WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that drug price negotiations will knock hundreds of dollars — in some cases thousands — off the list prices of 10 of Medicare’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-negotiated-prices-initial-price-applicability-year-2026.pdf">most popular and costliest drugs</a>.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-lower-prices-for-first-ten-drugs-selected-for-medicare-price-negotiation-to-lower-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">The discounts</a>, agreed to after months of negotiations with drug manufacturers, range between 38% and 79% on the medication's list price, which is the cost of medication before discounts or rebates are applied — not the price people actually pay for prescriptions.

Medicare&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-medicare-selected-drug-negotiation-list-ipay-2026.pdf">spent</a>&nbsp;$50 billion covering the drugs last year and taxpayers are expected to save $6 billion on the new prices, which do not go into effect until 2026. Older adults could save as much as $1.5 billion in total on their medications in out-of-pocket costs. Administration officials released few details about how they arrived at those calculations.

The newly negotiated prices will impact the price of drugs used by millions of older Americans to help manage diabetes, blood cancers and prevent heart failure or blood clots. The drugs include the blood thinners Xarelto and Eliquis and diabetes drugs Jardiance and Januvia.

It's a landmark deal for the Medicare program, which provides health care coverage for more than 67 million older and disabled Americans. For decades, the federal government had been barred from bartering with pharmaceutical companies over the price of their drugs, even though it's a routine process for private insurers.

“For years, millions of Americans were forced to choose between paying for medications or putting food on the table, while Big Pharma blocked Medicare from being able to negotiate prices on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “But we fought back -– and won.”

The drug deals will become a focal point for Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris’</a>&nbsp;presidential campaign, especially since she cast the tiebreaking vote to pass the law. She will join Biden on Thursday to announce the drug prices, in what will be their first joint speaking appearance since she replaced him at the top of the Democratic ticket, as they both struggle to persuade voters that costs will trend down after years of above-normal inflation.

Harris is set to release part of her economic agenda on Friday in North Carolina, where she plans to detail other ways to help cut costs and boost incomes for the middle class.

The pair last appeared publicly together to welcome back to the U.S. Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-prisoner-swap-354df585ad321ecdbea4c0f2c557f0aa">detained</a>&nbsp;in Russia who were freed as part of a massive prisoner swap earlier this month.

Powerful drug companies unsuccessfully tried to file lawsuits to stop the negotiations, which became law in 2022, when a Democratic-controlled Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), overhauling several Medicare prescription drug regulations. But executives of those companies have also hinted in recent weeks during earnings calls that they don't expect the negotiations to impact their bottom line.

Pharmaceutical officials blasted the news from the White House, saying it will spread health care costs to taxpayers in other ways, including their Medicare premiums.

“The administration is using the IRA’s price-setting scheme to drive political headlines, but patients will be disappointed when they find out what it means for them," Steve Ubl, the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “The ironically named Inflation Reduction Act is a bad deal being forced on American patients: higher costs, more frustrating insurance denials and fewer treatments and cures for our loved ones.”

Next year, the Department of Health and Human Services can select another 15 drugs for price negotiations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that drug price negotiations will knock hundreds of dollars — in some cases thousands — off the list prices of 10 of Medicare’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-negotiated-prices-initial-price-applicability-year-2026.pdf">most popular and costliest drugs</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Right now, Americans pay two to three times more for prescription drugs than they would anywhere else. But the Biden-Harris Administration beat Big Pharma. And after months of negotiations, Medicare has reached agreements to lower the price for 10 of the highest-cost drugs. <a href="https://t.co/eGVtAtJsVO">pic.twitter.com/eGVtAtJsVO</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1824057502389968965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-lower-prices-for-first-ten-drugs-selected-for-medicare-price-negotiation-to-lower-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">The discounts</a>, agreed to after months of negotiations with drug manufacturers, range between 38% and 79% on the medication's list price, which is the cost of medication before discounts or rebates are applied — not the price people actually pay for prescriptions.Medicare&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-medicare-selected-drug-negotiation-list-ipay-2026.pdf">spent</a>&nbsp;$50 billion covering the drugs last year and taxpayers are expected to save $6 billion on the new prices, which do not go into effect until 2026. Older adults could save as much as $1.5 billion in total on their medications in out-of-pocket costs. Administration officials released few details about how they arrived at those calculations.The newly negotiated prices will impact the price of drugs used by millions of older Americans to help manage diabetes, blood cancers and prevent heart failure or blood clots. The drugs include the blood thinners Xarelto and Eliquis and diabetes drugs Jardiance and Januvia.It's a landmark deal for the Medicare program, which provides health care coverage for more than 67 million older and disabled Americans. For decades, the federal government had been barred from bartering with pharmaceutical companies over the price of their drugs, even though it's a routine process for private insurers.“For years, millions of Americans were forced to choose between paying for medications or putting food on the table, while Big Pharma blocked Medicare from being able to negotiate prices on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “But we fought back -– and won.”The drug deals will become a focal point for Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris’</a>&nbsp;presidential campaign, especially since she cast the tiebreaking vote to pass the law. She will join Biden on Thursday to announce the drug prices, in what will be their first joint speaking appearance since she replaced him at the top of the Democratic ticket, as they both struggle to persuade voters that costs will trend down after years of above-normal inflation.Harris is set to release part of her economic agenda on Friday in North Carolina, where she plans to detail other ways to help cut costs and boost incomes for the middle class.The pair last appeared publicly together to welcome back to the U.S. Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-prisoner-swap-354df585ad321ecdbea4c0f2c557f0aa">detained</a>&nbsp;in Russia who were freed as part of a massive prisoner swap earlier this month.Powerful drug companies unsuccessfully tried to file lawsuits to stop the negotiations, which became law in 2022, when a Democratic-controlled Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), overhauling several Medicare prescription drug regulations. But executives of those companies have also hinted in recent weeks during earnings calls that they don't expect the negotiations to impact their bottom line.Pharmaceutical officials blasted the news from the White House, saying it will spread health care costs to taxpayers in other ways, including their Medicare premiums.“The administration is using the IRA’s price-setting scheme to drive political headlines, but patients will be disappointed when they find out what it means for them," Steve Ubl, the president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “The ironically named Inflation Reduction Act is a bad deal being forced on American patients: higher costs, more frustrating insurance denials and fewer treatments and cures for our loved ones.”Next year, the Department of Health and Human Services can select another 15 drugs for price negotiations.

Billions saved: See what popular Medicare drugs will drop in price after Biden deal

OSAGE COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement officials are investigating a Great Bend woman for allegedly selling drugs in Osage County south of Topeka.

Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 35 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Amanda Rigby, 44, of Great Bend was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723723063685.png" alt="Rigby photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Rigby photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement officials are investigating a Great Bend woman for allegedly selling drugs in Osage County south of Topeka.Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 35 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Amanda Rigby, 44, of Great Bend was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Kansas woman jailed for selling methamphetamine

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;and Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;have agreed to debate each other on Oct. 1, setting up a matchup of potential vice presidents as early voting in some states gets underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">the general election</a>.

CBS News on Wednesday posted on its X feed that the network had invited both Vance and Walz to debate in New York City, presenting four possible dates — Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 — as options.

Walz reposted that message from his own campaign account, “See you on October 1, JD.” The Harris-Walz campaign followed up with a message of its own, saying Walz "looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up.”

Vance posted on X that he would accept the Oct. 1 invitation. He also challenged Walz to meet on Sept. 18.

