SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a drug deal killing is going to prison.

On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251032">Tobias Love</a>, 21, Wichita, was sentenced to 109 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. July 1, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 block of North Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers arrived on the scene and located 17-year-old Jaron Reed unconscious and not breathing with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene.

While officers were processing the scene a 21-year-old male victim arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. The 21-year-old victim had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 21- year-old victim was treated by medical staff and dismissed from the hospital and transported to investigations for further questioning.

Detectives learned that Reed and Love met to conduct a drug transaction before multiple shots were fired. Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

In July, Love was charged with first-degree murder and one count of distribution of marijuana. He later accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder and distribution of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711207161145.png" alt="Love photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Love photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a drug deal killing is going to prison.On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251032">Tobias Love</a>, 21, Wichita, was sentenced to 109 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.At approximately 6:30 p.m. July 1, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 block of North Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688315722286.png" alt="-First responders at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-First responders at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers arrived on the scene and located 17-year-old Jaron Reed unconscious and not breathing with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene.While officers were processing the scene a 21-year-old male victim arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. The 21-year-old victim had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The 21- year-old victim was treated by medical staff and dismissed from the hospital and transported to investigations for further questioning.Detectives learned that Reed and Love met to conduct a drug transaction before multiple shots were fired. Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.In July, Love was charged with first-degree murder and one count of distribution of marijuana. He later accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder and distribution of marijuana.

Kansas man accepts plea deal for drug sale murder

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> Kansas Reflector

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/"></a> TOPEKA — Legislation billed as a way to block underage Kansans from seeing porn could potentially stop teens from accessing classical works of art, books, LGBTQ material and other online content housed on websites, as well as potentially cost these websites thousands in legal fees, critics warn.

If implemented, the bill would also cost the state around $210,000 in fiscal year 2025 and at least $220,000 in fiscal year 2026 to create new positions to investigate websites, according to fiscal note estimates.&nbsp;

Though several Democratic lawmakers urged their colleagues in the House to more carefully consider the chilling effects of the bill, a Republican-dominated vote has moved the bill one step closer to passage.&nbsp;

Rep. Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican and carrier of the bill, warned her colleagues of the dangers of porn Monday.&nbsp;

“Pornography normalizes violence and abuse against women and children,” Humphries said. “It impacts brain development and functioning and is potentially biologically addictive.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb394/">Senate Bill 394</a>&nbsp;would require age verification for websites that contain 25% or more content that is “harmful to minors,” as defined by state statute.&nbsp;

Current state statute defines the description, exhibition, presentation, or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sadomasochistic abuse as harmful to minors. Since homosexuality is rolled into the definition of “sexual conduct” under statute, several lawmakers said this wording could lead to a ban on LGBTQ online materials for those under 18.&nbsp;

The bill contains a caution that the work must be deemed to contain “prurient interest in sex to minors,” and that a reasonable person would find the material lacking in serious literary, scientific, educational, artistic or political value for minors. But bill critics warned of the dangers of leaving this standard up to subjective interpretation.&nbsp;

Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, pressed Humphries on the bill’s full implications for LGBTQ content. Xu gave the example of a blog listing the most gay-friendly cities. A website dedicated to providing seminal books such as the “The Catcher in the Rye,” or even the Bible could also be subject to restrictions. An art blog depicting the statue of David could also be subjected to scrutiny.

“With all these bills, think about the unintended consequences or intended consequences, I don’t know,” Xu said. “The definitions are much broader than we actually think.”

Under the bill, the attorney general would be responsible for investigating public reports of noncompliance with the law. The attorney general would be allowed to seek civil penalties against websites ranging from $500 to $10,000 for each underage visit. The parent or guardian of a minor who gained access to age-restricted websites would be allowed to file a lawsuit and seek damages of $50,000 or more.

Wichita Democrat Rep. John Carmichael, one of several other lawmakers to point out the bill’s shortcomings, said parents already had many ways to stop their children from watching porn.

“We in America cherish our First Amendment rights,” Carmichael said. “I’m sure all of us know people who have given their lives in defense of that First Amendment. And the fact that some people find some material harmful to minors that other people find to be a part of a good education should not mean that we erase materials that some parents may disagree with from the internet, or for that matter school curriculum.”

Others pointed to potential problems with the age verification system itself, since it would give third-party verification systems access to documents such as drivers’ licenses or passports.&nbsp;

“Minors should not have access to porn and that is harmful to them. We can all agree to that,” said Rep. Dan Osman, an Overland Park Democrat. “…When we talk about what’s actually occurring with this bill, you’re going to put in your license or your passport into a third-party system, probably located outside of the United States, and you don’t know what’s going to happen with that information.

“These companies are outside the United States. They’re not within the jurisdiction of the state of Kansas and if you as an individual are harmed by this, if you have your identity stolen because of this … you’re never getting restitution on that issue.”&nbsp;

The bill already passed the Senate. Final House action on the bill is expected to occur in the next few days, after which the legislation will be sent to the governor’s desk.

House lawmakers also advanced a bill to change the state’s long-standing civil asset forfeiture practice, one widely characterized as in dire need of reform.&nbsp;

Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement agencies to seize cash and property they suspect was used in a crime. In Kansas, where police can take property they believe to be connected to crime before the property owner is charged or convicted, close to $25.3 million in cash and property has been seized by Kansas law enforcement agencies over the past three and a half years.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb458/">Senate Bill 458</a>&nbsp;would remove the crime of drug possession from the list of offenses subject to forfeiture, shorten the window of time for property to be returned to the owner, require a judge to approve a probable cause affidavit before a forfeiture case could proceed, and allow defendants who recovered more than half of their property to recoup attorney fees and litigation costs.

Final House action on the bill is expected to occur in the next few days. The bill will then go to the governor.&nbsp;

House lawmakers also advanced a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb142/">&nbsp;traffic bill</a>&nbsp;that would ban minors under 18 from using a cellphone while driving, and ban all Kansas drivers from using cellphones in school zones when reduced speed warnings are in effect, or while driving in construction zones.&nbsp;The bill gained initial approval on the House floor, with final action on the bill expected tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp;Law enforcement would be authorized to issue warnings until July 1, 2025, and issue $60 fines after that date.&nbsp;

Exceptions are allowed for law enforcement or emergency personnel while on the job, a motorist stopped in a safe spot as well as a person using a hands-free device or a device permanently affixed to the vehicle. Motorists who used a cellphone to report illegal activity, prevent imminent injury to a person or damage to property, make a call for emergency medical assistance or relay information to a transit dispatcher would also be exempt.&nbsp;

