Gary L. Eller, 87, Hays, died Thursday, December 21, 2023 at HaysMed.

He was born October 3, 1936 in Smith County, Kansas the son of Ross and Gladys (Brent) Eller. Gary graduated from Alton High School in 1955 and served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Japan. On December 21, 1980, he was united in marriage to Lela J. (Stutheit) Moore in Smith Center. This union combined Gary’s children Jeff and Lori with Lela’s children Mike, Marla, and Micki, and he deeply loved them all. With his wife Lela, he owned and operated Eller Insurance Agency offering Old American Insurance. He was a member the Hays First United Methodist Church, was an avid K-State fan and enjoyed gardening, traveling, flying his own plane, and tinkering at his river home. He was a man of faith, knew his Bible, possessed a wonderful sense of humor, and was a loving husband who cherished holding hands with Lela.

Survivors include his wife Lela of Hays, his son, Mike Moore and wife Pam of Springtown, TX, his daughters, Lori Bieker and husband Robert of Hays, Marla Copper and husband Jeff of Hays, and Micki Kuhlmann of Smith Center, 15 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jeff Eller, and his brother Bob Eller.

Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Troy Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Allen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 pm until service time on Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church or to HaysMed Hospice. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Gary may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com

Gary L. Eller, 87, Hays, died Thursday, December 21, 2023 at HaysMed.He was born October 3, 1936 in Smith County, Kansas the son of Ross and Gladys (Brent) Eller. Gary graduated from Alton High School in 1955 and served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Japan. On December 21, 1980, he was united in marriage to Lela J. (Stutheit) Moore in Smith Center. This union combined Gary’s children Jeff and Lori with Lela’s children Mike, Marla, and Micki, and he deeply loved them all. With his wife Lela, he owned and operated Eller Insurance Agency offering Old American Insurance. He was a member the Hays First United Methodist Church, was an avid K-State fan and enjoyed gardening, traveling, flying his own plane, and tinkering at his river home. He was a man of faith, knew his Bible, possessed a wonderful sense of humor, and was a loving husband who cherished holding hands with Lela.Survivors include his wife Lela of Hays, his son, Mike Moore and wife Pam of Springtown, TX, his daughters, Lori Bieker and husband Robert of Hays, Marla Copper and husband Jeff of Hays, and Micki Kuhlmann of Smith Center, 15 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jeff Eller, and his brother Bob Eller.Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Troy Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Allen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 pm until service time on Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church or to HaysMed Hospice. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Gary may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com

Gary L. Eller

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The city of Hays has contracted with a company to assist the city in determining where in Hays lead pipes might exist.

The process is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency announced in late November that utilities would have to pull and replace the lead pipes within 10 years.

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/known-to-be-toxic-for-a-century-lead-still-poisons-thousands-of-midwestern-kids/">Kansas, the EPA estimates</a>&nbsp;54,107 lead pipes remain while the&nbsp;Natural Resources Defense Council believes there are more than 160,000.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eb8542e2-3db5-43d1-91a6-5ca28c1671fe">For much of the 20th Century, utilities were permitted to install lead service lines, the pipes that carry water from water mains under the street into homes. The EPA banned them in 1986, but utilities have never been required to remove existing pipes, according to a story published recently on the Hays Post from the Kansas Reflector.</a>

Lead is a neurotoxin that in high doses can be fatal. It was in pipes, gasoline and household paint for most of the last century, exposing generations of children to its effects, the Reflector story said.

Even at low levels, exposure to lead can hinder children’s brain development and cause behavioral problems and learning difficulties. Lead-poisoned children can have trouble with language processing, memory, attention and impulsivity. Later in life, it raises the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the Reflector story said.

How many pipes if any remain in Hays is yet to be determined, said Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources.

The city is working with Burns &amp; McDonnell Engineers as well as BlueConduit, which does predictive modeling to identify areas where the city might need to investigate for lead pipe.

The deadline to identify the pipes is October, Crispin said.

The city is delving into records to determine where lead pipes might remain, although Crispin said during recent repairs of water lines and installation of meters, crews have not found lead pipes.

"We just don't know right now because we're still gathering information," Crispin said of how many lead pipes might be in the city.

In looking for sites to further investigate the presence of lead pipes, the city will look for the dates when houses were built.&nbsp;

"Right now it's about identifying," Crispin said. "In the future, there will be some discussion and research on how to eradicate any lead that would be found within service lines that go into a home."

Typically cities deal with water mains and the lines that go to the meter. Past the meter is typically private and the responsibility of the homeowner, Crispin said.

"This requires the city to know what the material is not only from the city line to the meter but the meter to inside the home," he said.

Crispin said he has no idea how much removing any lead pipes might cost the city. That information will not be available until the survey is complete.

With the help of the EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, he said the city will be communicating with residents more about this issue as the survey progresses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679413636952.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe city of Hays has contracted with a company to assist the city in determining where in Hays lead pipes might exist.The process is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency announced in late November that utilities would have to pull and replace the lead pipes within 10 years.In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/11/known-to-be-toxic-for-a-century-lead-still-poisons-thousands-of-midwestern-kids/">Kansas, the EPA estimates</a>&nbsp;54,107 lead pipes remain while the&nbsp;Natural Resources Defense Council believes there are more than 160,000.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/eb8542e2-3db5-43d1-91a6-5ca28c1671fe">For much of the 20th Century, utilities were permitted to install lead service lines, the pipes that carry water from water mains under the street into homes. The EPA banned them in 1986, but utilities have never been required to remove existing pipes, according to a story published recently on the Hays Post from the Kansas Reflector.</a>Lead is a neurotoxin that in high doses can be fatal. It was in pipes, gasoline and household paint for most of the last century, exposing generations of children to its effects, the Reflector story said.Even at low levels, exposure to lead can hinder children’s brain development and cause behavioral problems and learning difficulties. Lead-poisoned children can have trouble with language processing, memory, attention and impulsivity. Later in life, it raises the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, the Reflector story said.How many pipes if any remain in Hays is yet to be determined, said Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources.The city is working with Burns &amp; McDonnell Engineers as well as BlueConduit, which does predictive modeling to identify areas where the city might need to investigate for lead pipe.The deadline to identify the pipes is October, Crispin said.The city is delving into records to determine where lead pipes might remain, although Crispin said during recent repairs of water lines and installation of meters, crews have not found lead pipes."We just don't know right now because we're still gathering information," Crispin said of how many lead pipes might be in the city.In looking for sites to further investigate the presence of lead pipes, the city will look for the dates when houses were built.&nbsp;"Right now it's about identifying," Crispin said. "In the future, there will be some discussion and research on how to eradicate any lead that would be found within service lines that go into a home."Typically cities deal with water mains and the lines that go to the meter. Past the meter is typically private and the responsibility of the homeowner, Crispin said."This requires the city to know what the material is not only from the city line to the meter but the meter to inside the home," he said.Crispin said he has no idea how much removing any lead pipes might cost the city. That information will not be available until the survey is complete.With the help of the EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, he said the city will be communicating with residents more about this issue as the survey progresses.

City of Hays starts process to identify lead pipes

John Lee Fose, a beloved member of WaKeeney, Kansas, peacefully departed from this life, surrounded by loved ones and under the care of Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, on December 20, 2023, at the age of 67.&nbsp;

Born on October 11, 1956, in Longmont, Colorado, to Ralph and Luella (Hay) Fose, John's journey through life was marked by passion, dedication, and a heart full of warmth. His early years were spent in WaKeeney, where he attended school, and he eventually graduated from Trego Community High School in 1975.&nbsp;

John was the workhorse for the Trego Golden Eagle football team, where he earned the honorary name "Fabulous Fose." In 1974, he led the Eagles to a State Championship against Salina Sacred Heart.  John went on to earn a scholarship and play football at Dodge City Junior College.  Following his studies, John became an integral part of Deines Construction, contributing to the development of Trego, Gove, and Ellis County.&nbsp;

On May 21, 1983, John embarked on a new adventure by marrying the love of his life, Jean (Pfanenstiel) Fose. Together, they lived in WaKeeney, and John established his own business, J and J Contract Pumping, serving the oil fields in Western Kansas.&nbsp;

Wrestling held a special place in John's heart, and for 15 years, he dedicated his time to coaching for the WaKeeney Wrestling Club. His impact extended beyond the mat, as he imparted valuable skills for both wrestling and life to countless young minds.&nbsp;

Car racing was more than a hobby for John—it was a passion. From Hobby Stock to Stock Car and Modified classifications, he left his mark. In 1990, John achieved the pinnacle, becoming a National Champion in the Stock Car Division.&nbsp;

