WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The man accused in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-fee81d8bcf737bfcde2ee8e5cea88465">apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a golf course in Florida left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the Justice Department said Monday.

Trump complained that the current holding charges against the man were too light, but prosecutors indicated much more serious charges were coming.

The new allegations about the note were included in a detention memo filed ahead of a hearing Monday at which federal prosecutors argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-routh-assassination-attempt-ukraine-suspicions-florida-530098c668f283d8a38eb5dd5570f1b2">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;should remain locked up as a flight risk and a threat to public safety. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and ordered him to stay behind bars.

The latest details were meant to bolster the Justice Department's contention that the 58-year-old suspect had engaged in a premeditated plan to kill Trump, a plot officials say was thwarted by a Secret Service agent who spotted a rifle poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing and then opened fire in Routh's direction.

The note describing Routh's plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after last Sunday's arrest, prosecutors said.

The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, tools, phones and various letters. The person who received the box and contacted law enforcement was not identified in the Justice Department's detention memo and was described only as a “civilian witness.”

One note Routh left, addressed “Dear World,” appears to have been premised on the idea that the assassination attempt would be unsuccessful.

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.

The letter offers “substantial evidence of his intent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto said in court Monday.

"That's the message he wanted to send to the world in advance of this incident” he said.

In a statement, Trump accused the Justice Department of “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent assassination attempt by bringing charges that were a “slap on the wrist.”

Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. But Dispoto said in court Monday that prosecutors would pursue additional charges before a grand jury accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.

It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.

Trump also claimed that the Justice Department has a conflict of interest in prosecuting this case since, under the supervision of a special counsel, it is simultaneously pursuing cases charging him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;and with hoarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.</a>&nbsp;He signaled support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-florida-ryan-routh-desantis-f0852cfc0dcb3d66d3d051838e63276c">separate state-level criminal investigation</a>&nbsp;announced last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Kristy Militello, an assistant federal public defender representing Routh, asked during Monday's hearing for Routh to be permitted to live with his sister in Greensboro, N.C., as the case moves forward. She argued that prosecutors had failed to show that he was a threat to the community and noted his track record of habitually showing up for court appearance throughout decades of legal troubles,

Besides the note, prosecutors also cited cellphone records indicating that Routh traveled to West Palm Beach from Greensboro in mid-August, and that he was near Trump’s golf club and the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence “on multiple days and times” between August 18 and the day of the apparent attempted assassination.

He was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man's face, and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at him. The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain link fence.

The FBI has previously said Routh had camped outside the golf course for 12 hours before his arrest. The Secret Service has said Routh did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight.

The Justice Department also said Monday that authorities who searched his car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

They also found a list with dates in August, September and October and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to, according to prosecutors. A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.

In addition, the detention memo cites a book authored by Routh last year in which he lambasted Trump's approach to foreign policy, including in Ukraine. In the book, he wrote that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for having left the nuclear deal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest&nbsp; Sept. 15-photo Martin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest&nbsp; Sept. 15-photo Martin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The man accused in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-fee81d8bcf737bfcde2ee8e5cea88465">apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a golf course in Florida left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the Justice Department said Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727103871883.png" alt="Image U.S. Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump complained that the current holding charges against the man were too light, but prosecutors indicated much more serious charges were coming.The new allegations about the note were included in a detention memo filed ahead of a hearing Monday at which federal prosecutors argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-routh-assassination-attempt-ukraine-suspicions-florida-530098c668f283d8a38eb5dd5570f1b2">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;should remain locked up as a flight risk and a threat to public safety. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and ordered him to stay behind bars.The latest details were meant to bolster the Justice Department's contention that the 58-year-old suspect had engaged in a premeditated plan to kill Trump, a plot officials say was thwarted by a Secret Service agent who spotted a rifle poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing and then opened fire in Routh's direction.The note describing Routh's plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after last Sunday's arrest, prosecutors said.The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, tools, phones and various letters. The person who received the box and contacted law enforcement was not identified in the Justice Department's detention memo and was described only as a “civilian witness.”One note Routh left, addressed “Dear World,” appears to have been premised on the idea that the assassination attempt would be unsuccessful.“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.The letter offers “substantial evidence of his intent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto said in court Monday."That's the message he wanted to send to the world in advance of this incident” he said.In a statement, Trump accused the Justice Department of “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent assassination attempt by bringing charges that were a “slap on the wrist.”Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. But Dispoto said in court Monday that prosecutors would pursue additional charges before a grand jury accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.Trump also claimed that the Justice Department has a conflict of interest in prosecuting this case since, under the supervision of a special counsel, it is simultaneously pursuing cases charging him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;and with hoarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.</a>&nbsp;He signaled support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-florida-ryan-routh-desantis-f0852cfc0dcb3d66d3d051838e63276c">separate state-level criminal investigation</a>&nbsp;announced last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Kristy Militello, an assistant federal public defender representing Routh, asked during Monday's hearing for Routh to be permitted to live with his sister in Greensboro, N.C., as the case moves forward. She argued that prosecutors had failed to show that he was a threat to the community and noted his track record of habitually showing up for court appearance throughout decades of legal troubles,Besides the note, prosecutors also cited cellphone records indicating that Routh traveled to West Palm Beach from Greensboro in mid-August, and that he was near Trump’s golf club and the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence “on multiple days and times” between August 18 and the day of the apparent attempted assassination.He was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man's face, and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at him. The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain link fence.The FBI has previously said Routh had camped outside the golf course for 12 hours before his arrest. The Secret Service has said Routh did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight.The Justice Department also said Monday that authorities who searched his car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.They also found a list with dates in August, September and October and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to, according to prosecutors. A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.In addition, the detention memo cites a book authored by Routh last year in which he lambasted Trump's approach to foreign policy, including in Ukraine. In the book, he wrote that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for having left the nuclear deal.

Read letter allegedly from accused assassin on effort to kill Trump

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in 3500 block of Inwood in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.

Officers learned that a verbal altercation had taken place between the 38-year-old male victim and a female suspect. The argument escalated when the suspect reportedly began physically assaulting the victim.

The situation further escalated when the suspect brandished a handgun and fired one shot, striking the victim in the chest.&nbsp; The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 6:22 p.m., according to Ford.

The suspect,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=415507"> identified according to Sedgwick Count</a>y booking records as 35-year-old Mercedes Muldrew, was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. She is being held on a requested charge of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727111287181.png" alt="MULDREW photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>MULDREW photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in 3500 block of Inwood in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727129407850.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers learned that a verbal altercation had taken place between the 38-year-old male victim and a female suspect. The argument escalated when the suspect reportedly began physically assaulting the victim.The situation further escalated when the suspect brandished a handgun and fired one shot, striking the victim in the chest.&nbsp; The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 6:22 p.m., according to Ford.The suspect,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=415507"> identified according to Sedgwick Count</a>y booking records as 35-year-old Mercedes Muldrew, was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. She is being held on a requested charge of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman jailed after man shot at apartment complex

WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Monday recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/recognition-programs/national-blue-ribbon-schools-program">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.

The Kansas schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools are Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City;&nbsp; Herington Elementary School in Herrington;&nbsp;Sunflower Elementary School in Paola and Garfield Elementary in Augusta.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

A National Blue Ribbon School award flag displayed in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized emblem of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.

