DAMASCUS —A U.S. airstrike in Syria killed a Senior ISIS Official, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Central Command.

On June 16, U.S. Central Command conducted an airstrike in Syria, killing Usamah Jamal Muhammad Ibrahim al-Janabi, a senior ISIS official and facilitator. His death will disrupt ISIS’s ability to resource and conduct terror attacks.

CENTCOM, alongside allies and partners in the region, will continue to execute operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities and ensure its enduring defeat.

There is no indication any civilians were harmed in this strike.

In addition, U.S. forces destroyed a ground control station, command and control node in an area of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and destroyed two Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea.according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.

DAMASCUS —A U.S. airstrike in Syria killed a Senior ISIS Official, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Central Command.On June 16, U.S. Central Command conducted an airstrike in Syria, killing Usamah Jamal Muhammad Ibrahim al-Janabi, a senior ISIS official and facilitator. His death will disrupt ISIS’s ability to resource and conduct terror attacks.CENTCOM, alongside allies and partners in the region, will continue to execute operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities and ensure its enduring defeat.There is no indication any civilians were harmed in this strike.In addition, U.S. forces destroyed a ground control station, command and control node in an area of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and destroyed two Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea.according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.

U.S. Airstrike in Syria kills senior ISIS official

KANSAS CITY —A driver who died in an accident that occurred June 7, in Kansas City has been identified as 53-year-old Lashan Townsend-Gunnels, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just before 8a.m. June 7, a Chevrolet Silverado was speeding northbound on Troost from 89th Street when a Honda passenger vehicle pulled out into the first lane of Troost from 85th Street. This caused the pickup to swerve into southbound lanes of oncoming traffic.

At 83rd Terrace, the Chevrolet’s driver locked the pickup’s brakes as a GMC Terrain pulled into the southbound lanes of Troost. The pickup struck the GMC on the driver’s side and forced it into a metal utility pole on the passenger side. The pickup then overturned onto its passenger side.

EMS transported the driver of the GMC, later identified as Townsend-Gunnels, to an area hospital. She had life-threatening injuries. EMS transported the driver of the&nbsp;pickup to a local hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious injuries.&nbsp; The driver of the GMC was properly restrained, according to KCPD. Police did not have details on the seat belt usage by the driver of the pickup.

On June 15, the KCPD reported Townsend-Gunnels died shortly before midnight on Friday, according to staff at&nbsp;Research Hospital. This is fatality #48 compared to #35 at this time in 2023.

KANSAS CITY —A driver who died in an accident that occurred June 7, in Kansas City has been identified as 53-year-old Lashan Townsend-Gunnels, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just before 8a.m. June 7, a Chevrolet Silverado was speeding northbound on Troost from 89th Street when a Honda passenger vehicle pulled out into the first lane of Troost from 85th Street. This caused the pickup to swerve into southbound lanes of oncoming traffic.At 83rd Terrace, the Chevrolet’s driver locked the pickup’s brakes as a GMC Terrain pulled into the southbound lanes of Troost. The pickup struck the GMC on the driver’s side and forced it into a metal utility pole on the passenger side. The pickup then overturned onto its passenger side.EMS transported the driver of the GMC, later identified as Townsend-Gunnels, to an area hospital. She had life-threatening injuries. EMS transported the driver of the&nbsp;pickup to a local hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious injuries.&nbsp; The driver of the GMC was properly restrained, according to KCPD. Police did not have details on the seat belt usage by the driver of the pickup.On June 15, the KCPD reported Townsend-Gunnels died shortly before midnight on Friday, according to staff at&nbsp;Research Hospital. This is fatality #48 compared to #35 at this time in 2023.

Police ID driver who died a week after Kansas City crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a violent attack and have a Kansas felon in custody.

Just before 3p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 15, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of SW Western Avenue in Topeka in reference to a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

First responders&nbsp;located a man suffering multiple lacerations. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police did not have an update on the condition of the victim.

As a result of the investigation, Xavian Locke, 24, was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery and a County Warrant.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Criminal possess firearm; Convicted felon or drug offender, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718726438938.png" alt="Locke-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Locke-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a violent attack and have a Kansas felon in custody.Just before 3p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 15, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of SW Western Avenue in Topeka in reference to a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.First responders&nbsp;located a man suffering multiple lacerations. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police did not have an update on the condition of the victim.As a result of the investigation, Xavian Locke, 24, was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery and a County Warrant.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Criminal possess firearm; Convicted felon or drug offender, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon jailed for violent knife attack

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest pleaded guilty in federal court last week to illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence. As officers approached on foot, an ATF agent pulled her vehicle into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan parked in the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”

The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the emergency equipment on her vehicle. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then attempted to back up and drive forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her vehicle, immobilizing it.

The ATF vehicle was damaged as a result of Jackson ramming it. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Jackson must pay restitution for the damage.

On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.

Under federal statutes, Jackson is subject to a sentence of up to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest pleaded guilty in federal court last week to illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, according to the United State's Attorney.Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence. As officers approached on foot, an ATF agent pulled her vehicle into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan parked in the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the emergency equipment on her vehicle. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then attempted to back up and drive forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her vehicle, immobilizing it.The ATF vehicle was damaged as a result of Jackson ramming it. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Jackson must pay restitution for the damage.On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.Under federal statutes, Jackson is subject to a sentence of up to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KC man rammed ATF vehicle while attempting to avoid arrest

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.

The GOP-drafted legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. Although the bill did not receive final approval from Landry, the time for gubernatorial action — to sign or veto the bill — has lapsed.

Opponents question the law’s constitutionality, warning that lawsuits are likely to follow. Proponents say the purpose of the measure is not solely religious, but that it has historical significance. In the law’s language, the Ten Commandments are described as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”

The displays, which will be paired with a four-paragraph “context statement” describing how the Ten Commandments “were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries,” must be in place in classrooms by the start of 2025.

The posters would be paid for through donations. State funds will not be used to implement the mandate, based on language in the legislation.

The law also “authorizes” — but does not require — the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.

Not long after the governor signed the bill into law, civil rights groups and organizations that want to keep religion out of government promised to file a lawsuit challenging it.

The law prevents students from getting an equal education and will keep children who have different beliefs from feeling safe at school, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon.

“Even among those who may believe in some version of the Ten Commandments, the particular text that they adhere to can differ by religious denomination or tradition. The government should not be taking sides in this theological debate,” the groups said.

Similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in other states including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-01ad837a877143d6bc2f1681f9cd8a2a">Texas</a>, Oklahoma and Utah. However, with threats of legal battles over the constitutionality of such measures, no state besides Louisiana has had success in making the bills law.

Legal battles over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms are not new.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but rather served a plainly religious purpose.

Louisiana’s controversial law, in a state ensconced in the Bible Belt, comes during a new era of conservative leadership in the state under Landry, who replaced two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in January.

The GOP also has a two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature, and Republicans hold every statewide elected position, paving the way for lawmakers to push through a conservative agenda during the legislative session that concluded earlier this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718826624556.png" alt="Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law on Wednesday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law on Wednesday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.The GOP-drafted legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. Although the bill did not receive final approval from Landry, the time for gubernatorial action — to sign or veto the bill — has lapsed.Opponents question the law’s constitutionality, warning that lawsuits are likely to follow. Proponents say the purpose of the measure is not solely religious, but that it has historical significance. In the law’s language, the Ten Commandments are described as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”The displays, which will be paired with a four-paragraph “context statement” describing how the Ten Commandments “were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries,” must be in place in classrooms by the start of 2025.The posters would be paid for through donations. State funds will not be used to implement the mandate, based on language in the legislation.The law also “authorizes” — but does not require — the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.Not long after the governor signed the bill into law, civil rights groups and organizations that want to keep religion out of government promised to file a lawsuit challenging it.The law prevents students from getting an equal education and will keep children who have different beliefs from feeling safe at school, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon.“Even among those who may believe in some version of the Ten Commandments, the particular text that they adhere to can differ by religious denomination or tradition. The government should not be taking sides in this theological debate,” the groups said.Similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in other states including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-01ad837a877143d6bc2f1681f9cd8a2a">Texas</a>, Oklahoma and Utah. However, with threats of legal battles over the constitutionality of such measures, no state besides Louisiana has had success in making the bills law.Legal battles over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms are not new.In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The high court found that the law had no secular purpose but rather served a plainly religious purpose.Louisiana’s controversial law, in a state ensconced in the Bible Belt, comes during a new era of conservative leadership in the state under Landry, who replaced two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in January.The GOP also has a two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature, and Republicans hold every statewide elected position, paving the way for lawmakers to push through a conservative agenda during the legislative session that concluded earlier this month.

First state will require Ten Commandments displayed in classrooms 

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.

Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the area of W. 149th and Hardy in Overland Park in reference an armed disturbance, according to a media release.

 Several young adult men were playing basketball in a cul-de-sac when a black vehicle drove up to them. 

 The driver of the vehicle asked if a specific person was in the area.  When the young men responded to the driver they did not know the person, the driver then shot several rounds into a nearby home. 

 There were no injuries.The suspect vehicle left in an unknown direction.  The driver is identified as a white male, in his mid to late twenties. 

 If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the area of W. 149th and Hardy in Overland Park in reference an armed disturbance, according to a media release. Several young adult men were playing basketball in a cul-de-sac when a black vehicle drove up to them. The driver of the vehicle asked if a specific person was in the area. When the young men responded to the driver they did not know the person, the driver then shot several rounds into a nearby home. There were no injuries.The suspect vehicle left in an unknown direction. The driver is identified as a white male, in his mid to late twenties. If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.&nbsp;

Police investigating Kansas drive-by shooting

Dozens of Missouri doctors joined in asking the court to uphold a federal law that allows doctors to perform emergency abortions in states with bans

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

When a woman experiencing a second trimester miscarriage came into the hospital bleeding through her clothes, Dr. Jennifer Smith couldn’t immediately help her.&nbsp;

Not while her fetus still had a heartbeat.

Too scared to wait for the miscarriage to progress far enough to be admitted to the hospital in Missouri, the woman and her husband drove to Illinois where she could obtain an abortion.&nbsp;

Until the situation is life-threatening to the mother, her hands are tied, said Smith, an OB-GYN in St. Louis. But at least in the worst emergency cases, Smith knows she can help thanks to a federal law called&nbsp;Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).

“It’s just hard to imagine that we’re living in a time where that actually may not be true,” Smith said.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/04/24/supreme-court-justices-appear-split-over-whether-to-protect-abortion-care-during-emergencies/">The U.S. Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;will soon decide whether a federal law mandating hospitals treat and stabilize every patient, regardless of their ability to pay, includes providing abortions where they are otherwise illegal.

In the case, the Biden administration sued Idaho to block enforcement of its abortion ban, arguing that it violated EMTALA by denying women abortions in emergency situations. Idaho bans abortions in almost all cases, with exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.&nbsp;

In response,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-727/290151/20231120154722276_2023-11-20%20Motion%20with%20Appendix.pdf">Idaho argued</a>&nbsp;that the federal law only requires “stabilizing treatment for&nbsp;the unborn children of pregnant women.” Idaho is asking the court to lift a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of its abortion ban in hospital emergency rooms.

The government is arguing that EMTALA&nbsp;requires hospitals to provide abortions needed to stabilize or save the life of a pregnant patient It also protects doctors from prosecution.

Without the law, hospitals and health care workers would have to wait until a mother is actually dying to proceed with a life-saving abortion, Smith said. St. Louis area hospitals still perform abortions for ectopic pregnancies, a nonviable pregnancy that if left unaddressed can be life-threatening to the mother, Smith said. But without EMTALA, she’s not so sure.

“It leaves every person involved in the care open to be prosecuted,” Smith said.

In May,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2024/05/doctors-letter-supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies/">nearly 6,000 physicians</a>&nbsp;across the country signed a letter on behalf of the Committee to Protect Health Care asking the Supreme Court to uphold the federal law.&nbsp;

Smith was among 32 Missouri doctors to sign on.

In June 2022, Missouri became the first state to ban abortion following the Supreme Court case overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The ban was triggered under a law passed in 2019 that made it effective with the Supreme Court action.

The 2019 law states abortions will only be permitted in cases of a medical emergency when “a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”

Health care providers who perform abortions not necessary to save the woman’s life can be charged with a class B felony. If convicted, they would face up to 15 years in prison and their medical license could also be suspended or revoked.&nbsp;

Because of this ban, some doctors and hospitals in Idaho recently stopped admitting pregnant patients who came into the emergency room, potentially needing abortions to save their lives. Instead, women are being transferred to other states for treatment during emergency situations.&nbsp;

Since Roe was overturned, a Missouri hospital became one of the first in the nation to be cited for violating EMTALA by denying a pregnant woman emergency care.&nbsp;

In August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/01/hospitals-in-joplin-kck-cited-for-denying-emergency-abortion-to-missouri-woman/">Mylissa Farmer entered a Joplin emergency room</a>&nbsp;after her water broke at about 18 weeks pregnant. Even though the pregnancy was no longer viable, because the fetus had a heartbeat, and because Farmer’s condition wasn’t immediately life-threatening, she was turned away. She returned the next day, was kept overnight and then released without additional treatment.

Freeman Health in Joplin was later cited for being in violation of federal law.&nbsp;

“Although her doctors advised her that her condition could rapidly deteriorate, they also advised that they could not provide her with the care that would prevent infection, hemorrhage, and potentially death because, they said, the hospital policies prohibited treatment that could be considered an abortion,” the report from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services stated. “This was a violation of the EMTALA protections that were designed to protect patients like her.”

Smith said that while she and her colleagues often aren’t able to immediately help patients who experience situations like Farmer, she can at least direct them to care a short drive away in Illinois.&nbsp;

Prior to the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe, Smith said if a pregnant patient experienced premature rupture of the membranes, they could deliver the baby so the family could have some memories to hold on to.&nbsp;

Often parents would get copies of their child’s footprints and say their goodbyes.

Now, since they can’t act while the fetus has a heartbeat, Smith said she refers patients to abortion clinics in Illinois where they can receive a surgical abortion. But as a result, they don’t get to hold their baby, and often have to navigate anti-abortion protesters on the way.&nbsp;

To Smith, it’s not worth risking the mother’s life and well-being to wait for her condition to deteriorate.&nbsp;

“To delay the care of the mother based on the beating heart of the baby is so counterproductive,” she said. “ … It just takes one emergency that we don’t act on or that we delay to change the life of a whole community.”

A decision in favor of Idaho could impair care for pregnant patients with serious injuries from car accidents or gunshots, or who suffer a stroke, Smith said. In those cases,&nbsp; saving the mother sometimes isn’t possible without first delivering the pregnancy, whether viable or not.&nbsp;

Pregnant women can quickly lose blood in emergency situations, potentially putting the mother and child’s lives at risk, she said.&nbsp;

“Unless you’re a trauma physician, it’s an amount of blood that nobody else in the hospital deals with. It’s an unbelievable amount and it can happen so fast,” she said. “If you have to wait and question your legal standing, the likelihood of saving that patient intact, saving the baby, saving her uterus, all of it, it just goes down all the time.”

The Supreme Court could rule on the EMTALA case as early as next week. Until then, doctors continue holding their breath.&nbsp;

“They’re just singling out pregnancy at this point,” Smith said. “But once you start chipping away at rights, it’s really unclear where the end point is.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718794587714.png" alt=" Jennifer Smith, an OBGYN, speaks about medical challenges without legal abortions in Missouri during a rally held by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Friday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Jennifer Smith, an OBGYN, speaks about medical challenges without legal abortions in Missouri during a rally held by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Friday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Dozens of Missouri doctors joined in asking the court to uphold a federal law that allows doctors to perform emergency abortions in states with bans</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>When a woman experiencing a second trimester miscarriage came into the hospital bleeding through her clothes, Dr. Jennifer Smith couldn’t immediately help her.&nbsp;Not while her fetus still had a heartbeat.Too scared to wait for the miscarriage to progress far enough to be admitted to the hospital in Missouri, the woman and her husband drove to Illinois where she could obtain an abortion.&nbsp;Until the situation is life-threatening to the mother, her hands are tied, said Smith, an OB-GYN in St. Louis. But at least in the worst emergency cases, Smith knows she can help thanks to a federal law called&nbsp;Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).“It’s just hard to imagine that we’re living in a time where that actually may not be true,” Smith said.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/04/24/supreme-court-justices-appear-split-over-whether-to-protect-abortion-care-during-emergencies/">The U.S. Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;will soon decide whether a federal law mandating hospitals treat and stabilize every patient, regardless of their ability to pay, includes providing abortions where they are otherwise illegal.In the case, the Biden administration sued Idaho to block enforcement of its abortion ban, arguing that it violated EMTALA by denying women abortions in emergency situations. Idaho bans abortions in almost all cases, with exceptions to save the life of the pregnant woman or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.&nbsp;In response,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-727/290151/20231120154722276_2023-11-20%20Motion%20with%20Appendix.pdf">Idaho argued</a>&nbsp;that the federal law only requires “stabilizing treatment for&nbsp;the unborn children of pregnant women.” Idaho is asking the court to lift a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of its abortion ban in hospital emergency rooms.The government is arguing that EMTALA&nbsp;requires hospitals to provide abortions needed to stabilize or save the life of a pregnant patient It also protects doctors from prosecution.Without the law, hospitals and health care workers would have to wait until a mother is actually dying to proceed with a life-saving abortion, Smith said. St. Louis area hospitals still perform abortions for ectopic pregnancies, a nonviable pregnancy that if left unaddressed can be life-threatening to the mother, Smith said. But without EMTALA, she’s not so sure.“It leaves every person involved in the care open to be prosecuted,” Smith said.In May,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2024/05/doctors-letter-supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies/">nearly 6,000 physicians</a>&nbsp;across the country signed a letter on behalf of the Committee to Protect Health Care asking the Supreme Court to uphold the federal law.&nbsp;Smith was among 32 Missouri doctors to sign on.In June 2022, Missouri became the first state to ban abortion following the Supreme Court case overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The ban was triggered under a law passed in 2019 that made it effective with the Supreme Court action.The 2019 law states abortions will only be permitted in cases of a medical emergency when “a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”Health care providers who perform abortions not necessary to save the woman’s life can be charged with a class B felony. If convicted, they would face up to 15 years in prison and their medical license could also be suspended or revoked.&nbsp;Because of this ban, some doctors and hospitals in Idaho recently stopped admitting pregnant patients who came into the emergency room, potentially needing abortions to save their lives. Instead, women are being transferred to other states for treatment during emergency situations.&nbsp;Since Roe was overturned, a Missouri hospital became one of the first in the nation to be cited for violating EMTALA by denying a pregnant woman emergency care.&nbsp;In August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/01/hospitals-in-joplin-kck-cited-for-denying-emergency-abortion-to-missouri-woman/">Mylissa Farmer entered a Joplin emergency room</a>&nbsp;after her water broke at about 18 weeks pregnant. Even though the pregnancy was no longer viable, because the fetus had a heartbeat, and because Farmer’s condition wasn’t immediately life-threatening, she was turned away. She returned the next day, was kept overnight and then released without additional treatment.Freeman Health in Joplin was later cited for being in violation of federal law.&nbsp;“Although her doctors advised her that her condition could rapidly deteriorate, they also advised that they could not provide her with the care that would prevent infection, hemorrhage, and potentially death because, they said, the hospital policies prohibited treatment that could be considered an abortion,” the report from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services stated. “This was a violation of the EMTALA protections that were designed to protect patients like her.”Smith said that while she and her colleagues often aren’t able to immediately help patients who experience situations like Farmer, she can at least direct them to care a short drive away in Illinois.&nbsp;Prior to the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe, Smith said if a pregnant patient experienced premature rupture of the membranes, they could deliver the baby so the family could have some memories to hold on to.&nbsp;Often parents would get copies of their child’s footprints and say their goodbyes.Now, since they can’t act while the fetus has a heartbeat, Smith said she refers patients to abortion clinics in Illinois where they can receive a surgical abortion. But as a result, they don’t get to hold their baby, and often have to navigate anti-abortion protesters on the way.&nbsp;To Smith, it’s not worth risking the mother’s life and well-being to wait for her condition to deteriorate.&nbsp;“To delay the care of the mother based on the beating heart of the baby is so counterproductive,” she said. “ … It just takes one emergency that we don’t act on or that we delay to change the life of a whole community.”A decision in favor of Idaho could impair care for pregnant patients with serious injuries from car accidents or gunshots, or who suffer a stroke, Smith said. In those cases,&nbsp; saving the mother sometimes isn’t possible without first delivering the pregnancy, whether viable or not.&nbsp;Pregnant women can quickly lose blood in emergency situations, potentially putting the mother and child’s lives at risk, she said.&nbsp;“Unless you’re a trauma physician, it’s an amount of blood that nobody else in the hospital deals with. It’s an unbelievable amount and it can happen so fast,” she said. “If you have to wait and question your legal standing, the likelihood of saving that patient intact, saving the baby, saving her uterus, all of it, it just goes down all the time.”The Supreme Court could rule on the EMTALA case as early as next week. Until then, doctors continue holding their breath.&nbsp;“They’re just singling out pregnancy at this point,” Smith said. “But once you start chipping away at rights, it’s really unclear where the end point is.”

Doctor warns: Emergency care for pregnant women at stake in Supreme Court case

The Kansas State Fair is excited to announce a special Buy One Get One (BOGO) Gate Ticket offer available for one day only! 

Mark your calendars for June 25th and take advantage of the best offer of the year on gate tickets as fairgoers will have the opportunity to enjoy two tickets for $10 with this exclusive promotion.​

To participate in this special offer, sign up to receive Kansas State Fair emails by June 24, and you will receive a promo code on June 25. ​

Email List Sign Up:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=e49c3279a0&amp;e=3291b91fe2">https://www.kansasstatefair.com/p/general-information1/email-updates &nbsp;​</a>

<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=e49c3279a0&amp;e=3291b91fe2"></a>On June 25 you’ll receive an email with the promo code. Between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. visit the Kansas State Fair ticket site, click on the BOGO Gate Ticket option and enter the promo code. For every ticket you add an additional ticket will be automatically added to your cart.

For example: enter two tickets and four will appear in your cart. This special offer is limited to one order per person. Maximum number of tickets you can purchase is 6 (12 tickets total). &nbsp; ​

"We're excited to offer this 'Buy One for $10, Get One Free' gate admission deal. It's a wonderful way for fairgoers to save some money while sharing the joy and excitement of the Fair with friends or family,” says Bryan Schulz, General Manager.​

Purchase on June 25 online at <a href="http://KansasStateFair.com">KansasStateFair.com</a> from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by phone at 620-669-3618 or at the Kansas State Fair Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ​

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632137511353.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Fair file photo-Nick Gosnell" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Fair file photo-Nick Gosnell</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State FairThe Kansas State Fair is excited to announce a special Buy One Get One (BOGO) Gate Ticket offer available for one day only! Mark your calendars for June 25th and take advantage of the best offer of the year on gate tickets as fairgoers will have the opportunity to enjoy two tickets for $10 with this exclusive promotion.​To participate in this special offer, sign up to receive Kansas State Fair emails by June 24, and you will receive a promo code on June 25. ​Email List Sign Up:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=e49c3279a0&amp;e=3291b91fe2">https://www.kansasstatefair.com/p/general-information1/email-updates &nbsp;​</a><a href="https://kansasstatefair.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3e8ba81fdd03d1e38c02c0ae6&amp;id=e49c3279a0&amp;e=3291b91fe2"></a>On June 25 you’ll receive an email with the promo code. Between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. visit the Kansas State Fair ticket site, click on the BOGO Gate Ticket option and enter the promo code. For every ticket you add an additional ticket will be automatically added to your cart. For example: enter two tickets and four will appear in your cart. This special offer is limited to one order per person. Maximum number of tickets you can purchase is 6 (12 tickets total). &nbsp; ​"We're excited to offer this 'Buy One for $10, Get One Free' gate admission deal. It's a wonderful way for fairgoers to save some money while sharing the joy and excitement of the Fair with friends or family,” says Bryan Schulz, General Manager.​Purchase on June 25 online at <a href="http://KansasStateFair.com">KansasStateFair.com</a> from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., by phone at 620-669-3618 or at the Kansas State Fair Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ​

Kansas State Fair BOGO day coming up June 25

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man arrested after a two hour standoff at a Wichita apartment complex made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.

Jonathan Ross, 41, Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal threat, two counts of aggravated assault, criminal threat, domestic battery, and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The last three charges are misdemeanors.

Just before 1p.m. June 12, police responded to an apartment building in the 600 block of E Douglas in Wichita.&nbsp; A woman told officers she was assaulted and threatened with a weapon by a man she lived with. 

The man, later identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Ross refused to come out of the apartment.&nbsp;

At 3 p.m., the Wichita Police SWAT team arrived and began negotiations. All businesses and apartments in the area were evacuated and vehicle and pedestrian traffic was closed in the area.&nbsp; Two hours later, police arrested Ross.

Ross remains jailed on a $125,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718662085008.png" alt="Ross-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ross-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man arrested after a two hour standoff at a Wichita apartment complex made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.Jonathan Ross, 41, Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal threat, two counts of aggravated assault, criminal threat, domestic battery, and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The last three charges are misdemeanors.Just before 1p.m. June 12, police responded to an apartment building in the 600 block of E Douglas in Wichita.&nbsp; A woman told officers she was assaulted and threatened with a weapon by a man she lived with. The man, later identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Ross refused to come out of the apartment.&nbsp;At 3 p.m., the Wichita Police SWAT team arrived and began negotiations. All businesses and apartments in the area were evacuated and vehicle and pedestrian traffic was closed in the area.&nbsp; Two hours later, police arrested Ross.Ross remains jailed on a $125,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man jailed after standoff charged with attack on a woman

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, and it sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, flew to the Pacific port city to see his girlfriend and was arrested last month after she accused him of stealing from her, according to U.S. officials and Russian authorities.

Russia's state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported that the judge in Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok also ordered Black to pay 10,000 rubles ($115) in damages. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of four years and eight months in prison.

Black’s case occurs amid tensions over Russia's arrests of American journalists and other U.S. nationals as the fighting in Ukraine continues.

Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-swap-gershkovich-whelan-putin-2a53c30a7ee686ee85de412ee833d154">has jailed a number of Americans</a>, including corporate security executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-politics-paul-whelan-united-states-government-russia-12269e0de0292a5cd590f034b2700b36">Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;and Wall Street Journal reporter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-journalist-prison-putin-swap-33b1751158e32fe18dfa576839999b6e">Evan Gershkovich</a>. The U.S. government has designated both men as wrongfully detained and has been trying to negotiate their release.

Others detained include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-musician-arrested-drug-trafficking-3d32c6e75660d17f993dd6afe396eea7">Travis Leake</a>, a musician who has been living in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also on drug charges; and dual nationals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-american-journalist-radio-free-europe-alsu-kurmasheva-0bd25c4f04201eed5b3a9aa871e1f6ad">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-woman-arrest-russia-ukraine-3a121981719ed1904c0bbdbdb38f14ab">Ksenia Khavana</a>.

The U.S. State Department strongly advises American citizens not to go to Russia.

Black was on leave and in the process of returning to his home base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, from South Korea, where he had been stationed at Camp Humphreys with the Eighth Army.

Cynthia Smith, an Army spokesperson, said Black signed out for his move back home and, “instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea, through China to Vladivostok, Russia, for personal reasons.”

Under Pentagon policy, service members must get clearance for any international travel from a security manager or commander.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soldier-arrested-russia-korea-596c4e4601e0cf6679b9ff1a880d8678">The U.S. Army said last month</a>&nbsp;that Black hadn’t sought such travel clearance and it wasn’t authorized by the Defense Department. Given the hostilities in Ukraine and threats to the U.S. and its military, it is extremely unlikely he would have been granted approval.

Black’s girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters earlier this month that “it was a simple domestic dispute,” during which Black “became aggressive and attacked” her.

“He then stole money from my wallet and I didn’t give him permission to do it,” Vashchuk said.

On Wednesday, she told Russian news outlet Gazeta.ru that she considers the sentence “quite humane” and described Black as “violent and unable to control himself.”

U.S. officials have said that Black, who is married, met Vashchuk in South Korea.

According to U.S. officials, she had lived in South Korea, and last fall she and Black got into some type of domestic dispute or altercation. After that, she left South Korea. It isn’t clear if she was forced to leave or what, if any, role South Korean authorities had in the matter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718804676374.png" alt="U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black sits in a glass cage in a courtroom in Vladivostok, Russia, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Black is on trial on charges of theft and threatening murder in a dispute with a Russian woman. Russian state media reported that he denied the allegation of threatening murder but "partially" admitted to theft. (AP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black sits in a glass cage in a courtroom in Vladivostok, Russia, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Black is on trial on charges of theft and threatening murder in a dispute with a Russian woman. Russian state media reported that he denied the allegation of threatening murder but "partially" admitted to theft. (AP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, and it sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison.Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, flew to the Pacific port city to see his girlfriend and was arrested last month after she accused him of stealing from her, according to U.S. officials and Russian authorities.Russia's state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported that the judge in Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok also ordered Black to pay 10,000 rubles ($115) in damages. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of four years and eight months in prison.Black’s case occurs amid tensions over Russia's arrests of American journalists and other U.S. nationals as the fighting in Ukraine continues.Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-swap-gershkovich-whelan-putin-2a53c30a7ee686ee85de412ee833d154">has jailed a number of Americans</a>, including corporate security executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-politics-paul-whelan-united-states-government-russia-12269e0de0292a5cd590f034b2700b36">Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;and Wall Street Journal reporter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-journalist-prison-putin-swap-33b1751158e32fe18dfa576839999b6e">Evan Gershkovich</a>. The U.S. government has designated both men as wrongfully detained and has been trying to negotiate their release.Others detained include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-musician-arrested-drug-trafficking-3d32c6e75660d17f993dd6afe396eea7">Travis Leake</a>, a musician who has been living in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also on drug charges; and dual nationals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-american-journalist-radio-free-europe-alsu-kurmasheva-0bd25c4f04201eed5b3a9aa871e1f6ad">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-woman-arrest-russia-ukraine-3a121981719ed1904c0bbdbdb38f14ab">Ksenia Khavana</a>.The U.S. State Department strongly advises American citizens not to go to Russia.Black was on leave and in the process of returning to his home base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, from South Korea, where he had been stationed at Camp Humphreys with the Eighth Army.Cynthia Smith, an Army spokesperson, said Black signed out for his move back home and, “instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea, through China to Vladivostok, Russia, for personal reasons.”Under Pentagon policy, service members must get clearance for any international travel from a security manager or commander.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/soldier-arrested-russia-korea-596c4e4601e0cf6679b9ff1a880d8678">The U.S. Army said last month</a>&nbsp;that Black hadn’t sought such travel clearance and it wasn’t authorized by the Defense Department. Given the hostilities in Ukraine and threats to the U.S. and its military, it is extremely unlikely he would have been granted approval.Black’s girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters earlier this month that “it was a simple domestic dispute,” during which Black “became aggressive and attacked” her.“He then stole money from my wallet and I didn’t give him permission to do it,” Vashchuk said.On Wednesday, she told Russian news outlet Gazeta.ru that she considers the sentence “quite humane” and described Black as “violent and unable to control himself.”U.S. officials have said that Black, who is married, met Vashchuk in South Korea.According to U.S. officials, she had lived in South Korea, and last fall she and Black got into some type of domestic dispute or altercation. After that, she left South Korea. It isn’t clear if she was forced to leave or what, if any, role South Korean authorities had in the matter.

US soldier convicted of theft in Russia and sentenced to prison

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.

Just before noon Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a man outside with an apparent gunshot wound. 

He was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim.

 Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.Just before noon Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a man outside with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Homicide: Man found dead outside Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-citizenship-spouses-69b9212c382d9bb265369b29b62622d7">new Biden administration policy</a>&nbsp;announced Tuesday will give roughly half a million immigrants who are married to American citizens but lack legal status in the United States a pathway to citizenship for them and their children.

It is one of President Joe Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-dreamers-509d520529867db6a77ddcf2dcebe2a3">most sweeping immigration policies</a>&nbsp;and one that migrant advocates had been heavily lobbying the administration to undertake.

A look at the new policy, who might benefit and how:

Under U.S. immigration law, if an American marries someone who is not a citizen but is living in the United States, it can be a straightforward process for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-immigrants-11486c86ba620a04ae9dc66a3d44f346">spouse to apply for long-term permanent residence</a>&nbsp;— called a green card.

But if the spouse has been living in the United States illegally for a long time, that process gets much more complicated.

They often have to leave and apply from their home country. Depending on how long the person has lived in the U.S. without authorization, they could have to stay abroad for three to 10 years before applying to come back. They can seek a waiver to avoid waiting that long abroad, but getting a waiver also is averaging about three and a half years.

They have to go abroad, apply at a consulate — where waits can be extensive — and be permitted back into the U.S.

“There is the risk of prolonged separation especially if things go wrong," said Elizabeth Taufa, policy attorney and strategist for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Facing the prospect of leaving their families in America for a lengthy process that might not work, many decide to stay and live in the shadows.

How is Biden changing immigration policy?

Under the new policy, many spouses without legal status can now apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the U.S. and eventually get a path to citizenship. But it’s not a blanket approval.

To be eligible, people have to have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat and have been married by June 17, 2024. They would have to apply to the Department of Homeland Security, which considers the applications on a case-by-case basis, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/06/17/fact-sheet-dhs-announces-new-process-promote-unity-and-stability-families">wrote in a fact sheet describing</a>&nbsp;the new policy. Immigrant spouses cannot have already been admitted or paroled into the country previously.

Applicants will be vetted for previous immigration history, criminal history and more, including potential fraud, Biden's announcement said.

Once Homeland Security approves an application,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-keep-families-together/">the White House said, the</a>&nbsp;person would then have three years to apply for permanent residency and could get work authorization for up to three years.

About 1.1 million immigrants without legal status are married to American citizens in the United States, according to immigration advocacy organization FWD.us. The administration thinks that ultimately about half that number — about 500,000 — could be eligible for this program, plus about 50,000 of their children.

On average, the spouses have lived in the United States for a little over two decades, the White House said. A senior administration official said during a call to brief reporters that they expect the majority of people benefitting from the program will be from Mexico.

How does this fit in with Biden's other immigration policies?

The Biden administration has pursued a two-pronged strategy on immigration and border security over the past year and a half.

On one hand, Biden has made it much more difficult to qualify for asylum at the southern border and intensified removals of those who don't qualify to stay. Immigration advocates vilified Biden's decision this month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-asylum-ban-halt-border-mexico-1905e3565b2da1cffb8f38a778c07118">cut off asylum processing</a>&nbsp;after arrivals on the southern border hit a certain number per day.

On the other hand, the administration has taken a number of steps to admit people into the country.

In the biggest example, the administration created a program last year allowing people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor, pass a background check and fly into a U.S. airport. As of the end of April, 434,800 people have arrived through that program from those four countries.

Many advocates have pushed the administration to do more for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. illegally for decades.

What's changing in the program for ‘Dreamers’?

Separate from the policy for migrant spouses, the administration also announced changes designed to help those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program qualify more easily for long-established work visas.

The Obama administration in 2012 offered people who were brought illegally to the U.S. by their parents as children deportation protections and temporary work permits. Many of them, often known as “Dreamers,” are now parents themselves.

Many companies who employ DACA recipients can apply for them to get a work visa, which is more stable and provides a pathway to permanent residence, said Dan Berger, an immigration fellow at Cornell Law School who co-founded&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.lawschool.cornell.edu/path2papers/">Path2Papers</a>, an organization that helps dreamers pursue work visas and other ways to get legal permanent residency.

But to get the work visa, the DACA recipient must travel abroad, apply and get a waiver to reenter the U.S. Berger said that waiver process is very slow and offers little guidance, so employers and DACA recipients aren't eager to try it.

“Having clear guidance and clear expectation is really helpful,” he said.

The Department of Homeland Security has to produce guidance on how the spousal program will work. The program will go into effect by the end of summer, President Joe Biden said during a ceremony Tuesday.

It will fall to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, to process all the applications. That agency has historically struggled with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/EOY2023">funding as it works to reduce backlogs and wait times</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-citizenship-spouses-69b9212c382d9bb265369b29b62622d7">new Biden administration policy</a>&nbsp;announced Tuesday will give roughly half a million immigrants who are married to American citizens but lack legal status in the United States a pathway to citizenship for them and their children.(Click below to watch the announcement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1143912406917134%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=623" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>It is one of President Joe Biden's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-dreamers-509d520529867db6a77ddcf2dcebe2a3">most sweeping immigration policies</a>&nbsp;and one that migrant advocates had been heavily lobbying the administration to undertake.A look at the new policy, who might benefit and how:<h2>How did things work before?</h2>Under U.S. immigration law, if an American marries someone who is not a citizen but is living in the United States, it can be a straightforward process for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-immigration-border-immigrants-11486c86ba620a04ae9dc66a3d44f346">spouse to apply for long-term permanent residence</a>&nbsp;— called a green card.But if the spouse has been living in the United States illegally for a long time, that process gets much more complicated.They often have to leave and apply from their home country. Depending on how long the person has lived in the U.S. without authorization, they could have to stay abroad for three to 10 years before applying to come back. They can seek a waiver to avoid waiting that long abroad, but getting a waiver also is averaging about three and a half years.They have to go abroad, apply at a consulate — where waits can be extensive — and be permitted back into the U.S.“There is the risk of prolonged separation especially if things go wrong," said Elizabeth Taufa, policy attorney and strategist for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.Facing the prospect of leaving their families in America for a lengthy process that might not work, many decide to stay and live in the shadows.<h2>How is Biden changing immigration policy?</h2>Under the new policy, many spouses without legal status can now apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the U.S. and eventually get a path to citizenship. But it’s not a blanket approval.To be eligible, people have to have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, not pose a security threat and have been married by June 17, 2024. They would have to apply to the Department of Homeland Security, which considers the applications on a case-by-case basis, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/06/17/fact-sheet-dhs-announces-new-process-promote-unity-and-stability-families">wrote in a fact sheet describing</a>&nbsp;the new policy. Immigrant spouses cannot have already been admitted or paroled into the country previously.Applicants will be vetted for previous immigration history, criminal history and more, including potential fraud, Biden's announcement said.Once Homeland Security approves an application,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-keep-families-together/">the White House said, the</a>&nbsp;person would then have three years to apply for permanent residency and could get work authorization for up to three years.About 1.1 million immigrants without legal status are married to American citizens in the United States, according to immigration advocacy organization FWD.us. The administration thinks that ultimately about half that number — about 500,000 — could be eligible for this program, plus about 50,000 of their children.On average, the spouses have lived in the United States for a little over two decades, the White House said. A senior administration official said during a call to brief reporters that they expect the majority of people benefitting from the program will be from Mexico.<h2>How does this fit in with Biden's other immigration policies?</h2>The Biden administration has pursued a two-pronged strategy on immigration and border security over the past year and a half.On one hand, Biden has made it much more difficult to qualify for asylum at the southern border and intensified removals of those who don't qualify to stay. Immigration advocates vilified Biden's decision this month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-asylum-ban-halt-border-mexico-1905e3565b2da1cffb8f38a778c07118">cut off asylum processing</a>&nbsp;after arrivals on the southern border hit a certain number per day.On the other hand, the administration has taken a number of steps to admit people into the country.In the biggest example, the administration created a program last year allowing people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor, pass a background check and fly into a U.S. airport. As of the end of April, 434,800 people have arrived through that program from those four countries.Many advocates have pushed the administration to do more for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. illegally for decades.<h2>What's changing in the program for ‘Dreamers’?</h2>Separate from the policy for migrant spouses, the administration also announced changes designed to help those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program qualify more easily for long-established work visas.The Obama administration in 2012 offered people who were brought illegally to the U.S. by their parents as children deportation protections and temporary work permits. Many of them, often known as “Dreamers,” are now parents themselves.Many companies who employ DACA recipients can apply for them to get a work visa, which is more stable and provides a pathway to permanent residence, said Dan Berger, an immigration fellow at Cornell Law School who co-founded&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.lawschool.cornell.edu/path2papers/">Path2Papers</a>, an organization that helps dreamers pursue work visas and other ways to get legal permanent residency.But to get the work visa, the DACA recipient must travel abroad, apply and get a waiver to reenter the U.S. Berger said that waiver process is very slow and offers little guidance, so employers and DACA recipients aren't eager to try it.“Having clear guidance and clear expectation is really helpful,” he said.<h2>What's next?</h2>The Department of Homeland Security has to produce guidance on how the spousal program will work. The program will go into effect by the end of summer, President Joe Biden said during a ceremony Tuesday.It will fall to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, to process all the applications. That agency has historically struggled with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/EOY2023">funding as it works to reduce backlogs and wait times</a>.

🎥 How Biden's new pathway to citizenship will work

For more than one-and-a-half centuries,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">the Juneteenth holiday</a>&nbsp;has been sacred to many Black communities.

It marks the day in 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">found out they had been freed</a>&nbsp;— after the end of the Civil War, and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Since it was designated a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth has become more universally recognized beyond Black America. Many people get the day off work or school, and there are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events.

People who never gave the June 19 holiday more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a “right” way&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-holiday-beginner-celebration-guide-460084b8008206febf23bd8d083170fa">to celebrate Juneteenth</a>?

For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers:

Is Juneteenth a solemn day of remembrance or more of a party?

It just depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and barbecues. In the beginnings of the holiday celebrated as Black Americans’ true Independence Day, the outdoors allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as “Black Codes,” enforced in Confederate states, controlling whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life.

Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-juneteenth-concert-patti-labelle-gladys-knight-2ec59a6f5476507aada5b7480c6e28a5">White House kicked things off early with a concert</a>&nbsp;on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. Singers Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle were among the the lineup of well-known artists from gospel, rap, jazz and other genres. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

“Today as we celebrate Juneteenth, together we are reminded of the promise of America,” Harris said in opening remarks. “A promise of freedom, liberty and opportunity, not for some but for all. In many ways the story of Juneteenth and of our nation is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise.”

Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off.

The important thing is to make people feel they have options on how to observe the occasion, said Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture.

“Just like the Martin Luther King holiday, we say it’s a day of service and a lot of people will do things. There are a lot of other people who are just ‘I appreciate Dr. King, I’ll watch what’s on the television, and I’m gonna rest,’” Anderson said. “I don’t want to make people feel guilty about that. What I want to do is give everyday people a choice.”

What if you've never celebrated Juneteenth?

Anderson never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn’t learn about it until his 30s.

“I think many folks haven’t known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn’t celebrate it,” Anderson said. “It was like just a part of history. It wasn’t a celebration of history.”

For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn’t have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state.

What kind of public Juneteenth events are going on around the country?

Search online and you will find a smorgasbord of gatherings in major cities and suburbs all varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you’ll likely find access to professionals in health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black excellence and creativity. For those who want to look back, plenty of organizations and universities host panels to remind people of Juneteenth’s history.

For the first time since Juneteenth was federally recognized, the National Park Service is making entry into all sites free on the holiday. Several parks will be hosting Juneteenth commemorations this week.

Are there special foods served on Juneteenth?

Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table.

Does how you celebrate Juneteenth matter if you aren't Black?

Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there’s no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you’re not Black. In fact, embrace it.

“I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate,” Brown said. “It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn’t this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.”

If you want to bring some authenticity to your recognition of Juneteenth, educate yourself. Attending a street festival or patronizing a Black-owned business is a good start but it also would be good to “make your mind better,” Anderson said.

“That goes longer than a celebration,” Anderson said. “I think Black people need to do it too because it’s new for us as well, in America. But for non-Black people, if they could read on this topic and read on Black history beyond Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, that would show me that you’re really serious about growing in this area.”

If you’re struggling with how to “ethically” mark the day, Brown also suggested expanding your knowledge of why the holiday matters so much. That can be through reading, attending an event or going to an African American history museum if there’s one nearby.

“Have that full human experience of seeing yourself in and through the eyes of others, even if that’s not your own lived experience,” she said. “That is a radical human act that is awesome and should be encouraged and celebrated.”

What are other names used to refer to Juneteenth?

Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others.

“Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we’re celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants,” Brown said. “Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it.”

It’s typical to wish people a “Happy Juneteenth” or “Happy Teenth," according to Alan Freeman, a comedian organizing a Juneteenth comedy festival in Galveston, Texas for the second straight year.

“You know how at Christmas people will say ‘Merry Christmas’ to each other and not even know each other?" Freeman said. “You can get a ‘Merry Christmas’ from everybody. This is the same way.”

Tang, who reported from Phoenix, is a member of The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at @ttangAP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685725545610.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TERRY TANG Associated PressFor more than one-and-a-half centuries,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">the Juneteenth holiday</a>&nbsp;has been sacred to many Black communities.It marks the day in 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">found out they had been freed</a>&nbsp;— after the end of the Civil War, and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.Since it was designated a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth has become more universally recognized beyond Black America. Many people get the day off work or school, and there are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events.People who never gave the June 19 holiday more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a “right” way&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-holiday-beginner-celebration-guide-460084b8008206febf23bd8d083170fa">to celebrate Juneteenth</a>?For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers:<h2>Is Juneteenth a solemn day of remembrance or more of a party?</h2>It just depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and barbecues. In the beginnings of the holiday celebrated as Black Americans’ true Independence Day, the outdoors allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as “Black Codes,” enforced in Confederate states, controlling whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life.Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-juneteenth-concert-patti-labelle-gladys-knight-2ec59a6f5476507aada5b7480c6e28a5">White House kicked things off early with a concert</a>&nbsp;on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. Singers Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle were among the the lineup of well-known artists from gospel, rap, jazz and other genres. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.“Today as we celebrate Juneteenth, together we are reminded of the promise of America,” Harris said in opening remarks. “A promise of freedom, liberty and opportunity, not for some but for all. In many ways the story of Juneteenth and of our nation is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise.”Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off.The important thing is to make people feel they have options on how to observe the occasion, said Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture.“Just like the Martin Luther King holiday, we say it’s a day of service and a lot of people will do things. There are a lot of other people who are just ‘I appreciate Dr. King, I’ll watch what’s on the television, and I’m gonna rest,’” Anderson said. “I don’t want to make people feel guilty about that. What I want to do is give everyday people a choice.”<h2>What if you've never celebrated Juneteenth?</h2>Anderson never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn’t learn about it until his 30s.“I think many folks haven’t known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn’t celebrate it,” Anderson said. “It was like just a part of history. It wasn’t a celebration of history.”For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn’t have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state.<h2>What kind of public Juneteenth events are going on around the country?</h2>Search online and you will find a smorgasbord of gatherings in major cities and suburbs all varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you’ll likely find access to professionals in health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black excellence and creativity. For those who want to look back, plenty of organizations and universities host panels to remind people of Juneteenth’s history.For the first time since Juneteenth was federally recognized, the National Park Service is making entry into all sites free on the holiday. Several parks will be hosting Juneteenth commemorations this week.<h2>Are there special foods served on Juneteenth?</h2>Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table.<h2>Does how you celebrate Juneteenth matter if you aren't Black?</h2>Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there’s no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you’re not Black. In fact, embrace it.“I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate,” Brown said. “It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn’t this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.”If you want to bring some authenticity to your recognition of Juneteenth, educate yourself. Attending a street festival or patronizing a Black-owned business is a good start but it also would be good to “make your mind better,” Anderson said.“That goes longer than a celebration,” Anderson said. “I think Black people need to do it too because it’s new for us as well, in America. But for non-Black people, if they could read on this topic and read on Black history beyond Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, that would show me that you’re really serious about growing in this area.”If you’re struggling with how to “ethically” mark the day, Brown also suggested expanding your knowledge of why the holiday matters so much. That can be through reading, attending an event or going to an African American history museum if there’s one nearby.“Have that full human experience of seeing yourself in and through the eyes of others, even if that’s not your own lived experience,” she said. “That is a radical human act that is awesome and should be encouraged and celebrated.”<h2>What are other names used to refer to Juneteenth?</h2>Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others.“Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we’re celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants,” Brown said. “Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it.”<h2>Is there a proper Juneteenth greeting?</h2>It’s typical to wish people a “Happy Juneteenth” or “Happy Teenth," according to Alan Freeman, a comedian organizing a Juneteenth comedy festival in Galveston, Texas for the second straight year.“You know how at Christmas people will say ‘Merry Christmas’ to each other and not even know each other?" Freeman said. “You can get a ‘Merry Christmas’ from everybody. This is the same way.”___Tang, who reported from Phoenix, is a member of The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at @ttangAP.