Alberta Adelle Geil, 87, of Almena, KS passed away March 21, 2024 at the Norton County Hospital. She was born October 5, 1936 in Long Island, Kansas to Cyrus A. and Cleta Mae (Cox) Delimont.

Alberta grew up in Long Island and then moved to Norton where she graduated from Norton Community High School. After high school, she attended nursing school and received her LPN license. Alberta married Hubert C. Geil on June 4, 1960 in Norton. Alberta worked hard raising her sons and taking care of her home. She was meticulous about her lawn and garden. Alberta was a member of the Almena United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and Norton Christian Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed oil painting and loved cooking, especially baking cookies. Most of all, she loved spending time with her sons and grandchildren. She was very proud when she became a great grandmother.

Alberta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hubert; son, Sidney Geil and many brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, Johnny (Stacy) Geil of Garden City, KS; grandchildren: Aaron (Jessica) Geil of Lakewood, CO, Abbott (Ariel) Geil of Ingalls, KS, and Carissa Geil of Mesa, AZ; great grandson, Holden Geil, daughter-in-law, Sheila Piepho and numerous family and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Norton Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Almena, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton Christian Church and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumergobber.com

Alberta Adelle Geil, 87, of Almena, KS passed away March 21, 2024 at the Norton County Hospital. She was born October 5, 1936 in Long Island, Kansas to Cyrus A. and Cleta Mae (Cox) Delimont.Alberta grew up in Long Island and then moved to Norton where she graduated from Norton Community High School. After high school, she attended nursing school and received her LPN license. Alberta married Hubert C. Geil on June 4, 1960 in Norton. Alberta worked hard raising her sons and taking care of her home. She was meticulous about her lawn and garden. Alberta was a member of the Almena United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and Norton Christian Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed oil painting and loved cooking, especially baking cookies. Most of all, she loved spending time with her sons and grandchildren. She was very proud when she became a great grandmother.Alberta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hubert; son, Sidney Geil and many brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, Johnny (Stacy) Geil of Garden City, KS; grandchildren: Aaron (Jessica) Geil of Lakewood, CO, Abbott (Ariel) Geil of Ingalls, KS, and Carissa Geil of Mesa, AZ; great grandson, Holden Geil, daughter-in-law, Sheila Piepho and numerous family and friends.Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Norton Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Almena, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton Christian Church and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumergobber.com

Alberta Adelle Geil

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department said it has discovered a calculation error in hundreds of thousands of student financial aid applications sent to colleges this month and will need to reprocess them — a blunder that follows a series of others and threatens&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-student-financial-aid-college-b8d126283a53598c24b9567ed97d9138">further delays to this year's college applications</a>.

A vendor working for the federal government incorrectly calculated a financial aid formula for more than 200,000 students, the department said Friday. The information was sent to colleges to help them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-admissions">prepare financial aid packages</a>&nbsp;but now needs to be recalculated — even as the department works through a backlog of more than 4 million other financial aid applications.

A statement from the Education Department says the problem won't affect 1.3 million applications that were processed correctly and distributed to colleges this month. Officials said they have fixed the error and it “will not affect future records."

It's unlikely that many students, if any, received financial aid offers based on the incorrect information since the department only began sending records in the last two weeks. Once colleges receive that information, it usually takes several weeks to assemble financial aid packages.

Students applying for college have been left in limbo this year as they await the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-financial-aid-college-education-faf16cf14fb69a20e373d3ada1b63dca">overhaul</a>&nbsp;of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form, known as FAFSA, is used to determine eligibility for federal Pell Grants, and colleges and states use it to award their own financial aid to students.

The update was meant to simplify the form but took months longer than expected. It gives colleges less time to make financial aid offers to students, and it gives students less time to decide where to enroll.

“This is another unforced error that will likely cause more processing delays for students,” said Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

After so many delays, he added, “Every error adds up and will be felt acutely by every student who is counting on need-based financial aid to make their postsecondary dreams a reality.”

The latest misstep has to do with the Student Aid Index, a new formula used to determine students' level of financial need after they submit the FAFSA application. For some students, the department forgot to factor in certain financial assets including investments, savings and total cash, according to an agency memo sent to colleges on Friday.

It resulted in a lower Student Aid Index for those students — indicating they have more financial need than they do in reality.

While the department fixes those students' records, it's encouraging colleges to make their own calculations and craft “a tentative aid package."

Draeger pushed against that idea, saying colleges can only work with “valid and correct data.”

“It is not feasible or realistic to send out incorrect FAFSA data and ask thousands of schools to make real-time calculations and adjustments to the federal formula,” he said.

Advocates fear that the chaos of this year’s process could deter students from going to college at all, especially those for whom finances are a key part of the decision.

Senate Republicans are requesting a hearing with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to discuss their “serious concerns” about the FAFSA rollout.

The notoriously time-consuming FAFSA form was targeted for an overhaul in 2020 through bipartisan legislation in Congress. The bill promised to simplify the form, going from 100 questions to fewer than 40, and it also changed the underlying formula for student aid, promising to expand it to more low-income students.

But the update has been marred by delays and technical glitches.

The form is typically available to fill out in October, but the Education Department didn’t have it ready until late December. Even then, the agency wasn’t ready to begin processing the forms and sending them to states and colleges, which only started this month.

Along the way, the department has scrambled to fix numerous bugs. Early on, the process failed to account for inflation properly. Another glitch blocked parents from filling out the form if they did not have a Social Security number. That meant many students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents but whose parents are not could not apply.

The department says those problems have been fixed, and it's now rushing to process millions of student applications and send them to colleges and states. The agency says it has processed 1.5 million applications out of about 6 million received so far.

The department “will continue delivering large volumes” of records in the coming weeks, its statement said. "We remain focused on helping students and families through this process and supporting colleges produce aid offers as quickly as possible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700516528497.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Education Department said it has discovered a calculation error in hundreds of thousands of student financial aid applications sent to colleges this month and will need to reprocess them — a blunder that follows a series of others and threatens&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-student-financial-aid-college-b8d126283a53598c24b9567ed97d9138">further delays to this year's college applications</a>.A vendor working for the federal government incorrectly calculated a financial aid formula for more than 200,000 students, the department said Friday. The information was sent to colleges to help them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-admissions">prepare financial aid packages</a>&nbsp;but now needs to be recalculated — even as the department works through a backlog of more than 4 million other financial aid applications.A statement from the Education Department says the problem won't affect 1.3 million applications that were processed correctly and distributed to colleges this month. Officials said they have fixed the error and it “will not affect future records."It's unlikely that many students, if any, received financial aid offers based on the incorrect information since the department only began sending records in the last two weeks. Once colleges receive that information, it usually takes several weeks to assemble financial aid packages.Students applying for college have been left in limbo this year as they await the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-financial-aid-college-education-faf16cf14fb69a20e373d3ada1b63dca">overhaul</a>&nbsp;of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form, known as FAFSA, is used to determine eligibility for federal Pell Grants, and colleges and states use it to award their own financial aid to students.The update was meant to simplify the form but took months longer than expected. It gives colleges less time to make financial aid offers to students, and it gives students less time to decide where to enroll.“This is another unforced error that will likely cause more processing delays for students,” said Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.After so many delays, he added, “Every error adds up and will be felt acutely by every student who is counting on need-based financial aid to make their postsecondary dreams a reality.”The latest misstep has to do with the Student Aid Index, a new formula used to determine students' level of financial need after they submit the FAFSA application. For some students, the department forgot to factor in certain financial assets including investments, savings and total cash, according to an agency memo sent to colleges on Friday.It resulted in a lower Student Aid Index for those students — indicating they have more financial need than they do in reality.While the department fixes those students' records, it's encouraging colleges to make their own calculations and craft “a tentative aid package."Draeger pushed against that idea, saying colleges can only work with “valid and correct data.”“It is not feasible or realistic to send out incorrect FAFSA data and ask thousands of schools to make real-time calculations and adjustments to the federal formula,” he said.Advocates fear that the chaos of this year’s process could deter students from going to college at all, especially those for whom finances are a key part of the decision.Senate Republicans are requesting a hearing with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to discuss their “serious concerns” about the FAFSA rollout.The notoriously time-consuming FAFSA form was targeted for an overhaul in 2020 through bipartisan legislation in Congress. The bill promised to simplify the form, going from 100 questions to fewer than 40, and it also changed the underlying formula for student aid, promising to expand it to more low-income students.But the update has been marred by delays and technical glitches.The form is typically available to fill out in October, but the Education Department didn’t have it ready until late December. Even then, the agency wasn’t ready to begin processing the forms and sending them to states and colleges, which only started this month.Along the way, the department has scrambled to fix numerous bugs. Early on, the process failed to account for inflation properly. Another glitch blocked parents from filling out the form if they did not have a Social Security number. That meant many students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents but whose parents are not could not apply.The department says those problems have been fixed, and it's now rushing to process millions of student applications and send them to colleges and states. The agency says it has processed 1.5 million applications out of about 6 million received so far.The department “will continue delivering large volumes” of records in the coming weeks, its statement said. "We remain focused on helping students and families through this process and supporting colleges produce aid offers as quickly as possible.”___

