh told the Decatur Daily. “Two weeks after the war began, it kept eating me up inside and it just felt wrong. I was losing sleep. ... All I could think about was the situation in Ukraine.”He said he decided to fly out once he learned that young Ukrainians were being drafted into service.“Right when they turned 18, they were forced to enlist in the military to defend their homeland,” Huynh said. “Honestly, that broke my heart. I would say that is probably the moment where I decided that I have to do something.”According to the newspaper, Huynh enlisted in the Marines when he was 19 and served for four years, though he did not see active combat.He was born and raised in Orange County, California, to Vietnamese immigrants and moved to northern Alabama two years ago to be closer to his fiancee, the newspaper reported.___

Congressman: 2 US veterans reported missing in Ukraine

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations.

On Monday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s office regarding a 911 call about a missing 11-year-old girl that was received by the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center, according to Osage Co. Sheriff Chris Wells.

The reporting party advised that the girl was last seen at her home in Shawnee County at approximately 10:30pm on Sunday/

During Shawnee County’s investigation, it was discovered that an 18-year-old suspect later identified as Dominic J. Knapp of Lawrence, had arranged through social media to pick up the child and transport her to Osage County. 

Knapp was contacted while with the girl in Osage County and agreed to bring the child back to her home in Shawnee County around 4a.m. Monday.

After being interviewed by Osage County Investigators, Knapp was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Osage County Jail on requested charges of rape of a child under the age of 14 and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells, along with Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill, encourage parents to openly speak to their children about internet safety, and the dangers of sharing information online and through social media platforms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655288513621.png" alt="Knapp-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Knapp-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on child sex allegations.On Monday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s office regarding a 911 call about a missing 11-year-old girl that was received by the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center, according to Osage Co. Sheriff Chris Wells.The reporting party advised that the girl was last seen at her home in Shawnee County at approximately 10:30pm on Sunday/During Shawnee County’s investigation, it was discovered that an 18-year-old suspect later identified as Dominic J. Knapp of Lawrence, had arranged through social media to pick up the child and transport her to Osage County. Knapp was contacted while with the girl in Osage County and agreed to bring the child back to her home in Shawnee County around 4a.m. Monday.After being interviewed by Osage County Investigators, Knapp was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Osage County Jail on requested charges of rape of a child under the age of 14 and aggravated criminal sodomy.Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells, along with Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill, encourage parents to openly speak to their children about internet safety, and the dangers of sharing information online and through social media platforms.

Rape: Sheriff says Kan. man used social media to contact 11-year-old

GEARY COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday, June 15, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) executed search warrants at the Junction City Police Department (JCPD), and other police department facilities in Geary County, according to a media release from the agency.

The search warrants relate to an ongoing investigation into allegations made against certain personnel of the JCPD.&nbsp;

The KBI initiated this case on June 7. The involved JCPD personnel were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. The police department is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Currently, no arrest(s) have been made.&nbsp;

GEARY COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday, June 15, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) executed search warrants at the Junction City Police Department (JCPD), and other police department facilities in Geary County, according to a media release from the agency.The search warrants relate to an ongoing investigation into allegations made against certain personnel of the JCPD.&nbsp;The KBI initiated this case on June 7. The involved JCPD personnel were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. The police department is cooperating fully with the investigation.Currently, no arrest(s) have been made.&nbsp;

KBI executed search warrants at Junction City Police Dept.

