SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

Just after 9a.m. Sunday police responded to a domestic violence with a weapon call in the 400 block of W 45th&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

A 911 caller reported a 38-year-old male suspect threatened family members with a gun and retreated into a shed on the property.

Officers arrived and attempted to contact the suspect, and were able to contact him by phone but he refused to come out of the shed. 

Police negotiators were called in to assist with communicating with him. Multiple avenues of communication were attempted but the suspect remained in the shed, and eventually the SWAT team was called to assist.

After the SWAT team arrived, attempts continued to communicate with the suspect and resolve the situation peacefully. 

Eventually, the suspect began firing shots from inside the shed. He fired multiple shots, one of which struck a Wichita police vehicle. A single round was fired from a Wichita police officer, striking the suspect and incapacitating him. He was then removed from the shed and transported to an area hospital by EMS in critical but stable condition – he is expected to survive, according to Macy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659911286550.png" alt="Police at the scene of the standoff on Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the standoff on Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that sent a man to the hospital.Just after 9a.m. Sunday police responded to a domestic violence with a weapon call in the 400 block of W 45th&nbsp;Street North in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.A 911 caller reported a 38-year-old male suspect threatened family members with a gun and retreated into a shed on the property.Officers arrived and attempted to contact the suspect, and were able to contact him by phone but he refused to come out of the shed. Police negotiators were called in to assist with communicating with him. Multiple avenues of communication were attempted but the suspect remained in the shed, and eventually the SWAT team was called to assist.After the SWAT team arrived, attempts continued to communicate with the suspect and resolve the situation peacefully. Eventually, the suspect began firing shots from inside the shed. He fired multiple shots, one of which struck a Wichita police vehicle. A single round was fired from a Wichita police officer, striking the suspect and incapacitating him. He was then removed from the shed and transported to an area hospital by EMS in critical but stable condition – he is expected to survive, according to Macy.

Man wounded in Kansas officer-involved shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-prescription-drugs-congress-4d5d4090a86b68dafc92030c3facff9d">election-year economic package</a>&nbsp;to Senate passage Sunday, a hard-fought compromise less ambitious than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-f6fc8e4ea79642a7e04e28211c00db9a">President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision</a>&nbsp;but one that still meets deep-rooted party goals of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">slowing global warming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prescription-drug-prices-755ac3ccc03dc1f43f4918aecb63bac2">moderating pharmaceutical costs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-kyrsten-sinema-congress-399fcec95d37d5b0b9a197ed4c8d33fa">taxing immense corporations</a>.

The estimated $740 billion package heads next to the House, where lawmakers are poised to deliver on Biden's priorities, a stunning turnaround of what had seemed a lost and doomed effort that suddenly roared back to political life. Cheers broke out as Senate Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session.

“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests,” President Joe Biden said in a statement from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. “I ran for President promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does — period.”

Biden, who had his share of long nights during his three decades as a senator, called into the Senate cloakroom during the vote on speakerphone to personally thank the staff for their hard work.

The president urged the House to pass the bill as soon as possible. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her chamber would “move swiftly to send this bill to the president’s desk.” House votes are expected Friday.

“It's been a long, tough and winding road, but at last, at last we have arrived,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ahead of final votes.

“The Senate is making history. I am confident the Inflation Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining legislative feats of the 21st century," he said.

Senators engaged in a round-the-clock marathon of voting that began Saturday and stretched late into Sunday afternoon. Democrats swatted down some three dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation. Confronting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-nato-biden-climate-and-environment-7bc6644107e4ce365ab9e225c0591b5c">unanimous GOP opposition,</a>&nbsp;Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber held, keeping the party on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.

The bill ran into trouble midday over objections to the new 15% corporate minimum tax that private equity firms and other industries disliked, forcing last-minute changes.

Despite the momentary setback, the “Inflation Reduction Act” gives Democrats a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-climate-and-environment-9af87ffab0088b45a2e9d5a7caabbdf1">campaign-season showcase</a>&nbsp;for action on coveted goals. It includes the largest-ever federal effort on climate change — close to $400 billion — caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare to $2,000 a year and extends expiring subsidies that help 13 million people afford health insurance. By raising corporate taxes and reaping savings from the long-sought goal of allowing the government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare, the whole package is paid for, with some $300 billion extra revenue for deficit reduction.

Barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden’s initial 10-year, $3.5 trillion Build Back Better initiative, the new package abandons earlier proposals for universal preschool, paid family leave and expanded child care aid. That plan collapsed after conservative Sen. Joe. Manchin, D-W.Va., opposed it, saying it was too costly and would fuel inflation.

Nonpartisan analysts have said the 755-page “Inflation Reduction Act” would have a minor effect on surging consumer prices.

Republicans said the new measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. They said the bill's business taxes would hurt job creation and force prices skyward, making it harder for people to cope with the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation</a>&nbsp;since the 1980s.

“Democrats have already robbed American families once through inflation, and now their solution is to rob American families a second time," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., argued.

In an ordeal imposed on most budget bills like this one, the Senate had to endure an overnight “vote-a-rama” of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-budget-agreement-7b0ee6e3e0b70357288fd69f44473b9b">compromise bill negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-kyrsten-sinema-joe-manchin-congress-c0d40a6f2490b2613a690995daca7e11">inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz</a>.

Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized the bill's shortcomings and offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, but those efforts were defeated. Republicans forced their own votes designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement.

Before debate began, the bill's prescription drug price curbs were diluted by the Senate's nonpartisan parliamentarian who said a provision should fall that would impose costly penalties on drug makers whose price increases for private insurers exceed inflation.

It was the bill's chief protection for the 180 million people with private health coverage they get through work or purchase themselves. Under special procedures that will let Democrats pass their bill by simple majority without the usual 60-vote margin, its provisions must be focused more on dollar-and-cents budget numbers than policy changes.

But the thrust of Democrats' pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for pharmaceuticals sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.

The bill also caps Medicare patients' costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-prices-diabetes-congress-a2f9986b7bf3500b81d1ec80a01e5abb">insulin</a>, the expensive diabetes medication, at $35 monthly. Democrats wanted to extend the $35 cap to private insurers but it ran afoul of Senate rules. Most Republicans voted to strip it from the package, though in a sign of the political potency of health costs seven GOP senators joined Democrats trying to preserve it.

The measure's final costs were being recalculated to reflect late changes, but overall it would raise more than $700 billion over a decade. The money would come from a 15% minimum tax on a handful of corporations with yearly profits above $1 billion, a 1% tax on companies that repurchase their own stock,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-congress-internal-revenue-service-government-and-politics-dd2e6eaeb914eea553615e231332f3fb">bolstered IRS tax collections</a>&nbsp;and government savings from lower drug costs.

Sinema forced Democrats to drop a plan to prevent wealthy hedge fund managers from paying less than individual income tax rates for their earnings. She also joined with other Western senators to win $4 billion to combat the region's drought.

Several Democratic senators joined the GOP-led effort to exclude some firms from the new corporate minimum tax.

The package keeps to Biden's pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 a year.

It was on the energy and environment side that compromise was most evident between progressives and Manchin, a champion of fossil fuels and his state's coal industry.

Clean energy would be fostered with tax credits for buying electric vehicles and manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines. There would be home energy rebates, funds for constructing factories building clean energy technology and money to promote climate-friendly farm practices and reduce pollution in minority communities.

Manchin won billions to help power plants lower carbon emissions plus language requiring more government auctions for oil drilling on federal land and waters. Party leaders also promised to push separate legislation this fall to accelerate permits for energy projects, which Manchin wants to include a nearly completed natural gas pipeline in his state.

