LOS ANGELES (AP) — Phil Lesh, a classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grateful-dead-musicares-person-of-year-2025-40485ea37550db218ce9b6e4f858c6dc">founding member of the Grateful Dead,</a>&nbsp;died Friday at age 84.

Lesh’s death was announced on his Instagram account. Lesh was the oldest and one of the longest surviving members of the band that came to define the acid rock sound emanating from San Francisco in the 1960s.

“Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjvWcHPbQB/?igsh=ZW1jYm1kZTQxMWY2" target="_blank">the Instagram statement</a>&nbsp;reads in part.

The statement did not cite a specific cause of death and attempts to reach representatives for additional details were not immediately successful. Lesh had previously survived bouts of prostate cancer, bladder cancer and a 1998 liver transplant necessitated by the debilitating effects of a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.

Although he kept a relatively low public profile, rarely granting interviews or speaking to the audience, fans and fellow band members recognized Lesh as a critical member of the Grateful Dead whose thundering lines on the six-string electric bass provided a brilliant counterpoint to lead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s soaring solos and anchored the band’s famous marathon jams.

“When Phil’s happening the band’s happening,” Garcia once said.

Drummer Mickey Hart called him the group’s intellectual who brought a classical composer’s mind-set and skills to a five-chord rock ‘n’ roll band.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729887107817.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Phil Lesh, a classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grateful-dead-musicares-person-of-year-2025-40485ea37550db218ce9b6e4f858c6dc">founding member of the Grateful Dead,</a>&nbsp;died Friday at age 84.Lesh’s death was announced on his Instagram account. Lesh was the oldest and one of the longest surviving members of the band that came to define the acid rock sound emanating from San Francisco in the 1960s.“Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjvWcHPbQB/?igsh=ZW1jYm1kZTQxMWY2" target="_blank">the Instagram statement</a>&nbsp;reads in part.The statement did not cite a specific cause of death and attempts to reach representatives for additional details were not immediately successful. Lesh had previously survived bouts of prostate cancer, bladder cancer and a 1998 liver transplant necessitated by the debilitating effects of a hepatitis C infection and years of heavy drinking.Although he kept a relatively low public profile, rarely granting interviews or speaking to the audience, fans and fellow band members recognized Lesh as a critical member of the Grateful Dead whose thundering lines on the six-string electric bass provided a brilliant counterpoint to lead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s soaring solos and anchored the band’s famous marathon jams.“When Phil’s happening the band’s happening,” Garcia once said.Drummer Mickey Hart called him the group’s intellectual who brought a classical composer’s mind-set and skills to a five-chord rock ‘n’ roll band.

Phil Lesh, bassist for the Grateful Dead, dies at 84

LAVEEN VILLAGE, Ariz. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Friday formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated Indian children from their parents, calling it “blot on American history” in his first visit to Native Country.

“It's a sin on our soul,” said Biden, his voice full of anger and emotion. “Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make.”

Biden spoke of the abuses and deaths of native children that resulted from the federal government's policies, as he noted that the shameful history remained unknown and needed to be told. The president detailed how his policies have sought to support Native Americans with jobs and new infrastructure.

Democrats hope Biden's visit to the Gila River Indian Community’s land on the outskirts of metro Phoenix in Arizona will also provide a boost to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris'</a>&nbsp;turnout effort in a key battleground state.

Biden, whose presidency is winding down, had promised tribal leaders nearly two years ago that he would make a visit to Indian Country.

The president, in an exchange with reporters Thursday before departing for Arizona, said an apology for the U.S. government’s role in the abuse and neglect of Native children was “something that should have been done a long time ago." For decades, federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/native-american-boarding-schools-legacy-map-b649ea0a2d616ec65c454232842a0a7a">boarding schools</a>&nbsp;were used to assimilate children into white society, according to the White House.

The moment will also give Biden a chance to spotlight his and Harris' support for tribal nations, a group that historically has favored Democrats, in a state he won just by 10,000 votes in 2020.

The race between Harris and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is expected to be similarly close, and both campaigns are doing whatever they can to improve turnout among bedrock supporters.

“The race is now a turnout grab,” said Mike O’Neil, a non-partisan pollster based in Arizona. “The trendlines throughout have been remarkably steady. The question is which candidate is going to be able to turn out their voters in a race that seems to be destined to be decided by narrow margins.”

Biden has been used sparingly on the campaign trail by Harris and other Democrats since he ended his reelection campaign in July.

But analysts say Biden could help Harris in her appeal with Native American voters — a group that has trailed others in turnout rates.

In 2020, there was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/native-american-votes-helped-secure-bidens-win-in-arizona-fa452fbd546fa00535679d78ac40b890">surge in voter turnout</a>&nbsp;on some tribal land in Arizona as Biden beat Trump and became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1996.

Biden is making the visit in his official capacity, and a formal apology — something tribes have long sought — seems certain to garner attention among Native Americans across the country.

At least 973 Native American children died in the U.S. government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-native-americans-south-dakota-762797ee44f94d06e2f7776599bef374">abusive boarding school system</a>&nbsp;over a 150-year period that ended in 1969, according to an Interior Department investigation that called for a U.S. government apology.

At least 18,000 children, some as young as 4, were taken from their parents and forced to attend schools that sought to assimilate them.

“President Biden deserves credit for finally putting attention on the issue and other issues impacting the community,” said Ramona Charette Klein, 77, a boarding school survivor and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. “I do think that will reflect well on Vice President Harris, and I hope this momentum will continue.”

She added that whoever is the next president must follow up with concrete action and begin making amends for the devastation the boarding schools wrought on tribes.

Democrats have stepped up outreach to Native American communities.

Both Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>, met with tribal leaders in Arizona and Nevada this month. And Clinton, who has been serving as a surrogate for Harris, last week met in North Carolina with the chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.

The Democratic National Committee recently&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats.org/news/dnc-marks-indigenous-peoples-day-with-a-six-figure-ad-campaign-reaching-native-voters/">launched</a>&nbsp;a six-figure ad campaign targeting Native American voters in Arizona, North Carolina, Montana and Alaska through digital, print and radio ads.

Democratic Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ruben-gallego">Ruben Gallego</a>, who is locked in a competitive race with Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kari-lake">Kari Lake</a>&nbsp;for Arizona's open Senate seat, has visited all 22 of Arizona's federally recognized tribes.

Harris started a recent campaign rally in Chandler, near where the Gila River reservation is located, with a shoutout to the tribe's leader.

She also reminded the crowd that she was the first vice president to visit the reservation. She and husband Doug Emhoff visited the community last year.

“I strongly believe that the relationship between tribal nations and the United States is sacred ... and that we must honor tribal sovereignty, embrace our trust in treaty obligations, and ensure tribal self-determination,” Harris said.

The White House says Biden and Harris have built a substantial track record with Native Americans over the last four years.

He designated the sacred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-travel-mountains-arizona-las-vegas-ca156c74cf5b1d5778dda292e52fa57e">Avi Kwa Ame,</a>&nbsp;a desert mountain in Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon in Arizona as national monuments and restored the boundaries for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-lifestyle-business-environment-1d8b5a0ff3814f78c5e8bc97c37fc32e">Bears Ears National Monument</a>&nbsp;in Utah.

In addition, the administration has directed nearly $46 billion in federal spending to tribal nations. The money has helped bring electricity to a reservation that never had electricity, expand access to high-speed internet, improve water sanitation, build roadways and more.

Biden picked former New Mexico Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/debra-haaland">Deb Haaland</a>&nbsp;to serve as his Interior secretary, the first Native American to be appointed to a Cabinet position. Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.