Thousands of financial aid applications need to be fixed after latest calculation error

Mary Jo Larson, 74, passed away on March 18, 2024 in Oberlin, KS. She was born on October 26, 1949 to Thomas and Donna (McClary) Eskew in McCook, NE.

Jo went to elementary school and middle school in Olathe, CO. The family then moved back to Oberlin where she attended Decatur Community High School. She loved to travel and met many people and saw many places before settling back in Oberlin. Jo married Wayne E. Larson on March 15, 1985 in Oberlin, KS.

Jo was an active member of the Oberlin EMS for 30 years, which she was very proud of. She also worked in the healthcare field as a CNA and later as a housekeeper. She explored many other employment opportunities from road construction, grocery and convenience store clerk, pizza maker, and bartender. She always had to be busy. Before her health declined she loved to spend time at the lake, read, play the lottery, crossword puzzles, shopping, but most of all spending time with her family.

Jo is survived by her husband of 39 years, Wayne E. Larson of Oberlin, KS; daughter: Julie (Doyle) Richardson of McCook, NE; son’s: David (Belinda) Larson of Brooklet, GA, Aaron (Patty) Larson of Hays, KS, and Jeff (Tichelle) Larson of Whitney, TX; sister: Beverly Reiter of Oberlin, KS; brothers: Bruce (Rose) Eskew of Buffalo, KS, Robert (Barb) Eskew of WaKeeney, KS, and David Eskew of Oberlin, KS; grandchildren: Tyler, Clay, Christopher, Timothy, Emily, Blake, Ashtyn, Mikaela, Kyler, Brycen, and Riyah; great grandchildren: Zya, Ryatt, Aisling, Elara, and Tethys; sisters-in-law: Joan Larue of Oberlin, KS Ona Malleck of Indianola, NE, Lelah Larson of Sante Fe, NM, Nikki Eskew of Glade OR, Jeanette McConnell of Strasburg, CO, and Gloria Godtel of Roca, NE. She is also by several nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. Jo was preceded by her parents, and brother, Dennis Eskew and mother-in-law, Tina Wimer.

A memorial service will be held on March 28, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Oberlin, KS. Burial in Oberlin Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made out to the Oberlin Public Library, in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749. Condolences can be left at www.plumergobber.com.

Mary Jo Larson, 74, passed away on March 18, 2024 in Oberlin, KS. She was born on October 26, 1949 to Thomas and Donna (McClary) Eskew in McCook, NE.Jo went to elementary school and middle school in Olathe, CO. The family then moved back to Oberlin where she attended Decatur Community High School. She loved to travel and met many people and saw many places before settling back in Oberlin. Jo married Wayne E. Larson on March 15, 1985 in Oberlin, KS.Jo was an active member of the Oberlin EMS for 30 years, which she was very proud of. She also worked in the healthcare field as a CNA and later as a housekeeper. She explored many other employment opportunities from road construction, grocery and convenience store clerk, pizza maker, and bartender. She always had to be busy. Before her health declined she loved to spend time at the lake, read, play the lottery, crossword puzzles, shopping, but most of all spending time with her family.Jo is survived by her husband of 39 years, Wayne E. Larson of Oberlin, KS; daughter: Julie (Doyle) Richardson of McCook, NE; son’s: David (Belinda) Larson of Brooklet, GA, Aaron (Patty) Larson of Hays, KS, and Jeff (Tichelle) Larson of Whitney, TX; sister: Beverly Reiter of Oberlin, KS; brothers: Bruce (Rose) Eskew of Buffalo, KS, Robert (Barb) Eskew of WaKeeney, KS, and David Eskew of Oberlin, KS; grandchildren: Tyler, Clay, Christopher, Timothy, Emily, Blake, Ashtyn, Mikaela, Kyler, Brycen, and Riyah; great grandchildren: Zya, Ryatt, Aisling, Elara, and Tethys; sisters-in-law: Joan Larue of Oberlin, KS Ona Malleck of Indianola, NE, Lelah Larson of Sante Fe, NM, Nikki Eskew of Glade OR, Jeanette McConnell of Strasburg, CO, and Gloria Godtel of Roca, NE. She is also by several nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. Jo was preceded by her parents, and brother, Dennis Eskew and mother-in-law, Tina Wimer.A memorial service will be held on March 28, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Oberlin, KS. Burial in Oberlin Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made out to the Oberlin Public Library, in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749. Condolences can be left at www.plumergobber.com.

Mary Jo Larson

<a>Work is scheduled to begin on March 27 on a project to improve the U.S. 183 bypass and I-70 interchange at Exit 157 near Hays.</a>

The Kansas Department of Transportation project includes construction of a new overpass, reconfiguration of the existing interchange ramps, intersection improvements and drainage structure extensions.

The new overpass bridge will be built adjacent to the current bridge and constructed one half at a time. Traffic will continue to use the existing bridge while the first half of the new structure is built. Upon completion of the first half, traffic will be routed on to the new structure while the old bridge is removed and the second half of the new bridge is constructed.

Fairground Road will also be reconstructed on a new alignment, which will move its intersection with the U.S. 183 bypass directly across from Frontier Road. U.S. 183 will be widened to accommodate a left-turn lane on to Fairground Road. Turning lanes will also be added for traffic accessing westbound and eastbound I-70. A stoplight will be placed on the south end of the interchange as well.

<a>Both directions of I-70 carrying traffic under the bridge construction will be reduced to one lane with a decreased speed limit and 16-foot width restriction. Information on additional traffic impacts on I-70 and the U.S. 183 bypass will be provided as the project progresses.</a>

KDOT expects project work to be fully completed in October 2025, conditions permitting.

The project is part of KDOT’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, known as IKE. Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. of Wichita is the primary contractor with a total contract cost of $20.8 million.

For more information, contact KDOT Area Construction Engineer Mitchel Johnson at 785-261-6135 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mitchel.johnson@ks.gov">mitchel.johnson@ks.gov</a>.