Officials with the Kamala Harris-Walz campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Vance’s acceptance of the earlier debate that he said would be on CNN or whether Walz would participate in that one as well.

Representatives for CNN confirmed that Vance had accepted the network's debate invitation.

“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation” will moderate the Oct. 1 debate, according to the network.

Whether or not Walz and Vance would debate before the Nov. 5 general election had been in question. In just the past several weeks, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;left the campaign and Democrats selected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Harris</a>&nbsp;to lead their ticket.

Vance has largely kept his focus trained on Harris, whom he would have been set to debate before Biden's departure from the race. Vance has lobbed critiques against Walz, including questioning the retired Army National Guardsman's service record.

Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, the GOP presidential nominee, has said he wanted Vance to debate Walz on CBS, which had been discussing potential dates for that meeting.

The debate is expected weeks after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-abc-debate-814786cc3ad7c11498c71f09f0172db3">Sept. 10 top-of-the-ticket debate</a>&nbsp;recently solidified between Trump and Harris on ABC News.

Trump has said he negotiated several other debate dates, on three different networks. Fox News has also proposed a debate between Harris and Trump to take place on Sept. 4, and NBC News is angling to air one on Sept. 25.

During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “happy to have that conversation” about an additional debate.

NEW YORK (AP) —Sen. JD Vance has now committed to debating his Democratic foil, Gov. Tim Walz, on Sept. 18 and also Oct. 1.

Trump’s running mate said Wednesday on Fox News that he only learned of CBS News’ debate invitation several hours earlier, as he was landing following a campaign event in Michigan.

Earlier Wednesday, CBS News posted on its X feed that the network had invited both Vance and Walz to debate in New York City, presenting four possible dates — Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 — as options.

Walz reposted that message from his own campaign account, “See you on October 1, JD.” The Harris-Walz campaign followed up with a message of its own, saying Walz “looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up.”

Vance said Wednesday that “hopefully” he would debate Walz on that date, adding, “I strongly suspect that we’re going to be there on Oct. 1,” but made no firm commitment, saying he wanted to see specifics on debate moderators and whether an audience would be present. On social media Thursday morning Vance wrote,&nbsp; &nbsp;"Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723725509674.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;and Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;have agreed to debate each other on Oct. 1, setting up a matchup of potential vice presidents as early voting in some states gets underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">the general election</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well. I look forward to seeing you at both! <a href="https://t.co/63FyI99dKU">https://t.co/63FyI99dKU</a>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1824075920216310262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>CBS News on Wednesday posted on its X feed that the network had invited both Vance and Walz to debate in New York City, presenting four possible dates — Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 — as options.Walz reposted that message from his own campaign account, “See you on October 1, JD.” The Harris-Walz campaign followed up with a message of its own, saying Walz "looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up.”Vance posted on X that he would accept the Oct. 1 invitation. He also challenged Walz to meet on Sept. 18.Officials with the Kamala Harris-Walz campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Vance’s acceptance of the earlier debate that he said would be on CNN or whether Walz would participate in that one as well.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">See you on October 1, JD. <a href="https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9">https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9</a>&mdash; Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1823824781873176770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Representatives for CNN confirmed that Vance had accepted the network's debate invitation.“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation” will moderate the Oct. 1 debate, according to the network.Whether or not Walz and Vance would debate before the Nov. 5 general election had been in question. In just the past several weeks, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;left the campaign and Democrats selected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Harris</a>&nbsp;to lead their ticket.Vance has largely kept his focus trained on Harris, whom he would have been set to debate before Biden's departure from the race. Vance has lobbed critiques against Walz, including questioning the retired Army National Guardsman's service record.Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, the GOP presidential nominee, has said he wanted Vance to debate Walz on CBS, which had been discussing potential dates for that meeting.The debate is expected weeks after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-abc-debate-814786cc3ad7c11498c71f09f0172db3">Sept. 10 top-of-the-ticket debate</a>&nbsp;recently solidified between Trump and Harris on ABC News.Trump has said he negotiated several other debate dates, on three different networks. Fox News has also proposed a debate between Harris and Trump to take place on Sept. 4, and NBC News is angling to air one on Sept. 25.During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “happy to have that conversation” about an additional debate.-------------NEW YORK (AP) —Sen. JD Vance has now committed to debating his Democratic foil, Gov. Tim Walz, on Sept. 18 and also Oct. 1.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well. I look forward to seeing you at both! <a href="https://t.co/63FyI99dKU">https://t.co/63FyI99dKU</a>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1824075920216310262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump’s running mate said Wednesday on Fox News that he only learned of CBS News’ debate invitation several hours earlier, as he was landing following a campaign event in Michigan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">See you on October 1, JD. <a href="https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9">https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9</a>&mdash; Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1823824781873176770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Earlier Wednesday, CBS News posted on its X feed that the network had invited both Vance and Walz to debate in New York City, presenting four possible dates — Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 — as options.Walz reposted that message from his own campaign account, “See you on October 1, JD.” The Harris-Walz campaign followed up with a message of its own, saying Walz “looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up.”Vance said Wednesday that “hopefully” he would debate Walz on that date, adding, “I strongly suspect that we’re going to be there on Oct. 1,” but made no firm commitment, saying he wanted to see specifics on debate moderators and whether an audience would be present. On social media Thursday morning Vance wrote,&nbsp; &nbsp;"Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well."

Candidates make commitment to vice-presidential debate

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement are investigating another deadly shooting in Kansas City.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, the Kansas City Fire Department&nbsp;was responding to a medical call at the&nbsp;Georgian Court Apartment Complex in the 400 block of E. Armour Boulevard in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

While on scene at that location a shooting occurred either just outside or just inside the lobby of the

The fire department crew on scene heard the gunshots and requested Police emergency response and additional resources.

 One patient was treated and and transported in critical condition. He died a short time later, according to Kansas City Police.&nbsp; The original medical call was handled by the additional resources ordered, according to Hopkins.

Responding officers located a person of interest near the scene. The potential suspect was being held on a 24-hour investigative hold.

&nbsp;A preliminary investigation led police to believe that there was a confrontation between the victim and the person of interest prior to the shooting. KC Fire crews were not in danger at the time of the shooting, according to Hopkins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723718390903.png" alt="photo by Grace Smith courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>photo by Grace Smith courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement are investigating another deadly shooting in Kansas City.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, the Kansas City Fire Department&nbsp;was responding to a medical call at the&nbsp;Georgian Court Apartment Complex in the 400 block of E. Armour Boulevard in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.While on scene at that location a shooting occurred either just outside or just inside the lobby of theThe fire department crew on scene heard the gunshots and requested Police emergency response and additional resources. One patient was treated and and transported in critical condition. He died a short time later, according to Kansas City Police.&nbsp; The original medical call was handled by the additional resources ordered, according to Hopkins.Responding officers located a person of interest near the scene. The potential suspect was being held on a 24-hour investigative hold.&nbsp;A preliminary investigation led police to believe that there was a confrontation between the victim and the person of interest prior to the shooting. KC Fire crews were not in danger at the time of the shooting, according to Hopkins.

Fatal shooting delays KC fire crews responding to medical call

MCPHERSON COUNTY —The McPherson County Board of Public Utility crews are working to restore power outages following a storm that saw 70-80 mile per hour winds to south central Kansas.

 All available utility crews were dispatched. At this time officials estimate approximately 600 outages as a result of the storm. There were no injuries reported, according to the McPherson County Sheriff's office.

