HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;A constitutional question is on the ballot in November that, if approved, would give the Kansas Legislature the power to overturn administrative regulations.

"Right now, in Kansas, there is a missing puzzle piece to making sure that Kansas is as efficient as possible when it comes to regulation," said Elizabeth Patton with AFP-Kansas. "We all know that when there are too many regulations, or there's unneccessary red tape, it can raise costs. It can make things harder for farmers, for business owners, for individuals. That's not always on purpose, but there's a missing piece in the legislative process that would allow state legislators, on their committee, to say, pause, maybe this isn't what we want to do, where the state agencies have created a law, just by making a rule."

There is a committee that would already do this, if it had the power to do so, called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations. Hutchinson Republican Rep. Paul Waggoner has been assigned to that committee in previous legislative sessions.

"Right now, it doesn't matter," Patton said. "I'm not even sure why that committee exists. What they would be able to do is say, pause, this might not be matching up with legislative intent. This might be overreach, this might be too costly, etc., and they get to do their jobs."

This is something pro-business groups have been working on for years, but the COVID pandemic brought forward just how much power the administrative state in Kansas now has.

"This was a bipartisan piece of legislation in the house," Patton said. "It passed two-thirds in both chambers, because it makes a lot of sense."

Both parties have reason to want regulations to have legislative oversight, so that there is an opportunity for opposition, even when the opposing party wins the governorship.

Below is the explanatory statement, as it will be on the Nov. 8 ballot and the question, as it will appear on the ballot.

The purpose of this amendment is to provide the legislature with oversight of state executive branch agencies and officials by providing the legislature authority to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations.

A vote for this proposition would allow the legislature to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations that are adopted by state executive branch agencies and officials that have the force and effect of law.

A vote against this proposition would allow state executive branch agencies and officials to continue adopting rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law without any opportunity for the legislature to directly revoke or suspend such rules and regulations.”

§ 17. Legislative oversight of administrative rules and regulations.

Whenever the legislature by law has authorized any officer or agency within the executive branch of government to adopt rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law, the legislature may provide by law for the revocation or suspension of any such rule and regulation, or any portion thereof, upon a vote of a majority of the members then elected or appointed and qualified in each house.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664292772417.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;A constitutional question is on the ballot in November that, if approved, would give the Kansas Legislature the power to overturn administrative regulations."Right now, in Kansas, there is a missing puzzle piece to making sure that Kansas is as efficient as possible when it comes to regulation," said Elizabeth Patton with AFP-Kansas. "We all know that when there are too many regulations, or there's unneccessary red tape, it can raise costs. It can make things harder for farmers, for business owners, for individuals. That's not always on purpose, but there's a missing piece in the legislative process that would allow state legislators, on their committee, to say, pause, maybe this isn't what we want to do, where the state agencies have created a law, just by making a rule."There is a committee that would already do this, if it had the power to do so, called the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations. Hutchinson Republican Rep. Paul Waggoner has been assigned to that committee in previous legislative sessions."Right now, it doesn't matter," Patton said. "I'm not even sure why that committee exists. What they would be able to do is say, pause, this might not be matching up with legislative intent. This might be overreach, this might be too costly, etc., and they get to do their jobs."This is something pro-business groups have been working on for years, but the COVID pandemic brought forward just how much power the administrative state in Kansas now has."This was a bipartisan piece of legislation in the house," Patton said. "It passed two-thirds in both chambers, because it makes a lot of sense."Both parties have reason to want regulations to have legislative oversight, so that there is an opportunity for opposition, even when the opposing party wins the governorship.Below is the explanatory statement, as it will be on the Nov. 8 ballot and the question, as it will appear on the ballot.Explanatory statement:The purpose of this amendment is to provide the legislature with oversight of state executive branch agencies and officials by providing the legislature authority to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations.A vote for this proposition would allow the legislature to establish procedures to revoke or suspend rules and regulations that are adopted by state executive branch agencies and officials that have the force and effect of law.A vote against this proposition would allow state executive branch agencies and officials to continue adopting rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law without any opportunity for the legislature to directly revoke or suspend such rules and regulations.”Ballot Question: Shall the following be adopted?§ 17. Legislative oversight of administrative rules and regulations.Whenever the legislature by law has authorized any officer or agency within the executive branch of government to adopt rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law, the legislature may provide by law for the revocation or suspension of any such rule and regulation, or any portion thereof, upon a vote of a majority of the members then elected or appointed and qualified in each house.

Amendment for regulatory oversight by Kan. legislature on Nov. ballot

SEDGWICK&nbsp; —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas felon for the murder of a woman at a Wichita motel.&nbsp;

The jury found 42-year-old Ricky Hollins guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Stephanie Duran, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. Hollins was also originally charged with buying sexual relations, according the district attorney's office.

Just after 10a.m. October 22, 2020, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Hollins has two previous drug convictions in Sedgwick County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603833413290.png" alt="Hollins-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK&nbsp; —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas felon for the murder of a woman at a Wichita motel.&nbsp;The jury found 42-year-old Ricky Hollins guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Stephanie Duran, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. Hollins was also originally charged with buying sexual relations, according the district attorney's office.Just after 10a.m. October 22, 2020, police responded to a call of an unresponsive woman in a room at the Budget Motel in the 1300 Block of South Broad in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;&nbsp;A staff member of the motel located Duran in the room and called the police.She was pronounced dead at the scene. The following evening, police arrested and booked Hollins into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online jail records. He remains jailed on $200,000 bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hollins has two previous drug convictions in Sedgwick County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Jury: Kansas felon guilty of murder while buying sex

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced that&nbsp;her administration has begun the process of distributing&nbsp;$51 million in bonuses&nbsp;for&nbsp;direct care workers&nbsp;at&nbsp;Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) providers, according to a statement from her office.

Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA5MjcuNjQyOTE2MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2tkYWRzLmtzLmdvdi9tZWRpYS1jZW50ZXIvbmV3cy1yZWxlYXNlcy8yMDIyLzA0LzA2L2dvdmVybm9yLWxhdXJhLWtlbGx5LWFubm91bmNlcy01MS1taWxsaW9uLWluLWJvbnVzLXBheW1lbnRzLXRvLWRpcmVjdC1zdXBwb3J0LXdvcmtlcnMifQ.-2On0ixPmaG8v9Ulao1-ZeyXYyqHFwLpUrui_OKbBhw/s/1303160919/br/144770976152-l" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;the bonus payments early this year.&nbsp;

"I applaud the efforts we've made to get these bonuses into the hands of direct care workers&nbsp;who’ve provided&nbsp;excellent care to vulnerable Kansans over the past few years," Governor Kelly said. "I thank the&nbsp;many Kansans who do this important work&nbsp;–&nbsp;and hope that&nbsp;these bonuses&nbsp;encourage&nbsp;other qualified Kansans&nbsp;to join this essential field.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas Department for Aging ad Disability Services (KDADS) is disbursing&nbsp;the&nbsp;funds as one-time payments to the state's three Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). MCOs&nbsp;will&nbsp;then disburse the funds to providers who will pay directly to their direct support staff by no later than March 30, 2023. &nbsp;

"Since the announcement of funding being made available to provide bouses to the essential front line health care workers who saw us through the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff has worked tirelessly to implement a process that would facilitate disbursement of that money as quickly as possible," KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. "I am so pleased with their effort and am proud to say we are in the final phase of implementation, and those workers are now receiving the bonuses they deserve."&nbsp;

The distribution plan aims to&nbsp;serve as&nbsp;a tool to help recruit and retain workers; to&nbsp;improve access to quality services;&nbsp;and to&nbsp;increase capacity for Kansans, including those with disabilities and behavioral health challenges, to receive care in their homes and communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Kansas IDD service providers have struggled to retain workers for critical direct care positions during the past several months," InterHab&nbsp;Executive Director Matt Fletcher said. "The workforce bonus initiative offered through KDADS is a vital new tool for providers in attracting workers, and the IDD service system is appreciative of KDADS's efforts to make these resources available."&nbsp;

KDADS received&nbsp;213 applications&nbsp;that&nbsp;will provide bonuses to 28,574 direct support workers:&nbsp;

Jerry Michaud is President/CEO for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc., a nonprofit&nbsp;that provides&nbsp;services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 18 northwestern-most counties of Kansas, and one of the providers who applied for bonuses for their staff. He shared examples of how the extra pay has made a difference.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The resources available through these workforce incentive dollars were helpful for our staff," Michaud said. "This is challenging and meaningful work, and these resources have allowed us to thank these designated staff for their ongoing commitment to serving others every day in the community. Upon receipt, one staff teared up and said, 'You have no idea how glad I am to hear this,' and when the news was shared with another, 'That will come in handy right now so I can get my house done!' This employee and her family are living with her mom until she can make needed repairs to her home."&nbsp;

