WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a wide-ranging gun control bill Wednesday in response to recent mass shootings in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-442c6d97a073f39f99d006dbba40f64b">Buffalo, New York</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>, that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 15 rounds.

The legislation passed by a mostly party-line vote of 223-204. All members of the Kansas GOP delegation including Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted against the measure.&nbsp;

Five Republicans voted for the bill: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Chris Jacobs of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Fred Upton of Michigan.

 It has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks.

 But the House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show are widely supported.

“We can’t save every life, but my God, shouldn’t we try? America we hear you and today in the House we are taking the action you are demanding,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas. “Take note of who is with you and who is not.”

The push comes after a House committee heard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-texas-violence-gun-government-and-politics-4e9fd73d179e2448d80271abbe016fd4">wrenching testimony</a>&nbsp;from recent shooting victims and family members, including from 11-year-old girl Miah Cerrillo, who covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot at the Uvalde elementary school.

(Click below to listen to Miah's testimony)

The seemingly never-ending cycle of mass shootings in the United States has rarely stirred Congress to act. But the shooting of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde has revived efforts in a way that has lawmakers from both parties talking about the need to respond.

“It’s sickening, it’s sickening that our children are forced to live in this constant fear,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Pelosi said the House vote would “make history by making progress.” But it’s unclear where the House measure will go after Wednesday’s vote, given that Republicans were adamant in their opposition.

“The answer is not to destroy the Second Amendment, but that is exactly where the Democrats want to go,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

The work to find common ground is mostly taking place in the Senate, where support from 10 Republicans will be needed to get a bill signed into law. Nearly a dozen Democratic and Republican senators met privately for an hour Wednesday in hopes of reaching a framework for compromise legislation by week’s end. Participants said more conversations were needed about a plan that is expected to propose modest steps.

In a measure of the political peril that efforts to curb guns pose for Republicans, five of the six lead Senate GOP negotiators do not face reelection until 2026. They are Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The sixth, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, is retiring in January. It’s also notable that none of the six is seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

While Cornyn has said the talks are serious, he has not joined the chorus of Democrats saying the outlines of a deal could be reached by the end of this week. He told reporters Wednesday that he considers having an agreement before Congress begins a recess in late June to be “an aspirational goal.”

The House bill stitches together a variety of proposal Democrats had introduced before the recent shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. The suspects in the shootings at the Uvalde, elementary school and Buffalo supermarket were both just 18, authorities say, when they bought the semi-automatic weapons used in the attacks. The bill would increase the minimum age to buy such weapons to 21.

“A person under 21 cannot buy a Budweiser. We should not let a person under 21 buy an AR-15 weapon of war,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.

Republicans have noted that a U.S. appeals court ruling last month found California’s ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21 was unconstitutional.

“This is unconstitutional and it’s immoral. Why is it immoral? Because we’re telling 18, 19 and 20-year-olds to register for the draft. You can go die for your country. We expect you to defend us, but we’re not going to give you the tools to defend yourself and your family,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

The House bill also includes incentives designed to increase the use of safe gun storage devises and creates penalties for violating safe storage requirements, providing for a fine and imprisonment of up to five years if a gun is not properly stored and is subsequently used by a minor to injure or kill themselves or another individual.

It also builds on executive actions banning fast-action “bump stock” devices and “ghost guns” that are assembled without serial numbers.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hailed the House bill, tweeting, “We continue to work hard with both parties to save lives and stand up for families.”&nbsp;

On the Democratic side, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only no votes. Schrader lost his reelection bid in the Democratic primary. Golden faces a competitive election in November.

The House is also expected to approve a bill Thursday that would allow families, police and others to ask federal courts to order the removal of firearms from people who are believed to be at extreme risk of harming themselves or others.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently have such “red flag laws.” Under the House bill, a judge could issue an order to temporarily remove and store the firearms until a hearing can be held no longer than two weeks later to determine whether the firearms should be returned or kept for a specific period.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654786081395.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House vote would “make history by making progress.” But it’s unclear where the House measure will go after Wednesday’s vote, given that Republicans were adamant in their opposition." />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House vote would “make history by making progress.” But it’s unclear where the House measure will go after Wednesday’s vote, given that Republicans were adamant in their opposition.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a wide-ranging gun control bill Wednesday in response to recent mass shootings in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-442c6d97a073f39f99d006dbba40f64b">Buffalo, New York</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>, that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 15 rounds.The legislation passed by a mostly party-line vote of 223-204. All members of the Kansas GOP delegation including Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted against the measure.&nbsp;Five Republicans voted for the bill: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Chris Jacobs of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Fred Upton of Michigan. It has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, House Democrats blocked the STOP II School Safety Act. This bill, which I cosponsored, improves school safety, supports mental health care, and expands law enforcement information sharing—all without infringing on the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens. Learn more 👇 <a href="https://t.co/4V0ANx7Dsk">pic.twitter.com/4V0ANx7Dsk</a>&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1534898757275471872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> But the House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show are widely supported.“We can’t save every life, but my God, shouldn’t we try? America we hear you and today in the House we are taking the action you are demanding,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas. “Take note of who is with you and who is not.”The push comes after a House committee heard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-texas-violence-gun-government-and-politics-4e9fd73d179e2448d80271abbe016fd4">wrenching testimony</a>&nbsp;from recent shooting victims and family members, including from 11-year-old girl Miah Cerrillo, who covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot at the Uvalde elementary school.(Click below to listen to Miah's testimony)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RejrxgL-vEI?start=2148" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The seemingly never-ending cycle of mass shootings in the United States has rarely stirred Congress to act. But the shooting of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde has revived efforts in a way that has lawmakers from both parties talking about the need to respond.“It’s sickening, it’s sickening that our children are forced to live in this constant fear,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.Pelosi said the House vote would “make history by making progress.” But it’s unclear where the House measure will go after Wednesday’s vote, given that Republicans were adamant in their opposition.“The answer is not to destroy the Second Amendment, but that is exactly where the Democrats want to go,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.The work to find common ground is mostly taking place in the Senate, where support from 10 Republicans will be needed to get a bill signed into law. Nearly a dozen Democratic and Republican senators met privately for an hour Wednesday in hopes of reaching a framework for compromise legislation by week’s end. Participants said more conversations were needed about a plan that is expected to propose modest steps.In a measure of the political peril that efforts to curb guns pose for Republicans, five of the six lead Senate GOP negotiators do not face reelection until 2026. They are Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The sixth, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, is retiring in January. It’s also notable that none of the six is seeking the Republican presidential nomination.While Cornyn has said the talks are serious, he has not joined the chorus of Democrats saying the outlines of a deal could be reached by the end of this week. He told reporters Wednesday that he considers having an agreement before Congress begins a recess in late June to be “an aspirational goal.”The House bill stitches together a variety of proposal Democrats had introduced before the recent shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. The suspects in the shootings at the Uvalde, elementary school and Buffalo supermarket were both just 18, authorities say, when they bought the semi-automatic weapons used in the attacks. The bill would increase the minimum age to buy such weapons to 21.“A person under 21 cannot buy a Budweiser. We should not let a person under 21 buy an AR-15 weapon of war,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.Republicans have noted that a U.S. appeals court ruling last month found California’s ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21 was unconstitutional.“This is unconstitutional and it’s immoral. Why is it immoral? Because we’re telling 18, 19 and 20-year-olds to register for the draft. You can go die for your country. We expect you to defend us, but we’re not going to give you the tools to defend yourself and your family,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.The House bill also includes incentives designed to increase the use of safe gun storage devises and creates penalties for violating safe storage requirements, providing for a fine and imprisonment of up to five years if a gun is not properly stored and is subsequently used by a minor to injure or kill themselves or another individual.It also builds on executive actions banning fast-action “bump stock” devices and “ghost guns” that are assembled without serial numbers.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hailed the House bill, tweeting, “We continue to work hard with both parties to save lives and stand up for families.”&nbsp;On the Democratic side, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only no votes. Schrader lost his reelection bid in the Democratic primary. Golden faces a competitive election in November.The House is also expected to approve a bill Thursday that would allow families, police and others to ask federal courts to order the removal of firearms from people who are believed to be at extreme risk of harming themselves or others.Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently have such “red flag laws.” Under the House bill, a judge could issue an order to temporarily remove and store the firearms until a hearing can be held no longer than two weeks later to determine whether the firearms should be returned or kept for a specific period.

