WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal New Year's Eve crash have identified the victim as 46-year-old Nero K. Bell of Kansas City, Kansas.

The 2-vehicle crash occurred just after 3:30p.m. Sunday at the intersection of N. 70th Street and Parallel Parkway, according to a media release from KCK police.

All occupants were transported to an area hospital where Bell died. The other occupant had non-life threatening injuries. 

The accident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.&nbsp;

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal New Year's Eve crash have identified the victim as 46-year-old Nero K. Bell of Kansas City, Kansas.The 2-vehicle crash occurred just after 3:30p.m. Sunday at the intersection of N. 70th Street and Parallel Parkway, according to a media release from KCK police.All occupants were transported to an area hospital where Bell died. The other occupant had non-life threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.&nbsp;

Police ID Kansas man who died in New Year's Eve crash

JERUSALEM —Just after 9:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), on Tuesday, Iranian-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, according to a statement from the. U.S. Central Command.

Multiple commercial ships in the area reported the impact of the ASBMs into the surrounding water though none have reported any damage. 

These illegal actions endangered the lives of dozens of innocent mariners and continue to disrupt the free flow of international commerce. This is the 24th attack against merchant shipping in the Southern Red Sea since Nov. 19.

Meanwhile, Israel was on high alert for an escalation with Hezbollah on Wednesday after one of the top leaders of the Palestinian Hamas was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">killed in a strike in Beirut</a>&nbsp;that was widely blamed on Israel and heightened the risk of a broader Middle East conflict.

The killing of Saleh Arouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-beirut-explosion-suburbs-hezbollah-israel-2a43fe948e8cb49c64b34bb963d77f64">the most senior Hamas member slain</a>&nbsp;since the war in Gaza erupted nearly three months ago, provided a morale boost for Israelis still reeling from Hamas'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;as the militants put up stiff resistance in Gaza and continue to hold scores of hostages.

But its implications for the war remain unclear. Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders over the years, only to see them quickly replaced. And the strike in Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold could cause the low-intensity fighting along the Lebanon border to boil over into all-out war.

Much depends on how Hassan Nasrallah — who has led Hezbollah since an Israeli strike killed his predecessor in 1992 — chooses to respond. He has previously vowed to retaliate for any Israeli targeting of allied militant leaders in Lebanon, and was expected to deliver a speech at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been exchanging fire almost daily over the Israeli-Lebanese border since the war in Gaza began, but Nasrallah has appeared reluctant to escalate it further, perhaps fearing a repeat of the monthlong 2006 war, in which Israel heavily bombed Beirut and southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah announced a flurry of rocket launches into northern Israel late Tuesday but did not directly link them to the killing of Arouri. Journalists in southern Lebanon reported heavy Israeli shelling and airstrikes. But there were no reports of casualties, and by early Wednesday the border area was calm.

Israeli officials have not commented on the strike that killed Arouri, but Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said “we are on high readiness for any scenario.”

The United States has sought to prevent any widening of the conflict, including by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uss-gerald-r-ford-aircraft-carrier-israel-20fb033f78bfd37fb4b0cf1df468a731">deploying two aircraft carriers and other military assets to the region</a>. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected in the region this week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened to kill Hamas leaders wherever they are. The group's Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 240 others were taken hostage.

Israel claims to have killed a number of mid-level Hamas leaders in Gaza, but this would be the first time since the war that it has reached into another country to target the group's top leaders, many of whom live in exile around the region.

Arouri was the deputy of Hamas’ supreme political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and headed the group’s presence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He was also a key liaison with Hezbollah. The U.S. State Department had listed him as a terrorist and&nbsp;<a href="https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/salih-al-aruri/">offered a $5 million reward</a>&nbsp;for information about him.

Haniyeh said Hamas was “more powerful and determined” following the attack, which killed six other members of the group, including two military commanders. “They left behind them strong men who will carry the banner after them,” he said of those killed.

Hezbollah called the strike “a serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance.”

“We affirm that this crime will never pass without response and punishment,” it said.

ISRAEL SEEKS A ‘CLEAR VICTORY’ IN GAZA

The focus of the war remains on Gaza, where Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel is seeking a “clear victory” over Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007.

Israel's air, ground and sea assault in Gaza has killed more than 22,300 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory</a>. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The campaign has driven some 85% of Gaza’s population from their homes, forcing hundreds of thousands of people into overcrowded shelters or teeming tent camps in Israeli-designated safe areas that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-war-90e02d26420b8fe3157f73c256f9ed6a">military has nevertheless bombed</a>. A quarter of Gaza's population&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">face starvation</a>, according to the United Nations, as Israeli restrictions and heavy fighting hinder aid delivery.