Wichita State University President Rick Muma is excited to announce the hiring of Kevin Saal as WSU's new Director of Athletics, according to a media release from the university. Saal, who has been athletic director at Murray State University since March 2019, will take the reins of the Shocker Athletics program from WSU's interim athletic director,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/staff.aspx?staff=1425">Sarah Adams</a>, effective mid-July.&nbsp; "This is a new day for Shocker Athletics. As we look to the future of our program, I am incredibly pleased to welcome Kevin to Shocker Nation. Kevin returns to his home state of Kansas with a strong, forward-thinking vision for our men's and women's intercollegiate athletics programs," says Wichita State President Rick Muma. "Kevin is just the person to move WSU's athletics program forward and push it to even greater heights."&nbsp; In his role as Director of Athletics, Saal will report to Muma and be responsible for managing, planning and directing the operations of the university's intercollegiate athletics programs. He will also be responsible for managing oversight of sponsorships, fundraising, partnerships, marketing, public relations, strategic planning, compliance, academics, student-athlete development and performance, Name Image and Likeness (NIL), and hiring and mentoring coaches. &nbsp; "My wife Jennifer and I are incredibly humbled and blessed to accept this special opportunity to represent Wichita State University, Wichita State Athletics and Shocker Nation. With great enthusiasm, gratitude and appreciation, we are thankful to President Muma and the Search Advisory Group for their trust, confidence and support," Saal says. &nbsp; Saal led Murray State through two athletic conference realignment / transition processes and has grown the department to new heights with increases in student-athlete APR, league championships, and appearances in NCAA tournament and post-season play. &nbsp; Before coming to Murray State, Saal spent 12 years at the University of Kentucky, where he held various roles before being named executive associate director of athletics, working under the leadership of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart.&nbsp; His experience at Kentucky included leadership in sports administration, capital projects and facilities construction, as well as budget and human resources management and championships administration. Known for an exceptional work ethic, Saal has excelled in developing relationships with donors and has extensive experience in facilities growth under his leadership.&nbsp; "With an incredible focus on education and a competitive spirit, Kevin brings an integrity and discipline that is the foundation for moving teams to a championship culture," says University of Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart. "His passion and capacity for college athletics is balanced by a love and care for people at the highest, most genuine level. His experience at every level in athletics provides WSU and the community with a proven leader going forward."&nbsp;

Saal, 44, is from Kansas. He worked at Kansas State University from 2000-05, where he was event coordinator and had administrative responsibilities supporting men's and women's golf and rowing. From 2005-07, Saal was director of operations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.&nbsp; In 2000, Saal received his master's degree in athletics administration from the University of Kansas, after spending time at the University of Arkansas — where he was a swimming and diving student-athlete — and Texas Christian University, where he earned his bachelor's in psychology. Saal is also nearing completion of his Doctorate in Education with a focus on P-20 and Community Leadership. &nbsp; Saal and his wife Jennifer — also a native of Kansas— have two college-age sons: Jacob and Alex. Kevin and Jennifer are looking forward to their return to Kansas.&nbsp; "Jennifer and I are eager to return to our home state to engage and partner with Shocker student-athletes, coaches, administration, alumni, supporters and the greater Wichita community," Saal says. "With much work to be done, I look forward to continuing to develop WSU's championship culture through our strategic vision, core values, a first-class student-athlete experience and, ultimately, competitive excellence. Go Shockers!"&nbsp;

What others have to say about Kevin Saal&nbsp;

"Wichita State has made a great hire in Kevin Saal. There is no doubt he will guide the Shockers with great success through these unique times in collegiate athletics. His commitment to students and their experience academically, athletically and socially will have an immediate impact on the department." &nbsp; — Mark Coyle, director of athletics, University of Minnesota &nbsp; "Wichita State has made an excellent choice in Kevin Saal to lead Athletics. Kevin brings a strong set of experiences along with the values and vision to lead WSU to the next level." &nbsp; — Rob Mullens, director of athletics, University of Oregon&nbsp; "Wichita State has landed a strong leader during an important time of transition in college athletics. I am excited for both Kevin and Jennifer for this next step but even more elated for what this means for Shocker Nation. Kevin has made a mark on every school he has worked at, and I have no doubt that Wichita State made the right choice to take them to the next level." &nbsp; — DeWayne Peevy, director of Athletics, DePaul University&nbsp;

The search for WSU's Director of Athletics was led by Muma with guidance from Parker Executive Search and a Search Advisory Group that included the following:&nbsp;

