WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration Monday designated 31&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/raimondo-tech-hubs-biotech-computer-chips-f2ed91786be265099eec274777aa5c5b">technology hubs</a>&nbsp;touching Kansas, Missouri, 30 other states and Puerto Rico to help spur innovation and create jobs in the industries that are concentrated in these areas.

President Joe Biden made the announcement at the White House with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

(click below to watch Secretary Raimond's announcement)

“No matter where I go or who I meet with — CEOs, governors, senators, congresspeople, university presidents — everyone wants to tell me about their application and how excited they are,” said Raimondo.

The tech hubs are the result of a process Raimondo's department launched in May to distribute a total of $500 million in grants to cities.

The $500 million came from a $10 billion authorization in last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-science-technology-health-fdcb2db42f91dcdbdd844d6dd463f95a">CHIPS and Science Act</a>&nbsp;to stimulate investments in new technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotech. It’s an attempt to expand tech investment that is largely concentrated around a few U.S. cities — Austin, Texas; Boston; New York; San Francisco; and Seattle — to the rest of the country.

Enabling Safe and Effective Autonomous Systems

Advancing Biotechnology in Drugs and Medical Devices

Advancing Biotechnology Precision and Prediction

Accelerating America’s Clean Energy Transition

Strengthening Our Critical Minerals Supply Chain

Regaining Leadership in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Growing the Future of Materials Manufacturing

Supporting Tech Hubs Through an All-of-Government StrategyTo ensure these Tech Hubs have the tools they need to compete on a global scale, the Administration is bringing the full resources of the federal government to identify and provide funding, technical assistance, and planning for the 31 coalitions, including:

You can learn more about the benefits of receiving a Tech Hub designation&nbsp;<a href="http://www.techhubs.gov/">here</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration Monday designated 31&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/raimondo-tech-hubs-biotech-computer-chips-f2ed91786be265099eec274777aa5c5b">technology hubs</a>&nbsp;touching Kansas, Missouri, 30 other states and Puerto Rico to help spur innovation and create jobs in the industries that are concentrated in these areas.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The wins keep coming for Kansas City. Out of 300+ applications nationwide, we were selected as one of 31 communities to be designated a Tech Hub by the <a href="https://twitter.com/CommerceGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CommerceGov</a> . This means millions in federal investment and thousands of jobs in bio manufacturing from Columbia to Manhattan. <a href="https://t.co/hSZASf1EAp">pic.twitter.com/hSZASf1EAp</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1716549230645367237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Joe Biden made the announcement at the White House with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.(click below to watch Secretary Raimond's announcement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1034657897847568%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=6" 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>“No matter where I go or who I meet with — CEOs, governors, senators, congresspeople, university presidents — everyone wants to tell me about their application and how excited they are,” said Raimondo.The tech hubs are the result of a process Raimondo's department launched in May to distribute a total of $500 million in grants to cities.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQQ3Dzo7LSM?si=pivwj9gP04v4ib_8&amp;start=75" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The $500 million came from a $10 billion authorization in last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-covid-science-technology-health-fdcb2db42f91dcdbdd844d6dd463f95a">CHIPS and Science Act</a>&nbsp;to stimulate investments in new technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotech. It’s an attempt to expand tech investment that is largely concentrated around a few U.S. cities — Austin, Texas; Boston; New York; San Francisco; and Seattle — to the rest of the country.Read more about the award winners below.Enabling Safe and Effective Autonomous Systems<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Tulsa-Hub-for-Equitable-Trustworthy-Autonomy">Tulsa Hub for Equitable &amp; Trustworthy Autonomy (THETA)</a>&nbsp;(OK), led by Tulsa Innovation Labs, aims to become a global leader in developing and commercializing autonomous systems for use cases ranging from agriculture and pipeline inspections to regional transportation.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Ocean-Tech-Hub">Ocean Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(RI, MA), led by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, aims to develop, test, and commercialize emerging maritime artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled robotics and sensors.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Headwaters-Hub">Headwaters Hub</a>&nbsp;(MT), led by Accelerate Montana, aims to become a global leader in smart technologies for automating complex processes, such as industrial manufacturing.</li>
 </ul>Maintaining Our Quantum Edge<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Elevate-Quantum-Colorado">Elevate Quantum Colorado</a>&nbsp;(CO), led by Elevate Quantum, aims to solidify the region’s global leadership in quantum information technology (QIT) to increase infrastructure resilience and strengthen the quantum hardware supply chain.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/The-Bloch-Tech-Hub">The Bloch Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(IL, IN, WI), led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), aims to lead quantum computing, communications, and related solutions.</li>
 </ul>Advancing Biotechnology in Drugs and Medical Devices<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Advanced-Pharmaceutical-Manufacturing-Tech-Hub">Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(VA), led by the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, aims to accelerate the growth, innovation, and sustainability of the U.S.-based Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry to re-shore safe and affordable medicines via innovative hybrid and continuous flow manufacturing technologies.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/ReGen-Valley-Tech-Hub">ReGen Valley Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(NH), led by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), aims to make New Hampshire a global leader in biofabrication to produce cost-effective regenerative therapies that address chronic disease and organ failure.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/iFAB-Tech-Hub">iFAB Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(IL), led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, aim to scale precision fermentation to convert underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value, customized alternative proteins, food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and more.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Kansas-City-Inclusive-Biologics-and-Biomanufacturing-Tech-Hub">Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(MO, KS), led by BioNexus KC, aims to position eastern Kansas and western Missouri as a global leader in biologics and biomanufacturing, increasing domestic production of life-saving vaccines and other preventative technologies.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Heartland-BioWorks">Heartland BioWorks</a>&nbsp;(IN), led by the Applied Research Institute, aims to develop central Indiana into a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing by increasing the region’s capacity to make and deploy life-saving medicines.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/PRBio-Tech-Hub">PRBio Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(PR), led by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, aims to&nbsp;advance the region as a global leader in biotechnology through fast-tracking the discovery, development, manufacturing, and supply of next generation biotechnology and medical device products to detect, treat, and cure diseases and ailments.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Advancing Biotechnology Precision and Prediction<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Wisconsin-Biohealth-Tech-Hub">Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(WI), led by BioForward Wisconsin, aims to position Wisconsin as a global leader in personalized medicine, an emerging healthcare approach that tailors tests, treatments, and therapies informed by a patient’s unique genetic code, medical record, and environment.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Baltimore-Tech-Hub">Baltimore Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(MD), led by the Greater Baltimore Committee, aims to develop innovative predictive healthcare technologies by applying artificial intelligence to biotechnologies.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Birmingham-Biotechnology-Hub">Birmingham Biotechnology Hub</a>&nbsp;(AL), led by Southern Research Institute, aims to become a global leader in drug, vaccine, and diagnostics development by applying artificial intelligence-driven biotechnology to increase representation in clinical genomic data and clinical trials.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Greater-Philadelphia-Region-Precision-Medicine-Tech-Hub">Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(PA, DE, MD, NJ), led by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA, aims to become a global leader in end-to-end precision medicine.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Minnesota-MedTech-Hub-3.0">Minnesota MedTech Hub 3.0</a>&nbsp;(MMT3.0) (MN, WI), led by the Minneapolis Saint Paul Economic Development Partnership, aims to position Minnesota as a global center for “Smart MedTech” by integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science into medical technology.</li>
 </ul>Accelerating America’s Clean Energy Transition<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Gulf-Louisiana-Offshore-Wind-Propeller">Gulf Louisiana Offshore Wind Propeller</a>&nbsp;(LA), led by Louisiana State University, aims to transition Louisiana’s energy economy from its legacy of oil and gas to offshore wind and renewable energy.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Intermountain-West-Nuclear-Energy-Tech-Hub">Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(ID, WY), led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, aims to position Idaho and Wyoming as a global leader in small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced nuclear energy to contribute to a clean energy future.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/SC-Nexus-for-Advanced-Resilient-Energy">SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy</a>&nbsp;(SC, GA) led by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, aims to be a global leader in advanced energy by developing, testing, and deploying exportable electricity technologies.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/South-Florida-Climate-Resilience-Tech-Hub">South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(FL), led by the Miami Dade County Innovation and Economic Development Office, aims to advance its global leadership in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (SRI) solutions for the global climate crisis.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/New-Energy-New-York-Battery-Tech-Hub">New Energy New York (NENY) Battery Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(NY), led by the State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton, aims to bolster battery technology development and manufacturing across the entire value chain.</li>
 </ul>Strengthening Our Critical Minerals Supply Chain<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Nevada-Lithium-Batteries-and-Other-EV-Material-Loop">Nevada Lithium Batteries and Other EV Material Loop</a>&nbsp;(NV), led by the University of Nevada, Reno, aims to build a self-sustaining and globally competitive full lithium lifecycle cluster, spanning extraction, processing, manufacturing, and recycling.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Critical-Minerals-and-Materials-for-Advanced-Energy-Tech-Hub">Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(MO), led by the University of Missouri System, aims to position south-central Missouri as a global leader in critical minerals processing to provide the materials needed to support battery technology.</li>
 </ul>Regaining Leadership in Semiconductor Manufacturing<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Texoma-Semiconductor-Tech-Hub">Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(TX, OK), led by Southern Methodist University, aims to unify existing and planned semiconductor supply chain infrastructure by enhancing regional collaboration and uplifting underserved communities through workforce expansion.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Corvallis-Microfluidics-Tech-Hub">Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(OR), led by Oregon State University, aims to establish global leadership in the development, scaling, and commercialization of microfluidics technology for use in semiconductor and electronic cooling.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/NY-SMART-I-Corridor-Tech-Hub">NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(NY), led by CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, aims to enhance regional semiconductor manufacturing capabilities while ensuring economic opportunity for underserved communities.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Advancing-Gallium-Nitride-Tech-Hub">Advancing Gallium Nitride (GaN) Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(VT), led by the University of Vermont, aims to innovate in GaN manufacturing, a critical materials technology for wireless communication.</li>
 </ul>Growing the Future of Materials Manufacturing<ul>
 <li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Sustainable-Polymers-Tech-Hub">Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(OH), led by the Greater Akron Chamber, aims to tackle the severe climate and environmental impacts resulting from the use of fossil fuel-derived polymers (rubbers and plastics) through accelerating sustainable polymer manufacturing and commercialization in the United States.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Forest-Bioproducts-Advanced-Manufacturing-Tech-Hub">Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(ME), led by the Maine Technology Institute, aims to become a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing by innovating the process of extracting biological building blocks to manufacture environmentally sustainable products.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/American-Aerospace-Materials-Manufacturing-Tech-Hub">American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(WA, ID), led by Gonzaga University, aims to develop new domestic supply chains to meet the immediate demand for high-rate production of advanced composite aerostructures in defense and commercial markets.</li><li><a href="https://eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs/2023/Pacific-Northwest-Smart-Energy-Strategy-Development-Consortium">Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub</a>&nbsp;(OR, WA), led by Oregon State University, aims to be a global leader in mass timber design and manufacturing to lower the construction industry’s carbon footprint and improve housing affordability.</li>
 </ul>Supporting Tech Hubs Through an All-of-Government StrategyTo ensure these Tech Hubs have the tools they need to compete on a global scale, the Administration is bringing the full resources of the federal government to identify and provide funding, technical assistance, and planning for the 31 coalitions, including:<ul>
 <li>Providing Tech Hubs access to follow-on funding from across the federal government, such as future Tech Hubs implementation funding, Economic Development Administration funding opportunities, and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) programs</li><li>Tech Hubs will have access to a range of technical assistance from agencies such as the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Small Business Administration, and will have access to exclusive Tech Hubs branding</li><li>Tech Hubs will have support attracting foreign direct investment and receive export market access assistance, including having a dedicated presence at the SelectUSA Investment Summit Exhibition Hall in June 2024 and will have access to export assistance navigators that offer a global resilience stress test for each Tech Hubs Designee.</li><li>Tech Hubs will also receive technical assistance and program support on intellectual property issues</li>
 </ul>You can learn more about the benefits of receiving a Tech Hub designation&nbsp;<a href="http://www.techhubs.gov/">here</a>.

