SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash and have made an arrest.

Just before 4:30 p.m. Monday, officers responded to an injury accident with a driver pinned in a vehicle at Maple and Martinson, according to Officer Charley Davidson. 

Upon arrival, officer’s located 80-year-old Frankie Baxter pinned inside of a vehicle. Police with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department removed her from the vehicle and she pronounced deceased on the scene, according to Davidson.

The investigation revealed that Baxter was driving a blue 2015 Hyundai Tucson northbound on Elizabeth Street. She turned to travel eastbound on Maple. 

A 2008 Maxda Six driven by 33-year-old Scott Cabrales of Wichita was eastbound on Maple at a high rate of speed and believed to be under the influence of alcohol.&nbsp; The Mazda struck the rear driver's side of the Hyundai. The impact caused the Hyundai to strike the curb and a tree.

EMS transported Cabrales to an area hospital for medical treatment of minor injuries and then booked him into jail on requested charges of of aggravated battery, driving under the influence, and no proof of insurance.

Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622558836645.png" alt="Cabrales photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cabrales photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash and have made an arrest.Just before 4:30 p.m. Monday, officers responded to an injury accident with a driver pinned in a vehicle at Maple and Martinson, according to Officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officer’s located 80-year-old Frankie Baxter pinned inside of a vehicle. Police with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department removed her from the vehicle and she pronounced deceased on the scene, according to Davidson.The investigation revealed that Baxter was driving a blue 2015 Hyundai Tucson northbound on Elizabeth Street. She turned to travel eastbound on Maple. A 2008 Maxda Six driven by 33-year-old Scott Cabrales of Wichita was eastbound on Maple at a high rate of speed and believed to be under the influence of alcohol.&nbsp; The Mazda struck the rear driver's side of the Hyundai. The impact caused the Hyundai to strike the curb and a tree.EMS transported Cabrales to an area hospital for medical treatment of minor injuries and then booked him into jail on requested charges of of aggravated battery, driving under the influence, and no proof of insurance.Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Man accused in DUI crash that killed Kansas woman

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent two boys to the hospital.

Just before 11:30 p.&nbsp; Monday, a police officer was patrolling through the apartment complex in the 8800 block of East Harry in Wichita when he heard shouting, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

The officer located a 12-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his hand and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the leg.&nbsp; 

EMS transported the boys&nbsp; to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed that the boys were playing with a handgun when it discharged, striking both of them.&nbsp;

"This case is a reminder that guns and kids don’t mix," said Davidson.

 According to nationwidechildrens.org, “guns lead to thousands of deaths and injuries among children every year.&nbsp; Specifically, 1,300 children younger than 18 years of age die from shootings every year.”&nbsp; These incidents are preventable.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Always store guns unloaded and security locked;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use a gun case, gun safe, or lockbox for safer storage;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Store ammunition in a separate location; and

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Talk to your children about gun safety.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you find a gun, leave it alone and tell an adult;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Always assume a gun is loaded;

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Never point a gun at anyone; and

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask your parents about proper gun safety.

Practice gun safety to protect yourself and your family.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent two boys to the hospital.Just before 11:30 p.&nbsp; Monday, a police officer was patrolling through the apartment complex in the 8800 block of East Harry in Wichita when he heard shouting, according to Officer Charley Davidson.The officer located a 12-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his hand and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the leg.&nbsp; EMS transported the boys&nbsp; to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;The investigation revealed that the boys were playing with a handgun when it discharged, striking both of them.&nbsp;"This case is a reminder that guns and kids don’t mix," said Davidson. According to nationwidechildrens.org, “guns lead to thousands of deaths and injuries among children every year.&nbsp; Specifically, 1,300 children younger than 18 years of age die from shootings every year.”&nbsp; These incidents are preventable.f you own a gun:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Always store guns unloaded and security locked;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Use a gun case, gun safe, or lockbox for safer storage;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Store ammunition in a separate location; and·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Talk to your children about gun safety.If you find a gun:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If you find a gun, leave it alone and tell an adult;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Always assume a gun is loaded;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Never point a gun at anyone; and·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ask your parents about proper gun safety.Practice gun safety to protect yourself and your family.

Police: 2 Kansas boys injured playing with handgun

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINA — Police are in the preliminary stages of an investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found in a local park.

At 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, officers were sent to Lakewood Park, 250 N. Lakewood Park Drive, for the report of a female who was face down near the south entrance, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning.

Officers found a yet-to-be-identified deceased woman who appeared to be approximately 25-35 years of age, 5' to 5'6" tall, and 200-250 pounds, Forrester noted. Her hair appeared to be dyed a reddish color.

The body was clothed in a pink colored top, blue jean capris, and black tennis shoes, he added.

If anyone has any information about a missing person or information regarding this person, please call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS(8477) or the Salina Police Department Detective Division at 826-7210.

Headline corrected 2:45 p.m. Tuesday

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINA — Police are in the preliminary stages of an investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found in a local park.At 6:10 a.m. Tuesday, officers were sent to Lakewood Park, 250 N. Lakewood Park Drive, for the report of a female who was face down near the south entrance, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning.Officers found a yet-to-be-identified deceased woman who appeared to be approximately 25-35 years of age, 5' to 5'6" tall, and 200-250 pounds, Forrester noted. Her hair appeared to be dyed a reddish color.The body was clothed in a pink colored top, blue jean capris, and black tennis shoes, he added.If anyone has any information about a missing person or information regarding this person, please call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS(8477) or the Salina Police Department Detective Division at 826-7210.Headline corrected 2:45 p.m. Tuesday

Police: Woman's body found in Salina park

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Supreme Court staff stepped in this spring to oppose legislation meant to address issues surrounding drivers license suspensions for unpaid traffic fines, an issue pushed by activists for racial justice and the poor nationwide.

Some measures to address the issue passed and became law. But other efforts to eliminate some fees and to replace some fines with community service stalled after a court official told lawmakers that collecting fewer dollars through reinstatement fees would threaten the courts’ ability to remain open and pay employees. Some advocates think that’s the problem: The court system is overly reliant on impoverished and minority populations for funding.

“The system is formulated to thrive off the backs of poor people,” said Sheila Officer, chairwoman of the Racial Profiling Advisory Board of Wichita. She said states including Washington and California have passed laws ending failure to pay fines as a reason for license suspension.

The issue is part of a larger national conversation in which activists say fines and penalties for not paying them have the effect of criminalizing poverty. The ACLU and other groups are backing lawsuits and other efforts to keep poor people who can’t afford to pay legal fees and fines from facing penalties.

Kansas drivers can lose their license if they fail to pay traffic fines or appear in court. Drivers with a suspended license are charged $100 for each traffic violation to get it reinstated. Advocates for the poor and racial minorities say the system means that those with money can pay fines and avoid license suspensions, while those who can’t afford the fines see their balances grow.