Another provision requires drivers approaching a stopped vehicle using caution signals or other hazard warnings to change lanes if possible and to proceed with caution. Violations would carry a $75 fine.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711404620270.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;In the House of Representatives, lawmakers on Monday voted to take action on several pieces of legislation . (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;In the House of Representatives, lawmakers on Monday voted to take action on several pieces of legislation . (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> Kansas Reflector<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/"></a> TOPEKA — Legislation billed as a way to block underage Kansans from seeing porn could potentially stop teens from accessing classical works of art, books, LGBTQ material and other online content housed on websites, as well as potentially cost these websites thousands in legal fees, critics warn.If implemented, the bill would also cost the state around $210,000 in fiscal year 2025 and at least $220,000 in fiscal year 2026 to create new positions to investigate websites, according to fiscal note estimates.&nbsp;Though several Democratic lawmakers urged their colleagues in the House to more carefully consider the chilling effects of the bill, a Republican-dominated vote has moved the bill one step closer to passage.&nbsp;Rep. Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican and carrier of the bill, warned her colleagues of the dangers of porn Monday.&nbsp;“Pornography normalizes violence and abuse against women and children,” Humphries said. “It impacts brain development and functioning and is potentially biologically addictive.”<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb394/">Senate Bill 394</a>&nbsp;would require age verification for websites that contain 25% or more content that is “harmful to minors,” as defined by state statute.&nbsp;Current state statute defines the description, exhibition, presentation, or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sadomasochistic abuse as harmful to minors. Since homosexuality is rolled into the definition of “sexual conduct” under statute, several lawmakers said this wording could lead to a ban on LGBTQ online materials for those under 18.&nbsp;The bill contains a caution that the work must be deemed to contain “prurient interest in sex to minors,” and that a reasonable person would find the material lacking in serious literary, scientific, educational, artistic or political value for minors. But bill critics warned of the dangers of leaving this standard up to subjective interpretation.&nbsp;Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, pressed Humphries on the bill’s full implications for LGBTQ content. Xu gave the example of a blog listing the most gay-friendly cities. A website dedicated to providing seminal books such as the “The Catcher in the Rye,” or even the Bible could also be subject to restrictions. An art blog depicting the statue of David could also be subjected to scrutiny.“With all these bills, think about the unintended consequences or intended consequences, I don’t know,” Xu said. “The definitions are much broader than we actually think.”Under the bill, the attorney general would be responsible for investigating public reports of noncompliance with the law. The attorney general would be allowed to seek civil penalties against websites ranging from $500 to $10,000 for each underage visit. The parent or guardian of a minor who gained access to age-restricted websites would be allowed to file a lawsuit and seek damages of $50,000 or more.Wichita Democrat Rep. John Carmichael, one of several other lawmakers to point out the bill’s shortcomings, said parents already had many ways to stop their children from watching porn.“We in America cherish our First Amendment rights,” Carmichael said. “I’m sure all of us know people who have given their lives in defense of that First Amendment. And the fact that some people find some material harmful to minors that other people find to be a part of a good education should not mean that we erase materials that some parents may disagree with from the internet, or for that matter school curriculum.”Others pointed to potential problems with the age verification system itself, since it would give third-party verification systems access to documents such as drivers’ licenses or passports.&nbsp;“Minors should not have access to porn and that is harmful to them. We can all agree to that,” said Rep. Dan Osman, an Overland Park Democrat. “…When we talk about what’s actually occurring with this bill, you’re going to put in your license or your passport into a third-party system, probably located outside of the United States, and you don’t know what’s going to happen with that information.“These companies are outside the United States. They’re not within the jurisdiction of the state of Kansas and if you as an individual are harmed by this, if you have your identity stolen because of this … you’re never getting restitution on that issue.”&nbsp;The bill already passed the Senate. Final House action on the bill is expected to occur in the next few days, after which the legislation will be sent to the governor’s desk.<h2>Civil assets</h2>House lawmakers also advanced a bill to change the state’s long-standing civil asset forfeiture practice, one widely characterized as in dire need of reform.&nbsp;Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement agencies to seize cash and property they suspect was used in a crime. In Kansas, where police can take property they believe to be connected to crime before the property owner is charged or convicted, close to $25.3 million in cash and property has been seized by Kansas law enforcement agencies over the past three and a half years.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb458/">Senate Bill 458</a>&nbsp;would remove the crime of drug possession from the list of offenses subject to forfeiture, shorten the window of time for property to be returned to the owner, require a judge to approve a probable cause affidavit before a forfeiture case could proceed, and allow defendants who recovered more than half of their property to recoup attorney fees and litigation costs.Final House action on the bill is expected to occur in the next few days. The bill will then go to the governor.&nbsp;<h2>Cellphones</h2>House lawmakers also advanced a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb142/">&nbsp;traffic bill</a>&nbsp;that would ban minors under 18 from using a cellphone while driving, and ban all Kansas drivers from using cellphones in school zones when reduced speed warnings are in effect, or while driving in construction zones.&nbsp;The bill gained initial approval on the House floor, with final action on the bill expected tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp;Law enforcement would be authorized to issue warnings until July 1, 2025, and issue $60 fines after that date.&nbsp;Exceptions are allowed for law enforcement or emergency personnel while on the job, a motorist stopped in a safe spot as well as a person using a hands-free device or a device permanently affixed to the vehicle. Motorists who used a cellphone to report illegal activity, prevent imminent injury to a person or damage to property, make a call for emergency medical assistance or relay information to a transit dispatcher would also be exempt.&nbsp;Another provision requires drivers approaching a stopped vehicle using caution signals or other hazard warnings to change lanes if possible and to proceed with caution. Violations would carry a $75 fine.&nbsp;

Kansas House advances action on porn bill, civil assets, cell phones

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from a “principled position” by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the cease-fire on the release of hostages held by Hamas.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the administration was “kind of perplexed” by Netanyahu’s decision. He said the Israelis were “choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don’t need to do that.”

Kirby and the American ambassador to the U.N. said the U.S. abstained because the resolution did not condemn Hamas. U.S. officials chose to abstain rather than veto the proposal "because it does fairly reflect our view that a cease-fire and the release of hostages come together,” Kirby said.

The 15-member council voted 14-0 to approve the resolution, which also demanded the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel. The chamber broke into loud applause after the vote.

The U.S. vetoed past Security Council cease-fire resolutions in large part because of the failure to tie them directly to the release of hostages, the failure to condemn Hamas' attacks and the delicacy of ongoing negotiations. American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire.

The resolution approved Monday demands the release of hostages but does not make it a condition for the cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, which ends in April.

Hamas said it welcomed the U.N.'s move but said the cease-fire needs to be permanent.

“We confirm our readiness to engage in an immediate prisoner exchange process that leads to the release of prisoners on both sides,” the group said. For months, the militants have sought a deal that includes a complete end to the conflict.

The U.S. decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden's administration and Netanyahu over Israel’s prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza. The two countries have also clashed over Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state, Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the expansion of settlements there.

In addition, the well-known antagonism between Netanyahu and Biden — which dates from Biden’s tenure as vice president — deepened after Biden questioned Israel’s strategy in combating Hamas.

Then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Biden ally, suggested that Netanyahu was not operating in Israel’s best interests and called for Israel to hold new elections. Biden signaled his approval of Schumer’s remarks, prompting a rebuke from Netanyahu.

During its U.S. visit, the Israeli delegation was to present White House officials with its plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, a city on the Egyptian border in southern Gaza where over 1 million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter from the war.

The vote came after Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution Friday that would have supported “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israeli-Hamas conflict. That resolution featured a weakened link between a cease-fire and the release of hostages, leaving it open to interpretation, and no time limit.

The United States warned that the resolution approved Monday could hurt negotiations to halt the hostilities, raising the possibility of another veto, this time by the Americans. The talks involve the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

Because Ramadan ends April 9, the cease-fire demand would last for just two weeks, though the draft says the pause in fighting should lead to "a sustainable cease-fire.”

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the resolution “spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic efforts,” adding that negotiators were “getting closer” to a deal for a cease-fire with the release of all hostages, "but we’re not there yet.”

She urged the council and U.N. members across the world to “speak out and demand unequivocally that Hamas accepts the deal on the table.”

Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the U.S. requested were ignored, including a condemnation of Hamas.

The resolution, put forward by the 10 elected council members, was backed by Russia and China and the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations.

Under the United Nations Charter, Security Council resolutions are legally binding on its 193 member nations, though they are often flouted.

Algeria’s U.N. ambassador, Amar Bendjama, the Arab representative on the council, thanked the council for “finally" demanding a cease-fire.

“We look forward to the commitment and the compliance of the Israeli occupying power with this resolution, for them to put an end to the bloodbath without any conditions, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the council that the vote “must be a turning point” that leads to saving lives in Gaza and ending the “assault of atrocities against our people.”