Residents who live within city limits on the south side of McPherson were expected to have their power restored overnight. Rural customers that live southwest of the city limits can expect an extended outage. Some may see an outage of 12-24 hours.

The sheriff's office asked the public to avoid the area around 22nd Avenue between Eisenhower Road and Dakota Road as multiple power lines were down, there is damage to residential structures and emergency crews working in the area.

The Board of Public Utilities reported there are approximately 2 miles of power lines down on the circuit that feeds this section of the system. 

Also, do not assume the Board of Public Utilities knows about your outage. If you lose power call their 24/hr outage number 620-504-7300 to report the outage.Thank you for your patience.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723684445843.jpeg" alt="A semi on its side in the northbound lanes of I-135 near the McPherson exit. Photo newstips@salinapost.com" />
 <figcaption>A semi on its side in the northbound lanes of I-135 near the McPherson exit. Photo newstips@salinapost.com</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —The McPherson County Board of Public Utility crews are working to restore power outages following a storm that saw 70-80 mile per hour winds to south central Kansas. All available utility crews were dispatched. At this time officials estimate approximately 600 outages as a result of the storm. There were no injuries reported, according to the McPherson County Sheriff's office.Residents who live within city limits on the south side of McPherson were expected to have their power restored overnight. Rural customers that live southwest of the city limits can expect an extended outage. Some may see an outage of 12-24 hours.The sheriff's office asked the public to avoid the area around 22nd Avenue between Eisenhower Road and Dakota Road as multiple power lines were down, there is damage to residential structures and emergency crews working in the area.The Board of Public Utilities reported there are approximately 2 miles of power lines down on the circuit that feeds this section of the system. Also, do not assume the Board of Public Utilities knows about your outage. If you lose power call their 24/hr outage number 620-504-7300 to report the outage.Thank you for your patience.

Summer storm left widespread damage in portions of Kansas

BARBER COUNTY —The Silver Alert for 73-year-old David Reese remains active, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He is still missing. Please keep an eye out for him or his vehicle, a white 2017 Chevy Silverado bearing Kansas tag 885NEW.

On Aug. 5, the Harper Police Department, the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Harper County Sheriff’s Office, the Elwood Township Fire, the Kansas Fire Marshall, Kiowa Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Medicine Lodge Fire Department, Kiowa Fire Department, Barber County Rural Fire Department, and Barber County Emergency Management, conducted a search for Reese over 700 square miles in an 8-hour time frame.

The search utilized aircraft, multiple drones, vehicles, and off-road vehicles. The area searched was over half of Barber County surrounding the last known location of Reese which was near Little Mule and Hardtner Shortcut.

 No evidence of Reese or his vehicle were found. The search continues. If you own property in Barber or Harper County, you are asked to check your land for anything out of the ordinary.&nbsp;Reese is a white male who is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds. He has brown eyes, a white beard, and is balding. He may be traveling with a chocolate Labrador retriever, and is likely wearing a baseball cap. Reese has diabetes, anxiety, and a condition impairing cognition and memory. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722706150273.png" alt="David Reese courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>David Reese courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BARBER COUNTY —The Silver Alert for 73-year-old David Reese remains active, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He is still missing. Please keep an eye out for him or his vehicle, a white 2017 Chevy Silverado bearing Kansas tag 885NEW.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722939061343.png" alt="Photo Barber Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Barber Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>On Aug. 5, the Harper Police Department, the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Harper County Sheriff’s Office, the Elwood Township Fire, the Kansas Fire Marshall, Kiowa Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Medicine Lodge Fire Department, Kiowa Fire Department, Barber County Rural Fire Department, and Barber County Emergency Management, conducted a search for Reese over 700 square miles in an 8-hour time frame.The search utilized aircraft, multiple drones, vehicles, and off-road vehicles. The area searched was over half of Barber County surrounding the last known location of Reese which was near Little Mule and Hardtner Shortcut. No evidence of Reese or his vehicle were found. The search continues. If you own property in Barber or Harper County, you are asked to check your land for anything out of the ordinary.&nbsp;Reese is a white male who is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds. He has brown eyes, a white beard, and is balding. He may be traveling with a chocolate Labrador retriever, and is likely wearing a baseball cap. Reese has diabetes, anxiety, and a condition impairing cognition and memory.

Silver Alert for Kansas man remains active

PHOENIX (AP) — An informational pamphlet for Arizona voters who will decide in the fall whether to guarantee a constitutional right to an abortion can refer to a fetus as an “unborn human being,” the state's highest court ruled Wednesday.

Arizona voters will get to decide in November whether to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-abortion-ballot-petitions-83cb053919be342d7bbb60217129fe49">add the right to an abortion</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution.

The proposed amendment would allow abortions until a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks, with exceptions to save the mother’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would restrict the state from adopting or enforcing any law that would prohibit access to the procedure.

The justices of the Arizona Supreme Court, in Wednesday's decision, sided with Republican lawmakers over proponents of the ballot measure on abortion rights.

The ruling drew swift criticism from abortion rights advocates who had argued that the phrase “unborn human being” is neither impartial nor objective. They also said they were concerned that Arizonans would be subjected to biased and politically charged words.

“We are deeply disappointed in this ruling, but will not be deterred from doing everything in our power to communicate to voters the truth of the Arizona Abortion Access Act and why it’s critical to vote YES to restore and protect access to abortion care this fall,” the group, Arizona for Abortion Access, said in a statement.

The pamphlet gives voters information on candidates and ballot measures to help inform their choices. It was unclear, however, whether any specific language contained in the pamphlet would appear on the ballot.

The Arizona secretary of state’s office said Monday that it had certified 577,971 signatures — far above the required number that the coalition supporting the ballot measure had to submit in order to put the question before voters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723688353974.png" alt="File photo courtesy Arizona Abortion access" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy Arizona Abortion access</figcaption>
 </figure>PHOENIX (AP) — An informational pamphlet for Arizona voters who will decide in the fall whether to guarantee a constitutional right to an abortion can refer to a fetus as an “unborn human being,” the state's highest court ruled Wednesday.Arizona voters will get to decide in November whether to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-abortion-ballot-petitions-83cb053919be342d7bbb60217129fe49">add the right to an abortion</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution.The proposed amendment would allow abortions until a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks, with exceptions to save the mother’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would restrict the state from adopting or enforcing any law that would prohibit access to the procedure.The justices of the Arizona Supreme Court, in Wednesday's decision, sided with Republican lawmakers over proponents of the ballot measure on abortion rights.The ruling drew swift criticism from abortion rights advocates who had argued that the phrase “unborn human being” is neither impartial nor objective. They also said they were concerned that Arizonans would be subjected to biased and politically charged words.“We are deeply disappointed in this ruling, but will not be deterred from doing everything in our power to communicate to voters the truth of the Arizona Abortion Access Act and why it’s critical to vote YES to restore and protect access to abortion care this fall,” the group, Arizona for Abortion Access, said in a statement.The pamphlet gives voters information on candidates and ballot measures to help inform their choices. It was unclear, however, whether any specific language contained in the pamphlet would appear on the ballot.The Arizona secretary of state’s office said Monday that it had certified 577,971 signatures — far above the required number that the coalition supporting the ballot measure had to submit in order to put the question before voters.

Court: Fetus can be referred as ‘unborn human being’ in voter pamphlet

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a knife attack killing in 2021.