Still, environmental groups hailed the passage as a milestone. “Tremendous progress,” said Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659900078881.png" alt="Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-prescription-drugs-congress-4d5d4090a86b68dafc92030c3facff9d">election-year economic package</a>&nbsp;to Senate passage Sunday, a hard-fought compromise less ambitious than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-f6fc8e4ea79642a7e04e28211c00db9a">President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision</a>&nbsp;but one that still meets deep-rooted party goals of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">slowing global warming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prescription-drug-prices-755ac3ccc03dc1f43f4918aecb63bac2">moderating pharmaceutical costs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-kyrsten-sinema-congress-399fcec95d37d5b0b9a197ed4c8d33fa">taxing immense corporations</a>.The estimated $740 billion package heads next to the House, where lawmakers are poised to deliver on Biden's priorities, a stunning turnaround of what had seemed a lost and doomed effort that suddenly roared back to political life. Cheers broke out as Senate Democrats held united, 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on voting to oppose the Democrats’ tax and spending bill today <a href="https://t.co/Ef5bK9FQhg">pic.twitter.com/Ef5bK9FQhg</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1556362788876029952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Today, Senate Democrats sided with American families over special interests,” President Joe Biden said in a statement from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. “I ran for President promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does — period.”Biden, who had his share of long nights during his three decades as a senator, called into the Senate cloakroom during the vote on speakerphone to personally thank the staff for their hard work.The president urged the House to pass the bill as soon as possible. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her chamber would “move swiftly to send this bill to the president’s desk.” House votes are expected Friday.“It's been a long, tough and winding road, but at last, at last we have arrived,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ahead of final votes.“The Senate is making history. I am confident the Inflation Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining legislative feats of the 21st century," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659883605338.png" alt="Senator Marshall responding to a roll call vote early Sunday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senator Marshall responding to a roll call vote early Sunday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Despite Sen. Schumer’s jubilance, today’s vote was horribly disappointing and will lead to a less free and less competitive America.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1556363674843058177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Senators engaged in a round-the-clock marathon of voting that began Saturday and stretched late into Sunday afternoon. Democrats swatted down some three dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation. Confronting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-nato-biden-climate-and-environment-7bc6644107e4ce365ab9e225c0591b5c">unanimous GOP opposition,</a>&nbsp;Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber held, keeping the party on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.The bill ran into trouble midday over objections to the new 15% corporate minimum tax that private equity firms and other industries disliked, forcing last-minute changes.Despite the momentary setback, the “Inflation Reduction Act” gives Democrats a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-climate-and-environment-9af87ffab0088b45a2e9d5a7caabbdf1">campaign-season showcase</a>&nbsp;for action on coveted goals. It includes the largest-ever federal effort on climate change — close to $400 billion — caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare to $2,000 a year and extends expiring subsidies that help 13 million people afford health insurance. By raising corporate taxes and reaping savings from the long-sought goal of allowing the government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare, the whole package is paid for, with some $300 billion extra revenue for deficit reduction.Barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden’s initial 10-year, $3.5 trillion Build Back Better initiative, the new package abandons earlier proposals for universal preschool, paid family leave and expanded child care aid. That plan collapsed after conservative Sen. Joe. Manchin, D-W.Va., opposed it, saying it was too costly and would fuel inflation.Nonpartisan analysts have said the 755-page “Inflation Reduction Act” would have a minor effect on surging consumer prices.Republicans said the new measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. They said the bill's business taxes would hurt job creation and force prices skyward, making it harder for people to cope with the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation</a>&nbsp;since the 1980s.“Democrats have already robbed American families once through inflation, and now their solution is to rob American families a second time," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., argued.In an ordeal imposed on most budget bills like this one, the Senate had to endure an overnight “vote-a-rama” of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-budget-agreement-7b0ee6e3e0b70357288fd69f44473b9b">compromise bill negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-kyrsten-sinema-joe-manchin-congress-c0d40a6f2490b2613a690995daca7e11">inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz</a>.Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized the bill's shortcomings and offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, but those efforts were defeated. Republicans forced their own votes designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement.Before debate began, the bill's prescription drug price curbs were diluted by the Senate's nonpartisan parliamentarian who said a provision should fall that would impose costly penalties on drug makers whose price increases for private insurers exceed inflation.It was the bill's chief protection for the 180 million people with private health coverage they get through work or purchase themselves. Under special procedures that will let Democrats pass their bill by simple majority without the usual 60-vote margin, its provisions must be focused more on dollar-and-cents budget numbers than policy changes.But the thrust of Democrats' pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for pharmaceuticals sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.The bill also caps Medicare patients' costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-prices-diabetes-congress-a2f9986b7bf3500b81d1ec80a01e5abb">insulin</a>, the expensive diabetes medication, at $35 monthly. Democrats wanted to extend the $35 cap to private insurers but it ran afoul of Senate rules. Most Republicans voted to strip it from the package, though in a sign of the political potency of health costs seven GOP senators joined Democrats trying to preserve it.The measure's final costs were being recalculated to reflect late changes, but overall it would raise more than $700 billion over a decade. The money would come from a 15% minimum tax on a handful of corporations with yearly profits above $1 billion, a 1% tax on companies that repurchase their own stock,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-congress-internal-revenue-service-government-and-politics-dd2e6eaeb914eea553615e231332f3fb">bolstered IRS tax collections</a>&nbsp;and government savings from lower drug costs.Sinema forced Democrats to drop a plan to prevent wealthy hedge fund managers from paying less than individual income tax rates for their earnings. She also joined with other Western senators to win $4 billion to combat the region's drought.Several Democratic senators joined the GOP-led effort to exclude some firms from the new corporate minimum tax.The package keeps to Biden's pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $400,000 a year.It was on the energy and environment side that compromise was most evident between progressives and Manchin, a champion of fossil fuels and his state's coal industry.Clean energy would be fostered with tax credits for buying electric vehicles and manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines. There would be home energy rebates, funds for constructing factories building clean energy technology and money to promote climate-friendly farm practices and reduce pollution in minority communities.Manchin won billions to help power plants lower carbon emissions plus language requiring more government auctions for oil drilling on federal land and waters. Party leaders also promised to push separate legislation this fall to accelerate permits for energy projects, which Manchin wants to include a nearly completed natural gas pipeline in his state.Still, environmental groups hailed the passage as a milestone. “Tremendous progress,” said Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement.

Moran, Marshall blast passage of $740B climate, health care bill

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Andrea Lopez, 20, Topeka,&nbsp;was eastbound on the Kansas Turnpike just before the I-635 exit in the left lane.

The Honda struck the right rear quarter panel and the sliding door on 2017 Ford Transit van that was stopped on the left shoulder. 

The sliding door struck a man outside the van identified as 42-year-old Chris McClellan of Columbus, North Carolina.

A 2020 BMW X5M driven by Alexander Babich, 67, St. Louis, Missouri, struck the sliding door from van in the left lane.

EMS transported McClellan to KU Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Lopez, Babich and a passenger in the BMW were properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Andrea Lopez, 20, Topeka,&nbsp;was eastbound on the Kansas Turnpike just before the I-635 exit in the left lane.The Honda struck the right rear quarter panel and the sliding door on 2017 Ford Transit van that was stopped on the left shoulder. The sliding door struck a man outside the van identified as 42-year-old Chris McClellan of Columbus, North Carolina.A 2020 BMW X5M driven by Alexander Babich, 67, St. Louis, Missouri, struck the sliding door from van in the left lane.EMS transported McClellan to KU Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Lopez, Babich and a passenger in the BMW were properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Man dies after struck by van door on Kan. Turnpike 

TOPEKA, Kansas. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of Lansing Correctional Facility&nbsp; resident Fred Patterson III. 

He died Sunday at the prison, according to a media release from the Department of Corrections. The apparent cause of death is homicide and is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;

Patterson, 56, violated his parole and was admitted to the facility on May 24, 2022. His underlying offenses are from Douglas County for one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child greater than 14 and less than 16 years of age, and one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child less than 14 years of age.