The unprecedented death and destruction has led South Africa to accuse Israel of genocide in a case filed with the International Court of Justice, allegations Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-02-2024-08e0eeee96bfc559a2390c60c7db351b">has strongly denied and vowed to contest</a>.

Still, Israel appears far from achieving its goals of crushing Hamas and returning the estimated 129 hostages still held by the group after more than 100 were released in a cease-fire deal in November.

Gallant said several thousand Hamas fighters remain in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have been battling militants for over two months and where entire neighborhoods have been blasted into rubble.

Heavy fighting is also underway in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli officials say Hamas' military structure is still largely intact.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-leader-gaza-war-sinwar-7359ae98217aa11aa7c20c2780d5d350">Yehya Sinwar, Hamas' top leader in Gaza</a>, and his deputies have thus far eluded Israeli forces.

Egypt, which along with Qatar has served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has proposed a multistage plan for ending the war in which all hostages would eventually be released in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel would withdraw from Gaza and a government of Palestinian technocrats would govern Gaza and parts of the occupied West Bank until elections are held.

Neither Israel nor Hamas have accepted the plan in its entirety, but neither has rejected it outright.

An Israeli delegation was in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the killing of Arouri was likely to hamper the negotiations for a couple days.

JERUSALEM —Just after 9:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), on Tuesday, Iranian-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, according to a statement from the. U.S. Central Command.Multiple commercial ships in the area reported the impact of the ASBMs into the surrounding water though none have reported any damage. These illegal actions endangered the lives of dozens of innocent mariners and continue to disrupt the free flow of international commerce. This is the 24th attack against merchant shipping in the Southern Red Sea since Nov. 19.Meanwhile, Israel was on high alert for an escalation with Hezbollah on Wednesday after one of the top leaders of the Palestinian Hamas was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">killed in a strike in Beirut</a>&nbsp;that was widely blamed on Israel and heightened the risk of a broader Middle East conflict.The killing of Saleh Arouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-beirut-explosion-suburbs-hezbollah-israel-2a43fe948e8cb49c64b34bb963d77f64">the most senior Hamas member slain</a>&nbsp;since the war in Gaza erupted nearly three months ago, provided a morale boost for Israelis still reeling from Hamas'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">Oct. 7 attack</a>&nbsp;as the militants put up stiff resistance in Gaza and continue to hold scores of hostages.But its implications for the war remain unclear. Israel has killed several top Hamas leaders over the years, only to see them quickly replaced. And the strike in Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold could cause the low-intensity fighting along the Lebanon border to boil over into all-out war.Much depends on how Hassan Nasrallah — who has led Hezbollah since an Israeli strike killed his predecessor in 1992 — chooses to respond. He has previously vowed to retaliate for any Israeli targeting of allied militant leaders in Lebanon, and was expected to deliver a speech at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT).Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been exchanging fire almost daily over the Israeli-Lebanese border since the war in Gaza began, but Nasrallah has appeared reluctant to escalate it further, perhaps fearing a repeat of the monthlong 2006 war, in which Israel heavily bombed Beirut and southern Lebanon.Hezbollah announced a flurry of rocket launches into northern Israel late Tuesday but did not directly link them to the killing of Arouri. Journalists in southern Lebanon reported heavy Israeli shelling and airstrikes. But there were no reports of casualties, and by early Wednesday the border area was calm.Israeli officials have not commented on the strike that killed Arouri, but Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said “we are on high readiness for any scenario.”The United States has sought to prevent any widening of the conflict, including by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uss-gerald-r-ford-aircraft-carrier-israel-20fb033f78bfd37fb4b0cf1df468a731">deploying two aircraft carriers and other military assets to the region</a>. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected in the region this week.A HIGH-PROFILE TARGETPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened to kill Hamas leaders wherever they are. The group's Oct. 7 attack from Gaza into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 240 others were taken hostage.Israel claims to have killed a number of mid-level Hamas leaders in Gaza, but this would be the first time since the war that it has reached into another country to target the group's top leaders, many of whom live in exile around the region.Arouri was the deputy of Hamas’ supreme political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and headed the group’s presence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He was also a key liaison with Hezbollah. The U.S. State Department had listed him as a terrorist and&nbsp;<a href="https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/salih-al-aruri/">offered a $5 million reward</a>&nbsp;for information about him.Haniyeh said Hamas was “more powerful and determined” following the attack, which killed six other members of the group, including two military commanders. “They left behind them strong men who will carry the banner after them,” he said of those killed.Hezbollah called the strike “a serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance.”“We affirm that this crime will never pass without response and punishment,” it said.ISRAEL SEEKS A ‘CLEAR VICTORY’ IN GAZAThe focus of the war remains on Gaza, where Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel is seeking a “clear victory” over Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007.Israel's air, ground and sea assault in Gaza has killed more than 22,300 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory</a>. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.The campaign has driven some 85% of Gaza’s population from their homes, forcing hundreds of thousands of people into overcrowded shelters or teeming tent camps in Israeli-designated safe areas that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-war-90e02d26420b8fe3157f73c256f9ed6a">military has nevertheless bombed</a>. A quarter of Gaza's population&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">face starvation</a>, according to the United Nations, as Israeli restrictions and heavy fighting hinder aid delivery.The unprecedented death and destruction has led South Africa to accuse Israel of genocide in a case filed with the International Court of Justice, allegations Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-01-02-2024-08e0eeee96bfc559a2390c60c7db351b">has strongly denied and vowed to contest</a>.Still, Israel appears far from achieving its goals of crushing Hamas and returning the estimated 129 hostages still held by the group after more than 100 were released in a cease-fire deal in November.Gallant said several thousand Hamas fighters remain in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have been battling militants for over two months and where entire neighborhoods have been blasted into rubble.Heavy fighting is also underway in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli officials say Hamas' military structure is still largely intact.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-leader-gaza-war-sinwar-7359ae98217aa11aa7c20c2780d5d350">Yehya Sinwar, Hamas' top leader in Gaza</a>, and his deputies have thus far eluded Israeli forces.Egypt, which along with Qatar has served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has proposed a multistage plan for ending the war in which all hostages would eventually be released in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel would withdraw from Gaza and a government of Palestinian technocrats would govern Gaza and parts of the occupied West Bank until elections are held.Neither Israel nor Hamas have accepted the plan in its entirety, but neither has rejected it outright.An Israeli delegation was in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the killing of Arouri was likely to hamper the negotiations for a couple days.___