The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:

Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727127791652.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Monday recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/recognition-programs/national-blue-ribbon-schools-program">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.The Kansas schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools are Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City;&nbsp; Herington Elementary School in Herrington;&nbsp;Sunflower Elementary School in Paola and Garfield Elementary in Augusta.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FED.gov%2Fvideos%2F400910632814177%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.A National Blue Ribbon School award flag displayed in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized emblem of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:<ul>
 <li>Exemplary High Performing Schools:&nbsp;These schools are among the top performers in their state as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.</li><li>Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools:&nbsp;These schools excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.</li>
 </ul>Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

4 Kansas schools honored by U.S. Department of Education

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached new heights Monday after drifting higher in a quiet day of trading.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 16.02 points, or 0.3%, to 5,718.57 and edged past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-inflation-powell-a64fe0c4c099fa2469a8a6a4441f1189">record set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 61.29 points, or 0.1%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-japan-acfb636ed8e0e341a1e93b1567ff0358">its own all-time high set on Friday</a>&nbsp;and closed at 42,124.65. The Nasdaq composite gained 25.95, or 0.1%, to 17,974.27.

Tesla led the way with a gain of 4.9% and clawed back all its sharp losses from earlier in the year. It was down as much as 42% at one point in April, when it was cutting prices on its cars to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ce56d5948f9f96235b9c809e3380108">flaccid sales</a>.

That helped offset a 10.3% tumble for Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which fell to its lowest price since taking its place on the Nasdaq stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-truth-social-nasdaq-stock-106d7c423174ca1d7cc3cc9a3f3897a0">in March</a>. The company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social network has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-shares-donald-trump-truth-social-82d8839bb5f5a96e93e2404399ead072">dropped six straight days</a>&nbsp;amid speculation about when Trump and other company insiders may&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-media-shares-lockup-truth-social-ffcc25b27b6debef6ed340f915c5d79c">sell their shares</a>&nbsp;now that they’re longer bound by a “lock-up” agreement. Trump has said he doesn’t plan to sell.

Financial markets have broadly been romping higher after the Federal Reserve last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years by an unusually large amount. The hope is that as it continues to cut interest rates, the boost given to the U.S. economy through lower rates for car loans, mortgages and other borrowing will help it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">avoid a recession</a>.

But some critics say the Federal Reserve may be moving too late, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">job market already slowing</a>, and call stock prices too high.

A report on Monday morning suggested U.S. business activity is not growing as quickly as economists expected, mostly because of a continued downturn in manufacturing. The preliminary report from S&amp;P Global said U.S. manufacturing shrank more severely in September than in August and hit a 15-month low. It’s been one of the parts of the economy hurt most by high interest rates.

The overall figures suggest a U.S. economy that’s still growing at a healthy rate, according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. “But there are some warning lights flashing, notably in terms of the dependence on the service sector for growth, as manufacturing remained in decline, and the worrying drop in business confidence.”

He also pointed to subdued activity among businesses given uncertainty heading into the U.S. elections in November.

Several reports coming later in the week could offer more context about where the U.S. economy stands. One on Thursday will offer the final revision for the U.S. economy’s growth in the spring, and another on Friday will give a look at how much U.S. consumers are spending.

Such reports, particularly on employment, are taking top priority on Wall Street because the main fear is now a slowdown in the job market. It’s a notable shift from prior years, when Wall Street’s attention was fixed on anything related to inflation.

But now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">inflation has come down</a>&nbsp;substantially from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">its peak two summers ago</a>, the Fed has shifted gears.

It feels less need to keep rates high in order to slow the economy enough to stifle inflation, hence last week’s cut of half a percentage point to its main interest rate. And it feels more pressure to prop up the job market and overall economy, hence its plans to keep cutting interest rates this year and next.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury held steady at 3.74%, where it was late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more with expectations for Fed action, edged down to 3.58% from 3.60% late Friday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe after preliminary data suggested business activity in the euro zone is weaker than economists expected. Germany’s DAX rose 0.7%, while the French CAC 40 rose 0.1%.

In Asia, movements for indexes were also muted. Indexes rose 0.4% in Shanghai but slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong after China’s central bank lowered its 14-day reverse repurchase rate on Monday. That followed its decision last week to keep key lending rates unchange, when investors had been expecting a cut.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="FIle photo(AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>FIle photo(AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached new heights Monday after drifting higher in a quiet day of trading.The S&amp;P 500 rose 16.02 points, or 0.3%, to 5,718.57 and edged past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-inflation-powell-a64fe0c4c099fa2469a8a6a4441f1189">record set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 61.29 points, or 0.1%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-japan-acfb636ed8e0e341a1e93b1567ff0358">its own all-time high set on Friday</a>&nbsp;and closed at 42,124.65. The Nasdaq composite gained 25.95, or 0.1%, to 17,974.27.Tesla led the way with a gain of 4.9% and clawed back all its sharp losses from earlier in the year. It was down as much as 42% at one point in April, when it was cutting prices on its cars to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ce56d5948f9f96235b9c809e3380108">flaccid sales</a>.That helped offset a 10.3% tumble for Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which fell to its lowest price since taking its place on the Nasdaq stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-truth-social-nasdaq-stock-106d7c423174ca1d7cc3cc9a3f3897a0">in March</a>. The company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social network has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-shares-donald-trump-truth-social-82d8839bb5f5a96e93e2404399ead072">dropped six straight days</a>&nbsp;amid speculation about when Trump and other company insiders may&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-media-shares-lockup-truth-social-ffcc25b27b6debef6ed340f915c5d79c">sell their shares</a>&nbsp;now that they’re longer bound by a “lock-up” agreement. Trump has said he doesn’t plan to sell.Financial markets have broadly been romping higher after the Federal Reserve last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years by an unusually large amount. The hope is that as it continues to cut interest rates, the boost given to the U.S. economy through lower rates for car loans, mortgages and other borrowing will help it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">avoid a recession</a>.But some critics say the Federal Reserve may be moving too late, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">job market already slowing</a>, and call stock prices too high.A report on Monday morning suggested U.S. business activity is not growing as quickly as economists expected, mostly because of a continued downturn in manufacturing. The preliminary report from S&amp;P Global said U.S. manufacturing shrank more severely in September than in August and hit a 15-month low. It’s been one of the parts of the economy hurt most by high interest rates.The overall figures suggest a U.S. economy that’s still growing at a healthy rate, according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. “But there are some warning lights flashing, notably in terms of the dependence on the service sector for growth, as manufacturing remained in decline, and the worrying drop in business confidence.”He also pointed to subdued activity among businesses given uncertainty heading into the U.S. elections in November.Several reports coming later in the week could offer more context about where the U.S. economy stands. One on Thursday will offer the final revision for the U.S. economy’s growth in the spring, and another on Friday will give a look at how much U.S. consumers are spending.Such reports, particularly on employment, are taking top priority on Wall Street because the main fear is now a slowdown in the job market. It’s a notable shift from prior years, when Wall Street’s attention was fixed on anything related to inflation.But now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">inflation has come down</a>&nbsp;substantially from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">its peak two summers ago</a>, the Fed has shifted gears.It feels less need to keep rates high in order to slow the economy enough to stifle inflation, hence last week’s cut of half a percentage point to its main interest rate. And it feels more pressure to prop up the job market and overall economy, hence its plans to keep cutting interest rates this year and next.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury held steady at 3.74%, where it was late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more with expectations for Fed action, edged down to 3.58% from 3.60% late Friday.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe after preliminary data suggested business activity in the euro zone is weaker than economists expected. Germany’s DAX rose 0.7%, while the French CAC 40 rose 0.1%.In Asia, movements for indexes were also muted. Indexes rose 0.4% in Shanghai but slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong after China’s central bank lowered its 14-day reverse repurchase rate on Monday. That followed its decision last week to keep key lending rates unchange, when investors had been expecting a cut.

Wall Street drifts higher to set more records

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">sharp spike in violence</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">U.S. currently has</a>&nbsp;about 40,000 troops in the region.