Shortly before Monday’s vote, the elected members changed the final draft resolution to drop the word “permanent” from its demand that a Ramadan cease-fire should lead to a “sustainable" halt in fighting apparently at the request of the United States.

Russia complained that dropping the word could allow Israel “to resume its military operation in the Gaza Strip at any moment" after Ramadan and proposed an amendment to restore it. That amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” votes — with three council members voting in favor, the United States voting against, and 11 countries abstaining.

Since the start of the war, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;has adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none has called for a cease-fire.

More than 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the fighting, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The agency does&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">not differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count, but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.

Gaza also faces a dire humanitarian emergency. A report from an international authority on hunger warned last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>&nbsp;and that escalation of the war could push half of the territory’s 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation.

The United States has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 20. That resolution was supported by 13 council members with one abstention, reflecting the overwhelming support for a cease-fire.

Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, the protection of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it did not reflect global calls for a cease-fire.

They again vetoed a U.S. resolution Friday, calling it ambiguous and saying it was not the direct demand to end the fighting that much of the world seeks.

That vote became another showdown involving world powers that are locked in tense disputes elsewhere, with the United States taking criticism for not being tough enough against its ally Israel, even as tensions between the two countries rise.

Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia and China on Monday of using the Gaza conflict "as a political cudgel, to try to divide this council at a time when we need to come together.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711393596272.png" alt="U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the&nbsp;U.S. requested were ignored, including adding a condemnation of Hamas." />
 <figcaption>U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the&nbsp;U.S. requested were ignored, including adding a condemnation of Hamas.</figcaption>
 </figure>UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from a “principled position” by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the cease-fire on the release of hostages held by Hamas.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbUN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USAmbUN</a> Linda Thomas-Greenfield: &quot;We did not agree with everything in the resolution. For that reason we were unfortunately not able to vote yes...we fully support some of the critical objectives in this non-binding resolution.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/cfCUIWTzLQ">pic.twitter.com/cfCUIWTzLQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1772281310112862301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the administration was “kind of perplexed” by Netanyahu’s decision. He said the Israelis were “choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don’t need to do that.”Kirby and the American ambassador to the U.N. said the U.S. abstained because the resolution did not condemn Hamas. U.S. officials chose to abstain rather than veto the proposal "because it does fairly reflect our view that a cease-fire and the release of hostages come together,” Kirby said.The 15-member council voted 14-0 to approve the resolution, which also demanded the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel. The chamber broke into loud applause after the vote.The U.S. vetoed past Security Council cease-fire resolutions in large part because of the failure to tie them directly to the release of hostages, the failure to condemn Hamas' attacks and the delicacy of ongoing negotiations. American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire.The resolution approved Monday demands the release of hostages but does not make it a condition for the cease-fire for the month of Ramadan, which ends in April.Hamas said it welcomed the U.N.'s move but said the cease-fire needs to be permanent.“We confirm our readiness to engage in an immediate prisoner exchange process that leads to the release of prisoners on both sides,” the group said. For months, the militants have sought a deal that includes a complete end to the conflict.The U.S. decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden's administration and Netanyahu over Israel’s prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza. The two countries have also clashed over Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state, Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the expansion of settlements there.In addition, the well-known antagonism between Netanyahu and Biden — which dates from Biden’s tenure as vice president — deepened after Biden questioned Israel’s strategy in combating Hamas.Then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Biden ally, suggested that Netanyahu was not operating in Israel’s best interests and called for Israel to hold new elections. Biden signaled his approval of Schumer’s remarks, prompting a rebuke from Netanyahu.During its U.S. visit, the Israeli delegation was to present White House officials with its plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, a city on the Egyptian border in southern Gaza where over 1 million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter from the war.The vote came after Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution Friday that would have supported “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israeli-Hamas conflict. That resolution featured a weakened link between a cease-fire and the release of hostages, leaving it open to interpretation, and no time limit.The United States warned that the resolution approved Monday could hurt negotiations to halt the hostilities, raising the possibility of another veto, this time by the Americans. The talks involve the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.Because Ramadan ends April 9, the cease-fire demand would last for just two weeks, though the draft says the pause in fighting should lead to "a sustainable cease-fire.”The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the resolution “spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic efforts,” adding that negotiators were “getting closer” to a deal for a cease-fire with the release of all hostages, "but we’re not there yet.”She urged the council and U.N. members across the world to “speak out and demand unequivocally that Hamas accepts the deal on the table.”Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the U.S. requested were ignored, including a condemnation of Hamas.The resolution, put forward by the 10 elected council members, was backed by Russia and China and the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations.Under the United Nations Charter, Security Council resolutions are legally binding on its 193 member nations, though they are often flouted.Algeria’s U.N. ambassador, Amar Bendjama, the Arab representative on the council, thanked the council for “finally" demanding a cease-fire.“We look forward to the commitment and the compliance of the Israeli occupying power with this resolution, for them to put an end to the bloodbath without any conditions, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said.Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the council that the vote “must be a turning point” that leads to saving lives in Gaza and ending the “assault of atrocities against our people.”Shortly before Monday’s vote, the elected members changed the final draft resolution to drop the word “permanent” from its demand that a Ramadan cease-fire should lead to a “sustainable" halt in fighting apparently at the request of the United States.Russia complained that dropping the word could allow Israel “to resume its military operation in the Gaza Strip at any moment" after Ramadan and proposed an amendment to restore it. That amendment was defeated because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” votes — with three council members voting in favor, the United States voting against, and 11 countries abstaining.Since the start of the war, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/united-nations-security-council">Security Council</a>&nbsp;has adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none has called for a cease-fire.More than 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the fighting, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The agency does&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">not differentiate</a>&nbsp;between civilians and combatants in its count, but says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405">women and children</a>&nbsp;make up two-thirds of the dead.Gaza also faces a dire humanitarian emergency. A report from an international authority on hunger warned last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">“famine is imminent” in northern Gaza</a>&nbsp;and that escalation of the war could push half of the territory’s 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation.The United States has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, the most recent an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Arab-backed measure</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 20. That resolution was supported by 13 council members with one abstention, reflecting the overwhelming support for a cease-fire.Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, the protection of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it did not reflect global calls for a cease-fire.They again vetoed a U.S. resolution Friday, calling it ambiguous and saying it was not the direct demand to end the fighting that much of the world seeks.That vote became another showdown involving world powers that are locked in tense disputes elsewhere, with the United States taking criticism for not being tough enough against its ally Israel, even as tensions between the two countries rise.Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia and China on Monday of using the Gaza conflict "as a political cudgel, to try to divide this council at a time when we need to come together.”

🎥U.S. refusal to veto cease-fire resolution provokes anger from Israel

FINNEY COUNTY —Investigators with the National Weather Service determined the Sunday tornado in Garden City had a preliminary rating of an EF1,&nbsp; with 90 mph&nbsp;

In addition to the confirmed tornado, the storm brought hail, funnel clouds and several tornado warnings.

Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, severe weather and high winds began moving across southwest Kansas, according to the National Weather Service.

The Garden City Police Communications Center received reports of storm damage, power outages and funnel cloud sightings. The city activated tornado sirens across Garden City.

Police, Fire and EMS personnel responded to assess damage reported&nbsp; involving homes, commercial and industrial properties immediately east of U.S. Highway 83 and north of the Arkansas River to approximately Schulman Avenue.

First responders observed damage that was consistent with a tornado or very high winds. Police, Fire and EMS personnel are canvassed neighborhoods to assess damage and verify the wellbeing of residents. 

&nbsp;There were no injuries reported. The winds did damage transmission lines and power was out for approximately 1200 residents for two hours.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service also issued tornado warnings on Sunday afternoon for Gove, Decatur, Sheridan and Thomas counties.&nbsp; There are no additional reports of damage or injury.