🎥Kan. GOP delegation voted against House-passed gun control bill

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing at Dillons on June 1, continue to search for the suspect identified as 41-year-old Jason Bulger.

Just after 2:30p.m. June 1, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.

EMS transported the male victim to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern.&nbsp;

On June 6, police arrested 37-year-old Amanda Bulger as part of the ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks. She was arrested on a requested charge of theft and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

The Topeka Police Department is looking to speak with Jason Bulger in connection with the attack. Anyone with information on Bulger is asked to contact police. 

He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, theft, driving while suspended and  flee or attempt to elude police, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and continue to search for a suspect.

Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.

The male victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern. An area search was conducted. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654286765668.png" alt="Bulger has previous convictions for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, theft, driving while suspended and&nbsp; flee or attempt to elude police, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Bulger has previous convictions for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, theft, driving while suspended and&nbsp; flee or attempt to elude police, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing at Dillons on June 1, continue to search for the suspect identified as 41-year-old Jason Bulger.Just after 2:30p.m. June 1, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.EMS transported the male victim to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654167037449.png" alt="The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654616756985.png" alt="Bulger -photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Bulger -photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On June 6, police arrested 37-year-old Amanda Bulger as part of the ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks. She was arrested on a requested charge of theft and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.The Topeka Police Department is looking to speak with Jason Bulger in connection with the attack. Anyone with information on Bulger is asked to contact police. He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, theft, driving while suspended and flee or attempt to elude police, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.---------------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and continue to search for a suspect.Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.The male victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern. An area search was conducted. Police have not reported an arrest.

Search continues for Kansas man for stabbing at Dillons

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent crime&nbsp; were on the scene in the 1600 Block of Haskell Avenue in Lawrence Thursday morning, according to a social media report from police.&nbsp;

For the safety of the community, police temporarily closed Haskell Avenue.

Officers served a search warrant for alleged robbery and kidnapping .&nbsp;

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent crime&nbsp; were on the scene in the 1600 Block of Haskell Avenue in Lawrence Thursday morning, according to a social media report from police.&nbsp;For the safety of the community, police temporarily closed Haskell Avenue.Officers served a search warrant for alleged robbery and kidnapping .&nbsp;Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police serve Kan. robbery, kidnapping-related search warrant

HUTCHINSON— The Cosmosphere announced that former NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott will visit the space museum Thursday, June 16, for a public book signing from 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Stott is the author of Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet and Our Mission to Protect It. Scott, who was a crewmember for the International Space Station and Space Shuttle missions, says the&nbsp; book presents problem-solving, survival, and crisis-response techniques readers can apply to protect the planet.

The visit by Stott is part of a partnership between the Cosmosphere and&nbsp; B&amp;B Theatres. Stott will make weekend appearances at various B&amp;B Theatres across the Kansas City metro area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654721447334.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— The Cosmosphere announced that former NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott will visit the space museum Thursday, June 16, for a public book signing from 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.Stott is the author of Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet and Our Mission to Protect It. Scott, who was a crewmember for the International Space Station and Space Shuttle missions, says the&nbsp; book presents problem-solving, survival, and crisis-response techniques readers can apply to protect the planet.The visit by Stott is part of a partnership between the Cosmosphere and&nbsp; B&amp;B Theatres. Stott will make weekend appearances at various B&amp;B Theatres across the Kansas City metro area.

Former NASA Astronaut to visit Cosmosphere next week

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Michael Bennet (D-CO) co-led a hearing on building drought resiliency in the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, according to a media release from Marshall's office.

The hearing, which featured two Kansans, comes amid published reports that wheat crop yield in Kansas is expected to drop by more than 100 million bushels from last year's harvest. During his opening statement, Senator Marshall summarized how recent droughts in the United States are hurting Kansas’ agricultural industry, saying in part,

“Just last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration deemed April as one of the driest months on record in the last 100 years. Currently, over half of the state is in a designated moderate drought, and over a third of the state is designated as severe. Just last week, the Topeka Capital Journal reported that the projected wheat yield in Kansas is expected to drop by over 100 million bushels, a value of over one billion dollars. This lack of rain not only hurts farm production at its most crucial time, but also adversely affects ranchers and families who fall victim to raging wildfires across the plains, incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars lost in assets, and at their worst, homes and lives.”

Among the five witnesses were two agricultural experts from Kansas including Tom Willis from Liberal, Owner/Manager of T&amp;O Farms LLC and a farmer with the KSU Water Farm; and Earl Lewis from Manhattan,&nbsp; Chief Engineer with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources and a member of the Western States Water Council. Senator Marshall introduced both Mr. Willis and Mr. Lewis at the start of the hearing.&nbsp;

Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Michael Bennet (D-CO) co-led a hearing on building drought resiliency in the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, according to a media release from Marshall's office.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z79L5VLsA30?start=5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The hearing, which featured two Kansans, comes amid published reports that wheat crop yield in Kansas is expected to drop by more than 100 million bushels from last year's harvest. During his opening statement, Senator Marshall summarized how recent droughts in the United States are hurting Kansas’ agricultural industry, saying in part,“Just last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration deemed April as one of the driest months on record in the last 100 years. Currently, over half of the state is in a designated moderate drought, and over a third of the state is designated as severe. Just last week, the Topeka Capital Journal reported that the projected wheat yield in Kansas is expected to drop by over 100 million bushels, a value of over one billion dollars. This lack of rain not only hurts farm production at its most crucial time, but also adversely affects ranchers and families who fall victim to raging wildfires across the plains, incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars lost in assets, and at their worst, homes and lives.”Among the five witnesses were two agricultural experts from Kansas including Tom Willis from Liberal, Owner/Manager of T&amp;O Farms LLC and a farmer with the KSU Water Farm; and Earl Lewis from Manhattan,&nbsp; Chief Engineer with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources and a member of the Western States Water Council. Senator Marshall introduced both Mr. Willis and Mr. Lewis at the start of the hearing.&nbsp;

🎥2 experts from Kan. discuss drought before U.S. Senate committee 

Kelly: 2nd Amendment must be balanced with need to protect children

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/08/schmidt-offers-strategies-for-moderating-threat-of-firearm-violence-in-kansas-schools/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Attorney General Derek Schmidt responded to murder of 21 
people in a Texas school’s fourth-grade classrooms with a package of 
ideas for enhancing school safety and moderating firearm violence that 
the Republican candidate for Kansas governor expects to gain bipartisan 
support.

Schmidt, who is seeking the GOP nomination in August, said his plan 
included $10 million annually in state grants to K-12 schools for 
building security. He would seek permission to apply federal COVID-19 
pandemic funding to school-safety projects.