Some Kansas advocates for racial equity backed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb100_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;this year that would have ended those additional $100 payments, saying the reinstatement fees are causing drivers to violate more traffic laws and to be stuck in a debt cycle, unable to legally drive to work, school, or get children to daycare.

Kansas Appleseed, a nonprofit that advocated for the measure, found last year that about 134,000 Kansans had suspended licenses due to unpaid fines and fees.

Mike Fonkert, the group’s campaign director, told The Associated Press that there’s not enough evidence that suspending licenses compels people to pay off fines and fees.

“We believe that the only truly legitimate use of those suspensions is to keep dangerous drivers off the road,” Fonkert said.

Personnel costs made up about 91% of the state courts’ budget last fiscal year, according to Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration. Shawn Jurgensen, special counsel to Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_trnsprt_1/documents/testimony/20210223_26.pdf" target="_blank">told lawmakers in February</a>&nbsp;that the courts estimated that passing the measure to eliminate the compounding fees would have led to a roughly 44% drop in annual revenue beginning in the 2022 fiscal year.

“Until we can successfully get a separate, equal amount of replacement funding, it would jeopardize our ability to pay our employees,” Jurgensen said in an interview.

Jurgensen wouldn’t speak to the issues of hardship advocates say debt-based license suspensions are creating. He said the courts would prefer to be entirely funded by state funds, but that’s ultimately a decision for lawmakers.

The Kansas courts also opposed another measure that would have created a statewide system for people to pay down court fees and fines in monthly installments, or through community service or court-approved classes to avoid long drivers license suspensions. Jurgensen said that the Kansas courts wouldn’t be able to automatically track progress on payment plans until it sets up a new case management system, which he expects to be completed in 2022.

Lawmakers did pass&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_127_2021" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;to allow those charged fines and court costs for violating traffic laws to petition courts to waive all or some of the costs. The new law allows the courts to reduce or waive the payments if it determines that drivers or their close family members would face hardship by paying the full costs.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Fred Patton, a Topeka Republican, said his committee heard testimony last year on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/measures/hb2434/" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;to end suspensions for failure to pay traffic tickets, but he didn’t put it to a committee vote.

Patton is concerned that ending debt-based license suspensions would mean no punishment for those who violate traffic laws. Still, he said he has discussed the issue with license suspension reform advocates, including conservative, small-government group Americans for Prosperity.

“This is one of those issues where you kind of have both ends of the political spectrum working on it,” Patton said. “If they can come up with something, then I could see it moving forward.”

By ANDY TSUBASA FIELDTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Supreme Court staff stepped in this spring to oppose legislation meant to address issues surrounding drivers license suspensions for unpaid traffic fines, an issue pushed by activists for racial justice and the poor nationwide.Some measures to address the issue passed and became law. But other efforts to eliminate some fees and to replace some fines with community service stalled after a court official told lawmakers that collecting fewer dollars through reinstatement fees would threaten the courts’ ability to remain open and pay employees. Some advocates think that’s the problem: The court system is overly reliant on impoverished and minority populations for funding.“The system is formulated to thrive off the backs of poor people,” said Sheila Officer, chairwoman of the Racial Profiling Advisory Board of Wichita. She said states including Washington and California have passed laws ending failure to pay fines as a reason for license suspension.The issue is part of a larger national conversation in which activists say fines and penalties for not paying them have the effect of criminalizing poverty. The ACLU and other groups are backing lawsuits and other efforts to keep poor people who can’t afford to pay legal fees and fines from facing penalties.Kansas drivers can lose their license if they fail to pay traffic fines or appear in court. Drivers with a suspended license are charged $100 for each traffic violation to get it reinstated. Advocates for the poor and racial minorities say the system means that those with money can pay fines and avoid license suspensions, while those who can’t afford the fines see their balances grow.Some Kansas advocates for racial equity backed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb100_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;this year that would have ended those additional $100 payments, saying the reinstatement fees are causing drivers to violate more traffic laws and to be stuck in a debt cycle, unable to legally drive to work, school, or get children to daycare.Kansas Appleseed, a nonprofit that advocated for the measure, found last year that about 134,000 Kansans had suspended licenses due to unpaid fines and fees.Mike Fonkert, the group’s campaign director, told The Associated Press that there’s not enough evidence that suspending licenses compels people to pay off fines and fees.“We believe that the only truly legitimate use of those suspensions is to keep dangerous drivers off the road,” Fonkert said.Personnel costs made up about 91% of the state courts’ budget last fiscal year, according to Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration. Shawn Jurgensen, special counsel to Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/committees/ctte_s_trnsprt_1/documents/testimony/20210223_26.pdf" target="_blank">told lawmakers in February</a>&nbsp;that the courts estimated that passing the measure to eliminate the compounding fees would have led to a roughly 44% drop in annual revenue beginning in the 2022 fiscal year.“Until we can successfully get a separate, equal amount of replacement funding, it would jeopardize our ability to pay our employees,” Jurgensen said in an interview.Jurgensen wouldn’t speak to the issues of hardship advocates say debt-based license suspensions are creating. He said the courts would prefer to be entirely funded by state funds, but that’s ultimately a decision for lawmakers.The Kansas courts also opposed another measure that would have created a statewide system for people to pay down court fees and fines in monthly installments, or through community service or court-approved classes to avoid long drivers license suspensions. Jurgensen said that the Kansas courts wouldn’t be able to automatically track progress on payment plans until it sets up a new case management system, which he expects to be completed in 2022.Lawmakers did pass&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_127_2021" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;to allow those charged fines and court costs for violating traffic laws to petition courts to waive all or some of the costs. The new law allows the courts to reduce or waive the payments if it determines that drivers or their close family members would face hardship by paying the full costs.House Judiciary Committee Chair Fred Patton, a Topeka Republican, said his committee heard testimony last year on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/measures/hb2434/" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;to end suspensions for failure to pay traffic tickets, but he didn’t put it to a committee vote.Patton is concerned that ending debt-based license suspensions would mean no punishment for those who violate traffic laws. Still, he said he has discussed the issue with license suspension reform advocates, including conservative, small-government group Americans for Prosperity.“This is one of those issues where you kind of have both ends of the political spectrum working on it,” Patton said. “If they can come up with something, then I could see it moving forward.”

Kansas license suspension reforms stumble in Legislature

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Police have identified two people shot and killed outside a Branson restaurant over the weekend.

Krystle Buhl, 38, of Forsyth, and Richard McMahan, 39, of Merriam Woods, died in the Saturday night shooting outside of Famous Dave’s in Branson, police there said.

Officers found the pair with gunshot wounds in the restaurant’s parking lot, television station KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/30/branson-police-investigate-late-night-fatal-shooting/">reported</a>. Police said one victim died at the scene and the other died at a hospital.