US reports another ballistic missile attack in Red Sea

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Gypsy Rose Blanchard said she has found a way to forgive her mother — and herself. But it has been a long journey from years of abuse and the darkest parts of her life splashed across tabloids to living in prison.

Blanchard, now 32, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gypsy-rose-blanchard-munchausen-mother-killed-b3a792e32b72eb13feed9a73df2065fd">paroled</a>&nbsp;last week from a Missouri women's prison. Her release came 8 1/2 years after she persuaded her boyfriend at the time to kill her abusive mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard — in a desperate bid to be free of her.

For years, her mother forced her to pretend that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses.

“At first I was really angry with her, very confused. And I’m still confused," Blanchard told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. “But I understand that she had a lot of mental issues. And so I think that’s brought me to a place of forgiveness by just trying to understand where she was coming from. I don’t believe that she was evil.

"I know, that she was very sick,” she continued. This journey, Blanchard explained, also involved forgiving herself.

Dee Dee Blanchard had essentially kept her daughter prisoner and duped doctors into doing unnecessary procedures by telling them that her daughter's medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina. Gypsy Rose Blanchard's attorney said the mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children.

The mother-daughter duo received charitable donations, and even a home near Springfield from Habitat for Humanity.

Forced to use a wheelchair and feeding tube, Gypsy felt trapped. She said her mother, who lied about Gypsy's age to make her seem younger, prevented her from having much of a relationship with her father — or with anyone else.

“I wish I could go back and tell my younger self, ‘Call your dad. Reach out for help with people because they will actually believe you,’" she said. "The main reason why I didn’t is because I really felt like nobody would believe me whenever I said that things just wasn’t right at home.”

When she turned 23, she supplied a knife to her boyfriend, and hid in a bathroom while he repeatedly stabbed her mother, according to the probable cause statement. Then Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn, who she met on a Christian dating website, made their way by bus to Godejohn's home in Wisconsin, where they were arrested.

Godejohn is serving a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-406c475f13654a588dc300afc3c43236">life sentence</a>&nbsp;in Missouri while prosecutors cut Blanchard a deal because of the abuse she had endured.

Incarceration was “nothing but self-discovery,” she said. She made friends, earned her GED and overcame early shortcomings in her education that left her unable to do basic math. While behind bars, she even met and married someone who forged a relationship with Gypsy by writing to her on a whim.

"I was in a little cocoon. And now that I’m free, I’ve emerged as a butterfly,” she said.

She describes her husband Ryan Scott Anderson, a 37-year-old special education teacher from Lake Charles, Louisiana, as a “teddy bear." In the pre-dawn hours last Thursday, Anderson picked her up at the prison. They had planned to go to the Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday; she dreamed she might even bump into superstar Taylor Swift as she cheered on her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce. Swift's music had been an inspiration to Blanchard.

But going to the game was deemed too much, too soon. Instead she headed to Louisiana and started to settle into post-prison life. Her father also lives in the state, and she said she is finally “getting to know him as an adult.”