“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.”

The new deployments come after significant strikes by Israeli forces against targets inside Lebanon that have killed hundreds and as Israel is preparing to conduct further operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Lebanese civilians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">in a videotaped message</a>&nbsp;to evacuate their homes ahead of further airstrikes. He spoke as Israeli warplanes continued to strike alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department cautioned Saturday. Ryder would not say if those additional forces might support the evacuation of those citizens if needed.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a cease-fire and a reduction of tensions in the region, Ryder said.

“Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous, situation” Ryder said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726955108353.png" alt="The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases." />
 <figcaption>The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">sharp spike in violence</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">U.S. currently has</a>&nbsp;about 40,000 troops in the region.“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.”The new deployments come after significant strikes by Israeli forces against targets inside Lebanon that have killed hundreds and as Israel is preparing to conduct further operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Lebanese civilians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">in a videotaped message</a>&nbsp;to evacuate their homes ahead of further airstrikes. He spoke as Israeli warplanes continued to strike alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department cautioned Saturday. Ryder would not say if those additional forces might support the evacuation of those citizens if needed.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a cease-fire and a reduction of tensions in the region, Ryder said.“Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous, situation” Ryder said.

US sending more troops to the Middle East as tensions grow

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a> State's Newsroom

WASHINGTON — Amid persistent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/despite-opt-outs-gop-states-debut-kids-summer-food-program-seen-success" target="_blank">child hunger and food insecurity</a>&nbsp;in the United States, lawmakers and advocates on Wednesday stressed the importance of school meal programs during a U.S. Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing.

Hunger severely impacts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/effects-of-hunger-on-the-body" target="_blank">kids’ emotional and physical well-being</a>&nbsp;and can lead to negative outcomes in school,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.academicpedsjnl.net/article/S1876-2859(20)30426-5/fulltext" target="_blank">research has shown</a>. Last year, 47.4 million people lived in food-insecure households, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>.

Federally funded efforts, such as the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, provide free and reduced-cost meals to students across the country.

Advocates say these programs play a crucial role in helping to reduce child hunger and urged the panel to expand them.

“School lunch should always be free and definitely free of judgment,” said Sen. John Fetterman, who chairs the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research.

“Honestly, it shouldn’t be a conversation — it would be like asking the kids to pay for the school bus every morning or to pay for their own textbooks at school,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman and fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-fetterman-introduce-legislation-to-combat-student-hunger-expand-access-to-free-or-reduced-price-school-meals" target="_blank">introduced two bills</a>&nbsp;in June aiming to expand free or reduced-price meals access for kids. Part of the initiatives also call for amending the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas to offer free meal options to all students.

Fetterman also sponsored the Universal School Meals Program Act, an effort introduced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1568/text" target="_blank">independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;last May, which would “provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to every student — without demanding they prove they are poor enough to deserve help getting three meals a day,” according to Sanders’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Universal-School-Meals-Program-Act-of-2023_Bill-Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>&nbsp;of the bill. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3204/text" target="_blank">a companion bill</a>.

Subcommittee ranking member Mike Braun of Indiana said he introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.braun.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-braun-brown-introduce-senate-version-american-food-american-schools-act/" target="_blank">American Food for American Schools Act</a>&nbsp;last July with Ohio Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in an effort “to better prioritize and support the use of American food in school meal programs.”

That bipartisan bill would increase requirements for school meals to include U.S. products.

Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of the Food Research &amp; Action Center, pointed out that eight states&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/08/29/usda-celebrates-new-school-meals-options-new-school-year-begins#:~:text=Eight%20states%20have%20taken%20permanent,Minnesota%2C%20New%20Mexico%20and%20Vermont" target="_blank">have implemented policies</a>&nbsp;that offer school meals to all students, regardless of one’s household income. Those states are California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont.

The national nonprofit aims to reduce poverty-related hunger in the U.S. through research, advocacy and policy solutions.

“While those eight states are showing us what is possible, there are critical steps the subcommittee and Congress should take to enhance the reach and impact of school meals nationwide,” FitzSimons said.

As one piece of the puzzle, FitzSimons said Congress can “ensure that all children nationwide are hunger-free and ready to learn while they are at school by allowing all schools to offer meals to all their students at no charge” and the Universal School Meals Program Act “creates that path.”

Meg Bruening, professor and department head at Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, said “the school meal programs in the U.S. provide a critical safety net for almost 30 million children with meals each year” — comprising 60% of children in the country.

Bruening said these school meal programs align closely with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/" target="_blank">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>, “ensuring a variety of healthy foods are offered to children while at school, where children spend most of their waking and eating hours.”

The guidelines, developed by the USDA and the Health and Human Services Department, are&nbsp;<a href="https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/dietary-guidelines" target="_blank">updated every five years</a>.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock underscored how child hunger increases in the summer months when kids lack access to regular meals at school.

Thirty-seven states, the District of Columbia and multiple territories and tribal nations opted in this year to a new effort, known as Summer EBT, to feed kids during the long summer months.

Also called Sun Bucks, the USDA initiative provides low-income families with school-aged children a grocery-buying benefit of $120 per child for the summer.

But 13 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/08/13/georgia-dems-press-governor-to-participate-for-federal-2025-summer-feeding-program/" target="_blank">including Georgia</a>, chose not to participate in the program in 2024. The USDA said states have until Jan. 1 to submit a notice of intent if they plan to participate in the program next year.

Warnock said he hopes&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/08/13/georgia-dems-press-governor-to-participate-for-federal-2025-summer-feeding-program/" target="_blank">state leaders reverse their position</a>&nbsp;on Summer EBT.

“Unfortunately, my home state — the state of Georgia — has not opted in to Sun Bucks, with some officials saying it does not result in higher nutritional outcomes for students, and that existing programs are ‘effective,’” he said.

“I heard our state leadership say: ‘We don’t need it,’” he added. “I’m still trying to figure out who this ‘we’ is — for whom are you speaking when you say: ‘We don’t need it?’”