KDOT<a>Work is scheduled to begin on March 27 on a project to improve the U.S. 183 bypass and I-70 interchange at Exit 157 near Hays.</a>The Kansas Department of Transportation project includes construction of a new overpass, reconfiguration of the existing interchange ramps, intersection improvements and drainage structure extensions.The new overpass bridge will be built adjacent to the current bridge and constructed one half at a time. Traffic will continue to use the existing bridge while the first half of the new structure is built. Upon completion of the first half, traffic will be routed on to the new structure while the old bridge is removed and the second half of the new bridge is constructed.Fairground Road will also be reconstructed on a new alignment, which will move its intersection with the U.S. 183 bypass directly across from Frontier Road. U.S. 183 will be widened to accommodate a left-turn lane on to Fairground Road. Turning lanes will also be added for traffic accessing westbound and eastbound I-70. A stoplight will be placed on the south end of the interchange as well.<a>Both directions of I-70 carrying traffic under the bridge construction will be reduced to one lane with a decreased speed limit and 16-foot width restriction. Information on additional traffic impacts on I-70 and the U.S. 183 bypass will be provided as the project progresses.</a>KDOT expects project work to be fully completed in October 2025, conditions permitting.The project is part of KDOT’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, known as IKE. Wildcat Construction Co. Inc. of Wichita is the primary contractor with a total contract cost of $20.8 million.For more information, contact KDOT Area Construction Engineer Mitchel Johnson at 785-261-6135 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mitchel.johnson@ks.gov">mitchel.johnson@ks.gov</a>.

Construction to start on U.S. 183 bypass/I-70 interchange project in Hays

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Friday vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-malnutrition-famine-children-dying-israel-palestinians-2f938b1a82d7822c7da67cc162da1a37">hungry Palestinians</a>.

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 members in favor, three against and one abstention.

Before the vote, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicized” reasons.

The resolution declared that a cease-fire is “imperative."

The draft that was put to a vote made no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">in the previous draft</a>. But it unequivocally supported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/qatar-government-israel-government-middle-east-israel-international-agreements-05de20f151f646e492fdd0dda6db0159">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;had already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a cease-fire.

Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians, and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it didn’t reflect global calls for a cease-fire.

The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members</a>&nbsp;with one abstention on Feb. 20.

A day earlier, the U.S. circulated a rival resolution, which went through major changes during negotiations before Friday's vote. It initially would have supported a temporary cease-fire linked to the release of all hostages, and the previous draft would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.

The vote took place as Blinken, America’s top diplomat, is on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-egypt-israel-gaza-hamas-blinken-7e4d53b15a6c86979faaeae035564e58">sixth urgent mission to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;since the Israel-Hamas war, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release, as well as post-war scenarios.

Nate Evans, the spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said the resolution was "an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;to accept the deal on the table.”

Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-muslims-fasting-prayer-photos-83ead097a3b0921f387bb70ad2b6b3fc">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>&nbsp;that began March 10 to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”

It also demands “the immediate and unconditional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">release of all hostages</a>&nbsp;” and emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

In Gaza, the Health Ministry raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.

The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.

The U.S. draft expressed “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.”

It emphasized “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-06-2024-3e4bc85bc4e184312763fc331fbffedb">Israel faces mounting pressure</a>&nbsp;from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings, and come to a cease-fire agreement. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">military offensive to the southern city of Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. Netanyahu says it's a Hamas stronghold.

The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council emphasized its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”

For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-festival-survivors-5b5dc4eb87be8d7b51dceff1c9f906fd">Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023</a>, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called for a vote Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://whyy.org/articles/israel-hamas-war-gaza-famine-said-to-be-imminent/">hungry Palestinians</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">In the previous draft</a>, the Security Council did not make such a declaration. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.

The new draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press “determines” — which is a council order — “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire,” with no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7. But “toward that end” it would unequivocally support&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/blinken-huddles-on-gaza-with-arab-diplomats-in-cairo-as-us-israel-relations-sour/">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”

After the 15 Security Council members met behind closed doors Thursday afternoon to discuss Gaza, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the U.S. draft would be adopted: “I am optimistic. That’s why it took us so long, because we worked so hard.”

Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pressing for an immediate cease-fire and if the resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire “we will, of course, support it.”

But he questioned the wording of the U.S. draft, asking: “What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but … it’s only an imperative, not $100.”

“So, somebody’s fooling around, I think, (with the) international community,” Polyansky said. “We are not satisfied with anything that doesn’t call for immediate cease-fire. I think everybody is not satisfied with this. Even Secretary Blinken is not satisfied.”

Blinken is on his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release as well as post-war scenarios.

Nate Evans, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, issued a statement while the Security Council was holding closed Gaza consultations announcing that the U.S. would bring the resolution to a vote Friday morning.

“This resolution is an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table,” Evans said.

Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution that would demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>, which began March 10, to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”

It also would demand “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and emphasize the urgent need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-17-2024-ab0b75fdd8f0ab51c5e38b1870afecd8">protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid</a>&nbsp;throughout the Gaza Strip.

That draft had not yet been put in “blue,” which is the final form required for a vote.

France’s U.N. ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, told reporters that “there is a desire to take action, no one want to procrastinate, so we hope that a decision can be made by tomorrow evening.”

“We need a cease-fire right now,” he said. “There are two options: Either the U.S. text is adopted and then we’ll move to the next phase of this crisis management, or the text is not adopted and then the draft of the elected members will come to the table and put to the vote, and I hope it will be adopted.”

The Health Ministry in Gaza raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage as well as the remains of 30 others.

The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.

The U.S. draft would express “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.” It would emphasize “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”

Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings and for a cease-fire. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, which he says is a Hamas stronghold. Some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah.

The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council would emphasize its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”