“This is what I’ve been wanting for so long," she said. “But it’s an adjustment. But it’s a wonderful adjustment.” She added that given her childhood, it also is her "first taste of actual, real, full fledged freedom.”

This week, she is delighting in the little things. She used a Keurig coffee maker for the first time Tuesday. She played video games with her father using a virtual reality headset. She described both experiences as “amazing.”

She isn't sure yet what will come next and said she wants to give herself a little bit of time before she decides. Eventually, she wants to have children with her husband. But when is a question mark, as is possibilities for employment. The only jobs she has ever had were all in prison, where she took photos and helped out with janitorial tasks.

“Right now, I’m really not sure what my skill is," she said, "so I’m going to have to kind of discover that over time.”

As she adjusts, there has been a fresh round of media coverage. A Lifetime docuseries “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard” <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gypsyrose_a_blanchard/">and her own eBook, </a>“Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom” (Penguin Random House) are coming out this month.

Around the U.S. people learned about the bizarre case from the 2017 HBO documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest” and the 2019 Hulu miniseries “The Act."

While there have been many TV specials and interviews over the years, she steered clear of watching them, fearing it would be “emotionally traumatizing,” she said. This docuseries will be the first she has ever watched.

“I am at least putting myself out there to be a cautionary tale,” she said. "because I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704246799693.png" alt="Blanchard-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Blanchard-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Gypsy Rose Blanchard said she has found a way to forgive her mother — and herself. But it has been a long journey from years of abuse and the darkest parts of her life splashed across tabloids to living in prison.Blanchard, now 32, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gypsy-rose-blanchard-munchausen-mother-killed-b3a792e32b72eb13feed9a73df2065fd">paroled</a>&nbsp;last week from a Missouri women's prison. Her release came 8 1/2 years after she persuaded her boyfriend at the time to kill her abusive mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard — in a desperate bid to be free of her.For years, her mother forced her to pretend that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses.“At first I was really angry with her, very confused. And I’m still confused," Blanchard told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. “But I understand that she had a lot of mental issues. And so I think that’s brought me to a place of forgiveness by just trying to understand where she was coming from. I don’t believe that she was evil."I know, that she was very sick,” she continued. This journey, Blanchard explained, also involved forgiving herself.Dee Dee Blanchard had essentially kept her daughter prisoner and duped doctors into doing unnecessary procedures by telling them that her daughter's medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina. Gypsy Rose Blanchard's attorney said the mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children.The mother-daughter duo received charitable donations, and even a home near Springfield from Habitat for Humanity.Forced to use a wheelchair and feeding tube, Gypsy felt trapped. She said her mother, who lied about Gypsy's age to make her seem younger, prevented her from having much of a relationship with her father — or with anyone else.“I wish I could go back and tell my younger self, ‘Call your dad. Reach out for help with people because they will actually believe you,’" she said. "The main reason why I didn’t is because I really felt like nobody would believe me whenever I said that things just wasn’t right at home.”When she turned 23, she supplied a knife to her boyfriend, and hid in a bathroom while he repeatedly stabbed her mother, according to the probable cause statement. Then Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn, who she met on a Christian dating website, made their way by bus to Godejohn's home in Wisconsin, where they were arrested.Godejohn is serving a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-406c475f13654a588dc300afc3c43236">life sentence</a>&nbsp;in Missouri while prosecutors cut Blanchard a deal because of the abuse she had endured.Incarceration was “nothing but self-discovery,” she said. She made friends, earned her GED and overcame early shortcomings in her education that left her unable to do basic math. While behind bars, she even met and married someone who forged a relationship with Gypsy by writing to her on a whim."I was in a little cocoon. And now that I’m free, I’ve emerged as a butterfly,” she said.She describes her husband Ryan Scott Anderson, a 37-year-old special education teacher from Lake Charles, Louisiana, as a “teddy bear." In the pre-dawn hours last Thursday, Anderson picked her up at the prison. They had planned to go to the Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday; she dreamed she might even bump into superstar Taylor Swift as she cheered on her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce. Swift's music had been an inspiration to Blanchard.But going to the game was deemed too much, too soon. Instead she headed to Louisiana and started to settle into post-prison life. Her father also lives in the state, and she said she is finally “getting to know him as an adult.”“This is what I’ve been wanting for so long," she said. “But it’s an adjustment. But it’s a wonderful adjustment.” She added that given her childhood, it also is her "first taste of actual, real, full fledged freedom.”This week, she is delighting in the little things. She used a Keurig coffee maker for the first time Tuesday. She played video games with her father using a virtual reality headset. She described both experiences as “amazing.”She isn't sure yet what will come next and said she wants to give herself a little bit of time before she decides. Eventually, she wants to have children with her husband. But when is a question mark, as is possibilities for employment. The only jobs she has ever had were all in prison, where she took photos and helped out with janitorial tasks.“Right now, I’m really not sure what my skill is," she said, "so I’m going to have to kind of discover that over time.”As she adjusts, there has been a fresh round of media coverage. A Lifetime docuseries “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard” <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gypsyrose_a_blanchard/">and her own eBook, </a>“Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom” (Penguin Random House) are coming out this month.Around the U.S. people learned about the bizarre case from the 2017 HBO documentary “Mommy Dead and Dearest” and the 2019 Hulu miniseries “The Act."While there have been many TV specials and interviews over the years, she steered clear of watching them, fearing it would be “emotionally traumatizing,” she said. This docuseries will be the first she has ever watched.“I am at least putting myself out there to be a cautionary tale,” she said. "because I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through.”