Provider agencies are receiving payments based on the number of current direct care workers and immediate supervisors they employ. All funds go directly to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors. Providers are being compensated for all payroll and tax costs associated with the bonuses and $150 toward onboarding costs of new staff. Additionally, as an incentive to bring more direct support workers to the field, agencies will receive $1,500 per new staff as a recruitment bonus.&nbsp;

The bonus payments were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in March 2021 to provide enhanced federal funding for Medicaid HCBS through a one-year 10 percent increase to the state's Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs). FMAPs are the percentage rates used to determine the matching federal funds allocated annually for state expenditures to social services and state and medical insurance programs.&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced that&nbsp;her administration has begun the process of distributing&nbsp;$51 million in bonuses&nbsp;for&nbsp;direct care workers&nbsp;at&nbsp;Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) providers, according to a statement from her office.Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA5MjcuNjQyOTE2MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2tkYWRzLmtzLmdvdi9tZWRpYS1jZW50ZXIvbmV3cy1yZWxlYXNlcy8yMDIyLzA0LzA2L2dvdmVybm9yLWxhdXJhLWtlbGx5LWFubm91bmNlcy01MS1taWxsaW9uLWluLWJvbnVzLXBheW1lbnRzLXRvLWRpcmVjdC1zdXBwb3J0LXdvcmtlcnMifQ.-2On0ixPmaG8v9Ulao1-ZeyXYyqHFwLpUrui_OKbBhw/s/1303160919/br/144770976152-l" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;the bonus payments early this year.&nbsp;"I applaud the efforts we've made to get these bonuses into the hands of direct care workers&nbsp;who’ve provided&nbsp;excellent care to vulnerable Kansans over the past few years," Governor Kelly said. "I thank the&nbsp;many Kansans who do this important work&nbsp;–&nbsp;and hope that&nbsp;these bonuses&nbsp;encourage&nbsp;other qualified Kansans&nbsp;to join this essential field.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Department for Aging ad Disability Services (KDADS) is disbursing&nbsp;the&nbsp;funds as one-time payments to the state's three Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). MCOs&nbsp;will&nbsp;then disburse the funds to providers who will pay directly to their direct support staff by no later than March 30, 2023. &nbsp;"Since the announcement of funding being made available to provide bouses to the essential front line health care workers who saw us through the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff has worked tirelessly to implement a process that would facilitate disbursement of that money as quickly as possible," KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. "I am so pleased with their effort and am proud to say we are in the final phase of implementation, and those workers are now receiving the bonuses they deserve."&nbsp;The distribution plan aims to&nbsp;serve as&nbsp;a tool to help recruit and retain workers; to&nbsp;improve access to quality services;&nbsp;and to&nbsp;increase capacity for Kansans, including those with disabilities and behavioral health challenges, to receive care in their homes and communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kansas IDD service providers have struggled to retain workers for critical direct care positions during the past several months," InterHab&nbsp;Executive Director Matt Fletcher said. "The workforce bonus initiative offered through KDADS is a vital new tool for providers in attracting workers, and the IDD service system is appreciative of KDADS's efforts to make these resources available."&nbsp;KDADS received&nbsp;213 applications&nbsp;that&nbsp;will provide bonuses to 28,574 direct support workers:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>19,067 will receive a retention bonus&nbsp;12,361 full&nbsp;time&nbsp;6,706 part-time&nbsp;</li><li>12,361 full&nbsp;time&nbsp;</li><li>6,706 part-time&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>9,507 will receive a recruitment bonus&nbsp;6,030 full time&nbsp;3,477 part-time&nbsp;</li><li>6,030 full time&nbsp;</li><li>3,477 part-time&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Jerry Michaud is President/CEO for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc., a nonprofit&nbsp;that provides&nbsp;services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 18 northwestern-most counties of Kansas, and one of the providers who applied for bonuses for their staff. He shared examples of how the extra pay has made a difference.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The resources available through these workforce incentive dollars were helpful for our staff," Michaud said. "This is challenging and meaningful work, and these resources have allowed us to thank these designated staff for their ongoing commitment to serving others every day in the community. Upon receipt, one staff teared up and said, 'You have no idea how glad I am to hear this,' and when the news was shared with another, 'That will come in handy right now so I can get my house done!' This employee and her family are living with her mom until she can make needed repairs to her home."&nbsp;Provider agencies are receiving payments based on the number of current direct care workers and immediate supervisors they employ. All funds go directly to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors. Providers are being compensated for all payroll and tax costs associated with the bonuses and $150 toward onboarding costs of new staff. Additionally, as an incentive to bring more direct support workers to the field, agencies will receive $1,500 per new staff as a recruitment bonus.&nbsp;The bonus payments were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law in March 2021 to provide enhanced federal funding for Medicaid HCBS through a one-year 10 percent increase to the state's Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs). FMAPs are the percentage rates used to determine the matching federal funds allocated annually for state expenditures to social services and state and medical insurance programs.&nbsp;

$51M in bonuses being distributed in Kan. to direct care workers

By NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pieter Miller with the Hutchinson Airport told Hutch Post Tuesday they are going to apply again for federal dollars to get the air traffic control tower replaced.

"There was money specifically set aside to update federal contract control towers," Miller said. "Towers that were built by the federal government back in the 1950s and the 1960s that are staffed by private companies, which is exactly what Hutchinson has."

The current tower was built in 1951. This would be the second application for that money. Their first try was to do the project in phases, but they noted that the ones approved in the first round were full projects, so they are going to try that approach when they apply again. That application is due by the end of October. The internal workings in the tower are updated by the contractor and the FAA, but the actual bricks and mortar are city property.

"Most of the buttons and switches and radios in the tower now have been updated over the last 10 years," Miller said. "What is old is the actual facility itself. The stairways, the access, the break rooms, the restrooms, all the accoutrements that the controllers use to get their job done."

The tower has been staffed by a private contractor since 1992.

"They are in operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year," Miller said. "A couple of the controllers live in Wichita. Most of them are local controllers here, or retired FAA controllers. The company they work for is called Midwest ATC."

Midwest ATC is currently operating nearly 100 air traffic control towers globally. In addition to Hutchinson, they operate towers in Garden City, Salina, Manhattan, both airports in Topeka and the Johnson County Aircenter and New Century Airport in the Kansas City area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664289046719.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pieter Miller with the Hutchinson Airport told Hutch Post Tuesday they are going to apply again for federal dollars to get the air traffic control tower replaced."There was money specifically set aside to update federal contract control towers," Miller said. "Towers that were built by the federal government back in the 1950s and the 1960s that are staffed by private companies, which is exactly what Hutchinson has."The current tower was built in 1951. This would be the second application for that money. Their first try was to do the project in phases, but they noted that the ones approved in the first round were full projects, so they are going to try that approach when they apply again. That application is due by the end of October. The internal workings in the tower are updated by the contractor and the FAA, but the actual bricks and mortar are city property."Most of the buttons and switches and radios in the tower now have been updated over the last 10 years," Miller said. "What is old is the actual facility itself. The stairways, the access, the break rooms, the restrooms, all the accoutrements that the controllers use to get their job done."The tower has been staffed by a private contractor since 1992."They are in operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year," Miller said. "A couple of the controllers live in Wichita. Most of them are local controllers here, or retired FAA controllers. The company they work for is called Midwest ATC."Midwest ATC is currently operating nearly 100 air traffic control towers globally. In addition to Hutchinson, they operate towers in Garden City, Salina, Manhattan, both airports in Topeka and the Johnson County Aircenter and New Century Airport in the Kansas City area.

Hutchinson Airport to seek control tower replacement

KANSAS CITY —A child wounded in a shooting in Kansas City on Monday remains in critical condition, according to police spokesperson Adrianne Ortega.

Just before 2p.m., officers were called to a home in the 2500 block of Hardesty Avenue in Kansas City after a report of sounds of gunshots in the area.&nbsp; &nbsp; 

Upon arrival, officers located three victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence, two adults and one juvenile.&nbsp;&nbsp; EMS responded to the scene.&nbsp; One adult victim was declared deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The second adult victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. &nbsp;The juvenile victim, under 5 years old, was transported to the hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; There was a second juvenile inside the residence who did not suffer any injuries.&nbsp;

Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to process the scene for evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; &nbsp;They also canvassed the area for anyone who saw or heard anything and are looking for any video evidence.

Police have not released names of the victim or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664286068799.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Monday afternoon -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Monday afternoon -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A child wounded in a shooting in Kansas City on Monday remains in critical condition, according to police spokesperson Adrianne Ortega.Just before 2p.m., officers were called to a home in the 2500 block of Hardesty Avenue in Kansas City after a report of sounds of gunshots in the area.&nbsp; &nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located three victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside a residence, two adults and one juvenile.&nbsp;&nbsp; EMS responded to the scene.&nbsp; One adult victim was declared deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The second adult victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. &nbsp;The juvenile victim, under 5 years old, was transported to the hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; There was a second juvenile inside the residence who did not suffer any injuries.&nbsp;Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to process the scene for evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; &nbsp;They also canvassed the area for anyone who saw or heard anything and are looking for any video evidence.Police have not released names of the victim or additional details.