🎥 Commerce Dept. names Kansas City among 31 new tech hubs

SYRIA – On Monday, the U.S. military destroyed two one-way attack drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in southwest Syria before they reached their intended targets, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command

"In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in the region and will take necessary and proportionate action to defend U.S. and Coalition forces."

SYRIA – On Monday, the U.S. military destroyed two one-way attack drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in southwest Syria before they reached their intended targets, according to a statement from the U.S. Central CommandThere are no casualties or damage."In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in the region and will take necessary and proportionate action to defend U.S. and Coalition forces."

Officials: US troops in Syria targeted by drones

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Justyn Ross on felony allegations after an arrest on Monday.

According to online booking records, police arrested the 23-year-old Ross just before 3p.m. Monday in Shawnee, Kansas, on a requested charge of criminal damage of more than $25,000.

As of late Monday, the Chiefs had not released a statement on the arrest. Ross, from Phenix City, Alabama played college football at Clemson and is in his second NFL season, according to his bio on the team web site.&nbsp; He played Sunday in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers but did not catch a pass, according stats on the team web site.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698113130170.png" alt="Justyn Ross-photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Justyn Ross-photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Justyn Ross on felony allegations after an arrest on Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698112997285.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to online booking records, police arrested the 23-year-old Ross just before 3p.m. Monday in Shawnee, Kansas, on a requested charge of criminal damage of more than $25,000.As of late Monday, the Chiefs had not released a statement on the arrest. Ross, from Phenix City, Alabama played college football at Clemson and is in his second NFL season, according to his bio on the team web site.&nbsp; He played Sunday in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers but did not catch a pass, according stats on the team web site.

Chiefs wide receiver arrested in Kansas on felony allegations

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex allegations.

On October 19, 2023, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

Deputies arrested 39-year-old Craig H. Miller, 39, of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of attempted electronic solicitation of a child, attempted indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698088124128.png" alt="Miller-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex allegations.On October 19, 2023, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division conducted an investigation into child sex crimes, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.Deputies arrested 39-year-old Craig H. Miller, 39, of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of attempted electronic solicitation of a child, attempted indecent liberties with a child, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas man accused of child sex and drug crimes

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man&nbsp;&nbsp;accused in the fatal shooting of a convenience store security guard in May of 2021 has been convicted of murder.

On Friday a jury found 44-year-old Laroy West guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.

Just after 10p.m. May 5, 2021 police responded to report of a shooting near the QuikTrip convience store at Broadway and Murdoch in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.

At the scene, officers located 39-year-old Will Robinson, the Quick Trip security guard, in the alley across from the business with a gunshot wound to his upper body. 

EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died two days later, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

Investigators learned Robinson encountered West who was causing a disruption inside the store. He escorted the man from the store and ultimately to the edge of the property where the disturbance continued and West shot him.&nbsp;

Robinson had worked as a security guard at QuikTrip for about a year. Before that he was a Wichita police officer. He was a married father of two children. QuikTrip, in a statement, said it is “absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Will.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697891476279.png" alt="West as seen on security cameras the night of the deadly shooting -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>West as seen on security cameras the night of the deadly shooting -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man&nbsp;&nbsp;accused in the fatal shooting of a convenience store security guard in May of 2021 has been convicted of murder.On Friday a jury found 44-year-old Laroy West guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.Just after 10p.m. May 5, 2021 police responded to report of a shooting near the QuikTrip convience store at Broadway and Murdoch in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620393217853.png" alt="West-photo Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>West-photo Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>At the scene, officers located 39-year-old Will Robinson, the Quick Trip security guard, in the alley across from the business with a gunshot wound to his upper body. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died two days later, according to Officer Charley Davidson.Investigators learned Robinson encountered West who was causing a disruption inside the store. He escorted the man from the store and ultimately to the edge of the property where the disturbance continued and West shot him.&nbsp;Robinson had worked as a security guard at QuikTrip for about a year. Before that he was a Wichita police officer. He was a married father of two children. QuikTrip, in a statement, said it is “absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Will.”-----------

Man guilty of killing Kan. convenience store security guard

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident involving a small plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Wichita.