For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697659524198.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;U.S. United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield- image CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;U.S. United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield- image CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Friday vetoed a U.S.-sponsored U.N. resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in Gaza to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-malnutrition-famine-children-dying-israel-palestinians-2f938b1a82d7822c7da67cc162da1a37">hungry Palestinians</a>.The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 11 members in favor, three against and one abstention.Before the vote, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he questioned the language in the resolution and accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “misleading the international community” for “politicized” reasons.The resolution declared that a cease-fire is “imperative."The draft that was put to a vote made no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">in the previous draft</a>. But it unequivocally supported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/qatar-government-israel-government-middle-east-israel-international-agreements-05de20f151f646e492fdd0dda6db0159">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;had already adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none calling for a cease-fire.Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, protection of civilians, and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it didn’t reflect global calls for a cease-fire.The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure supported by 13 council members</a>&nbsp;with one abstention on Feb. 20.A day earlier, the U.S. circulated a rival resolution, which went through major changes during negotiations before Friday's vote. It initially would have supported a temporary cease-fire linked to the release of all hostages, and the previous draft would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.The vote took place as Blinken, America’s top diplomat, is on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-egypt-israel-gaza-hamas-blinken-7e4d53b15a6c86979faaeae035564e58">sixth urgent mission to the Middle East</a>&nbsp;since the Israel-Hamas war, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release, as well as post-war scenarios.Nate Evans, the spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said the resolution was "an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;to accept the deal on the table.”Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution, which demands an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ramadan-muslims-fasting-prayer-photos-83ead097a3b0921f387bb70ad2b6b3fc">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>&nbsp;that began March 10 to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”It also demands “the immediate and unconditional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">release of all hostages</a>&nbsp;” and emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted another 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.In Gaza, the Health Ministry raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.The U.S. draft expressed “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.”It emphasized “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-06-2024-3e4bc85bc4e184312763fc331fbffedb">Israel faces mounting pressure</a>&nbsp;from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings, and come to a cease-fire agreement. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-hamas-gaza-israel-war-541e91c0f09196944a4dabeded94596f">military offensive to the southern city of Rafah</a>, where some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. Netanyahu says it's a Hamas stronghold.The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council emphasized its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-festival-survivors-5b5dc4eb87be8d7b51dceff1c9f906fd">Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023</a>, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”----------UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States called for a vote Friday on a newly revised and tougher U.N. resolution declaring that “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is “imperative” to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to more than 2 million&nbsp;<a href="https://whyy.org/articles/israel-hamas-war-gaza-famine-said-to-be-imminent/">hungry Palestinians</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-us-resolution-gaza-ceasefire-israel-palestinians-9acc24774f2f2633bec9ffc087447ff7">In the previous draft</a>, the Security Council did not make such a declaration. Instead, it would have supported international efforts for a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.The new draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press “determines” — which is a council order — “the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire,” with no direct link to the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7. But “toward that end” it would unequivocally support&nbsp;<a href="https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/blinken-huddles-on-gaza-with-arab-diplomats-in-cairo-as-us-israel-relations-sour/">diplomatic efforts “to secure such a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in connection with the release of all remaining hostages.”After the 15 Security Council members met behind closed doors Thursday afternoon to discuss Gaza, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the U.S. draft would be adopted: “I am optimistic. That’s why it took us so long, because we worked so hard.”Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pressing for an immediate cease-fire and if the resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire “we will, of course, support it.”But he questioned the wording of the U.S. draft, asking: “What’s an imperative? I have an imperative to give you $100, but … it’s only an imperative, not $100.”“So, somebody’s fooling around, I think, (with the) international community,” Polyansky said. “We are not satisfied with anything that doesn’t call for immediate cease-fire. I think everybody is not satisfied with this. Even Secretary Blinken is not satisfied.”Blinken is on his sixth urgent mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began, discussing a deal for a cease-fire and hostage release as well as post-war scenarios.Nate Evans, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, issued a statement while the Security Council was holding closed Gaza consultations announcing that the U.S. would bring the resolution to a vote Friday morning.“This resolution is an opportunity for the Council to speak with one voice to support the diplomacy happening on the ground and pressure Hamas to accept the deal on the table,” Evans said.Meanwhile, the 10 elected members of the Security Council have been drafting their own resolution that would demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-11-2024-c6835d50f91dff0443e0f7fdf5e3229f">Muslim holy month of Ramadan</a>, which began March 10, to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.”It also would demand “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and emphasize the urgent need to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-17-2024-ab0b75fdd8f0ab51c5e38b1870afecd8">protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid</a>&nbsp;throughout the Gaza Strip.That draft had not yet been put in “blue,” which is the final form required for a vote.France’s U.N. ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, told reporters that “there is a desire to take action, no one want to procrastinate, so we hope that a decision can be made by tomorrow evening.”“We need a cease-fire right now,” he said. “There are two options: Either the U.S. text is adopted and then we’ll move to the next phase of this crisis management, or the text is not adopted and then the draft of the elected members will come to the table and put to the vote, and I hope it will be adopted.”The Health Ministry in Gaza raised the death toll in the territory Thursday to nearly 32,000 Palestinians. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">doesn’t differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and abducted 250 people. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 people hostage as well as the remains of 30 others.The international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises warned this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger. The report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, or IPC, warned that escalation of the war could push half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation.The U.S. draft would express “deep concern about the threat of conflict-induced famine and epidemics presently facing the civilian population in Gaza as well as the number of undernourished people, and also that hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels.” It would emphasize “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip” and lift all barriers to getting aid to civilians “at scale.”Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings and for a cease-fire. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to move the military offensive to the southern city of Rafah, which he says is a Hamas stronghold. Some 1.3 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah.The final U.S. draft eliminated language in the initial draft that said Israel’s offensive in Rafah “should not proceed under current circumstances.” Instead, in an introductory paragraph, the council would emphasize its concern that a ground offensive into Rafah “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement, potentially into neighboring countries, and would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”For the first time in a U.N. resolution, the U.S. draft would condemn “all acts of terrorism, including the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as well as its taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, and sexual violence, including rape.”

Russia and China veto US resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

Wilma Priska Weickart was born on June 21, 1928 to Bruno and Lena Weikart in Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany. &nbsp; She passed away on February 16, 2024 at the age of 95.

She met her future husband, Leroy Fixsen while he was stationed in the Army in Germany during WWII. &nbsp; They were married on October 15, 1948 in Karlsruhe, Germany. &nbsp;They moved to Goodland, KS, where she resided until 1996.

One of Wilma’s proudest moments was when she became a naturalized citizen of the United States in November of 1951. &nbsp;Wilma and Leroy had 4 children, Pam, Randall, Lori and Jackie.

Wilma and Leroy owned and operated Fixsen TV and Appliance opening in 1958. &nbsp;In 1979, after Leroy passed away, Wilma, Randall and Debra continued with the business until Wilma’s retirement in 1996. &nbsp;Randall and Debra purchased the business from Wilma and continued the business until their retirement in 2015. &nbsp;After her retirement, Wilma moved to Longmont, Colorado where her daughters lived. &nbsp;In 2019, she moved to Loveland, CO.

Wilma loved history, loved to travel and enjoyed sharing her experiences of living in Germany during WWII. &nbsp;&nbsp;

She was predeceased by her husband Leroy, grandson Clayton Fixsen, her parents and 12 siblings.

She is survived by her 4 children, Pam Brown, Randall (Debra) Fixsen, Lori (Bill) Burbridge and Jackie Albright, her sister Vera, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Wilma will be buried alongside her husband Leroy in the Goodland Cemetery at a later date during a private family ceremony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711040093911.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wilma Priska Weickart was born on June 21, 1928 to Bruno and Lena Weikart in Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany. &nbsp; She passed away on February 16, 2024 at the age of 95.She met her future husband, Leroy Fixsen while he was stationed in the Army in Germany during WWII. &nbsp; They were married on October 15, 1948 in Karlsruhe, Germany. &nbsp;They moved to Goodland, KS, where she resided until 1996.One of Wilma’s proudest moments was when she became a naturalized citizen of the United States in November of 1951. &nbsp;Wilma and Leroy had 4 children, Pam, Randall, Lori and Jackie.Wilma and Leroy owned and operated Fixsen TV and Appliance opening in 1958. &nbsp;In 1979, after Leroy passed away, Wilma, Randall and Debra continued with the business until Wilma’s retirement in 1996. &nbsp;Randall and Debra purchased the business from Wilma and continued the business until their retirement in 2015. &nbsp;After her retirement, Wilma moved to Longmont, Colorado where her daughters lived. &nbsp;In 2019, she moved to Loveland, CO.Wilma loved history, loved to travel and enjoyed sharing her experiences of living in Germany during WWII. &nbsp;&nbsp;She was predeceased by her husband Leroy, grandson Clayton Fixsen, her parents and 12 siblings.She is survived by her 4 children, Pam Brown, Randall (Debra) Fixsen, Lori (Bill) Burbridge and Jackie Albright, her sister Vera, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.Wilma will be buried alongside her husband Leroy in the Goodland Cemetery at a later date during a private family ceremony.

Wilma Priska (Weickart) Fixsen

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony counts in connection with sexual assaults of women over the last 13 years in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Warren E. Carter, 64, faces Kidnapping, Forcible Sodomy, Forcible Rape, two counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree, three counts of Sodomy or Attempted Sodomy in the 1st Degree, two counts of Rape or Attempted Rape in the 1st Degree.

According to court record filed Friday, over the years Carter has targeted and assaulted women in Kansas City. He offered them a ride or forced them into his vehicle by threatening them with a firearm. He then drove them to a secluded area and assaulted them, forcing them to perform oral sex or raping them. These charges relate to sexual assaults in July 2012, May 2017 and October and December 2019. Carter has a distinctive characteristic, he is missing his right leg. DNA linking the defendant to two of these assaults currently exists.