City Public Works crews in Garden City will pick up storm debris starting Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711324894171.png" alt="Tornado southeast of Garden City on Sunday- photo courtesy Millestone Custom Homes" />
 <figcaption>Tornado southeast of Garden City on Sunday- photo courtesy Millestone Custom Homes</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Investigators with the National Weather Service determined the Sunday tornado in Garden City had a preliminary rating of an EF1,&nbsp; with 90 mph&nbsp;In addition to the confirmed tornado, the storm brought hail, funnel clouds and several tornado warnings.Around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, severe weather and high winds began moving across southwest Kansas, according to the National Weather Service.The Garden City Police Communications Center received reports of storm damage, power outages and funnel cloud sightings. The city activated tornado sirens across Garden City.Police, Fire and EMS personnel responded to assess damage reported&nbsp; involving homes, commercial and industrial properties immediately east of U.S. Highway 83 and north of the Arkansas River to approximately Schulman Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711330671465.png" alt="-KHP Trooper Albers reported nickel to quarter size hail at Campus, just east of Oakley-photo Trooper Tod Heilman" />
 <figcaption>-KHP Trooper Albers reported nickel to quarter size hail at Campus, just east of Oakley-photo Trooper Tod Heilman</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders observed damage that was consistent with a tornado or very high winds. Police, Fire and EMS personnel are canvassed neighborhoods to assess damage and verify the wellbeing of residents. &nbsp;There were no injuries reported. The winds did damage transmission lines and power was out for approximately 1200 residents for two hours.&nbsp;The National Weather Service also issued tornado warnings on Sunday afternoon for Gove, Decatur, Sheridan and Thomas counties.&nbsp; There are no additional reports of damage or injury.City Public Works crews in Garden City will pick up storm debris starting Monday.

NWS confirms strength of tornado in southwest Kansas

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp; State's Newsroom

WASHINGTON — The same U.S. Supreme Court that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion will hear oral arguments Tuesday over access to mifepristone, a pharmaceutical used in both medication abortion and miscarriage care.

The nine justices will then decide whether to leave access to the drug intact or require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revert prescribing instructions to what were in place before 2016.

The court decision will affect the entire country, including states that have sought to shore up access to reproductive rights following the Dobbs ruling less than two years ago.

The Supreme Court opinion, likely not to come until late spring, will land in the middle of a presidential campaign in which Democrats are elevating the question of reproductive rights. The debate is also likely to affect GOP efforts to grow their majority in the U.S. House and flip the Senate red.

Medication abortion, a two-drug regimen that uses mifepristone and misoprostol, was used in 63% of abortions in the United States during 2023, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020?utm_source=Guttmacher+Email+Alerts&amp;utm_campaign=afd25dbc2c-march_provision_study_gupdate&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_9ac83dc920-afd25dbc2c-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D">report</a>&nbsp;released earlier this month by the Guttmacher Institute.

The new data shows a continued trend away from procedural abortions and toward medication abortion, which is approved up to 10 weeks gestation, that has been steadily increasing since the FDA originally approved mifepristone in 2000.

Medication abortions accounted for about 6% of pregnancy terminations in 2001, rising to 24% in 2011, before reaching 53% in 2020, according to Guttmacher.

During the last calendar year, the report says there were 1,026,690 abortions throughout the country, with 642,700 of those being medication abortions.

The numbers may not represent the full picture, however.

“The medication abortion counts for 2023 do not include self-managed medication abortions that take place outside of the formal health care system or abortion medication mailed to people in states with total abortion bans,” the Guttmacher report states. “While there are no comprehensive data on the number of self-managed medication abortions in the United States, evidence suggests they have been increasing in the past several years.”

The case about to go in front of the Supreme Court, Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, began in November 2022 when Alliance Defending Freedom sued the FDA on behalf of four anti-abortion medical organizations and four anti-abortion doctors.

In the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-could-decide-soon-february-yank-abortion-pill-nationwide">original lawsuit</a>&nbsp;and numerous briefs since then, ADF argued that mifepristone leads to problematic situations for doctors who have to assist patients with complications from medication abortions. They’ve also made claims about safety, which have been repeatedly refuted by major medical organizations.

The lawsuit had called for the judicial system to overturn the FDA’s original 2000 approval of mifepristone, which U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk essentially agreed with, in his April 2023&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-administration-appeals-judges-ruling-ordering-abortion-pill-us-market">ruling</a>.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, heard&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/three-judge-panel-us-appeals-court-hears-arguments-abortion-pill-case">oral arguments in the federal government’s appeal</a>&nbsp;of that ruling in May 2023 before issuing its decision a few months later in August.

That&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/abortion-pill-stay-market-until-us-supreme-court-ruling-after-appeals-court-order-0">three-judge panel said</a>&nbsp;mifepristone could stay on the market, but that when and how patients can access the drug should go back to what was in place before the FDA began making changes in 2016.

That would lower the maximum gestational age for using mifepristone from 10 weeks to seven weeks as well as remove the option for patients to get the prescription via telehealth and have it mailed to their homes.

Only doctors would be able to prescribe mifepristone, not health care professionals authorized to prescribe pharmaceuticals, like physician’s assistants or nurse practitioners.

Patents would have to go back to attending three, in-person doctor’s appointments in order to complete the process.

The dosage of mifepristone and the second pharmaceutical used in medication abortions, misoprostol, were different before the changes began to take effect.

The lower courts’ rulings never took effect and the appeals court’s ruling will remain on hold until the Supreme Court issues its opinion in the case, likely this summer.

Dozens of organizations, attorneys general and lawmakers have filed briefs with the Supreme Court seeking to inform the justices’ thinking in the case ahead of Tuesday’s oral arguments.

More than 15 major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, sought to reinforce the FDA’s determination that mifepristone is safe and effective in their brief.

“Restricting access to mifepristone will not only jeopardize health, but worsen racial and economic inequities and deprive women of the choices that are at the very core of individual autonomy and wellbeing,” the medical organizations wrote.

They noted that “major adverse events occur in less than 0.32% of patients,” and that the “risk of death is almost non-existent.”

About 145 Members of Congress from 36 states urged the court to restrict access to mifepristone in a separate brief filed with the court.

“Since 2016, the FDA has only required adverse events reporting for deaths resulting from chemical abortion drugs; reporting is otherwise voluntary,” the members of Congress wrote, making the argument that reports are not required for injuries or impairment. “This action was not only arbitrary and capricious, but it also raised safety concerns for women seeking chemical abortion drugs.”

Here’s a timeline of the case and States Newsroom’s coverage of the major events:

Original lawsuit and District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruling&nbsp;

Federal judge could decide as soon as February to yank abortion pill nationwide<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41shPel">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41shPel</a>

Attorneys general from Democratic-led states urge judge to keep abortion pill legal<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41eyMsy">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41eyMsy</a>

Attorneys general from 23 GOP-led states back suit seeking to block abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/414ns2n">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/414ns2n</a>

How the judge who could ban the abortion pill won confirmation in the U.S. Senate<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3KSc9EX">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3KSc9EX</a>

As future of abortion pill is weighed, Democrats in Congress see little they can do<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3msjt0y">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3msjt0y</a>

Biden administration appeals judge’s ruling ordering abortion pill off U.S. market<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3KwWw4g">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3KwWw4g</a>

Biden after Texas ruling vows he will fight to ensure access to abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GA3GUi">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GA3GUi</a>

Democratic leaders warn abortion pill ruling could endanger other FDA-approved drugs<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/43oIkmA">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/43oIkmA</a>

5th Circuit Court of Appeals stay of district court ruling&nbsp;

U.S. Department of Justice asks appeals court to pause abortion pill ruling<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/43tqqPQ">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/43tqqPQ</a>