Just after 6:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a plane crash on Tracy Street, just east of Towne West Square, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders learned that the pilot a 27-year-old woman from Wichita had to complete an emergency landing after having engine problems in her single-engine Cessna plane. There were no injuries, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;

The plane and some street signs were damaged. The pilot was not injured, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697848914882.png" alt="A view of the single engine Cessna -courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>A view of the single engine Cessna -courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident involving a small plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Wichita.Just after 6:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a plane crash on Tracy Street, just east of Towne West Square, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders learned that the pilot a 27-year-old woman from Wichita had to complete an emergency landing after having engine problems in her single-engine Cessna plane. There were no injuries, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp;The plane and some street signs were damaged. The pilot was not injured, according to Rebolledo.

Investigation continues after small plane lands near Kan. shopping mall

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released two elderly Israeli women held hostage in Gaza on Monday, as the United States expressed increasing concern that the escalating Israel-Hamas war will spark a wider conflict in the region, including attacks on American troops.

The death toll in Gaza rose rapidly as Israel ramped up airstrikes, flattening residential buildings in what it says was preparation for an eventual ground assault. The United States advised Israel to delay an expected ground invasion to allow time to negotiate the release of more hostages taken by Hamas during its brutal incursion two weeks ago.

A third small aid convoy from Egypt entered Gaza, where the population of 2.3 million has been running out of food, water and medicine under Israel’s two-week seal. With Israel still barring entry of fuel, the U.N. said its distribution of aid would grind to a halt within days when it can no longer fuel its trucks. Gaza hospitals flooded by a constant stream of wounded are struggling to keep generators running to power life-saving medical equipment and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-babies-crisis-9ec2e404e16a132821dac644af110ef6">incubators for premature babies</a>.

The two freed hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, were taken out of Gaza at the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where they were put into ambulances, according to footage shown on Egyptian TV. The two women, along with their husbands, were snatched from their homes in the kibbutz of Nir Oz near the Gaza border during Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">Oct. 7 rampage</a>&nbsp;into southern Israeli communities. Their husbands were not released.

Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons, days after freeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194">an American woman and her teenage daughter</a>. Hamas and other militants in Gaza are believed to have taken roughly 220 people, including an unconfirmed number of foreigners and dual nationals.

Israel is widely expected to launch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-military-urban-battle-89e45b149f3b88cd647cf6376dbfe0ac">a ground offensive in Gaza</a>, vowing to destroy Hamas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-marines-bombing-beirut-1983-hezbollah-israel-hamas-iran-34f61ac47909c52de800dd35b375e782">Iranian-backed fighters around the region are warning of possible escalation</a>&nbsp;if that happens, including targeting U.S. forces deployed in the Mideast.

The U.S. has told Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and other groups not to join the fight.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-clashes-cadccde8c6ce5400ee36fd12d3bfea52">Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire almost daily across the Israel-Lebanon border</a>, and Israeli warplanes have struck targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-west-bank-gaza-militants-25b93d7eda4f2972360fe384d381bbff">the occupied West Bank</a>, Syria and Lebanon in recent days.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there had been an uptick in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, and the U.S. was “deeply concerned about the possibility for any significant escalation” in attacks in coming days.

He said U.S. officials were having “active conversations” with Israeli counterparts about the potential ramifications of escalated military action.

The U.S. advised Israeli officials that delaying a ground offensive would give Washington more time to work with regional mediators on securing the release of more hostages, according to a U.S. official.

Israeli tanks and ground forces have been massed at the Gaza border, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops there Monday to keep preparing for an offensive “because it will come.” He said it will be a combined offensive from air, land and sea but did not give a timeframe.

A ground offensive is likely to dramatically increase casualties in what is already the deadliest by far&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-war-middle-east-palestinians-e6d44f4e478cced2cfaeac61385020ac">of five wars</a>&nbsp;fought between Israel and Hamas since the militant seized power in Gaza in 2007.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack. At least 222 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza, including foreigners, the military said Monday, updating a previous figure.

More than 5,000 Palestinians, including some 2,000 minors and around 1,100 women, have been killed, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Monday. That includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital last week. The toll has climbed rapidly in recent days, with the ministry reporting 436 additional deaths in just the last 24 hours.

Israel said it had struck 320 militant targets throughout Gaza over the last 24 hours. The military says it does not target civilians, and that Palestinian militants have fired over 7,000 rockets at Israel since the start of the war.

Israel carried out limited ground forays into Gaza. On Sunday, Hamas said it destroyed an Israeli tank and two armored bulldozers inside Gaza. The Israeli military said a soldier was killed and three others were wounded by an anti-tank missile during a raid inside Gaza.

Intense airstrikes continued Monday across Gaza. After a strike in Gaza City, a woman with blood on her face wept as she clasped the hand of a dead relative. At least three bodies were sprawled on the street, one lying in a gray stream of water. After a series of strikes in the south, Rafah’s Abou Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital registered 61 deaths Monday, its spokesperson said. Bodies of the dead were laid out in the hospital grounds, spokesperson Talaat Barghout said.

On Monday the Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 trucks entered Gaza carrying food, water, medicine and medical supplies, through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the only way into Gaza not controlled by Israel. It was the third delivery in as many days, each around the same size.

The aid coming in so far is “a drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the population, said Thomas White, the Gaza director of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The U.N. has said 20 trucks amounts to 4% of an average day’s imports before the war and that hundreds of trucks a day are needed.

White said the agency had only three days of fuel left for its trucks. The supplies coming through Rafah are reloaded onto UNRWA and the Red Crescent trucks to take to hospitals and U.N. schools in the south of Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are taking shelter, running low on food and largely drinking contaminated water.

At least 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza have fled their homes, and nearly 580,000 of them are sheltering in U.N.-run schools and shelters, the U.N. said Monday.

No aid will be distributed in Gaza City and other parts of the north, where hundreds of thousands of people remain. Gaza City’s main al-Shifa Hospital, with a normal capacity of 700 patients, is currently overwhelmed with 5,000 patients, and around 45,000 displaced people are gathered in and around its grounds for shelter, the U.N. said.