However, amidst the roar of engines and cheers of victory, John's heart belonged to his family. He took immense pride in the accomplishments of his daughters, Nicole (Mike) Kriegshauser of WaKeeney, KS, and Amber (Brandon) Johnson of DeWitt, NE, along with his cherished grandchildren, Ace, Kaden, and Rylee Kriegshauser, Easton Lariviere, and Blakeley Anderson. A true family man, he enjoyed quality time at the lake fishing with his grandkids and his beloved English Bulldog, "Boogie."&nbsp;

John is survived by his loving wife Jean,&nbsp; brothers Jay and Joel Fose, sisters Lorna Nutt, Lisa Fose, and Lana Dinkel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Luella Fose, and brother Jerry Fose.&nbsp;

A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held on Saturday, December 23, at 10:30 a.m. CST at Schmitt Funeral Home in WaKeeney, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the WaKeeney Wrestling Club. Contributions can be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home at 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672.&nbsp;

If attending the memorial service, the family requests that you wear anything racing, wrestling, or football-related. Friends and well-wishers are invited to share their memories and words of support by writing in the guest book, ensuring that John's legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703197916224.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John Lee Fose, a beloved member of WaKeeney, Kansas, peacefully departed from this life, surrounded by loved ones and under the care of Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, on December 20, 2023, at the age of 67.&nbsp;Born on October 11, 1956, in Longmont, Colorado, to Ralph and Luella (Hay) Fose, John's journey through life was marked by passion, dedication, and a heart full of warmth. His early years were spent in WaKeeney, where he attended school, and he eventually graduated from Trego Community High School in 1975.&nbsp;John was the workhorse for the Trego Golden Eagle football team, where he earned the honorary name "Fabulous Fose." In 1974, he led the Eagles to a State Championship against Salina Sacred Heart.  John went on to earn a scholarship and play football at Dodge City Junior College.  Following his studies, John became an integral part of Deines Construction, contributing to the development of Trego, Gove, and Ellis County.&nbsp;On May 21, 1983, John embarked on a new adventure by marrying the love of his life, Jean (Pfanenstiel) Fose. Together, they lived in WaKeeney, and John established his own business, J and J Contract Pumping, serving the oil fields in Western Kansas.&nbsp;Wrestling held a special place in John's heart, and for 15 years, he dedicated his time to coaching for the WaKeeney Wrestling Club. His impact extended beyond the mat, as he imparted valuable skills for both wrestling and life to countless young minds.&nbsp;Car racing was more than a hobby for John—it was a passion. From Hobby Stock to Stock Car and Modified classifications, he left his mark. In 1990, John achieved the pinnacle, becoming a National Champion in the Stock Car Division.&nbsp;However, amidst the roar of engines and cheers of victory, John's heart belonged to his family. He took immense pride in the accomplishments of his daughters, Nicole (Mike) Kriegshauser of WaKeeney, KS, and Amber (Brandon) Johnson of DeWitt, NE, along with his cherished grandchildren, Ace, Kaden, and Rylee Kriegshauser, Easton Lariviere, and Blakeley Anderson. A true family man, he enjoyed quality time at the lake fishing with his grandkids and his beloved English Bulldog, "Boogie."&nbsp;John is survived by his loving wife Jean,&nbsp; brothers Jay and Joel Fose, sisters Lorna Nutt, Lisa Fose, and Lana Dinkel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Luella Fose, and brother Jerry Fose.&nbsp;A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held on Saturday, December 23, at 10:30 a.m. CST at Schmitt Funeral Home in WaKeeney, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the WaKeeney Wrestling Club. Contributions can be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home at 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, KS, 67672.&nbsp;If attending the memorial service, the family requests that you wear anything racing, wrestling, or football-related. Friends and well-wishers are invited to share their memories and words of support by writing in the guest book, ensuring that John's legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.&nbsp;

John Lee Fose

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.&nbsp;

On Dec. 18, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes. and arrested Craig H. Miller, 39, of Topeka, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

Miller was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include electronic solicitation of a child, promote obscenity to minors, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and attempted criminal sodomy with a child

On October 19, deputies arrested&nbsp; Miller and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of attempted electronic solicitation of a child, attempted indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702939790946.png" alt="Miller photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.&nbsp;On Dec. 18, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes. and arrested Craig H. Miller, 39, of Topeka, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.Miller was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include electronic solicitation of a child, promote obscenity to minors, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and attempted criminal sodomy with a childOn October 19, deputies arrested&nbsp; Miller and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of attempted electronic solicitation of a child, attempted indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kan. man jailed 2nd time in 60-days for alleged child sex crimes

CAIRO(AP) —The top leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened Wednesday to target U.S. warships if attacks are launched against Yemen, a day after Washington announced a new international coalition to protect commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea.

For weeks, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have been attacking ships transiting the Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles. The group has said their attacks aim to end Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli ties to the commercial ships targeted by the hardline Shia force have grown more tenuous with each attack.

In an hourlong speech, Abdel Malek al-Houthi said, “America seeks to militarize the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, seeking to turn the region into a war zone.”

On Tuesday, Washington announced the establishment of a new international coalition to protect vessels traveling through the Red Sea. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Bahrain is the only Arab country in the coalition, and it does not border the Red Sea. Few additional details about how the maritime alliance will operate were made public.

The rebel leader also accused other Arab countries of intercepting its missile fire bound for Israel. In both cases, no specific country was named.

The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, several northern provinces bordering Saudi Arabia as well as much of the western highlands and Red Sea ports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>CAIRO(AP) —The top leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened Wednesday to target U.S. warships if attacks are launched against Yemen, a day after Washington announced a new international coalition to protect commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea.For weeks, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have been attacking ships transiting the Red Sea with drones and ballistic missiles. The group has said their attacks aim to end Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. But the Israeli ties to the commercial ships targeted by the hardline Shia force have grown more tenuous with each attack.In an hourlong speech, Abdel Malek al-Houthi said, “America seeks to militarize the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, seeking to turn the region into a war zone.”On Tuesday, Washington announced the establishment of a new international coalition to protect vessels traveling through the Red Sea. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Bahrain is the only Arab country in the coalition, and it does not border the Red Sea. Few additional details about how the maritime alliance will operate were made public.The rebel leader also accused other Arab countries of intercepting its missile fire bound for Israel. In both cases, no specific country was named.The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, several northern provinces bordering Saudi Arabia as well as much of the western highlands and Red Sea ports.

Terrorists threaten to strike US warships if Yemen is attacked 

Elizabeth Ann (Pickering) Simmons, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Liz was born October 30, 1944 in Bolivar, Missouri.&nbsp; She was one of 13 children born to Gene and Wanda (Bean) Pickering.&nbsp; She grew up in Missouri before her family moved to Bakersfield, California.

Liz was united in marriage to John E. Simmons on March 29, 1983 in Russell.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell.

Liz was a housekeeper and a bartender for many years.&nbsp; She worked at Casey’s, where she made pizzas and donuts.&nbsp; She was always willing to do whatever needed to be done.&nbsp; She was a self-proclaimed Founder of the Russell Neighborhood Watch with her scanner in hand.&nbsp; She enjoyed, Yahtzee, cards, reading and watching Hallmark movies.&nbsp; She had the “gift of gab” and did not know a stranger.&nbsp; Her greatest joys were being the biggest Elvis Presley fan and taking care of her grandchildren.&nbsp; She will be missed by many.

Surviving family include her husband of 40 years, John of the home; daughters, Terrie Ploutz (Jeff) of Russell, Kansas and Carrie Ferry (Tim) of Osmond, Nebraska; son, Robert Reynolds of Pierce, Nebraska; two brothers, three sisters, 21 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren, friends, and a large adopted family.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and four sisters.

A Memorial Service will be held by the family at a later date.&nbsp; Cremation has taken place.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703011921887.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Elizabeth Ann (Pickering) Simmons, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.Liz was born October 30, 1944 in Bolivar, Missouri.&nbsp; She was one of 13 children born to Gene and Wanda (Bean) Pickering.&nbsp; She grew up in Missouri before her family moved to Bakersfield, California.Liz was united in marriage to John E. Simmons on March 29, 1983 in Russell.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell.Liz was a housekeeper and a bartender for many years.&nbsp; She worked at Casey’s, where she made pizzas and donuts.&nbsp; She was always willing to do whatever needed to be done.&nbsp; She was a self-proclaimed Founder of the Russell Neighborhood Watch with her scanner in hand.&nbsp; She enjoyed, Yahtzee, cards, reading and watching Hallmark movies.&nbsp; She had the “gift of gab” and did not know a stranger.&nbsp; Her greatest joys were being the biggest Elvis Presley fan and taking care of her grandchildren.&nbsp; She will be missed by many.Surviving family include her husband of 40 years, John of the home; daughters, Terrie Ploutz (Jeff) of Russell, Kansas and Carrie Ferry (Tim) of Osmond, Nebraska; son, Robert Reynolds of Pierce, Nebraska; two brothers, three sisters, 21 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren, friends, and a large adopted family.Liz was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and four sisters.A Memorial Service will be held by the family at a later date.&nbsp; Cremation has taken place.&nbsp; Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Elizabeth Ann Simmons

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.