He had been a registered as a sex offender since October of 2012, according to the KBI Offender Registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659919900092.png" alt="Patterson had been registered as a sex offender since Oct. 2012, according to the KBI Offender registry." />
 <figcaption>Patterson had been registered as a sex offender since Oct. 2012, according to the KBI Offender registry.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kansas. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of Lansing Correctional Facility&nbsp; resident Fred Patterson III. He died Sunday at the prison, according to a media release from the Department of Corrections. The apparent cause of death is homicide and is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;Patterson, 56, violated his parole and was admitted to the facility on May 24, 2022. His underlying offenses are from Douglas County for one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child greater than 14 and less than 16 years of age, and one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child less than 14 years of age.He had been a registered as a sex offender since October of 2012, according to the KBI Offender Registry.

Homicide: Sex offender dies at Kansas prison

KANSAS CITY — A jury convicted&nbsp; a man on charges related to the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

On August 5, the jury convicted Brandon A. McDaniel, 27, Independence, of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges. 

According to court records, on December 16, 2020, police responded to a shooting in the 9900 block of E. 63rd Street in Independence.

McDaniel's mother called police and reported he had killed his girlfriend, Oriana Starr. They had been arguing when the victim wrapped a cord around his neck and he shot her. 

Police found the victim on the floor of the apartment. A second witness told police that McDaniel told him of the fatal shooting and showed him the firearm he used. McDaniel later sold the firearm.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 16 at 11 a.m., according to Baker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659635022874.png" alt="McDaniel-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>McDaniel-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A jury convicted&nbsp; a man on charges related to the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.On August 5, the jury convicted Brandon A. McDaniel, 27, Independence, of Murder 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges. According to court records, on December 16, 2020, police responded to a shooting in the 9900 block of E. 63rd Street in Independence.McDaniel's mother called police and reported he had killed his girlfriend, Oriana Starr. They had been arguing when the victim wrapped a cord around his neck and he shot her. Police found the victim on the floor of the apartment. A second witness told police that McDaniel told him of the fatal shooting and showed him the firearm he used. McDaniel later sold the firearm.A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 16 at 11 a.m., according to Baker.

KC-area man's mother reported he killed girlfriend

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.

Just after 12:30a.m. August 4, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 56 Highway just south of the Lyndon exit for a traffic violation, according to a media release.&nbsp; During the stop, the deputy located illegal narcotics.

The driver of the vehicle 34-year-old Elizabeth A. Sheahon of Lawrence was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license is suspended, and illegal registration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659640058189.png" alt="Sheahon-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Sheahon-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on multiple charges after a traffic stop.Just after 12:30a.m. August 4, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 56 Highway just south of the Lyndon exit for a traffic violation, according to a media release.&nbsp; During the stop, the deputy located illegal narcotics.The driver of the vehicle 34-year-old Elizabeth A. Sheahon of Lawrence was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license is suspended, and illegal registration.

Kan. woman with suspended license was transporting meth

NEW YORK (AP) — Prices for gas, food and rent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">are soaring</a>. The Federal Reserve has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-live-updates-6dab38b8235bc62bdf69b4710c6b84f5">raised interest rates</a>&nbsp;to the highest level since 2018.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-shrinks-4ffd93331422cb131a974223dad5825f">The U.S. economy has shrunk for two straight quarters</a>.

Economists are divided over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-health-gross-domestic-product-economy-89cbfc145ad34a91679ffa43e617c896">whether a recession is looming</a>. What's clear is that economic uncertainty isn't going away anytime soon. But there are steps you can take now to be ready for whatever is ahead.

<a href="https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/cbs-directory/detail/ym2701">Yiming Ma</a>, an assistant professor at Columbia University, says it's not a question of if but when a recession will happen. People should prepare but not panic, she said.

“Historically the economy has always been going up and down," said Ma. “It’s something that just happens, it’s a bit like catching a cold.”

But, she notes, some people’s immune systems are better able to recover than others. It's the same with finances. If you think a recession could destabilize yours, here are some things you can do to prepare.

Knowing how much you spend every month is key. Ma recommends sitting down and writing how much you spend day-to-day. This will help you see what's coming in, what's going out, and which unnecessary expenses you might be able to cut.

“By understanding what money you are getting and what you are spending, you may be able to make changes to help you through tough times,” advises the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/resources/consumers/money-smart/index.html">Money Smart</a>, a financial education program.

Budgets often reveal expenses that can be eliminated entirely or impulsive spending that can be avoided with planning.

For guidance creating a budget, free courses such as “&nbsp;<a href="https://ctdollarsandsense.igrad.com/courses/creating-a-budget">Creating a budget (and sticking to it)</a>&nbsp;” by CT Dollars and Sense, a partnership of Connecticut state agencies, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/nerdwallet-budget-calculator">Nerd Wallet’s Budget Calculator</a>&nbsp;can be good places to start.

The more non-essential expenses you can cut, the more you can save.

It's not possible for everyone, but Gene Natali, cofounder of Troutwood, an app that helps people create financial plans, says it's ideal to budget to save enough to cover basic necessities for three to six months.

Programs such as&nbsp;<a href="https://americasaves.org/">America Saves</a>, a non-profit campaign by the Consumer Federation of America, can help create a roadmap.

And if you do have a savings account, it’s important to check whether your bank gives you a good interest rate and shop around if it doesn't, Ma said.

Her advice is to keep an eye on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/how-to-open-a-savings-account/">monthly fees</a>&nbsp;or service charges that might eat into your savings. But don't limit your options. Online banks sometimes offer better rates than traditional ones.

CONSOLIDATE YOUR LOANS, AND DON'T TAKE ANY MORE

As interest rates rise, experts recommend that you consolidate your loans to have just one fixed-rate loan and, if you can, pay down as much of your debt as possible.

“Job security tends to be worse when a recession comes, it’s not a great time to accumulate debt,” said Ma.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/pay-off-debt/">paying off your existing debt</a>&nbsp;is easier said than done. The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice guide for&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/getting-out-debt">Getting Out of Debt</a>&nbsp;can help you make a plan.

With interest rates high, it's also not a great time to take out new loans for big expenses like cars, though experts do recommend that if you need durable goods such as vacuum cleaners, stoves or dishwashers, you buy them as soon as possible to avoid future price increases.

Allen Galeon, an in-home caregiver in California, has been affected for months by the rising prices of household staples like groceries, paper towels, and gas for his commute.

His son’s favorite Hi-C orange juice, which was $1.99 for a six-pack, is now $2.50.

Since the start of the pandemic, when Galeon cut down from caring for multiple families to a single client to reduce his health risks, his household has dealt with financial instability.

One choice he’s made is to buy items like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-2c9458030350de5118eb3e26bcf39047">clothes or electronics</a>&nbsp;second-hand whenever possible, whether from Goodwill, pawn shops, or Craigslist. And Craigslist allows you to search by area, to cut down on driving – which means less gas and inconvenience.

Since the pandemic, many companies have updated their relief policies and have become more flexible with users, according to Kia McCallister-Young, director of&nbsp;<a href="https://americasaves.org/">America Saves</a>.

Calling providers of monthly services to negotiate bills — whether it's utilities, phone service, cable, internet, or auto insurance — can lead to meaningful savings, said McCallister-Young. Individuals can ask for the best rate, any available discounts, rebates, or coupons that can lead to a lowered monthly fee. If a provider is competitive with other companies, there's an even better chance of getting a discount, she added.

“If you tell them, ‘I’m thinking of changing' or that you're shopping around, that helps — if they know you're considering leaving, they'll give you the best rate, and the goal right now is to find as much cashflow as possible," she said.

Check out federal programs such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap">Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,</a>&nbsp;which helps cover bills, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers">Lifeline,</a>&nbsp;which can assist with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers">phone bills</a>. If you are unsure if you qualify for any federal or state program, you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.211.org/get-help/i-need-help-paying-my-bills">can call 211</a>, which will connect you with a local specialist who can assist you.

Grocery shopping with a meal plan, buying generic rather than brand-name or purchasing in bulk are some of the recommendations from the&nbsp;<a href="https://consumerfed.org/for-consumers/">Consumer Federation of America</a>.

“A lot of stores have price matching, so if you show them that a competitor is selling the same product at a lower rate, they'll match that,” said McCallister-Young. “You also want to be looking at the stores that are closest to you, so you're not spending the extra money you'd save on gas.”