Last week, Judge Thomas Sutherland sentenced John Daniel Crawford Murry to 371 months for second degree intentional murder, agggravated robbery and aggravated burglary of a dwelling, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In June, Murry pleaded guilty to the death of Chargles Dillon in October of 2022. In November of 2022, police arrested Murry and c0-defendant Devin Braswell following an investigation by the Merriam Police Department, Johnson County Crime Lab, the Metro Squad and the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

Just after 11p.m. on October 21, 2021 Merriam police responded to a reported stabbing&nbsp;near Royalty Way and Kings Cove Drive. First responders located a victim, who was later identified as Dillon. He died at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719090625167.png" alt="Murry -photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Murry -photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a knife attack killing in 2021.Last week, Judge Thomas Sutherland sentenced John Daniel Crawford Murry to 371 months for second degree intentional murder, agggravated robbery and aggravated burglary of a dwelling, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In June, Murry pleaded guilty to the death of Chargles Dillon in October of 2022. In November of 2022, police arrested Murry and c0-defendant Devin Braswell following an investigation by the Merriam Police Department, Johnson County Crime Lab, the Metro Squad and the district attorney's office.&nbsp;Just after 11p.m. on October 21, 2021 Merriam police responded to a reported stabbing&nbsp;near Royalty Way and Kings Cove Drive. First responders located a victim, who was later identified as Dillon. He died at the scene.

Prison for Kansas man in knife attack killing

RENO COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after noon Wednesday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 EZ Liner Truck, a Reno County Public Works Department vehicle, driven by Melvin Joseph&nbsp;Hoyle, 25, South Hutchinson, was eastbound on Pretty Prairie Road just east of High Point Road.

The truck traveled off the the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected and re-entered the roadway.&nbsp; The driver overcorrected again and the truck traveled off the road just East of High Point Road. 

The truck began to re-enter the roadway again and rolled.&nbsp;

A passenger David Brian&nbsp;Serviss, 49, Arlington, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Hutchinson Funeral Chapel. 

EMS transported Hoyle to&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. EMS transported passenger Casey Alan&nbsp;Pattinson, 35, Buhler, to Wesley Medical Center and passenger Dale DeLane Baker, 28, Buhler, to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. The driver and passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

RENO COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after noon Wednesday in Reno County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 EZ Liner Truck, a Reno County Public Works Department vehicle, driven by Melvin Joseph&nbsp;Hoyle, 25, South Hutchinson, was eastbound on Pretty Prairie Road just east of High Point Road.The truck traveled off the the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected and re-entered the roadway.&nbsp; The driver overcorrected again and the truck traveled off the road just East of High Point Road. The truck began to re-enter the roadway again and rolled.&nbsp;A passenger David Brian&nbsp;Serviss, 49, Arlington, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Hutchinson Funeral Chapel. EMS transported Hoyle to&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. EMS transported passenger Casey Alan&nbsp;Pattinson, 35, Buhler, to Wesley Medical Center and passenger Dale DeLane Baker, 28, Buhler, to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. The driver and passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dead, 3 hospitalized after truck rollover accident

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

Just after&nbsp;6:30 a.m. August 11,&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 300 block of 222nd Road in reference to a stolen vehicle report, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Deputies located a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle parked in a driveway in the 2600 block of K-16 Highway.

&nbsp;Deputies found a woman slumped over the wheel of the vehicle and observed what they believe was illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle. 

The occupant of the vehicle later identified as Leianne Faye Jones, 38,&nbsp; Havensville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, felony theft, driving under the influence, driving while habitual violator and driving while revoked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723632181595.png" alt="Jones photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just after&nbsp;6:30 a.m. August 11,&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 300 block of 222nd Road in reference to a stolen vehicle report, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Deputies located a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle parked in a driveway in the 2600 block of K-16 Highway.&nbsp;Deputies found a woman slumped over the wheel of the vehicle and observed what they believe was illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle. The occupant of the vehicle later identified as Leianne Faye Jones, 38,&nbsp; Havensville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, felony theft, driving under the influence, driving while habitual violator and driving while revoked.

Fentanyl: Kan. woman was passed out in stolen vehicle

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>

Six months after Gabriella Magers-Darger’s legs were burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, the 14-year-old is ready to leave the past behind.

She is dreading the pitfalls of being a high school freshman, even as she looks forward to being back with friends and at color guard, dance, and volleyball. She might even join the wrestling team to get some respect at school.

At a July Fourth gathering, a family friend brought noise-canceling headphones in case the fireworks became too much. Earlier in the summer Gabriella had a hard time viewing a relative’s gun collection, the handguns in particular. And she hyperventilated when she saw a family friend’s finger after it was sliced by accident — the sight of blood reminds her of seeing a fatally wounded Lisa Lopez-Galvan minutes after she was shot outside Union Station, the only person killed that day.

Her mom, Bridget Barton, said Gabriella has had a chip on her shoulder since the parade.

“She’s lost some softness to her, some gentleness to her,” Barton said.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the stresses of gun violence, and 10 of 24 people injured by bullets at the Feb. 14 parade were under 18 years old. Countless more children like Gabriella experienced the trauma firsthand. They’ve endured fear, anger, sleep problems, and hypersensitivity to crowds and noises.

A 15-year-old girl who was shot through the jaw and shoulder effectively dropped out of school for a time and daily panic attacks kept her from summer school, too. An 11-year-old boy shot in the side described feeling angry at school for reasons he couldn’t explain. A 5-year-old girl who was on her father’s shoulders when he was hit by gunfire panics each time her dad feels sick, fearing he has been shot again.

“She’s not the same kid. I mean, she’s definitely not,” said Erika Nelson, mother of the 15-year-old, Mireya, who has scars on her jaw and face. “You never know when she’s going to snap. You never know. You might say something or someone might bring up something that reminds her of that day.”

Guns overtook motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death for children in 2020, but a far higher number of kids are hit by gunfire and survive.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-and-adolescents/" target="_blank">Research suggests</a>&nbsp;that kids sustain nonfatal firearm injuries anywhere from two to four times more often than they are killed by guns.

Scientists say the long-term effects of gun violence on kids are little researched and poorly understood. But the harm is pervasive. Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00587" target="_blank">researchers found</a>&nbsp;that during the first year after a firearm injury, child survivors experienced a 117% increase in pain disorders, a 68% increase in psychiatric disorders, and a 144% increase in substance use disorders. The mental health effects spill over — to mothers, fathers, siblings.

For many affected by the shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, the triggers began right away.

Just 10 days after Samuel Arellano was shot at the parade, he attended another big sporting event.

Samuel was invited to attend a University of Kansas men’s basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. During a break in the game, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KUHoops/status/1761593643909972045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1761593643909972045%7Ctwgr%5Ea69f3f0052dd3c1233485c50399f888e7abe6c39%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kshb.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fparade-shooting%2Fboy-injured-in-chiefs-rally-shooting-invited-to-ku-basketball-game-receives-video-message-from-jalen-wilson" target="_blank">video camera pointed at Samuel</a>&nbsp;and his parents, former KU star Jalen Wilson appeared on the scoreboard and addressed him directly.

“I heard about your story,” Wilson, who now plays in the NBA, said on the big screen. “I’m so very thankful that you are here today and it is a blessing that we can have you to give you the love and support you truly deserve.”