Most of the settlement will go toward compensating future passengers, which the U.S. Department of Transportation considers an incentive for Southwest to avoid repeating last winter’s mess.

The government said the assessment was the largest it has ever imposed on an airline for violating consumer protection laws.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the settlement demonstrates his agency’s resolve to make airlines take care of their passengers.

Southwest said it was “grateful to have reached a consumer-friendly settlement” that gives the airline credit for compensation it already provided to customers. The airline said it has “learned from the event, and now can shift its entire focus to the future.”

The assessment stems from nearly 17,000 canceled flights a year ago, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-plants-dallas-district-of-columbia-business-d2034f41df7a4f78de02db8aa4ba11df" target="_blank">started as</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-forecast-updates-d0808da42ce16e8a0ca4541b747572cb" target="_blank">winter storm</a>&nbsp;paralyzed Southwest operations in Denver and Chicago and then snowballed when a crew-rescheduling system couldn’t keep up with the chaos.

Even before the settlement, the nation’s fourth-biggest airline by revenue said the meltdown cost it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-c679b26a8efe039f1881a2edb6535d01" target="_blank">more than $1.1 billion</a>&nbsp;in refunds and reimbursements, extra costs and lost ticket sales over several months.

The government said in a consent decree dated Friday that Southwest “violated the law on numerous occasions,” including by failing to help customers who were stranded in airports and hotels, leaving many of them to scramble for other flights.

Many who called the airline’s overwhelmed customer service center got a busy signal or were stuck on hold for hours.

Southwest also did not keep customers updated about canceled and delayed flights, failing to fulfill a requirement that airlines notify the public within 30 minutes of a change. Some said they never got an email or text notice and couldn’t access Southwest’s website.

The government also charged Southwest did not provide refunds quickly enough. People who made a mistake entering details in refund requests to a special Southwest website were not told to fix the error; they simply didn’t get the money. Others didn’t receive immediate refunds for things like pet fees and boarding upgrades that went unused because of canceled flights, according to the department.

In the consent order, Dallas-based Southwest disputed many of the Transportation Department’s findings.

Southwest said that only a small percentage of refunds were issued late and that it never gave false promises about long wait times for reaching customer service during weather-related disruptions. Still, the company said it entered the agreement just to settle the matter.

Southwest said the 2022 storm that produced record cold temperatures, blizzards and power outages a few days before Christmas created “unanticipated operational challenges.” The airline said it quickly began reimbursing travelers for meals, hotels and alternative transportation and also distributed frequent flyer points.

Southwest has added trucks and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec" target="_blank">de-icing equipment</a>&nbsp;and will increase staff during extreme cold temperatures at key airports such as Denver, CEO Robert Jordan said.

Southwest had previously agreed to make more than $600 million in refunds and reimbursements. Still, the carrier disclosed in October that federal officials found its efforts fell short and the carrier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-december-cancellations-04b7dcd50716b5ce0cccfc32457160e0" target="_blank">could face a civil penalty</a>&nbsp;over its service to customers.

The settlement provides that in addition to the $35 million fine, Southwest will get $33 million in credit for compensation already handed out, mostly for giving 25,000 frequent flyer points each, worth about $300, to affected customers. The company promised to give out $90 million in vouchers to future travelers.

Starting next spring and running until April 2027, Southwest will provide a voucher of at least $75 to travelers who request them if they reach their destination at least three hours late because of a delay or flight cancellation caused by the airline.

The government values vouchers at 80% of their face value, so Southwest received credit for $72 million for the future vouchers, not the full $90 million to be distributed over three years. If Southwest pays out less than $30 million in any of those years, it will owe the government a penalty of 80% of any shortfall.

In exchange for Southwest agreeing to the fine and other measures, the government stopped short of deciding whether the airline advertised a flight schedule that it knew could not be kept. Buttigieg had raised that charge publicly.

The Transportation Department said it reviewed thousands of consumer complaints, visited Southwest facilities and met with senior company officials during the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672191058148.png" alt="Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights last December in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S- photo courtesy KMGH" />
 <figcaption>Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights last December in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S- photo courtesy KMGH</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.Most of the settlement will go toward compensating future passengers, which the U.S. Department of Transportation considers an incentive for Southwest to avoid repeating last winter’s mess.The government said the assessment was the largest it has ever imposed on an airline for violating consumer protection laws.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the settlement demonstrates his agency’s resolve to make airlines take care of their passengers.Southwest said it was “grateful to have reached a consumer-friendly settlement” that gives the airline credit for compensation it already provided to customers. The airline said it has “learned from the event, and now can shift its entire focus to the future.”The assessment stems from nearly 17,000 canceled flights a year ago, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-plants-dallas-district-of-columbia-business-d2034f41df7a4f78de02db8aa4ba11df" target="_blank">started as</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-forecast-updates-d0808da42ce16e8a0ca4541b747572cb" target="_blank">winter storm</a>&nbsp;paralyzed Southwest operations in Denver and Chicago and then snowballed when a crew-rescheduling system couldn’t keep up with the chaos.Even before the settlement, the nation’s fourth-biggest airline by revenue said the meltdown cost it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-c679b26a8efe039f1881a2edb6535d01" target="_blank">more than $1.1 billion</a>&nbsp;in refunds and reimbursements, extra costs and lost ticket sales over several months.The government said in a consent decree dated Friday that Southwest “violated the law on numerous occasions,” including by failing to help customers who were stranded in airports and hotels, leaving many of them to scramble for other flights.Many who called the airline’s overwhelmed customer service center got a busy signal or were stuck on hold for hours.Southwest also did not keep customers updated about canceled and delayed flights, failing to fulfill a requirement that airlines notify the public within 30 minutes of a change. Some said they never got an email or text notice and couldn’t access Southwest’s website.The government also charged Southwest did not provide refunds quickly enough. People who made a mistake entering details in refund requests to a special Southwest website were not told to fix the error; they simply didn’t get the money. Others didn’t receive immediate refunds for things like pet fees and boarding upgrades that went unused because of canceled flights, according to the department.In the consent order, Dallas-based Southwest disputed many of the Transportation Department’s findings.Southwest said that only a small percentage of refunds were issued late and that it never gave false promises about long wait times for reaching customer service during weather-related disruptions. Still, the company said it entered the agreement just to settle the matter.Southwest said the 2022 storm that produced record cold temperatures, blizzards and power outages a few days before Christmas created “unanticipated operational challenges.” The airline said it quickly began reimbursing travelers for meals, hotels and alternative transportation and also distributed frequent flyer points.Southwest has added trucks and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec" target="_blank">de-icing equipment</a>&nbsp;and will increase staff during extreme cold temperatures at key airports such as Denver, CEO Robert Jordan said.Southwest had previously agreed to make more than $600 million in refunds and reimbursements. Still, the carrier disclosed in October that federal officials found its efforts fell short and the carrier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-december-cancellations-04b7dcd50716b5ce0cccfc32457160e0" target="_blank">could face a civil penalty</a>&nbsp;over its service to customers.The settlement provides that in addition to the $35 million fine, Southwest will get $33 million in credit for compensation already handed out, mostly for giving 25,000 frequent flyer points each, worth about $300, to affected customers. The company promised to give out $90 million in vouchers to future travelers.Starting next spring and running until April 2027, Southwest will provide a voucher of at least $75 to travelers who request them if they reach their destination at least three hours late because of a delay or flight cancellation caused by the airline.The government values vouchers at 80% of their face value, so Southwest received credit for $72 million for the future vouchers, not the full $90 million to be distributed over three years. If Southwest pays out less than $30 million in any of those years, it will owe the government a penalty of 80% of any shortfall.In exchange for Southwest agreeing to the fine and other measures, the government stopped short of deciding whether the airline advertised a flight schedule that it knew could not be kept. Buttigieg had raised that charge publicly.The Transportation Department said it reviewed thousands of consumer complaints, visited Southwest facilities and met with senior company officials during the investigation.