Police have said they have no suspects and no motive for the shootings. Investigators have found no indication that the shooting resulted from a robbery, Branson Police Chief Eric Schmitt said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622563430710.png" alt="A sign on the front door of the restaurant following the weekend shooting photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>A sign on the front door of the restaurant following the weekend shooting photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — Police have identified two people shot and killed outside a Branson restaurant over the weekend.Krystle Buhl, 38, of Forsyth, and Richard McMahan, 39, of Merriam Woods, died in the Saturday night shooting outside of Famous Dave’s in Branson, police there said.Officers found the pair with gunshot wounds in the restaurant’s parking lot, television station KYTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2021/05/30/branson-police-investigate-late-night-fatal-shooting/">reported</a>. Police said one victim died at the scene and the other died at a hospital.Police have said they have no suspects and no motive for the shootings. Investigators have found no indication that the shooting resulted from a robbery, Branson Police Chief Eric Schmitt said.

Police: 2 killed in shooting outside Branson restaurant

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will take part in a remembrance of one of the nation’s darkest — and largely forgotten — moments of racial violence when he helps commemorate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-race-massacre-1921-100-years-later-3bc13e842c31054a90b6d1c81db9d70c">the 100th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the destruction of a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512210-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-1921-tulsa-race-massacre">Click here to watch </a>the President's speech at 3:15p.m. CDT

Biden’s visit Tuesday, in which he will grieve for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-massacres-race-and-ethnicity-af589e8c37a31bcd30f0f7977a9ca4c0">the hundreds of Black people killed</a>&nbsp;by a white mob a century ago, comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/racial-injustice">a national reckoning on racial justice</a>. And it will stand in stark contrast to the most recent visit to Tulsa by a president, which took place last year.

Biden will be the first president to participate in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-race-massacre-centennial-bbfa1f6ad42b104d258c13999a2d7aa4">remembrances of the destruction</a>&nbsp;of what was known as “Black Wall Street.” In 1921 — on May 31 and June 1 — Tulsa’s white residents and civil society leaders looted and burned to the ground the Greenwood district and used planes to drop projectiles on it.

He will meet privately with survivors of the massacre. Up to 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district.

America’s continuing struggle over racial justice will continue to test Biden, whose presidency would have been impossible without overwhelming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-virus-outbreak-georgia-7a843bbce00713cfde6c3fdbc2e31eb7">support from Black voters</a>, both in the Democratic primaries and the general election.

Biden has pledged to help combat racism in policing and other areas of life following nationwide protests after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd’s death</a>&nbsp;a year ago that reignited a national conversation about race. Floyd, a Black man, was killed by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">Chauvin was convicted</a>&nbsp;in April, Biden said the country’s work was far from finished with the verdict, declaring, “We can’t stop here.”

He called on Congress to act swiftly to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nyc-state-wire-george-floyd-death-of-george-floyd-police-police-reform-988260d4657103cd968bad7f039b0e19">policing reform</a>. But he has also long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.

Despite its horror, the Tulsa massacre has only recently entered the national discourse — and the presidential visit will put an even brighter spotlight on the event.

“This is so important because we have to recognize what we have done if we are going to be otherwise,” said Eddie Glaude, chair of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. Biden’s visit, Glaude said, “has to be more than symbolic. To tell the truth is the precondition for reconciliation, and reconciliation is the basis for repair.”

Biden, while visiting the Greenwood Cultural Center, is set to announce new measures to help narrow the wealth gap between Blacks and whites and reinvest in underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and small-business ownership.

The White House said the administration will take steps to address disparities that result in Black-owned homes being appraised at tens of thousands of dollars less than comparable homes owned by whites as well as issue new federal rules to fight housing discrimination.

The administration is also setting a goal of increasing the share of federal contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2026, funneling an estimated additional $100 billion to such businesses over the five-year period, according to the White House.

Biden will also discuss ways his jobs plan — still a subject of negotiation with Congress — can help create jobs and build wealth in communities of color.

Historians say the massacre in Tulsa began after a local newspaper drummed up a furor over a Black man accused of stepping on a white girl’s foot. When Black Tulsans showed up with guns to prevent the man’s lynching, white residents responded with overwhelming force.

A grand jury investigation at the time concluded, without evidence, that unidentified agitators had given Tulsa’s African Americans both their firearms and what was described as their mistaken belief “in equal rights, social equality and their ability to demand the same.”

Organizers called off a headline commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, saying no agreement could be reached over monetary payments to three survivors of the deadly attack. It highlights broader debates over reparations for racial injustice.

Reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and for other racial discrimination have been debated in the U.S. since slavery ended in 1865. Now they are being discussed by colleges and universities with ties to slavery and by local governments looking to make cash payments to Black residents.

But some of Tulsa’s Black residents question whether the $20 million spent to build the Greenwood Rising museum in an increasingly gentrified part of the city could have been better spent helping Black descendants of the massacre or residents of the city’s predominantly Black north side several miles away from Greenwood.

Disagreements among Black leaders in Tulsa over the handling of commemorative events and millions of dollars in donations have led to two disparate groups planning separate slates of anniversary events.

Biden, who was vice president to the nation’s first Black president and who chose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-first-black-woman-vp-asian-12ddda402cab20c5aafbd7737ac619c8">a Black woman</a>&nbsp;as his own vice president, backs a study of reparations, both in Tulsa and more broadly, but has not committed to supporting payments. He recently declared the need for America to confront its ugly past, saying, “We must acknowledge that there can be no realization of the American dream without grappling with the original sin of slavery and the centuries-long campaign of violence, fear and trauma wrought upon African American people in this country.”

He issued a proclamation designating Monday as a “day of remembrance” for the massacre.

Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump visited Tulsa last year under vastly different circumstances.

After suspending his campaign rallies because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, Trump, a Republican, chose Tulsa as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-racial-injustice-tulsa-89a91180f11abadc70500f3222a694e5">the place to mark his return</a>. But his decision to schedule the rally on June 19, the holiday known as Juneteenth that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, was met with such fierce criticism that he postponed the event by a day. The rally was still marked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latin-america-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-1a59b4efe97f2249d414ae4f0b3c6495">protests outside and empty seats inside</a>&nbsp;an arena downtown.