She, in turn, ordered the comprehensive review in June 2021 of the troubled legacy of the federal government's boarding school policies that is leading Biden to deliver the formal apology.

“He made commitments to Indian Country, and he has followed through on every single one of those commitments,” Haaland said.

Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, said both Harris' and Trump's campaigns — and their allies — have put a remarkable amount of effort into micro-targeting in Arizona.

Harris, Reilly noted, has also focused on whittling away at Trump's advantage among Mormon voters in the state, a group that historically has favored Republicans. Trump, meanwhile, has put special focus on young men as the campaign tries to narrow Democrats' advantage with younger voters.

“They are pulling out every stop just to see if they could wrangle a few more votes here and there,” Reilly said. “The Indian community is one of those groups that Harris is hoping will overperform and help make the difference.”

LAVEEN VILLAGE, Ariz. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Friday formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of a government-run boarding school system that for decades forcibly separated Indian children from their parents, calling it “blot on American history” in his first visit to Native Country.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on treatment of Native Americans in Federal Indian Boarding Schools: &quot;The federal government has never apologized for what happened, until today. I formally apologize as President of the United States for what we did. I formally apologize and it&#39;s long overdue.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/tc23qr79Go">pic.twitter.com/tc23qr79Go</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1849875930501513537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It's a sin on our soul,” said Biden, his voice full of anger and emotion. “Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make.”Biden spoke of the abuses and deaths of native children that resulted from the federal government's policies, as he noted that the shameful history remained unknown and needed to be told. The president detailed how his policies have sought to support Native Americans with jobs and new infrastructure.Democrats hope Biden's visit to the Gila River Indian Community’s land on the outskirts of metro Phoenix in Arizona will also provide a boost to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris'</a>&nbsp;turnout effort in a key battleground state.Biden, whose presidency is winding down, had promised tribal leaders nearly two years ago that he would make a visit to Indian Country.The president, in an exchange with reporters Thursday before departing for Arizona, said an apology for the U.S. government’s role in the abuse and neglect of Native children was “something that should have been done a long time ago." For decades, federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/native-american-boarding-schools-legacy-map-b649ea0a2d616ec65c454232842a0a7a">boarding schools</a>&nbsp;were used to assimilate children into white society, according to the White House.The moment will also give Biden a chance to spotlight his and Harris' support for tribal nations, a group that historically has favored Democrats, in a state he won just by 10,000 votes in 2020.The race between Harris and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is expected to be similarly close, and both campaigns are doing whatever they can to improve turnout among bedrock supporters.“The race is now a turnout grab,” said Mike O’Neil, a non-partisan pollster based in Arizona. “The trendlines throughout have been remarkably steady. The question is which candidate is going to be able to turn out their voters in a race that seems to be destined to be decided by narrow margins.”Biden has been used sparingly on the campaign trail by Harris and other Democrats since he ended his reelection campaign in July.But analysts say Biden could help Harris in her appeal with Native American voters — a group that has trailed others in turnout rates.In 2020, there was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/native-american-votes-helped-secure-bidens-win-in-arizona-fa452fbd546fa00535679d78ac40b890">surge in voter turnout</a>&nbsp;on some tribal land in Arizona as Biden beat Trump and became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1996.Biden is making the visit in his official capacity, and a formal apology — something tribes have long sought — seems certain to garner attention among Native Americans across the country.At least 973 Native American children died in the U.S. government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-native-americans-south-dakota-762797ee44f94d06e2f7776599bef374">abusive boarding school system</a>&nbsp;over a 150-year period that ended in 1969, according to an Interior Department investigation that called for a U.S. government apology.At least 18,000 children, some as young as 4, were taken from their parents and forced to attend schools that sought to assimilate them.“President Biden deserves credit for finally putting attention on the issue and other issues impacting the community,” said Ramona Charette Klein, 77, a boarding school survivor and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. “I do think that will reflect well on Vice President Harris, and I hope this momentum will continue.”She added that whoever is the next president must follow up with concrete action and begin making amends for the devastation the boarding schools wrought on tribes.Democrats have stepped up outreach to Native American communities.Both Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>, met with tribal leaders in Arizona and Nevada this month. And Clinton, who has been serving as a surrogate for Harris, last week met in North Carolina with the chairman of the Lumbee Tribe.The Democratic National Committee recently&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats.org/news/dnc-marks-indigenous-peoples-day-with-a-six-figure-ad-campaign-reaching-native-voters/">launched</a>&nbsp;a six-figure ad campaign targeting Native American voters in Arizona, North Carolina, Montana and Alaska through digital, print and radio ads.Democratic Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ruben-gallego">Ruben Gallego</a>, who is locked in a competitive race with Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kari-lake">Kari Lake</a>&nbsp;for Arizona's open Senate seat, has visited all 22 of Arizona's federally recognized tribes.Harris started a recent campaign rally in Chandler, near where the Gila River reservation is located, with a shoutout to the tribe's leader.She also reminded the crowd that she was the first vice president to visit the reservation. She and husband Doug Emhoff visited the community last year.“I strongly believe that the relationship between tribal nations and the United States is sacred ... and that we must honor tribal sovereignty, embrace our trust in treaty obligations, and ensure tribal self-determination,” Harris said.The White House says Biden and Harris have built a substantial track record with Native Americans over the last four years.He designated the sacred&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-travel-mountains-arizona-las-vegas-ca156c74cf5b1d5778dda292e52fa57e">Avi Kwa Ame,</a>&nbsp;a desert mountain in Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon in Arizona as national monuments and restored the boundaries for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-lifestyle-business-environment-1d8b5a0ff3814f78c5e8bc97c37fc32e">Bears Ears National Monument</a>&nbsp;in Utah.In addition, the administration has directed nearly $46 billion in federal spending to tribal nations. The money has helped bring electricity to a reservation that never had electricity, expand access to high-speed internet, improve water sanitation, build roadways and more.Biden picked former New Mexico Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/debra-haaland">Deb Haaland</a>&nbsp;to serve as his Interior secretary, the first Native American to be appointed to a Cabinet position. Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.She, in turn, ordered the comprehensive review in June 2021 of the troubled legacy of the federal government's boarding school policies that is leading Biden to deliver the formal apology.“He made commitments to Indian Country, and he has followed through on every single one of those commitments,” Haaland said.Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, said both Harris' and Trump's campaigns — and their allies — have put a remarkable amount of effort into micro-targeting in Arizona.Harris, Reilly noted, has also focused on whittling away at Trump's advantage among Mormon voters in the state, a group that historically has favored Republicans. Trump, meanwhile, has put special focus on young men as the campaign tries to narrow Democrats' advantage with younger voters.“They are pulling out every stop just to see if they could wrangle a few more votes here and there,” Reilly said. “The Indian community is one of those groups that Harris is hoping will overperform and help make the difference.”

🎥Biden apologizes for forced Native American boarding school system

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>

WASHINGTON — Nearly 30 million Americans by Thursday had cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, with 13 million choosing to vote in person at early voting centers and another 17 million submitting mail-in ballots, according to data from the University of Florida’s election lab.

The total number of early votes is expected to increase significantly in the days leading up to Election Day on Nov. 5.

Voters will determine whether Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris or Republican candidate Donald Trump occupies the Oval Office for the next four years. On the national level, they’ll also decide which political party controls the U.S. House and U.S. Senate for the next two years.

The nonpartisan Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics say the presidential race is still very much up for grabs, rating the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as toss-ups.

Early voting is higher in several of those purple states than some of their counterparts, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the University of Florida’s election lab.

Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia have each received at least 1.2 million early ballots, while California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas have all received at least 2 million early votes.

The University of Florida data shows that among states that disclose party breakdowns, Democrats have cast nearly 42% of ballots while Republicans have submitted 35% and other voters have sent in about 23%.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball projects that Republicans are at least slightly favored to win 212 House seats, with Democrats holding onto at least 209 seats in that chamber. Another 14 races are rated as toss-ups, meaning control of the chamber is still far from decided.

“Overall, our ratings show just 7 Republican-held Toss-ups and 7 Democratic-held Toss-ups, for 14 total,” Managing Editor Kyle Kondik and Associate Editor J. Miles Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/rating-changes-pushing-house-toss-ups-nebraska-senate-to-leans-republican/" target="_blank">wrote in the latest update</a>, released Thursday morning.

“Splitting the Toss-ups down the middle would produce a 219-216 Republican House, so the ratings technically have the Republicans very narrowly ahead—but neither side is favored in the race for the House majority, even at this late stage,” they wrote.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Suzan DelBene of Washington state told reporters Thursday the organization has several voter protection efforts underway to ensure Americans who want to vote have an opportunity to do so.

Those efforts won’t stop when the polls close on Election Day, but will continue as absentee ballots are counted, she said in a virtual meeting with the Regional Reporters Association.

“So this is obviously a priority for us, and some of these races are very, very close, so we want to make sure we’re there to help make sure ballots are counted across the country,” DelBene said.

Control of the House might not be announced on election night, or for several days afterward. It took more than a week after the 2022 midterm elections before The<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede" target="_blank">&nbsp;Associated Press called control&nbsp;</a>for the GOP.

The Senate is leaning slightly toward Republican control, with GOP candidates on track to pick up seats in West Virginia and Montana.

Sabato’s has, however, moved Nebraska’s rating from likely Republican to leans Republican, “as the Republican cavalry has had to ride in to help” incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer maintain her seat against independent challenger Dan Osborn.

“Unlike Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL), the only other two GOP incumbents in races that we rate as something other than Safe Republican, Fischer has, arguably, never had to run in a legitimately competitive statewide general election,” Kondik and Coleman wrote.

<a href="https://vote.gov/guide-to-voting#earlyvoting" target="_blank">Early in-person voting</a>&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://vote.gov/guide-to-voting#mail-absentee" target="_blank">who is eligible for mail-in ballots</a>&nbsp;is determined by each state, meaning when and where voters can cast early ballots varies considerably.

All states are required to host in-person voting on Election Day, scheduled for Nov. 5. More information about voting can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vote.gov/" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729870329996.png" alt="Voters in line this week in Sedgwick County-photos courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Voters in line this week in Sedgwick County-photos courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — Nearly 30 million Americans by Thursday had cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, with 13 million choosing to vote in person at early voting centers and another 17 million submitting mail-in ballots, according to data from the University of Florida’s election lab.The total number of early votes is expected to increase significantly in the days leading up to Election Day on Nov. 5.Voters will determine whether Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris or Republican candidate Donald Trump occupies the Oval Office for the next four years. On the national level, they’ll also decide which political party controls the U.S. House and U.S. Senate for the next two years.The nonpartisan Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics say the presidential race is still very much up for grabs, rating the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as toss-ups.Early voting is higher in several of those purple states than some of their counterparts, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the University of Florida’s election lab.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729870269518.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia have each received at least 1.2 million early ballots, while California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas have all received at least 2 million early votes.The University of Florida data shows that among states that disclose party breakdowns, Democrats have cast nearly 42% of ballots while Republicans have submitted 35% and other voters have sent in about 23%.<h2>U.S. House control up in the air</h2>Sabato’s Crystal Ball projects that Republicans are at least slightly favored to win 212 House seats, with Democrats holding onto at least 209 seats in that chamber. Another 14 races are rated as toss-ups, meaning control of the chamber is still far from decided.“Overall, our ratings show just 7 Republican-held Toss-ups and 7 Democratic-held Toss-ups, for 14 total,” Managing Editor Kyle Kondik and Associate Editor J. Miles Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/rating-changes-pushing-house-toss-ups-nebraska-senate-to-leans-republican/" target="_blank">wrote in the latest update</a>, released Thursday morning.“Splitting the Toss-ups down the middle would produce a 219-216 Republican House, so the ratings technically have the Republicans very narrowly ahead—but neither side is favored in the race for the House majority, even at this late stage,” they wrote.Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Suzan DelBene of Washington state told reporters Thursday the organization has several voter protection efforts underway to ensure Americans who want to vote have an opportunity to do so.Those efforts won’t stop when the polls close on Election Day, but will continue as absentee ballots are counted, she said in a virtual meeting with the Regional Reporters Association.“So this is obviously a priority for us, and some of these races are very, very close, so we want to make sure we’re there to help make sure ballots are counted across the country,” DelBene said.Control of the House might not be announced on election night, or for several days afterward. It took more than a week after the 2022 midterm elections before The<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede" target="_blank">&nbsp;Associated Press called control&nbsp;</a>for the GOP.<h2>U.S. Senate tilts toward GOP</h2>The Senate is leaning slightly toward Republican control, with GOP candidates on track to pick up seats in West Virginia and Montana.Sabato’s has, however, moved Nebraska’s rating from likely Republican to leans Republican, “as the Republican cavalry has had to ride in to help” incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer maintain her seat against independent challenger Dan Osborn.“Unlike Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL), the only other two GOP incumbents in races that we rate as something other than Safe Republican, Fischer has, arguably, never had to run in a legitimately competitive statewide general election,” Kondik and Coleman wrote.<a href="https://vote.gov/guide-to-voting#earlyvoting" target="_blank">Early in-person voting</a>&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://vote.gov/guide-to-voting#mail-absentee" target="_blank">who is eligible for mail-in ballots</a>&nbsp;is determined by each state, meaning when and where voters can cast early ballots varies considerably.All states are required to host in-person voting on Election Day, scheduled for Nov. 5. More information about voting can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vote.gov/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Millions of Americans flock to early voting, in person and via mail

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Kansas burglary and have three suspects in custody.

Just before 9p.m. October 19, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary in progress in the 13000 Block of 162nd Road near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

  Jackson County Deputies and the Hoyt Police Department responded to the area.

Three subjects were located and arrested by law enforcement.  Tanner Reese Brooke, 19; Dustin James Brooke, 20 and Jon Alan Wilson, 21, all of Topeka were all arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of burglary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624206116.png" alt="Dustin Brooke photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Dustin Brooke photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Kansas burglary and have three suspects in custody.Just before 9p.m. October 19, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary in progress in the 13000 Block of 162nd Road near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624274729.png" alt="Wilson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Jackson County Deputies and the Hoyt Police Department responded to the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624156916.png" alt="Tammer Brooke photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tammer Brooke photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Three subjects were located and arrested by law enforcement. Tanner Reese Brooke, 19; Dustin James Brooke, 20 and Jon Alan Wilson, 21, all of Topeka were all arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of burglary.

Sheriff: 3 captured during rural Kansas burglary

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said Friday.

Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Two people developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, and one person died.

No source of the outbreak has been identified, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. But investigators have focused on slivered onions used on the burgers, as well as beef patties.