Mo. woman is free and reflecting on prison term for conspiring to kill her abusive mother

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Someone in Michigan won an $842.4 million Powerball jackpot on the first day of 2024, the first time it has been won on New Year’s Day since the game’s start in 1992.

The winning numbers drawn were: 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and red Powerball: 1.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $810 million to $842.4 million at the time of the drawing, making it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and 10th-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won.

The lucky ticket was sold at the Food Castle convenience store in Grand Blanc Township, near Flint. According to WJRT, Food Castle has been a fixture in the community for nearly 40 years.

“Usually, you hear stuff like that happening in different states,” store owner Bill Nannoshi told the station. “So, it’s great. It’s great for this community. I mean, Grand Blanc is an awesome place to work.”

Before the big win on New Year's, the jackpot had been growing since mid-October.

The chance of winning the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292.2 million.

The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $842.4 million, payable over 30 years, or a lump sum payment of $425.2 million. Both prize options are before taxes.

Other top-winning tickets include four sold in California, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland, that matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. Two tickets, from Florida and Texas, matched all five white balls and won $2 million prizes by including the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Someone in Michigan won an $842.4 million Powerball jackpot on the first day of 2024, the first time it has been won on New Year’s Day since the game’s start in 1992.The winning numbers drawn were: 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and red Powerball: 1.Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $810 million to $842.4 million at the time of the drawing, making it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and 10th-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won.The lucky ticket was sold at the Food Castle convenience store in Grand Blanc Township, near Flint. According to WJRT, Food Castle has been a fixture in the community for nearly 40 years.“Usually, you hear stuff like that happening in different states,” store owner Bill Nannoshi told the station. “So, it’s great. It’s great for this community. I mean, Grand Blanc is an awesome place to work.”Before the big win on New Year's, the jackpot had been growing since mid-October.The chance of winning the Powerball jackpot is 1 in 292.2 million.The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $842.4 million, payable over 30 years, or a lump sum payment of $425.2 million. Both prize options are before taxes.Other top-winning tickets include four sold in California, Connecticut, Florida and Maryland, that matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. Two tickets, from Florida and Texas, matched all five white balls and won $2 million prizes by including the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play.

$842 million Powerball ticket: 1st time game has been won on New Year's Day

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas couple on drug allegations.

On Dec. 3o, deputies executed a search warrant was executed at 2941 Thrasher Road in BrownCounty, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp;

Deputies arrested 65-year-old Kent Denton and 56-year-old Yvette Denton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of&nbsp; Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; B

Both were released on $5,000&nbsp;own recognizance bonds per Judge Weingart.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704142234868.png" alt="Denton-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Denton-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas couple on drug allegations.On Dec. 3o, deputies executed a search warrant was executed at 2941 Thrasher Road in BrownCounty, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704142216147.png" alt="Denton-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Denton-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested 65-year-old Kent Denton and 56-year-old Yvette Denton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of&nbsp; Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; BBoth were released on $5,000&nbsp;own recognizance bonds per Judge Weingart.

Couple accused of meth possession at Kansas home

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man injured in a 2-vehicle crash last month in Topeka has died.

On Monday, police reported&nbsp; 29-year-old Joshua P. Harmer, 29, of Topeka died on December 22, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Dec. 20, police responded to an injury crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle near SW 29th Street and SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka.

First responders found the two vehicles had crashed. An ambulance transported the driver of motorcycle later identified as Harmer to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries and he died.