Wilson asked the 16,000 fans in attendance to stand and give Samuel a round of applause. As the crowd clapped and an announcer bellowed about him being a “brave young man,” Samuel looked at his parents, then down at his feet, smiling shyly.

But minutes later when the game resumed, Samuel started to cry and had to leave the auditorium with his mom, Abigail.

“When it got pretty loud, that’s when he started breaking up again,” his dad, Antonio, said. “So she had to step out with him for a minute. So any loud places, if it’s too loud, it’s affecting him.”

Samuel, who turned 11 in March, was shot in the ribs on his right side. The scar on his back is barely noticeable now, but lingering effects from the parade shooting are obvious. He is seeing a therapist — as is his father, though Abigail has had a tough time finding a Spanish-speaking one and still hasn’t had an appointment.

Samuel had trouble sleeping in the first weeks after the shooting and often crawled in bed with his mom and dad. He used to get good grades, but that became more difficult, Abigail said. His personality has changed, which sometimes has shown up at school.

“I get mad easily,” Samuel said. “I [have] never been like this before but like, if they tell me to sit down, I get mad. I don’t know why.”

Traumatized children often have difficulty expressing emotions and may be given to outbursts of anger, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://csw.osu.edu/faculty/johnson-motoyama-michelle-ph-d/" target="_blank">Michelle Johnson-Motoyama</a>, a professor of social work at Ohio State University.

“I’m sure for that child there is a sense of tremendous injustice about what happened,” Johnson-Motoyama said.

Especially right after the shooting, Samuel had panic attacks, Antonio said, and he’d break out in a sweat. Therapists told them that was normal. But the parents also kept him off his phone for a while, as there was so much about the shooting on the news and online.

Abigail, who works at a car dealership with Antonio, is anxious about seeing her son change, his suffering and sadness. She is also concerned for her three daughters, a 16-year-old and 13-year-old twins. Her father, Victor Salas, who was with Samuel at the parade, was also reeling in its aftermath.

“I’m crying and crying and crying about what happened,” Salas said in Spanish four days after the parade. “Because it was chaos. It doesn’t mean that families don’t love their family, but everyone took off to save their own lives. I saved my grandchildren’s lives, but what happens to the rest of the people? We’re not prepared.”

On the good side, Samuel felt very supported by the community in Kansas City, Kansas. Many people from his school stopped by in the first few days to visit, including friends and even a former bus driver, who was in tears. He has a “room full of candy,” Abigail said, mostly Skittles, his favorite.

An autographed football from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes arrived on his birthday. It made him cry, his father said, which happens pretty often.

“There are good and bad days, days that are more normal and easier, and then there are days where the family has to be a little bit more aware and supportive,” Abigail said in Spanish. “He’s always been outgoing and talkative like his mom, but that has changed since the parade.”

The Fourth of July was particularly harrowing for many of the young survivors and their families. Should they buy fireworks? Will they want to celebrate? And why do all the firecrackers going off in the neighborhood sound like gunshots?

Fourteen-year-old Gabriella needed help from her stepfather, Jason Barton, to light her fireworks this year, something she is ordinarily enthusiastic about doing herself. At the parade, like many people, the Barton family initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks.

And Erika Nelson, a single mom in Belton, Missouri, feared even bringing up the holiday with Mireya, who has always loved Independence Day. Eventually Mireya said she didn’t want any big fireworks this year and wanted only her mom to set theirs off.

“Just any little trigger — I mean, it could be a light crackle — and she just clenched,” Erika Nelson said.

Patty Davis, a program manager for trauma-informed care at Children’s Mercy hospital in Kansas City, said even her clients who were at the parade but were not injured still flinch at the sounds of sirens or other loud noises. It’s a powerful response to gun violence, she said.

“So not just an accidental trauma,” she said, “but a trauma that was perpetrated for violent purposes, which can cause an increased level of anxiety for persons around that to wonder if it’s going to happen again. And how safe are they?”

Random sounds, bright lights, and crowds can catch the kids and their parents off guard. In June, Mireya Nelson was waiting for her older sister after a dance recital, hoping to see a boy she knew give a flower to a girl everyone said he had a crush on. Her mom wanted to go, but Mireya shushed her.

“Then all of a sudden, there was a loud boom,” Erika said. “She dropped low to the ground. And then she jumped back up. She goes, ‘Oh my God, I was getting shot again!’”

Mireya said it so loudly people were staring, so it was Erika’s turn to shush her and try to soothe her.

“I was like, ‘Mireya, it’s OK. You’re all right. They dropped a table. They’re just moving stuff out. It was an accident,’” Erika said.

It took a few minutes for the shock to wear off and Mireya later giggled about it, but Erika is always on watch.

Her daughter’s early sadness — she watched movies for hours, crying throughout — has since changed to a cheekiness. Half a year later, Mireya will joke about the shooting, which tears her mother up. But maybe that is part of the healing process, Erika says.

Before the Fourth of July, Mireya went to Worlds of Fun, a large amusement park, and had a good time. She felt OK because there were security guards everywhere. She also enjoyed a visit to the local FBI office with a friend who was with her the day of the shooting. But when someone suggested a trip to the ballet, Mireya squashed it quickly — it’s near Union Station, the site of the shooting. She doesn’t want to go downtown anymore.

Erika said the doctor appointments and financial strains have been a lot to juggle and that her biggest frustration as a parent is that she’s not able to fix things for her daughter.

“They have to go their own way, their own process of healing. I can’t shake her, like, ‘Get back to yourself,’” Erika said. “It could take months, years. Who knows? It could be the rest of her life. But I hope that she can overcome a little bit of it.”

James Lemons noticed a change in his 5-year-old daughter, Kensley, who was on his shoulders when he was shot at the parade. Before the shooting Kensley was outgoing and engaged, James said, but now she is withdrawn, like she has closed off her bubble and disconnected from people.

Large crowds and police officers remind Kensley of the parade. Both were present at a high school graduation the family attended this summer, prompting Kensley to ask repeatedly to leave. James took her to an empty football field, where, he said, she broke out in goose bumps and complained of being cold despite the sweltering heat.

Bedtime is a particular problem for the Lemons family. Kensley has been sleeping with her parents. Another child, 10-year-old Jaxson, has had bad dreams. One night, he dreamt that the shooter was coming near his dad and he tripped him, said Brandie Lemons, Jaxson’s stepmom.

Younger children like Kensley exposed to gun violence are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than older children, according to Ohio State’s Johnson-Motoyama.

Davis, of Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, said children whose brains are not fully developed can have a hard time sleeping and understanding that they are safe in their homes at night.

James got the family a new puppy — an American bulldog that already weighs 32 pounds — to help them feel protected.

“I looked up the pedigree,” he said, “They’re real protective. They’re real loving.”

Gabriella took up boxing after the shooting. Her mother, Bridget, said it restored some of her confidence and control that dimmed after the parade.

“I like beating people up — not in a mean way, I swear,” Gabriella said in April as she molded a mouthguard to her teeth before leaving for training.

She has since stopped boxing, however, so the money can instead go toward a trip to Puerto Rico with her Spanish class. They’re paying $153 a month for 21 months to cover the trip. Boxing classes were $60 a month.

Bridget thought boxing was a good outlet for leftover anger, but by the end of July Gabriella wasn’t sure if she still had the drive to fight back that way.

“The past is the past but we’re still gonna all, like, go through stuff. Does that make sense?” Gabriella asked.