Police: Child wounded in fatal shooting at Kansas City home

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced a new initiative Monday that would eventually allow consumers to see a more complete price on airline tickets — including baggage and change fees — before they buy, as the White House continues to search for ways to lower costs for Americans amid persistently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-f2270f4c6ac55c084108d57cc1aec53a">high inflation</a>.

The White House says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/AirlineAncillaryFeeNPRM" target="_blank">the proposed rule</a>&nbsp;from the Transportation Department will prevent airlines from hiding the “true cost” of airline tickets, which would help consumers save money up front and encourage more competition among airlines to offer better fares. The requirement will apply not only to airlines directly but also to third-party search sites such as Kayak and Expedia.

“You should know the full cost of your ticket right when you’re comparison shopping,” Biden said Monday, citing fees charged by airlines to check luggage or to seat families together. The new rule, the president said, will help consumers “pick the ticket that actually is the best deal for you.”

Airlines made nearly $5.3 billion in baggage fees and nearly $700 million on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ef15613d7b2eeedf72b4494a6d3a0255">cancellation</a>&nbsp;and change fees last year, according to Transportation Department figures. Airlines charge a variety of other fees for extra legroom and other perks that are not tracked by the government.

A trade group for the largest U.S. airlines said carriers already disclose terms and the total cost of a ticket. “This includes transparency regarding taxes and government fees on airline tickets, which account for more than 20% of many domestic one-stop, roundtrip tickets,” said Katherine Estep, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.

The proposed rule seeks to target a typical situation faced by consumers where a ticket price is listed on an airline or search website, but with information often listed elsewhere about any additional airline fees, such as for checking or carrying on a bag, getting a guaranteed seat next to your child or changing or canceling a flight — fees that vary widely by airline and could quickly tack on up to hundreds of dollars more to a price of a ticket after the initial purchase. Under the proposal, that information would be made available upfront when the quoted airfare is first displayed.

The fare information would be required for all commercial flights to, within, and from the United States.

The proposal dates back to the Obama administration and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2b0d800ccd7641ea9f448fd93006c7be">was scrapped in 2017</a>&nbsp;by then-President Donald Trump after airlines complained that it was unnecessary and would incur significant costs. It must now go through a 60-day comment period before final approval.

The proposed rule comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-buttigieg-government-and-politics-airlines-transportation-c3ebc7fbe4bcfb6402e67e0d626365a0">as tension grows between the Biden administration and the airlines</a>, with each blaming the other for an increase in canceled and delayed flights this summer.

The Transportation Department also began posting information to help consumers learn what each airline provides when flights are canceled or delayed for reasons within the airline’s control. That prompted several airlines to update policies around finding a new flight and covering hotel and meal expenses for stranded travelers.

Biden made the announcement on Monday afternoon at a meeting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-economy-prices-consumer-prices-7ea68c9157a0c72403a8e3da5fae8bcc">White House Competition Council</a>, established last year as a way for his administration to find cost-saving measures for consumers. It was the third meeting of the group, chaired by National Economic Council director Brian Deese.

“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism,” Biden said at the event, held in the State Dining Room at the White House. “It’s exploitation.”

At the meeting, Biden also pushed other federal agencies to take similar cost-saving actions, particularly by increasing transparency on hidden fees that can balloon the true cost of goods and services.

One example is a proposal from the Federal Communications Commission that would require internet service providers to better outline fees and charges on what the administration calls a “broadband nutrition label.” And the Agriculture Department on Monday will also unveil new actions meant to encourage competition in various agricultural markets.

The administration has taken similar actions when it comes to bank and credit card fees, which the White House says have saved consumers $3 billion annually compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced a new initiative Monday that would eventually allow consumers to see a more complete price on airline tickets — including baggage and change fees — before they buy, as the White House continues to search for ways to lower costs for Americans amid persistently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-f2270f4c6ac55c084108d57cc1aec53a">high inflation</a>.The White House says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/AirlineAncillaryFeeNPRM" target="_blank">the proposed rule</a>&nbsp;from the Transportation Department will prevent airlines from hiding the “true cost” of airline tickets, which would help consumers save money up front and encourage more competition among airlines to offer better fares. The requirement will apply not only to airlines directly but also to third-party search sites such as Kayak and Expedia.“You should know the full cost of your ticket right when you’re comparison shopping,” Biden said Monday, citing fees charged by airlines to check luggage or to seat families together. The new rule, the president said, will help consumers “pick the ticket that actually is the best deal for you.”Airlines made nearly $5.3 billion in baggage fees and nearly $700 million on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-travel-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ef15613d7b2eeedf72b4494a6d3a0255">cancellation</a>&nbsp;and change fees last year, according to Transportation Department figures. Airlines charge a variety of other fees for extra legroom and other perks that are not tracked by the government.A trade group for the largest U.S. airlines said carriers already disclose terms and the total cost of a ticket. “This includes transparency regarding taxes and government fees on airline tickets, which account for more than 20% of many domestic one-stop, roundtrip tickets,” said Katherine Estep, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.The proposed rule seeks to target a typical situation faced by consumers where a ticket price is listed on an airline or search website, but with information often listed elsewhere about any additional airline fees, such as for checking or carrying on a bag, getting a guaranteed seat next to your child or changing or canceling a flight — fees that vary widely by airline and could quickly tack on up to hundreds of dollars more to a price of a ticket after the initial purchase. Under the proposal, that information would be made available upfront when the quoted airfare is first displayed.The fare information would be required for all commercial flights to, within, and from the United States.The proposal dates back to the Obama administration and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2b0d800ccd7641ea9f448fd93006c7be">was scrapped in 2017</a>&nbsp;by then-President Donald Trump after airlines complained that it was unnecessary and would incur significant costs. It must now go through a 60-day comment period before final approval.The proposed rule comes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-buttigieg-government-and-politics-airlines-transportation-c3ebc7fbe4bcfb6402e67e0d626365a0">as tension grows between the Biden administration and the airlines</a>, with each blaming the other for an increase in canceled and delayed flights this summer.The Transportation Department also began posting information to help consumers learn what each airline provides when flights are canceled or delayed for reasons within the airline’s control. That prompted several airlines to update policies around finding a new flight and covering hotel and meal expenses for stranded travelers.Biden made the announcement on Monday afternoon at a meeting of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-economy-prices-consumer-prices-7ea68c9157a0c72403a8e3da5fae8bcc">White House Competition Council</a>, established last year as a way for his administration to find cost-saving measures for consumers. It was the third meeting of the group, chaired by National Economic Council director Brian Deese.“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism,” Biden said at the event, held in the State Dining Room at the White House. “It’s exploitation.”At the meeting, Biden also pushed other federal agencies to take similar cost-saving actions, particularly by increasing transparency on hidden fees that can balloon the true cost of goods and services.One example is a proposal from the Federal Communications Commission that would require internet service providers to better outline fees and charges on what the administration calls a “broadband nutrition label.” And the Agriculture Department on Monday will also unveil new actions meant to encourage competition in various agricultural markets.The administration has taken similar actions when it comes to bank and credit card fees, which the White House says have saved consumers $3 billion annually compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.___

White House: New rule will show ‘true cost’ of plane tickets

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;will cost the federal government about $400 billion over the next 30 years, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

The figures were released Monday in response to a request from Republican lawmakers who oppose Biden’s plan in large part because of its costs. They were quick to cite the estimates as evidence that the plan will “bury” taxpayers, passing along the costs to huge numbers of Americans who never went to college.

The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years — about $240 billion for the decade — while other estimates put the total cost at $500 billion or more over the decade.

On Monday, the White House noted that the CBO’s estimated cost in the first year — $21 billion — is actually lower than the administration’s early estimate of $24 billion.

To reach the CBO’s $400 billion figure, officials looked at the immediate cost of cancellation along with the longer-term impact, including lower monthly repayments that would have been higher if not for the cancellation.

The office separately estimated that Biden’s latest extension of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-payment-moratorium-extended-d54907ea99a6745dc9f832435beda751">student loan pause</a>&nbsp;will cost an additional $20 billion. Monthly payments on federal student loans have been frozen since the first weeks of the pandemic. Biden in August continued the pause through the end of the year, calling that the final extension.

Biden has played down the cost of the cancellation plan, saying it would be offset by other measures to reduce the federal deficit, including his landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">Inflation Reduction Act</a>. On Monday, the White House defended the plan, saying it will provide relief to struggling borrowers, allowing them to start businesses, buy homes or just pay their bills.

“It’s a stark contrast to the Trump tax bill, which ballooned the deficit by nearly $2 trillion and provided the vast majority of benefits to big corporations and the wealthiest individuals,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.

The administration is expected to release its own detailed cost estimates in coming weeks.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who supported debt cancellation, said they don’t agree with some of the assumptions underpinning the CBO estimates. But a joint statement from the senators said the estimates show that “millions of middle class Americans have more breathing room” thanks to Biden’s plan.