He proposed deployment of more armed law enforcement officers and 
mental health counselors or intervention specialists for schools. 
Students and teachers should be better informed about a program that 
encourages reporting suspicious activity or threats, he said.

The attorney general said he would reintroduce during the 2023 
legislative session a bill requiring convicted felons illegally in 
possession of firearms while committing new violent felonies to be 
sentenced for the weapons charge concurrently with penalties for the 
underlying crime. He submitted the same bill in February to the 
Legislature, but the House and Senate didn’t adopt the measure.

“Kansas kids deserve to feel safe in our communities and especially 
in our schools,” said Schmidt, who praised the GOP-led Legislature for 
its work on school safety issues. “We need leadership to keep us moving 
forward.”

His proposal didn’t include reforms under discussion by members of 
Congress in Washington, D.C., including universal background checks, a 
minimum age of 21 to buy an AR-15, a waiting period to purchase an AR-15
 and red flag laws enabling a state court to order temporary removal of 
firearms from a person thought to be a danger to others or themselves.

Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Kelly’s campaign, said 
Wednesday the governor “has always been a strong supporter of the Second
 Amendment and believes Kansans have the right to purchase firearms to 
keep their families safe and to hunt.”

“However, like most gun owners, Governor Kelly recognizes the need to
 balance this with the safety of our children,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said Kelly’s record of investing in school safety by 
increasing pay for law enforcement officers and by fully funding public 
schools were among reasons more than 125 Kansas educators across the 
state endorsed her reelection.

“Governor Kelly will continue to ensure our schools have the 
resources they need and push the Legislature to send her bipartisan, 
common-sense gun legislation that keeps our kids safe in schools,” 
Fitzgerald said.

The issue of gun violence in U.S. schools returned to the national 
spotlight in May when an 18-year-old used an AR-15-style rifle to 
fatally shoot two teachers and 19 students in adjoining classrooms at 
Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

It was the third-deadliest school shooting in the United States, 
surpassed by the Virginia Tech University massacre in 2007 and the Sandy
 Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012. A Virginia Tech student 
killed 32 people in Blacksburg, Virginia. In Newtown, Connecticut, a 
lone gunman killed 26 at Sandy Hook.

In March, Olathe East High School was the scene of a shooting in 
which a uniformed school resource officer and an assistant school 
principal were wounded along with the student shooter. All survived and 
the 18-year-old was charged with one court of attempted capital murder.

Schmidt, in a campaign policy statement about gun violence in 
schools, said the Olathe East incident demonstrated the value of having 
well-trained officers in schools. He said he anticipated his proposals 
could be enacted by state lawmakers in 2023.

“This plan helps more schools have a school resource officer and a 
mental health intervention team to protect students, provides funds to 
assist local school districts in securing facilities, improves our 
ability to discover threats before they are carried out and strengthens 
penalties for gun crimes committed by repeat violent felons,” Schmidt 
said. “It’s an overall approach that should garner a bipartisan 
consensus.”

Schmidt said he would recommend the state appropriate $10 million to 
finance security upgrades and to hire school resource officers. The 
Legislature and Kelly approved $7.5 million to expand funding of mental 
health personnel to 43 school districts in 2022 and $10.5 million to add
 15 to 25 more districts in 2023. The attorney general said the state 
should continue broadening that financial support statewide.

In addition, Schmidt said the state should request help from the 
Kansas congressional delegation to secure permission from the federal 
government to divert unused COVID-19 pandemic funding to school security
 priorities.

The state could build on a collaboration between the KBI the state 
Board of Education to gather criminal intelligence related to threats in
 private and public schools, Schmidt said. Existence of the program 
should be more widely known so students, teachers, parents and others 
are more included to participate, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654711684391.png" alt="Attorney General Derek Schmidt recommended the state respond to school gun violence by placing more law enforcement officers and mental health professionals in schools. He also wants to increase grants to school districts for security projects and draw upon federal COVID-19 funding to expand budgets for security priorities. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Derek Schmidt recommended the state respond to school gun violence by placing more law enforcement officers and mental health professionals in schools. He also wants to increase grants to school districts for security projects and draw upon federal COVID-19 funding to expand budgets for security priorities. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kelly: 2nd Amendment must be balanced with need to protect children</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/08/schmidt-offers-strategies-for-moderating-threat-of-firearm-violence-in-kansas-schools/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Attorney General Derek Schmidt responded to murder of 21 
people in a Texas school’s fourth-grade classrooms with a package of 
ideas for enhancing school safety and moderating firearm violence that 
the Republican candidate for Kansas governor expects to gain bipartisan 
support.Schmidt, who is seeking the GOP nomination in August, said his plan 
included $10 million annually in state grants to K-12 schools for 
building security. He would seek permission to apply federal COVID-19 
pandemic funding to school-safety projects.He proposed deployment of more armed law enforcement officers and 
mental health counselors or intervention specialists for schools. 
Students and teachers should be better informed about a program that 
encourages reporting suspicious activity or threats, he said.The attorney general said he would reintroduce during the 2023 
legislative session a bill requiring convicted felons illegally in 
possession of firearms while committing new violent felonies to be 
sentenced for the weapons charge concurrently with penalties for the 
underlying crime. He submitted the same bill in February to the 
Legislature, but the House and Senate didn’t adopt the measure.“Kansas kids deserve to feel safe in our communities and especially 
in our schools,” said Schmidt, who praised the GOP-led Legislature for 
its work on school safety issues. “We need leadership to keep us moving 
forward.”His proposal didn’t include reforms under discussion by members of 
Congress in Washington, D.C., including universal background checks, a 
minimum age of 21 to buy an AR-15, a waiting period to purchase an AR-15
 and red flag laws enabling a state court to order temporary removal of 
firearms from a person thought to be a danger to others or themselves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654711749889.png" alt="Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, and Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, are running for governor in 2022. Ahead of the August primary election, Schmidt’s campaign released a six-point plan designed to address safety issues in Kansas schools. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, and Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, are running for governor in 2022. Ahead of the August primary election, Schmidt’s campaign released a six-point plan designed to address safety issues in Kansas schools. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Kelly’s campaign, said 
Wednesday the governor “has always been a strong supporter of the Second
 Amendment and believes Kansans have the right to purchase firearms to 
keep their families safe and to hunt.”“However, like most gun owners, Governor Kelly recognizes the need to
 balance this with the safety of our children,” Fitzgerald said.Fitzgerald said Kelly’s record of investing in school safety by 
increasing pay for law enforcement officers and by fully funding public 
schools were among reasons more than 125 Kansas educators across the 
state endorsed her reelection.“Governor Kelly will continue to ensure our schools have the 
resources they need and push the Legislature to send her bipartisan, 
common-sense gun legislation that keeps our kids safe in schools,” 
Fitzgerald said.The issue of gun violence in U.S. schools returned to the national 
spotlight in May when an 18-year-old used an AR-15-style rifle to 
fatally shoot two teachers and 19 students in adjoining classrooms at 
Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.It was the third-deadliest school shooting in the United States, 
surpassed by the Virginia Tech University massacre in 2007 and the Sandy
 Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012. A Virginia Tech student 
killed 32 people in Blacksburg, Virginia. In Newtown, Connecticut, a 
lone gunman killed 26 at Sandy Hook.In March, Olathe East High School was the scene of a shooting in 
which a uniformed school resource officer and an assistant school 
principal were wounded along with the student shooter. All survived and 
the 18-year-old was charged with one court of attempted capital murder.Schmidt, in a campaign policy statement about gun violence in 
schools, said the Olathe East incident demonstrated the value of having 
well-trained officers in schools. He said he anticipated his proposals 
could be enacted by state lawmakers in 2023.“This plan helps more schools have a school resource officer and a 
mental health intervention team to protect students, provides funds to 
assist local school districts in securing facilities, improves our 
ability to discover threats before they are carried out and strengthens 
penalties for gun crimes committed by repeat violent felons,” Schmidt 
said. “It’s an overall approach that should garner a bipartisan 
consensus.”Schmidt said he would recommend the state appropriate $10 million to 
finance security upgrades and to hire school resource officers. The 
Legislature and Kelly approved $7.5 million to expand funding of mental 
health personnel to 43 school districts in 2022 and $10.5 million to add
 15 to 25 more districts in 2023. The attorney general said the state 
should continue broadening that financial support statewide.In addition, Schmidt said the state should request help from the 
Kansas congressional delegation to secure permission from the federal 
government to divert unused COVID-19 pandemic funding to school security
 priorities.The state could build on a collaboration between the KBI the state 
Board of Education to gather criminal intelligence related to threats in
 private and public schools, Schmidt said. Existence of the program 
should be more widely known so students, teachers, parents and others 
are more included to participate, he said.