McDonald's officials have said that a California-based produce grower,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms, supplied yellow onions</a>&nbsp;that have been recalled for possible E. coli contamination. McDonald's pulled the burger from menus in several states on Tuesday when the outbreak was announced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729871594276.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA &nbsp;AP Health Writer</a>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said Friday.Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Two people developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, and one person died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729872051879.png" alt="Image McDonalds" />
 <figcaption>Image McDonalds</figcaption>
 </figure>No source of the outbreak has been identified, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. But investigators have focused on slivered onions used on the burgers, as well as beef patties.McDonald's officials have said that a California-based produce grower,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms, supplied yellow onions</a>&nbsp;that have been recalled for possible E. coli contamination. McDonald's pulled the burger from menus in several states on Tuesday when the outbreak was announced.

CDC: E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders expands 

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds is recovering from two gunshot wounds after he and another man were fired upon following a visit to a strip club last week.

“Josh Reynolds was a victim of a shooting on Friday in Denver and received treatment for minor injuries,” the Broncos said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Out of respect for the legal process, we will defer further comment on this matter to the authorities.”

Denver&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DenverPolice/status/1849276540808270066/photo/1">police said they have arrested two men</a>&nbsp;— Luis Mendoza, 35, and Burr Charlesworth, 42 — in connection with the shootings, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Oct. 18 along a stretch of Interstate 25 south of downtown.

The men were being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Police said they were trying to identify possible additional suspects and “therefore the arrest reports are sealed to protect the integrity of the investigation.”

<a href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/denver-bronco-josh-reynolds-shot/73-f51bf502-5129-4dd1-bad8-a4495be20909">NBC affiliate KUSA-TV</a>&nbsp;in Denver, the Broncos' flagship station, which first reported the shooting, said Reynolds was shot once in his left arm and once in the back of his head. The station said Reynolds and the other man were followed after leaving a strip club called Shotgun Willies.

Reynolds is on injured reserve with a broken finger and didn't travel with the Broncos to New Orleans for their Thursday night game on Oct. 17. The shooting happened a few hours after the Broncos beat the Saints.

Reynolds has been working out on a side field during the Broncos' practices this week. Players on IR aren't available to speak with reporters.

Reynolds is in his ninth NFL season and his first in Denver after signing a two-year, $9 million contract last offseason. He's played in five games with one start and has caught 12 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.

He spent the last three seasons with Detroit. He's also played for the Titans and the Rams, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas A&amp;M.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729864438289.jpeg" alt="Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates his 9-yard reception for a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)" />
 <figcaption>Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates his 9-yard reception for a touchdown with teammate wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)</figcaption>
 </figure>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds is recovering from two gunshot wounds after he and another man were fired upon following a visit to a strip club last week.“Josh Reynolds was a victim of a shooting on Friday in Denver and received treatment for minor injuries,” the Broncos said in a statement to The Associated Press. “Out of respect for the legal process, we will defer further comment on this matter to the authorities.”Denver&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DenverPolice/status/1849276540808270066/photo/1">police said they have arrested two men</a>&nbsp;— Luis Mendoza, 35, and Burr Charlesworth, 42 — in connection with the shootings, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Oct. 18 along a stretch of Interstate 25 south of downtown.The men were being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Police said they were trying to identify possible additional suspects and “therefore the arrest reports are sealed to protect the integrity of the investigation.”<a href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/denver-bronco-josh-reynolds-shot/73-f51bf502-5129-4dd1-bad8-a4495be20909">NBC affiliate KUSA-TV</a>&nbsp;in Denver, the Broncos' flagship station, which first reported the shooting, said Reynolds was shot once in his left arm and once in the back of his head. The station said Reynolds and the other man were followed after leaving a strip club called Shotgun Willies.Reynolds is on injured reserve with a broken finger and didn't travel with the Broncos to New Orleans for their Thursday night game on Oct. 17. The shooting happened a few hours after the Broncos beat the Saints.Reynolds has been working out on a side field during the Broncos' practices this week. Players on IR aren't available to speak with reporters.Reynolds is in his ninth NFL season and his first in Denver after signing a two-year, $9 million contract last offseason. He's played in five games with one start and has caught 12 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.He spent the last three seasons with Detroit. He's also played for the Titans and the Rams, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas A&amp;M.

Broncos receiver shot after visit to strip club, 2 suspects in custody

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Turnover on the Kansas Board of Education after the November election could tip the board’s balance of power in favor of conservative members.

Half of the board’s 10 seats are up for election. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats seven to three, but some moderate board members aren’t running for reelection, positioning the board for a potential ideological shake-up. All five races are contested, and the 12 candidates are differentiating themselves on such central issues as parental rights, public school funding and school safety ahead of Nov. 5.

The board is tasked with oversight of the Kansas Department of Education and supervision of public schools, but it has little control over funding, a responsibility of the legislative branch.

Two incumbents are running for reelection, and a pair of three-way races could split conservative votes. Many of this election’s Republican candidates align with the current board’s conservative faction on issues like religion in schools, arming teachers and parental involvement in instructional and functional decisions.

At an Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, a candidate for the northeastern 4th District, Kris Meyer, criticized the four conservative members on the current board who she believes are “seeking to sow distrust across the state of Kansas in our public schools.”

Those four board members — Danny Zeck, Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins and Dennis Hershberger — are not up for reelection until 2026.

In the 2nd District, which represents school districts in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, incumbent Melanie Haas, a Democrat and tech executive, is seeking to retain her seat in a three-way race. She is up against Republican challenger Fred Postlewait and an independent, Kiel Corkran. Haas was first elected in 2020 and is the board’s current chair. She was endorsed by the Kansas National Education Association, the state’s public educator union, and she has defended fully funding public schools.

Postlewait, a retired computer systems manager, was inspired to run for the board to address declining ACT scores, which have been on a downward trend since 2014 but saw a sharp drop in 2020.

“The train is off the tracks,” he wrote on his campaign website.

Corkran does not have a campaign website and didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for an interview.

In the 4th District in northeastern Kansas, Democrat Ann Mah is vacating her seat on the board after eight years. Republican Connie O’Brien, a former teacher and state representative, and Democrat Meyer, a longtime public school educator and principal, are vying for the position.

O’Brien beat out two other Republican hopefuls in the August Primary after Attorney General Kris Kobach gave her his endorsement, urging conservatives to vote for her.

She said in a video posted to YouTube she’ll focus on changes to vocational and technical education, supporting parental rights and supporting teachers.

O’Brien, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, said at the Oct. 6 candidate forum at the Lawrence Public Library she does not support vouchers, adding that private school and home school parents “don’t want government in their face.”

“But you have to wonder why parents march up to the capital every year and ask for those things,” she said.

Meyer told Kansas Reflector she’ll focus on fully funding public education, particularly special education, addressing teacher shortages and retention woes and bolstering student mental health support.

“I want to ensure the state board continues to set clear standards and advocate for policies and funding that guarantee all students receive a quality education,” she said. “This includes pushing back on legislative overreach that could hinder the state board’s constitutional duty.”

In the 6th District, Republican Deena Horst isn’t running for reelection. Democrat Beryl Ann New, a retired director of personnel and equity at Topeka Public Schools, and Republican Bruce Schultz, a retired professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, are running to represent school districts in north-central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Lawrence and Topeka.

If elected, New told Kansas Reflector, her goal is to address poor student performance and safety in schools in her first year.

“I will collaborate with board members to ensure that resources are provided to schools whose students are yet below grade level in reading comprehension, provide funding to ensure that Kansas schools remain safe and secure, and solidly support the full funding of all Kansas schools with 100% of funds going solely to public schools,” New said.

She also said she supports vetted alternative teaching programs to address teacher retention and shortages. At the Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, New said the principal reason she’s seen teachers leave the profession was inadequate compensation.