“Rather than working with Congress to bring down college costs, President Biden has opted to bury the American people under our unsustainable debt,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House education committee.

Biden’s plan promises to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers with incomes of less than $125,000 per year or households making less than $250,000. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college would get an additional $10,000 erased.

An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October. The fate of the plan largely depends on whether it can survive legal challenges that conservatives have promised to bring.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, out of 37 million Americans who have federal student loans, about 95% meet the income limit for $10,000 in relief. About 65% also received a Pell Grant, making them eligible for a $20,000 cancellation.

The office warned that its estimates are “highly uncertain” because it’s hard to know exactly how much borrowers would have paid in the future without Biden’s action. Some borrowers probably would have gotten their debt canceled anyway using payment plans that promise to cancel remaining debt after 10 or 20 years.

The estimates are based on everything that’s known about Biden’s plan now, but some details have yet to be hashed out. The office said it may revise its estimates as details emerge.

The $400 billion total notably does not include a separate loan payment plan that Biden proposed to help lower-income borrowers in the future. The new plan would be similar to existing plans that limit monthly bills based on a borrower’s income, but with more generous terms.

It would limit borrowers’ payments to 5% of their discretionary income, down from 10% now, and it would forgive any remaining balance after 10 years, down from 20 years now.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660739578417.png" alt="The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years -White House photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years -White House photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s plan for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">student debt cancellation</a>&nbsp;will cost the federal government about $400 billion over the next 30 years, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden’s $300 billion student loan handout will fuel inflation and do nothing to actually lower the cost of higher education. My full statement below. <a href="https://t.co/NYRuDheaCL">pic.twitter.com/NYRuDheaCL</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1562547995228266496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The figures were released Monday in response to a request from Republican lawmakers who oppose Biden’s plan in large part because of its costs. They were quick to cite the estimates as evidence that the plan will “bury” taxpayers, passing along the costs to huge numbers of Americans who never went to college.The Biden administration previously estimated the plan would cost about $24 billion a year over the next 10 years — about $240 billion for the decade — while other estimates put the total cost at $500 billion or more over the decade.On Monday, the White House noted that the CBO’s estimated cost in the first year — $21 billion — is actually lower than the administration’s early estimate of $24 billion.To reach the CBO’s $400 billion figure, officials looked at the immediate cost of cancellation along with the longer-term impact, including lower monthly repayments that would have been higher if not for the cancellation.The office separately estimated that Biden’s latest extension of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-payment-moratorium-extended-d54907ea99a6745dc9f832435beda751">student loan pause</a>&nbsp;will cost an additional $20 billion. Monthly payments on federal student loans have been frozen since the first weeks of the pandemic. Biden in August continued the pause through the end of the year, calling that the final extension.Biden has played down the cost of the cancellation plan, saying it would be offset by other measures to reduce the federal deficit, including his landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">Inflation Reduction Act</a>. On Monday, the White House defended the plan, saying it will provide relief to struggling borrowers, allowing them to start businesses, buy homes or just pay their bills.“It’s a stark contrast to the Trump tax bill, which ballooned the deficit by nearly $2 trillion and provided the vast majority of benefits to big corporations and the wealthiest individuals,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.The administration is expected to release its own detailed cost estimates in coming weeks.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who supported debt cancellation, said they don’t agree with some of the assumptions underpinning the CBO estimates. But a joint statement from the senators said the estimates show that “millions of middle class Americans have more breathing room” thanks to Biden’s plan.Republicans didn’t see it that way.“Rather than working with Congress to bring down college costs, President Biden has opted to bury the American people under our unsustainable debt,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House education committee.Biden’s plan promises to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for borrowers with incomes of less than $125,000 per year or households making less than $250,000. Those who received federal Pell Grants to attend college would get an additional $10,000 erased.An application to receive the benefit is expected by early October. The fate of the plan largely depends on whether it can survive legal challenges that conservatives have promised to bring.The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, out of 37 million Americans who have federal student loans, about 95% meet the income limit for $10,000 in relief. About 65% also received a Pell Grant, making them eligible for a $20,000 cancellation.The office warned that its estimates are “highly uncertain” because it’s hard to know exactly how much borrowers would have paid in the future without Biden’s action. Some borrowers probably would have gotten their debt canceled anyway using payment plans that promise to cancel remaining debt after 10 or 20 years.The estimates are based on everything that’s known about Biden’s plan now, but some details have yet to be hashed out. The office said it may revise its estimates as details emerge.The $400 billion total notably does not include a separate loan payment plan that Biden proposed to help lower-income borrowers in the future. The new plan would be similar to existing plans that limit monthly bills based on a borrower’s income, but with more generous terms.It would limit borrowers’ payments to 5% of their discretionary income, down from 10% now, and it would forgive any remaining balance after 10 years, down from 20 years now.___

GOP: $400B estimated cost of student debt plan will bury taxpayers

DOUGLAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident Monday afternoon in Douglas County.

Just after 12:30 p.m., deputies were notified a train stopped on the tracks in the 1100 block of N 1900 Road north of Lawrence after a collision with a tractor, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. spokesperson George Diepenbrock.

Investigators determined a 28-year-old Lecompton man was operating the tractor and mowing in the area of the tracks. The tractor was moving through the railroad crossing and was struck by a BNSF train. 

EMS transported the tractor driver to a Topeka area hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening.

No other injuries were reported, and BNSF railroad officials were on the scene preparing the train, which was not damaged, to continue on is route.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664227343144.png" alt="Photo Douglas County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Douglas County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident Monday afternoon in Douglas County.Just after 12:30 p.m., deputies were notified a train stopped on the tracks in the 1100 block of N 1900 Road north of Lawrence after a collision with a tractor, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. spokesperson George Diepenbrock.Investigators determined a 28-year-old Lecompton man was operating the tractor and mowing in the area of the tracks. The tractor was moving through the railroad crossing and was struck by a BNSF train. EMS transported the tractor driver to a Topeka area hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening.No other injuries were reported, and BNSF railroad officials were on the scene preparing the train, which was not damaged, to continue on is route.

Kansas man hospitalized after train strikes tractor

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a high speed chase and crash in Southwest Kansas.

Just after 10:35p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 2300 block of E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City, for vehicles driving recklessly and doing donuts in the parking lot, according to a media release.

Officers observed two vehicles race through the parking lot and attempted to stop them. The driver of a Chevy Silverado, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Miguel Lujan of Denver, Colorado, spun around, struck a parked car, and fled the area at a high rate of speed. 

Police chased the pickup eastbound onto Schulman Avenue and Highway 83 until officers stopped the pursuit at Farmland Road and Schulman Avenue due to reckless conditions. 

During the pursuit, Lujan committed numerous traffic infractions. Deputies with the Finney County Sheriff’s Office located the Silverado heading eastbound on US Highway 50 and initiated a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit continued south on Raceway Road and headed west onto Old Post Road until Deputies stopped the pursuit due to reckless conditions. 

Shortly after the pursuit, a Deputy located the Silverado crashed into a tree near the 6200 block of Old Post Road.&nbsp; Lujan crawled out of the vehicle and fled on foot before being apprehended.

 Lujan was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital for treatment and later flown to Colorado due to the extent of his injuries. No other injuries occurred from the incident.

Lujan was found to have multiple felony warrants including a warrant out of Pueblo, CO, for Contempt of Court, Dangerous Drugs, and a warrant issued by the US Marshall’s Service for Failure to Appear. 

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a high speed chase and crash in Southwest Kansas.Just after 10:35p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 2300 block of E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City, for vehicles driving recklessly and doing donuts in the parking lot, according to a media release.Officers observed two vehicles race through the parking lot and attempted to stop them. The driver of a Chevy Silverado, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Miguel Lujan of Denver, Colorado, spun around, struck a parked car, and fled the area at a high rate of speed. Police chased the pickup eastbound onto Schulman Avenue and Highway 83 until officers stopped the pursuit at Farmland Road and Schulman Avenue due to reckless conditions. During the pursuit, Lujan committed numerous traffic infractions. Deputies with the Finney County Sheriff’s Office located the Silverado heading eastbound on US Highway 50 and initiated a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit continued south on Raceway Road and headed west onto Old Post Road until Deputies stopped the pursuit due to reckless conditions. Shortly after the pursuit, a Deputy located the Silverado crashed into a tree near the 6200 block of Old Post Road.&nbsp; Lujan crawled out of the vehicle and fled on foot before being apprehended. Lujan was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital for treatment and later flown to Colorado due to the extent of his injuries. No other injuries occurred from the incident.Lujan was found to have multiple felony warrants including a warrant out of Pueblo, CO, for Contempt of Court, Dangerous Drugs, and a warrant issued by the US Marshall’s Service for Failure to Appear.

Wanted suspect hospitalized after SW Kansas chase, crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard ship on routine patrol in the Bering Sea came across a guided missile cruiser from China, officials said Monday.