“The north didn’t receive anything” from incoming aid, said Mahmoud Shalabi, an aid worker with Medical Aid for Palestinians aid group based in the northern town of Beit Lahia. “It’s like a death sentence for the people in the north of Gaza.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698094669144.png" alt="Nurit Cooper, who was held as hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants, is seen in this undated handout photo. The International Committee of the Red Cross says Hamas militants have released Cooper along with Yocheved Lifshitz it had been holding captive in the Gaza Strip. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Nurit Cooper, who was held as hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants, is seen in this undated handout photo. The International Committee of the Red Cross says Hamas militants have released Cooper along with Yocheved Lifshitz it had been holding captive in the Gaza Strip. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released two elderly Israeli women held hostage in Gaza on Monday, as the United States expressed increasing concern that the escalating Israel-Hamas war will spark a wider conflict in the region, including attacks on American troops.The death toll in Gaza rose rapidly as Israel ramped up airstrikes, flattening residential buildings in what it says was preparation for an eventual ground assault. The United States advised Israel to delay an expected ground invasion to allow time to negotiate the release of more hostages taken by Hamas during its brutal incursion two weeks ago.A third small aid convoy from Egypt entered Gaza, where the population of 2.3 million has been running out of food, water and medicine under Israel’s two-week seal. With Israel still barring entry of fuel, the U.N. said its distribution of aid would grind to a halt within days when it can no longer fuel its trucks. Gaza hospitals flooded by a constant stream of wounded are struggling to keep generators running to power life-saving medical equipment and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-babies-crisis-9ec2e404e16a132821dac644af110ef6">incubators for premature babies</a>.The two freed hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, were taken out of Gaza at the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where they were put into ambulances, according to footage shown on Egyptian TV. The two women, along with their husbands, were snatched from their homes in the kibbutz of Nir Oz near the Gaza border during Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">Oct. 7 rampage</a>&nbsp;into southern Israeli communities. Their husbands were not released.Hamas said it had released them for humanitarian reasons, days after freeing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194">an American woman and her teenage daughter</a>. Hamas and other militants in Gaza are believed to have taken roughly 220 people, including an unconfirmed number of foreigners and dual nationals.Israel is widely expected to launch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-military-urban-battle-89e45b149f3b88cd647cf6376dbfe0ac">a ground offensive in Gaza</a>, vowing to destroy Hamas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-marines-bombing-beirut-1983-hezbollah-israel-hamas-iran-34f61ac47909c52de800dd35b375e782">Iranian-backed fighters around the region are warning of possible escalation</a>&nbsp;if that happens, including targeting U.S. forces deployed in the Mideast.The U.S. has told Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and other groups not to join the fight.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-clashes-cadccde8c6ce5400ee36fd12d3bfea52">Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire almost daily across the Israel-Lebanon border</a>, and Israeli warplanes have struck targets in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-west-bank-gaza-militants-25b93d7eda4f2972360fe384d381bbff">the occupied West Bank</a>, Syria and Lebanon in recent days.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there had been an uptick in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, and the U.S. was “deeply concerned about the possibility for any significant escalation” in attacks in coming days.He said U.S. officials were having “active conversations” with Israeli counterparts about the potential ramifications of escalated military action.The U.S. advised Israeli officials that delaying a ground offensive would give Washington more time to work with regional mediators on securing the release of more hostages, according to a U.S. official.Israeli tanks and ground forces have been massed at the Gaza border, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops there Monday to keep preparing for an offensive “because it will come.” He said it will be a combined offensive from air, land and sea but did not give a timeframe.A ground offensive is likely to dramatically increase casualties in what is already the deadliest by far&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-war-middle-east-palestinians-e6d44f4e478cced2cfaeac61385020ac">of five wars</a>&nbsp;fought between Israel and Hamas since the militant seized power in Gaza in 2007.More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack. At least 222 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza, including foreigners, the military said Monday, updating a previous figure.More than 5,000 Palestinians, including some 2,000 minors and around 1,100 women, have been killed, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Monday. That includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital last week. The toll has climbed rapidly in recent days, with the ministry reporting 436 additional deaths in just the last 24 hours.Israel said it had struck 320 militant targets throughout Gaza over the last 24 hours. The military says it does not target civilians, and that Palestinian militants have fired over 7,000 rockets at Israel since the start of the war.Israel carried out limited ground forays into Gaza. On Sunday, Hamas said it destroyed an Israeli tank and two armored bulldozers inside Gaza. The Israeli military said a soldier was killed and three others were wounded by an anti-tank missile during a raid inside Gaza.Intense airstrikes continued Monday across Gaza. After a strike in Gaza City, a woman with blood on her face wept as she clasped the hand of a dead relative. At least three bodies were sprawled on the street, one lying in a gray stream of water. After a series of strikes in the south, Rafah’s Abou Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital registered 61 deaths Monday, its spokesperson said. Bodies of the dead were laid out in the hospital grounds, spokesperson Talaat Barghout said.On Monday the Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 trucks entered Gaza carrying food, water, medicine and medical supplies, through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the only way into Gaza not controlled by Israel. It was the third delivery in as many days, each around the same size.The aid coming in so far is “a drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the population, said Thomas White, the Gaza director of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The U.N. has said 20 trucks amounts to 4% of an average day’s imports before the war and that hundreds of trucks a day are needed.White said the agency had only three days of fuel left for its trucks. The supplies coming through Rafah are reloaded onto UNRWA and the Red Crescent trucks to take to hospitals and U.N. schools in the south of Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are taking shelter, running low on food and largely drinking contaminated water.At least 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza have fled their homes, and nearly 580,000 of them are sheltering in U.N.-run schools and shelters, the U.N. said Monday.No aid will be distributed in Gaza City and other parts of the north, where hundreds of thousands of people remain. Gaza City’s main al-Shifa Hospital, with a normal capacity of 700 patients, is currently overwhelmed with 5,000 patients, and around 45,000 displaced people are gathered in and around its grounds for shelter, the U.N. said.“The north didn’t receive anything” from incoming aid, said Mahmoud Shalabi, an aid worker with Medical Aid for Palestinians aid group based in the northern town of Beit Lahia. “It’s like a death sentence for the people in the north of Gaza.”

Hamas frees 2 more hostages as US advises delaying ground war 

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis.

The union says that 6,800 members walked out Monday morning and shut down the Sterling Heights, Michigan, Assembly Plant, a huge profit center for the company.

The newest strike action comes just three days after union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-union-uaw-shawn-fain-0e3e71f44f075fda066f499bb2165b48">President Shawn Fain</a>&nbsp;reported progress in talks with General Motors and Stellantis but said the companies will have to make better offers. No progress was reported with Ford, which last week said it had the best offer of the three.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-uaw-workers-strike-gm-ford-stellantis-7ce3ca9d94b911250d07556b7af376c7">union went on strike Sept. 15</a>&nbsp;at one assembly plant from each company. About 41,000 workers are now on strike against all three automakers. The strikes, now in their sixth week, cover seven assembly plants and 38 parts warehouses. About 28% of the union's work force at the three companies are now on strike.

General Motors, which increased its offer last week, and Ford were spared in the latest escalation. At first the union avoided striking at pickup and large SUV plants, which at all three produce vehicles that make the most money for the companies. But that changed two weeks ago when the UAW took out a giant Ford heavy-duty pickup and SUV plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

In previous strikes the union has targeted a particular company and reached an agreement that served as a pattern for a deal with the other two.

In a statement, the union said that offers from Stellantis, formed in the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Groupe, lag Ford and GM despite the automaker having the most revenue and highest profits of the three.

Stellantis has the worst offer on cost of living raises, how fast workers move to the top of the pay scale, temporary worker pay, converting temps to full time, and other issues, the union said.

In a statement, Stellantis said it was “outraged” that the Sterling Heights plant was added to the strike list because the company improved its offer on Thursday but has not received a response from the UAW. The new offer included a 23% wage increase over four years, nearly a 50% increase in retirement savings contributions and added job security provisions, the company said.

“Our very strong offer would address member demands and provide immediate financial gains for our employees,” the statement said. “Instead the UAW has decided to cause further harm to the entire automotive industry as well as our local, state and national economies.”

With every plant it adds, the union “sacrifices domestic market share to nonunion competition,” hurting the company's ability to invest and compete, the statement said.

The union expects to make counteroffers to Stellantis and GM soon.

By taking down the Stellantis factory, the union is signaling Ford and GM to improve their offers, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said. Last week it appeared a deal might be in the works, but Fain said Friday that the companies will need to pay more.

“It takes a potential deal that appeared on the table -- at least for now -- off of it,” Ives said, predicting the the union will announce new strike locations later this week. "There could be some tough talks ahead,” Ives said.

On Friday, Fain said Stellantis and GM have made wage offers that matched Ford’s 23% over the life of a four year contract. But, speaking in his characteristic sharp tones, the union president insisted that the companies can go further.

“We’ve got cards left to play, and they’ve got money left to spend,” Fain said.

While Fain said the companies keep touting that they’ve made record offers to the UAW, he said they’re insufficient to make up for how much ground workers have lost during the past two decades. Each time the automakers make an offer, Fain said, they insist it’s the best they can do, only to return days later with a better offer.