The driver of the other involved vehicle was identified as Shana L. Estes, 36, of Topeka. It was determined that she had a warrant for her arrest and she was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on that warrant.&nbsp; Police have not indicated whether Estes faces additional charges in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703284509788.png" alt="Estes-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Estes-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man injured in a 2-vehicle crash last month in Topeka has died.On Monday, police reported&nbsp; 29-year-old Joshua P. Harmer, 29, of Topeka died on December 22, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704285048561.png" alt="Police on the scene of the deadly crash -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the deadly crash -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11:30 p.m. Dec. 20, police responded to an injury crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle near SW 29th Street and SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka.First responders found the two vehicles had crashed. An ambulance transported the driver of motorcycle later identified as Harmer to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries and he died.The driver of the other involved vehicle was identified as Shana L. Estes, 36, of Topeka. It was determined that she had a warrant for her arrest and she was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on that warrant.&nbsp; Police have not indicated whether Estes faces additional charges in the case.

Motorcyclist injured in crash with wanted Kansas woman has died

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for a weekend incident in southwest Kansas.

Garden City, KS (January 1, 2024): A Garden City man was arrested Saturday morning in connection to an aggravated assault. Fray Membreno-Sanabria, 50, faces charges from the incident.

At 7:30 a.m Dec. 30, police were dispatched to the southeast part of Garden City for a disturbance, according to a media release.

When Officers arrived, they observed 50-year-old Fray Membreno-Sanabria with family members in front of their residence when Membreno-Sanabria shot a firearm into the driveway. 

Officers instructed Membreno-Sanabria to drop the weapon, and after several commands, Membreno-Sanabria dropped the firearm and was taken into custody without incident.

The investigation revealed that Membreno-Sanabria was allegedly intoxicated, and family members left the residence out of safety but later returned.

 Upon their return, Membreno-Sanabria allegedly pointed the firearm and threatened harm against the family members multiple times.

Membreno-Sanabria remains in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Threat, and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704204716514.png" alt="Membreno-Sanabria" />
 <figcaption>Membreno-Sanabria</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for a weekend incident in southwest Kansas.Garden City, KS (January 1, 2024): A Garden City man was arrested Saturday morning in connection to an aggravated assault. Fray Membreno-Sanabria, 50, faces charges from the incident.At 7:30 a.m Dec. 30, police were dispatched to the southeast part of Garden City for a disturbance, according to a media release.When Officers arrived, they observed 50-year-old Fray Membreno-Sanabria with family members in front of their residence when Membreno-Sanabria shot a firearm into the driveway. Officers instructed Membreno-Sanabria to drop the weapon, and after several commands, Membreno-Sanabria dropped the firearm and was taken into custody without incident.The investigation revealed that Membreno-Sanabria was allegedly intoxicated, and family members left the residence out of safety but later returned. Upon their return, Membreno-Sanabria allegedly pointed the firearm and threatened harm against the family members multiple times.Membreno-Sanabria remains in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Criminal Threat, and Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.

Police: SW Kan. man threatens family with a firearm

TOPEKA&nbsp;–The State of Kansas ends December 2023 with total tax collections at $1.043 billion. That is $36.9 million, or 3.4%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 3.8% from December 2022, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYnVkZ2V0LmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzA2X0RlY2VtYmVyX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI0XzAxLTAyLTIwMjRfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDEwMi44Nzg3OTc3MSJ9.Np2NTncfjtbgQasspKhbAnVW2NtQj8_pCE7FmVm67uo/s/1303160919/br/234033500728-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;view the December 2023 revenue numbers.

Individual income tax collections were $397.1 million. That is $17.1 million, or 4.5%, above the estimate, and up 5.9% from December 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $235.7 million. That is $39.3 million, or 14.3%, below the estimate and down 16.1% from December 2022.

“Withholding tax, the largest component of the individual income tax receipts, was 9.2% greater than December 2022”,&nbsp;said Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart. “This comes as no real surprise as the growth is entirely consistent with recent findings of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which showed that personal income and earnings in Kansas grew during the second and third quarters of 2023 at some of the highest rates in the country.”

Secretary Burghart further observed that the corporate income tax receipts were lower than expected because there was one less deposit day this December compared to December 2022. Nearly $34.4 million was deposited on that additional day in December 2022.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $302.4 million, which is $5.6 million, or 1.8%, below the estimate and down $4.9 million, or 1.6%, from December 2022.&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;–The State of Kansas ends December 2023 with total tax collections at $1.043 billion. That is $36.9 million, or 3.4%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 3.8% from December 2022, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Revenue.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYnVkZ2V0LmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzA2X0RlY2VtYmVyX1JldmVudWVfRlkyMDI0XzAxLTAyLTIwMjRfRmluYWwucGRmIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDEwMi44Nzg3OTc3MSJ9.Np2NTncfjtbgQasspKhbAnVW2NtQj8_pCE7FmVm67uo/s/1303160919/br/234033500728-l" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;view the December 2023 revenue numbers.Individual income tax collections were $397.1 million. That is $17.1 million, or 4.5%, above the estimate, and up 5.9% from December 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $235.7 million. That is $39.3 million, or 14.3%, below the estimate and down 16.1% from December 2022.“Withholding tax, the largest component of the individual income tax receipts, was 9.2% greater than December 2022”,&nbsp;said Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart. “This comes as no real surprise as the growth is entirely consistent with recent findings of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which showed that personal income and earnings in Kansas grew during the second and third quarters of 2023 at some of the highest rates in the country.”Secretary Burghart further observed that the corporate income tax receipts were lower than expected because there was one less deposit day this December compared to December 2022. Nearly $34.4 million was deposited on that additional day in December 2022.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $302.4 million, which is $5.6 million, or 1.8%, below the estimate and down $4.9 million, or 1.6%, from December 2022.&nbsp;