Schultz, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, said at the forum he doesn’t think boosting teacher salaries is the right answer to teacher retention issues and shortages. Instead, he favors an approach that builds persistence in teaching, he said.

“We need to reform the system to allow and promote greater community engagement,” he said.

Schultz has campaigned on prioritizing parent involvement in school decisions, focusing education on math, science, language arts and financial literacy and budget efficiency, according to his campaign website.

In the Wichita-area 8th District, Democratic incumbent Betty Arnold, a former Wichita school board member, seeks to hold on to the position she has occupied since 2021. She’s aiming to reevaluate performance measures and outcomes, increase teacher compensation and prioritize student safety.

“I believe in public education and I will continue to support it,” Arnold said in an email. “As the focus shifts away from the support of public education, it is vital to have an advocate that understands public education is a must if we want to continue with all children having access to an education.”

Arnold’s opponent, Republican Jason Carmichael, did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/12/in-kansas-school-board-races-voters-reject-candidates-pushing-culture-war-issues/" target="_blank">lost a bid for a sea</a>t on the Unified School District 259 board in Wichita in 2023. During that election, he ran on the premise that “parents’ rights are the cornerstone” of society,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/politics/2023-10-19/2023-wichita-school-board-where-do-candidates-stand-on-the-issues" target="_blank">KMUW reported</a>. Carmichael believes in eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, supports teachers who are authorized to carry guns in order to combat an active shooter and opposes mandated vaccination requirements, according to a questionnaire he completed for&nbsp;<a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoterGuide</a>, which is affiliated with Christian political nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://afaaction.net/mission" target="_blank">AFA Action</a>.

The 10th District in south-central Kansas is contested in a three-way race. Jeffrey Jarman, a Democrat, Debby Potter, a Republican, and Kent Rowe, an independent, are vying for the position being vacated by moderate Republican Jim McNiece.

Jarman, a communications professor at Wichita State University and member of the Maize public school board, said in an email he will advocate for stable funding and against school vouchers if elected.

“While the Legislature appropriates the funds, there is an important role for the board in advocating for stable funding,” he said. “The current funding formula finally meets the minimum required by the state constitution, but it will expire in 2027. I strongly support extending the formula to provide stability to school districts.”

Jarman said he hopes to support local districts by bettering educational achievement outcomes and allocating existing funds to programs that assist the “most vulnerable students,” he said.

“But,” he added, “the board is divided and decisions about how to best support our students unfortunately are politicized.”

Potter, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, homeschooled her own children, and she said she was inspired to run when she considered her grandchildren.

“I want them not to be indoctrinated away from their faith and away from their parents, and I feel like there’s a lot of undermining of the families going on,” she said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub1MbGf7FXI" target="_blank">candidate forum</a>&nbsp;hosted by Republican Women United of Sedgwick County ahead of the August primary election.

She defeated another Republican hopeful in the primary. God is her campaign manager, she said at the forum.

Potter considers herself to be “very conservative, ” she wrote in answers for an iVoterGuide questionnaire. She supports arming licensed teachers, eradicating the federal department of education and is a strong advocate for parental involvement in schools.

“While I believe private education provides a better result for less money, the general public has determined that public education is in the public’s best interest,” she wrote. “To that end, my hope will be to involve parents and teachers to take more control (as would be the case in private education) through informing them and encouraging their increased participation with their local school boards.”

Rowe, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, is a member of the Kansas Green Party, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kentforkansasboe.com/kent-s-platform/" target="_blank">campaign website</a>. His priorities include retaining funding for rural public schools, preventing book bans in high schools and addressing student mental health issues. He is a retired professor of aeronautical science for the U.S. Air Force and the former mayor of Longton, which is in Elk County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729860959890.png" alt="Five seats on the Kansas Board of Education are up for grabs in the 2024 general election, and the outcome will determine whether the board shifts to a conservative majority. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Five seats on the Kansas Board of Education are up for grabs in the 2024 general election, and the outcome will determine whether the board shifts to a conservative majority. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Turnover on the Kansas Board of Education after the November election could tip the board’s balance of power in favor of conservative members.Half of the board’s 10 seats are up for election. Republicans currently outnumber Democrats seven to three, but some moderate board members aren’t running for reelection, positioning the board for a potential ideological shake-up. All five races are contested, and the 12 candidates are differentiating themselves on such central issues as parental rights, public school funding and school safety ahead of Nov. 5.The board is tasked with oversight of the Kansas Department of Education and supervision of public schools, but it has little control over funding, a responsibility of the legislative branch.Two incumbents are running for reelection, and a pair of three-way races could split conservative votes. Many of this election’s Republican candidates align with the current board’s conservative faction on issues like religion in schools, arming teachers and parental involvement in instructional and functional decisions.At an Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, a candidate for the northeastern 4th District, Kris Meyer, criticized the four conservative members on the current board who she believes are “seeking to sow distrust across the state of Kansas in our public schools.”Those four board members — Danny Zeck, Michelle Dombrosky, Cathy Hopkins and Dennis Hershberger — are not up for reelection until 2026.In the 2nd District, which represents school districts in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, incumbent Melanie Haas, a Democrat and tech executive, is seeking to retain her seat in a three-way race. She is up against Republican challenger Fred Postlewait and an independent, Kiel Corkran. Haas was first elected in 2020 and is the board’s current chair. She was endorsed by the Kansas National Education Association, the state’s public educator union, and she has defended fully funding public schools.Postlewait, a retired computer systems manager, was inspired to run for the board to address declining ACT scores, which have been on a downward trend since 2014 but saw a sharp drop in 2020.“The train is off the tracks,” he wrote on his campaign website.Corkran does not have a campaign website and didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for an interview.In the 4th District in northeastern Kansas, Democrat Ann Mah is vacating her seat on the board after eight years. Republican Connie O’Brien, a former teacher and state representative, and Democrat Meyer, a longtime public school educator and principal, are vying for the position.O’Brien beat out two other Republican hopefuls in the August Primary after Attorney General Kris Kobach gave her his endorsement, urging conservatives to vote for her.She said in a video posted to YouTube she’ll focus on changes to vocational and technical education, supporting parental rights and supporting teachers.O’Brien, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, said at the Oct. 6 candidate forum at the Lawrence Public Library she does not support vouchers, adding that private school and home school parents “don’t want government in their face.”“But you have to wonder why parents march up to the capital every year and ask for those things,” she said.Meyer told Kansas Reflector she’ll focus on fully funding public education, particularly special education, addressing teacher shortages and retention woes and bolstering student mental health support.“I want to ensure the state board continues to set clear standards and advocate for policies and funding that guarantee all students receive a quality education,” she said. “This includes pushing back on legislative overreach that could hinder the state board’s constitutional duty.”In the 6th District, Republican Deena Horst isn’t running for reelection. Democrat Beryl Ann New, a retired director of personnel and equity at Topeka Public Schools, and Republican Bruce Schultz, a retired professor of anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, are running to represent school districts in north-central and northeastern Kansas, including the cities of Lawrence and Topeka.If elected, New told Kansas Reflector, her goal is to address poor student performance and safety in schools in her first year.“I will collaborate with board members to ensure that resources are provided to schools whose students are yet below grade level in reading comprehension, provide funding to ensure that Kansas schools remain safe and secure, and solidly support the full funding of all Kansas schools with 100% of funds going solely to public schools,” New said.She also said she supports vetted alternative teaching programs to address teacher retention and shortages. At the Oct. 6 forum in Lawrence, New said the principal reason she’s seen teachers leave the profession was inadequate compensation.Schultz, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, said at the forum he doesn’t think boosting teacher salaries is the right answer to teacher retention issues and shortages. Instead, he favors an approach that builds persistence in teaching, he said.“We need to reform the system to allow and promote greater community engagement,” he said.Schultz has campaigned on prioritizing parent involvement in school decisions, focusing education on math, science, language arts and financial literacy and budget efficiency, according to his campaign website.In the Wichita-area 8th District, Democratic incumbent Betty Arnold, a former Wichita school board member, seeks to hold on to the position she has occupied since 2021. She’s aiming to reevaluate performance measures and outcomes, increase teacher compensation and prioritize student safety.“I believe in public education and I will continue to support it,” Arnold said in an email. “As the focus shifts away from the support of public education, it is vital to have an advocate that understands public education is a must if we want to continue with all children having access to an education.”Arnold’s opponent, Republican Jason Carmichael, did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/12/in-kansas-school-board-races-voters-reject-candidates-pushing-culture-war-issues/" target="_blank">lost a bid for a sea</a>t on the Unified School District 259 board in Wichita in 2023. During that election, he ran on the premise that “parents’ rights are the cornerstone” of society,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/politics/2023-10-19/2023-wichita-school-board-where-do-candidates-stand-on-the-issues" target="_blank">KMUW reported</a>. Carmichael believes in eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, supports teachers who are authorized to carry guns in order to combat an active shooter and opposes mandated vaccination requirements, according to a questionnaire he completed for&nbsp;<a href="https://ivoterguide.com/" target="_blank">iVoterGuide</a>, which is affiliated with Christian political nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://afaaction.net/mission" target="_blank">AFA Action</a>.The 10th District in south-central Kansas is contested in a three-way race. Jeffrey Jarman, a Democrat, Debby Potter, a Republican, and Kent Rowe, an independent, are vying for the position being vacated by moderate Republican Jim McNiece.Jarman, a communications professor at Wichita State University and member of the Maize public school board, said in an email he will advocate for stable funding and against school vouchers if elected.“While the Legislature appropriates the funds, there is an important role for the board in advocating for stable funding,” he said. “The current funding formula finally meets the minimum required by the state constitution, but it will expire in 2027. I strongly support extending the formula to provide stability to school districts.”Jarman said he hopes to support local districts by bettering educational achievement outcomes and allocating existing funds to programs that assist the “most vulnerable students,” he said.“But,” he added, “the board is divided and decisions about how to best support our students unfortunately are politicized.”Potter, who did not respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment, homeschooled her own children, and she said she was inspired to run when she considered her grandchildren.“I want them not to be indoctrinated away from their faith and away from their parents, and I feel like there’s a lot of undermining of the families going on,” she said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub1MbGf7FXI" target="_blank">candidate forum</a>&nbsp;hosted by Republican Women United of Sedgwick County ahead of the August primary election.She defeated another Republican hopeful in the primary. God is her campaign manager, she said at the forum.Potter considers herself to be “very conservative, ” she wrote in answers for an iVoterGuide questionnaire. She supports arming licensed teachers, eradicating the federal department of education and is a strong advocate for parental involvement in schools.“While I believe private education provides a better result for less money, the general public has determined that public education is in the public’s best interest,” she wrote. “To that end, my hope will be to involve parents and teachers to take more control (as would be the case in private education) through informing them and encouraging their increased participation with their local school boards.”Rowe, who didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s inquiries, is a member of the Kansas Green Party, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kentforkansasboe.com/kent-s-platform/" target="_blank">campaign website</a>. His priorities include retaining funding for rural public schools, preventing book bans in high schools and addressing student mental health issues. He is a retired professor of aeronautical science for the U.S. Air Force and the former mayor of Longton, which is in Elk County.