$90M in vouchers for future travelers after holiday travel nightmare

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Legal%20experts%20have%20called%20the%20measure%20a%20flagrant%20violation%20of%20the%20U.S.%20government's%20purview%20over%20immigration%20enforcement.">Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott</a>&nbsp;on Monday approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-migrants-arrest-explainer-306f644e8bb95333b078ed3923adacf0">sweeping new powers</a>&nbsp;that allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the U.S. border and give local judges authority to order them to leave the country, testing the limits of how far a state can go to enforce immigration laws.

Opponents have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/57fd255191214d54b420a39a96b82451">struck down</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Supreme Court. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and Texas’ law is also likely to face swift legal challenges.

The law, which takes effect in March, allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people who are suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who don’t leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges.

Abbott, who signed the law in front of a section of border fence in Brownsville, predicted the number of people crossing illegally into Texas would drop by “well over 50%, maybe 75%." He did not offer evidence for that estimate.

“The consequences of it are so extreme that the people being smuggled by the cartels, they will not want to be coming into the state of Texas," he said.

The law adds another tension point over immigration amid a struggle between the White House and Senate negotiators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-security-ukraine-congress-senate-biden-cb8d4e3ad8271323cfd9294b527d6615">to reach a deal on border security</a>. Republicans in Congress are demanding changes to the immigration system in exchange for any help for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.

Texas Republicans have increasingly challenged the U.S. government’s authority over immigration, saying President Joe Biden's administration isn’t doing enough to control the 1,950-mile (3,149-kilometer) southern border. Texas has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/migrants-los-angeles-california-texas-immigration-abbott-3fdb47985b34cd8301b61251b590778c">bused more than 65,000 migrants</a>&nbsp;to cities across America since August 2022 and recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-border-wire-522e993680a4d729e538a53a788ec185">installed razor wire</a>&nbsp;along the banks of the Rio Grande, which has snagged and injured some asylum-seekers.

The U.S. government on Monday temporarily shut down two railroad border crossings in Texas, a move that rail operators said would hamper trade ahead of Christmas. Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner, said the closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso were a response to more migrants traveling on freight trains, particularly over the last week.

Miller said authorities are seeing “unprecedented” arrivals at the border, topping 10,000 crossings on some days this month.

Shortly after Abbott signed the new law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said it would challenge the measure in court. More than 20 congressional Democrats also signed a letter urging the U.S. Justice Department to sue to stop the law, known as Senate Bill 4.

“SB 4 is dangerous for the people of Texas and interferes with the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration and foreign affairs," the letter read.

Mexico’s government also has rebuked the measure. Under bilateral and international agreements, Mexico is required to accept deportations of its own citizens, but not those of other countries. Under the Texas law, migrants ordered to leave would be sent to ports of entry along the border with Mexico, even if they are not Mexican citizens. In September and October,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-arrests-venezuela-mexico-a89f66759ac97c7ec62e4559af4e48a3">Venezuelans were the largest nationality</a>&nbsp;arrested for illegally crossing the U.S. border.

During debate in the Texas House in November, GOP state Rep. David Spiller pushed back against concerns that the law would be used as a dragnet to arrest immigrants statewide. He said enforcement would mostly take place in border counties. But he also rebuffed several efforts by Democrats to narrow the law, including a proposed carve-out for police on college campuses.

Because the illegal entry charge is a misdemeanor, which has a statue of limitation of two years, Spiller has said the law will not be used to target immigrants who have long been settled in the U.S.

“This is not, ‘Round up everyone who is here illegally and ship them back to Mexico,’” he said during debate over the bill.

Opponents have accused Texas Republicans of using the law as a vehicle to force the Supreme Court’s new conservative majority to revisit its landmark 2012 Arizona decision. At the time, Justice Anthony Kennedy said Arizona may have “understandable frustrations” with immigrants who are in the country illegally but that it can’t pursue policies that “undermine federal law.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702952665492.png" alt="Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, that will broaden his border security plans and add funding for more infrastructure to deter illegal immigration. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bills into law at a border wall construction site in Brownsville, Texas on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, that will broaden his border security plans and add funding for more infrastructure to deter illegal immigration. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/Legal%20experts%20have%20called%20the%20measure%20a%20flagrant%20violation%20of%20the%20U.S.%20government's%20purview%20over%20immigration%20enforcement.">Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott</a>&nbsp;on Monday approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-migrants-arrest-explainer-306f644e8bb95333b078ed3923adacf0">sweeping new powers</a>&nbsp;that allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the U.S. border and give local judges authority to order them to leave the country, testing the limits of how far a state can go to enforce immigration laws.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTexasGovernor%2Fvideos%2F1979749065731909%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=40" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Opponents have called the measure the most dramatic attempt by a state to police immigration since a 2010 Arizona law — denounced by critics as the “Show Me Your Papers” bill — that was largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/57fd255191214d54b420a39a96b82451">struck down</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Supreme Court. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and Texas’ law is also likely to face swift legal challenges.The law, which takes effect in March, allows any Texas law enforcement officer to arrest people who are suspected of entering the country illegally. Once in custody, they could either agree to a Texas judge’s order to leave the U.S. or be prosecuted on misdemeanor charges of illegal entry. Migrants who don’t leave could face arrest again under more serious felony charges.Abbott, who signed the law in front of a section of border fence in Brownsville, predicted the number of people crossing illegally into Texas would drop by “well over 50%, maybe 75%." He did not offer evidence for that estimate.“The consequences of it are so extreme that the people being smuggled by the cartels, they will not want to be coming into the state of Texas," he said.The law adds another tension point over immigration amid a struggle between the White House and Senate negotiators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-security-ukraine-congress-senate-biden-cb8d4e3ad8271323cfd9294b527d6615">to reach a deal on border security</a>. Republicans in Congress are demanding changes to the immigration system in exchange for any help for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.Texas Republicans have increasingly challenged the U.S. government’s authority over immigration, saying President Joe Biden's administration isn’t doing enough to control the 1,950-mile (3,149-kilometer) southern border. Texas has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/migrants-los-angeles-california-texas-immigration-abbott-3fdb47985b34cd8301b61251b590778c">bused more than 65,000 migrants</a>&nbsp;to cities across America since August 2022 and recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-border-wire-522e993680a4d729e538a53a788ec185">installed razor wire</a>&nbsp;along the banks of the Rio Grande, which has snagged and injured some asylum-seekers.The U.S. government on Monday temporarily shut down two railroad border crossings in Texas, a move that rail operators said would hamper trade ahead of Christmas. Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner, said the closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso were a response to more migrants traveling on freight trains, particularly over the last week.Miller said authorities are seeing “unprecedented” arrivals at the border, topping 10,000 crossings on some days this month.Shortly after Abbott signed the new law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said it would challenge the measure in court. More than 20 congressional Democrats also signed a letter urging the U.S. Justice Department to sue to stop the law, known as Senate Bill 4.“SB 4 is dangerous for the people of Texas and interferes with the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration and foreign affairs," the letter read.Mexico’s government also has rebuked the measure. Under bilateral and international agreements, Mexico is required to accept deportations of its own citizens, but not those of other countries. Under the Texas law, migrants ordered to leave would be sent to ports of entry along the border with Mexico, even if they are not Mexican citizens. In September and October,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-arrests-venezuela-mexico-a89f66759ac97c7ec62e4559af4e48a3">Venezuelans were the largest nationality</a>&nbsp;arrested for illegally crossing the U.S. border.During debate in the Texas House in November, GOP state Rep. David Spiller pushed back against concerns that the law would be used as a dragnet to arrest immigrants statewide. He said enforcement would mostly take place in border counties. But he also rebuffed several efforts by Democrats to narrow the law, including a proposed carve-out for police on college campuses.Because the illegal entry charge is a misdemeanor, which has a statue of limitation of two years, Spiller has said the law will not be used to target immigrants who have long been settled in the U.S.“This is not, ‘Round up everyone who is here illegally and ship them back to Mexico,’” he said during debate over the bill.Opponents have accused Texas Republicans of using the law as a vehicle to force the Supreme Court’s new conservative majority to revisit its landmark 2012 Arizona decision. At the time, Justice Anthony Kennedy said Arizona may have “understandable frustrations” with immigrants who are in the country illegally but that it can’t pursue policies that “undermine federal law.”___

Immigration showdown: New Texas law lets police arrest illegals

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-ship-attacks-bp-yemen-houthis-dcece18717aa59648ff9a6b04fbc798c">ships transiting the Red Sea</a>&nbsp;that have come under attack by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-ship-attack-israel-hamas-69289146266b9042b5896aa4679605ef">drones and ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday in Bahrain.

The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">damaged vessels,</a>&nbsp;has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.