"I truly appreciate the help provided by the Search Advisory Group and Parker Executive Search, all of whom brought great value to the process of filling such an important role," Muma says. "And a special thank you goes to&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/staff.aspx?staff=1425">Sarah Adams</a>, who graciously stepped in as interim athletic director during this period of transition. I am incredibly grateful for her efforts."&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655337126379.png" alt="Kevin Saal-photo WSU" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Saal-photo WSU</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita State University President Rick Muma is excited to announce the hiring of Kevin Saal as WSU's new Director of Athletics, according to a media release from the university. Saal, who has been athletic director at Murray State University since March 2019, will take the reins of the Shocker Athletics program from WSU's interim athletic director,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/staff.aspx?staff=1425">Sarah Adams</a>, effective mid-July.&nbsp; "This is a new day for Shocker Athletics. As we look to the future of our program, I am incredibly pleased to welcome Kevin to Shocker Nation. Kevin returns to his home state of Kansas with a strong, forward-thinking vision for our men's and women's intercollegiate athletics programs," says Wichita State President Rick Muma. "Kevin is just the person to move WSU's athletics program forward and push it to even greater heights."&nbsp; In his role as Director of Athletics, Saal will report to Muma and be responsible for managing, planning and directing the operations of the university's intercollegiate athletics programs. He will also be responsible for managing oversight of sponsorships, fundraising, partnerships, marketing, public relations, strategic planning, compliance, academics, student-athlete development and performance, Name Image and Likeness (NIL), and hiring and mentoring coaches. &nbsp; "My wife Jennifer and I are incredibly humbled and blessed to accept this special opportunity to represent Wichita State University, Wichita State Athletics and Shocker Nation. With great enthusiasm, gratitude and appreciation, we are thankful to President Muma and the Search Advisory Group for their trust, confidence and support," Saal says. &nbsp; Saal led Murray State through two athletic conference realignment / transition processes and has grown the department to new heights with increases in student-athlete APR, league championships, and appearances in NCAA tournament and post-season play. &nbsp; Before coming to Murray State, Saal spent 12 years at the University of Kentucky, where he held various roles before being named executive associate director of athletics, working under the leadership of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart.&nbsp; His experience at Kentucky included leadership in sports administration, capital projects and facilities construction, as well as budget and human resources management and championships administration. Known for an exceptional work ethic, Saal has excelled in developing relationships with donors and has extensive experience in facilities growth under his leadership.&nbsp; "With an incredible focus on education and a competitive spirit, Kevin brings an integrity and discipline that is the foundation for moving teams to a championship culture," says University of Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart. "His passion and capacity for college athletics is balanced by a love and care for people at the highest, most genuine level. His experience at every level in athletics provides WSU and the community with a proven leader going forward."&nbsp; <h2>Returning home to Kansas</h2>Saal, 44, is from Kansas. He worked at Kansas State University from 2000-05, where he was event coordinator and had administrative responsibilities supporting men's and women's golf and rowing. From 2005-07, Saal was director of operations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.&nbsp; In 2000, Saal received his master's degree in athletics administration from the University of Kansas, after spending time at the University of Arkansas — where he was a swimming and diving student-athlete — and Texas Christian University, where he earned his bachelor's in psychology. Saal is also nearing completion of his Doctorate in Education with a focus on P-20 and Community Leadership. &nbsp; Saal and his wife Jennifer — also a native of Kansas— have two college-age sons: Jacob and Alex. Kevin and Jennifer are looking forward to their return to Kansas.&nbsp; "Jennifer and I are eager to return to our home state to engage and partner with Shocker student-athletes, coaches, administration, alumni, supporters and the greater Wichita community," Saal says. "With much work to be done, I look forward to continuing to develop WSU's championship culture through our strategic vision, core values, a first-class student-athlete experience and, ultimately, competitive excellence. Go Shockers!"&nbsp; <h2>What others have to say about Kevin Saal&nbsp;</h2>"Wichita State has made a great hire in Kevin Saal. There is no doubt he will guide the Shockers with great success through these unique times in collegiate athletics. His commitment to students and their experience academically, athletically and socially will have an immediate impact on the department." &nbsp; — Mark Coyle, director of athletics, University of Minnesota &nbsp; "Wichita State has made an excellent choice in Kevin Saal to lead Athletics. Kevin brings a strong set of experiences along with the values and vision to lead WSU to the next level." &nbsp; — Rob Mullens, director of athletics, University of Oregon&nbsp; "Wichita State has landed a strong leader during an important time of transition in college athletics. I am excited for both Kevin and Jennifer for this next step but even more elated for what this means for Shocker Nation. Kevin has made a mark on every school he has worked at, and I have no doubt that Wichita State made the right choice to take them to the next level." &nbsp; — DeWayne Peevy, director of Athletics, DePaul University&nbsp; <h2>The national search process&nbsp;</h2>The search for WSU's Director of Athletics was led by Muma with guidance from Parker Executive Search and a Search Advisory Group that included the following:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Angela Buckner, former WSU Women's Basketball student-athlete and recreation director for Woodard Recreation Center, Fairmount Community Center and Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center&nbsp;</li><li>Lynn Nichols, chair-elect, WSU Foundation Board and CEO of Yingling Aviation   &nbsp;</li><li>Nate Robertson, former WSU Men's Baseball student-athlete, retired professional baseball player, Maize High School assistant baseball coach, and partner at the Candle Club and LaVela&nbsp;</li><li>John Rolfe, WSU alumnus and president and CEO, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce &nbsp;</li><li>Dr. Clay Stoldt, faculty athletic representative and interim dean of the College of Applied Studies &nbsp;</li><li>Evan Wessel, former WSU Men's Basketball student-athlete and financial advisor, Stoutheart Financial Group    &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>"I truly appreciate the help provided by the Search Advisory Group and Parker Executive Search, all of whom brought great value to the process of filling such an important role," Muma says. "And a special thank you goes to&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/staff.aspx?staff=1425">Sarah Adams</a>, who graciously stepped in as interim athletic director during this period of transition. I am incredibly grateful for her efforts."&nbsp;Wichita State Athletics