Democratic attorneys general urge appeals court to keep abortion pill available<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3o6NGD1">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3o6NGD1</a>

Texas judge’s abortion pill ruling supported by 69 Republicans in Congress<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41qFWtV">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41qFWtV</a>

U.S. Justice Department to ask Supreme Court to reject limits on access to abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3MHUAbZ">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3MHUAbZ</a>

U.S. Supreme Court stay of district court ruling&nbsp;

DOJ warns Supreme Court of ‘significant chaos’ in health care if abortion pill rulings stand<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3o5ObwS">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3o5ObwS</a>

U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocks limits to abortion pill access<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3A5RTcE">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3A5RTcE</a>

Anti-abortion organizations urge U.S. Supreme Court to keep limits on abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GSu7EV">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GSu7EV</a>

U.S. Supreme Court holds off on abortion pill ruling until midnight Friday<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GZ5gzn">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GZ5gzn</a>

U.S. Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill as lawsuit continues<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3B50QDB">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3B50QDB</a>

Congressional Democrats urge reversal of district court ruling on mifepristone<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3M5UrOM">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3M5UrOM</a>

Three-judge panel in U.S. appeals court hears arguments in abortion pill case<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/285etkds">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/285etkds</a>

Abortion pill to stay on the market until U.S. Supreme Court ruling after appeals court order<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/h4whm3xw">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/h4whm3xw</a>

U.S. Justice Department asks Supreme Court to take up abortion pill case<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/msfa5dc2">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/msfa5dc2</a>

U.S. Supreme Court to decide fate of medication abortion access nationwide&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/5f5yk4w5">http://tinyurl.com/5f5yk4w5</a>

U.S. Supreme Court schedules March 26 oral arguments in abortion pill access case<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/mry6ttvm">&nbsp;http://tinyurl.com/mry6ttvm</a>

Dozens of ‘friend of the court’ briefs backing abortion pill access arrive at Supreme Court<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/299vsyrv">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/299vsyrv</a>

Who wants the U.S. Supreme Court to limit abortion pill access? Here’s the list.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/2z96n7nn">https://tinyurl.com/2z96n7nn</a>

Fear and confusion over abortion access persists as SCOTUS takes its first post-Dobbs case&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/yckkjf6m">https://tinyurl.com/yckkjf6m</a>

Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/397m2jxn">https://tinyurl.com/397m2jxn</a>

Researchers call for more abortion studies to be retracted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/yjefc3c6">https://tinyurl.com/yjefc3c6</a>

Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/4kjj9c4k">https://tinyurl.com/4kjj9c4</a>

Study cited by Texas judge in abortion-pill case under investigation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/study-cited-texas-judge-abortion-pill-case-under-investigation">https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/study-cited-texas-judge-abortion-pill-case-under-investigation</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court likely will not issue their opinion on the use of mifepristone until late spring. photo AP" />
 <figcaption>The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court likely will not issue their opinion on the use of mifepristone until late spring. photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp; State's NewsroomWASHINGTON — The same U.S. Supreme Court that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion will hear oral arguments Tuesday over access to mifepristone, a pharmaceutical used in both medication abortion and miscarriage care.The nine justices will then decide whether to leave access to the drug intact or require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revert prescribing instructions to what were in place before 2016.The court decision will affect the entire country, including states that have sought to shore up access to reproductive rights following the Dobbs ruling less than two years ago.The Supreme Court opinion, likely not to come until late spring, will land in the middle of a presidential campaign in which Democrats are elevating the question of reproductive rights. The debate is also likely to affect GOP efforts to grow their majority in the U.S. House and flip the Senate red.<h2>Trend toward medication abortion</h2>Medication abortion, a two-drug regimen that uses mifepristone and misoprostol, was used in 63% of abortions in the United States during 2023, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020?utm_source=Guttmacher+Email+Alerts&amp;utm_campaign=afd25dbc2c-march_provision_study_gupdate&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_9ac83dc920-afd25dbc2c-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D">report</a>&nbsp;released earlier this month by the Guttmacher Institute.The new data shows a continued trend away from procedural abortions and toward medication abortion, which is approved up to 10 weeks gestation, that has been steadily increasing since the FDA originally approved mifepristone in 2000.Medication abortions accounted for about 6% of pregnancy terminations in 2001, rising to 24% in 2011, before reaching 53% in 2020, according to Guttmacher.During the last calendar year, the report says there were 1,026,690 abortions throughout the country, with 642,700 of those being medication abortions.The numbers may not represent the full picture, however.“The medication abortion counts for 2023 do not include self-managed medication abortions that take place outside of the formal health care system or abortion medication mailed to people in states with total abortion bans,” the Guttmacher report states. “While there are no comprehensive data on the number of self-managed medication abortions in the United States, evidence suggests they have been increasing in the past several years.”<h2>Alliance Defending Freedom suit</h2>The case about to go in front of the Supreme Court, Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, began in November 2022 when Alliance Defending Freedom sued the FDA on behalf of four anti-abortion medical organizations and four anti-abortion doctors.In the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-could-decide-soon-february-yank-abortion-pill-nationwide">original lawsuit</a>&nbsp;and numerous briefs since then, ADF argued that mifepristone leads to problematic situations for doctors who have to assist patients with complications from medication abortions. They’ve also made claims about safety, which have been repeatedly refuted by major medical organizations.The lawsuit had called for the judicial system to overturn the FDA’s original 2000 approval of mifepristone, which U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk essentially agreed with, in his April 2023&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-administration-appeals-judges-ruling-ordering-abortion-pill-us-market">ruling</a>.The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, heard&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/three-judge-panel-us-appeals-court-hears-arguments-abortion-pill-case">oral arguments in the federal government’s appeal</a>&nbsp;of that ruling in May 2023 before issuing its decision a few months later in August.That&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/abortion-pill-stay-market-until-us-supreme-court-ruling-after-appeals-court-order-0">three-judge panel said</a>&nbsp;mifepristone could stay on the market, but that when and how patients can access the drug should go back to what was in place before the FDA began making changes in 2016.<h2>Telehealth and prescriptions</h2>That would lower the maximum gestational age for using mifepristone from 10 weeks to seven weeks as well as remove the option for patients to get the prescription via telehealth and have it mailed to their homes.Only doctors would be able to prescribe mifepristone, not health care professionals authorized to prescribe pharmaceuticals, like physician’s assistants or nurse practitioners.Patents would have to go back to attending three, in-person doctor’s appointments in order to complete the process.The dosage of mifepristone and the second pharmaceutical used in medication abortions, misoprostol, were different before the changes began to take effect.The lower courts’ rulings never took effect and the appeals court’s ruling will remain on hold until the Supreme Court issues its opinion in the case, likely this summer.<h2>Briefs filed</h2>Dozens of organizations, attorneys general and lawmakers have filed briefs with the Supreme Court seeking to inform the justices’ thinking in the case ahead of Tuesday’s oral arguments.More than 15 major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, sought to reinforce the FDA’s determination that mifepristone is safe and effective in their brief.“Restricting access to mifepristone will not only jeopardize health, but worsen racial and economic inequities and deprive women of the choices that are at the very core of individual autonomy and wellbeing,” the medical organizations wrote.They noted that “major adverse events occur in less than 0.32% of patients,” and that the “risk of death is almost non-existent.”About 145 Members of Congress from 36 states urged the court to restrict access to mifepristone in a separate brief filed with the court.“Since 2016, the FDA has only required adverse events reporting for deaths resulting from chemical abortion drugs; reporting is otherwise voluntary,” the members of Congress wrote, making the argument that reports are not required for injuries or impairment. “This action was not only arbitrary and capricious, but it also raised safety concerns for women seeking chemical abortion drugs.”Here’s a timeline of the case and States Newsroom’s coverage of the major events:<h2>Original lawsuit and District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruling&nbsp;</h2>Federal judge could decide as soon as February to yank abortion pill nationwide<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41shPel">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41shPel</a>Attorneys general from Democratic-led states urge judge to keep abortion pill legal<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41eyMsy">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41eyMsy</a>Attorneys general from 23 GOP-led states back suit seeking to block abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/414ns2n">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/414ns2n</a>How the judge who could ban the abortion pill won confirmation in the U.S. Senate<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3KSc9EX">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3KSc9EX</a>As future of abortion pill is weighed, Democrats in Congress see little they can do<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3msjt0y">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3msjt0y</a>Biden administration appeals judge’s ruling ordering abortion pill off U.S. market<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3KwWw4g">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3KwWw4g</a>Biden after Texas ruling vows he will fight to ensure access to abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GA3GUi">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GA3GUi</a>Democratic leaders warn abortion pill ruling could endanger other FDA-approved drugs<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/43oIkmA">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/43oIkmA</a><h2>5th Circuit Court of Appeals stay of district court ruling&nbsp;</h2>U.S. Department of Justice asks appeals court to pause abortion pill ruling<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/43tqqPQ">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/43tqqPQ</a>Democratic attorneys general urge appeals court to keep abortion pill available<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3o6NGD1">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3o6NGD1</a>Texas judge’s abortion pill ruling supported by 69 Republicans in Congress<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/41qFWtV">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/41qFWtV</a>U.S. Justice Department to ask Supreme Court to reject limits on access to abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3MHUAbZ">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3MHUAbZ</a><h2>U.S. Supreme Court stay of district court ruling&nbsp;</h2>DOJ warns Supreme Court of ‘significant chaos’ in health care if abortion pill rulings stand<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3o5ObwS">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3o5ObwS</a>U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocks limits to abortion pill access<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3A5RTcE">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3A5RTcE</a>Anti-abortion organizations urge U.S. Supreme Court to keep limits on abortion pill<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GSu7EV">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GSu7EV</a>U.S. Supreme Court holds off on abortion pill ruling until midnight Friday<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3GZ5gzn">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3GZ5gzn</a>U.S. Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill as lawsuit continues<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3B50QDB">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3B50QDB</a><h2>5th Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;</h2>Congressional Democrats urge reversal of district court ruling on mifepristone<a target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3M5UrOM">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/3M5UrOM</a>Three-judge panel in U.S. appeals court hears arguments in abortion pill case<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/285etkds">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/285etkds</a>Abortion pill to stay on the market until U.S. Supreme Court ruling after appeals court order<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/h4whm3xw">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/h4whm3xw</a><h2>U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;</h2>U.S. Justice Department asks Supreme Court to take up abortion pill case<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/msfa5dc2">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/msfa5dc2</a>U.S. Supreme Court to decide fate of medication abortion access nationwide&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/5f5yk4w5">http://tinyurl.com/5f5yk4w5</a>U.S. Supreme Court schedules March 26 oral arguments in abortion pill access case<a target="_blank" href="http://tinyurl.com/mry6ttvm">&nbsp;http://tinyurl.com/mry6ttvm</a>Dozens of ‘friend of the court’ briefs backing abortion pill access arrive at Supreme Court<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/299vsyrv">&nbsp;https://tinyurl.com/299vsyrv</a>Who wants the U.S. Supreme Court to limit abortion pill access? Here’s the list.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/2z96n7nn">https://tinyurl.com/2z96n7nn</a><h2>More to know about the case</h2>Fear and confusion over abortion access persists as SCOTUS takes its first post-Dobbs case&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/yckkjf6m">https://tinyurl.com/yckkjf6m</a>Study cited by Texas judge in abortion pill case retracted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/397m2jxn">https://tinyurl.com/397m2jxn</a>Researchers call for more abortion studies to be retracted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/yjefc3c6">https://tinyurl.com/yjefc3c6</a>Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tinyurl.com/4kjj9c4k">https://tinyurl.com/4kjj9c4</a>Study cited by Texas judge in abortion-pill case under investigation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/study-cited-texas-judge-abortion-pill-case-under-investigation">https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/study-cited-texas-judge-abortion-pill-case-under-investigation</a>