Kansas Board of Education races could shift power to conservative bloc

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen involved in road rage killing of a Kansas grandmother is going to prison.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 20-year-old Daryon Boone to nearly 27-years in prison for the shooting death of 69-year-old Norma Williams last year, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In August, Boone, who was 19 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the death of&nbsp; Williams.

Just before 10 p.m. Sept. 1, 2023, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 11200 block of East Central Avenue, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers arrived on the scene and located Williams of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to her upper body.

Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Mrs. Williams was transported to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

During the investigation, officers learned that Mrs. Williams was the front passenger of a 2021 Honda Ridgeline traveling northbound on Greenwich, approaching the eastbound lanes of Kellogg Drive.

When they reached the intersection a group of motorcycles riding eastbound ran the red light and one of the motorcycles driven Boone of Wichita struck their vehicle. Following the incident, Boone followed the vehicle, ultimately producing a handgun and shooting into the vehicle, which fatally injured Williams.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/norma-williams?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;online fundraiser for the Williams family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693697348233.png" alt="Boone photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Boone photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas teen involved in road rage killing of a Kansas grandmother is going to prison.On Thursday afternoon, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 20-year-old Daryon Boone to nearly 27-years in prison for the shooting death of 69-year-old Norma Williams last year, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693841905672.png" alt="Norma Williams was shot and killed on the way home from a Friday night ballgame in Wichita -photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Norma Williams was shot and killed on the way home from a Friday night ballgame in Wichita -photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>In August, Boone, who was 19 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the death of&nbsp; Williams.Just before 10 p.m. Sept. 1, 2023, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 11200 block of East Central Avenue, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers arrived on the scene and located Williams of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with a gunshot wound to her upper body.Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. Mrs. Williams was transported to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.During the investigation, officers learned that Mrs. Williams was the front passenger of a 2021 Honda Ridgeline traveling northbound on Greenwich, approaching the eastbound lanes of Kellogg Drive.When they reached the intersection a group of motorcycles riding eastbound ran the red light and one of the motorcycles driven Boone of Wichita struck their vehicle. Following the incident, Boone followed the vehicle, ultimately producing a handgun and shooting into the vehicle, which fatally injured Williams.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/norma-williams?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;online fundraiser for the Williams family.

Prison for man who followed pickup, fired shot that killed Kan. woman

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing's capsule trouble</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-hurricane-milton-helene-sarasota-tourism-snowbirds-2c6c92ba9dd4a452ceaa7ce2e42c7bd2">Hurricane Milton</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-international-space-station-f8d61b5b432f2b6bb7a3084e47c84d7a">SpaceX capsule carrying the crew</a>&nbsp;parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast after undocking from the International Space Station mid-week.

The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by problems with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s new Starliner astronaut capsule</a>, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered, followed by another two weeks of high wind and rough seas.

SpaceX launched the four — NASA's Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps, and Russia's Alexander Grebenkin — in March. Barratt, the only space veteran going into the mission, acknowledged the support teams back home that had “to replan, retool and kind of redo everything right along with us ... and helped us to roll with all those punches.”

Their replacements are the two Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose own mission went from eight days to eight months, and two astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. Those four will remain up there until February.