A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has said the governor has concerns about the program’s dietary standards and cost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727007674307.png" alt="Students eat lunch at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake, Utah, on March 12 (Spenser Heaps/Utah News Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption>Students eat lunch at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake, Utah, on March 12 (Spenser Heaps/Utah News Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a> State's Newsroom WASHINGTON — Amid persistent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/despite-opt-outs-gop-states-debut-kids-summer-food-program-seen-success" target="_blank">child hunger and food insecurity</a>&nbsp;in the United States, lawmakers and advocates on Wednesday stressed the importance of school meal programs during a U.S. Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing.Hunger severely impacts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/effects-of-hunger-on-the-body" target="_blank">kids’ emotional and physical well-being</a>&nbsp;and can lead to negative outcomes in school,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.academicpedsjnl.net/article/S1876-2859(20)30426-5/fulltext" target="_blank">research has shown</a>. Last year, 47.4 million people lived in food-insecure households, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>.Federally funded efforts, such as the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, provide free and reduced-cost meals to students across the country.Advocates say these programs play a crucial role in helping to reduce child hunger and urged the panel to expand them.“School lunch should always be free and definitely free of judgment,” said Sen. John Fetterman, who chairs the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research.“Honestly, it shouldn’t be a conversation — it would be like asking the kids to pay for the school bus every morning or to pay for their own textbooks at school,” Fetterman said.Fetterman and fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-fetterman-introduce-legislation-to-combat-student-hunger-expand-access-to-free-or-reduced-price-school-meals" target="_blank">introduced two bills</a>&nbsp;in June aiming to expand free or reduced-price meals access for kids. Part of the initiatives also call for amending the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools and school districts in low-income areas to offer free meal options to all students.Fetterman also sponsored the Universal School Meals Program Act, an effort introduced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1568/text" target="_blank">independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;last May, which would “provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to every student — without demanding they prove they are poor enough to deserve help getting three meals a day,” according to Sanders’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Universal-School-Meals-Program-Act-of-2023_Bill-Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary</a>&nbsp;of the bill. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3204/text" target="_blank">a companion bill</a>.Subcommittee ranking member Mike Braun of Indiana said he introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.braun.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-braun-brown-introduce-senate-version-american-food-american-schools-act/" target="_blank">American Food for American Schools Act</a>&nbsp;last July with Ohio Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in an effort “to better prioritize and support the use of American food in school meal programs.”That bipartisan bill would increase requirements for school meals to include U.S. products.<h2>States a model</h2>Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of the Food Research &amp; Action Center, pointed out that eight states&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/08/29/usda-celebrates-new-school-meals-options-new-school-year-begins#:~:text=Eight%20states%20have%20taken%20permanent,Minnesota%2C%20New%20Mexico%20and%20Vermont" target="_blank">have implemented policies</a>&nbsp;that offer school meals to all students, regardless of one’s household income. Those states are California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont.The national nonprofit aims to reduce poverty-related hunger in the U.S. through research, advocacy and policy solutions.“While those eight states are showing us what is possible, there are critical steps the subcommittee and Congress should take to enhance the reach and impact of school meals nationwide,” FitzSimons said.As one piece of the puzzle, FitzSimons said Congress can “ensure that all children nationwide are hunger-free and ready to learn while they are at school by allowing all schools to offer meals to all their students at no charge” and the Universal School Meals Program Act “creates that path.”Meg Bruening, professor and department head at Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, said “the school meal programs in the U.S. provide a critical safety net for almost 30 million children with meals each year” — comprising 60% of children in the country.Bruening said these school meal programs align closely with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/" target="_blank">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>, “ensuring a variety of healthy foods are offered to children while at school, where children spend most of their waking and eating hours.”The guidelines, developed by the USDA and the Health and Human Services Department, are&nbsp;<a href="https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/dietary-guidelines" target="_blank">updated every five years</a>.<h2>Summer EBT&nbsp;</h2>Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock underscored how child hunger increases in the summer months when kids lack access to regular meals at school.Thirty-seven states, the District of Columbia and multiple territories and tribal nations opted in this year to a new effort, known as Summer EBT, to feed kids during the long summer months.Also called Sun Bucks, the USDA initiative provides low-income families with school-aged children a grocery-buying benefit of $120 per child for the summer.But 13 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/08/13/georgia-dems-press-governor-to-participate-for-federal-2025-summer-feeding-program/" target="_blank">including Georgia</a>, chose not to participate in the program in 2024. The USDA said states have until Jan. 1 to submit a notice of intent if they plan to participate in the program next year.Warnock said he hopes&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/08/13/georgia-dems-press-governor-to-participate-for-federal-2025-summer-feeding-program/" target="_blank">state leaders reverse their position</a>&nbsp;on Summer EBT.“Unfortunately, my home state — the state of Georgia — has not opted in to Sun Bucks, with some officials saying it does not result in higher nutritional outcomes for students, and that existing programs are ‘effective,’” he said.“I heard our state leadership say: ‘We don’t need it,’” he added. “I’m still trying to figure out who this ‘we’ is — for whom are you speaking when you say: ‘We don’t need it?’”A spokesperson for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has said the governor has concerns about the program’s dietary standards and cost.

Advocates call for expanding free school meals at U.S. Senate hearing

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating six suspects including three juveniles on multiple allegations that started with a gun incident.

Just after 6:00 p.m. Sept. 14, police responded to the report of gunshots near 19th Street and SW Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Police found that no one had been injured, but property in the area had been damaged by gunfire.

Just before 6p.m. on September 20, as the result of this ongoing investigation, members of the Topeka Police Department served a search warrant at a home in the 1800 Block of SW Lincoln Street. During the search warrant, Individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Law Enforcement center to speak with Detectives.

As a result of the investigation, a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy were transported to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention center where they were booked on requested charges of Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon, Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony

A 17-year-old girl was also transported to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention center where she was booked on requested charges of Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon,&nbsp;Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony and a violation of the&nbsp;Cigarette and tabaco products act.

Police also arrested three adults identified as Shannon L. Bailey, 44; Sarah E. Flynn, 40; and Baileah N. Flynn, 26; all of Topeka.

Shannon Bailey is being held on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug paraphernalia and Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony.

Sarah Flynn remains jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon, Aggravated endangering a child, Criminal Damage to property – Felony, Criminal Discharge of a firearm and Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony

Baileah Flynn is jailed on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Methamphetamine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726949969240.png" alt="Baileah Flynn-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Baileah Flynn-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating six suspects including three juveniles on multiple allegations that started with a gun incident.Just after 6:00 p.m. Sept. 14, police responded to the report of gunshots near 19th Street and SW Buchanan Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Police found that no one had been injured, but property in the area had been damaged by gunfire.Just before 6p.m. on September 20, as the result of this ongoing investigation, members of the Topeka Police Department served a search warrant at a home in the 1800 Block of SW Lincoln Street. During the search warrant, Individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Law Enforcement center to speak with Detectives.As a result of the investigation, a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy were transported to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention center where they were booked on requested charges of Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon, Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – FelonyA 17-year-old girl was also transported to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention center where she was booked on requested charges of Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon,&nbsp;Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony and a violation of the&nbsp;Cigarette and tabaco products act.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726949856683.png" alt="Sarah Flynn photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sarah Flynn photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police also arrested three adults identified as Shannon L. Bailey, 44; Sarah E. Flynn, 40; and Baileah N. Flynn, 26; all of Topeka.Shannon Bailey is being held on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug paraphernalia and Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – Felony.Sarah Flynn remains jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated Assault; use of a deadly weapon, Aggravated endangering a child, Criminal Damage to property – Felony, Criminal Discharge of a firearm and Interference with a Law Enforcement officer – FelonyBaileah Flynn is jailed on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Methamphetamine.

3 Kan. women, 3 teens jailed after gunfire incident

NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;held a blockbuster fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street Sunday.&nbsp; Much of the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder as Harris needled Trump for refusing to debate her again.

“My opponent seems to be looking for an excuse,” Harris told the crowd. “I feel very strongly that we owe it to the American people, to the voters, to meet once more before Election Day."

She reiterated that later, telling reporters after landing outside Washington, “We have more to discuss.”

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rules-out-third-debate-harris-8ac8051f3247f79f6508d40fbcb138a1">rejected more debates</a>, saying Saturday that “it's just too late.”

“Voting is already started,” he said at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina. Voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-presidential-election-trump-harris-7fb7a8ff28490f71cd15529321dfe765">cast the first in-person ballots</a>&nbsp;last week in Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, the states with the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-mail-ballots-election-97c2bd30abf227772481edb4f2cc5413">early in-person voting</a>&nbsp;opportunities. About a dozen more states will follow by mid-October.

Harris also said she would deliver a speech Wednesday outlining her economic vision, saying there is “more we can do to invest in the aspirations and ambitions of the American people while addressing the challenges they face.”

She cited the high cost of home ownership and stubbornly high grocery bills as examples.

“I grew up a middle-class kid and I will never forget where I came from,” she said.

By fleshing out her economic agenda in more detail, Harris can address an issue that's front of mind for voters after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">prices soared</a>&nbsp;during Biden's presidency and distance herself from the president's economic track record. Trump has criticized her for being slow to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-policy-economy-tips-workers-middle-class-e606b41cce817e69a38663cc68ce7ad6">detailed policy proposals</a>&nbsp;of her own since she rose to the top of the ticket.

Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-issue-positions-worlds-apart-3f80a342c790da64e3de92a4f5760991">has said</a>&nbsp;she'd push for middle-class tax cuts and tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, and she adopted Trump's proposal to end taxes on tipped wages, though she'd limit her plan to low- and middle-income taxpayers. She's also criticized Trump's plan to impose large tariffs on most imported goods, which she says would severely raise the cost of goods.

Neither Harris nor Trump has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-economy-poll-inflation-dc80ac9e5d7da42900762910d5f0a283">decisive edge</a>&nbsp;with the public on the economy, according to the latest poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. The survey suggests Harris is gaining ground on an issue that was once a clear strength for Trump.

About 4 in 10 registered voters say Republican Trump would do a better job handling the economy, while a similar number say that about the Democratic vice president, according to the poll. About 1 in 10 voters don’t trust either candidate, and a similar share has equal faith in them.

The new poll found that the economy is one of the most important issues for about 8 in 10 voters as they consider which candidate to support, dwarfing other top issues like health care and crime.

NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;held a blockbuster fundraiser at Cipriani Wall Street Sunday.&nbsp; Much of the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder as Harris needled Trump for refusing to debate her again.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Harris: &quot;I would like another debate….We have a lot more to discuss ... Let&#39;s have another debate.&quot;<a href="https://t.co/VcRiLabmXl">pic.twitter.com/VcRiLabmXl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1838046507175436509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“My opponent seems to be looking for an excuse,” Harris told the crowd. “I feel very strongly that we owe it to the American people, to the voters, to meet once more before Election Day."She reiterated that later, telling reporters after landing outside Washington, “We have more to discuss.”Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rules-out-third-debate-harris-8ac8051f3247f79f6508d40fbcb138a1">rejected more debates</a>, saying Saturday that “it's just too late.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Trump declines second CNN debate: &quot;I&#39;ve already done two...The problem with another debate is that it&#39;s just too late. Voting has already started. She&#39;s had her chance to do it with Fox. Fox invited us on, and I waited and waited. They turned it down.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rhispm3zVZ">pic.twitter.com/rhispm3zVZ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1837633404671533326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Voting is already started,” he said at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina. Voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-presidential-election-trump-harris-7fb7a8ff28490f71cd15529321dfe765">cast the first in-person ballots</a>&nbsp;last week in Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, the states with the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-mail-ballots-election-97c2bd30abf227772481edb4f2cc5413">early in-person voting</a>&nbsp;opportunities. About a dozen more states will follow by mid-October.Harris also said she would deliver a speech Wednesday outlining her economic vision, saying there is “more we can do to invest in the aspirations and ambitions of the American people while addressing the challenges they face.”She cited the high cost of home ownership and stubbornly high grocery bills as examples.“I grew up a middle-class kid and I will never forget where I came from,” she said.By fleshing out her economic agenda in more detail, Harris can address an issue that's front of mind for voters after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/key-inflation-report-highest-level-in-four-decades-c0248c5b5705cd1523d3dab3771983b4">prices soared</a>&nbsp;during Biden's presidency and distance herself from the president's economic track record. Trump has criticized her for being slow to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-policy-economy-tips-workers-middle-class-e606b41cce817e69a38663cc68ce7ad6">detailed policy proposals</a>&nbsp;of her own since she rose to the top of the ticket.Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-issue-positions-worlds-apart-3f80a342c790da64e3de92a4f5760991">has said</a>&nbsp;she'd push for middle-class tax cuts and tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, and she adopted Trump's proposal to end taxes on tipped wages, though she'd limit her plan to low- and middle-income taxpayers. She's also criticized Trump's plan to impose large tariffs on most imported goods, which she says would severely raise the cost of goods.Neither Harris nor Trump has a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-trump-economy-poll-inflation-dc80ac9e5d7da42900762910d5f0a283">decisive edge</a>&nbsp;with the public on the economy, according to the latest poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>. The survey suggests Harris is gaining ground on an issue that was once a clear strength for Trump.About 4 in 10 registered voters say Republican Trump would do a better job handling the economy, while a similar number say that about the Democratic vice president, according to the poll. About 1 in 10 voters don’t trust either candidate, and a similar share has equal faith in them.The new poll found that the economy is one of the most important issues for about 8 in 10 voters as they consider which candidate to support, dwarfing other top issues like health care and crime.

🎥 Harris, Trump continue to debate another debate

ARTHUR COUNTY, Nebraska — Three people died in A crash just after 12:30p.m Saturday during a poker run fundraiser in a Arthur County.

The Nebraska State Patrol reported the crash involved two motorcycles. First responders located two deceased individuals and a third person with life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary investigation has shown that the two motorcycles were traveling southbound together when one lost control and struck the other motorcycle. The rider of the first motorcycle, Jacob Byrd, 36, of Brownlee, and the passenger of the second motorcycle, Stephanie Rodriquez, 45, of North Platte, were pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The rider of the second motorcycle, Michael Laack, 52, of North Platte, was transported to Ogallala Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The crash occured during the Kal-Kan and Scooter Memorial Poker Run.&nbsp;

The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting a full crash reconstruction investigation. Highway 61 was closed for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727092078309.png" alt="Highway 61 was closed for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation-image from Nebraska Dept. of Transportation" />
 <figcaption>Highway 61 was closed for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation-image from Nebraska Dept. of Transportation</figcaption>
 </figure>ARTHUR COUNTY, Nebraska — Three people died in A crash just after 12:30p.m Saturday during a poker run fundraiser in a Arthur County.The Nebraska State Patrol reported the crash involved two motorcycles. First responders located two deceased individuals and a third person with life-threatening injuries.Preliminary investigation has shown that the two motorcycles were traveling southbound together when one lost control and struck the other motorcycle. The rider of the first motorcycle, Jacob Byrd, 36, of Brownlee, and the passenger of the second motorcycle, Stephanie Rodriquez, 45, of North Platte, were pronounced deceased at the scene. The rider of the second motorcycle, Michael Laack, 52, of North Platte, was transported to Ogallala Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.The crash occured during the Kal-Kan and Scooter Memorial Poker Run.&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting a full crash reconstruction investigation. Highway 61 was closed for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

3 dead after motorcycles collide during poker run

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a weekend homicide in Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of N. Topeka in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. 

First responders located a 50-year-old man&nbsp;lying in a parking lot, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Investigators are actively pursuing leads to establish the sequence of events leading to the shooting and to identify the suspect involved. Police did not release the name of the victim.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a weekend homicide in Wichita.Just before 8p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of N. Topeka in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. First responders located a 50-year-old man&nbsp;lying in a parking lot, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Investigators are actively pursuing leads to establish the sequence of events leading to the shooting and to identify the suspect involved. Police did not release the name of the victim.

Homicide: Kansas man found lying in parking lot

COWLEY COUNTY —The City of Arkansas City encountered a cybersecurity issue early Sunday involving the city Water Treatment Facilit, according to a media release from the city.

Authorities were promptly notified, and precautionary measures were taken to ensure plant operations remained secure. City Manager Randy Frazer assured residents that the water supply remains completely safe and there has been no disruption to service.

Out of caution, the Water Treatment Facility has switched to manual operations while the situation is being resolved. "Residents can rest assured that their drinking water is safe, and the City is operating under full control during this period, according to Frazer.&nbsp; 

Cybersecurity experts and government authorities are working to resolve the situation and return the facility to normal operations. Enhanced security measures are currently in place to protect the water supply, and no changes to water quality or service are expected.