U.S. Supreme Court to hear oral arguments Tuesday on abortion pill limits

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center (the Center) which &nbsp;will provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service and social service providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals responsible for implementing laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.

Vice President Kamala announced the creation of the center on Saturday during a trip to Parkland, Florida. She will lead the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. (Click below to watch the announcement)

Harris also called on both Congress and states without red flag laws to adopt them. The Biden administration has called for a national red flag law.

“Red flag laws are simply designed to give communities a vehicle through which they can share ... information about the concern of potential danger or the crying out for help,” Harris said.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, “The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide our partners across the country with valuable resources to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. 

“The establishment of the Center is the latest example of the Justice Department’s work to use every tool provided by the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to protect communities from gun violence.”

ERPO laws, which are modeled off domestic violence protection orders, create a civil process allowing law enforcement, family members (in most states), and medical professionals or other groups (in some states) to petition a court to temporarily prohibit someone at risk of harming themselves or others from purchasing and possessing firearms for the duration of the order.

In 2023, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded $238 million to states, territories, and the District of Columbia under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), which was created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and is designed to help jurisdictions implement crisis intervention strategies, including ERPO programs. In addition, OJP awarded $4 million to support training and technical assistance under Byrne SCIP, including $2 million that was awarded to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions to establish the ERPO Resource Center. 

In collaboration with OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Center will support states, local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers, and behavioral health and other social service providers in their efforts to implement ERPO programs to fit local needs, share resources and promising practices with the field, and help ensure that funding received through Byrne SCIP is effectively utilized.

“Supporting our law enforcement and community partners in curbing the scourge of gun violence is more critical than ever,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “In addition to other resources leveraged across the Justice Department, this Center will provide communities with new tools and technical assistance to help them implement effective crisis intervention strategies and reduce gun violence.”

“OJP’s investment in ERPO programs demonstrates the Department’s commitment to addressing the gun violence crisis in the United States,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “This crisis cannot be solved at one level of government. We must use all of our resources and collaborate at the federal, state, and local levels to find innovative, evidence-based, and holistic solutions to help keep American communities safe.”

Through the Center and its newly launched&nbsp;<a href="http://www.erpo.org/" target="_blank">website</a>, states, local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers, and behavioral health and other social service providers will have direct access to critical information that will enhance their ability to reduce firearm homicides and suicides. The website will be maintained and updated to include newly developed resources for the field created through the Center, in partnership with BJA. The website also provides a platform for the Center to highlight emerging and promising practices in successful ERPO implementation and connect states and localities to innovative strategies to reduce gun violence and save lives.