Kan. AG offers plan to moderate threat of gun violence in schools

HUTCHINSON— The formal charges have been filed in the case against a man who prosecutors say made threats against his workplace and a school.

Twenty-four year old Andrew Patterson was charged Wednesday with attempted terrorism in the case. If convicted, he could get up to 50 years without parole.

Patterson was detained during a traffic stop May 31 after law enforcement received information that Patterson had made the threatening comments.

During the stop, police found detailed plans in Patterson’s vehicle to carry out an act of mass violence against employees at his workplace.

A search warrant was executed at his residence where additional evidence related to the plan was collected.

Patterson remains in jail on a $3 million bond. He will be back in court July 13.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654095767992.jpeg" alt="Patterson-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Patterson-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— The formal charges have been filed in the case against a man who prosecutors say made threats against his workplace and a school.Twenty-four year old Andrew Patterson was charged Wednesday with attempted terrorism in the case. If convicted, he could get up to 50 years without parole.Patterson was detained during a traffic stop May 31 after law enforcement received information that Patterson had made the threatening comments.During the stop, police found detailed plans in Patterson’s vehicle to carry out an act of mass violence against employees at his workplace.A search warrant was executed at his residence where additional evidence related to the plan was collected.Patterson remains in jail on a $3 million bond. He will be back in court July 13.

Kan. man charged in threat of mass violence against co-workers

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that left a child dead in Shawnee County.

Just before 7:30p.m. Wednesday, a Jeep Wrangler was northbound in the&nbsp;3900 block of NW Carlson Road, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.

The jeep&nbsp; left the roadway, struck a culvert and rolled. First responders performed lifesaving procedures on scene. The back seat juvenile passenger was pronounced deceased. The 40-year-old driver refused medical treatment. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654769757512.png" alt="First responders at the scene -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that left a child dead in Shawnee County.Just before 7:30p.m. Wednesday, a Jeep Wrangler was northbound in the&nbsp;3900 block of NW Carlson Road, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.The jeep&nbsp; left the roadway, struck a culvert and rolled. First responders performed lifesaving procedures on scene. The back seat juvenile passenger was pronounced deceased. The 40-year-old driver refused medical treatment. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Sheriff: Child dies in jeep rollover accident on rural Kan. road

By JACOB FISCHLER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/08/what-to-know-about-thursdays-public-hearing-on-the-jan-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON
 — The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on 
the U.S. Capitol will launch the first in a series of public hearings 
Thursday night in the hopes of drawing a major prime-time national 
television audience.

<a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">Click here to </a>watch the hearing&nbsp; 7p.m. CDT

The
 Democratic-led committee, which includes two Republicans who defied 
their party leadership to join, has been tight-lipped about what ground 
its public presentation will cover.&nbsp;

Leaders
 have promised in general to unveil new material, introduce a summary of
 findings gathered over a nearly yearlong investigation and preview 
further hearings about the mob of supporters of then-President Donald 
Trump who sought to overturn the 2020 election results.

Here are some questions and answers about the committee and its plans:

The
 evidence suggests a “coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the 
results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of 
power,” according to a committee release Tuesday.&nbsp;

“This
 week, [the committee] starts sharing evidence of the chilling inside 
plan to overturn the 2020 election and block the constitutional transfer
 of power,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the 
panel, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1534186125656473600">tweeted</a>
 Tuesday. “America will see footage and records we have documenting the 
dangerous extremist assault on our constitutional order.”

The
 nine-member committee has been working toward two objectives: the 
public hearings and a final report. The hearings will inform the final 
report, but could also capture the attention of the general public, said
 Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s program 
on extremism who has researched the Capitol attack.&nbsp;

“The
 role of these hearings in the next couple of weeks is partially laying 
the groundwork for that report, but also telling the story to the 
American people,” Lewis said in an interview. “It’s the committee 
showing their work.”&nbsp;

The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department.

Chairman Bennie G. Thompson <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson/status/1534194917022519298">tweeted</a> a Washington Post <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/06/january-6-committee-hearing-schedule-how-to-watch/?fbclid=IwAR39G2u3jRTK7RD4kb9w-KHlM0l6663B5N0BOvO68yPGg59I89GL0VAq7VU">article</a> Tuesday that reported the panel would hold as many as eight public hearings, each one with a theme.&nbsp;

The
 panel has conducted more than 1,000 interviews since it formed in July 
2021, according to the Post article. It has subpoenaed <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/">so-called fake electors </a>from seven states — Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

“A lot of it is to remind the American people that there is a clear and present danger to democracy,” Lewis said.

The
 upcoming series of hearings could document some “connective tissue” 
between the Trump White House, outside groups and other supporters, 
Lewis said.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/10/29/is-denver-riggleman-still-a-republican-hes-not-sure/">Denver Riggleman</a>, a Republican former U.S. House member from Virginia who advised the committee, said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/02/january-6-forensic-data-meadows-text-messages-denver-riggleman-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn">a recent CNN appearance</a>
 that text messages to and from then-White House Chief of Staff Mark 
Meadows, a former congressman from North Carolina, showed connections 
among members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches who 
were involved in planning to overturn the election results.

Meadows’ text messages provided “a roadmap” for the investigation, Riggleman said.

“I
 think Mark Meadows is the MVP for the committee,” he said. “I think 
they should pay him. The data that we got from there actually allowed us
 to really structure an effective investigation.”

The
 first hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday and is supposed to
 last about 90 minutes. The major television networks and news channels 
will carry it live, except for Fox News, which plans to air its normal 
prime-time programming. Fox Business will broadcast the hearing live. 
The committee <a target="_blank" href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">usually also livestreams </a>its meetings.

Seven
 Democrats and two Republicans comprise the House Select Committee 
Investigating the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol:

Chairman Thompson, D-Miss.:
 First elected to the House in 1992, he has been the Democratic leader 
of the House Homeland Security Committee since 2005, including two 
stints as chairman.

Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.:
 The No. 3 House Republican until last year, she was ousted for voting 
to impeach Trump for his role in provoking the Jan. 6 attack.&nbsp;

Elaine Luria, D-Va.: A second-term lawmaker who served two decades in the Navy, she is the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.: A centrist Democrat, she announced late last year she will not be running for reelection to a fourth term.

Raskin, D-Md.: A former constitutional law professor, he was the lead impeachment manager for Trump’s second impeachment.

Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.: The vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, he is the only member of Democratic leadership on the panel.

Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: Like
 Cheney, he is a Republican critical of Trump. Both were appointed to 
the panel by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not Republican Leader Kevin 
McCarthy, whose slate of Republican members Pelosi rejected.

Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.:
 The chair of the House Administration Committee, she is a longtime 
House Judiciary Committee member and served as a manager for Trump’s 
first impeachment trial in the Senate.

Adam Schiff, D-Calif.:
 The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he was the leader of 
the investigation that resulted in the first impeachment of Trump and 
the lead impeachment manager.

The committee has announced two witnesses for Thursday night.&nbsp;

U.S.
 Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first law enforcement 
officer injured by rioters on Jan. 6. Edwards patrolled the West Plaza 
of the Capitol the day of the attack and sustained “a traumatic brain 
injury,” according to the panel.&nbsp;

Documentary
 filmmaker Nick Quested recorded “the movements around the Capitol that 
morning, the first moments of violence against U.S. Capitol Police, and 
the chaos that ensued,” according to the committee.&nbsp;

Quested
 also reportedly taped a Jan. 5, 2021, meeting between the leaders of 
the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two violent right-wing groups with 
members who have been charged with seditious conspiracy related to the 
Capitol attack. He previously met with the Justice Department and the 
House committee privately, which he said he led through a detailed 
explanation of his footage.

The
 committee will hold another public hearing at 9 a.m. CT on Monday, June
 13. The panel has not released information about the witnesses or 
content of that hearing.

The committee is expected to hold six to eight public hearings through June, with a final one in September.

McCarthy
 has continually questioned the panel’s legitimacy, and Republicans are 
likely to disband the committee if they retake the House majority in 
this fall’s elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614042711157.png" alt="The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department. -Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department. -Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACOB FISCHLER <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/06/08/what-to-know-about-thursdays-public-hearing-on-the-jan-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON
 — The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on 
the U.S. Capitol will launch the first in a series of public hearings 
Thursday night in the hopes of drawing a major prime-time national 
television audience.<a href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">Click here to </a>watch the hearing&nbsp; 7p.m. CDT<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZ0yNe3cFx4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The
 Democratic-led committee, which includes two Republicans who defied 
their party leadership to join, has been tight-lipped about what ground 
its public presentation will cover.&nbsp;Leaders
 have promised in general to unveil new material, introduce a summary of
 findings gathered over a nearly yearlong investigation and preview 
further hearings about the mob of supporters of then-President Donald 
Trump who sought to overturn the 2020 election results.Here are some questions and answers about the committee and its plans:<h2>What has the investigation found?</h2>The
 evidence suggests a “coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the 
results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of 
power,” according to a committee release Tuesday.&nbsp;“This
 week, [the committee] starts sharing evidence of the chilling inside 
plan to overturn the 2020 election and block the constitutional transfer
 of power,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat who sits on the 
panel, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1534186125656473600">tweeted</a>
 Tuesday. “America will see footage and records we have documenting the 
dangerous extremist assault on our constitutional order.”The
 nine-member committee has been working toward two objectives: the 
public hearings and a final report. The hearings will inform the final 
report, but could also capture the attention of the general public, said
 Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s program 
on extremism who has researched the Capitol attack.&nbsp;“The
 role of these hearings in the next couple of weeks is partially laying 
the groundwork for that report, but also telling the story to the 
American people,” Lewis said in an interview. “It’s the committee 
showing their work.”&nbsp;The panel cannot prosecute suspects on its own but may make criminal referrals to the U.S. Justice Department.<h2>What will the hearings cover?</h2>Chairman Bennie G. Thompson <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson/status/1534194917022519298">tweeted</a> a Washington Post <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/06/january-6-committee-hearing-schedule-how-to-watch/?fbclid=IwAR39G2u3jRTK7RD4kb9w-KHlM0l6663B5N0BOvO68yPGg59I89GL0VAq7VU">article</a> Tuesday that reported the panel would hold as many as eight public hearings, each one with a theme.&nbsp;The
 panel has conducted more than 1,000 interviews since it formed in July 
2021, according to the Post article. It has subpoenaed <a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/02/02/trumps-fake-electors-heres-the-full-list/">so-called fake electors </a>from seven states — Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada and Pennsylvania.“A lot of it is to remind the American people that there is a clear and present danger to democracy,” Lewis said.The
 upcoming series of hearings could document some “connective tissue” 
between the Trump White House, outside groups and other supporters, 
Lewis said.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/10/29/is-denver-riggleman-still-a-republican-hes-not-sure/">Denver Riggleman</a>, a Republican former U.S. House member from Virginia who advised the committee, said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/06/02/january-6-forensic-data-meadows-text-messages-denver-riggleman-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn">a recent CNN appearance</a>
 that text messages to and from then-White House Chief of Staff Mark 
Meadows, a former congressman from North Carolina, showed connections 
among members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches who 
were involved in planning to overturn the election results.Meadows’ text messages provided “a roadmap” for the investigation, Riggleman said.“I
 think Mark Meadows is the MVP for the committee,” he said. “I think 
they should pay him. The data that we got from there actually allowed us
 to really structure an effective investigation.”<h2>How can viewers watch it?</h2>The
 first hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Thursday and is supposed to
 last about 90 minutes. The major television networks and news channels 
will carry it live, except for Fox News, which plans to air its normal 
prime-time programming. Fox Business will broadcast the hearing live. 
The committee <a target="_blank" href="https://january6th.house.gov/news/watch-live">usually also livestreams </a>its meetings.<h2>Who’s on the committee?</h2>Seven
 Democrats and two Republicans comprise the House Select Committee 
Investigating the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol:Chairman Thompson, D-Miss.:
 First elected to the House in 1992, he has been the Democratic leader 
of the House Homeland Security Committee since 2005, including two 
stints as chairman.Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.:
 The No. 3 House Republican until last year, she was ousted for voting 
to impeach Trump for his role in provoking the Jan. 6 attack.&nbsp;Elaine Luria, D-Va.: A second-term lawmaker who served two decades in the Navy, she is the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.: A centrist Democrat, she announced late last year she will not be running for reelection to a fourth term.Raskin, D-Md.: A former constitutional law professor, he was the lead impeachment manager for Trump’s second impeachment.Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.: The vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, he is the only member of Democratic leadership on the panel.Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: Like
 Cheney, he is a Republican critical of Trump. Both were appointed to 
the panel by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — not Republican Leader Kevin 
McCarthy, whose slate of Republican members Pelosi rejected.Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.:
 The chair of the House Administration Committee, she is a longtime 
House Judiciary Committee member and served as a manager for Trump’s 
first impeachment trial in the Senate.Adam Schiff, D-Calif.:
 The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he was the leader of 
the investigation that resulted in the first impeachment of Trump and 
the lead impeachment manager.<h2>Who will testify?</h2>The committee has announced two witnesses for Thursday night.&nbsp;U.S.
 Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first law enforcement 
officer injured by rioters on Jan. 6. Edwards patrolled the West Plaza 
of the Capitol the day of the attack and sustained “a traumatic brain 
injury,” according to the panel.&nbsp;Documentary
 filmmaker Nick Quested recorded “the movements around the Capitol that 
morning, the first moments of violence against U.S. Capitol Police, and 
the chaos that ensued,” according to the committee.&nbsp;Quested
 also reportedly taped a Jan. 5, 2021, meeting between the leaders of 
the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two violent right-wing groups with 
members who have been charged with seditious conspiracy related to the 
Capitol attack. He previously met with the Justice Department and the 
House committee privately, which he said he led through a detailed 
explanation of his footage.<h2>What’s next?</h2>The
 committee will hold another public hearing at 9 a.m. CT on Monday, June
 13. The panel has not released information about the witnesses or 
content of that hearing.The committee is expected to hold six to eight public hearings through June, with a final one in September.McCarthy
 has continually questioned the panel’s legitimacy, and Republicans are 
likely to disband the committee if they retake the House majority in 
this fall’s elections.