“You’re mostly OK but you still have triggers. Is that what you mean?” her mother asked.

After the shooting, Mireya Nelson tried online classes, which didn’t work well. The first few days of summer school, Mireya had a panic attack every day in the car and her mother took her home.

Mireya wants to return to high school this fall, and Erika is wary.

“You know, if I do go back to school, there’s a chance at school of being shot, because most schools nowadays get shot up,” Erika recalled her daughter saying. “And I’m like, ‘Well, we can’t think like that. You never know what’s gonna happen.’”

<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us" target="_blank">KFF Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us" target="_blank">KFF</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723664076489.png" alt=" Ten of 24 people injured by bullets at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade were under 18 years old. Countless more children experienced the trauma firsthand. Gabriella Magers-Darger (left) was burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet. Samuel Arellano was shot in the side (Christopher Smith for KFF Health News)" />
 <figcaption> Ten of 24 people injured by bullets at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade were under 18 years old. Countless more children experienced the trauma firsthand. Gabriella Magers-Darger (left) was burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet. Samuel Arellano was shot in the side (Christopher Smith for KFF Health News)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>Six months after Gabriella Magers-Darger’s legs were burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, the 14-year-old is ready to leave the past behind.She is dreading the pitfalls of being a high school freshman, even as she looks forward to being back with friends and at color guard, dance, and volleyball. She might even join the wrestling team to get some respect at school.But the past remains ever present.At a July Fourth gathering, a family friend brought noise-canceling headphones in case the fireworks became too much. Earlier in the summer Gabriella had a hard time viewing a relative’s gun collection, the handguns in particular. And she hyperventilated when she saw a family friend’s finger after it was sliced by accident — the sight of blood reminds her of seeing a fatally wounded Lisa Lopez-Galvan minutes after she was shot outside Union Station, the only person killed that day.Her mom, Bridget Barton, said Gabriella has had a chip on her shoulder since the parade.“She’s lost some softness to her, some gentleness to her,” Barton said.Children are particularly vulnerable to the stresses of gun violence, and 10 of 24 people injured by bullets at the Feb. 14 parade were under 18 years old. Countless more children like Gabriella experienced the trauma firsthand. They’ve endured fear, anger, sleep problems, and hypersensitivity to crowds and noises.A 15-year-old girl who was shot through the jaw and shoulder effectively dropped out of school for a time and daily panic attacks kept her from summer school, too. An 11-year-old boy shot in the side described feeling angry at school for reasons he couldn’t explain. A 5-year-old girl who was on her father’s shoulders when he was hit by gunfire panics each time her dad feels sick, fearing he has been shot again.“She’s not the same kid. I mean, she’s definitely not,” said Erika Nelson, mother of the 15-year-old, Mireya, who has scars on her jaw and face. “You never know when she’s going to snap. You never know. You might say something or someone might bring up something that reminds her of that day.”Guns overtook motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death for children in 2020, but a far higher number of kids are hit by gunfire and survive.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-and-adolescents/" target="_blank">Research suggests</a>&nbsp;that kids sustain nonfatal firearm injuries anywhere from two to four times more often than they are killed by guns.Scientists say the long-term effects of gun violence on kids are little researched and poorly understood. But the harm is pervasive. Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00587" target="_blank">researchers found</a>&nbsp;that during the first year after a firearm injury, child survivors experienced a 117% increase in pain disorders, a 68% increase in psychiatric disorders, and a 144% increase in substance use disorders. The mental health effects spill over — to mothers, fathers, siblings.For many affected by the shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, the triggers began right away.<h2>‘I get mad easily’</h2>Just 10 days after Samuel Arellano was shot at the parade, he attended another big sporting event.Samuel was invited to attend a University of Kansas men’s basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. During a break in the game, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KUHoops/status/1761593643909972045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1761593643909972045%7Ctwgr%5Ea69f3f0052dd3c1233485c50399f888e7abe6c39%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kshb.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fparade-shooting%2Fboy-injured-in-chiefs-rally-shooting-invited-to-ku-basketball-game-receives-video-message-from-jalen-wilson" target="_blank">video camera pointed at Samuel</a>&nbsp;and his parents, former KU star Jalen Wilson appeared on the scoreboard and addressed him directly.“I heard about your story,” Wilson, who now plays in the NBA, said on the big screen. “I’m so very thankful that you are here today and it is a blessing that we can have you to give you the love and support you truly deserve.”Wilson asked the 16,000 fans in attendance to stand and give Samuel a round of applause. As the crowd clapped and an announcer bellowed about him being a “brave young man,” Samuel looked at his parents, then down at his feet, smiling shyly.But minutes later when the game resumed, Samuel started to cry and had to leave the auditorium with his mom, Abigail.“When it got pretty loud, that’s when he started breaking up again,” his dad, Antonio, said. “So she had to step out with him for a minute. So any loud places, if it’s too loud, it’s affecting him.”Samuel, who turned 11 in March, was shot in the ribs on his right side. The scar on his back is barely noticeable now, but lingering effects from the parade shooting are obvious. He is seeing a therapist — as is his father, though Abigail has had a tough time finding a Spanish-speaking one and still hasn’t had an appointment.Samuel had trouble sleeping in the first weeks after the shooting and often crawled in bed with his mom and dad. He used to get good grades, but that became more difficult, Abigail said. His personality has changed, which sometimes has shown up at school.“I get mad easily,” Samuel said. “I [have] never been like this before but like, if they tell me to sit down, I get mad. I don’t know why.”Traumatized children often have difficulty expressing emotions and may be given to outbursts of anger, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://csw.osu.edu/faculty/johnson-motoyama-michelle-ph-d/" target="_blank">Michelle Johnson-Motoyama</a>, a professor of social work at Ohio State University.“I’m sure for that child there is a sense of tremendous injustice about what happened,” Johnson-Motoyama said.Especially right after the shooting, Samuel had panic attacks, Antonio said, and he’d break out in a sweat. Therapists told them that was normal. But the parents also kept him off his phone for a while, as there was so much about the shooting on the news and online.Abigail, who works at a car dealership with Antonio, is anxious about seeing her son change, his suffering and sadness. She is also concerned for her three daughters, a 16-year-old and 13-year-old twins. Her father, Victor Salas, who was with Samuel at the parade, was also reeling in its aftermath.“I’m crying and crying and crying about what happened,” Salas said in Spanish four days after the parade. “Because it was chaos. It doesn’t mean that families don’t love their family, but everyone took off to save their own lives. I saved my grandchildren’s lives, but what happens to the rest of the people? We’re not prepared.”On the good side, Samuel felt very supported by the community in Kansas City, Kansas. Many people from his school stopped by in the first few days to visit, including friends and even a former bus driver, who was in tears. He has a “room full of candy,” Abigail said, mostly Skittles, his favorite.An autographed football from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes arrived on his birthday. It made him cry, his father said, which happens pretty often.“There are good and bad days, days that are more normal and easier, and then there are days where the family has to be a little bit more aware and supportive,” Abigail said in Spanish. “He’s always been outgoing and talkative like his mom, but that has changed since the parade.”<h2>Fourth of July a weeklong trigger</h2>The Fourth of July was particularly harrowing for many of the young survivors and their families. Should they buy fireworks? Will they want to celebrate? And why do all the firecrackers going off in the neighborhood sound like gunshots?Fourteen-year-old Gabriella needed help from her stepfather, Jason Barton, to light her fireworks this year, something she is ordinarily enthusiastic about doing herself. At the parade, like many people, the Barton family initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks.And Erika Nelson, a single mom in Belton, Missouri, feared even bringing up the holiday with Mireya, who has always loved Independence Day. Eventually Mireya said she didn’t want any big fireworks this year and wanted only her mom to set theirs off.“Just any little trigger — I mean, it could be a light crackle — and she just clenched,” Erika Nelson said.Patty Davis, a program manager for trauma-informed care at Children’s Mercy hospital in Kansas City, said even her clients who were at the parade but were not injured still flinch at the sounds of sirens or other loud noises. It’s a powerful response to gun violence, she said.“So not just an accidental trauma,” she said, “but a trauma that was perpetrated for violent purposes, which can cause an increased level of anxiety for persons around that to wonder if it’s going to happen again. And how safe are they?”<h2>Reliving getting shot</h2>Random sounds, bright lights, and crowds can catch the kids and their parents off guard. In June, Mireya Nelson was waiting for her older sister after a dance recital, hoping to see a boy she knew give a flower to a girl everyone said he had a crush on. Her mom wanted to go, but Mireya shushed her.“Then all of a sudden, there was a loud boom,” Erika said. “She dropped low to the ground. And then she jumped back up. She goes, ‘Oh my God, I was getting shot again!’”Mireya said it so loudly people were staring, so it was Erika’s turn to shush her and try to soothe her.“I was like, ‘Mireya, it’s OK. You’re all right. They dropped a table. They’re just moving stuff out. It was an accident,’” Erika said.It took a few minutes for the shock to wear off and Mireya later giggled about it, but Erika is always on watch.Her daughter’s early sadness — she watched movies for hours, crying throughout — has since changed to a cheekiness. Half a year later, Mireya will joke about the shooting, which tears her mother up. But maybe that is part of the healing process, Erika says.Before the Fourth of July, Mireya went to Worlds of Fun, a large amusement park, and had a good time. She felt OK because there were security guards everywhere. She also enjoyed a visit to the local FBI office with a friend who was with her the day of the shooting. But when someone suggested a trip to the ballet, Mireya squashed it quickly — it’s near Union Station, the site of the shooting. She doesn’t want to go downtown anymore.Erika said the doctor appointments and financial strains have been a lot to juggle and that her biggest frustration as a parent is that she’s not able to fix things for her daughter.“They have to go their own way, their own process of healing. I can’t shake her, like, ‘Get back to yourself,’” Erika said. “It could take months, years. Who knows? It could be the rest of her life. But I hope that she can overcome a little bit of it.”<h2>Goose bumps in the sweltering heat</h2>James Lemons noticed a change in his 5-year-old daughter, Kensley, who was on his shoulders when he was shot at the parade. Before the shooting Kensley was outgoing and engaged, James said, but now she is withdrawn, like she has closed off her bubble and disconnected from people.Large crowds and police officers remind Kensley of the parade. Both were present at a high school graduation the family attended this summer, prompting Kensley to ask repeatedly to leave. James took her to an empty football field, where, he said, she broke out in goose bumps and complained of being cold despite the sweltering heat.Bedtime is a particular problem for the Lemons family. Kensley has been sleeping with her parents. Another child, 10-year-old Jaxson, has had bad dreams. One night, he dreamt that the shooter was coming near his dad and he tripped him, said Brandie Lemons, Jaxson’s stepmom.Younger children like Kensley exposed to gun violence are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than older children, according to Ohio State’s Johnson-Motoyama.Davis, of Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, said children whose brains are not fully developed can have a hard time sleeping and understanding that they are safe in their homes at night.James got the family a new puppy — an American bulldog that already weighs 32 pounds — to help them feel protected.“I looked up the pedigree,” he said, “They’re real protective. They’re real loving.”<h2>Searching for an outlet to let off steam</h2>Gabriella took up boxing after the shooting. Her mother, Bridget, said it restored some of her confidence and control that dimmed after the parade.“I like beating people up — not in a mean way, I swear,” Gabriella said in April as she molded a mouthguard to her teeth before leaving for training.She has since stopped boxing, however, so the money can instead go toward a trip to Puerto Rico with her Spanish class. They’re paying $153 a month for 21 months to cover the trip. Boxing classes were $60 a month.Bridget thought boxing was a good outlet for leftover anger, but by the end of July Gabriella wasn’t sure if she still had the drive to fight back that way.“The past is the past but we’re still gonna all, like, go through stuff. Does that make sense?” Gabriella asked.“You’re mostly OK but you still have triggers. Is that what you mean?” her mother asked.“Yeah,” she replied.After the shooting, Mireya Nelson tried online classes, which didn’t work well. The first few days of summer school, Mireya had a panic attack every day in the car and her mother took her home.Mireya wants to return to high school this fall, and Erika is wary.“You know, if I do go back to school, there’s a chance at school of being shot, because most schools nowadays get shot up,” Erika recalled her daughter saying. “And I’m like, ‘Well, we can’t think like that. You never know what’s gonna happen.’”<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us" target="_blank">KFF Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us" target="_blank">KFF</a>.