Wichita State hires Kansas native Saal as new athletic director 

WASHINGTON (AP) —Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of America’s pandemic response through two White House administrations, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The 81-year-old Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/niaid-director-fauci-tests-positive-covid-19" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the National Institutes of Health.

Fauci has not recently been in close contact with President Joe Biden or other senior government officials. He tested positive on a rapid antigen test. He is following public health guidelines and his doctor’s advice, and will return to work at the NIH when he tests negative, according to the statement.

Fauci is Biden’s chief medical adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He was a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force under former President Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-germany-xavier-becerra-bf13e1eeddc3eb5a5f6b422e277edb28">tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the virus. It was the second time Becerra had come down with symptoms and tested positive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600888542522.png" alt="The 81-year-old Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms,&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The 81-year-old Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms,&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of America’s pandemic response through two White House administrations, has tested positive for the coronavirus.The 81-year-old Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/niaid-director-fauci-tests-positive-covid-19" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the National Institutes of Health.Fauci has not recently been in close contact with President Joe Biden or other senior government officials. He tested positive on a rapid antigen test. He is following public health guidelines and his doctor’s advice, and will return to work at the NIH when he tests negative, according to the statement.Fauci is Biden’s chief medical adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He was a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force under former President Donald Trump.Earlier this week, U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-germany-xavier-becerra-bf13e1eeddc3eb5a5f6b422e277edb28">tested positive</a>&nbsp;for the virus. It was the second time Becerra had come down with symptoms and tested positive.

Vaxxed, double-boosted Fauci tests positive for COVID

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced it will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as America and its allies provide longer-range weapons they say can make a difference in a fight where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered and outgunned by their Russian invaders.

President Joe Biden and his top national security leaders said Wednesday the U.S. is moving as fast as possible to get critical weapons to the fight, even as Ukrainian officials protest that they need more, faster, in order to survive.

The latest package, the U.S. said, includes anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. All are key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested as they battle to stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region.

“Gen. Milley and I have been in a number of fights. And when you’re in a fight, you can never get enough,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference in Brussels, referring to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I certainly understand where the Ukrainians are coming from, and we’re gonna fight hard to give them everything they need.”

The HIMARS and anti-ship systems are the kinds of longer range capabilities that over time can make a difference in the fight, Milley said. He said Ukraine will have trained HIMARS crews in the fight in a few weeks.

“If they use the weapon properly and it’s employed properly, they ought to be able to take out a significant amount of targets and that will make a difference,” he said. But he also noted that the numbers clearly favor the Russians.