What to know about hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

ELLSWORTH — The City of Ellsworth announced Wednesday that it had fallen victim to a ransomware attack.&nbsp;

According to the city's social media page, the city detected unauthorized activity on its network June 2. It was confirmed as a ransomware attack. 

In response, the City took its systems offline to contain the threat and protect against any other potential malicious activity. In addition, the City notified federal law enforcement and it is working with them and computer forensics experts to thoroughly investigate and remediate this issue.

The incident has not caused any stoppage in City services to residents, but its internal operations have been limited this week during the recovery efforts.

“Please know that we are giving this our undivided attention and are doing everything we can to restore our systems and resume normal operations as quickly as safely possible,” said Mayor Daniel Finnegan. The City currently estimates that its main server at City Hall will be restored and operational in the next one to two days. In addition, the City is deploying an endpoint detection and response program that will provide continuous monitoring and alerts of any suspicious or potentially malicious activity on its network.

At this time, the City has not determined if any personal information was accessed or acquired in connection with this incident. However, it is continuing to investigate and notify residents and provide updates as it learns more. In the meantime, please refer to the City’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ellsworthks.net%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1z5WkY8h1K_EL3ySkzvVTdiGKopTxYCx6auKRSWn_s4ZRxPFYT1ZyNVbg&amp;h=AT36bFUToPjLqYH10TZYYDvmlRDQMuTxuGENcleCW8olDRG5tsPSC9DLIjSOK790nXwoiX8NeXh9JfdqG6lqacyjAJQuvJmxgfBxsFZ7v2n1dt9E1mofbeF1KA2Jua5chg&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2-iJ3nSQzmUfiHptdY8nJuozyY2_5f6lnOmG7R4NfBqJT5eYq0d3l63KKZyYvW-b-0gOIlcU9BPG07WttsjuLQiL0sujGnbgFEpctjfuoz3x_JevttkfzAUsjQTwN2pPrC3ZYodxp1JdOJ91lzfr2H1RKy_dgC9uDGtmtBywMhN0Rl0PACSmMGA15acWRH5NnzbFrE" target="_blank">www.ellsworthks.net</a>&nbsp;where the City will be posting updates and additional details during the course of its investigation. Additionally, if anyone has other questions, they may contact John Deardoff, the interim City Administrator, at 785-472-5566.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ELLSWORTH — The City of Ellsworth announced Wednesday that it had fallen victim to a ransomware attack.&nbsp;According to the city's social media page, the city detected unauthorized activity on its network June 2. It was confirmed as a ransomware attack. In response, the City took its systems offline to contain the threat and protect against any other potential malicious activity. In addition, the City notified federal law enforcement and it is working with them and computer forensics experts to thoroughly investigate and remediate this issue.The incident has not caused any stoppage in City services to residents, but its internal operations have been limited this week during the recovery efforts.“Please know that we are giving this our undivided attention and are doing everything we can to restore our systems and resume normal operations as quickly as safely possible,” said Mayor Daniel Finnegan. The City currently estimates that its main server at City Hall will be restored and operational in the next one to two days. In addition, the City is deploying an endpoint detection and response program that will provide continuous monitoring and alerts of any suspicious or potentially malicious activity on its network.At this time, the City has not determined if any personal information was accessed or acquired in connection with this incident. However, it is continuing to investigate and notify residents and provide updates as it learns more. In the meantime, please refer to the City’s website at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ellsworthks.net%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1z5WkY8h1K_EL3ySkzvVTdiGKopTxYCx6auKRSWn_s4ZRxPFYT1ZyNVbg&amp;h=AT36bFUToPjLqYH10TZYYDvmlRDQMuTxuGENcleCW8olDRG5tsPSC9DLIjSOK790nXwoiX8NeXh9JfdqG6lqacyjAJQuvJmxgfBxsFZ7v2n1dt9E1mofbeF1KA2Jua5chg&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT2-iJ3nSQzmUfiHptdY8nJuozyY2_5f6lnOmG7R4NfBqJT5eYq0d3l63KKZyYvW-b-0gOIlcU9BPG07WttsjuLQiL0sujGnbgFEpctjfuoz3x_JevttkfzAUsjQTwN2pPrC3ZYodxp1JdOJ91lzfr2H1RKy_dgC9uDGtmtBywMhN0Rl0PACSmMGA15acWRH5NnzbFrE" target="_blank">www.ellsworthks.net</a>&nbsp;where the City will be posting updates and additional details during the course of its investigation. Additionally, if anyone has other questions, they may contact John Deardoff, the interim City Administrator, at 785-472-5566.&nbsp;&nbsp;

City of Ellsworth investigating ransomware attack

KINGMAN COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Benjamin Todd Sickles, 44, Kingman, was northbound on SW 70th Avenue. The driver failed to yield&nbsp; right of way at a stop sign at U.S. 54.

An eastbound 2022 Peterbilt semi driven by Anthony Michael&nbsp;Rigdon, 39, Skiatook, Oklahoma, struck the pickup on the driver side.&nbsp;

Sickles was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported a passenger in the pickup&nbsp; Dakota Alan Harbert, 28, Kingman, to Wesley Medical Center. Rigdon was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592389654778.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KINGMAN COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Kingman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Benjamin Todd Sickles, 44, Kingman, was northbound on SW 70th Avenue. The driver failed to yield&nbsp; right of way at a stop sign at U.S. 54.An eastbound 2022 Peterbilt semi driven by Anthony Michael&nbsp;Rigdon, 39, Skiatook, Oklahoma, struck the pickup on the driver side.&nbsp;Sickles was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported a passenger in the pickup&nbsp; Dakota Alan Harbert, 28, Kingman, to Wesley Medical Center. Rigdon was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies, another injured after pickup, semi crash

Jeremy Fisher, 47 of Haysville, is charged with attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.&nbsp; His next court date is 6/20/22.&nbsp; He remains in jail on a $350,000 bond.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas sex offender accused in a violent attack on a woman made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.&nbsp;

Jeremy Fisher, 47 of Haysville, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 10 p.m. June 3, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the 1900 block of South Dellrose in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

 Upon the officer’s arrival, they located a 39-year-old woman with several gunshot wounds. She was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the victim was at the residence with her boyfriend identified as Fisher when a disturbance ensued. During the disturbance Fisher fired multiple shots striking the victim. The suspect fled the scene, and a short time later was located by officers in the City of Haysville.

&nbsp;Police arrested Fisher and he remains jailed on a $350,000 bond. He is due back in court on June 20, according to the district attorney's office.