As of this month, 21 states and the District of Columbia have enacted ERPO laws. Successful and effective ERPO implementation requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that incorporates a wide range of stakeholders. The Center is designed to provide resources consistent with that need.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711289026081.png" alt="-“Red flag laws are simply designed to give communities a vehicle through which they can share ... information about the concern of potential danger or the crying out for help,” Harris said. -ima" />
 <figcaption>-“Red flag laws are simply designed to give communities a vehicle through which they can share ... information about the concern of potential danger or the crying out for help,” Harris said. -ima</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The Justice Department launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center (the Center) which &nbsp;will provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service and social service providers, community organizations, and behavioral health professionals responsible for implementing laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.Vice President Kamala announced the creation of the center on Saturday during a trip to Parkland, Florida. She will lead the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. (Click below to watch the announcement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FVicePresident%2Fvideos%2F1134747957946403%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=784" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Harris also called on both Congress and states without red flag laws to adopt them. The Biden administration has called for a national red flag law.“Red flag laws are simply designed to give communities a vehicle through which they can share ... information about the concern of potential danger or the crying out for help,” Harris said.According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, “The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide our partners across the country with valuable resources to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The establishment of the Center is the latest example of the Justice Department’s work to use every tool provided by the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to protect communities from gun violence.”ERPO laws, which are modeled off domestic violence protection orders, create a civil process allowing law enforcement, family members (in most states), and medical professionals or other groups (in some states) to petition a court to temporarily prohibit someone at risk of harming themselves or others from purchasing and possessing firearms for the duration of the order.In 2023, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded $238 million to states, territories, and the District of Columbia under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), which was created by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and is designed to help jurisdictions implement crisis intervention strategies, including ERPO programs. In addition, OJP awarded $4 million to support training and technical assistance under Byrne SCIP, including $2 million that was awarded to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions to establish the ERPO Resource Center. In collaboration with OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Center will support states, local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers, and behavioral health and other social service providers in their efforts to implement ERPO programs to fit local needs, share resources and promising practices with the field, and help ensure that funding received through Byrne SCIP is effectively utilized.“Supporting our law enforcement and community partners in curbing the scourge of gun violence is more critical than ever,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “In addition to other resources leveraged across the Justice Department, this Center will provide communities with new tools and technical assistance to help them implement effective crisis intervention strategies and reduce gun violence.”“OJP’s investment in ERPO programs demonstrates the Department’s commitment to addressing the gun violence crisis in the United States,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “This crisis cannot be solved at one level of government. We must use all of our resources and collaborate at the federal, state, and local levels to find innovative, evidence-based, and holistic solutions to help keep American communities safe.”Through the Center and its newly launched&nbsp;<a href="http://www.erpo.org/" target="_blank">website</a>, states, local governments, law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, clinicians, victim service providers, and behavioral health and other social service providers will have direct access to critical information that will enhance their ability to reduce firearm homicides and suicides. The website will be maintained and updated to include newly developed resources for the field created through the Center, in partnership with BJA. The website also provides a platform for the Center to highlight emerging and promising practices in successful ERPO implementation and connect states and localities to innovative strategies to reduce gun violence and save lives.As of this month, 21 states and the District of Columbia have enacted ERPO laws. Successful and effective ERPO implementation requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that incorporates a wide range of stakeholders. The Center is designed to provide resources consistent with that need.

🎥VP reveals new center will seek to implement ‘red flag’ gun control laws

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

Just after 11a.m. March 22, a&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on the 2012 Toyota Camry near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;During the traffic stop, the deputy seized items believed to be drug contraband.  The driver, Lora Lee Longstaff, 56, of Topeka, was arrested, transported to the Jackson County Jai and booked into the Jail on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; Additional substances were seized and awaiting testing; therefore, additional charges may occur, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711199824111.png" alt="Longstaff-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Longstaff-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just after 11a.m. March 22, a&nbsp; Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on the 2012 Toyota Camry near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;During the traffic stop, the deputy seized items believed to be drug contraband. The driver, Lora Lee Longstaff, 56, of Topeka, was arrested, transported to the Jackson County Jai and booked into the Jail on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; Additional substances were seized and awaiting testing; therefore, additional charges may occur, according to Morse.

Kansas sheriff investigating drugs found in woman's car

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court on Monday agreed to hold off collection of former President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">$454 million civil fraud judgment</a>&nbsp;— if he puts up $175 million within 10 days.

If he does, it will stop the clock on collection and prevent the state from seizing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's assets while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-attorney-general-cf9df608a576d561393b4ceeac4cae3a">he appeals</a>.

The development came just before New York Attorney General Letitia James was expected to initiate efforts to collect the judgment.

Messages seeking comment were sent to James' office and to Trump's lawyers.

Trump’s lawyers had pleaded for a state appeals court to halt collection, claiming it was “a practical impossibility” to get an underwriter to sign off on a bond for such a large sum.

The ruling was issued by the state’s intermediate appeals court, the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court, where Trump is fighting to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24432595-trump-civil-trial-decision">a judge’s Feb. 16 finding</a>&nbsp;that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-trial-engoron-new-york-646814bb4945306f19a22f38fdb246a5">lied about his wealth</a>&nbsp;as he grew the real estate empire that launched him to stardom and the presidency.

After James won the judgment, she didn't seek to enforce it during a legal time-out for Trump to ask the appeals court for a reprieve from paying up.

That period ended Monday, though James could have decided to allow Trump more time.

James, a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/letitia-james-shes-prepared-seize-trumps-assets-pay/story?id=107381482">told ABC News</a>&nbsp;last month that if Trump doesn't have the money to pay, she would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-judgment-verdict-63e643d0fe098cc1ac178c003f21a40d">seek to seize his assets</a>&nbsp;and was "prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid.”

She didn't detail the process or specify what holdings she meant, and her office has declined more recently to discuss its plans. Meanwhile, it has filed notice of the judgment, a technical step toward potentially moving to collect.

As Trump arrived Monday at a different New York court for a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-new-york-b8fb980a6ec745e918a13e676b7f1460">hearing in his criminal hush money case</a>, he didn't respond to a journalist's question about whether he'd obtained a bond. Earlier Monday, he railed in social media posts against the civil judgment and the possibility that James would seek to enforce it.

Casting the case as a plot by Democrats, the ex-president asserted that they were trying to take his cash to starve his 2024 campaign.

“I had intended to use much of that hard earned money on running for President. They don’t want me to do that — ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Referring to his properties as “my ‘babies,’” he bristled at the idea of being forced to sell them or seeing them seized.

Seizing assets is a common legal option when someone doesn’t have the cash to pay a civil court penalty. In Trump’s case, potential targets could include such properties as his Trump Tower penthouse, aircraft, Wall Street office building or golf courses.

The attorney general also could go after his bank and investment accounts. Trump maintained on social media on Friday that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-engoron-new-york-judgment-abfb3f8c6aac44836265c893f7548ff2">has almost $500 million</a>&nbsp;in cash but intends to use much of it on his presidential run. He has accused James and New York state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-engoron-letitia-james-fraud-new-york-9bd42690d327f6f63c9eb31c046f8426">Judge Arthur Engoron</a>, who's also a Democrat, of seeking “to take the cash away so I can’t use it on the campaign.”

One possibility would be for James' office to go through a legal process to have local law enforcement seize properties, then seek to sell them off. But that's a complicated prospect in Trump's case, noted Stewart Sterk, a real estate law professor at Cardozo School of Law.

“Finding buyers for assets of this magnitude is something that doesn’t happen overnight,” he said, noting that at any ordinary auction, “the chances that people are going to be able to bid up to the true value of the property is pretty slim.”

Trump's debt stems from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-trial-new-york-44d7ce912fa2434c452e2b5dd6139789">a monthslong civil trial</a>&nbsp;last fall over the state's allegations that he, his company and top executives vastly puffed up his wealth on financial statements, conning bankers and insurers who did business with him. The statements valued his penthouse for years as though it were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-new-york-james-accountant-trial-64ffc5238f77f0a851626877cd45a96f">nearly three times its actual size</a>, for example.

Trump and his co-defendants denied any wrongdoing, saying the statements actually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-trial-testimony-dca74420da0f92ee9bc9caff7a92c3b2">lowballed his fortune</a>, came with disclaimers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-trial-testimony-f73b28ef92cf3606d66bc9418f3025bc">weren't taken at face value</a>&nbsp;by the institutions that lent to or insured him. The penthouse discrepancy, he said, was simply a mistake made by subordinates.

Engoron sided with the attorney general and ordered Trump to pay $355 million, plus interest that grows daily. Some co-defendants, including his sons and company executive vice presidents, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were ordered to pay far smaller amounts.