“In terms of artillery, they do outnumber, they out-gun and out-range” the Ukrainian forces.

The aid is the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. Biden, who spoke by phone with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for about 40 minutes Wednesday, also said the U.S. will send $225 million more in humanitarian assistance to provide safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, health care, shelter and money for families to buy essential items.

The U.S. remains committed, Biden said in a statement, “to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war.”

The aid comes as Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, he warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-business-374b9aab6f67f78839b2cbb630bd6a45">war of attrition</a>&nbsp;with Russia.

He told the participating nations, “We can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.”

Overall, since the war began in late February, the U.S. has committed about $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including this latest package. Officials said that about one-third of the latest $1 billion will be from presidential drawdown authority, which means the Pentagon will take weapons and equipment from it’s own stock and ship them to Ukraine. The remaining two-thirds would be equipment and weapons purchased from industry by the U.S. and then transferred to Ukraine.

Austin’s meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance headquarters.

Increased arms supplies can’t come too soon for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war. In his nightly address to the nation, President Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems.

“Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that without help from the West, “we will not be able to win this war.” She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times that many.

The defense ministers also planned to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s own eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered strength since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said.

On a separate but related subject, he wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids, accusing the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists.

“My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.

Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said.

Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down.

“We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators.

All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced it will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as America and its allies provide longer-range weapons they say can make a difference in a fight where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered and outgunned by their Russian invaders.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Right now, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> is in Brussels hosting the next iteration of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. More than 50 countries gathered today to coordinate bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia’s invasion. <a href="https://t.co/mSuRzQeYl4">pic.twitter.com/mSuRzQeYl4</a>&mdash; Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1537144797244313600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Joe Biden and his top national security leaders said Wednesday the U.S. is moving as fast as possible to get critical weapons to the fight, even as Ukrainian officials protest that they need more, faster, in order to survive.The latest package, the U.S. said, includes anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. All are key weapons systems that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested as they battle to stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region.“Gen. Milley and I have been in a number of fights. And when you’re in a fight, you can never get enough,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference in Brussels, referring to Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.“I certainly understand where the Ukrainians are coming from, and we’re gonna fight hard to give them everything they need.”The HIMARS and anti-ship systems are the kinds of longer range capabilities that over time can make a difference in the fight, Milley said. He said Ukraine will have trained HIMARS crews in the fight in a few weeks.“If they use the weapon properly and it’s employed properly, they ought to be able to take out a significant amount of targets and that will make a difference,” he said. But he also noted that the numbers clearly favor the Russians.“In terms of artillery, they do outnumber, they out-gun and out-range” the Ukrainian forces.The aid is the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began. Biden, who spoke by phone with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for about 40 minutes Wednesday, also said the U.S. will send $225 million more in humanitarian assistance to provide safe drinking water, medical supplies, food, health care, shelter and money for families to buy essential items.The U.S. remains committed, Biden said in a statement, “to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war.”The aid comes as Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, he warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-united-nations-business-374b9aab6f67f78839b2cbb630bd6a45">war of attrition</a>&nbsp;with Russia.He told the participating nations, “We can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.”Overall, since the war began in late February, the U.S. has committed about $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including this latest package. Officials said that about one-third of the latest $1 billion will be from presidential drawdown authority, which means the Pentagon will take weapons and equipment from it’s own stock and ship them to Ukraine. The remaining two-thirds would be equipment and weapons purchased from industry by the U.S. and then transferred to Ukraine.Austin’s meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance headquarters.Increased arms supplies can’t come too soon for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war. In his nightly address to the nation, President Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems.“Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general.Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that without help from the West, “we will not be able to win this war.” She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times that many.The defense ministers also planned to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s own eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered strength since Russia invaded Ukraine.“This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said.On a separate but related subject, he wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids, accusing the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists.“My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said.Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said.Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down.“We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators.All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members.

Biden: US will send another $1 billion in aid to Ukraine

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;3,949 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday June 8, to Wednesday June 15, for a total of 797,782 cases.

Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>no additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,943.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;3,949 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday June 8, to Wednesday June 15, for a total of 797,782 cases.Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>no additional COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,943.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.