The U.S. military's Central Command reported two more of the attacks on commercial vessels Monday. A strike by an attack drone and a ballistic missile hit a tanker off Yemen, at roughly the same time a cargo ship reported an explosive detonating in the water near them, the military said.

“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement released just after midnight in Bahrain. “Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.”

There are about 400 commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, an area roughly the size of Washington D.C. to Boston, at any given time, a senior military official told reporters who are traveling with Austin in the region.

Under the new mission, the military ships will not necessarily escort a specific vessel, but will be positioned to provide umbrella protection to as many as possible at a given time, the official said on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not made public on how the new operation will work.

Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, on Tuesday, challenged the U.S.-created coalition, saying the Iranian-backed rebels would continue targeting Israel-linked vessels off Yemen.

“The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He said the Houthis’ attacks “are not a show of force nor a challenge to anyone,” adding, “Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.”

On Tuesday the shipping company Maersk announced that for now, it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead — a much longer and less efficient passage. Maersk said it welcomed the international security effort, but at the present time, the much longer route would provide "more predictable outcomes” for its customers.

In the last four weeks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Houthi militants</a>&nbsp;have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times and still hold 25 members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-houthi-rebels-hijacked-ship-red-sea-dc9b6448690bcf5c70a0baf7c7c34b09">MV Galaxy Leader hostage in Yemen,</a>&nbsp;Austin said in remarks Tuesday in a ministerial meeting on the new maritime mission. The U.S. is still actively seeking member countries to join the mission, and increase the number of navies present and participating.

The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, Austin said. Some of those countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

One notably absent participant is China, which has warships in the region, but those ships have not responded to previous calls for assistance by commercial vessels, even though some of the ships attacked have had ties to Hong Kong, the military official said.

Several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but prefer not to be publicly named, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss additional details of the new mission that have not been publicly announced.

The new maritime security mission will be coordinated by the already existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. While the task force has primarily provided a headquarters structure to date, the goal of the new mission is to provide ships and other assets to carry out the protection. There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials were working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.

Separately, the United States has also called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks.

In a letter to council members obtained Monday by The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten “navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce.”

The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but took no immediate action.

Two U.S. warships — the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers — are currently moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.

The move to set up the expanded operation came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">three commercial vessels were struck by missiles</a>&nbsp;fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of U.S. warships.

To date, the U.S. has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants’ weapons or other sites. On Monday Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702947351254.png" alt="Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III greets Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 18, 2023. Austin traveled to Israel to meet with counterparts and underscore unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad McNeeley, DOD" />
 <figcaption>Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III greets Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 18, 2023. Austin traveled to Israel to meet with counterparts and underscore unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad McNeeley, DOD</figcaption>
 </figure>MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-ship-attacks-bp-yemen-houthis-dcece18717aa59648ff9a6b04fbc798c">ships transiting the Red Sea</a>&nbsp;that have come under attack by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-ship-attack-israel-hamas-69289146266b9042b5896aa4679605ef">drones and ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Tuesday in Bahrain.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in mid October-photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>The seriousness of the attacks, several of which have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">damaged vessels,</a>&nbsp;has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.The U.S. military's Central Command reported two more of the attacks on commercial vessels Monday. A strike by an attack drone and a ballistic missile hit a tanker off Yemen, at roughly the same time a cargo ship reported an explosive detonating in the water near them, the military said.“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement released just after midnight in Bahrain. “Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.”There are about 400 commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, an area roughly the size of Washington D.C. to Boston, at any given time, a senior military official told reporters who are traveling with Austin in the region.Under the new mission, the military ships will not necessarily escort a specific vessel, but will be positioned to provide umbrella protection to as many as possible at a given time, the official said on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details not made public on how the new operation will work.Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, on Tuesday, challenged the U.S.-created coalition, saying the Iranian-backed rebels would continue targeting Israel-linked vessels off Yemen.“The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.He said the Houthis’ attacks “are not a show of force nor a challenge to anyone,” adding, “Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.”On Tuesday the shipping company Maersk announced that for now, it had decided to re-route its ships that have been paused for days outside the strait and Red Sea, and send them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope instead — a much longer and less efficient passage. Maersk said it welcomed the international security effort, but at the present time, the much longer route would provide "more predictable outcomes” for its customers.In the last four weeks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Houthi militants</a>&nbsp;have attacked or seized commercial ships 12 times and still hold 25 members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-houthi-rebels-hijacked-ship-red-sea-dc9b6448690bcf5c70a0baf7c7c34b09">MV Galaxy Leader hostage in Yemen,</a>&nbsp;Austin said in remarks Tuesday in a ministerial meeting on the new maritime mission. The U.S. is still actively seeking member countries to join the mission, and increase the number of navies present and participating.The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain have joined the new maritime security mission, Austin said. Some of those countries will conduct joint patrols while others provide intelligence support in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.One notably absent participant is China, which has warships in the region, but those ships have not responded to previous calls for assistance by commercial vessels, even though some of the ships attacked have had ties to Hong Kong, the military official said.Several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but prefer not to be publicly named, a defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss additional details of the new mission that have not been publicly announced.The new maritime security mission will be coordinated by the already existing Combined Task Force 153, which was set up in April 2022 to improve maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. While the task force has primarily provided a headquarters structure to date, the goal of the new mission is to provide ships and other assets to carry out the protection. There have been 39 member nations in CTF 153, but officials were working to determine which of them would participate in this latest effort.Separately, the United States has also called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against the attacks.In a letter to council members obtained Monday by The Associated Press, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Houthi attacks targeting commercial vessels legally transiting the international waterways continue to threaten “navigational rights and freedoms, international maritime security, and international commerce.”The 15 council members discussed the Houthi threat behind closed doors Monday but took no immediate action.Two U.S. warships — the USS Carney and the USS Mason, Navy destroyers — are currently moving through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.The move to set up the expanded operation came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">three commercial vessels were struck by missiles</a>&nbsp;fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen on Dec. 3. Those attacks were part of an escalating campaign of violence that also included armed and other drones launched in the direction of U.S. warships.To date, the U.S. has not struck back at the Iranian-back Houthis operating in Yemen or targeted any of the militants’ weapons or other sites. On Monday Austin did not answer a question as to why the Pentagon had not conducted a counterstrike.___

Operation Prosperity Guardian: US will focus on attacks in the Red Sea

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.

The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conservatives-synod-lgbtq-5c6e33d4d45aea1b0b5553d3acc799e1">sent to two conservative cardinals</a>&nbsp;that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.

The new document repeats that condition and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings in question must be non-liturgical in nature and should not be conferred at the same time as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-endorse-same-sex-civil-unions-eb3509b30ebac35e91aa7cbda2013de2">a civil union</a>, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive and broad definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.

“Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God,” the document said. “The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.”

He added: "It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered.”

The document marks the latest gesture of outreach from a pope who has made welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his papacy. From his 2013 quip, “Who am I to judge?” about a purportedly gay priest, to his 2023 comment to The Associated Press that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-gay-rights-ap-interview-1359756ae22f27f87c1d4d6b9c8ce212">“Being homosexual is not a crime,”</a>&nbsp;Francis has distinguished himself from all his predecessors with his message of welcome.

“The significance of this news cannot be overstated,” said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which supports LGBTQ+ Catholics. “It is one thing to formally approve same-gender blessings, which he had already pastorally permitted, but to say that people should not be subjected to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive God’s love and mercy is an even more significant step.”

The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage.

And in 2021, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn’t bless the unions of two men or two women because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443">“God cannot bless sin.”</a>

That document created an outcry, one it appeared even Francis was blindsided by even though he had technically approved its publication. Soon after it was published, he removed the official responsible for it and set about laying the groundwork for a reversal.

In the new document, the Vatican said the church must shy away from “doctrinal or disciplinary schemes, especially when they lead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying."

It stressed that people in “irregular” unions of extramarital sex — gay or straight — are in a state of sin. But it said that shouldn’t deprive them of God’s love or mercy. “Even when a person’s relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing, stretching out his hand to God,” the document said.

Offering such a blessing isn't legitimizing anything. But at the same time, the church shouldn't judge, he said.

“Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” the document said.

The Rev. James Martin, who advocates for a greater welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics, praised the new document as a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the Vatican's 2021 policy.

The new document “recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence and help in their committed relationships,” he said in an email. "Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages.”