Kids who survived KC Chiefs rally shooting are scared, suffering panic attacks and sleep problems

HONOLULU (AP) — Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88.

Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name. In his later years, he became a proprietor of a cookie shop called Chip &amp; Cookie in Hawaii, where he moved in 1977.

He died Tuesday at his home in Honolulu, with his wife, Carol, at his side, his children said. He died from complications with dementia, they said.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story, and a source of Black pride,” said a statement from his children, Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.

They said their dad “inspired a generation of entrepreneurs when he founded the world’s first cookie store” on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975.

Wally Amos was also co-founder of Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., whose products are found in stores nationwide. But Amos said the fame never really mattered much to him.

“Being famous is highly overrated anyway,” Amos told The Associated Press in 2007.

His muffin company, based in Shirley, N.Y., was originally founded as Uncle Noname Cookie Co. in 1992, a few years after Amos lost Famous Amos, which still widely uses his name on its products.

Amos had said the Famous Amos cookies sold today are unlike his cookies, which had lots of chocolate, real butter and pure vanilla extract.

“You can’t compare a machine-made cookie with handmade cookie,” he told the AP. “It’s like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Volkswagen.”

Uncle Noname, however, foundered because of debt and problems with its contracted manufacturers.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996, abandoned cookies and went into muffins at the suggestion of Amos’ business partner, Lou Avignone.

Inside his now-shuttered Hawaii cookie shop, he sold bite-sized cookies similar to the ones he first sold at the Famous Amos Hollywood store.

Amos also was active in promoting reading. His shop, for example, had a reading room with dozens of donated books, and Amos usually spent Saturdays sitting on a rocking chair, wearing a watermelon hat, reading to children.

The former high school dropout penned eight books, served as spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America for 24 years and gave motivational talks to corporations, universities and other groups.

Amos earned numerous honors for his volunteerism, including the Literacy Award presented by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

“Your greatest contribution to your country is not your signature straw hat in the Smithsonian, but the people you have inspired to learn to read,” Bush said.

In one of his books, “Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade,” Amos explained how he lost Famous Amos even before it was sold for $63 million to a Taiwanese company in 1991. Despite robust sales, by 1985, the business was losing money, so Amos brought in outside investors.

“The new owners gobbled up more of my share until all of a sudden, I found I had lost all ownership in the company I founded,” Amos wrote. Before long, the company had changed ownership four times.