“What that should tell you,” Fain said, is that “there’s room to move.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695471687000.png" alt="About 41,000 workers are now on strike against all three automakers.-photo UAW" />
 <figcaption>About 41,000 workers are now on strike against all three automakers.-photo UAW</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The United Auto Workers union has once again escalated its strikes against big Detroit automakers, this time adding a factory that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis.The union says that 6,800 members walked out Monday morning and shut down the Sterling Heights, Michigan, Assembly Plant, a huge profit center for the company.The newest strike action comes just three days after union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-union-uaw-shawn-fain-0e3e71f44f075fda066f499bb2165b48">President Shawn Fain</a>&nbsp;reported progress in talks with General Motors and Stellantis but said the companies will have to make better offers. No progress was reported with Ford, which last week said it had the best offer of the three.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-uaw-workers-strike-gm-ford-stellantis-7ce3ca9d94b911250d07556b7af376c7">union went on strike Sept. 15</a>&nbsp;at one assembly plant from each company. About 41,000 workers are now on strike against all three automakers. The strikes, now in their sixth week, cover seven assembly plants and 38 parts warehouses. About 28% of the union's work force at the three companies are now on strike.General Motors, which increased its offer last week, and Ford were spared in the latest escalation. At first the union avoided striking at pickup and large SUV plants, which at all three produce vehicles that make the most money for the companies. But that changed two weeks ago when the UAW took out a giant Ford heavy-duty pickup and SUV plant in Louisville, Kentucky.In previous strikes the union has targeted a particular company and reached an agreement that served as a pattern for a deal with the other two.In a statement, the union said that offers from Stellantis, formed in the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Groupe, lag Ford and GM despite the automaker having the most revenue and highest profits of the three.Stellantis has the worst offer on cost of living raises, how fast workers move to the top of the pay scale, temporary worker pay, converting temps to full time, and other issues, the union said.In a statement, Stellantis said it was “outraged” that the Sterling Heights plant was added to the strike list because the company improved its offer on Thursday but has not received a response from the UAW. The new offer included a 23% wage increase over four years, nearly a 50% increase in retirement savings contributions and added job security provisions, the company said.“Our very strong offer would address member demands and provide immediate financial gains for our employees,” the statement said. “Instead the UAW has decided to cause further harm to the entire automotive industry as well as our local, state and national economies.”With every plant it adds, the union “sacrifices domestic market share to nonunion competition,” hurting the company's ability to invest and compete, the statement said.The union expects to make counteroffers to Stellantis and GM soon.By taking down the Stellantis factory, the union is signaling Ford and GM to improve their offers, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said. Last week it appeared a deal might be in the works, but Fain said Friday that the companies will need to pay more.“It takes a potential deal that appeared on the table -- at least for now -- off of it,” Ives said, predicting the the union will announce new strike locations later this week. "There could be some tough talks ahead,” Ives said.On Friday, Fain said Stellantis and GM have made wage offers that matched Ford’s 23% over the life of a four year contract. But, speaking in his characteristic sharp tones, the union president insisted that the companies can go further.“We’ve got cards left to play, and they’ve got money left to spend,” Fain said.While Fain said the companies keep touting that they’ve made record offers to the UAW, he said they’re insufficient to make up for how much ground workers have lost during the past two decades. Each time the automakers make an offer, Fain said, they insist it’s the best they can do, only to return days later with a better offer.“What that should tell you,” Fain said, is that “there’s room to move.”____

Autoworkers expand strike, shut down big profit center

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday said it would indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.

The justices said they would hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing administration officials of unconstitutionally squelching conservative points of view. The new case adds to a term already heavy with social media issues.

Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration.

“At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate,” Alito wrote in dissent.

White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who would have been affected by the order. The lawsuit said they were among those who coerced changes in online content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other media platforms.

Notably, the companies themselves are not part of the litigation.

A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the administration had likely brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content.

The Justice Department said the appellate ruling and a much broader order issued by a federal judge in Louisiana that the appeals court narrowed were riddled with factual and legal mistakes.

“The Fifth Circuit erred in finding coercion by the White House, Surgeon General’s office, and FBI because the court did not identify any threat, implicit or explicit, of adverse consequences for noncompliance," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote. "Indeed, the Fifth Circuit adopted a definition of coercion so lax that it deemed the FBI’s actions coercive simply because the FBI is a powerful law enforcement agency and the platforms sometimes (but not always) removed the content it flagged.”

The 5th Circuit had previously narrowed a more sweeping order during the summer from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.

The Supreme Court has four other social media cases on its docket. The justices are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">evaluating Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express. The tech companies said that the laws violate their First Amendment rights. The laws reflect a view among Republicans that the platforms disproportionately censor conservative viewpoints.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday said it would indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 BREAKING: The United States Supreme Court has granted cert in Missouri v. Biden -- the nation&#39;s highest court will hear the most important free speech case in American history. I&#39;m proud to have filed this case when I was AG, and will always defend free speech. <a href="https://t.co/2MOfLXH8u0">pic.twitter.com/2MOfLXH8u0</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1715469445815054529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The justices said they would hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing administration officials of unconstitutionally squelching conservative points of view. The new case adds to a term already heavy with social media issues.Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have rejected the emergency appeal from the Biden administration.“At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news. That is most unfortunate,” Alito wrote in dissent.White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who would have been affected by the order. The lawsuit said they were among those who coerced changes in online content on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other media platforms.Notably, the companies themselves are not part of the litigation.A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the administration had likely brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content.The Justice Department said the appellate ruling and a much broader order issued by a federal judge in Louisiana that the appeals court narrowed were riddled with factual and legal mistakes.“The Fifth Circuit erred in finding coercion by the White House, Surgeon General’s office, and FBI because the court did not identify any threat, implicit or explicit, of adverse consequences for noncompliance," Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote. "Indeed, the Fifth Circuit adopted a definition of coercion so lax that it deemed the FBI’s actions coercive simply because the FBI is a powerful law enforcement agency and the platforms sometimes (but not always) removed the content it flagged.”The 5th Circuit had previously narrowed a more sweeping order during the summer from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.The Supreme Court has four other social media cases on its docket. The justices are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">evaluating Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express. The tech companies said that the laws violate their First Amendment rights. The laws reflect a view among Republicans that the platforms disproportionately censor conservative viewpoints.

U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocks order in social media lawsuit

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a week incident involving a gun.

Just after 1p.m. Sunday, police responded to the area of SE 19th Street and SE Michigan Avenue in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police Sergeant Justin Joyce.

It was reported a man with a firearm threatened an individual, shot one round from the firearm into the air, and stole the victim’s vehicle.

At 1:20 p.m., Topeka Police Officers responding to the incident observed the stolen vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver exited the vehicle and fled from officers on foot in the area of the 1900 block of SE Colorado Avenue.

&nbsp;Officers took the suspect later identified as a 16-year-old into custody in the area and transported him to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and Criminal Carry of a Weapon

There were no injuries associated with this incident.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a week incident involving a gun.Just after 1p.m. Sunday, police responded to the area of SE 19th Street and SE Michigan Avenue in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police Sergeant Justin Joyce.It was reported a man with a firearm threatened an individual, shot one round from the firearm into the air, and stole the victim’s vehicle.At 1:20 p.m., Topeka Police Officers responding to the incident observed the stolen vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver exited the vehicle and fled from officers on foot in the area of the 1900 block of SE Colorado Avenue.&nbsp;Officers took the suspect later identified as a 16-year-old into custody in the area and transported him to the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and Criminal Carry of a WeaponThere were no injuries associated with this incident.

16-year-old fired gun during Kansas carjacking

BARTON COUNTY—One person died from injuries in an accident just before 11a.m. Saturday in Barton County.&nbsp;

&nbsp;A 2016 case IH combine without a header, operated by Charles Haas, 53, Larned, was westbound on SW 30th Road, approaching the intersection at SW 60 Avenue about four miles southwest of Great Bend, near Dundee, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

A northbound Ford Escape driven by Ronald Heine, 75, Great Bend failed to stop at the stop sign, proceeded into the intersection and struck the front of the combine. 

The SUV continued northbound rolling one time and came to rest on its wheels. Heine, as well as his passenger identified as Wanda Heine, 71, sustained serious injuries in the collision. Both were transported to the hospital in Great Bend, according to Bellendir.

Wanda Heine later died to her injuries at the hospital. Haas was not injured in the collision. The sheriff reported no additional details.

BARTON COUNTY—One person died from injuries in an accident just before 11a.m. Saturday in Barton County.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 2016 case IH combine without a header, operated by Charles Haas, 53, Larned, was westbound on SW 30th Road, approaching the intersection at SW 60 Avenue about four miles southwest of Great Bend, near Dundee, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.A northbound Ford Escape driven by Ronald Heine, 75, Great Bend failed to stop at the stop sign, proceeded into the intersection and struck the front of the combine. The SUV continued northbound rolling one time and came to rest on its wheels. Heine, as well as his passenger identified as Wanda Heine, 71, sustained serious injuries in the collision. Both were transported to the hospital in Great Bend, according to Bellendir.Wanda Heine later died to her injuries at the hospital. Haas was not injured in the collision. The sheriff reported no additional details.

Sheriff IDs Kan. woman who died after SUV crash with combine

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After contact between Phillipine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea over the weekend, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran commented on the general desire of China to expand its influence in recent years.

"The Communist Party of China, which controls the country's government, is interested in superseding the Western world, the free world with their form of government and certainly, their economic system to the huge detriment of America, our economy and, most importantly, our freedoms and liberties," Moran said Monday.

The dispute at sea between the Phillipines and China has prompted the U.S. to call China's actions dangerous and unlawful.