But it turned out the cruiser wasn’t alone as it sailed about 86 miles north of Alaska’s Kiska Island, on Sept. 19.

The patrol boat, known as a cutter called Kimball, later discovered there were two other Chinese naval ships and four Russian naval vessels, including a destroyer, all in single formation.

The Honolulu-based Kimball, a 418-foot (127-meter) vessel, observed as the ships broke formation and dispersed. A C-130 Hercules provided air support for the Kimball from the Coast Guard station in Kodiak.

“While the formation has operated in accordance with international rules and norms, we will meet presence with presence to ensure there are no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska,” Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, Seventeenth Coast Guard District commander said.

The Coast Guard said Operation Frontier Sentinel guidelines call for meeting “presence with presence” when strategic competitors operate in and around U.S. waters.

The Kimball will continue to monitor the area.

The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions about the incident from The Associated Press.

The Chinese and Russian formation came a month after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned about China’s interest in the Arctic and Russia’s military buildup there.

Stoltenberg said Russia has set up a new Arctic Command and has opened hundreds of new and former Soviet-era Arctic military sites, including deep-water ports and airfields.

China has declared itself a “near Arctic” state and plans to build the world’s largest icebreaker, he said.

“Beijing and Moscow have also pledged to intensify practical cooperation in the Arctic. This forms part of a deepening strategic partnership that challenges our values and interests,” Stoltenberg said in a visit to Canada’s north.

This wasn’t the first time Chinese naval ships have sailed near Alaska waters. In September 2021, Coast Guard cutters in the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean encountered Chinese ships, some about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the Aleutian Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664245346407.png" alt="In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, a Coast Guard Cutter Kimball crew-member observes a foreign vessel in the Bering Sea, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter on routine patrol in the Bering Sea came across the guided missile cruiser from the People's Republic of China, officials said Monday, Sept. 26. (U.S. Coast Guard District 17 via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, a Coast Guard Cutter Kimball crew-member observes a foreign vessel in the Bering Sea, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter on routine patrol in the Bering Sea came across the guided missile cruiser from the People's Republic of China, officials said Monday, Sept. 26. (U.S. Coast Guard District 17 via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard ship on routine patrol in the Bering Sea came across a guided missile cruiser from China, officials said Monday.But it turned out the cruiser wasn’t alone as it sailed about 86 miles north of Alaska’s Kiska Island, on Sept. 19.The patrol boat, known as a cutter called Kimball, later discovered there were two other Chinese naval ships and four Russian naval vessels, including a destroyer, all in single formation.The Honolulu-based Kimball, a 418-foot (127-meter) vessel, observed as the ships broke formation and dispersed. A C-130 Hercules provided air support for the Kimball from the Coast Guard station in Kodiak.“While the formation has operated in accordance with international rules and norms, we will meet presence with presence to ensure there are no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska,” Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, Seventeenth Coast Guard District commander said.The Coast Guard said Operation Frontier Sentinel guidelines call for meeting “presence with presence” when strategic competitors operate in and around U.S. waters.The Kimball will continue to monitor the area.The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions about the incident from The Associated Press.The Chinese and Russian formation came a month after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned about China’s interest in the Arctic and Russia’s military buildup there.Stoltenberg said Russia has set up a new Arctic Command and has opened hundreds of new and former Soviet-era Arctic military sites, including deep-water ports and airfields.China has declared itself a “near Arctic” state and plans to build the world’s largest icebreaker, he said.“Beijing and Moscow have also pledged to intensify practical cooperation in the Arctic. This forms part of a deepening strategic partnership that challenges our values and interests,” Stoltenberg said in a visit to Canada’s north.This wasn’t the first time Chinese naval ships have sailed near Alaska waters. In September 2021, Coast Guard cutters in the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean encountered Chinese ships, some about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the Aleutian Islands.

Coast Guard spots Chinese, Russian naval ships off Alaska 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.

On Thursday, officials in Shawnee County booked 63-year-old Terry Hansard on requested charges of&nbsp;Electronic Solicitation; Offender Believes Child &gt;14&lt;16,&nbsp;Sexual exploitation of a child; possess media of child &lt;18, and a parole violation, according to online jail records.

He has previous convictions for rape and aggravated kidnapping, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. Hansard remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664034976538.png" alt="Hansard photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hansard photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes.On Thursday, officials in Shawnee County booked 63-year-old Terry Hansard on requested charges of&nbsp;Electronic Solicitation; Offender Believes Child &gt;14&lt;16,&nbsp;Sexual exploitation of a child; possess media of child &lt;18, and a parole violation, according to online jail records.He has previous convictions for rape and aggravated kidnapping, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. Hansard remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

Kansas man convicted of rape accused of soliciting minor online

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after chase and violent car crash.

Just after 10:30 Friday, police and fire crews were dispatched to the area of 700 E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City where a vehicle struck a streetlight, according to a media release.

The investigation revealed that a Kia Optima, driven by 29-year-old Cruz Velasquez of Garden City, was westbound on Kansas Avenue when he ran a red light and struck a Nissan Maxima. 

Velasquez then fled the area at a high rate of speed, driving into oncoming traffic and nearly striking more vehicles in the process. 

Velasquez ultimately struck a curb, which caused the Kia to go airborne and strike the stop sign at Old Manor Road and E. Kansas Avenue and the streetlight.

Officers located Velasquez inside the Nature's Way health food store at 701 E. Kansas Plaza. Through further investigation, it was determined that Velasquez was allegedly driving under the influence. Officers took him into custody and transported him to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation. 

While at the hospital, Velasquez allegedly became combative with an 0fficer before being subdued. The Officer was not injured. No other injuries were reported from the incident. 

Velasquez is being held on requested charges that include DUI - 2nd Time,&nbsp; Battery LEO, Felony Interference LEO, Possession of Opiate, Possession with Intent to Distribute Stimulant, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,&nbsp; No Valid Driver’s License - 3rd Time, Reckless Driving, Duty of Driver to Give Information and Duty of Driver Upon Damaging Property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664206779383.png" alt="Velasquez-photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Velasquez-photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after chase and violent car crash.Just after 10:30 Friday, police and fire crews were dispatched to the area of 700 E. Kansas Avenue in Garden City where a vehicle struck a streetlight, according to a media release.The investigation revealed that a Kia Optima, driven by 29-year-old Cruz Velasquez of Garden City, was westbound on Kansas Avenue when he ran a red light and struck a Nissan Maxima. Velasquez then fled the area at a high rate of speed, driving into oncoming traffic and nearly striking more vehicles in the process. Velasquez ultimately struck a curb, which caused the Kia to go airborne and strike the stop sign at Old Manor Road and E. Kansas Avenue and the streetlight.Officers located Velasquez inside the Nature's Way health food store at 701 E. Kansas Plaza. Through further investigation, it was determined that Velasquez was allegedly driving under the influence. Officers took him into custody and transported him to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation. While at the hospital, Velasquez allegedly became combative with an 0fficer before being subdued. The Officer was not injured. No other injuries were reported from the incident. Velasquez is being held on requested charges that include DUI - 2nd Time,&nbsp; Battery LEO, Felony Interference LEO, Possession of Opiate, Possession with Intent to Distribute Stimulant, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,&nbsp; No Valid Driver’s License - 3rd Time, Reckless Driving, Duty of Driver to Give Information and Duty of Driver Upon Damaging Property.

Police catch SW Kan. suspect inside health food store after crash

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft rammed an asteroid at blistering speed Monday in an unprecedented dress rehearsal for the day a killer rock menaces Earth.

The galactic grand slam occurred at a harmless asteroid 7 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) away, with the spacecraft named Dart plowing into the small space rock at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph). Scientists expected the impact to carve out a crater, hurl streams of rocks and dirt into space and, most importantly, alter the asteroid’s orbit.

Telescopes around the world and in space aimed at the same point in the sky to capture the spectacle. Though the impact was immediately obvious — Dart’s radio signal abruptly ceased — it will be days or even weeks to determine how much the asteroid’s path was changed.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-space-exploration-science-asteroids-ee5f1594906d9666d0bee18209666102">The $325 million mission</a>&nbsp;was the first attempt to shift the position of an asteroid or any other natural object in space.

“No, this is not a movie plot,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson tweeted earlier in the day. ”We’ve all seen it on movies like ‘Armageddon,’ but the real-life stakes are high,” he said in a prerecorded video.

Monday’s target: a 525-foot (160-meter) asteroid named Dimorphos. It’s actually a moonlet of Didymos, Greek for twin, a fast-spinning asteroid five times bigger that flung off the material that formed the junior partner.

The pair have been orbiting the sun for eons without threatening Earth, making them ideal save-the-world test candidates.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-dart-spacecraft-asteroid-1f351c9ce5890c275f1f9b2c884a0278">Launched last November</a>, the vending machine-size Dart — short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test — navigated to its target using new technology developed by Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, the spacecraft builder and mission manager.