An alternative way to save money on groceries is to check out food sharing apps such as&nbsp;<a href="https://olioex.com/">Olio,</a>&nbsp;which connects people around their community to share extra grocery items, and&nbsp;<a href="https://toogoodtogo.com/en-us">Too Good to Go,</a>&nbsp;where customers can buy businesses' surplus food at a discount.

Even with these saving and spending practices, a month's wages aren't always enough to cover important expenses. If this is your situation, programs around the country are available to assist you.

“Sometimes there just isn’t enough ‘end of the month’ at the end of the month,” said Michael Best, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center who works on financial services issues.

To make use of these resources, check if you qualify for the&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program">Emergency Rental Assistance Program</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usa.gov/food-help">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/fmnp/wic-farmers-market-nutrition-program">Farmers Market Nutrition Program</a>, or the&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/homeowner-assistance-fund">Homeowner Assistance Fund</a>. All of these are federal programs coordinated by state governments. Some states offer additional local programs for their residents.

If you are experiencing food or housing insecurity, look for non-profit or community organizations around you. From&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bowery.org/programs/">housing support</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank">food banks</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://cccsny.org/services/utility-assistance">utility assistance</a>, non-profit organizations around the country can help. National organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank">Feeding America</a>&nbsp;host food banks in all 50 states.

“We’re already seeing the community reaching out to us in overwhelming numbers because of what’s happening in the country in terms of economic stability,” said Kavita Mehra of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sakhi.org/">Sakhi for South Asian Women</a>, an organization that helps domestic violence survivors in New York City.

Her organization provides housing, food, and cash emergency assistance for people in the community. She said that between January and June, her group distributed over $150,000 in emergency cash assistance to survivors who were having a harder time keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. That's more than all of last year.

Food assistance organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://ampleharvest.org/find-food/">Ample Harvest</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://findfood.hungerfreeamerica.org/?p=a1U2E00000683p7UAA,a1U2E00000683ouUAA,a1U2E00000683p2UAA&amp;r=32000&amp;t=DRIVING">Hunger Free America</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://foodrescue.us/about/our-locations/">Food Rescue US</a>&nbsp;offer maps that allow users to search a nearby food bank by typing their zip code.

Between worrying about the bills and not knowing what your financial future might look like, your stress levels can go through the roof.

“It’s a hectic existence,” Galeon said. “You have to do a lot of managing, and you have to keep a cool head, for the sake of your mental health.”

Debra Kissen, a clinical director of&nbsp;<a href="https://lightonanxiety.com/">Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Center</a>, recommends first recognizing when your body is stressed. Then she advises mindfulness exercises such as breathing, touching a wall to calm yourself, and completing the&nbsp;<a href="https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/using-the-five-senses-for-anxiety-relief">“five senses for anxiety relief” exercise</a>.

Most health insurance covers some type of mental health assistance. If you don’t have health insurance, you can look for sliding-scale therapists around the country, including through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.findtreatment.gov/results/">FindTreatment.gov</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://members.adaa.org/page/FATMain">Anxiety and Depression Association of America</a>&nbsp;directory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657824317859.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Prices for gas, food and rent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">are soaring</a>. The Federal Reserve has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-live-updates-6dab38b8235bc62bdf69b4710c6b84f5">raised interest rates</a>&nbsp;to the highest level since 2018.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-economy-shrinks-4ffd93331422cb131a974223dad5825f">The U.S. economy has shrunk for two straight quarters</a>.Economists are divided over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-health-gross-domestic-product-economy-89cbfc145ad34a91679ffa43e617c896">whether a recession is looming</a>. What's clear is that economic uncertainty isn't going away anytime soon. But there are steps you can take now to be ready for whatever is ahead.<a href="https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/cbs-directory/detail/ym2701">Yiming Ma</a>, an assistant professor at Columbia University, says it's not a question of if but when a recession will happen. People should prepare but not panic, she said.“Historically the economy has always been going up and down," said Ma. “It’s something that just happens, it’s a bit like catching a cold.”But, she notes, some people’s immune systems are better able to recover than others. It's the same with finances. If you think a recession could destabilize yours, here are some things you can do to prepare.___KNOW YOUR EXPENSES AND MAKE A BUDGETKnowing how much you spend every month is key. Ma recommends sitting down and writing how much you spend day-to-day. This will help you see what's coming in, what's going out, and which unnecessary expenses you might be able to cut.“By understanding what money you are getting and what you are spending, you may be able to make changes to help you through tough times,” advises the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/resources/consumers/money-smart/index.html">Money Smart</a>, a financial education program.Budgets often reveal expenses that can be eliminated entirely or impulsive spending that can be avoided with planning.For guidance creating a budget, free courses such as “&nbsp;<a href="https://ctdollarsandsense.igrad.com/courses/creating-a-budget">Creating a budget (and sticking to it)</a>&nbsp;” by CT Dollars and Sense, a partnership of Connecticut state agencies, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/nerdwallet-budget-calculator">Nerd Wallet’s Budget Calculator</a>&nbsp;can be good places to start.SAVE AS YOU CANThe more non-essential expenses you can cut, the more you can save.It's not possible for everyone, but Gene Natali, cofounder of Troutwood, an app that helps people create financial plans, says it's ideal to budget to save enough to cover basic necessities for three to six months.Programs such as&nbsp;<a href="https://americasaves.org/">America Saves</a>, a non-profit campaign by the Consumer Federation of America, can help create a roadmap.And if you do have a savings account, it’s important to check whether your bank gives you a good interest rate and shop around if it doesn't, Ma said.Her advice is to keep an eye on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/how-to-open-a-savings-account/">monthly fees</a>&nbsp;or service charges that might eat into your savings. But don't limit your options. Online banks sometimes offer better rates than traditional ones.CONSOLIDATE YOUR LOANS, AND DON'T TAKE ANY MOREAs interest rates rise, experts recommend that you consolidate your loans to have just one fixed-rate loan and, if you can, pay down as much of your debt as possible.“Job security tends to be worse when a recession comes, it’s not a great time to accumulate debt,” said Ma.But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/pay-off-debt/">paying off your existing debt</a>&nbsp;is easier said than done. The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice guide for&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/getting-out-debt">Getting Out of Debt</a>&nbsp;can help you make a plan.With interest rates high, it's also not a great time to take out new loans for big expenses like cars, though experts do recommend that if you need durable goods such as vacuum cleaners, stoves or dishwashers, you buy them as soon as possible to avoid future price increases.VISIT SECOND-HAND STORES AND YARD SALESAllen Galeon, an in-home caregiver in California, has been affected for months by the rising prices of household staples like groceries, paper towels, and gas for his commute.His son’s favorite Hi-C orange juice, which was $1.99 for a six-pack, is now $2.50.Since the start of the pandemic, when Galeon cut down from caring for multiple families to a single client to reduce his health risks, his household has dealt with financial instability.One choice he’s made is to buy items like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-business-2c9458030350de5118eb3e26bcf39047">clothes or electronics</a>&nbsp;second-hand whenever possible, whether from Goodwill, pawn shops, or Craigslist. And Craigslist allows you to search by area, to cut down on driving – which means less gas and inconvenience.NEGOTIATE YOUR MONTHLY BILLSSince the pandemic, many companies have updated their relief policies and have become more flexible with users, according to Kia McCallister-Young, director of&nbsp;<a href="https://americasaves.org/">America Saves</a>.Calling providers of monthly services to negotiate bills — whether it's utilities, phone service, cable, internet, or auto insurance — can lead to meaningful savings, said McCallister-Young. Individuals can ask for the best rate, any available discounts, rebates, or coupons that can lead to a lowered monthly fee. If a provider is competitive with other companies, there's an even better chance of getting a discount, she added.“If you tell them, ‘I’m thinking of changing' or that you're shopping around, that helps — if they know you're considering leaving, they'll give you the best rate, and the goal right now is to find as much cashflow as possible," she said.Check out federal programs such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap">Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,</a>&nbsp;which helps cover bills, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers">Lifeline,</a>&nbsp;which can assist with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers">phone bills</a>. If you are unsure if you qualify for any federal or state program, you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.211.org/get-help/i-need-help-paying-my-bills">can call 211</a>, which will connect you with a local specialist who can assist you.SWITCH UP YOUR GROCERIESGrocery shopping with a meal plan, buying generic rather than brand-name or purchasing in bulk are some of the recommendations from the&nbsp;<a href="https://consumerfed.org/for-consumers/">Consumer Federation of America</a>.“A lot of stores have price matching, so if you show them that a competitor is selling the same product at a lower rate, they'll match that,” said McCallister-Young. “You also want to be looking at the stores that are closest to you, so you're not spending the extra money you'd save on gas.”An alternative way to save money on groceries is to check out food sharing apps such as&nbsp;<a href="https://olioex.com/">Olio,</a>&nbsp;which connects people around their community to share extra grocery items, and&nbsp;<a href="https://toogoodtogo.com/en-us">Too Good to Go,</a>&nbsp;where customers can buy businesses' surplus food at a discount.LOOK AT GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSEven with these saving and spending practices, a month's wages aren't always enough to cover important expenses. If this is your situation, programs around the country are available to assist you.“Sometimes there just isn’t enough ‘end of the month’ at the end of the month,” said Michael Best, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center who works on financial services issues.To make use of these resources, check if you qualify for the&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/emergency-rental-assistance-program">Emergency Rental Assistance Program</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usa.gov/food-help">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/fmnp/wic-farmers-market-nutrition-program">Farmers Market Nutrition Program</a>, or the&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/homeowner-assistance-fund">Homeowner Assistance Fund</a>. All of these are federal programs coordinated by state governments. Some states offer additional local programs for their residents.LOOK FOR COMMUNITY ASSISTANCEIf you are experiencing food or housing insecurity, look for non-profit or community organizations around you. From&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bowery.org/programs/">housing support</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank">food banks</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://cccsny.org/services/utility-assistance">utility assistance</a>, non-profit organizations around the country can help. National organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank">Feeding America</a>&nbsp;host food banks in all 50 states.“We’re already seeing the community reaching out to us in overwhelming numbers because of what’s happening in the country in terms of economic stability,” said Kavita Mehra of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sakhi.org/">Sakhi for South Asian Women</a>, an organization that helps domestic violence survivors in New York City.Her organization provides housing, food, and cash emergency assistance for people in the community. She said that between January and June, her group distributed over $150,000 in emergency cash assistance to survivors who were having a harder time keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. That's more than all of last year.Food assistance organizations such as&nbsp;<a href="https://ampleharvest.org/find-food/">Ample Harvest</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://findfood.hungerfreeamerica.org/?p=a1U2E00000683p7UAA,a1U2E00000683ouUAA,a1U2E00000683p2UAA&amp;r=32000&amp;t=DRIVING">Hunger Free America</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://foodrescue.us/about/our-locations/">Food Rescue US</a>&nbsp;offer maps that allow users to search a nearby food bank by typing their zip code.TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTHBetween worrying about the bills and not knowing what your financial future might look like, your stress levels can go through the roof.“It’s a hectic existence,” Galeon said. “You have to do a lot of managing, and you have to keep a cool head, for the sake of your mental health.”Debra Kissen, a clinical director of&nbsp;<a href="https://lightonanxiety.com/">Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Center</a>, recommends first recognizing when your body is stressed. Then she advises mindfulness exercises such as breathing, touching a wall to calm yourself, and completing the&nbsp;<a href="https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/using-the-five-senses-for-anxiety-relief">“five senses for anxiety relief” exercise</a>.Most health insurance covers some type of mental health assistance. If you don’t have health insurance, you can look for sliding-scale therapists around the country, including through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.findtreatment.gov/results/">FindTreatment.gov</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://members.adaa.org/page/FATMain">Anxiety and Depression Association of America</a>&nbsp;directory.___