Trump arrived in Tulsa during a highly charged moment, days after he had ordered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-dc-wire-religion-politics-15be4e293cdebe72c10304fe0ec668e4">the forcible clearing of Lafayette Square</a>&nbsp;across from the White House, with federal officers pushing out those peacefully protesting Floyd’s death. Trump reflexively embraced law enforcement throughout his presidency and was frequently accused of using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-chicago-coronavirus-pandemic-5d12485d162d56185799b3ff88b1df7a">racist rhetoric</a>&nbsp;when painting apocalyptic — and inaccurate — scenes of American cities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622561436227.png" alt="President Biden, while visiting the Greenwood Cultural Center, is set to announce new measures to help narrow the wealth gap between Blacks and whites and reinvest in underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and small-business ownership-Image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Biden, while visiting the Greenwood Cultural Center, is set to announce new measures to help narrow the wealth gap between Blacks and whites and reinvest in underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and small-business ownership-Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will take part in a remembrance of one of the nation’s darkest — and largely forgotten — moments of racial violence when he helps commemorate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-race-massacre-1921-100-years-later-3bc13e842c31054a90b6d1c81db9d70c">the 100th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the destruction of a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?512210-1/president-biden-delivers-remarks-1921-tulsa-race-massacre">Click here to watch </a>the President's speech at 3:15p.m. CDTBiden’s visit Tuesday, in which he will grieve for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-massacres-race-and-ethnicity-af589e8c37a31bcd30f0f7977a9ca4c0">the hundreds of Black people killed</a>&nbsp;by a white mob a century ago, comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/racial-injustice">a national reckoning on racial justice</a>. And it will stand in stark contrast to the most recent visit to Tulsa by a president, which took place last year.Biden will be the first president to participate in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-race-massacre-centennial-bbfa1f6ad42b104d258c13999a2d7aa4">remembrances of the destruction</a>&nbsp;of what was known as “Black Wall Street.” In 1921 — on May 31 and June 1 — Tulsa’s white residents and civil society leaders looted and burned to the ground the Greenwood district and used planes to drop projectiles on it.He will meet privately with survivors of the massacre. Up to 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district.America’s continuing struggle over racial justice will continue to test Biden, whose presidency would have been impossible without overwhelming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-virus-outbreak-georgia-7a843bbce00713cfde6c3fdbc2e31eb7">support from Black voters</a>, both in the Democratic primaries and the general election.Biden has pledged to help combat racism in policing and other areas of life following nationwide protests after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd’s death</a>&nbsp;a year ago that reignited a national conversation about race. Floyd, a Black man, was killed by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">Chauvin was convicted</a>&nbsp;in April, Biden said the country’s work was far from finished with the verdict, declaring, “We can’t stop here.”He called on Congress to act swiftly to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nyc-state-wire-george-floyd-death-of-george-floyd-police-police-reform-988260d4657103cd968bad7f039b0e19">policing reform</a>. But he has also long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.Despite its horror, the Tulsa massacre has only recently entered the national discourse — and the presidential visit will put an even brighter spotlight on the event.“This is so important because we have to recognize what we have done if we are going to be otherwise,” said Eddie Glaude, chair of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. Biden’s visit, Glaude said, “has to be more than symbolic. To tell the truth is the precondition for reconciliation, and reconciliation is the basis for repair.”Biden, while visiting the Greenwood Cultural Center, is set to announce new measures to help narrow the wealth gap between Blacks and whites and reinvest in underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and small-business ownership.The White House said the administration will take steps to address disparities that result in Black-owned homes being appraised at tens of thousands of dollars less than comparable homes owned by whites as well as issue new federal rules to fight housing discrimination.The administration is also setting a goal of increasing the share of federal contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2026, funneling an estimated additional $100 billion to such businesses over the five-year period, according to the White House.Biden will also discuss ways his jobs plan — still a subject of negotiation with Congress — can help create jobs and build wealth in communities of color.Historians say the massacre in Tulsa began after a local newspaper drummed up a furor over a Black man accused of stepping on a white girl’s foot. When Black Tulsans showed up with guns to prevent the man’s lynching, white residents responded with overwhelming force.A grand jury investigation at the time concluded, without evidence, that unidentified agitators had given Tulsa’s African Americans both their firearms and what was described as their mistaken belief “in equal rights, social equality and their ability to demand the same.”Tensions persist 100 years later.Organizers called off a headline commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, saying no agreement could be reached over monetary payments to three survivors of the deadly attack. It highlights broader debates over reparations for racial injustice.Reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and for other racial discrimination have been debated in the U.S. since slavery ended in 1865. Now they are being discussed by colleges and universities with ties to slavery and by local governments looking to make cash payments to Black residents.But some of Tulsa’s Black residents question whether the $20 million spent to build the Greenwood Rising museum in an increasingly gentrified part of the city could have been better spent helping Black descendants of the massacre or residents of the city’s predominantly Black north side several miles away from Greenwood.Disagreements among Black leaders in Tulsa over the handling of commemorative events and millions of dollars in donations have led to two disparate groups planning separate slates of anniversary events.Biden, who was vice president to the nation’s first Black president and who chose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-first-black-woman-vp-asian-12ddda402cab20c5aafbd7737ac619c8">a Black woman</a>&nbsp;as his own vice president, backs a study of reparations, both in Tulsa and more broadly, but has not committed to supporting payments. He recently declared the need for America to confront its ugly past, saying, “We must acknowledge that there can be no realization of the American dream without grappling with the original sin of slavery and the centuries-long campaign of violence, fear and trauma wrought upon African American people in this country.”He issued a proclamation designating Monday as a “day of remembrance” for the massacre.Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump visited Tulsa last year under vastly different circumstances.After suspending his campaign rallies because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, Trump, a Republican, chose Tulsa as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-racial-injustice-tulsa-89a91180f11abadc70500f3222a694e5">the place to mark his return</a>. But his decision to schedule the rally on June 19, the holiday known as Juneteenth that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, was met with such fierce criticism that he postponed the event by a day. The rally was still marked by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/latin-america-virus-outbreak-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-1a59b4efe97f2249d414ae4f0b3c6495">protests outside and empty seats inside</a>&nbsp;an arena downtown.Trump arrived in Tulsa during a highly charged moment, days after he had ordered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-dc-wire-religion-politics-15be4e293cdebe72c10304fe0ec668e4">the forcible clearing of Lafayette Square</a>&nbsp;across from the White House, with federal officers pushing out those peacefully protesting Floyd’s death. Trump reflexively embraced law enforcement throughout his presidency and was frequently accused of using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-chicago-coronavirus-pandemic-5d12485d162d56185799b3ff88b1df7a">racist rhetoric</a>&nbsp;when painting apocalyptic — and inaccurate — scenes of American cities.

Pres. Biden will announce plan to narrow racial wealth gap

RICE COUNTY —Authorities continue working to determine the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in Lyons.&nbsp;

Just after 11:30p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a home in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive, according to Fire Chief&nbsp; Brad Reid.

Upon arrival crews were able to control the fire but not able to enter the home.&nbsp; Firefighers later located the only occupant, a man in his 60s, who died from injuries.

The victim lived at the location for approximately 10 to 12-years, according to Reid. In addition to the Kansas State Fire Marshal, officials from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also investigated, according to Reid.