Carter was taken into custody late Sunday and is being held on a $200,000 bond.

Anyone with reports of similar assaults or attempted assaults should contact the KCPD sex crimes unit at (816) 234-5220.

Victims in this or other incidents are encouraged to call MOCSA (the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault) at (816) 531-0233 or Kris Wade at (816) 769-3307.<a href="tel:+1-913-642-0233"></a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710780029069.png" alt="Carter-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony counts in connection with sexual assaults of women over the last 13 years in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Warren E. Carter, 64, faces Kidnapping, Forcible Sodomy, Forcible Rape, two counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree, three counts of Sodomy or Attempted Sodomy in the 1st Degree, two counts of Rape or Attempted Rape in the 1st Degree.According to court record filed Friday, over the years Carter has targeted and assaulted women in Kansas City. He offered them a ride or forced them into his vehicle by threatening them with a firearm. He then drove them to a secluded area and assaulted them, forcing them to perform oral sex or raping them. These charges relate to sexual assaults in July 2012, May 2017 and October and December 2019. Carter has a distinctive characteristic, he is missing his right leg. DNA linking the defendant to two of these assaults currently exists.Carter was taken into custody late Sunday and is being held on a $200,000 bond.Anyone with reports of similar assaults or attempted assaults should contact the KCPD sex crimes unit at (816) 234-5220.Victims in this or other incidents are encouraged to call MOCSA (the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault) at (816) 531-0233 or Kris Wade at (816) 769-3307.<a href="tel:+1-913-642-0233"></a>&nbsp;

KC man, who is missing a leg, accused of multiple rapes

Lawrence D. Tholen, 94, “Grandpa” of Grinnell, died Monday, March 18, 2024. Lawrence was born May 9, 1929, to Theodore and Margaret (Berens) Tholen. He married Agnes Schumacher on October 27, 1953. Lawrence was a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Grinnell, served in the Korean War as a medic; and was a member of the V.F. W. Post 2864, Grinnell. He was an avid supporter of local youth, and coached baseball and softball for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Agnes, a son Rick Tholen, six brothers and seven sisters.

He is survived by four children, Greg (Stacy) Tholen, of Grinnell, Rhonda Rudell, Manhattan, Tina (Eddie) Parks, Stockton and Steve Tholen, Grinnell; grandchildren, Mindy (Eric) Hilt, Tyler Tholen, Tanner (Leslie) Tholen, Trisha (Tracy) Hageman, Tenille (Tuker) Gillespie, Jenna (Danny) Grater, Trevor (Rene) Parks, Tinley (Tyler) Hahn and Kelly (Lee) Fellhoelter; 17 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild.

A visitation will be Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grinnell VFW, with a Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Grinnell, and burial in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Grinnell VFW Post 2864 and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit&nbsp;<a href="http://baalmannmortuary.com/" target="_blank">baalmannmortuary.com</a>

Lawrence D. Tholen, 94, “Grandpa” of Grinnell, died Monday, March 18, 2024. Lawrence was born May 9, 1929, to Theodore and Margaret (Berens) Tholen. He married Agnes Schumacher on October 27, 1953. Lawrence was a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Grinnell, served in the Korean War as a medic; and was a member of the V.F. W. Post 2864, Grinnell. He was an avid supporter of local youth, and coached baseball and softball for many years.He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Agnes, a son Rick Tholen, six brothers and seven sisters.He is survived by four children, Greg (Stacy) Tholen, of Grinnell, Rhonda Rudell, Manhattan, Tina (Eddie) Parks, Stockton and Steve Tholen, Grinnell; grandchildren, Mindy (Eric) Hilt, Tyler Tholen, Tanner (Leslie) Tholen, Trisha (Tracy) Hageman, Tenille (Tuker) Gillespie, Jenna (Danny) Grater, Trevor (Rene) Parks, Tinley (Tyler) Hahn and Kelly (Lee) Fellhoelter; 17 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild.A visitation will be Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grinnell VFW, with a Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Grinnell, and burial in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Grinnell VFW Post 2864 and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit&nbsp;<a href="http://baalmannmortuary.com/" target="_blank">baalmannmortuary.com</a>

Lawrence D. Tholen

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;seemed likely Monday to side with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security in a case that could set standards for free speech in the digital age.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411/">Click here to listen to a replay</a>&nbsp;of the oral argument&nbsp;

The justices seemed broadly skeptical during nearly two hours of arguments that a lawyer for Louisiana, Missouri and other parties presented accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view.

Lower courts have sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.

Several justices said they were concerned that common interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.

In one example, Justice Amy Coney Barrett expressed surprise when Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguiñaga questioned whether the FBI could call Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to encourage them to take down posts that maliciously released someone's personal information without permission, the practice known as doxxing.

“Do you know how often the FBI makes those calls?” Barrett asked, suggesting they happen frequently.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh also signaled that a ruling for the states would mean that “traditional, everyday communications would suddenly be deemed problematic.”

The case Monday was among several the court is considering that affect social media companies in the context of free speech. Last week, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.

The cases over state laws and the one that was argued Monday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.

The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on social media platforms.

Aguiñaga put the situation in stark terms, telling the justices that “the record reveals unrelenting pressure by the government to coerce social media platforms to suppress the speech of millions of Americans.”

He said that calls merely encouraging the platforms to act also could violate speech rights, responding to a hypothetical situation conjured by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, about an online challenge that “involved teens jumping out of windows at increasing elevations.”

Jackson, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, pressed the Louisiana lawyer about whether platforms could be encouraged to remove such posts.

“I was with you right until that last comment, Your Honor,” Aguiñaga said. “I think they absolutely can call and say this is a problem, it’s going rampant on your platforms, but the moment that the government tries to use its ability as the government and its stature as the government to pressure them to take it down, that is when you’re interfering with the third party’s speech rights.”

Justice Samuel Alito appeared most open to the states' arguments, at one point referring to the government's “constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms.” Alito, along with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.

Justice Department lawyer Brian Fletcher argued that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion and that the federal government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.

The platforms are large sophisticated actors with no reluctance to stand up to the government, “saying no repeatedly when they disagree with what the government is asking them to do,” Fletcher said.

Justice Elena Kagan and Kavanaugh, two justices who served in the White House earlier in their careers, seemed to agree, likening the exchanges between officials and the platforms to relationships between the government and more traditional media.

Kavanaugh described “experienced government press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and -- and berate them.”

Later, Kagan said, “I mean, this happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government.”

Alito, gesturing at the courtroom's press section, mused that whenever reporters “write something we don't like,” the court's chief spokeswoman “can call them up and curse them out and say...why don’t we be partners? We’re on the same team. Why don’t you show us what you’re going to write beforehand? We’ll edit it for you, make sure it’s accurate.”

Free speech advocates said the court should use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government's acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.

“We’re encouraged that the Court was sensitive both to the First Amendment rights of platforms and their users, and to the public interest in having a government empowered to participate in public discourse. To that end, we hope that the Court resolves these cases by making clear that the First Amendment prohibits coercion but permits the government to attempt to shape public opinion through the use of persuasion.” Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.

A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.

A divided Supreme Court put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold in October, when it agreed to take up the case.

A decision in Murthy v. Missouri, 23-411, is expected by early summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a busy term that could set standards for free speech in the digital age, the Supreme Court on Monday is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411\">Click here to listen to a replay</a> of the oral argument&nbsp;

The justices are hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view. Lower courts have sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.

The high court is in the midst of a term heavy with social media issues. On Friday, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.

The cases over state laws and the one being argued Monday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.

The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other media platforms.