How to recession-proof your life amid economic uncertainty

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">Supreme Court ruling expanding gun rights</a>&nbsp;threatens to upend firearms restrictions across the country as activists wage court battles over everything from bans on AR-15-style guns to age limits.

The decision handed down in June already has led one judge to temporarily block a Colorado town from enforcing a ban on the sale and possession of certain semi-automatic weapons.

The first major gun decision in more than a decade, the ruling could dramatically reshape gun laws in the U.S. even as a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-victims-0fc46ce400c3fed9081ee5c033d2aba5">horrific mass shootings</a>&nbsp;pushes the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">back into the headlines</a>.

“The gun rights movement has been given a weapon of mass destruction, and it will annihilate approximately 75% of the gun laws eventually," said Evan Nappen, a New Jersey gun rights attorney.

The court battles come as the Biden administration and police departments across the U.S. struggle to combat a surge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gun-violence">violent crime and mass shootings</a>, including several high-profile killings carried out by suspects who purchased their guns legally.

And given the sheer number of cases now working through the courts, a lot more time will be spent in courtrooms no matter who wins.

“We will see a lot of tax dollars and government resources that should be used to stop gun crime being used to defend gun laws that are lifesaving and wildly popular," said Jonathan Lowry, chief counsel and vice president at Brady, the gun control group.

Congress broke through years of deadlock to pass a modest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-gun-violence-bill-live-updates-20f7c9738fee4eba1d7fed155301ee25">gun violence prevention package</a>&nbsp;weeks ago, and the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-violence-politics-shootings-congress-fd91c092aef91a992ee959399ba6f222">voted to renew a ban on high-powered semi-automatic weapons</a>, though that effort is likely doomed in the Senate as Republicans push back on firearms restrictions and say recent spikes in gun violence should be met with a stepped-up police response.

The Supreme Court decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public, saying it violates Second Amendment rights. Several other states including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have similar laws expected to be directly impacted by the ruling.

In Massachusetts, for example, police chiefs can no longer deny or impose restrictions on licenses just because the applicant doesn’t have a “good reason” to carry a gun. New York quickly passed a new concealed-weapon law, but Republicans there predict it will also end up being overturned.

In its New York ruling,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-government-and-273d1eb9b6f7af60e1a967e2d47b75df">the high court's conservative majority</a>&nbsp;also changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws.

Judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like enhancing public safety, the opinion authored by Justice Clarence Thomas said. Instead, they should only weigh whether the law is “consistent with the Second Amendment’s text and historical understanding.”

“Basically, the Supreme Court has given an invitation for the gun lobby to file lawsuits against virtually every gun law in America,” Lowry said.

The Supreme Court has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-california-new-jersey-gun-politics-hawaii-5fdebc1723c63b49bb8ecc27f5b0c6ec">ordered lower courts</a>&nbsp;to take another look at several other cases under the court’s new test. Among them: laws in California and New Jersey that limit the amount of ammunition a gun magazine can hold and a 2013 ban on “assault weapons” in Maryland.

Gun rights groups are also challenging similar bans in California, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.

“The rifles at issue in this case are the sorts of bearable arms in common use for lawful purposes that responsible and peaceable people across the United States possess by the millions. And they are, moreover, exactly what they would bring to service in militia duty, should such be necessary,” a New Jersey lawsuit brought in June by the Firearms Policy Coalition says, referencing the language of the Second Amendment.

The ruling also has come up in challenges to restrictions on gun possession for 18- to 20-year-olds in Texas and Pennsylvania. And it has been cited in a case challenging a federal ban on gun possession for people convicted of nonviolent crimes punishable by more than a year behind bars, as well as a prohibition on concealed guns on the subway in Washington, D.C.

In addition, a gun rights group is suing Colorado over the state’s 2013 ban on magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, saying the high court ruling reinforces the group’s argument that it infringes on Second Amendment rights. And the ruling has public defenders in New York City asking judges to drop gun possession cases.

Not all those lawsuits will necessarily be successful. The Texas attorney general, for example, argues the Supreme Court ruling doesn't affect the state's age limit law, and more state and local governments can certainly defend their gun laws as being in line with U.S. history.

Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, predicted that when the dust settles, only laws “along the margins” will eventually be struck down.

“Most judges are going to see these for what they are, which is overreaching and lacking in any merit,” he said.

Backers of gun restrictions can also look to a concurring opinion from Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh stressed that the Second Amendment does allow for a “variety” of gun regulations. He cited the use of background checks and mental health records as part of a licensing process to carry a gun and noted that states can forbid the carrying of firearms in “sensitive places” such as schools and government buildings.

But the Colorado decision handed down last month, while still early in the process, was a rosy sign for gun rights groups.

U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Moore, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said he was sympathetic to the town's goal of preventing mass shootings like the one that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">killed 10 people at a grocery store</a>&nbsp;in nearby Boulder last year. But Moore said he didn't know of “historical precedent” for a law banning “a type of weapon that is commonly used by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes," so the gun rights groups have a strong case against the ordinance.

Encouraged by that decision, Taylor D. Rhodes, the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-colorado-gun-politics-bradley-walker-84ec26f1c3dbaace10d4e2f0fc7973fb">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that his group was considering going after other gun measures in Colorado, where Democrats hold the majority in the state legislature and the governor's office.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Rhodes said: “The Bruen decision gave us a 4-ton wrecking ball."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">Supreme Court ruling expanding gun rights</a>&nbsp;threatens to upend firearms restrictions across the country as activists wage court battles over everything from bans on AR-15-style guns to age limits.The decision handed down in June already has led one judge to temporarily block a Colorado town from enforcing a ban on the sale and possession of certain semi-automatic weapons.The first major gun decision in more than a decade, the ruling could dramatically reshape gun laws in the U.S. even as a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-victims-0fc46ce400c3fed9081ee5c033d2aba5">horrific mass shootings</a>&nbsp;pushes the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">back into the headlines</a>.“The gun rights movement has been given a weapon of mass destruction, and it will annihilate approximately 75% of the gun laws eventually," said Evan Nappen, a New Jersey gun rights attorney.The court battles come as the Biden administration and police departments across the U.S. struggle to combat a surge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gun-violence">violent crime and mass shootings</a>, including several high-profile killings carried out by suspects who purchased their guns legally.And given the sheer number of cases now working through the courts, a lot more time will be spent in courtrooms no matter who wins.“We will see a lot of tax dollars and government resources that should be used to stop gun crime being used to defend gun laws that are lifesaving and wildly popular," said Jonathan Lowry, chief counsel and vice president at Brady, the gun control group.Congress broke through years of deadlock to pass a modest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-gun-violence-bill-live-updates-20f7c9738fee4eba1d7fed155301ee25">gun violence prevention package</a>&nbsp;weeks ago, and the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-violence-politics-shootings-congress-fd91c092aef91a992ee959399ba6f222">voted to renew a ban on high-powered semi-automatic weapons</a>, though that effort is likely doomed in the Senate as Republicans push back on firearms restrictions and say recent spikes in gun violence should be met with a stepped-up police response.The Supreme Court decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public, saying it violates Second Amendment rights. Several other states including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have similar laws expected to be directly impacted by the ruling.In Massachusetts, for example, police chiefs can no longer deny or impose restrictions on licenses just because the applicant doesn’t have a “good reason” to carry a gun. New York quickly passed a new concealed-weapon law, but Republicans there predict it will also end up being overturned.In its New York ruling,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-gun-politics-gay-rights-government-and-273d1eb9b6f7af60e1a967e2d47b75df">the high court's conservative majority</a>&nbsp;also changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws.Judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like enhancing public safety, the opinion authored by Justice Clarence Thomas said. Instead, they should only weigh whether the law is “consistent with the Second Amendment’s text and historical understanding.”“Basically, the Supreme Court has given an invitation for the gun lobby to file lawsuits against virtually every gun law in America,” Lowry said.The Supreme Court has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-california-new-jersey-gun-politics-hawaii-5fdebc1723c63b49bb8ecc27f5b0c6ec">ordered lower courts</a>&nbsp;to take another look at several other cases under the court’s new test. Among them: laws in California and New Jersey that limit the amount of ammunition a gun magazine can hold and a 2013 ban on “assault weapons” in Maryland.Gun rights groups are also challenging similar bans in California, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.“The rifles at issue in this case are the sorts of bearable arms in common use for lawful purposes that responsible and peaceable people across the United States possess by the millions. And they are, moreover, exactly what they would bring to service in militia duty, should such be necessary,” a New Jersey lawsuit brought in June by the Firearms Policy Coalition says, referencing the language of the Second Amendment.The ruling also has come up in challenges to restrictions on gun possession for 18- to 20-year-olds in Texas and Pennsylvania. And it has been cited in a case challenging a federal ban on gun possession for people convicted of nonviolent crimes punishable by more than a year behind bars, as well as a prohibition on concealed guns on the subway in Washington, D.C.In addition, a gun rights group is suing Colorado over the state’s 2013 ban on magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, saying the high court ruling reinforces the group’s argument that it infringes on Second Amendment rights. And the ruling has public defenders in New York City asking judges to drop gun possession cases.Not all those lawsuits will necessarily be successful. The Texas attorney general, for example, argues the Supreme Court ruling doesn't affect the state's age limit law, and more state and local governments can certainly defend their gun laws as being in line with U.S. history.Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, predicted that when the dust settles, only laws “along the margins” will eventually be struck down.“Most judges are going to see these for what they are, which is overreaching and lacking in any merit,” he said.Backers of gun restrictions can also look to a concurring opinion from Justice Brett Kavanaugh.Joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh stressed that the Second Amendment does allow for a “variety” of gun regulations. He cited the use of background checks and mental health records as part of a licensing process to carry a gun and noted that states can forbid the carrying of firearms in “sensitive places” such as schools and government buildings.But the Colorado decision handed down last month, while still early in the process, was a rosy sign for gun rights groups.U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Moore, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, said he was sympathetic to the town's goal of preventing mass shootings like the one that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">killed 10 people at a grocery store</a>&nbsp;in nearby Boulder last year. But Moore said he didn't know of “historical precedent” for a law banning “a type of weapon that is commonly used by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes," so the gun rights groups have a strong case against the ordinance.Encouraged by that decision, Taylor D. Rhodes, the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-colorado-gun-politics-bradley-walker-84ec26f1c3dbaace10d4e2f0fc7973fb">told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that his group was considering going after other gun measures in Colorado, where Democrats hold the majority in the state legislature and the governor's office.Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling, Rhodes said: “The Bruen decision gave us a 4-ton wrecking ball."

After Supreme Court ruling, it's open season on US gun laws

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's doctor says the 79-year-old president has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second consecutive day.

&nbsp;Dr. Kevin O’Connor writes in his latest daily update that&nbsp; the president will "safely return to public engagement and presidential travel."

Biden, 79, came down with the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-6ffc64aa1d8d67b074dd8beb67d7cf6f">a second time</a>&nbsp;three days after he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-7842dd2e606bb9f6aeb15d4a8c856c97">emerged from isolation</a>&nbsp;from his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-karine-jean-pierre-government-and-politics-d9dbee6cc390f648396c46dd504c31c3">initial bout</a>&nbsp;with COVID-19, reported on July 21. There have been rare rebound cases documented among a small minority of those, who like Biden, were prescribed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">anti-viral medication Paxlovid</a>, which has been proved to reduce the risk of serious illness and death from the virus among those at highest risk.

Biden plans to visit Kentucky on Monday to view damage from catastrophic flooding and meet with families.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's doctor says the 79-year-old president has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second consecutive day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659889455091.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Dr. Kevin O’Connor writes in his latest daily update that&nbsp; the president will "safely return to public engagement and presidential travel."Biden, 79, came down with the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-6ffc64aa1d8d67b074dd8beb67d7cf6f">a second time</a>&nbsp;three days after he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-7842dd2e606bb9f6aeb15d4a8c856c97">emerged from isolation</a>&nbsp;from his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-karine-jean-pierre-government-and-politics-d9dbee6cc390f648396c46dd504c31c3">initial bout</a>&nbsp;with COVID-19, reported on July 21. There have been rare rebound cases documented among a small minority of those, who like Biden, were prescribed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">anti-viral medication Paxlovid</a>, which has been proved to reduce the risk of serious illness and death from the virus among those at highest risk.Biden plans to visit Kentucky on Monday to view damage from catastrophic flooding and meet with families.