"I don't have any evidence, but I would not at all be surprised, but what China's engagement around the world in creating havoc is increasing now," Moran said. "As we also see in the Middle East, as they see the United States in disarray and uncertain of actions that we would be able to take, this is all, in my view, connected to an effort to change dramatically, the nature of the free world."

A maritime incident in the South China Sea may not seem like an issue for Kansas, but Moran would contend that it is.

"The Phillipines has been outside the realm of U.S. influence for awhile," Moran said. "They've come back, because they're fearful of the threat of China. We need to be helpful, because China is not just interested in the Phillippines, it's interested in the United States of America. This is the primary responsibility of a Congress, of me as a United States Senator, is the national defense of our nation."

On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won the arbitration case it lodged against China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated Beijing's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. China refused to acknowledge the arbitral ruling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698074551887.jpeg" alt="This image released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shows a Chinese militia vessel, top, and Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra as they approach Second Thomas Shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shows a Chinese militia vessel, top, and Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra as they approach Second Thomas Shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — After contact between Phillipine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea over the weekend, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran commented on the general desire of China to expand its influence in recent years."The Communist Party of China, which controls the country's government, is interested in superseding the Western world, the free world with their form of government and certainly, their economic system to the huge detriment of America, our economy and, most importantly, our freedoms and liberties," Moran said Monday.The dispute at sea between the Phillipines and China has prompted the U.S. to call China's actions dangerous and unlawful."I don't have any evidence, but I would not at all be surprised, but what China's engagement around the world in creating havoc is increasing now," Moran said. "As we also see in the Middle East, as they see the United States in disarray and uncertain of actions that we would be able to take, this is all, in my view, connected to an effort to change dramatically, the nature of the free world."A maritime incident in the South China Sea may not seem like an issue for Kansas, but Moran would contend that it is."The Phillipines has been outside the realm of U.S. influence for awhile," Moran said. "They've come back, because they're fearful of the threat of China. We need to be helpful, because China is not just interested in the Phillippines, it's interested in the United States of America. This is the primary responsibility of a Congress, of me as a United States Senator, is the national defense of our nation."On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won the arbitration case it lodged against China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated Beijing's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. China refused to acknowledge the arbitral ruling.

Moran comments on China after incident with Phillipine vessel

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police chief who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a330361110a4a56bacfe60558f2be4d">forced to resign</a>&nbsp;following allegations he assaulted a father&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/efeb6df1fbea4964813fb19bd4f47cda">who tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter</a>&nbsp;has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attacking his ex-wife during a domestic dispute, a prosecutor said.

Greg Hallgrimson was sentenced Friday in the case in which authorities say he punched and knocked his ex-wife unconscious in June 2020, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article280800545.html">reported.</a>

Hallgrimson was chief of the Greenwood Police Department when a man walked into the department in December 2018 and said he had just tried to drown his daughter in a retention pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the icy pond and pulled the unconscious child out of the water. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was treated for severe hypothermia. But prosecutors said that upon completing the rescue mission, Hallgrimson threw the father to the ground back at a police station and punched him in the face.

Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave shortly after he was accused of assault and resigned in May 2019. Greenwood is about 20 miles southeast of Kansas City. A federal judge subsequently sentenced Hallgrimson, who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the father, to five years of probation.

After Hallgrimson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ac08eadc2c5f4f8fb834a24b6376e639">indicted</a>&nbsp;on a charge of violating the father’s civil rights but before he was sentenced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-98560542752915a2462d64098f1cfa61">probation</a>&nbsp;in that case, he hit his wife so hard that she was knocked unconscious, according to authorities.

The ex-wife was worried for her safety and initially told doctors the she broke her nose and fractured her eye socket falling down some stairs, the prosecutor said. Police began investigating about 17 months later. Defense attorneys for Hallgrimson had argued that Hallgrimson was not the initial aggressor because he was slapped first.

In a statement Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the sentence “sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported” in Clay County where the case was prosecuted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573733052209.png" alt=" Greg Hallgrimson- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption> Greg Hallgrimson- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A police chief who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0a330361110a4a56bacfe60558f2be4d">forced to resign</a>&nbsp;following allegations he assaulted a father&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/efeb6df1fbea4964813fb19bd4f47cda">who tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter</a>&nbsp;has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attacking his ex-wife during a domestic dispute, a prosecutor said.Greg Hallgrimson was sentenced Friday in the case in which authorities say he punched and knocked his ex-wife unconscious in June 2020, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article280800545.html">reported.</a>Hallgrimson was chief of the Greenwood Police Department when a man walked into the department in December 2018 and said he had just tried to drown his daughter in a retention pond. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the icy pond and pulled the unconscious child out of the water. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was treated for severe hypothermia. But prosecutors said that upon completing the rescue mission, Hallgrimson threw the father to the ground back at a police station and punched him in the face.Hallgrimson was placed on administrative leave shortly after he was accused of assault and resigned in May 2019. Greenwood is about 20 miles southeast of Kansas City. A federal judge subsequently sentenced Hallgrimson, who pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the father, to five years of probation.After Hallgrimson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ac08eadc2c5f4f8fb834a24b6376e639">indicted</a>&nbsp;on a charge of violating the father’s civil rights but before he was sentenced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-kansas-city-missouri-98560542752915a2462d64098f1cfa61">probation</a>&nbsp;in that case, he hit his wife so hard that she was knocked unconscious, according to authorities.The ex-wife was worried for her safety and initially told doctors the she broke her nose and fractured her eye socket falling down some stairs, the prosecutor said. Police began investigating about 17 months later. Defense attorneys for Hallgrimson had argued that Hallgrimson was not the initial aggressor because he was slapped first.In a statement Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said the sentence “sent an unmistakable message today that victims of domestic abuse will be heard and supported” in Clay County where the case was prosecuted.

Former KC-area police chief sentenced for attack on ex-wife

BEIRUT —As tensions grow in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has increased their alerts to Americans.

Late Sunday, the U.S. State Department alert said, "&nbsp;U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation."

"There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity. Please check flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (<a href="https://t.co/k6ZEqXfR8S" target="_blank">https://beirutairport.gov.lb</a>)."

If you need a financial assistance loan from the U.S. government to purchase tickets on a flight to depart Lebanon, or are interested in receiving messages from the U.S. Department of State, please complete this crisis intake form (<a href="https://t.co/SS3GH5pbgj" target="_blank">https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake</a>). Do not fill out this form if you have already completed it – we have your information, and duplicate requests delay our response. Security Alert&nbsp;

On October 19, U.S. State Department released a rare “Worldwide Travel Alert” stating that American citizens should exercise increased caution around the world due to increasing tensions in various locations and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.&nbsp;

<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional details from the U.S. State Department

In addition, the FBI is continuing to monitor threats both in the United States and overseas.&nbsp;As the conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, according to a statement from the agency.

"We take all potential threats seriously and are working closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate&nbsp;investigative&nbsp;action.&nbsp;As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. "

"FBI field offices across the country are communicating not just with our law enforcement partners but also with faith-based organizations and the private sector, among others. To help keep our communities safe, we are talking with leaders of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, sharing information, and asking them to let us know if they see anything concerning."

"Through our Legal Attaché office in Tel Aviv, we are working with our Israeli and U.S. Embassy partners to identify all Americans who have been impacted in the region, including those who remain unaccounted for, and our victim services specialists are working closely with victims and their families here and abroad."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697731566690.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BEIRUT —As tensions grow in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has increased their alerts to Americans.Late Sunday, the U.S. State Department alert said, "&nbsp;U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation.""There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity. Please check flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (<a href="https://t.co/k6ZEqXfR8S" target="_blank">https://beirutairport.gov.lb</a>)." If you need a financial assistance loan from the U.S. government to purchase tickets on a flight to depart Lebanon, or are interested in receiving messages from the U.S. Department of State, please complete this crisis intake form (<a href="https://t.co/SS3GH5pbgj" target="_blank">https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake</a>). Do not fill out this form if you have already completed it – we have your information, and duplicate requests delay our response. Security Alert&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697731837363.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On October 19, U.S. State Department released a rare “Worldwide Travel Alert” stating that American citizens should exercise increased caution around the world due to increasing tensions in various locations and the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/worldwide-caution.html">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional details from the U.S. State DepartmentIn addition, the FBI is continuing to monitor threats both in the United States and overseas.&nbsp;As the conflict continues, the FBI has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions, according to a statement from the agency."We take all potential threats seriously and are working closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate&nbsp;investigative&nbsp;action.&nbsp;As always, we encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. ""FBI field offices across the country are communicating not just with our law enforcement partners but also with faith-based organizations and the private sector, among others. To help keep our communities safe, we are talking with leaders of all faiths, including Jewish and Muslim leaders, sharing information, and asking them to let us know if they see anything concerning.""Through our Legal Attaché office in Tel Aviv, we are working with our Israeli and U.S. Embassy partners to identify all Americans who have been impacted in the region, including those who remain unaccounted for, and our victim services specialists are working closely with victims and their families here and abroad."