Born in Tallahassee, Fla., Amos moved to New York City at age 12 because of his parents’ divorce. He lived with an aunt, Della Bryant, who taught him how to make chocolate chip cookies.

He later dropped out of high school to join the Air Force before working as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency, where he became a talent agent, working with The Supremes, Simon &amp; Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye before borrowing $25,000 to launch his cookie business.

He was the first Black agent in the business, his son, Shawn Amos, said.

“Our dad taught us the value of hard work, believing in ourselves, and chasing our dreams,” his children’s statement said. “We also know he would love it if you had a chocolate chip cookie today.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723681439425.png" alt="FILE - Wally Amos, of Kailua, Hawaii, is shown in his home office June 12, 2007, in the Lanikai section of Kailua, Hawaii. Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children's literacy advocate, has died at age 88, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Wally Amos, of Kailua, Hawaii, is shown in his home office June 12, 2007, in the Lanikai section of Kailua, Hawaii. Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children's literacy advocate, has died at age 88, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>HONOLULU (AP) — Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, has died. He was 88.Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company — as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name. In his later years, he became a proprietor of a cookie shop called Chip &amp; Cookie in Hawaii, where he moved in 1977.He died Tuesday at his home in Honolulu, with his wife, Carol, at his side, his children said. He died from complications with dementia, they said.“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story, and a source of Black pride,” said a statement from his children, Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.They said their dad “inspired a generation of entrepreneurs when he founded the world’s first cookie store” on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975.Wally Amos was also co-founder of Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., whose products are found in stores nationwide. But Amos said the fame never really mattered much to him.“Being famous is highly overrated anyway,” Amos told The Associated Press in 2007.His muffin company, based in Shirley, N.Y., was originally founded as Uncle Noname Cookie Co. in 1992, a few years after Amos lost Famous Amos, which still widely uses his name on its products.Amos had said the Famous Amos cookies sold today are unlike his cookies, which had lots of chocolate, real butter and pure vanilla extract.“You can’t compare a machine-made cookie with handmade cookie,” he told the AP. “It’s like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Volkswagen.”Uncle Noname, however, foundered because of debt and problems with its contracted manufacturers.The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996, abandoned cookies and went into muffins at the suggestion of Amos’ business partner, Lou Avignone.Inside his now-shuttered Hawaii cookie shop, he sold bite-sized cookies similar to the ones he first sold at the Famous Amos Hollywood store.Amos also was active in promoting reading. His shop, for example, had a reading room with dozens of donated books, and Amos usually spent Saturdays sitting on a rocking chair, wearing a watermelon hat, reading to children.The former high school dropout penned eight books, served as spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America for 24 years and gave motivational talks to corporations, universities and other groups.Amos earned numerous honors for his volunteerism, including the Literacy Award presented by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.“Your greatest contribution to your country is not your signature straw hat in the Smithsonian, but the people you have inspired to learn to read,” Bush said.In one of his books, “Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade,” Amos explained how he lost Famous Amos even before it was sold for $63 million to a Taiwanese company in 1991. Despite robust sales, by 1985, the business was losing money, so Amos brought in outside investors.“The new owners gobbled up more of my share until all of a sudden, I found I had lost all ownership in the company I founded,” Amos wrote. Before long, the company had changed ownership four times.Born in Tallahassee, Fla., Amos moved to New York City at age 12 because of his parents’ divorce. He lived with an aunt, Della Bryant, who taught him how to make chocolate chip cookies.He later dropped out of high school to join the Air Force before working as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency, where he became a talent agent, working with The Supremes, Simon &amp; Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye before borrowing $25,000 to launch his cookie business.He was the first Black agent in the business, his son, Shawn Amos, said.“Our dad taught us the value of hard work, believing in ourselves, and chasing our dreams,” his children’s statement said. “We also know he would love it if you had a chocolate chip cookie today.”

Wally Amos, of cookie fame, has died in Hawaii

KANSAS CITY—A woman wounded in a shooting in Kansas City last week has died.

On August 4, police were dispatched to the 600 block of E. Gregory Boulevard on medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'. 

First responders found a man and and woman in a vehicle suffering from gunshot trauma.&nbsp; Both were transported to an area hospital. He was treated and released. She died of her injuries, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Police have not released her name or reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—A woman wounded in a shooting in Kansas City last week has died.On August 4, police were dispatched to the 600 block of E. Gregory Boulevard on medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'. First responders found a man and and woman in a vehicle suffering from gunshot trauma.&nbsp; Both were transported to an area hospital. He was treated and released. She died of her injuries, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Police have not released her name or reported an arrest.

Sheriff: Woman wounded in Kansas City shooting has died

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Topeka Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who is believed to be involved in an ongoing theft investigation.

Just after 4:30 p.m., August 9,&nbsp; police responded to a reported theft at Kay Jeweler’s at West Ridge Mall, 1801 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

 The alleged suspect, as shown in security camera images, left the area in a light blue Chevrolet Malibu with front end damage. He was last seen wearing a purple t-shirt, faded jeans, white shoes and silver chains around his neck. He has a tattoo on the top of his right wrist and on his upper left arm.

If you have any information about this incident or the individual, please contact investigators at

telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723667208542.png" alt="Photos Topeka police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Topeka police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – Topeka Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who is believed to be involved in an ongoing theft investigation.Just after 4:30 p.m., August 9,&nbsp; police responded to a reported theft at Kay Jeweler’s at West Ridge Mall, 1801 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723667318611.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The alleged suspect, as shown in security camera images, left the area in a light blue Chevrolet Malibu with front end damage. He was last seen wearing a purple t-shirt, faded jeans, white shoes and silver chains around his neck. He has a tattoo on the top of his right wrist and on his upper left arm.If you have any information about this incident or the individual, please contact investigators attelltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

Police ask for help to ID Kan. jewelry store theft suspect

RENO COUNTy— Hutchinson Fire Marshal Mike Cain said Wednesday in an email to Hutch Post that the investigation into the cause of the August 6,&nbsp; fire at 2404 East 4th in Hutchinson continues.

"The cause of the fire remains undetermined, which is to say information is still being gathered and looked at," Cain said.

A man identified on Facebook as Floyd Scott is offering a reward for information connected with the cause, which he believes to be intentional.&nbsp;

"I know I take phone calls from Floyd, the owner, multiple times a day," Cain said. "One of the phone calls was about a reward. He has been convinced it is 'arson' from the moment he got the call. I told him he can certainly offer anything he would like in order to get information, and maybe in his friends circle it will be effective."

Cain said they have not released information to the owner on any potential cause.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722955243029.jpeg" alt="Photo by Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTy— Hutchinson Fire Marshal Mike Cain said Wednesday in an email to Hutch Post that the investigation into the cause of the August 6,&nbsp; fire at 2404 East 4th in Hutchinson continues."The cause of the fire remains undetermined, which is to say information is still being gathered and looked at," Cain said.A man identified on Facebook as Floyd Scott is offering a reward for information connected with the cause, which he believes to be intentional.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722979229038.jpeg" alt="Photo by Sean Boston." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Sean Boston.</figcaption>
 </figure>"I know I take phone calls from Floyd, the owner, multiple times a day," Cain said. "One of the phone calls was about a reward. He has been convinced it is 'arson' from the moment he got the call. I told him he can certainly offer anything he would like in order to get information, and maybe in his friends circle it will be effective."Cain said they have not released information to the owner on any potential cause.