Fisher has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654288093635.png" alt="Fisher-photo KBI Offender Registry.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Fisher-photo KBI Offender Registry.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeremy Fisher, 47 of Haysville, is charged with attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.&nbsp; His next court date is 6/20/22.&nbsp; He remains in jail on a $350,000 bond.SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas sex offender accused in a violent attack on a woman made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.&nbsp;Jeremy Fisher, 47 of Haysville, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 10 p.m. June 3, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the 1900 block of South Dellrose in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz. Upon the officer’s arrival, they located a 39-year-old woman with several gunshot wounds. She was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed the victim was at the residence with her boyfriend identified as Fisher when a disturbance ensued. During the disturbance Fisher fired multiple shots striking the victim. The suspect fled the scene, and a short time later was located by officers in the City of Haysville.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654289858724.png" alt="Fisher-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Fisher-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Police arrested Fisher and he remains jailed on a $350,000 bond. He is due back in court on June 20, according to the district attorney's office.Fisher has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. sex offender charged in violent attack on girlfriend

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after the search of a Kansas home.

On Monday,&nbsp;the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in the 3500 block of SW Westport Court, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Investigators found illegal narcotics and arrested&nbsp;Augustine E. Covarrubia, 22, and Nicholas W. Kinnard, 38, both of Kansas City.

Kinnard was booked on a requested charge of distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

&nbsp;Covarrubias was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654723499043.png" alt="Kinnard-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kinnard-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after the search of a Kansas home.On Monday,&nbsp;the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in the 3500 block of SW Westport Court, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654723273498.png" alt="Covarrubias-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Covarrubias-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators found illegal narcotics and arrested&nbsp;Augustine E. Covarrubia, 22, and Nicholas W. Kinnard, 38, both of Kansas City.Kinnard was booked on a requested charge of distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;Covarrubias was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas City man jailed for allegedly selling meth 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge has thrown out a $4.2 million jury award in a lawsuit filed by a transgender student in the Blues Springs School District who was denied access to male locker rooms and bathrooms.

The student, identified in court documents as R.M.A., sued in 2015. A Jackson County&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-kansas-city-missouri-fef962dd1ff4cb3fc2981053cf6ed2a7">jury found in December</a>&nbsp;that the Blue Springs School District had discriminated against the student while he attended middle and high school.

He participated in male sports but was required to use separate unisex bathrooms.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Cory Atkins ruled last month that R.M.A. had not proven that his male sex was "a contributing factor” in the district's refusal to let him use male facilities, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-07/judge-throws-out-a-jurys-4-million-verdict-in-favor-of-a-blue-springs-transgender-student">reported</a>.

Atkins ruled the sole, uncontradicted evidence at the trial was that the student was excluded from male facilities because of his female genitalia.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the state's human rights laws against sex discrimination could be extended to those who don't conform to gender stereotypes, which was considered a significant decision for transgender rights at the time.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A judge has thrown out a $4.2 million jury award in a lawsuit filed by a transgender student in the Blues Springs School District who was denied access to male locker rooms and bathrooms.The student, identified in court documents as R.M.A., sued in 2015. A Jackson County&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-kansas-city-missouri-fef962dd1ff4cb3fc2981053cf6ed2a7">jury found in December</a>&nbsp;that the Blue Springs School District had discriminated against the student while he attended middle and high school.He participated in male sports but was required to use separate unisex bathrooms.Jackson County Circuit Judge Cory Atkins ruled last month that R.M.A. had not proven that his male sex was "a contributing factor” in the district's refusal to let him use male facilities, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-07/judge-throws-out-a-jurys-4-million-verdict-in-favor-of-a-blue-springs-transgender-student">reported</a>.Atkins ruled the sole, uncontradicted evidence at the trial was that the student was excluded from male facilities because of his female genitalia.The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the state's human rights laws against sex discrimination could be extended to those who don't conform to gender stereotypes, which was considered a significant decision for transgender rights at the time.

Judge throws out $4M award for KC-area transgender student

WASHINGTON (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who survived the mass shooting at an elementary school in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas,</a>&nbsp;recounted in video testimony to Congress on Wednesday how she covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot and “just stayed quiet.”

Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, told lawmakers in a pre-recorded video that she watched a teacher get shot in the head before looking for a place to hide.

“I thought he would come back so I covered myself with blood,” Miah told the House panel. “I put it all over me and I just stayed quiet.” She called 911 using the deceased teacher’s phone and pleaded for help.

Nineteen children and two teachers died when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle inside Robb Elementary School on May 24.

It was the second day lawmakers heard wrenching testimony on the nation’s gun violence. On Tuesday, a Senate panel heard from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">son of an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers</a>&nbsp;in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Ten people died.

In the video Wednesday, Miah’s father, Miguel Cerillo, asked his daughter if she feels safe at school anymore. She shook her head no.

“Why?” he asks. “I don’t want it to happen again,” she responds.

The testimony at the House Oversight Committee came as lawmakers work to strike a bipartisan agreement on gun safety measures in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the panel’s chairwoman, called the hearing to focus on the human impact of gun violence and the urgency for gun control legislation.

“I am asking every member of this committee to listen with an open heart to the brave witnesses who have come forward to tell their stories about how gun violence has impacted their lives,” Maloney said. “Our witnesses today have endured pain and loss. Yet they are displaying incredible courage by coming here to ask us to do our jobs.”

But even as some lawmakers shed tears alongside the witnesses, the hearing displayed the contentious debate over gun control Congress has faced repeatedly after mass shootings. Several Republicans turned the conversation to the individuals who abuse guns and how “hardening schools” could help protect students.

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who owns a gun store, said that one of the things he learned in his military service was that “the harder the target you are, the less likely you will be engaged by the enemy.” He called on schools to keep doors locked, provide a single point of entry and “a volunteer force of well-trained and armed staff, in addition to a school resource officer.”

The parents of victims and survivors implored lawmakers not to let their children’s deaths and pain be in vain. After Miah spoke, her father told lawmakers that he testified because “I could have lost my baby girl.”

“But she is not the same little girl that I use to play with,” Cerrillo said. “Schools are not safe anymore. Something needs to really change.”

Also testifying was Zeneta Everhart, whose 20-year-old son Zaire was wounded in the Buffalo mass shooting.

Everhart told lawmakers it was their duty to draft legislation that protects Zaire and other Americans. She said that if they did not find the testimony moving enough to act on gun laws, they had an invitation to go to her home to help her clean her son’s wounds.

“My son Zaire has a hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back, and another on his left leg,” she said, then paused to compose herself. “As I clean his wounds, I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.”

The parents of Lexi Rubio, who died in her classroom in Uvalde, also testified. Felix and Kimberly Rubio recounted finding out about their daughter’s death hours after leaving Lexi’s school awards ceremony on the morning of the shooting.

To get to the elementary school, Kimberly Rubio said she ran barefoot for a mile with her sandals in her hand and with her husband by her side. A firefighter eventually gave them a ride back to the civic center.

“Soon after we received the news that our daughter was among the 19 students and two teachers that died as a result of gun violence,” she said, fighting through tears.

She said that Lexi would have made a positive change in the world if she had been given the chance.

“Somewhere out there, there’s a mom listening to our testimony, thinking I can’t even imagine their pain, not knowing that our reality will one day be hers unless we act now,” Kimberly Rubio said.

Dr. Roy Guerrero described in stark terms the carnage he witnessed at the local hospital as he tried to treat the injured. He went to the area of the hospital where two dead children had been taken. The bodies were so pulverized, he said, “that the only clue to their identities was the blood-splattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them, clinging for life and finding none.”

The Democratic-led House is expected to pass legislation that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.