State Department: Emergency loans to get Americans out of Lebanon

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a possible shooting in the 1500 block of SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.

First responders located two men, one with possible life threatening injuries and one with non-life threatening injuries. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators arrested 22-year-old Rajhgerio Smith and transported him to the Shawnee Count Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697942064704.png" alt="Smith-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a possible shooting in the 1500 block of SW 21st Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Michael Hren.First responders located two men, one with possible life threatening injuries and one with non-life threatening injuries. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment.Investigators arrested 22-year-old Rajhgerio Smith and transported him to the Shawnee Count Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery..

Kan.  man captured in shooting that sent 2 to the hospital

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —On Sunday, President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada,&nbsp; President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom spoke regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. 

They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close coordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.

The leaders welcomed the announcement of the first humanitarian convoys to reach Palestinians in need in Gaza and committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs. 

The leaders committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution&nbsp; and durable peace.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698021282699.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —On Sunday, President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada,&nbsp; President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom spoke regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close coordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.The leaders welcomed the announcement of the first humanitarian convoys to reach Palestinians in need in Gaza and committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs. The leaders committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution&nbsp; and durable peace.&nbsp;

World leaders issue new joint statement on Israel's right to defend itself

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Firefighters have a lot of responsibility. Last week Sedgwick County&nbsp;Station 32 was challenged with removing a titanium wedding ring, according to a social media report from the fire station.

"Titanium is an extremely hard metal that cannot be cut with our normal ring cutters. The crew had to get creative and use a tape measure and small cutting wheel to remove the ring."

"Cold water was also needed to keep the ring cool while it was being cut. The ring was removed safely without incident."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697798162676.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick Co. Fire District 1" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick Co. Fire District 1</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Firefighters have a lot of responsibility. Last week Sedgwick County&nbsp;Station 32 was challenged with removing a titanium wedding ring, according to a social media report from the fire station."Titanium is an extremely hard metal that cannot be cut with our normal ring cutters. The crew had to get creative and use a tape measure and small cutting wheel to remove the ring.""Cold water was also needed to keep the ring cool while it was being cut. The ring was removed safely without incident."

Kansas firefighters get creative with ring removal

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

A Chevy Silverado was eastbound on 152 Highway at 169 Highway, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

The struck an eastbound bicyclist who was reported weaving in between the #1 and #2 lanes. The cyclist was ejected from the bicycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released the victim's name.

This is fatality 81 in Kansas City, Missouri this year compared to 74 in 2022, according to Carlisle.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.A Chevy Silverado was eastbound on 152 Highway at 169 Highway, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.The struck an eastbound bicyclist who was reported weaving in between the #1 and #2 lanes. The cyclist was ejected from the bicycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released the victim's name.This is fatality 81 in Kansas City, Missouri this year compared to 74 in 2022, according to Carlisle.

Bicyclist dies after struck by a pickup in Kansas City

ALLEN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an altercation with police.

Just before 9p.m. Oct. 16, a Jasper, Missouri&nbsp; police officer responded to a disturbance in progress at Pete’s Convenience Store in Jasper.  Upon arrival, the officer made contact with 26-year-old Raven Gomez and 45-year-old Brandon David both of Columbia. 

 During a pat search for weapons on Gomez, she punched the officer in the face, knocked the female officer  to the ground causing her to hit her head on the pavement. 

 The hit to the pavement caused the officer to become disoriented

 Brandon David got out of the passenger seat of the suspect vehicle, and punched the female officer several times in the face and then ran around to the driver’s seat of the patrol vehicle and it appears he was attempting to steal it.

Police believe he wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to put the vehicle in drive due to the different gear shift newer vehicles have.

   Gomez who was the driver of the suspect vehicle got into her vehicle and while backing up, the vehicle’s tire ran over the officer’s foot, and again ran over the officer’s foot when moving forward. 

David ended up getting out of the patrol vehicle and back into the suspect vehicle.  The two were able to get away, last seen northbound on Interstate 49 in a dark blue Chevy Cruze with a Missouri license of BG1B5C. 

&nbsp;The officer was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.&nbsp;

Deputies tracked these two down to a property five miles southeast of Moran, Kansas Wednesday evening.&nbsp; Deputies and assisted by&nbsp;Bourbon County Kansas Sheriff's Office&nbsp;deputies, took the suspects into custody without incident. 

Jasper County prosecutors have officially filed 1st degree assault charges on both Gomez and David with bond set at $50,000 cash only and other conditions. They face additional charges in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765704188.png" alt="David-photo Allen Co." />
 <figcaption>David-photo Allen Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an altercation with police.Just before 9p.m. Oct. 16, a Jasper, Missouri&nbsp; police officer responded to a disturbance in progress at Pete’s Convenience Store in Jasper. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with 26-year-old Raven Gomez and 45-year-old Brandon David both of Columbia. During a pat search for weapons on Gomez, she punched the officer in the face, knocked the female officer to the ground causing her to hit her head on the pavement. The hit to the pavement caused the officer to become disoriented<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765737908.png" alt="Gomez-photo Allen Co." />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Allen Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Brandon David got out of the passenger seat of the suspect vehicle, and punched the female officer several times in the face and then ran around to the driver’s seat of the patrol vehicle and it appears he was attempting to steal it.Police believe he wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to put the vehicle in drive due to the different gear shift newer vehicles have. Gomez who was the driver of the suspect vehicle got into her vehicle and while backing up, the vehicle’s tire ran over the officer’s foot, and again ran over the officer’s foot when moving forward. David ended up getting out of the patrol vehicle and back into the suspect vehicle. The two were able to get away, last seen northbound on Interstate 49 in a dark blue Chevy Cruze with a Missouri license of BG1B5C. &nbsp;The officer was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.&nbsp;Deputies tracked these two down to a property five miles southeast of Moran, Kansas Wednesday evening.&nbsp; Deputies and assisted by&nbsp;Bourbon County Kansas Sheriff's Office&nbsp;deputies, took the suspects into custody without incident. Jasper County prosecutors have officially filed 1st degree assault charges on both Gomez and David with bond set at $50,000 cash only and other conditions. They face additional charges in Kansas.

Couple accused of punching Missouri officer arrested in Kansas

TOPEKA —A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment this charging a Kansas woman with robbing a Topeka bank, according to the United State's Attorney.&nbsp;

According to court documents, Rodshell Nicole Mays, 51, is charged with one count of bank robbery. Mays is accused of using force or intimidation on September 25, to take money from an employee at Capital Federal Bank on Southwest Topeka Boulevard.&nbsp; In the alert from law enforcement, Mays was described as wearing a red shirt, reading glasses and a brown wig during the robbery.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697230442120.png" alt="Mays as seen from the bank security camera -FBI" />
 <figcaption>Mays as seen from the bank security camera -FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment this charging a Kansas woman with robbing a Topeka bank, according to the United State's Attorney.&nbsp;According to court documents, Rodshell Nicole Mays, 51, is charged with one count of bank robbery. Mays is accused of using force or intimidation on September 25, to take money from an employee at Capital Federal Bank on Southwest Topeka Boulevard.&nbsp; In the alert from law enforcement, Mays was described as wearing a red shirt, reading glasses and a brown wig during the robbery.The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the

Indictment: Kansas woman wearing a wig robbed bank

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by&nbsp; Monte S. Busch, 49, Manhattan, was westbound on Highway 24 two miles west of Manhattan.