COWLEY COUNTY —The City of Arkansas City encountered a cybersecurity issue early Sunday involving the city Water Treatment Facilit, according to a media release from the city.Authorities were promptly notified, and precautionary measures were taken to ensure plant operations remained secure. City Manager Randy Frazer assured residents that the water supply remains completely safe and there has been no disruption to service.Out of caution, the Water Treatment Facility has switched to manual operations while the situation is being resolved. "Residents can rest assured that their drinking water is safe, and the City is operating under full control during this period, according to Frazer.&nbsp; Cybersecurity experts and government authorities are working to resolve the situation and return the facility to normal operations. Enhanced security measures are currently in place to protect the water supply, and no changes to water quality or service are expected.

Cybersecurity incident at water treatment plant in Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a duplex fire in Johnson County.

On Sunday evening, crews responded to the fire in a duplex at&nbsp;&nbsp;174th and Pflumm in Overland Park, according to a social media report.&nbsp;

The fire significantly damaged one side of the duplex. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp; Officials have not released a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727091108081.png" alt="Image from video provided by Overland Park Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Image from video provided by Overland Park Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a duplex fire in Johnson County.On Sunday evening, crews responded to the fire in a duplex at&nbsp;&nbsp;174th and Pflumm in Overland Park, according to a social media report.&nbsp;The fire significantly damaged one side of the duplex. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp; Officials have not released a damage estimate.

Significant damage after Kansas duplex fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushing final decisions until after the November election.

Temporary spending bills generally fund agencies at current levels, but an additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and additional money was added to aid with the presidential transition, among other things.

Lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-speaker-johnson-b77fc73b1474cbee5213219358985f71">struggled</a>&nbsp;to get to this point as the current budget year winds to a close at month's end. At the urging of the most conservative members of his conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had linked temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.

But Johnson abandoned that approach to reach an agreement, even as Trump insisted there should not be a stop-gap measure without the voting requirement.

Bipartisan negotiations began in earnest shortly after that, with leadership agreeing to extend funding into mid-December. That gives the current Congress the ability to fashion a full-year spending bill after the Nov. 5 election, rather than push that responsibility to the next Congress and president.

In a letter to Republican colleagues, Johnson said the budget measure would be “very narrow, bare-bones" and include "only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.”

“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances," Johnson wrote. "As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would evaluate the bill in its entirety before this week's vote, but with the agreement, “Congress is now on a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown that would hurt everyday Americans.”

Rep. Tom Cole, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, had said on Friday that talks were going well.

“So far, nothing has come up that we can't deal with," said Cole, R-Okla. “Most people don't want a government shutdown and they don't want that to interfere with the election. So nobody is like, ‘I’ve got to have this or we're walking.' It's just not that way.”

Johnson's earlier effort had no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate and was opposed by the White House, but it did give the speaker a chance to show Trump and conservatives within his conference that he fought for their request.

The final result — government funding effectively on autopilot — was what many had predicted. With the election just weeks away, few lawmakers in either party had any appetite for the brinksmanship that often leads to a shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the same agreement could have been reached two weeks ago, but “Speaker Johnson chose to follow the MAGA way and wasted precious time.”

"As I have said throughout this process, there is only one way to get things done, with bipartisan, bicameral support,” Schumer said.

Now a bipartisan majority is expected to push the short-term measure over the finish line this week. The agreement on the short-term measure does not mean getting to a final spending bill will be easy in December. The election results could also influence the political calculations if one party fares much better than the other, potentially pushing the fight into early next year.

The Secret Service funding also comes with a string attached, with lawmakers making it contingent on the Department of Homeland Security providing certain information to a House task force and Senate committee investigating the assassination attempts made against Trump.

In a recent letter, the Secret Service told lawmakers that a funding shortfall was not the reason for lapses in Trump’s security when a gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-secret-service-a382e3ec081dd13e85eaa9e726cca02c">climbed onto an unsecured roof</a>&nbsp;on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire. But acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. said this week that the agency had “immediate needs” and that he’s talking to Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726703032615.png" alt="File photo House Speaker Johnson during a press briefing last week after a failed vote on the spending deal-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo House Speaker Johnson during a press briefing last week after a failed vote on the spending deal-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushing final decisions until after the November election.Temporary spending bills generally fund agencies at current levels, but an additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and additional money was added to aid with the presidential transition, among other things.Lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-speaker-johnson-b77fc73b1474cbee5213219358985f71">struggled</a>&nbsp;to get to this point as the current budget year winds to a close at month's end. At the urging of the most conservative members of his conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had linked temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726692527169.png" alt="Johnson and Donald Trump during a visit last week in Florida-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Johnson and Donald Trump during a visit last week in Florida-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But Johnson abandoned that approach to reach an agreement, even as Trump insisted there should not be a stop-gap measure without the voting requirement.Bipartisan negotiations began in earnest shortly after that, with leadership agreeing to extend funding into mid-December. That gives the current Congress the ability to fashion a full-year spending bill after the Nov. 5 election, rather than push that responsibility to the next Congress and president.In a letter to Republican colleagues, Johnson said the budget measure would be “very narrow, bare-bones" and include "only the extensions that are absolutely necessary.”“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most prudent path forward under the present circumstances," Johnson wrote. "As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would evaluate the bill in its entirety before this week's vote, but with the agreement, “Congress is now on a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown that would hurt everyday Americans.”Rep. Tom Cole, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, had said on Friday that talks were going well.“So far, nothing has come up that we can't deal with," said Cole, R-Okla. “Most people don't want a government shutdown and they don't want that to interfere with the election. So nobody is like, ‘I’ve got to have this or we're walking.' It's just not that way.”Johnson's earlier effort had no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate and was opposed by the White House, but it did give the speaker a chance to show Trump and conservatives within his conference that he fought for their request.The final result — government funding effectively on autopilot — was what many had predicted. With the election just weeks away, few lawmakers in either party had any appetite for the brinksmanship that often leads to a shutdown.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the same agreement could have been reached two weeks ago, but “Speaker Johnson chose to follow the MAGA way and wasted precious time.”"As I have said throughout this process, there is only one way to get things done, with bipartisan, bicameral support,” Schumer said.Now a bipartisan majority is expected to push the short-term measure over the finish line this week. The agreement on the short-term measure does not mean getting to a final spending bill will be easy in December. The election results could also influence the political calculations if one party fares much better than the other, potentially pushing the fight into early next year.The Secret Service funding also comes with a string attached, with lawmakers making it contingent on the Department of Homeland Security providing certain information to a House task force and Senate committee investigating the assassination attempts made against Trump.In a recent letter, the Secret Service told lawmakers that a funding shortfall was not the reason for lapses in Trump’s security when a gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-secret-service-a382e3ec081dd13e85eaa9e726cca02c">climbed onto an unsecured roof</a>&nbsp;on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire. But acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. said this week that the agency had “immediate needs” and that he’s talking to Congress.

House Speaker axes Trump voting restrictions in new gov't funding deal

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank in Lawrence, Kansas.

According to court documents, Alfonzo Cole, 41, of Lawrence is charged with one count of bank robbery.

Cole is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation on July 2, 2024, to take U.S. currency from an employee at a Bank of America branch on Ohio Street.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726863160188.png" alt="Photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank in Lawrence, Kansas.According to court documents, Alfonzo Cole, 41, of Lawrence is charged with one count of bank robbery.Cole is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation on July 2, 2024, to take U.S. currency from an employee at a Bank of America branch on Ohio Street.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case

Man accused of Kansas bank robbery

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in deadly incident with a gun that left his roommate dead has accepted a plea deal.