Dart’s on-board camera, a key part of this smart navigation system, caught sight of Dimorphos barely an hour before impact.

“Woo hoo,” exclaimed Johns Hopkins mission systems engineer Elena Adams. "We’re seeing Dimorphos, so wonderful, wonderful.”

With an image beaming back to Earth every second, Adams and other ground controllers in Laurel, Maryland, watched with growing excitement as Dimorphos loomed larger and larger in the field of view alongside its bigger companion.

A mini satellite followed a few minutes behind to take photos of the impact. The Italian Cubesat was released from Dart two weeks ago.

Scientists insisted Dart would not shatter Dimorphos. The spacecraft packed a scant 1,260 pounds (570 kilograms), compared with the asteroid’s 11 billion pounds (5 billion kilograms). But that should be plenty to shrink its 11-hour, 55-minute orbit around Didymos.

The impact should pare 10 minutes off that, but telescopes will need anywhere from a few days to nearly a month to verify the new orbit. The anticipated orbital shift of 1% might not sound like much, scientists noted. But they stressed it would amount to a significant change over years.

Planetary defense experts prefer nudging a threatening asteroid or comet out of the way, given enough lead time, rather than blowing it up and creating multiple pieces that could rain down on Earth. Multiple impactors might be needed for big space rocks or a combination of impactors and so-called gravity tractors, not-yet-invented devices that would use their own gravity to pull an asteroid into a safer orbit.

“The dinosaurs didn’t have a space program to help them know what was coming, but we do,” NASA’s senior climate adviser Katherine Calvin said, referring to the mass extinction 66 million years ago believed to have been caused by a major asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions or both.

The non-profit B612 Foundation, dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid strikes, has been pushing for impact tests like Dart since its founding by astronauts and physicists 20 years ago. Monday’s feat aside, the world must do a better job of identifying the countless space rocks lurking out there, warned the foundation’s executive director, Ed Lu, a former astronaut.

Significantly less than half of the estimated 25,000 near-Earth objects in the deadly 460-foot (140-meter) range have been discovered, according to NASA. And fewer than 1% of the millions of smaller asteroids, capable of widespread injuries, are known.

The Vera Rubin Observatory, nearing completion in Chile by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Energy Department, promises to revolutionize the field of asteroid discovery, Lu noted.

Finding and tracking asteroids, “That’s still the name of the game here. That’s the thing that has to happen in order to protect the Earth,” he said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — In the first-of-its kind, save-the-world experiment, NASA is about to clobber a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg">Click here to watch</a>

A spacecraft named Dart will zero in on the asteroid Monday, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph). The impact should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock — demonstrating that if a killer asteroid ever heads our way, we’d stand a fighting chance of diverting it.

“This is stuff of science-fiction books and really corny episodes of “StarTrek” from when I was a kid, and now it's real,” NASA program scientist Tom Statler said Thursday.

Cameras and telescopes will watch the crash, but it will take days or even weeks to find out if it actually changed the orbit.

The $325 million planetary defense test began with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-dart-spacecraft-asteroid-1f351c9ce5890c275f1f9b2c884a0278">Dart’s launch last fall</a>.

The asteroid with the bull’s-eye on it is Dimorphos, about 7 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) from Earth. It is actually the puny sidekick of a 2,500-foot (780-meter) asteroid named Didymos, Greek for twin. Discovered in 1996, Didymos is spinning so fast that scientists believe it flung off material that eventually formed a moonlet. Dimorphos — roughly 525 feet (160 meters) across — orbits its parent body at a distance of less than a mile (1.2 kilometers).

“This really is about asteroid deflection, not disruption," said Nancy Chabot, a planetary scientist and mission team leader at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, which is managing the effort. "This isn’t going to blow up the asteroid. It isn’t going to put it into lots of pieces.” Rather, the impact will dig out a crater tens of yards (meters) in size and hurl some 2 million pounds (1 million kilograms) of rocks and dirt into space.

NASA insists there’s a zero chance either asteroid will threaten Earth — now or in the future. That’s why the pair was picked.

The Johns Hopkins lab took a minimalist approach in developing Dart — short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test — given that it’s essentially a battering ram and faces sure destruction. It has a single instrument: a camera used for navigating, targeting and chronicling the final action. Believed to be essentially a rubble pile, Dimorphos will emerge as a point of light an hour before impact, looming larger and larger in the camera images beamed back to Earth. Managers are confident Dart won’t smash into the larger Didymos by mistake. The spacecraft’s navigation is designed to distinguish between the two asteroids and, in the final 50 minutes, target the smaller one.

The size of a small vending machine at 1,260 pounds (570 kilograms), the spacecraft will slam into roughly 11 billion pounds (5 billion kilograms) of asteroid. “Sometimes we describe it as running a golf cart into a Great Pyramid,” said Chabot.

Unless Dart misses — NASA puts the odds of that happening at less than 10% — it will be the end of the road for Dart. If it goes screaming past both space rocks, it will encounter them again in a couple years for Take 2.

Little Dimorphos completes a lap around big Didymos every 11 hours and 55 minutes. The impact by Dart should shave about 10 minutes off that. Although the strike itself should be immediately apparent, it could take a few weeks or more to verify the moonlet’s tweaked orbit. Cameras on Dart and a mini tagalong satellite will capture the collision up close. Telescopes on all seven continents, along with the Hubble and Webb space telescopes and NASA’s asteroid-hunting Lucy spacecraft, may see a bright flash as Dart smacks Dimorphos and sends streams of rock and dirt cascading into space. The observatories will track the pair of asteroids as they circle the sun, to see if Dart altered Dimorphos’ orbit. In 2024, a European spacecraft named Hera will retrace Dart’s journey to measure the impact results.

Although the intended nudge should change the moonlet’s position only slightly, that will add up to a major shift over time, according to Chabot. "So if you were going to do this for planetary defense, you would do it five, 10, 15, 20 years in advance in order for this technique to work,” she said. Even if Dart misses, the experiment still will provide valuable insight, said NASA program executive Andrea Riley. “This is why we test. We want to do it now rather than when there’s an actual need,” she said.

Planet Earth is on an asteroid-chasing roll. NASA has close to a pound (450 grams) of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/az-state-wire-asteroids-business-science-3210a89afa93601b008a3df1fe8a2608">rubble collected from asteroid Bennu</a>&nbsp;headed to Earth. The stash should arrive next September. Japan was the first to retrieve asteroid samples, accomplishing the feat twice. China hopes to follow suit with a mission launching in 2025.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-asteroids-solar-system-0c6eebb11448dd42329e7f77bee13e76">NASA’s Lucy spacecraft</a>, meanwhile, is headed to asteroids near Jupiter, after launching last year. Another spacecraft, Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, is loaded into NASA’s new moon rocket awaiting liftoff; it will use a solar sail to fly past a space rock that’s less than 60 feet (18 meters) next year. In the next few years, NASA also plans to launch a census-taking telescope to identify hard-to-find asteroids that could pose risks. One asteroid mission is grounded while an independent review board weighs its future.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-space-exploration-science-technology-asteroids-89670faaeff6db0690904920d345d257">NASA’s Psyche spacecraft</a>&nbsp;should have launched this year to a metal-rich asteroid between Mars and Jupiter, but the team couldn’t test the flight software in time.