Authorities have not released the victim's name and were working to contact family, according Reid.

RICE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of fatal home explosion and fire in Lyons.

Just after 11:30p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a home in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive, according to Assistant Fire Chief&nbsp; Brad Hunt.

Upon arrival crews were able to control the fire. The only occupant, a man in his 60s, died from injuries. Authorities have not released his name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622553801326.png" alt="The Kansas Fire Marshal's office is assisting with the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Fire Marshal's office is assisting with the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RICE COUNTY —Authorities continue working to determine the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in Lyons.&nbsp;Just after 11:30p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a home in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive, according to Fire Chief&nbsp; Brad Reid.Upon arrival crews were able to control the fire but not able to enter the home.&nbsp; Firefighers later located the only occupant, a man in his 60s, who died from injuries.The victim lived at the location for approximately 10 to 12-years, according to Reid. In addition to the Kansas State Fire Marshal, officials from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also investigated, according to Reid.Authorities have not released the victim's name and were working to contact family, according Reid.-------RICE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of fatal home explosion and fire in Lyons.Just after 11:30p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a home in the 300 block of Meadowlark Drive, according to Assistant Fire Chief&nbsp; Brad Hunt.Upon arrival crews were able to control the fire. The only occupant, a man in his 60s, died from injuries. Authorities have not released his name.

ATF helping investigate fatal Kan. home explosion, fire

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car theft and have made an arrest.

A vehicle stolen at Salina Regional Health Center Monday was found hours later in far north Salina.

Just after 9a.m. Monday, a Salina man told police that he parked his 1996 Chevrolet Lumina on the east side of Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, in the loading zone and left the vehicle running, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The man intended to be in the hospital only a few minutes and when he returned, the car was missing. The vehicle was valued at $2,500.

At 10 p.m. Monday, an officer located the vehicle parked at the ISIS Shriners building, 200 E. Diamond Drive. A witness reported that Jacob Denton, 34, of Salina, was seen driving the vehicle. Police reviewed video surveillance from a neighboring business and an officer was able to identify Denton exiting the vehicle.

Police located Denton in the area of the Red Carpet Inn, 222 E. Diamond Drive and arrested him on the following requested charges of Felony theft and Driving while a habitual violator, according Forrester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622553714454.png" alt="Jacob Denton has numerous previous convictions that include burglary, theft and forgery -photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Denton has numerous previous convictions that include burglary, theft and forgery -photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a car theft and have made an arrest.A vehicle stolen at Salina Regional Health Center Monday was found hours later in far north Salina.Just after 9a.m. Monday, a Salina man told police that he parked his 1996 Chevrolet Lumina on the east side of Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, in the loading zone and left the vehicle running, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The man intended to be in the hospital only a few minutes and when he returned, the car was missing. The vehicle was valued at $2,500.At 10 p.m. Monday, an officer located the vehicle parked at the ISIS Shriners building, 200 E. Diamond Drive. A witness reported that Jacob Denton, 34, of Salina, was seen driving the vehicle. Police reviewed video surveillance from a neighboring business and an officer was able to identify Denton exiting the vehicle.Police located Denton in the area of the Red Carpet Inn, 222 E. Diamond Drive and arrested him on the following requested charges of Felony theft and Driving while a habitual violator, according Forrester.

Video camera helps police catch Kan. felon who stole car

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Thousands of meat workers had no work for a second day on Tuesday after a cyberattack crippled the world’s largest meat processing company. A government minister said it might be days before production resumes.

JBS is also Australia’s largest meat and food processing company, with 47 facilities across the country including abattoirs, feedlots and meat processing sites. JBS employs around 11,000 people.

JBS USA said in a statement from Greeley, Colorado, on Monday that it was the target on Sunday of an “organized cybersecurity attack” affecting some of its servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems.

“The company’s backup servers were not affected and it is actively working with an Incident Response firm to restore its systems as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government and Australian Federal Police were working with JBS to resolve the problems and to pursue those responsible.

“Despite the fact that JBS accounts for around 20% of our processing production here in Australia, we’re not expecting there to be significant impacts on exports so long as this isn’t a protracted shutdown,” Littleproud said on Tuesday.

“We’re also working with JBS right here in Australia to make sure that we can get some limited capacity up and going in the next couple of days. JBS have been very proactive in that,” he said.

Littleproud said it was too early to say whether it was a ransomware attack or who might be responsible.

Australian staff learned of the attack when they were turned away from their workplaces on Monday.

JBS exports about 70% of what it produces in Australia. But Australia and New Zealand account for only 4% of the company’s global revenue.

Several consignments of cattle in Queensland state were cancelled at short notice and cattle trucks were turned around, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

“We had to send them up on Sunday afternoon and then we got the message in the morning that they’d have to cancel the train because the meat works was going to be shutting for an indefinite amount of time,” Queensland cattle rancher Colin Baker told ABC.

“We had a wasted day . . . because mustering the cattle, sorting them out and then trucking them up there and then we had to bring them home today and let them all go again,” Baker added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622549286839.png" alt="JBS Beef has 9 beef and 5 pork facilities in the U.S.. including their plant in Greeley Colorado -google image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>JBS Beef has 9 beef and 5 pork facilities in the U.S.. including their plant in Greeley Colorado -google image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Thousands of meat workers had no work for a second day on Tuesday after a cyberattack crippled the world’s largest meat processing company. A government minister said it might be days before production resumes.JBS is also Australia’s largest meat and food processing company, with 47 facilities across the country including abattoirs, feedlots and meat processing sites. JBS employs around 11,000 people.JBS USA said in a statement from Greeley, Colorado, on Monday that it was the target on Sunday of an “organized cybersecurity attack” affecting some of its servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems.“The company’s backup servers were not affected and it is actively working with an Incident Response firm to restore its systems as soon as possible,” the statement said.Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government and Australian Federal Police were working with JBS to resolve the problems and to pursue those responsible.“Despite the fact that JBS accounts for around 20% of our processing production here in Australia, we’re not expecting there to be significant impacts on exports so long as this isn’t a protracted shutdown,” Littleproud said on Tuesday.“We’re also working with JBS right here in Australia to make sure that we can get some limited capacity up and going in the next couple of days. JBS have been very proactive in that,” he said.Littleproud said it was too early to say whether it was a ransomware attack or who might be responsible.Australian staff learned of the attack when they were turned away from their workplaces on Monday.JBS exports about 70% of what it produces in Australia. But Australia and New Zealand account for only 4% of the company’s global revenue.Several consignments of cattle in Queensland state were cancelled at short notice and cattle trucks were turned around, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.“We had to send them up on Sunday afternoon and then we got the message in the morning that they’d have to cancel the train because the meat works was going to be shutting for an indefinite amount of time,” Queensland cattle rancher Colin Baker told ABC.“We had a wasted day . . . because mustering the cattle, sorting them out and then trucking them up there and then we had to bring them home today and let them all go again,” Baker added.