President Biden COVID free; escapes 2-week isolation

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 </figure>APAC Kansas, Incorporated, has been building the heartland from the ground up for more than a century.From the supply of aggregate materials, hot mix asphalt, and concrete to the construction of roads and bridges, we do it all. You've seen our trucks and now, we want to hire you!APAC-Salina is growing and we are hiring for all positions. From truck drivers to mechanics to construction laborers, APAC has your next career.We offer great pay and benefits. APAC Kansas, Incorporated, is an equal opportunity employer.<a href="https://jobs.crh.com/search/?searchby=location&amp;q=Shears&amp;locationsearch=Kansas">Click here to see available positions and apply</a>!

Quadruple homicide suspect captured in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A top Democratic state lawmaker from Republican-led Missouri this week wrote to the Democratic Kansas and Illinois governors asking for help paying for abortions for out-of-state Medicaid patients.

Missouri House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade called on Kansas and Illinois to apply for Medicaid waivers to cover abortions for out-of-state patients.

Her request came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-medicaid-edbef331da1b96baf2b7a3eee54c36f4">Democratic President Joe Biden signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;Wednesday aimed in part at making it easier for women seeking abortions to travel between states to obtain access to the procedure.

The directives will allow states that have not outlawed abortion to apply for Medicaid waivers that would help them treat women who’ve traveled from out of state.

The waivers only apply in cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies.

“Though these exceptions are narrow, we believe that this executive order is still meaningful for Missouri patients who are experiencing a life-threatening healthcare situation or whose pregnancy was forced by the violence of rape or incest," Quade wrote in a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas legislative leaders.

Spokespeople for Kelly and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not immediately respond to Associated Press requests for comment on the federal waiver and Quade's request.

Kansas has yet to expand its Medicaid program in line with the federal Affordable Care Act because of the strong opposition of Republican leaders to former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy. Because Kansas doesn’t allow citizens to initiate ballot questions, that decision has stood, even though many lawmakers and advocates contend it’s widely unpopular.

Crossing state lines to get abortions has become an increasing issue since the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned</a>&nbsp;Roe v. Wade and opened the door for new restrictions on abortion at the state level.

The National Abortion Federation said Wednesday that it’s seen more women asking for help traveling to get the procedure in the month after the decision. The organization paid for 76 hotel rooms and booked 52 bus or plane trips, up from only a handful in the same time period last year.

Missouri outlawed abortion minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. The only exception is to save the life of the mother.

Abortion is legal in neighboring Illinois as well as Kansas, where voters on Tuesday opted to keep the right to abortions enshrined in the state's Constitution.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">Kansas voters rejected a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion restrictions or ban the procedure outright.

Missouri Democrats have sought to take advantage of abortion access just across state lines.

St. Louis' Democratic Mayor Tishaura Jones last month signed a measure providing $1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-st-louis-missouri-cab307afaf66ce9b5d58d3be191b532e">for travel to abortion clinics in other states</a>, prompting Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt to sue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648142919494.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A top Democratic state lawmaker from Republican-led Missouri this week wrote to the Democratic Kansas and Illinois governors asking for help paying for abortions for out-of-state Medicaid patients.Missouri House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade called on Kansas and Illinois to apply for Medicaid waivers to cover abortions for out-of-state patients.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659554257572.png" alt="&nbsp;Democratic President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday aimed in part at making it easier for women seeking abortions to travel between states to obtain access to the procedure.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Democratic President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday aimed in part at making it easier for women seeking abortions to travel between states to obtain access to the procedure.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Her request came after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-medicaid-edbef331da1b96baf2b7a3eee54c36f4">Democratic President Joe Biden signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;Wednesday aimed in part at making it easier for women seeking abortions to travel between states to obtain access to the procedure.The directives will allow states that have not outlawed abortion to apply for Medicaid waivers that would help them treat women who’ve traveled from out of state.The waivers only apply in cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies.“Though these exceptions are narrow, we believe that this executive order is still meaningful for Missouri patients who are experiencing a life-threatening healthcare situation or whose pregnancy was forced by the violence of rape or incest," Quade wrote in a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas legislative leaders.Spokespeople for Kelly and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not immediately respond to Associated Press requests for comment on the federal waiver and Quade's request.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tonight we rejected legislation that put women&#39;s health care at risk -- but our work isn&#39;t done. Extremists who tried to buy today&#39;s vote are focusing their efforts on our election. They want to take our state back in time. Help us fight back. <a href="https://t.co/wJmGowmagu">https://t.co/wJmGowmagu</a>&mdash; Laura Kelly (@LauraKellyKS) <a href="https://twitter.com/LauraKellyKS/status/1554662743902502914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas has yet to expand its Medicaid program in line with the federal Affordable Care Act because of the strong opposition of Republican leaders to former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy. Because Kansas doesn’t allow citizens to initiate ballot questions, that decision has stood, even though many lawmakers and advocates contend it’s widely unpopular.Crossing state lines to get abortions has become an increasing issue since the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned</a>&nbsp;Roe v. Wade and opened the door for new restrictions on abortion at the state level.The National Abortion Federation said Wednesday that it’s seen more women asking for help traveling to get the procedure in the month after the decision. The organization paid for 76 hotel rooms and booked 52 bus or plane trips, up from only a handful in the same time period last year.Missouri outlawed abortion minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. The only exception is to save the life of the mother.Abortion is legal in neighboring Illinois as well as Kansas, where voters on Tuesday opted to keep the right to abortions enshrined in the state's Constitution.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">Kansas voters rejected a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion restrictions or ban the procedure outright.Missouri Democrats have sought to take advantage of abortion access just across state lines.St. Louis' Democratic Mayor Tishaura Jones last month signed a measure providing $1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-st-louis-missouri-cab307afaf66ce9b5d58d3be191b532e">for travel to abortion clinics in other states</a>, prompting Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt to sue.

Missouri Dems turn to Kan. to help pay for abortions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats drove their election-year economic package toward Senate approval early Sunday, debating a measure with less ambition than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-f6fc8e4ea79642a7e04e28211c00db9a">President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision</a>&nbsp;but that touches deep-rooted party dreams of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">slowing global warming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prescription-drug-prices-755ac3ccc03dc1f43f4918aecb63bac2">moderating pharmaceutical costs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-kyrsten-sinema-congress-399fcec95d37d5b0b9a197ed4c8d33fa">taxing immense corporations</a>.

Debate began Saturday and by early Sunday morning, Democrats had swatted down over a dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation or create campaign ads attacking Democratic senators. Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-nato-biden-climate-and-environment-7bc6644107e4ce365ab9e225c0591b5c">unanimous GOP opposition,</a>&nbsp;Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber — buttressed by Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote — suggested the party was on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.

“I think it's gonna pass," Biden told reporters as he left the White House early Sunday to go to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, ending his COVID-19 isolation. The House seemed on track to provide final congressional approval when it returns briefly from summer recess on Friday.

“It will reduce inflation. It will lower prescription drug costs. It will fight climate change. It will close tax loopholes and it will reduce the deficit," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the package. “It will help every citizen in this country and make America a much better place."

Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. They said the bill's business taxes would hurt job creation and force prices skyward, making it harder for people to cope with the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation</a>&nbsp;since the 1980s.

“Democrats have already robbed American families once through inflation, and now their solution is to rob American families a second time," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., argued. He said spending and tax increases in the legislation would eliminate jobs while having insignificant impact on inflation and climate change.