On Thursday,&nbsp;Peter McKinney, 22, of Wichita, was sentenced to nearly 5-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On July 1, McKinney accidentally shot and killed his roommate 25-year-old Sebastion Crawford while handling a loaded handgun in a bedroom of their apartment on North Rock Road in Wichita.

Just after 11a.m. July 1, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a call reporting a shooting at the&nbsp;Rockborough apartment complex, 202 N Rock Road in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

First responders located&nbsp; Crawford of Wichita with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.

McKinney was originally was charged with second-degree reckless murder. On July 23,&nbsp; he changed his plea to voluntary manslaughter. As part of the plea agreement, McKinney must also register as a violent offender for 15 years after his release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719921077048.png" alt="McKinney photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>McKinney photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in deadly incident with a gun that left his roommate dead has accepted a plea deal.On Thursday,&nbsp;Peter McKinney, 22, of Wichita, was sentenced to nearly 5-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On July 1, McKinney accidentally shot and killed his roommate 25-year-old Sebastion Crawford while handling a loaded handgun in a bedroom of their apartment on North Rock Road in Wichita.Just after 11a.m. July 1, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a call reporting a shooting at the&nbsp;Rockborough apartment complex, 202 N Rock Road in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1719885319829.png" alt="-Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located&nbsp; Crawford of Wichita with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.McKinney was originally was charged with second-degree reckless murder. On July 23,&nbsp; he changed his plea to voluntary manslaughter. As part of the plea agreement, McKinney must also register as a violent offender for 15 years after his release.

Kan. man takes plea deal for mishandling gun that killed his roommate

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

TOPEKA — Kansans are uninsured at a rate higher than the rest of the country for a third-straight year, but the effects of Medicaid “unwinding” have yet to be seen, recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows.

More than 240,000 Kansas residents are without health insurance, which translates to an uninsured rate of 8.4%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2023.S2701?q=Kansas%20uninsured" target="_blank">American Community Survey data</a>, which was released Sept. 12.

The national uninsured rate is just below 8%, and 2023 is the third year in a row Kansas’ rate has exceeded the national one, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kansas-uninsured-rate-holds-steady-but-remains-higher-than-the-u-s-rate/" target="_blank">Kansas Health Institute</a>, a Topeka-based nonpartisan research organization. However, the 2023 Kansas uninsured rate is an improvement from 2022, when it was at 8.6%.

“While the effects of policies such as the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provisions in Medicaid and the continuation of enhanced subsidies for the federally facilitated marketplace may have combined with other trends in 2023 to keep the uninsured rate steady for Kansans, we expect that those policy effects may not be fully seen until at least next year’s release,” said Kari Bruffett, KHI president and chief executive officer, in a news release.

COVID-19 policies required Medicaid programs to keep people continuously enrolled in their health insurance until the end of the public health emergency unless the person moved away, died or requested to end coverage. During that time, enrollment in KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people.

Beginning in April 2023, states began “unwinding” these pandemic-era protections, which, in Kansas, resulted in roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/28/114k-kansans-lost-medicaid-coverage-in-post-pandemic-unwinding-review/">114,000 people losing coverage</a>&nbsp;as of August. Kansas completed its unwinding in May.

“In addition, the data tell us that wide disparities in insurance coverage continued in 2023, and data that will be released this fall will allow us to describe more completely the experiences of Kansans across the state,” Buffett said.

Latino Kansans were uninsured in 2023 at a rate of 20%, which was four percentage points higher than the national uninsured rate among Latinos. Nearly 11% of Black Kansans were uninsured in 2023 while white Kansans were uninsured at a rate of nearly 6%. People with incomes below the federal poverty threshold, which was about $30,000 annually for a family of four in 2023, were uninsured at a rate of nearly 17%, according to the survey data.

Kansas is one of 10 U.S. states that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility requirements to include most adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty threshold. That’s $20,783 or less for an individual and no more than $43,056 for a family of four. In Kansas, the eligibility requirements to qualify for KanCare are much more stringent. Children, their parents, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities qualify for KanCare if their household income falls within&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/national-medicaid-chip-program-information/medicaid-childrens-health-insurance-program-basic-health-program-eligibility-levels/index.html" target="_blank">varying levels of the poverty threshold</a>. Parents qualify for coverage if their yearly earnings are less than 38% of the federal poverty threshold, which is about $11,900 or less for a family of four in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/" target="_blank">2024</a>.&nbsp;

Nationally, the uninsured rate for those making less than 138% of the poverty threshold “significantly decreased” in 2023, but Kansas’ decrease wasn’t significant, KHI said.

In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/">KHI estimated</a>&nbsp;a Medicaid expansion plan proposed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would provide coverage to 152,000 low-income Kansans, including 45,000 children, with no net cost to the state for eight years. The GOP-led Legislature blocked the plan from advancing.

The Kansas and national uninsured rates are both at their lowest since 2009, according to the survey data. Uninsured rates in Kansas and the rest of the country peaked in 2010 at nearly 14% and 15.5% respectively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726771908515.jpeg" alt=" A sign held at a KanCare Medicaid expansion rally on March 15, 2023, highlights the coverage gap that makes health insurance unaffordable for many in the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> A sign held at a KanCare Medicaid expansion rally on March 15, 2023, highlights the coverage gap that makes health insurance unaffordable for many in the state. (Sherman Smith/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 — Kansans are uninsured at a rate higher than the rest of the country for a third-straight year, but the effects of Medicaid “unwinding” have yet to be seen, recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows.More than 240,000 Kansas residents are without health insurance, which translates to an uninsured rate of 8.4%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2023.S2701?q=Kansas%20uninsured" target="_blank">American Community Survey data</a>, which was released Sept. 12.The national uninsured rate is just below 8%, and 2023 is the third year in a row Kansas’ rate has exceeded the national one, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kansas-uninsured-rate-holds-steady-but-remains-higher-than-the-u-s-rate/" target="_blank">Kansas Health Institute</a>, a Topeka-based nonpartisan research organization. However, the 2023 Kansas uninsured rate is an improvement from 2022, when it was at 8.6%.“While the effects of policies such as the unwinding of the continuous enrollment provisions in Medicaid and the continuation of enhanced subsidies for the federally facilitated marketplace may have combined with other trends in 2023 to keep the uninsured rate steady for Kansans, we expect that those policy effects may not be fully seen until at least next year’s release,” said Kari Bruffett, KHI president and chief executive officer, in a news release.COVID-19 policies required Medicaid programs to keep people continuously enrolled in their health insurance until the end of the public health emergency unless the person moved away, died or requested to end coverage. During that time, enrollment in KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas, increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people.Beginning in April 2023, states began “unwinding” these pandemic-era protections, which, in Kansas, resulted in roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/28/114k-kansans-lost-medicaid-coverage-in-post-pandemic-unwinding-review/">114,000 people losing coverage</a>&nbsp;as of August. Kansas completed its unwinding in May.“In addition, the data tell us that wide disparities in insurance coverage continued in 2023, and data that will be released this fall will allow us to describe more completely the experiences of Kansans across the state,” Buffett said.Latino Kansans were uninsured in 2023 at a rate of 20%, which was four percentage points higher than the national uninsured rate among Latinos. Nearly 11% of Black Kansans were uninsured in 2023 while white Kansans were uninsured at a rate of nearly 6%. People with incomes below the federal poverty threshold, which was about $30,000 annually for a family of four in 2023, were uninsured at a rate of nearly 17%, according to the survey data.Kansas is one of 10 U.S. states that have not expanded Medicaid eligibility requirements to include most adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty threshold. That’s $20,783 or less for an individual and no more than $43,056 for a family of four. In Kansas, the eligibility requirements to qualify for KanCare are much more stringent. Children, their parents, pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities qualify for KanCare if their household income falls within&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/national-medicaid-chip-program-information/medicaid-childrens-health-insurance-program-basic-health-program-eligibility-levels/index.html" target="_blank">varying levels of the poverty threshold</a>. Parents qualify for coverage if their yearly earnings are less than 38% of the federal poverty threshold, which is about $11,900 or less for a family of four in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/" target="_blank">2024</a>.&nbsp;Nationally, the uninsured rate for those making less than 138% of the poverty threshold “significantly decreased” in 2023, but Kansas’ decrease wasn’t significant, KHI said.In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/22/new-estimate-predicts-medicaid-expansion-would-serve-152k-at-no-cost-to-state/">KHI estimated</a>&nbsp;a Medicaid expansion plan proposed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would provide coverage to 152,000 low-income Kansans, including 45,000 children, with no net cost to the state for eight years. The GOP-led Legislature blocked the plan from advancing.The Kansas and national uninsured rates are both at their lowest since 2009, according to the survey data. Uninsured rates in Kansas and the rest of the country peaked in 2010 at nearly 14% and 15.5% respectively.