Traditionalists, however, were outraged. The traditionalist blogger Luigi Casalini of Messa in Latino (Latin Mass) blog wrote that the document appeared to be a form of heresy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603292366279.png" alt="File photo Pope Francis photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Pope Francis photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it.The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office, released Monday, elaborates on a letter Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conservatives-synod-lgbtq-5c6e33d4d45aea1b0b5553d3acc799e1">sent to two conservative cardinals</a>&nbsp;that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.The new document repeats that condition and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings in question must be non-liturgical in nature and should not be conferred at the same time as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-endorse-same-sex-civil-unions-eb3509b30ebac35e91aa7cbda2013de2">a civil union</a>, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.But it says requests for such blessings for same-sex couples should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive and broad definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.“Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God,” the document said. “The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.”He added: "It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered.”The document marks the latest gesture of outreach from a pope who has made welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his papacy. From his 2013 quip, “Who am I to judge?” about a purportedly gay priest, to his 2023 comment to The Associated Press that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-gay-rights-ap-interview-1359756ae22f27f87c1d4d6b9c8ce212">“Being homosexual is not a crime,”</a>&nbsp;Francis has distinguished himself from all his predecessors with his message of welcome.“The significance of this news cannot be overstated,” said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which supports LGBTQ+ Catholics. “It is one thing to formally approve same-gender blessings, which he had already pastorally permitted, but to say that people should not be subjected to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive God’s love and mercy is an even more significant step.”The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage.And in 2021, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn’t bless the unions of two men or two women because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443">“God cannot bless sin.”</a>That document created an outcry, one it appeared even Francis was blindsided by even though he had technically approved its publication. Soon after it was published, he removed the official responsible for it and set about laying the groundwork for a reversal.In the new document, the Vatican said the church must shy away from “doctrinal or disciplinary schemes, especially when they lead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying."It stressed that people in “irregular” unions of extramarital sex — gay or straight — are in a state of sin. But it said that shouldn’t deprive them of God’s love or mercy. “Even when a person’s relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing, stretching out his hand to God,” the document said.Offering such a blessing isn't legitimizing anything. But at the same time, the church shouldn't judge, he said.“Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,” the document said.The Rev. James Martin, who advocates for a greater welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics, praised the new document as a “huge step forward” and a “dramatic shift” from the Vatican's 2021 policy.The new document “recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence and help in their committed relationships,” he said in an email. "Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages.”Traditionalists, however, were outraged. The traditionalist blogger Luigi Casalini of Messa in Latino (Latin Mass) blog wrote that the document appeared to be a form of heresy.

Pope issues controversial new document on same-sex unions

Cherise Marie (Patch) Casper, born on October 14, 1970, in Everett, Washington, left this world December 16, 2023. She was the beloved daughter of Christina Wright (Burrows) and her loving stepfather Michael Wright. Cherise was also preceded in death by her father, Donald Patch, and her devoted husband, Richard Casper.

Cherise leaves behind a legacy of love, family, and a distinctive sense of humor. Known for her blunt and sarcastic wit, she brought laughter to those around her. Cherise is survived by her four children: Amanda (Hanley) and Dustin Stiner of Loveland, Colorado, along with their children Jude, Elijah, Serenity, and Adriana; Daymond and Shanell (Sager) Hanley of Colby, and their daughter Ava Hanley; Nichalos Casper of Colby; and Tiffany (Casper) and Jesse Maynard of Missouri, with their children Rory, Aleczandyr, Temperance, Sylar, and Dorien.

Cherise found joy in being a mother and grandmother, creating lasting memories with her family. In addition to her immediate family, Cherise is survived by her sister, Rae Patch, and brother, Donald Patch.

Cherise Casper will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her unique blend of kindness, warmth, and humor will forever remain in the hearts of those who were touched by her presence. May she rest in eternal peace alongside her husband, Richard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cherise Marie (Patch) Casper, born on October 14, 1970, in Everett, Washington, left this world December 16, 2023. She was the beloved daughter of Christina Wright (Burrows) and her loving stepfather Michael Wright. Cherise was also preceded in death by her father, Donald Patch, and her devoted husband, Richard Casper.Cherise leaves behind a legacy of love, family, and a distinctive sense of humor. Known for her blunt and sarcastic wit, she brought laughter to those around her. Cherise is survived by her four children: Amanda (Hanley) and Dustin Stiner of Loveland, Colorado, along with their children Jude, Elijah, Serenity, and Adriana; Daymond and Shanell (Sager) Hanley of Colby, and their daughter Ava Hanley; Nichalos Casper of Colby; and Tiffany (Casper) and Jesse Maynard of Missouri, with their children Rory, Aleczandyr, Temperance, Sylar, and Dorien.Cherise found joy in being a mother and grandmother, creating lasting memories with her family. In addition to her immediate family, Cherise is survived by her sister, Rae Patch, and brother, Donald Patch.Cherise Casper will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her unique blend of kindness, warmth, and humor will forever remain in the hearts of those who were touched by her presence. May she rest in eternal peace alongside her husband, Richard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cherise Marie (Patch) Casper

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Ellis County District Judge Tom Drees denied a request Friday to reconsider a sentence handed down earlier this year for a man who admitted
to robbing a Hays Dollar General Store in 2022.

Defense attorney Alex Herman argued on behalf of his client Batalova
Senuoke, 39, and with the support of Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson that
Drees should reconsider the sentencing because they reached a plea agreement.

Both attorneys told the court they were not aware of any
case law that would allow a judge to reconsider a felony sentencing and Drees
denied the motion.

Anderson and Herman expressed frustration at Senuoke’s
initial sentencing in October and again Friday in Ellis County District Court
with Drees’ decision to alter a plea agreement the two sides, and prosecutors
in Jefferson County Kentucky had worked out in a similar case.

Senuoke, who is currently in custody in Kentucky, was
convicted of first-degree robbery charges in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was
sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crimes in Kentucky.

In October, Drees sentenced Senuoke to a total of 10 years in
prison for aggravated robbery and aggravated battery. Drees set those to run
consecutively with the 12 years in Kentucky. Senuoke will serve
12 years in Kentucky and then return to Kansas to serve an additional 10 years.

At Friday’s hearing, Herman said the state of Kentucky
imposed Senuoke’s sentence there to run concurrent to the one in Kansas, meaning
he would serve just the 12 total years in prison. His Kansas sentence would run
at the same time as the Kentucky sentence.

&nbsp;“Mr. Senuoke is going
to be doing 10 years (in prison), whether it’s in Kentucky or whether it’s in
Kansas,” Herman said. “As a taxpayer, I would prefer that he do it in Kentucky, not in Kansas because that’s going to save us money on housing an individual
for 10 years.” 

Herman claimed that the Kansas Department of Corrections estimates
that it would cost more than $300,000 to house Senuoke for 10 years.

If Drees modified the sentence to run concurrently, Herman
said Senuoke would serve the 10-year sentence in Kentucky.

Herman and Anderson also argued returning Senuoke to serve
his time in Kansas would eventually mean he would be paroled in Kansas and that would make him a resident of the state, something that nobody wants.

“When your honor ordered the sentence to be consecutive
against the request of the state and against the request of the defense, what
your honor did was chose where he would do his 10 years (in prison) not that he
would do 20,” Anderson said.

Anderson claimed that Drees, “has a habit of disrupting plea
agreements far more often than [the court] has a habit of going along with it.”

“That has consequences,” Anderson said, “unintended
consequences and intended consequences.”

He also said the judge's ruling would make it harder for
his office to close cases.

Drees said Senuoke is a felon with several prior convictions
and while he agreed to a reduced sentence from the maximum sentence of 233
months, or 19 years and five months to 10 years, he did not agree to run the
sentence at the same time as the Kentucky sentence because of the harm he did
in Kansas.

“Mr. Senuoke is a violent offender with multiple prior
person felonies. He did great harm to a citizen of Ellis County and the state
of Kansas — great emotional harm, which she may never recover from. It was a
violent crime, and it calls for an imprisonment sentence,” Drees said. “The
court found the 10 years to be appropriate, and the court sentenced him to those
10 years of imprisonment. The court believes it's appropriate to run that
consecutive to Kentucky and the court did that.”

Drees said even if the Kentucky judge elects to run the 12-year prison sentence concurrently with his Kansas prison sentence, he believes Senuoke
would serve 10 years in Kansas and then return to Kentucky to serve the
remainder of his two years there.

Drees disagreed with Anderson's and Herman’s concerns
about the cost of housing Senuoke with the Kansas Department of Corrections for 10 years.

“The cost is also a static cost for the state of Kansas. The
state is not going to pay an additional $300,000 for this individual,” Drees
said. “That is the average cost because Kansas budgets for incarcerating 10,600
people.”

Drees said the state has seen a significant drop in the
number of inmates housed with the Kansas Department of Corrections to fewer than 9,000 this year.

“Kansas is going to pay that cost whether Mr. Senuoke is
here or not,” Drees said.