Cyberattack disrupts world's largest meat production company

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man was shot to death early Monday in Kansas City's Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood, police said.

Officers responded to the area following a report around 2 a.m. Monday of shots fired, police said in a news release. Arriving officers found a man in a vacant lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's name had not been released by midmorning Monday.

The death marked the city’s 63rd homicide of the year, compared with 76 homicides by May 31, 2020, according to data kept by the Kansas City Star.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man was shot to death early Monday in Kansas City's Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood, police said.Officers responded to the area following a report around 2 a.m. Monday of shots fired, police said in a news release. Arriving officers found a man in a vacant lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's name had not been released by midmorning Monday.The death marked the city’s 63rd homicide of the year, compared with 76 homicides by May 31, 2020, according to data kept by the Kansas City Star.

Police: Man shot to death in Kansas City neighborhood

LINDSBORG - The employees and residents of Bethany Village,&nbsp;321 N Chestnut Street in Lindsborg are mourning the death of their chaplain.

Phillip Hett, 39, of Lindsborg, was one of three people killed in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 135 Sunday afternoon. His daughter, Abigail Hett, 10, also was killed, as was the other driver, Christopher Lee Giroux, 24, of Salina. Hett's other daughter, Jillian Hett, 13, was transported to Wesley Medical Center.

In a post on the Bethany Village&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethanyVillageKS">Facebook page</a>, CEO Kris Erickson wrote:

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of our beloved Pastor Phillip Hett. He and his daughters were involved in a collision today, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Phil and Abigail did not survive the accident, and daughter Jillian is in Wesley Medical Center. Please keep their family in your prayers and hold one another close as we all come to terms with this tragedy.

Phil was truly a wonderful man and a servant of our Lord. I hope we can all honor him by supporting one another as he supported us through our hardest times. While there are no words for a time like this, let us all be grateful for having known this family, for the joy they brought into our lives, and for the caring they demonstrated toward others.

We will be working with area ministers in the coming days to help those in need and determine how we can continue to honor Phil’s work in our mission. May God’s Peace be with us all.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622499753464.jpeg" alt="Phil Hett and his daughters&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Phil Hett and his daughters&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LINDSBORG - The employees and residents of Bethany Village,&nbsp;321 N Chestnut Street in Lindsborg are mourning the death of their chaplain.Phillip Hett, 39, of Lindsborg, was one of three people killed in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 135 Sunday afternoon. His daughter, Abigail Hett, 10, also was killed, as was the other driver, Christopher Lee Giroux, 24, of Salina. Hett's other daughter, Jillian Hett, 13, was transported to Wesley Medical Center.In a post on the Bethany Village&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethanyVillageKS">Facebook page</a>, CEO Kris Erickson wrote:It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of our beloved Pastor Phillip Hett. He and his daughters were involved in a collision today, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Phil and Abigail did not survive the accident, and daughter Jillian is in Wesley Medical Center. Please keep their family in your prayers and hold one another close as we all come to terms with this tragedy.Phil was truly a wonderful man and a servant of our Lord. I hope we can all honor him by supporting one another as he supported us through our hardest times. While there are no words for a time like this, let us all be grateful for having known this family, for the joy they brought into our lives, and for the caring they demonstrated toward others.We will be working with area ministers in the coming days to help those in need and determine how we can continue to honor Phil’s work in our mission. May God’s Peace be with us all.

Kan. retirement community mourns loss of chaplain in crash

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2007 Chrysler Aspen for a traffic infraction near U.S. 75 Highway and Third Street in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Justin Wayne Nidiffer, 40, of Bonner Springs, on a Wyandotte County, Kansas warrant for possession of methamphetamine. 

Deputies also found illicit contraband in his possession, and he was booked into jail on requested charges that include possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622489445668.png" alt="Nidiffer photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Nidiffer photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple drug charges after a traffic stop.Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a 2007 Chrysler Aspen for a traffic infraction near U.S. 75 Highway and Third Street in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies arrested the passenger of the vehicle, Justin Wayne Nidiffer, 40, of Bonner Springs, on a Wyandotte County, Kansas warrant for possession of methamphetamine. Deputies also found illicit contraband in his possession, and he was booked into jail on requested charges that include possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kan. deputies find heroin, meth during traffic stop

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police say a man has been charged in the death of a neighbor who was hit by a stray bullet while standing in his house. 

James Edward Merritt Jr., is charged with first-degree murder in the March 31 death of 50-year-old Mark Winner. 

Police say Merritt was involved in a shooting outside Winner's home when a stray bullet went through a window and hit Winner, who died at the scene. 

Merrick fled but was arrested earlier this month in Topeka. The investigation into the shooting is continuing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622199148244.png" alt="Police at the investigation in March photo courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the investigation in March photo courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kansas, police say a man has been charged in the death of a neighbor who was hit by a stray bullet while standing in his house. James Edward Merritt Jr., is charged with first-degree murder in the March 31 death of 50-year-old Mark Winner. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622489072327.png" alt="Merritt is being held in Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Merritt is being held in Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police say Merritt was involved in a shooting outside Winner's home when a stray bullet went through a window and hit Winner, who died at the scene. Merrick fled but was arrested earlier this month in Topeka. The investigation into the shooting is continuing.

Kansas man charged after neighbor killed by stray bullet

NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) — Officials have found the body of a 12-year-old girl who was swept away in Shoal Creek last week at the Lime Kiln Park in Neosho.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the body of Kaylin Brown was found in the creek Sunday night by a recovery team.

The girl was swept away by rushing water last Wednesday after getting caught up in the hydraulic current below the dam. Rescue crews had to suspend the search on Thursday and Friday because of severe storms and rising water.

A man who had tried to rescue Kaylin, 34-year-old Trevor Hicks, was pulled from the water by rescue crews on Wednesday. His medical condition was not immediately known Monday.

NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) — Search teams were looking for a 12-year-old girl who was swept away in a strong creek in Shoal Creek at Lime Kiln Park near Neosho, authorities said.

Officials were called to the park Wednesday afternoon for a water rescue. They pulled Trevor Hicks, 34, from the water, Neosho police Chief Jason Baird said in a news release.

Hicks went under while trying to rescue Kaylin Brown, who had been pulled into water by a strong current, Baird said.

Searchers looked for Kaylin until 9 p.m. Wednesday and resumed the search Thursday morning.