Kansas uninsured rate remains worse than national average; 240K without health coverage

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DAVID%20A.%20LIEB%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DAVID A. LIEB &nbsp;Associated Press</a>

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. is divided when it comes to state and federal marijuana policy, but recent political developments could move the country toward a greater acceptance of cannabis.

Both major presidential candidates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-trump-kamala-harris-dea-election-bdf75d4cd71fda5975fd3dcf29638499">signaled support</a>&nbsp;for a federal policy change to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, and voters in several additional states will get a say this fall on legalization.

Though still illegal under federal law, public approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana">marijuana</a>&nbsp;has grown significantly — and so has the number of states where it's legally sold in stores.

Possessing marijuana is a federal crime punishable by fines and prison time. Selling or cultivating marijuana is a more serious federal crime, punishable by prison sentences of five years to life, depending on the quantity of the drug.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698531124512.png" alt="&nbsp;File Photo Rebecca Rivas" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;File Photo Rebecca Rivas</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DAVID%20A.%20LIEB%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DAVID A. LIEB &nbsp;Associated Press</a>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The U.S. is divided when it comes to state and federal marijuana policy, but recent political developments could move the country toward a greater acceptance of cannabis.Both major presidential candidates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-trump-kamala-harris-dea-election-bdf75d4cd71fda5975fd3dcf29638499">signaled support</a>&nbsp;for a federal policy change to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, and voters in several additional states will get a say this fall on legalization.Though still illegal under federal law, public approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana">marijuana</a>&nbsp;has grown significantly — and so has the number of states where it's legally sold in stores.<h2>What does the law say?</h2>Possessing marijuana is a federal crime punishable by fines and prison time. Selling or cultivating marijuana is a more serious federal crime, punishable by prison sentences of five years to life, depending on the quantity of the drug.But many states have abolished their own marijuana penalties.Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia — representing 53% of the nation's population — have legalized marijuana and now tax and regulate sales similar to alcohol, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, which supports legalizing cannabis. An additional seven states have removed jail sentences for possessing small amounts of marijuana. A total of 38 states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow the medical use of marijuana.<h2>What’s happening in Washington?</h2>The Justice Department in May&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">proposed to reclassify marijuana</a>&nbsp;from a Schedule I drug to a less dangerous Schedule III drug, which includes such things as ketamine and some anabolic steroids. But that switch involves a lengthy process.The Drug Enforcement Administration has set&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-dea-election-5b3c7b20d67577c0a99d510b7e549dc9">a Dec. 2 hearing to take comment</a>&nbsp;on the proposal. That means a final decision could come after President Joe Biden leaves office in January.Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, backs marijuana decriminalization and has said it’s “absurd” that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD.Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-trump-kamala-harris-dea-election-bdf75d4cd71fda5975fd3dcf29638499">signaled support for the policy change</a>&nbsp;this past week. He posted on his social media platform that he would “continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug” and said he would vote “yes” on a Florida ballot proposal to legalize recreational marijuana.<h2>What's on the ballot?</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-marijuana-2024-election-supreme-court-ad831352cb90abd5bbc873f498cbf286">The Florida initiative</a>&nbsp;would allow recreational sales to people over 21 from existing medical marijuana dispensaries, with the potential for the Legislature to license additional retailers. The proposal needs at least a 60% vote to pass and would take effect six months after voter approval.The campaign has been the costliest of nearly 160 measures on state ballots this year, attracting tens of millions of dollars of contributions primarily from supporters, according to the election tracking organization Ballotpedia. Among the opponents are the Florida Republican Party and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has said it would reduce quality of life by leaving a marijuana stench in the air.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-marijuana-legalization-ballot-initiative-election-8f5a443e1dca69cd3ded19c4e9acb3d6">Voters in North</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-south-dakota-ballot-aea95344f3688425ce6f4dc63f29172d">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;will be asked for the third time whether to legalize marijuana beyond medical use. The measures need a simple majority to pass.Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has said initiatives to legalize and regulate medical marijuana appear to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures-62c5f3bffa6f90f0ed0fad001741827c">enough petition signatures</a>&nbsp;to qualify for a statewide vote. He faces a Friday deadline to certify measures for the ballot.<h2>What are people saying?</h2>About 70% of American adults said marijuana should be legal in&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/514007/grassroots-support-legalizing-marijuana-hits-record.aspx?link_id=2&amp;can_id=d2f7045307dbcbd674fa25210ee4af72&amp;source=email-gallup-more-americans-than-ever-say-marijuana-should-be-legal&amp;email_referrer=email_2106884&amp;email_subject=gallup-more-americans-than-ever-say-marijuana-should-be-legal">a Gallup poll</a>&nbsp;taken last year, the highest level recorded by the polling firm since it first asked about marijuana policy in 1969. By contrast, only about one-third of respondents supported marijuana legalization 20 years ago.Last year's Gallup poll showed the highest support for marijuana among young voters, a key demographic in seven presidential battleground states.An&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.16519">analysis of national survey data</a>&nbsp;published earlier this year found that an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily in 2022 — up dramatically from less than 1 million people in 1992. Though alcohol is still more widely used, the report marked the first time that the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-cannabis-alcohol-drinking-daily-use-b91c2c5957fdb2d48e6616c3baa14c13">Americans who use marijuana</a>&nbsp;just about every day surpassed the number who drink that often.<h2>What's happening with similar drugs?</h2>As legal marijuana becomes more widespread, some state officials are battling the sale of unregulated products derived from hemp, which is federally classified as distinct from marijuana. Some of those products are sold in packaging similar to common candies or chips and contain&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/delta8-marijuana-cbd-psychedelics-fda-ed31c96994d573368380b0cdf8a24acd">delta-8 THC</a>, a synthesized from of CBD that’s prevalent in hemp.Some states have banned or restricted synthetic hemp products, including&nbsp;<a href="https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/266878.pdf">South Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2024/SF0032">Wyoming</a>, where new laws took effect July 1. Indiana authorities have warned stores to remove delta-8 THC products that they say also contain illegal amounts of the psychoactive delta-9 THC found in marijuana.In Missouri, where marijuana was legalized in 2022, Republican Gov. Mike Parson raised concerns that certain hemp-derived products are being marketed to children and ordered a crackdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbd-delta8-thc-marijuana-cannabis-missouri-1eee287ba548058409b6d625a6f2fc82">by the state health department</a>. He joined with Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Tuesday to announce a task force focused on unregulated psychoactive cannabis products.“We are not the only state facing this issue and not the only state taking action,” Parson said.