Drees also rebuffed Anderson’s allegations he has a habit of altering plea agreements.

“I have rarely, rarely gone against plea agreements,” Drees
said. “It’s been a handful of times in the three years that we’ve been
sentencing.”

Anderson disagreed and claimed he has had days that Drees
has “done something to toy with or tweak” with 80-90 percent of the plea
agreements in cases on the docket.

To which Drees said, “I don’t think you’ll be able to show
that, and at the end of the day, that’s my job to impose an appropriate
sentence.”

Drees added, “This is one of those occasions where I disagree
with your plea agreement. I don’t agree with letting Mr. Senuoke commit
multiple, multiple armed robberies and be punished in effect for one.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostEllis County District Judge Tom Drees denied a request Friday to reconsider a sentence handed down earlier this year for a man who admitted
to robbing a Hays Dollar General Store in 2022.Defense attorney Alex Herman argued on behalf of his client Batalova
Senuoke, 39, and with the support of Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson that
Drees should reconsider the sentencing because they reached a plea agreement.Both attorneys told the court they were not aware of any
case law that would allow a judge to reconsider a felony sentencing and Drees
denied the motion.Anderson and Herman expressed frustration at Senuoke’s
initial sentencing in October and again Friday in Ellis County District Court
with Drees’ decision to alter a plea agreement the two sides, and prosecutors
in Jefferson County Kentucky had worked out in a similar case.Senuoke, who is currently in custody in Kentucky, was
convicted of first-degree robbery charges in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was
sentenced to 12 years in prison for the crimes in Kentucky.In October, Drees sentenced Senuoke to a total of 10 years in
prison for aggravated robbery and aggravated battery. Drees set those to run
consecutively with the 12 years in Kentucky. Senuoke will serve
12 years in Kentucky and then return to Kansas to serve an additional 10 years.At Friday’s hearing, Herman said the state of Kentucky
imposed Senuoke’s sentence there to run concurrent to the one in Kansas, meaning
he would serve just the 12 total years in prison. His Kansas sentence would run
at the same time as the Kentucky sentence.&nbsp;“Mr. Senuoke is going
to be doing 10 years (in prison), whether it’s in Kentucky or whether it’s in
Kansas,” Herman said. “As a taxpayer, I would prefer that he do it in Kentucky, not in Kansas because that’s going to save us money on housing an individual
for 10 years.” Herman claimed that the Kansas Department of Corrections estimates
that it would cost more than $300,000 to house Senuoke for 10 years.If Drees modified the sentence to run concurrently, Herman
said Senuoke would serve the 10-year sentence in Kentucky.Herman and Anderson also argued returning Senuoke to serve
his time in Kansas would eventually mean he would be paroled in Kansas and that would make him a resident of the state, something that nobody wants.“When your honor ordered the sentence to be consecutive
against the request of the state and against the request of the defense, what
your honor did was chose where he would do his 10 years (in prison) not that he
would do 20,” Anderson said.Anderson claimed that Drees, “has a habit of disrupting plea
agreements far more often than [the court] has a habit of going along with it.”“That has consequences,” Anderson said, “unintended
consequences and intended consequences.”He also said the judge's ruling would make it harder for
his office to close cases.Drees said Senuoke is a felon with several prior convictions
and while he agreed to a reduced sentence from the maximum sentence of 233
months, or 19 years and five months to 10 years, he did not agree to run the
sentence at the same time as the Kentucky sentence because of the harm he did
in Kansas.“Mr. Senuoke is a violent offender with multiple prior
person felonies. He did great harm to a citizen of Ellis County and the state
of Kansas — great emotional harm, which she may never recover from. It was a
violent crime, and it calls for an imprisonment sentence,” Drees said. “The
court found the 10 years to be appropriate, and the court sentenced him to those
10 years of imprisonment. The court believes it's appropriate to run that
consecutive to Kentucky and the court did that.”Drees said even if the Kentucky judge elects to run the 12-year prison sentence concurrently with his Kansas prison sentence, he believes Senuoke
would serve 10 years in Kansas and then return to Kentucky to serve the
remainder of his two years there.Drees disagreed with Anderson's and Herman’s concerns
about the cost of housing Senuoke with the Kansas Department of Corrections for 10 years.“The cost is also a static cost for the state of Kansas. The
state is not going to pay an additional $300,000 for this individual,” Drees
said. “That is the average cost because Kansas budgets for incarcerating 10,600
people.”Drees said the state has seen a significant drop in the
number of inmates housed with the Kansas Department of Corrections to fewer than 9,000 this year.“Kansas is going to pay that cost whether Mr. Senuoke is
here or not,” Drees said.Drees also rebuffed Anderson’s allegations he has a habit of altering plea agreements.“I have rarely, rarely gone against plea agreements,” Drees
said. “It’s been a handful of times in the three years that we’ve been
sentencing.”Anderson disagreed and claimed he has had days that Drees
has “done something to toy with or tweak” with 80-90 percent of the plea
agreements in cases on the docket.To which Drees said, “I don’t think you’ll be able to show
that, and at the end of the day, that’s my job to impose an appropriate
sentence.”Drees added, “This is one of those occasions where I disagree
with your plea agreement. I don’t agree with letting Mr. Senuoke commit
multiple, multiple armed robberies and be punished in effect for one.”

Ellis County judge dismisses request to reconsider armed robbery sentence

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH Health) continues to explain the circumstances surrounding the hiring of a Chief Financial Officer who had changed his name to hide his true identity and previous felony convictions.

According to a statement on the hospital web site, "As we have previously reported, LMH Health announced on October 30, 2023, that Mike Rogers was no longer in his role as Chief Financial Officer. On October 26, 2023, we became aware of inconsistencies regarding his identity."

"The next day, we confirmed he had legally changed his name, and that he had been convicted of felonies in 2007 and 2005 under his given name of Michael Patrick Brunton.&nbsp;Rogers did not disclose this and other important information in his application or during the interview process."

"We have also disclosed that Rogers was immediately placed on administrative leave, and LMH Health launched an internal process to identify gaps that allowed the fraudulent information to escape identification. This analysis is consistent with being a High Reliability Organization— an organization that operates in complex, high-hazard domains for extended periods without serious accidents or catastrophic failures."

"The findings of that process were presented to the LMH Health Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Due to the nature of the report, it was discussed in an executive session with legal counsel. While the report itself will not be made public because it contains records protected by K.S.A. 45-221, LMH Health continues to place a strong emphasis on candor, trust, and accountability."

"To that end, we want our staff and the community to know we are making process improvements as a result of our findings.&nbsp; This was a very concerning situation, yet because it was caught quickly, and because of existing security protocol, it posed no risk to patient safety or to our finances."

"In her comments at the November 29, 2023, board meeting, Board of Trustees Chair Pat Miller said that high reliability organizations are not without mistakes or missteps, but they are transparent about their errors and take appropriate actions to ensure the mistakes do not happen again."

“The Trustees supported Senior Leadership’s decision to publicly disclose the reason for firing the CFO,” said Miller. “An organization that asks its employees to be open and honest about identifying and correcting mistakes and potential problems must demonstrate these same qualities. Additionally, through our transparency, it may protect other organizations that encounter this individual and/or similar circumstances.”

“Apparently, LMH Health was not the first hospital that hired then quickly fired Mr. Rogers this calendar year,” said Miller. “Had the other hospital disclosed its experience, this person would have been easily excluded during LMH’s CFO search process.”

"We have already made several changes in light of the findings and will make more over the next several months. Included are actions in the following three areas:

"During the meeting, Miller expressed the board’s appreciation for the thoroughness of the assessment and the recommended actions.&nbsp; She noted that the organization’s strong institutional controls protected its financial resources."

“The former CFO never had access to LMH Health’s funds, not even a credit card,” said Miller. “LMH undergoes a rigorous independent financial audit each year, the results of which are publicly disclosed. This event will undergo very close scrutiny during the audit and will be included in the audit findings.”

LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson said, “Even the best organizations will make mistakes along the way; it’s how we respond that defines us. I am grateful to and proud of the staff who quickly identified this situation and addressed it. They acted courageously and raised this issue to ensure we could take immediate action.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702821734129.png" alt="LMH Health -Google image" />
 <figcaption>LMH Health -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH Health) continues to explain the circumstances surrounding the hiring of a Chief Financial Officer who had changed his name to hide his true identity and previous felony convictions.According to a statement on the hospital web site, "As we have previously reported, LMH Health announced on October 30, 2023, that Mike Rogers was no longer in his role as Chief Financial Officer. On October 26, 2023, we became aware of inconsistencies regarding his identity.""The next day, we confirmed he had legally changed his name, and that he had been convicted of felonies in 2007 and 2005 under his given name of Michael Patrick Brunton.&nbsp;Rogers did not disclose this and other important information in his application or during the interview process.""We have also disclosed that Rogers was immediately placed on administrative leave, and LMH Health launched an internal process to identify gaps that allowed the fraudulent information to escape identification. This analysis is consistent with being a High Reliability Organization— an organization that operates in complex, high-hazard domains for extended periods without serious accidents or catastrophic failures.""The findings of that process were presented to the LMH Health Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Due to the nature of the report, it was discussed in an executive session with legal counsel. While the report itself will not be made public because it contains records protected by K.S.A. 45-221, LMH Health continues to place a strong emphasis on candor, trust, and accountability.""To that end, we want our staff and the community to know we are making process improvements as a result of our findings.&nbsp; This was a very concerning situation, yet because it was caught quickly, and because of existing security protocol, it posed no risk to patient safety or to our finances.""In her comments at the November 29, 2023, board meeting, Board of Trustees Chair Pat Miller said that high reliability organizations are not without mistakes or missteps, but they are transparent about their errors and take appropriate actions to ensure the mistakes do not happen again."“The Trustees supported Senior Leadership’s decision to publicly disclose the reason for firing the CFO,” said Miller. “An organization that asks its employees to be open and honest about identifying and correcting mistakes and potential problems must demonstrate these same qualities. Additionally, through our transparency, it may protect other organizations that encounter this individual and/or similar circumstances.”“Apparently, LMH Health was not the first hospital that hired then quickly fired Mr. Rogers this calendar year,” said Miller. “Had the other hospital disclosed its experience, this person would have been easily excluded during LMH’s CFO search process.”"We have already made several changes in light of the findings and will make more over the next several months. Included are actions in the following three areas:<ul>
 <li>Communication. We will reduce communication gaps through a formalized system with checks and balances and ensure a single point of contact for hiring information.</li><li>Application process. In addition to third-party online application portals, applicants will be asked to submit a formal resume along with answers to screening questions.</li><li>Documentation of credentials. We will use primary source verification and other direct methods for required elements of the position under consideration. We will also extend the timeframe for background checks beyond industry standards for key positions.</li>
 </ul>"During the meeting, Miller expressed the board’s appreciation for the thoroughness of the assessment and the recommended actions.&nbsp; She noted that the organization’s strong institutional controls protected its financial resources."“The former CFO never had access to LMH Health’s funds, not even a credit card,” said Miller. “LMH undergoes a rigorous independent financial audit each year, the results of which are publicly disclosed. This event will undergo very close scrutiny during the audit and will be included in the audit findings.”LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson said, “Even the best organizations will make mistakes along the way; it’s how we respond that defines us. I am grateful to and proud of the staff who quickly identified this situation and addressed it. They acted courageously and raised this issue to ensure we could take immediate action.”

Kan. hospital making changes after CFO hid previous crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) — When you buy eyedrops at a U.S. store, you might assume you're getting a product made in a clean, well-maintained factory that’s passed muster with health regulators.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">repeated recalls</a>&nbsp;involving over-the-counter drops are drawing new attention to just how little U.S. officials know about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-warning-india-11624105e31a68102d414594c85766f0">conditions</a>&nbsp;at some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1edfda229b11bf9f9181ff6a1271a6bc">manufacturing plants</a>&nbsp;on the other side of the world — and the limited tools they have to intervene when there's a problem.

The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S. But experts say those capabilities will do little without more staff and resources for foreign inspections, which were a challenge even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced regulators to skip thousands of visits.

“The FDA is not getting its job done in terms of drug quality assurance inspections abroad,” said David Ridley of Duke University and co-author of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00686">recent paper</a>&nbsp;tracking the downturn in inspections. “Very few foreign drugmakers have been inspected in the past four years.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — When you buy eyedrops at a U.S. store, you might assume you're getting a product made in a clean, well-maintained factory that’s passed muster with health regulators.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">repeated recalls</a>&nbsp;involving over-the-counter drops are drawing new attention to just how little U.S. officials know about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-warning-india-11624105e31a68102d414594c85766f0">conditions</a>&nbsp;at some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1edfda229b11bf9f9181ff6a1271a6bc">manufacturing plants</a>&nbsp;on the other side of the world — and the limited tools they have to intervene when there's a problem.The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S. But experts say those capabilities will do little without more staff and resources for foreign inspections, which were a challenge even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced regulators to skip thousands of visits.“The FDA is not getting its job done in terms of drug quality assurance inspections abroad,” said David Ridley of Duke University and co-author of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00686">recent paper</a>&nbsp;tracking the downturn in inspections. “Very few foreign drugmakers have been inspected in the past four years.”In 2022, FDA foreign inspections were down 79% from 2019, according to agency records collected by Ridley's group. Inspections increased this year but are still far below pre-pandemic levels.FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn said: “The FDA works to inspect as many facilities possible, but ultimately industry is responsible for the quality of their products."An October recall of two dozen eyedrop brands came after FDA staff found cracked floors, barefoot workers and other unsanitary conditions at a Mumbai plant that supplied products to CVS, Walmart and other major retailers. It was the first time FDA staff had visited the site.That inspection was prompted by an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">earlier recall</a>&nbsp;of tainted eyedrops from a different Indian plant that's been linked to four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-ezicare-delsam-outbreak-2a0f0cc1273cc71b122702e6180492ca">deaths</a>&nbsp;and more than a dozen cases of vision loss. That&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-infection-outbreak-fda-1e266befa854dc7c0ce65def0da9a0bc">plant</a>&nbsp;had also never been previously inspected.“These are very rare instances, but what we’ve seen is that these products can cause real harm,” said Dr. Timothy Janetos, an ophthalmologist at Northwestern University. “Something needs to change.”Experts point to three possible changes:EARLIER INSPECTIONSPrescription medicines are highly regulated. Before a drugmaker can sell one in the U.S., it must undergo FDA review to establish its safety and effectiveness. As part of the process, the FDA typically inspects the factory where the drug will be made.But eyedrops and other over-the-counter products don’t undergo preliminary review or inspections. Instead, they are governed by a different system called a monograph, essentially a generic recipe for all medicines in a particular class. So long as drugmakers attest that they are using the standard recipe, they can launch a product within days of filing with the FDA.“It’s nothing more than electronic paperwork,” said Dr. Sandra Brown of the Dry Eye Foundation, a nonprofit advocating for increased regulation. “There’s no requirement for the facility to be inspected prior to shipping for sale.”The FDA says it has flexibility to adjust its review process “to ensure safety."But the agency is asking Congress for the power to require manufacturers of eyedrops and other sterile products to give at least six months notice before shipping products from a new factory. That would give inspectors time to visit facilities that aren’t on their radar.The proposal could face pushback from some over-the-counter drugmakers, who aren’t accustomed to preapproval inspections.But Brown says the unique risks of tainted eyedrops require a different approach from pills and tablets.“Anything you swallow is going to meet up with your stomach acid, which is going to kill most bacteria," Brown said. “It’s much more dangerous to put a product in your eye.”REQUIRING RECALLSThe FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye">warned consumers</a>&nbsp;in late October not to use the eyedrops sold at CVS, Rite-Aid and other stores. But the products weren’t officially recalled until Nov. 15, almost three weeks later.That's because Indian manufacturer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kilitch-healthcare-india-limited-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-various-eye-drops-potential">Kilitch Healthcare</a>, initially declined to cooperate. The FDA can force recalls of food, medical devices and many other products, but it lacks the same authority for drugs and instead must ask companies to voluntarily take action.The FDA recently asked Congress for mandatory recall authority over drugs.FUNDING FOREIGN INSPECTORSSince the 1990s, drug manufacturing has increasingly moved to India, China and other lower-cost countries.The Government Accountability Office has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-103611">raised concerns</a>&nbsp;for years about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-china-us-news-medication-health-care-industry-699f56acec5542ffbc4aa95b8ce6a0cf">FDA’s oversight</a>&nbsp;of the global supply chain, flagging it as a&nbsp;<a href="https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-23-106203/index.html#appendix26">“high-risk” issue</a>&nbsp;for more than a decade.The FDA said in a statement it uses “all available tools” to ensure Americans get “high quality, safe and effective” medications.The agency generally prioritizes factories that have never been inspected or haven’t been inspected in the last five years. It halted most routine, in-person foreign inspections in March 2020 and did not resume them until 2022. The agency didn’t conduct any inspections in India during the first year of COVID-19.FDA leaders have long said it's challenging to recruit and keep overseas inspectors.Experts say Congress can and should address that.