Hicks was unresponsive when he was rescued and remained in critical condition, Baird said.&nbsp; The creek is 90 minutes east of Coffeyville, Kansas

NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) — Officials have found the body of a 12-year-old girl who was swept away in Shoal Creek last week at the Lime Kiln Park in Neosho.The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the body of Kaylin Brown was found in the creek Sunday night by a recovery team.The girl was swept away by rushing water last Wednesday after getting caught up in the hydraulic current below the dam. Rescue crews had to suspend the search on Thursday and Friday because of severe storms and rising water.A man who had tried to rescue Kaylin, 34-year-old Trevor Hicks, was pulled from the water by rescue crews on Wednesday. His medical condition was not immediately known Monday.--------NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) — Search teams were looking for a 12-year-old girl who was swept away in a strong creek in Shoal Creek at Lime Kiln Park near Neosho, authorities said.Officials were called to the park Wednesday afternoon for a water rescue. They pulled Trevor Hicks, 34, from the water, Neosho police Chief Jason Baird said in a news release.Hicks went under while trying to rescue Kaylin Brown, who had been pulled into water by a strong current, Baird said.Searchers looked for Kaylin until 9 p.m. Wednesday and resumed the search Thursday morning.Hicks was unresponsive when he was rescued and remained in critical condition, Baird said.&nbsp; The creek is 90 minutes east of Coffeyville, Kansas

Officials find body of 12-year-old girl swept away in creek

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Asking dogs to follow their noses won't work anymore in states that have legalized marijuana.

As&nbsp;Virginia&nbsp;prepares to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana on July 1, drug-sniffing police dogs from around the state are being forced into early retirement, following a trend in other states where legalization has led to K-9s being put out to pasture earlier than planned.

In Virginia, the rush to take marijuana-detecting dogs out of service began even before lawmakers voted last month to accelerate the timetable for legalization. A separate law that went into effect in March prohibits police from stopping or searching anyone based solely on the odor of marijuana.

Virginia state police are retiring 13 K-9s, while many smaller police departments and sheriff’s offices are retiring one or two dogs. Most are in the process of purchasing and training new dogs to detect only illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Some departments are unable to afford up to $15,000 to buy and train a new dog, so they are disbanding their K-9 units.

The dogs trained on multiple drugs alert in the same way for all of them, so it's impossible to tell whether they are indicating the presence of marijuana or an illicit drug. The dogs also cannot distinguish between a small, legal amount of marijuana or a larger, still-illegal amount of the drug. For police, that means they can no longer be used to establish probable cause for a search.

“We won't use our dogs trained in marijuana because that could be a defense an attorney would raise for a client, to say, 'Which odor did the K-9 alert on — was it marijuana or was it an illegal drug?" said Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller.

Using a dog that has been trained to detect all drugs except marijuana can help "guarantee he didn’t hit on marijuana, that he found heroin or something else,” Miller said.

Miller's office retired one dog and is now using a second dog for tracking and apprehension duties only, not for drug detection. His office also bought a new dog not trained on the scent of marijuana; that dog will be used to detect other drugs. Miller said he'd like to purchase a second drug-sniffing dog, but isn't sure when he will find the money in his budget.

Other states that legalized marijuana earlier have had to make similar adjustments.

“The trend is everywhere,” said Don Slavik, executive director of the United States Police Canine Association.

“Once you train a behavior in a dog, that never goes away. They don't want any mistakes, so that is why they want to bring in new dogs,” he said.

A 2017 ruling from the&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;Court of Appeals solidified concerns that using marijuana-trained dogs in places where the drug is legal may not withstand legal challenges.

Kilo, a Moffat County Sheriff's Office dog trained on multiple drugs, alerted on a man's truck during a 2015 traffic stop. Officers found a methamphetamine pipe containing white residue. The court found that Kilo's alert was not a reliable indicator of illegal activity because the dog could not differentiate between marijuana and an illegal drug. The court overturned the man's drug possession conviction, finding that police did not have legal grounds to search his truck. The ruling was later upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court.

In&nbsp;Massachusetts, where recreational marijuana became legal in 2016, the Quincy Police Department shifted two dogs from drug detection to patrol work, then retired them about 18 months later.

Lt. Bob Gillan, the department's K-9 Unit Supervisor, said drug traffickers quickly figured out how to raise doubt about the legality of a search by a dog trained to detect marijuana.

“Usually, when they're delivering their illegal drugs, they will always have marijuana burning in the car. Any defense attorney worth his or her salt will say, ‘Well, your dog hit on a legal substance,’ (not the illegal drugs),” he said.

Sgt. Scott Amos, the canine training coordinator for Virginia State Police, said that with the July 1 legalization date approaching, police are busy training new dogs to detect MDMA, also known as ecstasy; cocaine, heroine and methamphetamines, while also getting 13 dogs ready for retirement. Apollo, Aries, Bandit, Blaze, Jax, Kane, Mater, Nina, Reno, Sarge, Thunder, Zeus and Zoey are being adopted by their handlers, Amos said.

Cumberland County Sheriff Darrell Hodges said his office recently had to retire its drug-detecting K-9, a Belgian Malinois named Mambo. He said his 17-person department doesn't have the money to purchase and train a new dog.

“You work with them day in and day out, and they become part of you, and to just take it away is kind of tough,” he said.

Hodges said all turned out well for Mambo, who was adopted by his handler.

“The dog is actually living a wonderful life,'" he said. “He has his own bedroom in a house and is getting spoiled rotten.”