The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians — after months of overflow.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after a nearly eight-month space station stay extended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing's capsule trouble</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-hurricane-milton-helene-sarasota-tourism-snowbirds-2c6c92ba9dd4a452ceaa7ce2e42c7bd2">Hurricane Milton</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dragon splashes down off the coast of Florida with the Crew-8 astronauts after spending 235 days on-orbit and completing SpaceX’s 13th human spaceflight mission <a href="https://t.co/LR6uTLWX2F">pic.twitter.com/LR6uTLWX2F</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1849746723184193836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-international-space-station-f8d61b5b432f2b6bb7a3084e47c84d7a">SpaceX capsule carrying the crew</a>&nbsp;parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast after undocking from the International Space Station mid-week.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dominickmatthew</a>, Mike, <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Jeanette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_Jeanette</a>, and Sasha! <a href="https://t.co/3fhqlQ3btP">pic.twitter.com/3fhqlQ3btP</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1849715442069405758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by problems with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s new Starliner astronaut capsule</a>, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered, followed by another two weeks of high wind and rough seas.SpaceX launched the four — NASA's Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps, and Russia's Alexander Grebenkin — in March. Barratt, the only space veteran going into the mission, acknowledged the support teams back home that had “to replan, retool and kind of redo everything right along with us ... and helped us to roll with all those punches.”Their replacements are the two Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose own mission went from eight days to eight months, and two astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. Those four will remain up there until February.The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians — after months of overflow.

4 astronauts return to Earth after delayed by capsule trouble and Hurricane

PHILLIPS COUNTY —A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun near the middle school in Phillipsburg.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call that there was an individual shooting a gun south of the middle school in Phillipsburg, according to a social media report from the sheriff.

A deputy who was patrolling school zones in Phillipsburg arrived shortly.  The Deputy began shouting orders and then the individual dropped both weapons and laid them on the ground.  The suspect,&nbsp;identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, who lives in the 500 block of 7th street in an apartment. 

 From eyewitness statements it has been concluded that he fired two shots into the air with a 9mm Pistol, but also had an AR Rifle on his person as well, according to the sheriff's office.

Thieben was then taken into custody on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a firearm within city limits.

He had one full magazine for the pistol and the rifle magazine and chamber were empty.  A search warrant was done on the suspect’s apartment.  During the search only a single 9mm round was found in the apartment.  There was no evidence leading to a motive or agenda. 

Thieben is currently incarcerated in the Phillips County Jail where he is being mentally screened.  There were multiple people in the area who helped get the kids to safety at the nearby school and others who attempted to control the situation.

  Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton said, “We should all be proud of how our community reacted, it was quick, and everyone prioritized the safety of our children, and also to the Deputies that responded and ran directly to the threat and ended it." 

PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating gunfire near the middle school in Phillipsburg.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of 7th street, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.

The shots fired were not believed to be directed at the nearby school, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Phillipsburg Middle School is located at&nbsp;647 7th Street.

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, according to online jail records is in custody. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat; cause terror, evacuation or disruption. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729786283582.png" alt="Thieben photo Phillips County" />
 <figcaption>Thieben photo Phillips County</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS COUNTY —A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun near the middle school in Phillipsburg.Just before 8a.m. Thursday, the Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call that there was an individual shooting a gun south of the middle school in Phillipsburg, according to a social media report from the sheriff.A deputy who was patrolling school zones in Phillipsburg arrived shortly. The Deputy began shouting orders and then the individual dropped both weapons and laid them on the ground. The suspect,&nbsp;identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, who lives in the 500 block of 7th street in an apartment. From eyewitness statements it has been concluded that he fired two shots into the air with a 9mm Pistol, but also had an AR Rifle on his person as well, according to the sheriff's office.Thieben was then taken into custody on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Aggravated Assault and Unlawful Discharge of a firearm within city limits.He had one full magazine for the pistol and the rifle magazine and chamber were empty. A search warrant was done on the suspect’s apartment. During the search only a single 9mm round was found in the apartment. There was no evidence leading to a motive or agenda. Thieben is currently incarcerated in the Phillips County Jail where he is being mentally screened. There were multiple people in the area who helped get the kids to safety at the nearby school and others who attempted to control the situation. Sheriff Kyle Pinkerton said, “We should all be proud of how our community reacted, it was quick, and everyone prioritized the safety of our children, and also to the Deputies that responded and ran directly to the threat and ended it." ----------PHILLIPS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating gunfire near the middle school in Phillipsburg.Just before 8a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of shots fired in the 500 block of 7th street, according to a social media report from the Phillips County Sheriff's office.The shots fired were not believed to be directed at the nearby school, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Phillipsburg Middle School is located at&nbsp;647 7th Street.The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Morgan William Thieben, according to online jail records is in custody. He is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal threat; cause terror, evacuation or disruption. There were no injuries reported.

Sheriff: Man who fired shots near Kan. middle school had AR rifle

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City have a suspect in custody.

Just after 5:30a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the intersection of E 17th and Cambridge in Kansas City on a reported EMS call, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Officers arrived on scene prior to EMS and located a victim later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp;Christopher Avila lying on the sidewalk. He was unresponsive and suffering from unknown bodily trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced Avila deceased.

Officers on scene asked for assistance from homicide detectives due to the death appearing suspicious in nature. Detectives were sent to the scene to investigate further and it was determined this incident would be investigated as a homicide. On Thursday afternoon, police took a juvenile suspect into custody for questioning.&nbsp;

At this time, we do not have any preliminary information leading up to what happened.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City have a suspect in custody.Just after 5:30a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the intersection of E 17th and Cambridge in Kansas City on a reported EMS call, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Officers arrived on scene prior to EMS and located a victim later identified as 18-year-old&nbsp;Christopher Avila lying on the sidewalk. He was unresponsive and suffering from unknown bodily trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced Avila deceased.Officers on scene asked for assistance from homicide detectives due to the death appearing suspicious in nature. Detectives were sent to the scene to investigate further and it was determined this incident would be investigated as a homicide. On Thursday afternoon, police took a juvenile suspect into custody for questioning.&nbsp;At this time, we do not have any preliminary information leading up to what happened.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police ID teen found dead on Kansas City sidewalk

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, has died. He was 86.

Jones died Wednesday night at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, after battling leukemia for more than two years, according to a statement from his manager, Milt Suchin.

Jones began his singing career in the 1950s and in the 1960s won two Grammy Awards for best vocal performance, one on the song “Lollipops And Roses" and one on the song “Wives and Lovers.”

He was nominated for several other Grammys in later years, including for the album "Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett" in 1999.

In 1980, his “Love Boat” television show theme song rose to No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Adult Contemporary songs chart. Jones was also a frequent guest on the popular romantic comedy show in which guest stars, ranging from Gene Kelly to Janet Jackson, would come aboard for a cruise and fall in love with one another.

A social media account for “The Ed Sullivan Show,” an American television variety show that aired for decades, posted on X on Thursday that Jones lit up the show with smooth vocals and unforgettable performances.

“His music will forever inspire us,” the post said. “Thank you for the memories, Jack. Rest in peace.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729850482742.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, has died. He was 86.Jones died Wednesday night at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, after battling leukemia for more than two years, according to a statement from his manager, Milt Suchin.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My longtime buddy since we went to Unihi. Jonesey was an 18 year old senior and I was a lowly freshman. He has left the earth and I’m so sad. His beautiful voice will linger and linger as long as people need to listen to good music. Happy trails and following seas, dear treasured… <a href="https://t.co/eaGiKySxnI">pic.twitter.com/eaGiKySxnI</a>&mdash; Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) <a href="https://twitter.com/NancySinatra/status/1849633212294746128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Jones began his singing career in the 1950s and in the 1960s won two Grammy Awards for best vocal performance, one on the song “Lollipops And Roses" and one on the song “Wives and Lovers.”He was nominated for several other Grammys in later years, including for the album "Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett" in 1999.In 1980, his “Love Boat” television show theme song rose to No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Adult Contemporary songs chart. Jones was also a frequent guest on the popular romantic comedy show in which guest stars, ranging from Gene Kelly to Janet Jackson, would come aboard for a cruise and fall in love with one another.A social media account for “The Ed Sullivan Show,” an American television variety show that aired for decades, posted on X on Thursday that Jones lit up the show with smooth vocals and unforgettable performances.“His music will forever inspire us,” the post said. “Thank you for the memories, Jack. Rest in peace.”