Hollywood has churned out dozens of killer-space-rock movies over the decades, including 1998′s “Armageddon” which brought Bruce Willis to Cape Canaveral for filming, and last year's “Don’t Look Up” with Leonardo DiCaprio leading an all-star cast. NASA’s planetary defense officer, Lindley Johnson, figures he’s seen them all since 1979′s “Meteor,” his personal favorite “since Sean Connery played me.” While some of the sci-fi films are more accurate than others, he noted, entertainment always wins out. The good news is that the coast seems clear for the next century, with no known threats. Otherwise, “it would be like the movies, right?” said NASA’s science mission chief Thomas Zurbuchen. What’s worrisome, though, are the unknown threats. Fewer than half of the 460-foot (140-meter) objects have been confirmed, with millions of smaller but still-dangerous objects zooming around. “These threats are real, and what makes this time special, is we can do something about it,” Zurbuchen said. Not by blowing up an asteroid as Willis’ character did — that would be a last, last-minute resort — or by begging government leaders to take action as DiCaprio’s character did in vain. If time allows, the best tactic could be to nudge the menacing asteroid out of our way, like Dart.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664234470063.png" alt="NASA image" />
 <figcaption>NASA image</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft rammed an asteroid at blistering speed Monday in an unprecedented dress rehearsal for the day a killer rock menaces Earth.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/21X5lGlDOfg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The galactic grand slam occurred at a harmless asteroid 7 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) away, with the spacecraft named Dart plowing into the small space rock at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph). Scientists expected the impact to carve out a crater, hurl streams of rocks and dirt into space and, most importantly, alter the asteroid’s orbit.Telescopes around the world and in space aimed at the same point in the sky to capture the spectacle. Though the impact was immediately obvious — Dart’s radio signal abruptly ceased — it will be days or even weeks to determine how much the asteroid’s path was changed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-space-exploration-science-asteroids-ee5f1594906d9666d0bee18209666102">The $325 million mission</a>&nbsp;was the first attempt to shift the position of an asteroid or any other natural object in space.“No, this is not a movie plot,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson tweeted earlier in the day. ”We’ve all seen it on movies like ‘Armageddon,’ but the real-life stakes are high,” he said in a prerecorded video.Monday’s target: a 525-foot (160-meter) asteroid named Dimorphos. It’s actually a moonlet of Didymos, Greek for twin, a fast-spinning asteroid five times bigger that flung off the material that formed the junior partner.The pair have been orbiting the sun for eons without threatening Earth, making them ideal save-the-world test candidates.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664234411114.png" alt="Celebration moments after impact -image courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>Celebration moments after impact -image courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-dart-spacecraft-asteroid-1f351c9ce5890c275f1f9b2c884a0278">Launched last November</a>, the vending machine-size Dart — short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test — navigated to its target using new technology developed by Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, the spacecraft builder and mission manager.Dart’s on-board camera, a key part of this smart navigation system, caught sight of Dimorphos barely an hour before impact.“Woo hoo,” exclaimed Johns Hopkins mission systems engineer Elena Adams. "We’re seeing Dimorphos, so wonderful, wonderful.”With an image beaming back to Earth every second, Adams and other ground controllers in Laurel, Maryland, watched with growing excitement as Dimorphos loomed larger and larger in the field of view alongside its bigger companion.A mini satellite followed a few minutes behind to take photos of the impact. The Italian Cubesat was released from Dart two weeks ago.Scientists insisted Dart would not shatter Dimorphos. The spacecraft packed a scant 1,260 pounds (570 kilograms), compared with the asteroid’s 11 billion pounds (5 billion kilograms). But that should be plenty to shrink its 11-hour, 55-minute orbit around Didymos.The impact should pare 10 minutes off that, but telescopes will need anywhere from a few days to nearly a month to verify the new orbit. The anticipated orbital shift of 1% might not sound like much, scientists noted. But they stressed it would amount to a significant change over years.Planetary defense experts prefer nudging a threatening asteroid or comet out of the way, given enough lead time, rather than blowing it up and creating multiple pieces that could rain down on Earth. Multiple impactors might be needed for big space rocks or a combination of impactors and so-called gravity tractors, not-yet-invented devices that would use their own gravity to pull an asteroid into a safer orbit.“The dinosaurs didn’t have a space program to help them know what was coming, but we do,” NASA’s senior climate adviser Katherine Calvin said, referring to the mass extinction 66 million years ago believed to have been caused by a major asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions or both.The non-profit B612 Foundation, dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid strikes, has been pushing for impact tests like Dart since its founding by astronauts and physicists 20 years ago. Monday’s feat aside, the world must do a better job of identifying the countless space rocks lurking out there, warned the foundation’s executive director, Ed Lu, a former astronaut.Significantly less than half of the estimated 25,000 near-Earth objects in the deadly 460-foot (140-meter) range have been discovered, according to NASA. And fewer than 1% of the millions of smaller asteroids, capable of widespread injuries, are known.The Vera Rubin Observatory, nearing completion in Chile by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Energy Department, promises to revolutionize the field of asteroid discovery, Lu noted.Finding and tracking asteroids, “That’s still the name of the game here. That’s the thing that has to happen in order to protect the Earth,” he said.___CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — In the first-of-its kind, save-the-world experiment, NASA is about to clobber a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg">Click here to watch</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664188855767.png" alt="llustration of NASA’s DART spacecraft and the Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) LICIACube prior to impact at the Didymos binary system.&nbsp;Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben" />
 <figcaption>llustration of NASA’s DART spacecraft and the Italian Space Agency’s (ASI) LICIACube prior to impact at the Didymos binary system.&nbsp;Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben</figcaption>
 </figure>A spacecraft named Dart will zero in on the asteroid Monday, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph). The impact should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock — demonstrating that if a killer asteroid ever heads our way, we’d stand a fighting chance of diverting it.“This is stuff of science-fiction books and really corny episodes of “StarTrek” from when I was a kid, and now it's real,” NASA program scientist Tom Statler said Thursday.Cameras and telescopes will watch the crash, but it will take days or even weeks to find out if it actually changed the orbit.The $325 million planetary defense test began with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-dart-spacecraft-asteroid-1f351c9ce5890c275f1f9b2c884a0278">Dart’s launch last fall</a>.ASTEROID TARGETThe asteroid with the bull’s-eye on it is Dimorphos, about 7 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) from Earth. It is actually the puny sidekick of a 2,500-foot (780-meter) asteroid named Didymos, Greek for twin. Discovered in 1996, Didymos is spinning so fast that scientists believe it flung off material that eventually formed a moonlet. Dimorphos — roughly 525 feet (160 meters) across — orbits its parent body at a distance of less than a mile (1.2 kilometers).“This really is about asteroid deflection, not disruption," said Nancy Chabot, a planetary scientist and mission team leader at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, which is managing the effort. "This isn’t going to blow up the asteroid. It isn’t going to put it into lots of pieces.” Rather, the impact will dig out a crater tens of yards (meters) in size and hurl some 2 million pounds (1 million kilograms) of rocks and dirt into space.NASA insists there’s a zero chance either asteroid will threaten Earth — now or in the future. That’s why the pair was picked.DART, THE IMPACTORThe Johns Hopkins lab took a minimalist approach in developing Dart — short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test — given that it’s essentially a battering ram and faces sure destruction. It has a single instrument: a camera used for navigating, targeting and chronicling the final action. Believed to be essentially a rubble pile, Dimorphos will emerge as a point of light an hour before impact, looming larger and larger in the camera images beamed back to Earth. Managers are confident Dart won’t smash into the larger Didymos by mistake. The spacecraft’s navigation is designed to distinguish between the two asteroids and, in the final 50 minutes, target the smaller one.The size of a small vending machine at 1,260 pounds (570 kilograms), the spacecraft will slam into roughly 11 billion pounds (5 billion kilograms) of asteroid. “Sometimes we describe it as running a golf cart into a Great Pyramid,” said Chabot.Unless Dart misses — NASA puts the odds of that happening at less than 10% — it will be the end of the road for Dart. If it goes screaming past both space rocks, it will encounter them again in a couple years for Take 2.SAVING EARTHLittle Dimorphos completes a lap around big Didymos every 11 hours and 55 minutes. The impact by Dart should shave about 10 minutes off that. Although the strike itself should be immediately apparent, it could take a few weeks or more to verify the moonlet’s tweaked orbit. Cameras on Dart and a mini tagalong satellite will capture the collision up close. Telescopes on all seven continents, along with the Hubble and Webb space telescopes and NASA’s asteroid-hunting Lucy spacecraft, may see a bright flash as Dart smacks Dimorphos and sends streams of rock and dirt cascading into space. The observatories will track the pair of asteroids as they circle the sun, to see if Dart altered Dimorphos’ orbit. In 2024, a European spacecraft named Hera will retrace Dart’s journey to measure the impact results.Although the intended nudge should change the moonlet’s position only slightly, that will add up to a major shift over time, according to Chabot. "So if you were going to do this for planetary defense, you would do it five, 10, 15, 20 years in advance in order for this technique to work,” she said. Even if Dart misses, the experiment still will provide valuable insight, said NASA program executive Andrea Riley. “This is why we test. We want to do it now rather than when there’s an actual need,” she said.ASTEROID MISSIONS GALOREPlanet Earth is on an asteroid-chasing roll. NASA has close to a pound (450 grams) of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/az-state-wire-asteroids-business-science-3210a89afa93601b008a3df1fe8a2608">rubble collected from asteroid Bennu</a>&nbsp;headed to Earth. The stash should arrive next September. Japan was the first to retrieve asteroid samples, accomplishing the feat twice. China hopes to follow suit with a mission launching in 2025.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-asteroids-solar-system-0c6eebb11448dd42329e7f77bee13e76">NASA’s Lucy spacecraft</a>, meanwhile, is headed to asteroids near Jupiter, after launching last year. Another spacecraft, Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, is loaded into NASA’s new moon rocket awaiting liftoff; it will use a solar sail to fly past a space rock that’s less than 60 feet (18 meters) next year. In the next few years, NASA also plans to launch a census-taking telescope to identify hard-to-find asteroids that could pose risks. One asteroid mission is grounded while an independent review board weighs its future.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-space-exploration-science-technology-asteroids-89670faaeff6db0690904920d345d257">NASA’s Psyche spacecraft</a>&nbsp;should have launched this year to a metal-rich asteroid between Mars and Jupiter, but the team couldn’t test the flight software in time.HOLLYWOOD’S TAKEHollywood has churned out dozens of killer-space-rock movies over the decades, including 1998′s “Armageddon” which brought Bruce Willis to Cape Canaveral for filming, and last year's “Don’t Look Up” with Leonardo DiCaprio leading an all-star cast. NASA’s planetary defense officer, Lindley Johnson, figures he’s seen them all since 1979′s “Meteor,” his personal favorite “since Sean Connery played me.” While some of the sci-fi films are more accurate than others, he noted, entertainment always wins out. The good news is that the coast seems clear for the next century, with no known threats. Otherwise, “it would be like the movies, right?” said NASA’s science mission chief Thomas Zurbuchen. What’s worrisome, though, are the unknown threats. Fewer than half of the 460-foot (140-meter) objects have been confirmed, with millions of smaller but still-dangerous objects zooming around. “These threats are real, and what makes this time special, is we can do something about it,” Zurbuchen said. Not by blowing up an asteroid as Willis’ character did — that would be a last, last-minute resort — or by begging government leaders to take action as DiCaprio’s character did in vain. If time allows, the best tactic could be to nudge the menacing asteroid out of our way, like Dart.___

🎥 Defend Earth: NASA spacecraft crashes into asteroid in test

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for his role in a hoax phone call that led police to shoot and kill an innocent man in 2017.

Shane Gaskill was sentenced after pleading guilty in May to wire fraud, KSN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/wichita-man-sentenced-in-fatal-2017-swatting/?utm_source=t.co&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow">reported</a>. He was originally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-police-trials-coronavirus-pandemic-conspiracy-f89c6e65a96c0fde918995d8b488afc9">placed on probation</a>&nbsp;but faced renewed prosecution after violating the terms of his probation.

Prosecutors said Gaskill got into an argument in December 2017 with Ohio gamer Casey Viner over a $1.50 bet. Using an old Wichita address Gaskill had given him, Viner persuaded Tyler Barris in Los Angeles to call Wichita police and say a kidnapping and shooting had happened at the address, prosecutors said.

It's called “swatting,” a form of retaliation in which someone makes a false report to police to send first responders, including SWAT teams, to someone's address.

Andrew Finch, 28, who lived at the address, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3412c82c38104bec9afdc4331f4881ac">shot and killed by police</a>&nbsp;after he opened the front door to see what was going on outside.

Barris was sentenced to 20 years in prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-ea1d3ae559924c1c807ca3fad984e524">pleading guilty</a>&nbsp;to 51 counts of making fake emergency calls and threats around the country, including the one that led to Finch’s death.

Viner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-shootings-ap-top-news-courts-police-b54996cd2d154bf8a5a2d51a3bb3ae56">served 15 months</a>&nbsp;in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591210545859.png" alt="Police body camera image the night of the swatting call -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Police body camera image the night of the swatting call -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for his role in a hoax phone call that led police to shoot and kill an innocent man in 2017.Shane Gaskill was sentenced after pleading guilty in May to wire fraud, KSN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/wichita-man-sentenced-in-fatal-2017-swatting/?utm_source=t.co&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow">reported</a>. He was originally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-police-trials-coronavirus-pandemic-conspiracy-f89c6e65a96c0fde918995d8b488afc9">placed on probation</a>&nbsp;but faced renewed prosecution after violating the terms of his probation.Prosecutors said Gaskill got into an argument in December 2017 with Ohio gamer Casey Viner over a $1.50 bet. Using an old Wichita address Gaskill had given him, Viner persuaded Tyler Barris in Los Angeles to call Wichita police and say a kidnapping and shooting had happened at the address, prosecutors said.It's called “swatting,” a form of retaliation in which someone makes a false report to police to send first responders, including SWAT teams, to someone's address.Andrew Finch, 28, who lived at the address, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3412c82c38104bec9afdc4331f4881ac">shot and killed by police</a>&nbsp;after he opened the front door to see what was going on outside.Barris was sentenced to 20 years in prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-ea1d3ae559924c1c807ca3fad984e524">pleading guilty</a>&nbsp;to 51 counts of making fake emergency calls and threats around the country, including the one that led to Finch’s death.Viner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-shootings-ap-top-news-courts-police-b54996cd2d154bf8a5a2d51a3bb3ae56">served 15 months</a>&nbsp;in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Man sentenced in 'swatting' case that led to Kan. man's death

HARVEY COUNTY—Investigators have determined the cause of Sunday's fire at Fox Meadows Apartments, 720 West 12th Street in Newton, as undetermined with no criminal activity suspected, according to Newton County Fire and EMS

The fire marshal is working with the property owner to get the building secured. Units 101 and 103 were minimally damaged, and those residents are permitted to collect any needed belongings. 

Authorities asked residents of the other units not to enter their apartments because conditions are not safe.

The fire included 12 units and was isolated to one fourplex building, according to Newton Fire and Rescue.&nbsp;EMS transported one person in critical condition to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp;

Authorities have not updated the condition of this individual or released their name.

&nbsp;Financial donations to support the displaced residents can be sent to the Newton Community Foundation’s Community Response Fund: <a href="https://centralkansascf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1330&amp;sorg_id=1104&amp;fbclid=IwAR3UMGM2LqmYOGf7st6VYu7zwfS12qqfL7gRuYXJLC8DOnb5fW2p7K594oI" target="_blank">https://centralkansascf.fcsuite.com/.../create/fund...</a>Salvation Army at 208 W. 6th St. is accepting donations of clothing and household items the residents might need.

HARVEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an apartment fire Sunday in Newton.

The fire at Fox Meadows Apartments,&nbsp; 720 West 12th Street, included 12 units and was isolated to one fourplex building, according to Newton Fire and Rescue.

EMS transported one person in critical condition to a Wichita hospital. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene to investigate the fire the cause.&nbsp; Departments from Hesston, Halstead and Walton&nbsp; &nbsp;assisted.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details Sunday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664137891279.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the apartment building fire Sunday in Newton-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the apartment building fire Sunday in Newton-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—Investigators have determined the cause of Sunday's fire at Fox Meadows Apartments, 720 West 12th Street in Newton, as undetermined with no criminal activity suspected, according to Newton County Fire and EMSThe fire marshal is working with the property owner to get the building secured. Units 101 and 103 were minimally damaged, and those residents are permitted to collect any needed belongings. Authorities asked residents of the other units not to enter their apartments because conditions are not safe.The fire included 12 units and was isolated to one fourplex building, according to Newton Fire and Rescue.&nbsp;EMS transported one person in critical condition to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp;Authorities have not updated the condition of this individual or released their name.&nbsp;Financial donations to support the displaced residents can be sent to the Newton Community Foundation’s Community Response Fund: <a href="https://centralkansascf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1330&amp;sorg_id=1104&amp;fbclid=IwAR3UMGM2LqmYOGf7st6VYu7zwfS12qqfL7gRuYXJLC8DOnb5fW2p7K594oI" target="_blank">https://centralkansascf.fcsuite.com/.../create/fund...</a>Salvation Army at 208 W. 6th St. is accepting donations of clothing and household items the residents might need.----------HARVEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an apartment fire Sunday in Newton.The fire at Fox Meadows Apartments,&nbsp; 720 West 12th Street, included 12 units and was isolated to one fourplex building, according to Newton Fire and Rescue.EMS transported one person in critical condition to a Wichita hospital. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene to investigate the fire the cause.&nbsp; Departments from Hesston, Halstead and Walton&nbsp; &nbsp;assisted.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details Sunday afternoon.

Officials release new details on cause of Kan. apartment fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent attack and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 6:30a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a stabbing that occurred in the 400 block of West Central in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. 

While en route to the call, officers learned a neighbor transported the 41-year-old male victim to a local hospital.

The investigation revealed 29-year-old Trey Schulz of Wichita and the victim were in a verbal altercation when Schulz stabbed the victim over 30 times.

Police arrested Schulz on requested charges of attempted murder. 

The victim and Schulz are known to each other, and this is not a random incident. The victim has since been released from the hospital, according to Ditch. Schulz is<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069699"> being held on a $150,000 bond</a>, according to online jail records.

On Sept. 9, police arrested Schultz on requested charges of criminal carrying a weapon; bludgeon, sand club knucklee; criminal trespass and drug possession. He had a previous drug conviction in Sumner County in 2015, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664222246737.png" alt="Schulz-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Schulz-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent attack and have a suspect in custody.Just before 6:30a.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a stabbing that occurred in the 400 block of West Central in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. While en route to the call, officers learned a neighbor transported the 41-year-old male victim to a local hospital.The investigation revealed 29-year-old Trey Schulz of Wichita and the victim were in a verbal altercation when Schulz stabbed the victim over 30 times.Police arrested Schulz on requested charges of attempted murder. The victim and Schulz are known to each other, and this is not a random incident. The victim has since been released from the hospital, according to Ditch. Schulz is<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20069699"> being held on a $150,000 bond</a>, according to online jail records.On Sept. 9, police arrested Schultz on requested charges of criminal carrying a weapon; bludgeon, sand club knucklee; criminal trespass and drug possession. He had a previous drug conviction in Sumner County in 2015, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.