The driver failed to negotiate the curve. The Jeep entered the north ditch, struck a KDOT sign, entered westbound lanes, the median, struck another KDOT sign and rolled on its top.

Busch was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by&nbsp; Monte S. Busch, 49, Manhattan, was westbound on Highway 24 two miles west of Manhattan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⚠️ First responders are handling a significant traffic crash on Tuttle Creek Boulevard near State Highway 13 Traffic will be STOPPED or SLOWED dramatically. Please share with others.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KStateFB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KStateFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/AB1xw8PpWl">pic.twitter.com/AB1xw8PpWl</a>&mdash; Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperBenKHP/status/1715915110236008459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The driver failed to negotiate the curve. The Jeep entered the north ditch, struck a KDOT sign, entered westbound lanes, the median, struck another KDOT sign and rolled on its top.Busch was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man identified as victim in fatal crash after KSU game

PRATT&nbsp;– Fisheries and Ecological Services staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks took action to bolster some of the state’s most at-risk aquatic species. Via the Department’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program and&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvTmV3cy1BcmNoaXZlLzIwMTgtV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0xNy0xOC1LQUJDL0FxdWF0aWMtV2lsZGxpZmUtUHJvcGFnYXRpb24tQ2VudGVyLU9wZW5zIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.nMPe_yfofbcqFbM1d2VjwXEmD2fJF8IxiYlcJgAaex8/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Kansas Aquatic Biodiversity Center</a>, located at the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9IYXRjaGVyaWVzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.t1O5gQIdHap2dhRgoocD4eSllbKgclRsCgXqZV_wRoE/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Farlington Fish Hatchery</a>, staff work together to propagate, grow, and stock vulnerable aquatic species back into their former habitats; and this fall, that included two protected freshwater mussel species, according to a media release from the department.

KDWP first released 7,175 Fatmucket mussels – ranging in age from 1-3 years old – into the Marmaton River to bolster local populations. These were the first mussels ever released from the KABC, which opened its doors in 2018. And while Fatmuckets occur throughout central North America, they are considered a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMTYuODQxNTY5MTEifQ.3UGqEyR9ky_S8yD5o9WEM5Wq2JuN0xTWEKSEpg3ZOjc/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Species in Need of Conservation</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.

“We chose the Marmaton River as the release site due to historical data and current observations that indicate the species is native to this drainage,” said Seth Lundgren, KDWP district fisheries biologist. “It also helped that the parental stock came from a shared tributary of the Marais Des Cygnes River, ensuring the correct genetics were also released into the drainage.”

Lundgren added that, prior to stocking, each of the offspring were marked with a unique "glue dot" that can be used by researchers for future identification.

The second successful stocking of a protected species occurred later in the same week when approximately 1,374 federally-endangered&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZS9BbGwtVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1TcGVjaWVzL05FT1NITy1NVUNLRVQtTVVTU0VMIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.F8bN2jmxiFkZ03NPuHU-z2uGRdB9NUKw8hmKBc_AVBI/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Neosho Mucket mussels</a>&nbsp;were released into the Neosho River. The offspring were the result of populations housed at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. The Neosho Mucket occurs in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma but no longer occurs in 62 percent of its historical range.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697630781905.png" alt="Freshwater mussels – essentially clams that have adapted to live in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes – reach their greatest diversity in North America. Nearly 300 species of mussels occur in the U.S., 40 of which reside in Kansas. Of those in Kansas, nearly 60 percent have some level of conservation concern and most have disappeared from part of their historical range." />
 <figcaption>Freshwater mussels – essentially clams that have adapted to live in freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes – reach their greatest diversity in North America. Nearly 300 species of mussels occur in the U.S., 40 of which reside in Kansas. Of those in Kansas, nearly 60 percent have some level of conservation concern and most have disappeared from part of their historical range.</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT&nbsp;– Fisheries and Ecological Services staff at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks took action to bolster some of the state’s most at-risk aquatic species. Via the Department’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program and&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvTmV3cy1BcmNoaXZlLzIwMTgtV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0xNy0xOC1LQUJDL0FxdWF0aWMtV2lsZGxpZmUtUHJvcGFnYXRpb24tQ2VudGVyLU9wZW5zIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.nMPe_yfofbcqFbM1d2VjwXEmD2fJF8IxiYlcJgAaex8/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Kansas Aquatic Biodiversity Center</a>, located at the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9IYXRjaGVyaWVzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.t1O5gQIdHap2dhRgoocD4eSllbKgclRsCgXqZV_wRoE/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Farlington Fish Hatchery</a>, staff work together to propagate, grow, and stock vulnerable aquatic species back into their former habitats; and this fall, that included two protected freshwater mussel species, according to a media release from the department.KDWP first released 7,175 Fatmucket mussels – ranging in age from 1-3 years old – into the Marmaton River to bolster local populations. These were the first mussels ever released from the KABC, which opened its doors in 2018. And while Fatmuckets occur throughout central North America, they are considered a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEwMTYuODQxNTY5MTEifQ.3UGqEyR9ky_S8yD5o9WEM5Wq2JuN0xTWEKSEpg3ZOjc/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Species in Need of Conservation</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.“We chose the Marmaton River as the release site due to historical data and current observations that indicate the species is native to this drainage,” said Seth Lundgren, KDWP district fisheries biologist. “It also helped that the parental stock came from a shared tributary of the Marais Des Cygnes River, ensuring the correct genetics were also released into the drainage.”Lundgren added that, prior to stocking, each of the offspring were marked with a unique "glue dot" that can be used by researchers for future identification.The second successful stocking of a protected species occurred later in the same week when approximately 1,374 federally-endangered&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vU2VydmljZXMvVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1XaWxkbGlmZS9BbGwtVGhyZWF0ZW5lZC1hbmQtRW5kYW5nZXJlZC1TcGVjaWVzL05FT1NITy1NVUNLRVQtTVVTU0VMIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.F8bN2jmxiFkZ03NPuHU-z2uGRdB9NUKw8hmKBc_AVBI/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Neosho Mucket mussels</a>&nbsp;were released into the Neosho River. The offspring were the result of populations housed at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. The Neosho Mucket occurs in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma but no longer occurs in 62 percent of its historical range.“This stocking was the first of its kind conducted under KDWP’s Aquatic Species Recovery Program,” said Trevor Starks, KDWP species recovery coordinator. “Landowner agreements signed under this program seek to reestablish self-sustaining populations of imperiled fish and mussel species in order to recover, delist, and deregulate those populations. These agreements provide regulatory protections to landowners who wish to partner with the agency to allow species releases and monitoring on their property.”More Conservation Stockings to ComeStaff at KDWP have several additional conservation stockings like these planned for 2024, including 18,000 mussels set to be released in southeastern Kansas as soon as drought conditions improve. The KABC has also been working to rear&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lmtzbi5jb20vbmV3cy9zdGF0ZS1yZWdpb25hbC9rYW5zYXMtZGVwYXJ0bWVudC1vZi13aWxkbGlmZS1wYXJrcy1yZWxlYXNlcy1wbGFpbnMtbWlubm93cy1iYWNrLWludG8tbmF0aXZlLXdhdGVycy8jOn46dGV4dD1LRFdQJTIwU2VuaW9yJTIwTWFuYWdlciUyMG9mJTIwZmlzaCx0aGUlMjByaXZlciUyQyVFMiU4MCU5RCUyMHNhaWQlMjBNb3NpZXIuIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.AgQm02NqM9l3_Fk6hZI6d_yINj1mG6atK9HzIPr5Kqs/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">Plains Minnows</a>, classified as a state-threatened species, for release back into their historic range in areas where they have since disappeared.Landowners interested in helping recover imperiled species through the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery Program are encouraged to contact Starks at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:trevor.starks@ks.gov">trevor.starks@ks.gov</a>.For more information on threatened, endangered, and SINC species in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9rc291dGRvb3JzLmNvbS9TZXJ2aWNlcy9UaHJlYXRlbmVkLWFuZC1FbmRhbmdlcmVkLVdpbGRsaWZlIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTAxNi44NDE1NjkxMSJ9.WEg27zki0_P8nGKCZeh4QWi9SYy4ab30l1t7XRw4_to/s/1303160919/br/228155395012-l" target="_blank">ksoutdoors.com/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife</a>.