“It’s a very, very threatening thing when the federal government uses the power and authority of the government to block people from exercising their freedom of speech,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a video her office posted online.

The administration responds that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion. The states “still have not identified any instance in which any government official sought to coerce a platform’s editorial decisions with a threat of adverse government action,” wrote Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer. Prelogar wrote that states also can't “point to any evidence that the government ever imposed any sanction when the platforms declined to moderate content the government had flagged — as routinely occurred.”

The companies themselves are not involved in the case.

Free speech advocates say the court should use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government's acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.

"The government has no authority to threaten platforms into censoring protected speech, but it must have the ability to participate in public discourse so that it can effectively govern and inform the public of its views,” Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.

Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration.

Alito wrote in dissent in October: “At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710764500358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;seemed likely Monday to side with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security in a case that could set standards for free speech in the digital age.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411/">Click here to listen to a replay</a>&nbsp;of the oral argument&nbsp;The justices seemed broadly skeptical during nearly two hours of arguments that a lawyer for Louisiana, Missouri and other parties presented accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view.Lower courts have sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When I was AG I filed Missouri v Biden. On Monday the Supreme Court hears the case. It’s the most important Free Speech case in our nation’s history. The government can’t censor speech &amp; it can’t outsource censorship to social media giants either.<a href="https://t.co/jWzshevGsl">pic.twitter.com/jWzshevGsl</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1769025010948067493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Several justices said they were concerned that common interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.In one example, Justice Amy Coney Barrett expressed surprise when Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguiñaga questioned whether the FBI could call Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to encourage them to take down posts that maliciously released someone's personal information without permission, the practice known as doxxing.“Do you know how often the FBI makes those calls?” Barrett asked, suggesting they happen frequently.Justice Brett Kavanaugh also signaled that a ruling for the states would mean that “traditional, everyday communications would suddenly be deemed problematic.”The case Monday was among several the court is considering that affect social media companies in the context of free speech. Last week, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.The cases over state laws and the one that was argued Monday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on social media platforms.Aguiñaga put the situation in stark terms, telling the justices that “the record reveals unrelenting pressure by the government to coerce social media platforms to suppress the speech of millions of Americans.”He said that calls merely encouraging the platforms to act also could violate speech rights, responding to a hypothetical situation conjured by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, about an online challenge that “involved teens jumping out of windows at increasing elevations.”Jackson, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, pressed the Louisiana lawyer about whether platforms could be encouraged to remove such posts.“I was with you right until that last comment, Your Honor,” Aguiñaga said. “I think they absolutely can call and say this is a problem, it’s going rampant on your platforms, but the moment that the government tries to use its ability as the government and its stature as the government to pressure them to take it down, that is when you’re interfering with the third party’s speech rights.”Justice Samuel Alito appeared most open to the states' arguments, at one point referring to the government's “constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms.” Alito, along with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.Justice Department lawyer Brian Fletcher argued that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion and that the federal government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.The platforms are large sophisticated actors with no reluctance to stand up to the government, “saying no repeatedly when they disagree with what the government is asking them to do,” Fletcher said.Justice Elena Kagan and Kavanaugh, two justices who served in the White House earlier in their careers, seemed to agree, likening the exchanges between officials and the platforms to relationships between the government and more traditional media.Kavanaugh described “experienced government press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and -- and berate them.”Later, Kagan said, “I mean, this happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government.”Alito, gesturing at the courtroom's press section, mused that whenever reporters “write something we don't like,” the court's chief spokeswoman “can call them up and curse them out and say...why don’t we be partners? We’re on the same team. Why don’t you show us what you’re going to write beforehand? We’ll edit it for you, make sure it’s accurate.”Free speech advocates said the court should use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government's acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.“We’re encouraged that the Court was sensitive both to the First Amendment rights of platforms and their users, and to the public interest in having a government empowered to participate in public discourse. To that end, we hope that the Court resolves these cases by making clear that the First Amendment prohibits coercion but permits the government to attempt to shape public opinion through the use of persuasion.” Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.A divided Supreme Court put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold in October, when it agreed to take up the case.A decision in Murthy v. Missouri, 23-411, is expected by early summer.----------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710764500358.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a busy term that could set standards for free speech in the digital age, the Supreme Court on Monday is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411\">Click here to listen to a replay</a> of the oral argument&nbsp;The justices are hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view. Lower courts have sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.The high court is in the midst of a term heavy with social media issues. On Friday, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.The cases over state laws and the one being argued Monday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other media platforms.“It’s a very, very threatening thing when the federal government uses the power and authority of the government to block people from exercising their freedom of speech,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a video her office posted online.The administration responds that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion. The states “still have not identified any instance in which any government official sought to coerce a platform’s editorial decisions with a threat of adverse government action,” wrote Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer. Prelogar wrote that states also can't “point to any evidence that the government ever imposed any sanction when the platforms declined to moderate content the government had flagged — as routinely occurred.”The companies themselves are not involved in the case.Free speech advocates say the court should use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government's acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech."The government has no authority to threaten platforms into censoring protected speech, but it must have the ability to participate in public discourse so that it can effectively govern and inform the public of its views,” Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.A divided Supreme Court put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold in October, when it agreed to take up the case.Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration.Alito wrote in dissent in October: “At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate."

🎧 Social media censorship: Supreme Court’s oral arguments

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;

When nurses rallied outside Research Medical Center last week to kick off contract negotiations, the refrain rang familiar.

“Hey HCA,” the nurses’ signs read. “Put patients over profits.”

In an increasingly unionized health care industry, still recovering from the pandemic, nurses across the country demand that hospitals beef up staffing and improve working conditions. And, when bargaining doesn’t work, they insist they’re ready to walk off the job.

Kansas City nurses from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcamidwest.com/locations/research-medical-center/">Research</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcamidwest.com/locations/menorah-medical-center/">Menorah Medical Center</a>&nbsp;in Overland Park, both owned by HCA Healthcare, want to make it clear that they are prepared to fight for change in their new contract.

About 1,000 nurses at the two hospitals are working under a contract that will expire May 31. Their union,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/">National Nurses United</a>&nbsp;(NNU), said 150 nurses left jobs at Research last year, while 89 left Menorah. The union wants HCA to improve nurse retention and schedule more nurses to work each shift.

The union said nurses are “prepared to make demands for their new agreements that will improve patient care by addressing critical issues with staffing and safety, and services at their hospitals.”

In a statement, HCA, which reported 2023 net income of $5.2 billion, called its staffing at Research and Menorah “safe and appropriate.”

HCA’s statement also said the two area hospitals had added 842 members to its “nursing organization” in 2023 and were “building our nursing pipeline.” The statement touted recently announced plans to invest $34.5 million in the Research College of Nursing.

“We value our nurses and are hopeful that we can quickly reach an agreement on a new contract that is fair and reasonable for both sides,” the statement said.

But Cheryl Rodarmel, a rehabilitation nurse from Research who will be at the negotiating table, said the existing conditions leave nurses exhausted.

Rodarmel, who has worked at Research for three decades, often has to care for six patients at a time. She worries about patients falling and not getting enough care.

“Nurses are being morally injured every day because we’re not given the resources that we need to provide the care to our patients,” she said.

In strikes and contract negotiations around the country, unionized nurses often echo that notion of being “morally injured” — when a person feels they have been forced to take part in something that violates their principles.

After COVID’s heavy toll and an ongoing drive among many hospitals to cut costs, the industry has seen a year with more than two dozen strikes around the country. Nurses say they come face-to-face with patients they can’t adequately care for. Increasingly, they are lining up behind labor unions to demand change.