But the legislation has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks. The House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show appeal to a majority.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-violence-presidential-elections-shootings-5d769e174b200923e75e27b0051da225">Majorities of U.S. adults think mass shootings would occur less often</a>&nbsp;if guns were harder to get, and that schools and other public places have become less safe than they were two decades ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who survived the mass shooting at an elementary school in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas,</a>&nbsp;recounted in video testimony to Congress on Wednesday how she covered herself with a dead classmate’s blood to avoid being shot and “just stayed quiet.”<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RejrxgL-vEI?start=2147" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary School, told lawmakers in a pre-recorded video that she watched a teacher get shot in the head before looking for a place to hide.“I thought he would come back so I covered myself with blood,” Miah told the House panel. “I put it all over me and I just stayed quiet.” She called 911 using the deceased teacher’s phone and pleaded for help.Nineteen children and two teachers died when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle inside Robb Elementary School on May 24.It was the second day lawmakers heard wrenching testimony on the nation’s gun violence. On Tuesday, a Senate panel heard from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-new-york-government-and-politics-gun-violence-2aaff6f50089767777d4bd8db8182bea">son of an 86-year-old woman killed when a gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers</a>&nbsp;in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Ten people died.In the video Wednesday, Miah’s father, Miguel Cerillo, asked his daughter if she feels safe at school anymore. She shook her head no.“Why?” he asks. “I don’t want it to happen again,” she responds.The testimony at the House Oversight Committee came as lawmakers work to strike a bipartisan agreement on gun safety measures in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings.Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the panel’s chairwoman, called the hearing to focus on the human impact of gun violence and the urgency for gun control legislation.“I am asking every member of this committee to listen with an open heart to the brave witnesses who have come forward to tell their stories about how gun violence has impacted their lives,” Maloney said. “Our witnesses today have endured pain and loss. Yet they are displaying incredible courage by coming here to ask us to do our jobs.”But even as some lawmakers shed tears alongside the witnesses, the hearing displayed the contentious debate over gun control Congress has faced repeatedly after mass shootings. Several Republicans turned the conversation to the individuals who abuse guns and how “hardening schools” could help protect students.Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., who owns a gun store, said that one of the things he learned in his military service was that “the harder the target you are, the less likely you will be engaged by the enemy.” He called on schools to keep doors locked, provide a single point of entry and “a volunteer force of well-trained and armed staff, in addition to a school resource officer.”The parents of victims and survivors implored lawmakers not to let their children’s deaths and pain be in vain. After Miah spoke, her father told lawmakers that he testified because “I could have lost my baby girl.”“But she is not the same little girl that I use to play with,” Cerrillo said. “Schools are not safe anymore. Something needs to really change.”Also testifying was Zeneta Everhart, whose 20-year-old son Zaire was wounded in the Buffalo mass shooting.Everhart told lawmakers it was their duty to draft legislation that protects Zaire and other Americans. She said that if they did not find the testimony moving enough to act on gun laws, they had an invitation to go to her home to help her clean her son’s wounds.“My son Zaire has a hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back, and another on his left leg,” she said, then paused to compose herself. “As I clean his wounds, I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.”The parents of Lexi Rubio, who died in her classroom in Uvalde, also testified. Felix and Kimberly Rubio recounted finding out about their daughter’s death hours after leaving Lexi’s school awards ceremony on the morning of the shooting.To get to the elementary school, Kimberly Rubio said she ran barefoot for a mile with her sandals in her hand and with her husband by her side. A firefighter eventually gave them a ride back to the civic center.“Soon after we received the news that our daughter was among the 19 students and two teachers that died as a result of gun violence,” she said, fighting through tears.She said that Lexi would have made a positive change in the world if she had been given the chance.“Somewhere out there, there’s a mom listening to our testimony, thinking I can’t even imagine their pain, not knowing that our reality will one day be hers unless we act now,” Kimberly Rubio said.Dr. Roy Guerrero described in stark terms the carnage he witnessed at the local hospital as he tried to treat the injured. He went to the area of the hospital where two dead children had been taken. The bodies were so pulverized, he said, “that the only clue to their identities was the blood-splattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them, clinging for life and finding none.”The Democratic-led House is expected to pass legislation that would raise the age limit for purchasing a semi-automatic rifle and prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.But the legislation has almost no chance of becoming law as the Senate pursues negotiations focused on improving mental health programs, bolstering school security and enhancing background checks. The House bill does allow Democratic lawmakers a chance to frame for voters in November where they stand on policies that polls show appeal to a majority.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-violence-presidential-elections-shootings-5d769e174b200923e75e27b0051da225">Majorities of U.S. adults think mass shootings would occur less often</a>&nbsp;if guns were harder to get, and that schools and other public places have become less safe than they were two decades ago.___

🎥4th grade Uvalde survivor: 'I don't want it to happen again'

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/08/garden-city-math-teacher-becomes-first-democrat-to-file-for-1st-congressional-district-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Garden City teacher 
Jimmy Beard, a Democrat, filed paperwork Wednesday entering the August 
primary for the 1st Congressional District with hopes of defeating 
incumbent U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann in the general election.

Beard, a math teacher at Garden City High School, cited constant 
attacks on public education as a primary reason he felt the need to 
throw his hat in the ring. He said it was time for Congress to act in 
support of public education, rather than serve as obstructionists.

“We struggle passing any popular bipartisan measure because most 
representatives in either party are just party line,” Beard said. “I 
want to go to office to actually get something done and to work with 
people I disagree with.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654724098308.png" alt="Garden City teacher Jimmy Beard, a Democrat, said public education, responsible taxation and legalizing marijuana are among his top priorities should he be elected to represent Kansas’ 1st Congressional District. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Garden City teacher Jimmy Beard, a Democrat, said public education, responsible taxation and legalizing marijuana are among his top priorities should he be elected to represent Kansas’ 1st Congressional District. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/08/garden-city-math-teacher-becomes-first-democrat-to-file-for-1st-congressional-district-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Garden City teacher 
Jimmy Beard, a Democrat, filed paperwork Wednesday entering the August 
primary for the 1st Congressional District with hopes of defeating 
incumbent U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann in the general election.Beard, a math teacher at Garden City High School, cited constant 
attacks on public education as a primary reason he felt the need to 
throw his hat in the ring. He said it was time for Congress to act in 
support of public education, rather than serve as obstructionists.“We struggle passing any popular bipartisan measure because most 
representatives in either party are just party line,” Beard said. “I 
want to go to office to actually get something done and to work with 
people I disagree with.”He is the first Democrat to file for the 1st Congressional District 
race in 2022. Beard will have his hands full in the so-called Big First,
 which reaches from the Colorado border to Lawrence under newly 
confirmed congressional maps.While the inclusion of heavily liberal Lawrence will provide a 
stronger base for a Democratic candidate, the district has leaned 
strongly in favor of Republican candidates in the past, with Mann 
winning 71.2% of the vote in 2020. The district’s size may be daunting, 
but Beard said he will tackle obstacles as they come up.“We’re the seventh biggest in the country, so it’s going to be 
tough,” Beard said. “I am not sure what my game plan is right now. It’s 
kind of a moving target.”Raised in a military family, Beard moved to Kansas in 2009 to get his
 bachelor’s degree in Math Education from Fort Hays State University. 
Since graduating, he has held his post at Garden City High School, where
 he became a sponsor of the Gay-Straight Alliance and worked with GLSEN 
and other local organizations on issues of importance to LGBTQ youth and
 community members.Beyond education, Beard is focusing on taxes and infrastructure, as 
well as legalizing marijuana. He wants to take steps toward fiscal 
responsibility and putting more money and health resources in the hands 
of Kansans.“Oftentimes, what Kansans want doesn’t really line up with just 
Democrats or just Republicans,” Beard said. “I am confident I can bring 
Kansas values to Congress and actually work with both sides of the 
aisle.”Mann’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.