By DENISE LAVOIE, Associated PressRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Asking dogs to follow their noses won't work anymore in states that have legalized marijuana.As&nbsp;Virginia&nbsp;prepares to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana on July 1, drug-sniffing police dogs from around the state are being forced into early retirement, following a trend in other states where legalization has led to K-9s being put out to pasture earlier than planned.In Virginia, the rush to take marijuana-detecting dogs out of service began even before lawmakers voted last month to accelerate the timetable for legalization. A separate law that went into effect in March prohibits police from stopping or searching anyone based solely on the odor of marijuana.Virginia state police are retiring 13 K-9s, while many smaller police departments and sheriff’s offices are retiring one or two dogs. Most are in the process of purchasing and training new dogs to detect only illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Some departments are unable to afford up to $15,000 to buy and train a new dog, so they are disbanding their K-9 units.The dogs trained on multiple drugs alert in the same way for all of them, so it's impossible to tell whether they are indicating the presence of marijuana or an illicit drug. The dogs also cannot distinguish between a small, legal amount of marijuana or a larger, still-illegal amount of the drug. For police, that means they can no longer be used to establish probable cause for a search.“We won't use our dogs trained in marijuana because that could be a defense an attorney would raise for a client, to say, 'Which odor did the K-9 alert on — was it marijuana or was it an illegal drug?" said Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller.Using a dog that has been trained to detect all drugs except marijuana can help "guarantee he didn’t hit on marijuana, that he found heroin or something else,” Miller said.Miller's office retired one dog and is now using a second dog for tracking and apprehension duties only, not for drug detection. His office also bought a new dog not trained on the scent of marijuana; that dog will be used to detect other drugs. Miller said he'd like to purchase a second drug-sniffing dog, but isn't sure when he will find the money in his budget.Other states that legalized marijuana earlier have had to make similar adjustments.“The trend is everywhere,” said Don Slavik, executive director of the United States Police Canine Association.“Once you train a behavior in a dog, that never goes away. They don't want any mistakes, so that is why they want to bring in new dogs,” he said.A 2017 ruling from the&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;Court of Appeals solidified concerns that using marijuana-trained dogs in places where the drug is legal may not withstand legal challenges.Kilo, a Moffat County Sheriff's Office dog trained on multiple drugs, alerted on a man's truck during a 2015 traffic stop. Officers found a methamphetamine pipe containing white residue. The court found that Kilo's alert was not a reliable indicator of illegal activity because the dog could not differentiate between marijuana and an illegal drug. The court overturned the man's drug possession conviction, finding that police did not have legal grounds to search his truck. The ruling was later upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court.In&nbsp;Massachusetts, where recreational marijuana became legal in 2016, the Quincy Police Department shifted two dogs from drug detection to patrol work, then retired them about 18 months later.Lt. Bob Gillan, the department's K-9 Unit Supervisor, said drug traffickers quickly figured out how to raise doubt about the legality of a search by a dog trained to detect marijuana.“Usually, when they're delivering their illegal drugs, they will always have marijuana burning in the car. Any defense attorney worth his or her salt will say, ‘Well, your dog hit on a legal substance,’ (not the illegal drugs),” he said.Sgt. Scott Amos, the canine training coordinator for Virginia State Police, said that with the July 1 legalization date approaching, police are busy training new dogs to detect MDMA, also known as ecstasy; cocaine, heroine and methamphetamines, while also getting 13 dogs ready for retirement. Apollo, Aries, Bandit, Blaze, Jax, Kane, Mater, Nina, Reno, Sarge, Thunder, Zeus and Zoey are being adopted by their handlers, Amos said.Cumberland County Sheriff Darrell Hodges said his office recently had to retire its drug-detecting K-9, a Belgian Malinois named Mambo. He said his 17-person department doesn't have the money to purchase and train a new dog.“You work with them day in and day out, and they become part of you, and to just take it away is kind of tough,” he said.Hodges said all turned out well for Mambo, who was adopted by his handler.“The dog is actually living a wonderful life,'" he said. “He has his own bedroom in a house and is getting spoiled rotten.”

Marijuana legalization prompting police K-9 retirements

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall told Gold Star family members that he knew it took a lot of courage to attend the Memorial Day ceremony on Fort Riley Monday. Those are immediate family members of a fallen service member who has died while serving in a time of conflict.&nbsp;

Marshall told the families that they inspire him and many others. He referred to the mental health crisis that the nation is suffering from and the mental challenges that the military is suffering.&nbsp; I'm as concerned today about the mental health of the military as their physical health. " I think it's people like you who have the courage to keep telling your story, and sharing your story&nbsp; is what's going to heal this nation and heal those folks in so much need right now as well."

Marshall encouraged the Gold Star family associations that are working, "and just telling folks it's okay to say I'm depressed, I'm down. It's okay to reach out to other people, and just want to encourage all of our Soldiers to be reaching out to that teammate beside them and noticing when things aren't going the right direction."

Marshall spoke during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622483542535.png" alt="Senator Marshall photo courtesy Fort Riley" />
 <figcaption>Senator Marshall photo courtesy Fort Riley</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall told Gold Star family members that he knew it took a lot of courage to attend the Memorial Day ceremony on Fort Riley Monday. Those are immediate family members of a fallen service member who has died while serving in a time of conflict.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFortRiley%2Fvideos%2F308760214233550%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" 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>Marshall told the families that they inspire him and many others. He referred to the mental health crisis that the nation is suffering from and the mental challenges that the military is suffering.&nbsp; I'm as concerned today about the mental health of the military as their physical health. " I think it's people like you who have the courage to keep telling your story, and sharing your story&nbsp; is what's going to heal this nation and heal those folks in so much need right now as well."Marshall encouraged the Gold Star family associations that are working, "and just telling folks it's okay to say I'm depressed, I'm down. It's okay to reach out to other people, and just want to encourage all of our Soldiers to be reaching out to that teammate beside them and noticing when things aren't going the right direction."Marshall spoke during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery.

🎥 Senator Marshall speaks to Gold Star families on Memorial Day

The Kansas State Fair warns of a scam. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasstatefair/">Kansas State Fair</a> Facebook page:

The Kansas State Fair warns of a scam. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasstatefair/">Kansas State Fair</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkansasstatefair%2Fposts%2F10158555845079620&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="627" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Kansas State Fair warns of a prize scam

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Remains turned over to the United States by North Korea have been identified as those of a soldier from Oklahoma who disappeared during the Korean War. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Thursday that the remains are those of Army Pfc. Bill Hobbs of South Coffeyville. Hobbs was 20 when he was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, when his unit was attacked near the Chosin River in North Korea. 

The remains are among 55 boxes of remains returned in June 2018 and identified using methods like DNA analysis. Burial is scheduled for June 26 in Coffeyville, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622148723979.png" alt="Army Pfc. Bill Hobbs photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Army Pfc. Bill Hobbs photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Remains turned over to the United States by North Korea have been identified as those of a soldier from Oklahoma who disappeared during the Korean War. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Thursday that the remains are those of Army Pfc. Bill Hobbs of South Coffeyville. Hobbs was 20 when he was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, when his unit was attacked near the Chosin River in North Korea. The remains are among 55 boxes of remains returned in June 2018 and identified using methods like DNA analysis. Burial is scheduled for June 26 in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Remains of soldier found in Korea will be buried in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting

Just after 9p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a shooting at the apartment complex in the 2500 block of West 31st&nbsp;Street South in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.]

At the scene&nbsp; officers located a 25-year-old man who had been shot.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury.

The victim reported meeting two suspects he was familiar with at the apartments regarding his stolen car.&nbsp; While meeting with them one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and shot him.&nbsp; The suspects then fled.

This was not a random incident and detectives continue working to determine the circumstances of what occurred.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shootingJust after 9p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a shooting at the apartment complex in the 2500 block of West 31st&nbsp;Street South in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.]At the scene&nbsp; officers located a 25-year-old man who had been shot.&nbsp; EMS transported him to an area hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury.The victim reported meeting two suspects he was familiar with at the apartments regarding his stolen car.&nbsp; While meeting with them one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and shot him.&nbsp; The suspects then fled.This was not a random incident and detectives continue working to determine the circumstances of what occurred.&nbsp;