NNU, the union representing Research and Menorah nurses, also represents 950 nurses at two Ascension Via Christi hospitals in Wichita. For close to a year, those nurses have been struggling to come to an agreement on their first contract, a process that has led them to walk off the job twice since June — and forcing the hospitals to pay premium prices for replacements. And earlier this month they&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wichitabeacon.org/stories/2024/03/05/wichita-nurses-ready-to-strike-again/">vowed</a>&nbsp;to strike again if progress isn’t made.

Nurses in Missouri and Kansas are far from alone. Just at HCA-owned hospitals, NNU said it is representing thousands of nurses this year in contract negotiations with 18 hospitals in six states. And the union’s climbing membership — up to 225,000 from 150,000 pre-pandemic — marks a national trend in health care.

More workers in the industry, including nurses, doctors in training, and other health care workers, are joining unions and, increasingly, walking off the job to demand better working conditions and higher pay.

Of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/wkstp.nr0.htm">33 major work stoppages</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/">14 took place</a>&nbsp;in health care. And that’s only strikes or lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers. Nurse Together, a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nursetogether.com/nurse-strikes/">website</a>&nbsp;that focuses on the profession, counted 27 nursing strikes last year, including the largest health care strike in U.S. history, when 75,000 nurses, technicians and support staff walked away from jobs at Kaiser Permanente in October.

Union representatives consistently point to the same reason for the increase in labor actions: a shortage of nurses. The issue became glaring in many hospitals during the pandemic. Now they pose the central backdrop to nursing strikes — and one reason more nurses feel emboldened to unionize. Their skills are in high demand, giving them bargaining table leverage.

Hospital companies tend to argue that they face a shortage of nurses available. Unions typically counter that nurses are fleeing the field because of working conditions.

A 2022&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2799909">study</a>&nbsp;in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that health care workers represented by unions between 2009 and 2021 made better wages and got better benefits — like full premium-covered health insurance and retirement benefits — than those without unions. The study also found that unions helped erase the pay disparity between white workers and racial and ethnic minority groups.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that registered nurses working in Kansas City in 2022 had a mean annual salary of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_28140.htm#29-0000">$76,580</a>, compared with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes_28140.htm#29-0000">$68,130</a>&nbsp;in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Nationally, the mean salary for nurses was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm">$89,010</a>&nbsp;in 2022, compared with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes291141.htm">$77,460</a>&nbsp;in 2019.

Nurses from Research and Menorah have butted heads with HCA before. In the fall of 2020, the height of COVID, nurses at Research&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2020/11/23/feeling-a-lack-of-protections-against-covid-19-workers-file-complaints-with-osha/">filed a complaint</a>&nbsp;with the federal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.osha.gov/">Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;demanding better protections against the virus. In their last contract, Rodamel said, they gained protections for members’ paid time off so that nurses no longer have to use their leave if they get sick caring for patients.

The company also has a history with the Service Employees International Union. In 2021, that union lost a decertification vote at Research, meaning employees — including patient care technicians, certified nursing assistants, imaging technologists and respiratory therapists — voted to ditch the union’s representation.

Before the decertification vote became official, and after the union members had secured a new contract, Research stopped recognizing the union. A National Labor Relations Board judge later&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hr/hca-hospital-violated-labor-law-in-pulling-union-recognition-judge-says.html">ruled</a>&nbsp;that the hospital had violated federal labor law. The union was still decertified and no longer represents employees at the hospital.

This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2024/03/15/kansas-city-nurse-union-prepared-to-strike-if-they-have-to/">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/">The Beacon</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710779860482.png" alt=" Research Medical Center in Kansas City is one of two HCA-owned area hospitals where the nurses union faces contract negotiations (Scott Canon/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Research Medical Center in Kansas City is one of two HCA-owned area hospitals where the nurses union faces contract negotiations (Scott Canon/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;When nurses rallied outside Research Medical Center last week to kick off contract negotiations, the refrain rang familiar.“Hey HCA,” the nurses’ signs read. “Put patients over profits.”In an increasingly unionized health care industry, still recovering from the pandemic, nurses across the country demand that hospitals beef up staffing and improve working conditions. And, when bargaining doesn’t work, they insist they’re ready to walk off the job.Kansas City nurses from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcamidwest.com/locations/research-medical-center/">Research</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hcamidwest.com/locations/menorah-medical-center/">Menorah Medical Center</a>&nbsp;in Overland Park, both owned by HCA Healthcare, want to make it clear that they are prepared to fight for change in their new contract.About 1,000 nurses at the two hospitals are working under a contract that will expire May 31. Their union,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/">National Nurses United</a>&nbsp;(NNU), said 150 nurses left jobs at Research last year, while 89 left Menorah. The union wants HCA to improve nurse retention and schedule more nurses to work each shift.The union said nurses are “prepared to make demands for their new agreements that will improve patient care by addressing critical issues with staffing and safety, and services at their hospitals.”In a statement, HCA, which reported 2023 net income of $5.2 billion, called its staffing at Research and Menorah “safe and appropriate.”HCA’s statement also said the two area hospitals had added 842 members to its “nursing organization” in 2023 and were “building our nursing pipeline.” The statement touted recently announced plans to invest $34.5 million in the Research College of Nursing.“We value our nurses and are hopeful that we can quickly reach an agreement on a new contract that is fair and reasonable for both sides,” the statement said.But Cheryl Rodarmel, a rehabilitation nurse from Research who will be at the negotiating table, said the existing conditions leave nurses exhausted.Rodarmel, who has worked at Research for three decades, often has to care for six patients at a time. She worries about patients falling and not getting enough care.“Nurses are being morally injured every day because we’re not given the resources that we need to provide the care to our patients,” she said.In strikes and contract negotiations around the country, unionized nurses often echo that notion of being “morally injured” — when a person feels they have been forced to take part in something that violates their principles.After COVID’s heavy toll and an ongoing drive among many hospitals to cut costs, the industry has seen a year with more than two dozen strikes around the country. Nurses say they come face-to-face with patients they can’t adequately care for. Increasingly, they are lining up behind labor unions to demand change.NNU, the union representing Research and Menorah nurses, also represents 950 nurses at two Ascension Via Christi hospitals in Wichita. For close to a year, those nurses have been struggling to come to an agreement on their first contract, a process that has led them to walk off the job twice since June — and forcing the hospitals to pay premium prices for replacements. And earlier this month they&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wichitabeacon.org/stories/2024/03/05/wichita-nurses-ready-to-strike-again/">vowed</a>&nbsp;to strike again if progress isn’t made.Nurses in Missouri and Kansas are far from alone. Just at HCA-owned hospitals, NNU said it is representing thousands of nurses this year in contract negotiations with 18 hospitals in six states. And the union’s climbing membership — up to 225,000 from 150,000 pre-pandemic — marks a national trend in health care.More workers in the industry, including nurses, doctors in training, and other health care workers, are joining unions and, increasingly, walking off the job to demand better working conditions and higher pay.Of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/wkstp.nr0.htm">33 major work stoppages</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/">14 took place</a>&nbsp;in health care. And that’s only strikes or lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers. Nurse Together, a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nursetogether.com/nurse-strikes/">website</a>&nbsp;that focuses on the profession, counted 27 nursing strikes last year, including the largest health care strike in U.S. history, when 75,000 nurses, technicians and support staff walked away from jobs at Kaiser Permanente in October.Union representatives consistently point to the same reason for the increase in labor actions: a shortage of nurses. The issue became glaring in many hospitals during the pandemic. Now they pose the central backdrop to nursing strikes — and one reason more nurses feel emboldened to unionize. Their skills are in high demand, giving them bargaining table leverage.Hospital companies tend to argue that they face a shortage of nurses available. Unions typically counter that nurses are fleeing the field because of working conditions.A 2022&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2799909">study</a>&nbsp;in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that health care workers represented by unions between 2009 and 2021 made better wages and got better benefits — like full premium-covered health insurance and retirement benefits — than those without unions. The study also found that unions helped erase the pay disparity between white workers and racial and ethnic minority groups.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that registered nurses working in Kansas City in 2022 had a mean annual salary of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_28140.htm#29-0000">$76,580</a>, compared with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes_28140.htm#29-0000">$68,130</a>&nbsp;in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Nationally, the mean salary for nurses was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm">$89,010</a>&nbsp;in 2022, compared with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes291141.htm">$77,460</a>&nbsp;in 2019.Nurses from Research and Menorah have butted heads with HCA before. In the fall of 2020, the height of COVID, nurses at Research&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2020/11/23/feeling-a-lack-of-protections-against-covid-19-workers-file-complaints-with-osha/">filed a complaint</a>&nbsp;with the federal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.osha.gov/">Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>&nbsp;demanding better protections against the virus. In their last contract, Rodamel said, they gained protections for members’ paid time off so that nurses no longer have to use their leave if they get sick caring for patients.The company also has a history with the Service Employees International Union. In 2021, that union lost a decertification vote at Research, meaning employees — including patient care technicians, certified nursing assistants, imaging technologists and respiratory therapists — voted to ditch the union’s representation.Before the decertification vote became official, and after the union members had secured a new contract, Research stopped recognizing the union. A National Labor Relations Board judge later&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hr/hca-hospital-violated-labor-law-in-pulling-union-recognition-judge-says.html">ruled</a>&nbsp;that the hospital had violated federal labor law. The union was still decertified and no longer represents employees at the hospital.This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2024/03/15/kansas-city-nurse-union-prepared-to-strike-if-they-have-to/">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/">The Beacon</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
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Kansas City nurses kick off contract talks saying they’re prepared to strike