Grammy-winning crooner Jack Jones, singer of 'Love Boat' theme, dies At 86

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An Ohio man charged with first-degree murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highway-rest-area-nebraska-knife-homicide-6c296ae495ef8255311c7bb7b67a8722">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a couple at an Interstate 80 rest stop in Nebraska has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, entered the plea Tuesday, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ohio-man-pleads-not-guilty-by-insanity-in-fatal-stabbing-at-grand-island-area-rest/article_080ec042-90b5-11ef-96da-9f6b8267c854.html">reported</a>. Thompson is also charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, fleeing arrest and a string of weapons counts in the June 19 stabbings of 72-year-old Gary Weaver and his 71-year-old wife, Mary Weaver, both of Eureka, Missouri.

Investigators have said that witnesses reported hearing Thompson demand the keys to a Jeep that was being towed behind the Weavers' RV before he stabbed them both at a rest area near Grand Island. Both were critically injured, and Gary Weaver later died from his injuries at a hospital.

Part of the attack was captured on a trucker's dash cam, investigators say. Police have said Thompson fled the rest area in a car, and a Nebraska State trooper later spotted him exiting I-80 at nearby Wood River. A chase ensued, and investigators say Thompson sped away at speeds of 120 mph before crashing into the Platte River. He was arrested nearby with blood on his shirt and several cuts on his hand, police said.

Thompson's public defender had earlier raised questions about his client's mental health, but Thompson was found competent to stand trial on Oct. 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718822090654.png" alt="Photo Nebraska State Patrol via NTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nebraska State Patrol via NTV</figcaption>
 </figure>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — An Ohio man charged with first-degree murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/highway-rest-area-nebraska-knife-homicide-6c296ae495ef8255311c7bb7b67a8722">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a couple at an Interstate 80 rest stop in Nebraska has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.James Thompson Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, entered the plea Tuesday, the Lincoln Journal Star&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ohio-man-pleads-not-guilty-by-insanity-in-fatal-stabbing-at-grand-island-area-rest/article_080ec042-90b5-11ef-96da-9f6b8267c854.html">reported</a>. Thompson is also charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, fleeing arrest and a string of weapons counts in the June 19 stabbings of 72-year-old Gary Weaver and his 71-year-old wife, Mary Weaver, both of Eureka, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718978922466.png" alt="Thompson photo Hall Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Thompson photo Hall Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators have said that witnesses reported hearing Thompson demand the keys to a Jeep that was being towed behind the Weavers' RV before he stabbed them both at a rest area near Grand Island. Both were critically injured, and Gary Weaver later died from his injuries at a hospital.Part of the attack was captured on a trucker's dash cam, investigators say. Police have said Thompson fled the rest area in a car, and a Nebraska State trooper later spotted him exiting I-80 at nearby Wood River. A chase ensued, and investigators say Thompson sped away at speeds of 120 mph before crashing into the Platte River. He was arrested nearby with blood on his shirt and several cuts on his hand, police said.Thompson's public defender had earlier raised questions about his client's mental health, but Thompson was found competent to stand trial on Oct. 1.

Man charged in a fatal rest stop stabbing enters plea

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%20and%20DEE-ANN%20DURBIN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press</a>

A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.

McDonald’s officials said that Taylor Farms, of Salinas, California, sent onions to one distribution facility, which led the fast-food chain to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">remove Quarter Pounder hamburgers</a>&nbsp;from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s didn’t say which facility it was.

An outbreak tied to the burgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including a person who died, federal health officials have said. Investigators said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/investigation-update-e-coli-o157-2024.html">focused on slivered onions</a>&nbsp;as a potential source of the infections.

U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a U.S. Foods spokesperson said. But the wholesaler also noted that it wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall didn’t include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.

Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not confirm that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency is “looking at all sources” of the outbreak.

In the meantime, other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-chipotle-taco-bell-norovirus-e-coli-83f1077981d738b91dbf0c76f7db2883">national restaurant chains</a>&nbsp;temporarily stopped using fresh onions.

“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands wouldn’t say where onions were removed or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow guidance from regulators and its suppliers.

Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility. Burger King restaurants get deliveries of whole, fresh onions and its employees wash, peel and slice them.

Even though it wasn’t contacted by health officials and it had no indications of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked the restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to dispose of them two days ago. The company said it’s restocking with onions from other suppliers.

Chipotle said Thursday it doesn’t source onions from Taylor Farms or us any other ingredients from the Colorado facility.

Onions have been implicated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-boars-head-ecoli-listeria-food-safety-1256564e2ec8baf6a96b27c7102e833e">previous outbreaks</a>. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix used in Costco chicken salads after 19 people were sickened with E. coli. Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023#:~:text=Additional%20Images-,Product,CDC)%20declares%20the%20outbreak%20over">80 people were sickened and one died</a>&nbsp;in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to bagged diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California. At least 10 people have been hospitalized in the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered a severe kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. Illnesses were confirmed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%20and%20DEE-ANN%20DURBIN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA and DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press</a>A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">food poisoning outbreak</a>&nbsp;at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.McDonald’s officials said that Taylor Farms, of Salinas, California, sent onions to one distribution facility, which led the fast-food chain to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-sick-onions-d4a37726f2669016decedcf9f928a9d9">remove Quarter Pounder hamburgers</a>&nbsp;from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s didn’t say which facility it was.An outbreak tied to the burgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including a person who died, federal health officials have said. Investigators said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/investigation-update-e-coli-o157-2024.html">focused on slivered onions</a>&nbsp;as a potential source of the infections.U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a U.S. Foods spokesperson said. But the wholesaler also noted that it wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall didn’t include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not confirm that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency is “looking at all sources” of the outbreak.In the meantime, other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-chipotle-taco-bell-norovirus-e-coli-83f1077981d738b91dbf0c76f7db2883">national restaurant chains</a>&nbsp;temporarily stopped using fresh onions.“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands wouldn’t say where onions were removed or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow guidance from regulators and its suppliers.Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility. Burger King restaurants get deliveries of whole, fresh onions and its employees wash, peel and slice them.Even though it wasn’t contacted by health officials and it had no indications of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked the restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to dispose of them two days ago. The company said it’s restocking with onions from other suppliers.Chipotle said Thursday it doesn’t source onions from Taylor Farms or us any other ingredients from the Colorado facility.Onions have been implicated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-boars-head-ecoli-listeria-food-safety-1256564e2ec8baf6a96b27c7102e833e">previous outbreaks</a>. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix used in Costco chicken salads after 19 people were sickened with E. coli. Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023#:~:text=Additional%20Images-,Product,CDC)%20declares%20the%20outbreak%20over">80 people were sickened and one died</a>&nbsp;in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to bagged diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California. At least 10 people have been hospitalized in the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered a severe kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. Illnesses were confirmed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Victims were infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to CDC.A Greeley, Colorado, man is suing McDonald’s after contracting an E. coli infection. In a lawsuit filed this week, Eric Stelly said he ate food from local McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and fell ill two days later. After he sought emergency care, health officials confirmed his infection was part of the outbreak.Symptoms occur of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. They typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration — little or no peeing, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children younger than 5, people who are elderly, pregnant or who have weakened immune systems.___