Nonpartisan analysts have said Democrats' “Inflation Reduction Act” would have a minor effect on surging consumer prices. The bill is barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden's initial 10-year, $3.5 trillion rainbow of progressive aspirations and abandons its proposals for universal preschool, paid family leave and expanded child care aid.

Even so, the new measure gives Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-climate-and-environment-9af87ffab0088b45a2e9d5a7caabbdf1">a campaign-season showcase for action on coveted goals.</a>&nbsp;It includes the largest ever federal effort on climate change — close to $400 billion — hands Medicare the power to negotiate pharmaceutical prices and extends expiring subsidies that help 13 million people afford health insurance.

Biden’s original measure collapsed after conservative Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., opposed it, saying it was too costly and would fuel inflation.

In an ordeal imposed on all budget bills like this one, the Senate had to endure an overnight “vote-a-rama” of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-budget-agreement-7b0ee6e3e0b70357288fd69f44473b9b">a compromise negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-kyrsten-sinema-joe-manchin-congress-c0d40a6f2490b2613a690995daca7e11">inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz</a>.

Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, and those efforts were defeated. Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement.

Before debate began Saturday, the bill's prescription drug price curbs were diluted by the Senate's nonpartisan parliamentarian. Elizabeth MacDonough, who referees questions about the chamber's procedures, said a provision should fall that would impose costly penalties on drug makers whose price increases for private insurers exceed inflation.

But the thrust of their pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for pharmaceuticals sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.

The bill also caps patients' costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-prices-diabetes-congress-a2f9986b7bf3500b81d1ec80a01e5abb">insulin</a>, the expensive diabetes medication, at $35 monthly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659822898310.png" alt="Senators visit during a Saturday evening count of votes -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Senators visit during a Saturday evening count of votes -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats drove their election-year economic package toward Senate approval early Sunday, debating a measure with less ambition than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-congress-f6fc8e4ea79642a7e04e28211c00db9a">President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision</a>&nbsp;but that touches deep-rooted party dreams of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-environment-and-nature-environment-e9b976d57b1b8b35e459c9950b34fca0">slowing global warming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-prescription-drug-prices-755ac3ccc03dc1f43f4918aecb63bac2">moderating pharmaceutical costs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-kyrsten-sinema-congress-399fcec95d37d5b0b9a197ed4c8d33fa">taxing immense corporations</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rather than a healthcare system that offers Americans breakthrough medicines, this reckless tax and spend bill will force Americans to settle for end-of-life care. That’s wrong. As a physician who practiced medicine for 25+ years, I will not let that happen without a fight.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1556105593764683778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Debate began Saturday and by early Sunday morning, Democrats had swatted down over a dozen Republican amendments designed to torpedo the legislation or create campaign ads attacking Democratic senators. Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-nato-biden-climate-and-environment-7bc6644107e4ce365ab9e225c0591b5c">unanimous GOP opposition,</a>&nbsp;Democratic unity in the 50-50 chamber — buttressed by Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking vote — suggested the party was on track for a morale-boosting victory three months from elections when congressional control is at stake.“I think it's gonna pass," Biden told reporters as he left the White House early Sunday to go to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, ending his COVID-19 isolation. The House seemed on track to provide final congressional approval when it returns briefly from summer recess on Friday.“It will reduce inflation. It will lower prescription drug costs. It will fight climate change. It will close tax loopholes and it will reduce the deficit," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the package. “It will help every citizen in this country and make America a much better place."Republicans said the measure would undermine an economy that policymakers are struggling to keep from plummeting into recession. They said the bill's business taxes would hurt job creation and force prices skyward, making it harder for people to cope with the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">worst inflation</a>&nbsp;since the 1980s.“Democrats have already robbed American families once through inflation, and now their solution is to rob American families a second time," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., argued. He said spending and tax increases in the legislation would eliminate jobs while having insignificant impact on inflation and climate change.Nonpartisan analysts have said Democrats' “Inflation Reduction Act” would have a minor effect on surging consumer prices. The bill is barely more than one-tenth the size of Biden's initial 10-year, $3.5 trillion rainbow of progressive aspirations and abandons its proposals for universal preschool, paid family leave and expanded child care aid.Even so, the new measure gives Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-climate-and-environment-9af87ffab0088b45a2e9d5a7caabbdf1">a campaign-season showcase for action on coveted goals.</a>&nbsp;It includes the largest ever federal effort on climate change — close to $400 billion — hands Medicare the power to negotiate pharmaceutical prices and extends expiring subsidies that help 13 million people afford health insurance.Biden’s original measure collapsed after conservative Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., opposed it, saying it was too costly and would fuel inflation.In an ordeal imposed on all budget bills like this one, the Senate had to endure an overnight “vote-a-rama” of rapid-fire amendments. Each tested Democrats' ability to hold together&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-budget-agreement-7b0ee6e3e0b70357288fd69f44473b9b">a compromise negotiated by Schumer, progressives, Manchin</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-kyrsten-sinema-joe-manchin-congress-c0d40a6f2490b2613a690995daca7e11">inscrutable centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz</a>.Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., offered amendments to further expand the legislation's health benefits, and those efforts were defeated. Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement.Before debate began Saturday, the bill's prescription drug price curbs were diluted by the Senate's nonpartisan parliamentarian. Elizabeth MacDonough, who referees questions about the chamber's procedures, said a provision should fall that would impose costly penalties on drug makers whose price increases for private insurers exceed inflation.It was the bill's chief protection for the 180 million people with private health coverage they get through work or purchase themselves. Under special procedures that will let Democrats pass their bill by simple majority without the usual 60-vote margin, its provisions must be focused more on dollar-and-cents budget numbers than policy changes.But the thrust of their pharmaceutical price language remained. That included letting Medicare negotiate what it pays for drugs for its 64 million elderly recipients, penalizing manufacturers for exceeding inflation for pharmaceuticals sold to Medicare and limiting beneficiaries out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 annually.The bill also caps patients' costs for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-prices-diabetes-congress-a2f9986b7bf3500b81d1ec80a01e5abb">insulin</a>, the expensive diabetes medication, at $35 monthly.The measure's final costs were being recalculated to reflect late changes, but overall it would raise more than $700 billion over a decade. The money would come from a 15% minimum tax on a handful of corporations with yearly profits above $1 billion, a 1% tax on companies that repurchase their own stock,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-congress-internal-revenue-service-government-and-politics-dd2e6eaeb914eea553615e231332f3fb">bolstered IRS tax collections</a>&nbsp;and government savings from lower drug costs.Sinema forced Democrats to drop a plan to prevent wealthy hedge fund managers from paying less than individual income tax rates for their earnings. She also joined with other Western senators to win $4 billion to combat the region's drought.It was on the energy and environment side that compromise was most evident between progressives and Manchin, a champion of fossil fuels and his state's coal industry.Clean energy would be fostered with tax credits for buying electric vehicles and manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines. There would be home energy rebates, funds for constructing factories building clean energy technology and money to promote climate-friendly farm practices and reduce pollution in minority communities.Manchin won billions to help power plants lower carbon emissions plus language requiring more government auctions for oil drilling on federal land and waters. Party leaders also promised to push separate legislation this fall to accelerate permits for energy projects, which Manchin wants to include a nearly completed natural gas pipeline in his state.

All-nighter: Senate Dems push climate, health priorities 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 BMW 4 Series passenger car driven by a 16-year-old from Topeka was eastbound on U.S. 40 Highway at&nbsp;Tecumseh Road.

The driver attempted to make a left turn onto Tecumseh Road and failed to yield.

A westbound 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Larry D. Miller, 63, Topeka, struck the front passenger side quarter panel of the car.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;The teen driver and a teen passenger were not injured. Miller was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 BMW 4 Series passenger car driven by a 16-year-old from Topeka was eastbound on U.S. 40 Highway at&nbsp;Tecumseh Road.The driver attempted to make a left turn onto Tecumseh Road and failed to yield.A westbound 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Larry D. Miller, 63, Topeka, struck the front passenger side quarter panel of the car.Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.&nbsp;The teen driver and a teen passenger were not injured. Miller was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.