Under New York law, filing an appeal generally doesn't hold off enforcement of a judgment. But there's an automatic pause if the person or entity posts a bond that covers what's owed.

The ex-president's lawyers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-bond-appeal-million-75ef3efb5b70d6ea43bea85b65ff7810">said it's impossible</a>&nbsp;for him to do that. They said underwriters wanted 120% of the judgment and wouldn't accept real estate as collateral. That would mean tying up over $557 million in cash, stocks and other liquid assets, and Trump's company needs some left over to run the business, his attorneys have said.

Trump's attorneys have asked an appeals court to freeze collection without his posting a bond. The attorney general's office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-case-bond-appeal-million-b7186ffc2e96d252250c30938b824dd0">has objected</a>.

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court on Monday agreed to hold off collection of former President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">$454 million civil fraud judgment</a>&nbsp;— if he puts up $175 million within 10 days.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;I greatly respect the decision of the appellate division. And I&#39;ll be post either $175 million in cash or bonds or security or whatever is necessary very quickly, within the ten days. And I thank the appellate division for acting quickly.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ReJSn03eyE">pic.twitter.com/ReJSn03eyE</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1772294947674157463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>If he does, it will stop the clock on collection and prevent the state from seizing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's assets while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-attorney-general-cf9df608a576d561393b4ceeac4cae3a">he appeals</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711382809454.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The development came just before New York Attorney General Letitia James was expected to initiate efforts to collect the judgment.Messages seeking comment were sent to James' office and to Trump's lawyers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711382879355.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s lawyers had pleaded for a state appeals court to halt collection, claiming it was “a practical impossibility” to get an underwriter to sign off on a bond for such a large sum.The ruling was issued by the state’s intermediate appeals court, the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court, where Trump is fighting to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24432595-trump-civil-trial-decision">a judge’s Feb. 16 finding</a>&nbsp;that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-trial-engoron-new-york-646814bb4945306f19a22f38fdb246a5">lied about his wealth</a>&nbsp;as he grew the real estate empire that launched him to stardom and the presidency.After James won the judgment, she didn't seek to enforce it during a legal time-out for Trump to ask the appeals court for a reprieve from paying up.That period ended Monday, though James could have decided to allow Trump more time.James, a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/letitia-james-shes-prepared-seize-trumps-assets-pay/story?id=107381482">told ABC News</a>&nbsp;last month that if Trump doesn't have the money to pay, she would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit-judgment-verdict-63e643d0fe098cc1ac178c003f21a40d">seek to seize his assets</a>&nbsp;and was "prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid.”She didn't detail the process or specify what holdings she meant, and her office has declined more recently to discuss its plans. Meanwhile, it has filed notice of the judgment, a technical step toward potentially moving to collect.As Trump arrived Monday at a different New York court for a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-new-york-b8fb980a6ec745e918a13e676b7f1460">hearing in his criminal hush money case</a>, he didn't respond to a journalist's question about whether he'd obtained a bond. Earlier Monday, he railed in social media posts against the civil judgment and the possibility that James would seek to enforce it.Casting the case as a plot by Democrats, the ex-president asserted that they were trying to take his cash to starve his 2024 campaign.“I had intended to use much of that hard earned money on running for President. They don’t want me to do that — ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Referring to his properties as “my ‘babies,’” he bristled at the idea of being forced to sell them or seeing them seized.Seizing assets is a common legal option when someone doesn’t have the cash to pay a civil court penalty. In Trump’s case, potential targets could include such properties as his Trump Tower penthouse, aircraft, Wall Street office building or golf courses.The attorney general also could go after his bank and investment accounts. Trump maintained on social media on Friday that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-engoron-new-york-judgment-abfb3f8c6aac44836265c893f7548ff2">has almost $500 million</a>&nbsp;in cash but intends to use much of it on his presidential run. He has accused James and New York state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-engoron-letitia-james-fraud-new-york-9bd42690d327f6f63c9eb31c046f8426">Judge Arthur Engoron</a>, who's also a Democrat, of seeking “to take the cash away so I can’t use it on the campaign.”One possibility would be for James' office to go through a legal process to have local law enforcement seize properties, then seek to sell them off. But that's a complicated prospect in Trump's case, noted Stewart Sterk, a real estate law professor at Cardozo School of Law.“Finding buyers for assets of this magnitude is something that doesn’t happen overnight,” he said, noting that at any ordinary auction, “the chances that people are going to be able to bid up to the true value of the property is pretty slim.”Trump's debt stems from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-trial-new-york-44d7ce912fa2434c452e2b5dd6139789">a monthslong civil trial</a>&nbsp;last fall over the state's allegations that he, his company and top executives vastly puffed up his wealth on financial statements, conning bankers and insurers who did business with him. The statements valued his penthouse for years as though it were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-new-york-james-accountant-trial-64ffc5238f77f0a851626877cd45a96f">nearly three times its actual size</a>, for example.Trump and his co-defendants denied any wrongdoing, saying the statements actually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-trial-testimony-dca74420da0f92ee9bc9caff7a92c3b2">lowballed his fortune</a>, came with disclaimers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-letitia-james-fraud-trial-testimony-f73b28ef92cf3606d66bc9418f3025bc">weren't taken at face value</a>&nbsp;by the institutions that lent to or insured him. The penthouse discrepancy, he said, was simply a mistake made by subordinates.Engoron sided with the attorney general and ordered Trump to pay $355 million, plus interest that grows daily. Some co-defendants, including his sons and company executive vice presidents, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were ordered to pay far smaller amounts.Under New York law, filing an appeal generally doesn't hold off enforcement of a judgment. But there's an automatic pause if the person or entity posts a bond that covers what's owed.The ex-president's lawyers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-bond-appeal-million-75ef3efb5b70d6ea43bea85b65ff7810">said it's impossible</a>&nbsp;for him to do that. They said underwriters wanted 120% of the judgment and wouldn't accept real estate as collateral. That would mean tying up over $557 million in cash, stocks and other liquid assets, and Trump's company needs some left over to run the business, his attorneys have said.Trump's attorneys have asked an appeals court to freeze collection without his posting a bond. The attorney general's office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-case-bond-appeal-million-b7186ffc2e96d252250c30938b824dd0">has objected</a>.

🎥Trump win: Court slashed $454M bond; 10 more days to pay

TREGO COUNTY —With snow in the forecast, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Heilman wrote on social media, " I don't think today is a good traveling day if you're in Western Kansas."

"As of 10:15a.m., the roads start getting bad in western Trego County and they get progressively worse the farther west you go. Be safe everyone"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711380273615.png" alt="I-70 at Mingo exit -Monday 10:15a.m. Image KanDrive&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>I-70 at Mingo exit -Monday 10:15a.m. Image KanDrive&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TREGO COUNTY —With snow in the forecast, Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Heilman wrote on social media, " I don't think today is a good traveling day if you're in Western Kansas.""As of 10:15a.m., the roads start getting bad in western Trego County and they get progressively worse the farther west you go. Be safe everyone"

KHP: Not a good day for travel in western Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7 p.m. Sunday in Johnson County.

A vehicle was eastbound on W.91st Street toward Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy.

 As the vehicle initiated a left turn into a parking lot, it struck a westbound electric scooter, driven by 39-year-old Greggory Bennett of Lenexa.

EMS transported Bennett to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; Police released no additional details. The accident remains under investigation.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7 p.m. Sunday in Johnson County.A vehicle was eastbound on W.91st Street toward Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy. As the vehicle initiated a left turn into a parking lot, it struck a westbound electric scooter, driven by 39-year-old Greggory Bennett of Lenexa.EMS transported Bennett to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; Police released no additional details. The accident remains under investigation.