Kansas 2023 total tax collections below the estimate

BARBER COUNTY—Law enforcement and fire officials are investigating a deadly Kansas house fire.

On New Year's Eve, the Medicine Lodge Fire Department and Barber County Sheriff contacted the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Investigation Division to assist in the investigation of house fire at&nbsp;401 West Stolp Street in Medicine Lodge, according to a media release.

Investigators learned the fire department had discovered two fatalities in the home.

Investigators determined that the fire originated within the garage of the property.&nbsp; The cause of the fire is currently classified as undetermined. The victims have not been positively identified at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704231386868.png" alt="New Year's Eve fire photo KWCH" />
 <figcaption>New Year's Eve fire photo KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BARBER COUNTY—Law enforcement and fire officials are investigating a deadly Kansas house fire.On New Year's Eve, the Medicine Lodge Fire Department and Barber County Sheriff contacted the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Investigation Division to assist in the investigation of house fire at&nbsp;401 West Stolp Street in Medicine Lodge, according to a media release.Investigators learned the fire department had discovered two fatalities in the home.Investigators determined that the fire originated within the garage of the property.&nbsp; The cause of the fire is currently classified as undetermined. The victims have not been positively identified at this time.

2 dead in Kansas house fire on New Year's Eve

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-crossings-asylum-ukraine-aid-biden-dba31c3f461e1fa940f9cf00988444f7">grueling negotiations</a>, the contours of a bipartisan border security and immigration deal are beginning to take shape, emerging even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-congress-border-biden-064246982c828ed820c1c5a47c85901b">Congress leaves town</a>&nbsp;having failed to publicly unveil any details of the package that's central to unlocking stalled aid for Ukraine.

Talks between the White House and key senators have not veered widely from three main areas of discussion: toughening asylum protocols for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border</a>; bolstering border enforcement with more personnel and high-tech systems; and deterring migrants from making the journey in the first place.

As the Senate broke for the holidays, due back Jan. 8, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in a rare joint statement indicated negotiations are progressing. They also met Wednesday to discuss how to advance the border policy alongside President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden's</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">$110 billion package</a>&nbsp;of wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other national security priorities.

“We all know there’s a problem at the border,” Schumer said before sending senators home. “Our goal is, as soon as we get back, to get something done.”

McConnell said the negotiations “continue to make headway.”

And as aid for his country hangs in balance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russian-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-news-conference-5440b3d3034a34461d93d0740e0c1ae6">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;said at his own press conference in Kyiv he was confident “the U.S. will not let us down.”

Here’s a look at what’s being discussed as key Senate negotiators and the White House plan to dig in during the weeks ahead:

Senate negotiators have focused on asylum, by which the U.S. offers protection for people facing persecution in their home countries. The senators say they are trying to ensure that migrants who have a credible claim to asylum can safely apply, but that officials can also quickly turn away those who don't qualify.

Critics often say that too many people who pass their initial asylum interview end up ultimately failing in their efforts to win asylum. But because the immigration courts are so backlogged by the time the final determination happens, many have been in the country for years, making it more difficult and expensive to deport them.

The senators and the Biden administration have considered toughening the so-called credible fear standard that's used in the initial interviews to determine if migrants seeking asylum would likely have a winnable case before an immigration judge.

Advocates for immigrants argue that the credible fear standard is deliberately low in recognition of the fact that migrants being interviewed have usually fled desperate conditions, don't have legal representation and are still shaken by their journeys.

It was the Republicans who demanded negotiations over the border, refusing to provide aid for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion</a>, unless Biden also agreed to changes to cut immigration.

While Biden had initially proposed $14 billion to bolster border security in the national security package, Republicans said money was not enough. They want to enshrine policy changes at the border into law, some echoing Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner for the presidential nomination, who takes a hard line against immigration.