A bridge replacement project will close a portion of U.S. 281 in Smith County starting Monday, April 1.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will replace the bridge over Lindley Creek, located 0.13 mile west of the Smith/Osborne County line near Portis. During construction, U.S. 281 will be closed to traffic at the bridge. Motorists should follow the signed detour using U.S. 281, U.S. 24, K-181 and U.S. 36.

KDOT expects the project to be completed by the end of October, conditions permitting.

L&amp;M Contractors of Great Bend is the primary contractor for the approximately $1.9 million project. For more information, contact KDOT Area Construction Manager Dan Moore at 785-302-6200 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:daniel.moore@ks.gov">daniel.moore@ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701368603184.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>KDOTA bridge replacement project will close a portion of U.S. 281 in Smith County starting Monday, April 1.The Kansas Department of Transportation will replace the bridge over Lindley Creek, located 0.13 mile west of the Smith/Osborne County line near Portis. During construction, U.S. 281 will be closed to traffic at the bridge. Motorists should follow the signed detour using U.S. 281, U.S. 24, K-181 and U.S. 36.KDOT expects the project to be completed by the end of October, conditions permitting.L&amp;M Contractors of Great Bend is the primary contractor for the approximately $1.9 million project. For more information, contact KDOT Area Construction Manager Dan Moore at 785-302-6200 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:daniel.moore@ks.gov">daniel.moore@ks.gov</a>.

Bridge replacement to close U.S. 281 in Smith County

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz," according to an indictment made public Sunday.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not enter a plea when he made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

The slippers, adorned with sequins and glass beads, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago and their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018</a>.

The indictment says that from August 2005 to July 2018 Saliterman “received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage" — specifically, "an authentic pair of ‘ruby slippers’ worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz.’" The indictment says Saliterman knew they were stolen, and that he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman and “take her down with him” if she didn’t keep her mouth shut about the slippers.

Saliterman was in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen during his Friday court appearance. His oxygen machine hummed throughout the hearing and he bounced his knee nervously during breaks in the proceedings. He responded with “yes,” when U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright asked whether he understood the charges against him, but he said nothing about the allegations.

The case was not openly discussed in court. The magistrate ordered Friday that the indictment be unsealed, but it did not become publicly available until Sunday.

Saliterman’s attorney, John Brink, said after Friday's hearing that he couldn’t say much about the case, but: “He’s not guilty. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Saliterman, who was released on his own recognizance, declined to comment to The Associated Press outside the courthouse.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">pleaded guilty in October</a>&nbsp;to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum's door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off “one last score” after turning away from a life of crime. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-sentencing-2479d587123b97eda5c47672322d2d6e">sentenced in January</a>&nbsp;to time served because of his poor health.

Martin’s lawyer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-wizard-oz-f93b3da8331f050cc81bf7f1f79877e8">said in court documents</a>&nbsp;that an old associate of Martin's with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Federal prosecutors say a man has been indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Federal prosecutors say a man has been indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz," according to an indictment made public Sunday.Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not enter a plea when he made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.The slippers, adorned with sequins and glass beads, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago and their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018</a>.The indictment says that from August 2005 to July 2018 Saliterman “received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage" — specifically, "an authentic pair of ‘ruby slippers’ worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz.’" The indictment says Saliterman knew they were stolen, and that he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman and “take her down with him” if she didn’t keep her mouth shut about the slippers.Saliterman was in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen during his Friday court appearance. His oxygen machine hummed throughout the hearing and he bounced his knee nervously during breaks in the proceedings. He responded with “yes,” when U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright asked whether he understood the charges against him, but he said nothing about the allegations.The case was not openly discussed in court. The magistrate ordered Friday that the indictment be unsealed, but it did not become publicly available until Sunday.Saliterman’s attorney, John Brink, said after Friday's hearing that he couldn’t say much about the case, but: “He’s not guilty. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Saliterman, who was released on his own recognizance, declined to comment to The Associated Press outside the courthouse.The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">pleaded guilty in October</a>&nbsp;to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum's door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off “one last score” after turning away from a life of crime. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-sentencing-2479d587123b97eda5c47672322d2d6e">sentenced in January</a>&nbsp;to time served because of his poor health.Martin’s lawyer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-wizard-oz-f93b3da8331f050cc81bf7f1f79877e8">said in court documents</a>&nbsp;that an old associate of Martin's with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, said at an October hearing that he hoped to take what he thought were real rubies from the shoes and sell them. But a person who deals in stolen goods, known as a fence, informed him the rubies weren’t real, Martin said. So he got rid of the slippers.Defense attorney Dane DeKrey wrote in court documents that Martin’s unidentified former associate persuaded him to steal the slippers as “one last score,” even though Martin had seemed to have “finally put his demons to rest” after finishing his last prison term nearly 10 years earlier.“But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night,” DeKrey wrote.According to DeKrey’s memo, Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen “The Wizard of Oz.”The documents unsealed Sunday do not indicate how Martin and Saliterman may have been connected.In the classic 1939 musical, Garland’s character, Dorothy, had to click the heels of her ruby slippers three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home,” to return to Kansas from Oz. She wore several pairs during filming, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain.The FBI never disclosed exactly how it tracked down the slippers. The bureau said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and claimed he could help recover them but demanded more than the $200,000 reward being offered. The slippers were recovered during an FBI sting in Minneapolis the next year. Federal prosecutors have put the slippers’ market value at about $3.5 million.Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw had loaned the pair to the museum before Martin stole them. The other pairs are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.si.edu/object/dorothys-ruby-slippers:nmah_670130">Smithsonian Museum of American History</a>&nbsp;and a private collector. According to John Kelsh, founding director of the museum, the slippers were returned to Shaw and are being held by an auction house that plans to sell them.Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/16889e9c55dd4728a45ee11a783b74de">lived in Grand Rapids</a>, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969. The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/">Judy Garland Museum,</a>&nbsp;which includes the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia.