WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) Wednesday to introduce the&nbsp;Laken Riley Act&nbsp;to ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or violate the law, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

 This legislation was also introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/2/1292d819-9040-4dca-9365-8509e0897d4e/D3C0DA0942879249B2427A578E01E42E.laken-riley-act-senate-companion.pdf" target="_blank">here to read the full text of the bill.</a>

“The Biden administration’s open border policies impact every state, community and family in America,”&nbsp;said. Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Laken Riley should still be alive today. Deporting illegal migrants with criminal records is common sense. States should be able to protect their citizens by holding the federal government accountable when it fails to uphold the law.”

“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,”&nbsp;said Sen. Britt.&nbsp;“I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately.”

“States should be able to protect their citizens from the Biden administration’s lawless, open border policies by seeking relief in federal court,”&nbsp;said Sen. Budd.&nbsp;“That’s why I am joining Senator Britt to introduce the Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. We simply cannot tolerate any more senseless tragedies like this one. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen.”

"The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly and on a bipartisan basis,"&nbsp;said Rep. Collins.&nbsp;"I am grateful to Senator Britt for taking the lead on getting this vital legislation through the Senate so we can put Laken Riley's name on Joe Biden's desk and take a step toward preventing this from happening to another American."

This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710433623225.png" alt="A poster with photos of murder victims Sarah Root and Laken Riley. House Republicans have passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of theft, seizing on the recent death of Laken, a nursing student in Georgia.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A poster with photos of murder victims Sarah Root and Laken Riley. House Republicans have passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of theft, seizing on the recent death of Laken, a nursing student in Georgia.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) Wednesday to introduce the&nbsp;Laken Riley Act&nbsp;to ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or violate the law, according to a statement from the Senator's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710433107830.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> This legislation was also introduced by Representative Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/2/1292d819-9040-4dca-9365-8509e0897d4e/D3C0DA0942879249B2427A578E01E42E.laken-riley-act-senate-companion.pdf" target="_blank">here to read the full text of the bill.</a>“The Biden administration’s open border policies impact every state, community and family in America,”&nbsp;said. Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Laken Riley should still be alive today. Deporting illegal migrants with criminal records is common sense. States should be able to protect their citizens by holding the federal government accountable when it fails to uphold the law.”<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uEryue7z07M?si=5Ci1yexdh95kcjNh&amp;start=7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Make no mistake – Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy,”&nbsp;said Sen. Britt.&nbsp;“I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately.”“States should be able to protect their citizens from the Biden administration’s lawless, open border policies by seeking relief in federal court,”&nbsp;said Sen. Budd.&nbsp;“That’s why I am joining Senator Britt to introduce the Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. We simply cannot tolerate any more senseless tragedies like this one. What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen.”"The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly and on a bipartisan basis,"&nbsp;said Rep. Collins.&nbsp;"I am grateful to Senator Britt for taking the lead on getting this vital legislation through the Senate so we can put Laken Riley's name on Joe Biden's desk and take a step toward preventing this from happening to another American."This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Moran introduces bill to help states enforce immigration laws

&nbsp;JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas City area man has pleaded guilty in connection with a car crash that left a 19-year-old dead.

Uconn Coleman, 24, Grain Valley, Missouri pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated battery, fleeing and eluding a police officer, and leaving the scene of a crash, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In June of 2023 a speeding Ford Fusion driven by Coleman struck a Honda Accord driven by 19-year-old Benny Kleczka who was stopped at the intersection of Antioch and Shawnee Mission Parkway.&nbsp;&nbsp;A woman in the Honda was also injured.

&nbsp;Coleman is scheduled for sentencing on May 20, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709829161651.png" alt="Coleman photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Coleman photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas City area man has pleaded guilty in connection with a car crash that left a 19-year-old dead.Uconn Coleman, 24, Grain Valley, Missouri pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated battery, fleeing and eluding a police officer, and leaving the scene of a crash, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In June of 2023 a speeding Ford Fusion driven by Coleman struck a Honda Accord driven by 19-year-old Benny Kleczka who was stopped at the intersection of Antioch and Shawnee Mission Parkway.&nbsp;&nbsp;A woman in the Honda was also injured.&nbsp;Coleman is scheduled for sentencing on May 20, according to the district attorney's office.

Man enters plea in deadly Kansas crash while fleeing police

HOUSTON (AP) —SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday and made it farther than two previous attempts, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.

The company said it lost contact with the spacecraft as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, about an hour after liftoff from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border.

T<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">wo test flights</a>&nbsp;last year both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.

Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, headed out over the Gulf of Mexico after launch Thursday. Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf and the spacecraft continued eastward. No people or satellites were on board.

An hour later, SpaceX commentators said contact had been lost with the spacecraft.

“The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX's Dan Huot. "But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”

Earlier during the flight, SpaceX's Elon Musk had congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.

The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.

NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.

HOUSTON (AP)—SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday, this time with the spacecraft reaching enough speed to coast toward its finish line halfway around the world.

It outperformed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">previous two test flights,</a>&nbsp;which both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.

Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, soared from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border before it headed out over the Gulf of Mexico. No people or satellites were on board.

Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf. The spacecraft continued eastward for a planned hourlong flight and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX's Elon Musk congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.

HOUSTON (AP) —SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday and made it farther than two previous attempts, but the spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At ~5000 tons, Starship is the largest flying object ever made <a href="https://t.co/r5kzjpbD9B">https://t.co/r5kzjpbD9B</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1768271790596395399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The company said it lost contact with the spacecraft as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, about an hour after liftoff from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border.T<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">wo test flights</a>&nbsp;last year both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, headed out over the Gulf of Mexico after launch Thursday. Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf and the spacecraft continued eastward. No people or satellites were on board.An hour later, SpaceX commentators said contact had been lost with the spacecraft.“The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX's Dan Huot. "But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”Earlier during the flight, SpaceX's Elon Musk had congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.---------------HOUSTON (AP)—SpaceX’s mega rocket blasted off on another test flight Thursday, this time with the spacecraft reaching enough speed to coast toward its finish line halfway around the world.It outperformed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-test-flight-launch-37c0893ddf605270b16a33ae64d69a85">previous two test flights,</a>&nbsp;which both ended in explosions minutes after liftoff.Starship, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-musk-starship-launch-test-flight-11de145e989e0534b6399640bc437b8e">biggest and most powerful rocket ever built</a>, soared from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border before it headed out over the Gulf of Mexico. No people or satellites were on board.Minutes later, the booster separated seamlessly from the spaceship and splashed down into the gulf. The spacecraft continued eastward for a planned hourlong flight and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA’s past and present moon rockets.SpaceX's Elon Musk congratulated his team.“SpaceX has come a long way,” Musk said via X, former Twitter. The rocket company was founded exactly 22 years ago Thursday.NASA watched with keen interest: The space agency needs Starship to succeed in order to land&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-landings-artemis-delay-23e425d490c0c9e65ae774ec2e00f090">astronauts on the moon</a>&nbsp;in the next two or so years. This new crop of moonwalkers — the first since last century’s Apollo program — will descend to the lunar surface in a Starship, at least the first couple times.___

🎥SpaceX: World's most powerful rocket lost during test flight

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee continue searching for a University of Missouri student who was last seen by friends at a Nashville bar Friday night.

Metropolitan Nashville Police&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1767578348249559347">released video</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that shows Riley Strain, 22, crossing a downtown street Friday night. Police have said Strain was last seen just before 10 p.m. Friday after drinking downtown. They searched the area, including the banks of the Cumberland River, by helicopter and on the ground, but did not find him.

University of Missouri officials said in a statement that they were alerted over the weekend that Strain was missing after traveling to Nashville to attend a private event and that they have been in touch with family and authorities.

Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, drove to Nashville from Springfield, Missouri, after they learned he disappeared while on a fraternity trip, news outlets reported.

“I just need to know where my son is,” Michelle Whiteid said. “We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without talking to him. It’s devastating. I just want to find him and hug him.”

After the bus ride from Columbia, Strain and some of his fraternity brothers went out, according to Chris Whiteid. Strain was asked to leave a bar, and they got separated, he said.

“The boys called him, and he said, ‘I’m walking back to my hotel,’" Chris Strain said. “They didn’t think anything about it.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee continue searching for a University of Missouri student who was last seen by friends at a Nashville bar Friday night.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Detectives today continue to pursue tips &amp; investigative leads concerning missing person Riley Strain, 22. Strain, wearing a 2-tone shirt, is seen in this video crossing 1st Ave N to Gay St (right to left), at 9:47 p.m. Fri. Have info about him? Plz 📞 615-742-7463. <a href="https://t.co/fE86dlqeOC">pic.twitter.com/fE86dlqeOC</a>&mdash; Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1767578348249559347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Metropolitan Nashville Police&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1767578348249559347">released video</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that shows Riley Strain, 22, crossing a downtown street Friday night. Police have said Strain was last seen just before 10 p.m. Friday after drinking downtown. They searched the area, including the banks of the Cumberland River, by helicopter and on the ground, but did not find him.University of Missouri officials said in a statement that they were alerted over the weekend that Strain was missing after traveling to Nashville to attend a private event and that they have been in touch with family and authorities.Strain’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, and his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, drove to Nashville from Springfield, Missouri, after they learned he disappeared while on a fraternity trip, news outlets reported.“I just need to know where my son is,” Michelle Whiteid said. “We talk every day, multiple times a day. This is the longest I’ve ever gone without talking to him. It’s devastating. I just want to find him and hug him.”After the bus ride from Columbia, Strain and some of his fraternity brothers went out, according to Chris Whiteid. Strain was asked to leave a bar, and they got separated, he said.“The boys called him, and he said, ‘I’m walking back to my hotel,’" Chris Strain said. “They didn’t think anything about it.”

Search continues for missing University Of Missouri student in Nashville

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

At 3:15p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting at 36th and Mersington in Kansas City, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. A second victim at the hospital is expected to survive, according to Forte'.

Police have not reported suspect information or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another deadly shooting in Kansas City.At 3:15p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting at 36th and Mersington in Kansas City, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. A second victim at the hospital is expected to survive, according to Forte'.Police have not reported suspect information or additional details.

Police: 1 dead, 1 hospitalized after shooting in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;— Massive chunks of hail pelted parts of Kansas and Missouri on Wednesday night, bringing traffic to a standstill along Interstate 70, as storms unleashed possible tornadoes and meteorologists urged residents to stay indoors.

There were three unconfirmed reports of tornadoes in Wabaunsee and Shawnee counties with reports of damaged structures, but no reports of injuries or homes damaged, according to meteorologist Matt Wolters with the National Weather Service’s Topeka office. Survey teams plan to head out Thursday to evaluate the damage, he said.

There were reports of 4-inch (10-centimeter) hail, nearly softball-size, in the town of Wabaunsee and 3-inch (7.6-centimeter) hail in Geary County near Junction City and Fort Riley, Wolters said.

Descriptions of the hail ranged from the size of golf balls and apples, to softballs and baseballs.

Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, previously said the predicted hail was deemed “gorilla hail” because it had the potential to be so big.

“Gorilla hail” is a term coined by Reed Timmer, a storm chaser who calls himself an extreme meteorologist, Sosnowski said. In this case, the term might fit: Some hail from north-central Kansas into north-central Missouri could be as big as a baseball.

“When you get up to tennis ball, baseball-sized or God forbid softball-sized, that can do a tremendous amount of damage, and if you get hit in the head, that could be fatal,” Sosnowski said.

Traffic came to a standstill for a time on part of Interstate 70 because of the falling hail, the National Weather Service said on X. Images of large hail chunks and at least one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/tornado-watch-issued-for-kansas-city-area-through-1-a-m-thursday">cracked windshield were shown on KSHB-TV</a>.

Late Wednesday, forecasters issued tornado warnings in the areas around Topeka and to the north, while severe thunderstorm warnings were issued northeast of Kansas City in Missouri.

“If you are in this warning, get away from windows and shelter inside now!!!” the National Weather Service posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The weather service said the storm had previously produced “softball-sized hail,” or 3.5-inch (8.9-centimeter) chunks.

The weather service also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas through Thursday morning, after which forecasters said the storm will move to the east.

While the hail threat lessens Thursday, meteorologists said heavy rain and high winds were still possible from northeastern Texas through central Missouri.

The biggest threat on Friday is for torrential rain — perhaps up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) in some spots — in a line from central Louisiana up through central Arkansas, Sosnowski said.

Other parts of the country also were seeing severe weather.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-snowstorm-colorado-0a1d0ccb98147b5fe1ceab2105b2e051">A major snowstorm hit Colorado</a>&nbsp;starting Wednesday night, closing numerous schools and government offices and shutting down sections of highways leading to the Denver area. That storm wasn’t expected to wind down until Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710410370688.png" alt="Descriptions of the hail ranged from the size of golf balls and apples, to softballs and baseballs.-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Descriptions of the hail ranged from the size of golf balls and apples, to softballs and baseballs.-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —&nbsp;— Massive chunks of hail pelted parts of Kansas and Missouri on Wednesday night, bringing traffic to a standstill along Interstate 70, as storms unleashed possible tornadoes and meteorologists urged residents to stay indoors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710412618549.png" alt="At least a half dozen tornadoes and up to baseball sized hail were confirmed by trained spotters and sheriff's office personnel in Wabaunsee Co., according to the Sheriff." />
 <figcaption>At least a half dozen tornadoes and up to baseball sized hail were confirmed by trained spotters and sheriff's office personnel in Wabaunsee Co., according to the Sheriff.</figcaption>
 </figure>There were three unconfirmed reports of tornadoes in Wabaunsee and Shawnee counties with reports of damaged structures, but no reports of injuries or homes damaged, according to meteorologist Matt Wolters with the National Weather Service’s Topeka office. Survey teams plan to head out Thursday to evaluate the damage, he said.There were reports of 4-inch (10-centimeter) hail, nearly softball-size, in the town of Wabaunsee and 3-inch (7.6-centimeter) hail in Geary County near Junction City and Fort Riley, Wolters said.Descriptions of the hail ranged from the size of golf balls and apples, to softballs and baseballs.Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, previously said the predicted hail was deemed “gorilla hail” because it had the potential to be so big.“Gorilla hail” is a term coined by Reed Timmer, a storm chaser who calls himself an extreme meteorologist, Sosnowski said. In this case, the term might fit: Some hail from north-central Kansas into north-central Missouri could be as big as a baseball.“When you get up to tennis ball, baseball-sized or God forbid softball-sized, that can do a tremendous amount of damage, and if you get hit in the head, that could be fatal,” Sosnowski said.Traffic came to a standstill for a time on part of Interstate 70 because of the falling hail, the National Weather Service said on X. Images of large hail chunks and at least one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/tornado-watch-issued-for-kansas-city-area-through-1-a-m-thursday">cracked windshield were shown on KSHB-TV</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710412661291.png" alt="Storm damage photo Wabaunsee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage photo Wabaunsee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Late Wednesday, forecasters issued tornado warnings in the areas around Topeka and to the north, while severe thunderstorm warnings were issued northeast of Kansas City in Missouri.“If you are in this warning, get away from windows and shelter inside now!!!” the National Weather Service posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The weather service said the storm had previously produced “softball-sized hail,” or 3.5-inch (8.9-centimeter) chunks.The weather service also issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas through Thursday morning, after which forecasters said the storm will move to the east.While the hail threat lessens Thursday, meteorologists said heavy rain and high winds were still possible from northeastern Texas through central Missouri.The biggest threat on Friday is for torrential rain — perhaps up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) in some spots — in a line from central Louisiana up through central Arkansas, Sosnowski said.Other parts of the country also were seeing severe weather.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-snowstorm-colorado-0a1d0ccb98147b5fe1ceab2105b2e051">A major snowstorm hit Colorado</a>&nbsp;starting Wednesday night, closing numerous schools and government offices and shutting down sections of highways leading to the Denver area. That storm wasn’t expected to wind down until Friday.

Storm carrying tornadoes, massive hail hits parts of Kansas and Missouri

GARDNER, Kansas. –Kansas inmate 49-year-old&nbsp; John Evans Johnson, Jr., has been placed on escape status after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JSDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) facility this afternoon, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Johnson, a 49-year-old white male with green eyes, stands 5-feet-9 inches tall and weighs 191 pounds. He has a shaved head and nine tattoos across his arms, legs, neck, and back.

He was placed on escape status when he did not return to the residential center following two job interviews.

Johnson has been serving a one-year sentence at the Johnson County Work Release Center since August 3, 2023. He was convicted in Wyandotte County for one count of burglary.

Anyone with information on Johnson should call the KDOC’s Enforcement, Apprehension, and Investigations Division (EAI) at 816-266-2102, the JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911. Kansans can also contact EAI via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov">KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710296412569.png" alt="Johnson fron am earlier arrest in Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson fron am earlier arrest in Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>GARDNER, Kansas. –Kansas inmate 49-year-old&nbsp; John Evans Johnson, Jr., has been placed on escape status after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JSDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) facility this afternoon, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.Johnson, a 49-year-old white male with green eyes, stands 5-feet-9 inches tall and weighs 191 pounds. He has a shaved head and nine tattoos across his arms, legs, neck, and back.He was placed on escape status when he did not return to the residential center following two job interviews.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710296332190.png" alt="Johnson photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>Johnson has been serving a one-year sentence at the Johnson County Work Release Center since August 3, 2023. He was convicted in Wyandotte County for one count of burglary.Anyone with information on Johnson should call the KDOC’s Enforcement, Apprehension, and Investigations Division (EAI) at 816-266-2102, the JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911. Kansans can also contact EAI via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov">KDOC_EAI_Intel@ks.gov</a>

Search continues for Kan. prisoner who escaped from jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-bill-divest-5b5a685e8f1e19d22182d62526bf19b8">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">a national security threat</a>.

The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear.

TikTok, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-biden-bytedance-china-2acbaeb71e8bb0c6341f2bc55ba33e80">more than 170 million American users</a>, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.

The lawmakers contend that ByteDance is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-bytedance-user-data-d257d98125f69ac80f983e6067a84911">beholden to the Chinese government</a>, which could demand access to the data of TikTok’s consumers in the U.S. any time it wants. The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.

“We have given TikTok a clear choice,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “Separate from your parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party), and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. The choice is TikTok's.”

House passage of the bill is only the first step. The Senate would also need to pass the measure for it to become law, and lawmakers in that chamber indicated it would undergo a thorough review. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he'll have to consult with relevant committee chairs to determine the bill's path.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has said if Congress passes the measure, he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tiktok-ban-house-china-aaa884d8c974f0a35856af5ee6aa4e99">sign it</a>.

The House vote is the latest example of increased tensions between China and the U.S. By targeting TikTok, lawmakers are tackling what they see as a grave threat to America's national security — but also singling out a platform popular with millions of people, many of whom skew younger, just months before an election.

In a video posted on Wednesday evening, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said that the company has invested to keep user data safe and the TikTok platform free from outside manipulation. If passed, he said the bill would give more power to a handful of other social companies.

“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you,” Chew said in his message to the app’s users.

In anticipation of the vote, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, accused Washington of resorting to political tools when U.S. businesses fail to compete. He said the effort would disrupt normal business operations and undermine investor confidence "and will eventually backfire on the U.S. itself.”

Overall, 197 Republican lawmakers voted for the measure and 15 against. On the Democratic side, 155 voted for the bill and 50 against.

Some Republican opponents of the bill said the U.S. should warn consumers if there are data privacy and propaganda concerns, but the final choice should be left with consumers.

“The answer to authoritarianism is not more authoritarianism,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. “The answer to CCP-style propaganda is not CCP-style oppression. Let us slow down before we blunder down this very steep and slippery slope.”

Democrats also warned of the impact a ban would have on users in the U.S., including entrepreneurs and business owners. One of the no votes came from Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee.

“One of the key differences between us and those adversaries is the fact that they shut down newspapers, broadcast stations, and social media platforms. We do not,” Himes said. “We trust our citizens to be worthy of their democracy. We do not trust our government to decide what information they may or may not see.”

The day before the House vote, top national security officials in the Biden administration held a closed-door briefing with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and the national security implications. Lawmakers are balancing those security concerns against a desire not to limit free speech online.

“What we've tried to do here is be very thoughtful and deliberate about the need to force a divestiture of TikTok without granting any authority to the executive branch to regulate content or go after any American company,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher, the bill's author, as he emerged from the briefing.

TikTok has long denied that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government. The company has said it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and won’t do so if it is asked. To date, the U.S. government also has not provided evidence that shows TikTok shared such information with Chinese authorities.

Republican leaders moved quickly to bring up the bill after its introduction last week by Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. A House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bill-support-congress-china-data-f1ec5b720bb68884c6423c62f314dcff">approved the legislation</a>&nbsp;unanimously, on a 50-0 vote, even after their offices were inundated with calls from TikTok users demanding they drop the effort. Some offices even shut off their phones because of the onslaught. Supporters of the bill said the effort backfired.

“(It) provided members a preview of how the platform could be weaponized to inject disinformation into our system,” Gallagher said.

Lawmakers in both parties are anxious to confront China on a range of issues. The House formed a special committee to focus on China-related issues. And Schumer directed committee chairs to begin working with Republicans on a bipartisan China competition bill.

Schumer is likely to feel some pressure from within his own party to move on the TikTok legislation. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner announced after the House vote that he would work to “get this bill passed through the Senate and signed into law.”

In a joint statement with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the top Republican on the intelligence panel, Warner said that “we are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok — a platform with enormous power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance remains legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who chairs another panel with jurisdiction on the issue, said she would "try to find a path forward that is constitutional and protects civil liberties.”

Roughly 30 TikTok influencers and others who traveled with them spoke out against the bill on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. They chanted phrases like “Keep TikTok” ahead of the vote. They also held signs that read “TikTok changed my life for the better” and “TikTok helped me grow my business.”

Dan Salinger, a Sacramento, California-based TikTok creator in attendance, said he started creating content on the app during the COVID-19 pandemic purely out of boredom. But since then his account, which features videos about his life and his father, who suffers from dementia, has grown in popularity. Today, he has 2 million followers on the app.

“I’m actually appalled for many reasons,” Salinger said. “The speed with which they’re pushing this bill through does not give enough time for Americans to voice their concerns and opinions.”

Former President Donald Trump has spoken out against the House effort, but his vice president, Mike Pence, is urging Schumer to bring the House bill to a vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708714541315.png" alt="Image from President Biden's TikTok account" />
 <figcaption>Image from President Biden's TikTok account</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-bill-divest-5b5a685e8f1e19d22182d62526bf19b8">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app TikTok if its China-based owner doesn't sell its stake, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">a national security threat</a>.The bill, passed by a vote of 352-65, now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear.TikTok, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-biden-bytedance-china-2acbaeb71e8bb0c6341f2bc55ba33e80">more than 170 million American users</a>, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.The lawmakers contend that ByteDance is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-bytedance-user-data-d257d98125f69ac80f983e6067a84911">beholden to the Chinese government</a>, which could demand access to the data of TikTok’s consumers in the U.S. any time it wants. The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering.“We have given TikTok a clear choice,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “Separate from your parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party), and remain operational in the United States, or side with the CCP and face the consequences. The choice is TikTok's.”House passage of the bill is only the first step. The Senate would also need to pass the measure for it to become law, and lawmakers in that chamber indicated it would undergo a thorough review. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he'll have to consult with relevant committee chairs to determine the bill's path.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has said if Congress passes the measure, he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tiktok-ban-house-china-aaa884d8c974f0a35856af5ee6aa4e99">sign it</a>.The House vote is the latest example of increased tensions between China and the U.S. By targeting TikTok, lawmakers are tackling what they see as a grave threat to America's national security — but also singling out a platform popular with millions of people, many of whom skew younger, just months before an election.In a video posted on Wednesday evening, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said that the company has invested to keep user data safe and the TikTok platform free from outside manipulation. If passed, he said the bill would give more power to a handful of other social companies.“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you,” Chew said in his message to the app’s users.In anticipation of the vote, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, accused Washington of resorting to political tools when U.S. businesses fail to compete. He said the effort would disrupt normal business operations and undermine investor confidence "and will eventually backfire on the U.S. itself.”Overall, 197 Republican lawmakers voted for the measure and 15 against. On the Democratic side, 155 voted for the bill and 50 against.Some Republican opponents of the bill said the U.S. should warn consumers if there are data privacy and propaganda concerns, but the final choice should be left with consumers.“The answer to authoritarianism is not more authoritarianism,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. “The answer to CCP-style propaganda is not CCP-style oppression. Let us slow down before we blunder down this very steep and slippery slope.”Democrats also warned of the impact a ban would have on users in the U.S., including entrepreneurs and business owners. One of the no votes came from Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee.“One of the key differences between us and those adversaries is the fact that they shut down newspapers, broadcast stations, and social media platforms. We do not,” Himes said. “We trust our citizens to be worthy of their democracy. We do not trust our government to decide what information they may or may not see.”The day before the House vote, top national security officials in the Biden administration held a closed-door briefing with lawmakers to discuss TikTok and the national security implications. Lawmakers are balancing those security concerns against a desire not to limit free speech online.“What we've tried to do here is be very thoughtful and deliberate about the need to force a divestiture of TikTok without granting any authority to the executive branch to regulate content or go after any American company,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher, the bill's author, as he emerged from the briefing.TikTok has long denied that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government. The company has said it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and won’t do so if it is asked. To date, the U.S. government also has not provided evidence that shows TikTok shared such information with Chinese authorities.Republican leaders moved quickly to bring up the bill after its introduction last week by Gallagher and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. A House committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bill-support-congress-china-data-f1ec5b720bb68884c6423c62f314dcff">approved the legislation</a>&nbsp;unanimously, on a 50-0 vote, even after their offices were inundated with calls from TikTok users demanding they drop the effort. Some offices even shut off their phones because of the onslaught. Supporters of the bill said the effort backfired.“(It) provided members a preview of how the platform could be weaponized to inject disinformation into our system,” Gallagher said.Lawmakers in both parties are anxious to confront China on a range of issues. The House formed a special committee to focus on China-related issues. And Schumer directed committee chairs to begin working with Republicans on a bipartisan China competition bill.Schumer is likely to feel some pressure from within his own party to move on the TikTok legislation. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner announced after the House vote that he would work to “get this bill passed through the Senate and signed into law.”In a joint statement with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the top Republican on the intelligence panel, Warner said that “we are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok — a platform with enormous power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance remains legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party.”Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell, who chairs another panel with jurisdiction on the issue, said she would "try to find a path forward that is constitutional and protects civil liberties.”Roughly 30 TikTok influencers and others who traveled with them spoke out against the bill on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. They chanted phrases like “Keep TikTok” ahead of the vote. They also held signs that read “TikTok changed my life for the better” and “TikTok helped me grow my business.”Dan Salinger, a Sacramento, California-based TikTok creator in attendance, said he started creating content on the app during the COVID-19 pandemic purely out of boredom. But since then his account, which features videos about his life and his father, who suffers from dementia, has grown in popularity. Today, he has 2 million followers on the app.“I’m actually appalled for many reasons,” Salinger said. “The speed with which they’re pushing this bill through does not give enough time for Americans to voice their concerns and opinions.”Former President Donald Trump has spoken out against the House effort, but his vice president, Mike Pence, is urging Schumer to bring the House bill to a vote.

China warns a TikTok ban would 'backfire on the U.S.'

BARTON COUNTY —A Rush County woman has a local business and law enforcement officers to thank for finding and returning the $44,900 in cash she could have easily lost to a scam. In addition, she was prevented from sending off another $20,000 in cash, according to a social media report from Great Bend Police.

“This began when UPS Store employees in Great Bend were suspicious of a package because something was loose inside,” said Det. John Reynolds of the Great Bend Police Department. “They decided to inspect the package only to discover a large amount of cash.

“They called us right away and, thanks to their diligence, the woman has all her money back.”

When Reynolds was notified of the circumstances, he reviewed the UPS Store’s video surveillance. He then took a picture from that video of the woman who wanted to ship the package to a business in Orange, Calif.

In the meantime, Det. Shane Becker started calling area banks, asking about any recent large cash withdrawals.

“As it turned out,” Reynolds said, “three area banks were involved and the woman’s photo was identified at one of the banks.”

Police also learned that the woman, who is in her 70s, was preparing to send off another $20,000. Her son was involved by this time and that cash was never shipped anywhere.

The incident began when the woman received a phone call from what appeared to be Washington, D.C., which was on the Caller ID.

“The caller said he was from the Department of Commerce. He told her they knew she had been involved in some type of scheme,” Reynolds reported. “Then she was informed that it would take $44,900 to keep her out of trouble. She later received a second call demanding $20,000. If they think they have been successful with the first call, they will try again. Thankfully, the bank had notified her son, and the loss was prevented.”

The caller suggested that, if banks started asking questions, the woman should explain that she was buying a vehicle with the cash.

“We all know these kinds of scams occur frequently,” Reynolds said. “I encourage everyone to keep in mind that no legitimate business or government agency is ever going to demand cash. The best advice I can give is to verify that a caller is legitimate and if you have any questions, contact law enforcement.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710336521429.jpeg" alt="The Great Bend Police Department recovered $44,900 in cash recently and returned it to its rightful owner." />
 <figcaption>The Great Bend Police Department recovered $44,900 in cash recently and returned it to its rightful owner.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A Rush County woman has a local business and law enforcement officers to thank for finding and returning the $44,900 in cash she could have easily lost to a scam. In addition, she was prevented from sending off another $20,000 in cash, according to a social media report from Great Bend Police.“This began when UPS Store employees in Great Bend were suspicious of a package because something was loose inside,” said Det. John Reynolds of the Great Bend Police Department. “They decided to inspect the package only to discover a large amount of cash.“They called us right away and, thanks to their diligence, the woman has all her money back.”When Reynolds was notified of the circumstances, he reviewed the UPS Store’s video surveillance. He then took a picture from that video of the woman who wanted to ship the package to a business in Orange, Calif.In the meantime, Det. Shane Becker started calling area banks, asking about any recent large cash withdrawals.“As it turned out,” Reynolds said, “three area banks were involved and the woman’s photo was identified at one of the banks.”Police also learned that the woman, who is in her 70s, was preparing to send off another $20,000. Her son was involved by this time and that cash was never shipped anywhere.The incident began when the woman received a phone call from what appeared to be Washington, D.C., which was on the Caller ID.“The caller said he was from the Department of Commerce. He told her they knew she had been involved in some type of scheme,” Reynolds reported. “Then she was informed that it would take $44,900 to keep her out of trouble. She later received a second call demanding $20,000. If they think they have been successful with the first call, they will try again. Thankfully, the bank had notified her son, and the loss was prevented.”The caller suggested that, if banks started asking questions, the woman should explain that she was buying a vehicle with the cash.“We all know these kinds of scams occur frequently,” Reynolds said. “I encourage everyone to keep in mind that no legitimate business or government agency is ever going to demand cash. The best advice I can give is to verify that a caller is legitimate and if you have any questions, contact law enforcement.”

UPS Store, police work to return $44K to Kansas woman

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit over a 7-year-old boy's murder in 2015 alleging that the state's child welfare agency should have removed him from an abusive home before he was starved and tortured and his body was fed to pigs.

Gov. Laura Kelly and top leaders of the Kansas Legislature approved the settlement during a brief public meeting Tuesday after conferring with state Attorney General Kris Kobach's top deputy in private for 30 minutes.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-17f42815227d4e0ba9c7fbf8bb68ee61">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;was filed in 2017 in Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area by the boy's mother, maternal grandmother and adult sister, and a district court trial was scheduled for April 2025

The boy, Adrian Jones, was living with his father,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-national-national-9321f31d1832489aa244dc08b1101504">Michael Jones,</a>&nbsp;and his stepmother, Heather Jones, in Kansas City, Kansas, when he died. Both are serving 25 years-to-life prison sentences for his murder, and authorities said the boy was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6688580c50054f4eb07dc0a96c335cc3">beaten and locked naked in a shower stall</a>&nbsp;for months as a closed-circuit surveillance camera recorded his deteriorating condition.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families received reports that Adrian was being abused several years before his death, but its last physical contact with him was almost four years before his death, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc">more than 2,000 pages of records</a>&nbsp;released in 2017 by the agency. The records showed that the three of them moved frequently between communities in Kansas and Missouri.

“This has been a long journey for Adrian's family,” said Matt Birch, an attorney representing the family members. “The most important thing for the family was to hopefully make a change and make this less likely to happen in the future.”

The family members' lawsuit argued that the state and social workers could have “stepped in and rescued” Adrian “at any point during the child's lengthy, unimaginable ordeal” but “chose to act like disinterested bystanders.” The Kansas agency argued that frequent moves made it difficult to keep tabs on the boy.

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat and one of the lawmakers who approved the settlement, said Wednesday that she believes the state faced “a lot of liability” legally for what happened.

But Kelly told reporters Wednesday at the Statehouse that the issue wasn't the potential damages in a lawsuit but the litigation distracting it from “the mission at hand” of improving the child welfare system.

“It really had to do with wanting to get that settled and not spend time litigating in courts for what could be definitely months, maybe even years,” she said.

The resolution approving the settlement, made public Wednesday, shows that the department will pay half of the settlement and the other half will come from a special state fund that covers damages in lawsuits.

An attorney and its employees in the lawsuit did not immediately return a telephone message Wednesday seeking comment. Kobach's office also did not comment.

The Democratic governor and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the settlement during a public meeting, but its open portions totaled less than five minutes before and after the closed session with Chief Deputy Attorney General Dan Burrows.

While Kelly read the lawsuit's title before the vote, neither she nor the lawmakers discussed details publicly Tuesday, following what has been a standard practice for years. Typically, there is no formal follow-up announcement to the public.

Told about the $1 million settlement Wednesday, state Rep. Susan Concannon, a Republican from western Kansas who chairs the Legislature's Joint Committee on Child Welfare Oversight, said: “I am a little bit surprised that it's not more than that.”

A multiyear legislative review of the child welfare system followed the boy's death. In 2021, “Adrian's Law” created the committee Concannon heads and required officers and caseworkers to visually observe children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect.

The state also has moved to improve doctors' training in recognizing abuse and to provide “wrap-around” services for troubled families.

Birch said that he and the family hope that through the lawsuit and 2021 law “there will be more eyes on these kids.”

Adrian's family members also filed a lawsuit in 2017 in Jackson County, Missouri, also in the Kansas City-area, against officials in that state. The case was settled in 2020, but the details were not immediately available, and Birch said he couldn't comment.

Adrian's remains were found in November 2015 in a pigsty on his father and stepmother's rental property after officers responded to a domestic violence call. Heather Jones accused Michael Jones of beating and choking her, according to affidavits and search warrants later released by authorities.

According to court records the Joneses used increasingly severe methods to control the boy's behavior, including strapping him to an inversion table, handcuffing him and shocking him with a device called a Zap Enforcer. He also suffered from “extreme starvation,” court records said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710361813105.png" alt="Jomes-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Jomes-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit over a 7-year-old boy's murder in 2015 alleging that the state's child welfare agency should have removed him from an abusive home before he was starved and tortured and his body was fed to pigs.Gov. Laura Kelly and top leaders of the Kansas Legislature approved the settlement during a brief public meeting Tuesday after conferring with state Attorney General Kris Kobach's top deputy in private for 30 minutes.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-17f42815227d4e0ba9c7fbf8bb68ee61">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;was filed in 2017 in Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area by the boy's mother, maternal grandmother and adult sister, and a district court trial was scheduled for April 2025The boy, Adrian Jones, was living with his father,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-national-national-9321f31d1832489aa244dc08b1101504">Michael Jones,</a>&nbsp;and his stepmother, Heather Jones, in Kansas City, Kansas, when he died. Both are serving 25 years-to-life prison sentences for his murder, and authorities said the boy was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6688580c50054f4eb07dc0a96c335cc3">beaten and locked naked in a shower stall</a>&nbsp;for months as a closed-circuit surveillance camera recorded his deteriorating condition.The Kansas Department for Children and Families received reports that Adrian was being abused several years before his death, but its last physical contact with him was almost four years before his death, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7ad45aca09d6470bb8f854bd731322bc">more than 2,000 pages of records</a>&nbsp;released in 2017 by the agency. The records showed that the three of them moved frequently between communities in Kansas and Missouri.“This has been a long journey for Adrian's family,” said Matt Birch, an attorney representing the family members. “The most important thing for the family was to hopefully make a change and make this less likely to happen in the future.”The family members' lawsuit argued that the state and social workers could have “stepped in and rescued” Adrian “at any point during the child's lengthy, unimaginable ordeal” but “chose to act like disinterested bystanders.” The Kansas agency argued that frequent moves made it difficult to keep tabs on the boy.Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat and one of the lawmakers who approved the settlement, said Wednesday that she believes the state faced “a lot of liability” legally for what happened.But Kelly told reporters Wednesday at the Statehouse that the issue wasn't the potential damages in a lawsuit but the litigation distracting it from “the mission at hand” of improving the child welfare system.“It really had to do with wanting to get that settled and not spend time litigating in courts for what could be definitely months, maybe even years,” she said.The resolution approving the settlement, made public Wednesday, shows that the department will pay half of the settlement and the other half will come from a special state fund that covers damages in lawsuits.An attorney and its employees in the lawsuit did not immediately return a telephone message Wednesday seeking comment. Kobach's office also did not comment.The Democratic governor and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the settlement during a public meeting, but its open portions totaled less than five minutes before and after the closed session with Chief Deputy Attorney General Dan Burrows.While Kelly read the lawsuit's title before the vote, neither she nor the lawmakers discussed details publicly Tuesday, following what has been a standard practice for years. Typically, there is no formal follow-up announcement to the public.Told about the $1 million settlement Wednesday, state Rep. Susan Concannon, a Republican from western Kansas who chairs the Legislature's Joint Committee on Child Welfare Oversight, said: “I am a little bit surprised that it's not more than that.”A multiyear legislative review of the child welfare system followed the boy's death. In 2021, “Adrian's Law” created the committee Concannon heads and required officers and caseworkers to visually observe children who are alleged victims of abuse or neglect.The state also has moved to improve doctors' training in recognizing abuse and to provide “wrap-around” services for troubled families.Birch said that he and the family hope that through the lawsuit and 2021 law “there will be more eyes on these kids.”Adrian's family members also filed a lawsuit in 2017 in Jackson County, Missouri, also in the Kansas City-area, against officials in that state. The case was settled in 2020, but the details were not immediately available, and Birch said he couldn't comment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710361942725.png" alt="Heather Jones-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyahdotte County" />
 <figcaption>Heather Jones-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyahdotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>Adrian's remains were found in November 2015 in a pigsty on his father and stepmother's rental property after officers responded to a domestic violence call. Heather Jones accused Michael Jones of beating and choking her, according to affidavits and search warrants later released by authorities.According to court records the Joneses used increasingly severe methods to control the boy's behavior, including strapping him to an inversion table, handcuffing him and shocking him with a device called a Zap Enforcer. He also suffered from “extreme starvation,” court records said.

Kansas will pay $1 million after boy was killed, fed to pigs

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff at a rural Kansas residence.

Just before noon March 7, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a concerned citizen residing north and east of Caney, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

The caller reported a suspected burglary after discovering the door to their home had been forcibly opened while they were away. The homeowner retreated and promptly notified law enforcement. Deputies, alongside the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol?__cft__[0]=AZVi9lh_elMtAUFXk4snFxjsVgibJWfEtBlNKGlZ5CWm5rCS1sg2CIO9Me8BWZ2LqKbWxSJgD7mNM0uxMTAVsOUDm2_CBWe6JtHswFmZwcrFn7f590Z9CaBWvgdrs4zjPWRQXU0gqNL3MGqrI8fvr9FL2q346RnhDo0ls9aa66LpdVLNEN7GtF77FpYAedlhzcM&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Highway Patrol</a>, responded to the scene.&nbsp;

Upon arrival, law enforcement observed a man within the residence attempting to evade detection by closing blinds. Despite verbal commands to surrender, the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Andrew F. Cook of Coffeyville, Kansas, refused to comply.

Following an hour-long negotiation Cook eventually exited the residence but persisted in defying law enforcement orders. To ensure a peaceful resolution, deputies utilized less-lethal methods to secure Cook's compliance. He was safely taken into custody without further incident and booked on requested charges including Burglary, attempted theft, interference with law enforcement, and criminal damage. 

The case is now under review by the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for proper charging.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710273114107.png" alt="Cook remains jailed in Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Cook remains jailed in Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff at a rural Kansas residence.Just before noon March 7, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a concerned citizen residing north and east of Caney, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.The caller reported a suspected burglary after discovering the door to their home had been forcibly opened while they were away. The homeowner retreated and promptly notified law enforcement. Deputies, alongside the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshighwayPatrol?__cft__[0]=AZVi9lh_elMtAUFXk4snFxjsVgibJWfEtBlNKGlZ5CWm5rCS1sg2CIO9Me8BWZ2LqKbWxSJgD7mNM0uxMTAVsOUDm2_CBWe6JtHswFmZwcrFn7f590Z9CaBWvgdrs4zjPWRQXU0gqNL3MGqrI8fvr9FL2q346RnhDo0ls9aa66LpdVLNEN7GtF77FpYAedlhzcM&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Highway Patrol</a>, responded to the scene.&nbsp;Upon arrival, law enforcement observed a man within the residence attempting to evade detection by closing blinds. Despite verbal commands to surrender, the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Andrew F. Cook of Coffeyville, Kansas, refused to comply.Following an hour-long negotiation Cook eventually exited the residence but persisted in defying law enforcement orders. To ensure a peaceful resolution, deputies utilized less-lethal methods to secure Cook's compliance. He was safely taken into custody without further incident and booked on requested charges including Burglary, attempted theft, interference with law enforcement, and criminal damage. The case is now under review by the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for proper charging.&nbsp;

Homeowner finds burglary suspect in rural Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) —Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;plans to announce a running mate for his independent presidential campaign on March 26 in Oakland, California, his campaign said Tuesday.

The campaign did not say whom Kennedy will pick, but he told The New York Times this week that NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura are among the frontrunners.

Kennedy is making an unusually early announcement because of ballot access rules in many states that require independent candidates to name their vice presidential nominees before they can begin the process. Ballot access for independent candidates is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, with rules varying vastly across states.

Kennedy's father was attorney general for the candidate's uncle, President John F. Kennedy. He began his presidential campaign as a primary challenge to Democratic President Joe Biden but later changed gears to run as an independent. His bid for the presidency, along with his embrace of conspiracy theories and views on vaccines that aren't supported by scientific consensus, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-joe-biden-2024-democrat-super-bowl-e4dee4be456e643be11735c6e4029377">angered</a>&nbsp;many of his famous relatives.

Kennedy is a lawyer and environmental activist who has found a loyal following among people who believe vaccines are harmful. He's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">energized supporters</a>&nbsp;alienated from the political system and distrustful of the government, corporations and media.

Candidates from outside the Republican and Democratic parties rarely make a splash, if they can make the ballot to begin with. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/whos-running-for-president-2024-f3555069195ad71e466646f826dad779">third-party candidates</a>&nbsp;don’t usually carry a famous last name like Kennedy’s, or his existing network of supporters.

Rodgers, the longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback who now plays for the New York Jets, shares Kennedy’s distrust of vaccine mandates and, like Kennedy, is a fixture on anti-establishment podcasts. Ventura, a former professional wrestler, shocked observers when he won the race for Minnesota governor as an independent candidate in 1998.

WASHINGTON (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;is having conversations with vice presidential candidates as he gets closer to announcing his running mate for his independent presidential bid.

Kennedy told The New York Times that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/aaron-rodgers">NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers</a>&nbsp;and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura are at the top of his list. Stefanie Spear, a campaign spokesperson, confirmed the Times report and said there are other names on Kennedy's short list.

Kennedy, a scion of one of the nation's most prominent political families, has focused on getting access to the ballot, an expensive and time-consuming process that he has said will require him to collect more than a million signatures in a state-by-state effort.

Many states require independent candidates to name a running mate before they can seek access to the ballot, a factor driving the early push for Kennedy to make a pick. Major party candidates generally don't pick vice presidential nominees until closer to their summer conventions.

Kennedy is a lawyer and environmental activist who has become a leading figure in the movement that rejects the scientific consensus around vaccines. and a vocal critic of the public health establishment.

After originally running as a Democrat, he refocused his efforts around an independent campaign last year, spooking loyalists of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who worry he'll pick up supporters who would otherwise back one of the major party candidates.

Rodgers, the longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback who now plays for the New York Jets, shares Kennedy's distrust of vaccine mandates and, like Kennedy, is a fixture on anti-establishment podcasts. Ventura, a former professional wrestler, shocked observers when he won the race for Minnesota governor as an independent candidate in 1998.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696873934428.png" alt="Kennedy is making an unusually early announcement because of ballot access rules in many states that require independent candidates to name their vice presidential nominees before they can begin the process.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy is making an unusually early announcement because of ballot access rules in many states that require independent candidates to name their vice presidential nominees before they can begin the process.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;plans to announce a running mate for his independent presidential campaign on March 26 in Oakland, California, his campaign said Tuesday.The campaign did not say whom Kennedy will pick, but he told The New York Times this week that NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura are among the frontrunners.Kennedy is making an unusually early announcement because of ballot access rules in many states that require independent candidates to name their vice presidential nominees before they can begin the process. Ballot access for independent candidates is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, with rules varying vastly across states.Kennedy's father was attorney general for the candidate's uncle, President John F. Kennedy. He began his presidential campaign as a primary challenge to Democratic President Joe Biden but later changed gears to run as an independent. His bid for the presidency, along with his embrace of conspiracy theories and views on vaccines that aren't supported by scientific consensus, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-joe-biden-2024-democrat-super-bowl-e4dee4be456e643be11735c6e4029377">angered</a>&nbsp;many of his famous relatives.Kennedy is a lawyer and environmental activist who has found a loyal following among people who believe vaccines are harmful. He's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">energized supporters</a>&nbsp;alienated from the political system and distrustful of the government, corporations and media.Candidates from outside the Republican and Democratic parties rarely make a splash, if they can make the ballot to begin with. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/whos-running-for-president-2024-f3555069195ad71e466646f826dad779">third-party candidates</a>&nbsp;don’t usually carry a famous last name like Kennedy’s, or his existing network of supporters.Rodgers, the longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback who now plays for the New York Jets, shares Kennedy’s distrust of vaccine mandates and, like Kennedy, is a fixture on anti-establishment podcasts. Ventura, a former professional wrestler, shocked observers when he won the race for Minnesota governor as an independent candidate in 1998.-----------------------WASHINGTON (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;is having conversations with vice presidential candidates as he gets closer to announcing his running mate for his independent presidential bid.Kennedy told The New York Times that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/aaron-rodgers">NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers</a>&nbsp;and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura are at the top of his list. Stefanie Spear, a campaign spokesperson, confirmed the Times report and said there are other names on Kennedy's short list.Kennedy, a scion of one of the nation's most prominent political families, has focused on getting access to the ballot, an expensive and time-consuming process that he has said will require him to collect more than a million signatures in a state-by-state effort.Many states require independent candidates to name a running mate before they can seek access to the ballot, a factor driving the early push for Kennedy to make a pick. Major party candidates generally don't pick vice presidential nominees until closer to their summer conventions.Kennedy is a lawyer and environmental activist who has become a leading figure in the movement that rejects the scientific consensus around vaccines. and a vocal critic of the public health establishment.After originally running as a Democrat, he refocused his efforts around an independent campaign last year, spooking loyalists of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who worry he'll pick up supporters who would otherwise back one of the major party candidates.Rodgers, the longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback who now plays for the New York Jets, shares Kennedy's distrust of vaccine mandates and, like Kennedy, is a fixture on anti-establishment podcasts. Ventura, a former professional wrestler, shocked observers when he won the race for Minnesota governor as an independent candidate in 1998.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. forced to name vice presidential running mate early

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after noon Sunday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 in southern Jackson County on a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup truck, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver was suspected of driving without a valid driver’s license. During the course of the vehicle stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 indicated the presence of drugs and or narcotics within the vehicle. A search was done and revealed items of drug contraband inside the vehicle.

The driver, David Douglas Friend, 52, of Meriden, Kansas, was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with no valid license. Friend was booked into the Jackson County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710164560710.png" alt="Friend-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Friend-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after noon Sunday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 in southern Jackson County on a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup truck, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver was suspected of driving without a valid driver’s license. During the course of the vehicle stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 indicated the presence of drugs and or narcotics within the vehicle. A search was done and revealed items of drug contraband inside the vehicle.The driver, David Douglas Friend, 52, of Meriden, Kansas, was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with no valid license. Friend was booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Kan. sheriff's K9 found meth man had for sale

By RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/kansas-lawmakers-dig-into-pandemic-relief-spending-report/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —Kansas House lawmakers advanced a wide-ranging bill Tuesday that includes Republican plans to ban trans children from getting gender-affirming medical care amid outcry from worried parents.&nbsp;

The bill is part of a wave of anti-trans legislation pushed by Republican-dominated legislatures throughout the U.S.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map">Twenty-two states</a>&nbsp;have similar bans, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Nebraska.&nbsp;

Several LGBTQ lawmakers urged fellow lawmakers against voting for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb233/">Senate Bill 233</a>. Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, one of the Statehouse’s few gay lawmakers, said he would continue to fight for the state’s LGBTQ residents.&nbsp;

“Nobody is grooming children to be gay or trans,” Woodard said. “…Please, in your rhetoric, remember that trans people are humans as well. Being trans is not an ideology, which has been referenced in this building. Me loving who I am is not a lifestyle. It is who we are.”&nbsp;

SB 233 bans health care professionals from using surgery or puberty blockers to treat children whose gender identity doesn’t match their sex. It would also ban state employees from helping minors to “social transition,” such as using a trans child’s preferred pronouns. The bill gained initial approval on the House floor, with final action on the bill expected tomorrow.&nbsp;

Similar legislation was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, and a veto override attempt failed during the last legislative session, but lawmakers continue to attempt to regulate transgender Kansans’ lives.&nbsp;

The state made news last year when it became the 20th state to pass a transgender student athlete ban into law in April, after lawmakers overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. The Legislature adopted Senate Bill 180 last year through veto override. That law, which continues to be the subject of litigation, has led to a temporary restraining order blocking Kelly’s administration from making gender marker changes on identity cards and driver’s licenses.

These restrictions go against commonly-accepted medical practices. Gender-affirming care for youths is supported by health care organizations including American Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/2/e2021056082/186992/Gender-Identity-5-Years-After-Social-Transition?autologincheck=redirected%3fnfToken%3d00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp;also released a 2022 study showing that 97.5% of trans-identifying youth still identified as trans years later. An adolescent health study found 98% of young people who start gender-affirming care in adolescence continue care as adults.

Author of the bill Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician registered in Texas, waved aside gender-affirming care practices to push forward the legislation during Tuesday’s debate.&nbsp;

“No matter what reality says, no matter what their body says, if the child says ‘I’m this,’ the affirmative model says we must change reality to meet what’s in the child’s head,” Bryce said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the initial bill hearings in a House legislative committee, transgender Kansans told legislators multiple times how damaging the legislation could be for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.&nbsp;

Committee chairwoman Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, responded by forcing transgender activists out of the hearing, and later held a surprise&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/07/kansas-democrats-blast-gop-physicians-for-pushing-disinformation-in-debate-on-anti-trans-bill/">committee meeting</a>&nbsp;without giving notice to the public to take action on the bill.

Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat and LGBT lawmaker, said banning medical professionals from providing care was unethical. Transgender youth face heightened risk of suicide. The Trevor Project estimated that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth consider suicide every year in the U.S. In a 2023 study, the project found that roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed had seriously&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/facts-about-lgbtq-youth-suicide/">contemplated suicide</a>.&nbsp;

“For us to say, ‘Well, let’s just wait till they grow out of it.’ Well, you know, let’s just hope they’re still alive, and see if that even happens,” Ruiz said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710359908227.png" alt="Rep. Ron Bryce said gender-affirming care for minors goes against what "reality says." (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ron Bryce said gender-affirming care for minors goes against what "reality says." (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/kansas-lawmakers-dig-into-pandemic-relief-spending-report/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —Kansas House lawmakers advanced a wide-ranging bill Tuesday that includes Republican plans to ban trans children from getting gender-affirming medical care amid outcry from worried parents.&nbsp;The bill is part of a wave of anti-trans legislation pushed by Republican-dominated legislatures throughout the U.S.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map">Twenty-two states</a>&nbsp;have similar bans, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Nebraska.&nbsp;Several LGBTQ lawmakers urged fellow lawmakers against voting for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb233/">Senate Bill 233</a>. Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, one of the Statehouse’s few gay lawmakers, said he would continue to fight for the state’s LGBTQ residents.&nbsp;“Nobody is grooming children to be gay or trans,” Woodard said. “…Please, in your rhetoric, remember that trans people are humans as well. Being trans is not an ideology, which has been referenced in this building. Me loving who I am is not a lifestyle. It is who we are.”&nbsp;SB 233 bans health care professionals from using surgery or puberty blockers to treat children whose gender identity doesn’t match their sex. It would also ban state employees from helping minors to “social transition,” such as using a trans child’s preferred pronouns. The bill gained initial approval on the House floor, with final action on the bill expected tomorrow.&nbsp;Similar legislation was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, and a veto override attempt failed during the last legislative session, but lawmakers continue to attempt to regulate transgender Kansans’ lives.&nbsp;The state made news last year when it became the 20th state to pass a transgender student athlete ban into law in April, after lawmakers overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. The Legislature adopted Senate Bill 180 last year through veto override. That law, which continues to be the subject of litigation, has led to a temporary restraining order blocking Kelly’s administration from making gender marker changes on identity cards and driver’s licenses.These restrictions go against commonly-accepted medical practices. Gender-affirming care for youths is supported by health care organizations including American Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/2/e2021056082/186992/Gender-Identity-5-Years-After-Social-Transition?autologincheck=redirected%3fnfToken%3d00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp;also released a 2022 study showing that 97.5% of trans-identifying youth still identified as trans years later. An adolescent health study found 98% of young people who start gender-affirming care in adolescence continue care as adults.Author of the bill Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician registered in Texas, waved aside gender-affirming care practices to push forward the legislation during Tuesday’s debate.&nbsp;“No matter what reality says, no matter what their body says, if the child says ‘I’m this,’ the affirmative model says we must change reality to meet what’s in the child’s head,” Bryce said.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the initial bill hearings in a House legislative committee, transgender Kansans told legislators multiple times how damaging the legislation could be for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.&nbsp;Committee chairwoman Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, responded by forcing transgender activists out of the hearing, and later held a surprise&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/07/kansas-democrats-blast-gop-physicians-for-pushing-disinformation-in-debate-on-anti-trans-bill/">committee meeting</a>&nbsp;without giving notice to the public to take action on the bill.Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat and LGBT lawmaker, said banning medical professionals from providing care was unethical. Transgender youth face heightened risk of suicide. The Trevor Project estimated that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth consider suicide every year in the U.S. In a 2023 study, the project found that roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed had seriously&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/article/facts-about-lgbtq-youth-suicide/">contemplated suicide</a>.&nbsp;“For us to say, ‘Well, let’s just wait till they grow out of it.’ Well, you know, let’s just hope they’re still alive, and see if that even happens,” Ruiz said.&nbsp;

Kan. bill banning affirming care for trans kids headed toward fight with governor

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Dollar Tree will close nearly 1,000 stores and swung to a surprise fourth quarter loss as the discount retailer took a related $1.07 billion goodwill impairment charge.

Shares tumbled 15% before the opening bell Wednesday.

Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.

Dollar Tree&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a315fcf8a1264ed7bb38ede89611202f">acquired Family Dollar for more than $8 billion</a>&nbsp;almost a decade ago after a bidding war with rival Dollar General, but it has had difficulty absorbing the chain.

“This dramatic cull is the coup de grâce in the rather botched acquisition of the Family Dollar chain, which has caused Dollar Tree nothing but hassle since it was completed back in 2015,” wrote Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. “Basically, almost ten years on, Dollar Tree is still sifting through the mess it inherited and has not been able to completely turn around,” Saunders said.

Saunders said in an emailed statement that nearly 12% of current Family Dollar stores will be closing over the next three years.

For the three months ended Feb. 3, Dollar Tree lost $1.71 billion, or $7.85 per share. A year earlier the Chesapeake, Virginia, company earned $452.2 million, or $2.04 per share.

Stripping out certain items, earnings were $2.55 per share, which is still short of the per-share earnings of $2.67 expected on Wall Street, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.

Revenue climbed to $8.64 billion from $7.72 billion, a bit below Wall Street’s estimate of $8.67 billion.

Dollar Tree has been attracting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">consumers</a>&nbsp;that have been stung by inflation as they seek to cut spending. During the quarter, sales at Dollar Tree stores open at least a year climbed 6.3%, with traffic up 7.1%. While more shoppers were heading to stores, they were closely watching how much they spent, with average ticket down 0.7%.

At Family Dollar, sales at stores open at least a year slipped 1.2%. Traffic edged up 0.7%, but average ticket fell 2%.

For fiscal 2024, Dollar Tree anticipates earnings between $6.70 and $7.30 per share. Revenue is expected in a range of $31 billion to $32 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet expect full-year earnings of $7.04 on revenue of $31.68 billion.

Dollar Tree expects first-quarter earnings of $1.33 to $1.48 per share on revenue in a range of $7.6 billion to $7.9 billion.

Wall Street anticipates first-quarter earnings of $1.70 on revenue of $7.68 billion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710339881014.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Dollar Tree will close nearly 1,000 stores and swung to a surprise fourth quarter loss as the discount retailer took a related $1.07 billion goodwill impairment charge.Shares tumbled 15% before the opening bell Wednesday.Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.Dollar Tree&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a315fcf8a1264ed7bb38ede89611202f">acquired Family Dollar for more than $8 billion</a>&nbsp;almost a decade ago after a bidding war with rival Dollar General, but it has had difficulty absorbing the chain.“This dramatic cull is the coup de grâce in the rather botched acquisition of the Family Dollar chain, which has caused Dollar Tree nothing but hassle since it was completed back in 2015,” wrote Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. “Basically, almost ten years on, Dollar Tree is still sifting through the mess it inherited and has not been able to completely turn around,” Saunders said.Saunders said in an emailed statement that nearly 12% of current Family Dollar stores will be closing over the next three years.For the three months ended Feb. 3, Dollar Tree lost $1.71 billion, or $7.85 per share. A year earlier the Chesapeake, Virginia, company earned $452.2 million, or $2.04 per share.Stripping out certain items, earnings were $2.55 per share, which is still short of the per-share earnings of $2.67 expected on Wall Street, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.Revenue climbed to $8.64 billion from $7.72 billion, a bit below Wall Street’s estimate of $8.67 billion.Dollar Tree has been attracting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-price-gouging-spending-economy-999e81e2f869a0151e2ee6bbb63370af">consumers</a>&nbsp;that have been stung by inflation as they seek to cut spending. During the quarter, sales at Dollar Tree stores open at least a year climbed 6.3%, with traffic up 7.1%. While more shoppers were heading to stores, they were closely watching how much they spent, with average ticket down 0.7%.At Family Dollar, sales at stores open at least a year slipped 1.2%. Traffic edged up 0.7%, but average ticket fell 2%.For fiscal 2024, Dollar Tree anticipates earnings between $6.70 and $7.30 per share. Revenue is expected in a range of $31 billion to $32 billion.Analysts polled by FactSet expect full-year earnings of $7.04 on revenue of $31.68 billion.Dollar Tree expects first-quarter earnings of $1.33 to $1.48 per share on revenue in a range of $7.6 billion to $7.9 billion.Wall Street anticipates first-quarter earnings of $1.70 on revenue of $7.68 billion.