Still, billions of dollars of funding will almost certainly be part of any deal.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">Border Patrol officers are overwhelmed</a>&nbsp;processing migrants who turn themselves in seeking asylum. Biden had proposed $3.1 billion for additional border agents as well more asylum officers, immigration judge teams and processing personnel. Supporters say the money for the asylum system is crucial to addressing the backlog in immigration courts and essentially getting the process moving faster.

Biden has also suggested $1.2 billion for Customs and Border Protection officers and inspection systems to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl.

While the president also proposed funds to help communities in the U.S. that are taking in the record numbers of new arrivals, Republicans have resisted sending money to the cities, largely Democratic, that are helping house and provide care for the migrants.

Over and over, senators have emerged from hours of closed-door talks with an exasperated conclusion: Immigration policy is complicated.

“Millions of decisions,” said Sen. James Lankford, a Republican of Oklahoma. “Underneath every big idea is 100 smaller decisions that all have to be made, and every one is complicated.”

Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said: “It’s interconnected. So if you press in one side and it pops out the other, it takes time to get this right.”

One of the toughest issues to resolve has been how to dissuade migrants from even embarking on their journeys to the U.S. in the first place, particularly from countries experiencing unrest, economic calamity or widespread gang violence.

Senators have discussed ways to encourage people to apply for asylum before they arrive at the border — either in their home country, or if that’s not plausible, a country they travel through on their way to the U.S.

The Biden administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-united-states-government-caribbean-mexico-mobile-apps-49b38b18869ed3b2260fb6d774153456">launched a new system</a>&nbsp;earlier this year that encourages people seeking asylum to schedule an appointment, via a smartphone app, to seek entry at the border.

In talks, the White House has also insisted on keeping in place&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-immigration-af0643a4fb8f45388fe247e44c9b2c5e">its ability to allow 30,000 people a month</a>&nbsp;from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti entry into the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and fly into the country.

The idea is to create a more orderly, efficient asylum system that reduces chaos at the border.

But record numbers of migrants are still arriving. Illegal crossings topped 10,000 some days in December.

Negotiators have run into trouble in the talks when it comes to enforcement measures. One potential compromise would set a threshold for the number of border crossings, and once the number is reached, stricter enforcement measures would take effect.

Under that system, if the crossings get too high authorities would shut down the border for asylum claims, enable fast-track removals of migrants who have already entered unlawfully, and detain some migrants while they are screened for valid asylum claims.

Funding in the package could also go to bolstering immigration enforcement, including detention facilities, according to one person familiar with the private negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Advocates for immigrants worry that some of the restrictions under discussion could just push the build-up of migrants south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re turning Mexico into a staging area for migrants moving north,” said Dylan Corbett, who heads the Hope Border Institute, in a call with reporters. “Mexico doesn’t have the infrastructure to be able to deal with this.”

They also warn that the expedited removal measures would strike fear in the millions of immigrants lacking permanent legal status while effectively turning Trump-style administrative policies into law, making them potentially more difficult to challenge in court.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent central to the negotiations, said that the potentially lasting impact of their work hangs over the talks.

“A mistake here will matter for many years,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-crossings-asylum-ukraine-aid-biden-dba31c3f461e1fa940f9cf00988444f7">grueling negotiations</a>, the contours of a bipartisan border security and immigration deal are beginning to take shape, emerging even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-congress-border-biden-064246982c828ed820c1c5a47c85901b">Congress leaves town</a>&nbsp;having failed to publicly unveil any details of the package that's central to unlocking stalled aid for Ukraine.Talks between the White House and key senators have not veered widely from three main areas of discussion: toughening asylum protocols for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border</a>; bolstering border enforcement with more personnel and high-tech systems; and deterring migrants from making the journey in the first place.As the Senate broke for the holidays, due back Jan. 8, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in a rare joint statement indicated negotiations are progressing. They also met Wednesday to discuss how to advance the border policy alongside President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden's</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">$110 billion package</a>&nbsp;of wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other national security priorities.“We all know there’s a problem at the border,” Schumer said before sending senators home. “Our goal is, as soon as we get back, to get something done.”McConnell said the negotiations “continue to make headway.”And as aid for his country hangs in balance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russian-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-news-conference-5440b3d3034a34461d93d0740e0c1ae6">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;said at his own press conference in Kyiv he was confident “the U.S. will not let us down.”Here’s a look at what’s being discussed as key Senate negotiators and the White House plan to dig in during the weeks ahead:TOUGHER ASYLUM CLAIMSSenate negotiators have focused on asylum, by which the U.S. offers protection for people facing persecution in their home countries. The senators say they are trying to ensure that migrants who have a credible claim to asylum can safely apply, but that officials can also quickly turn away those who don't qualify.Critics often say that too many people who pass their initial asylum interview end up ultimately failing in their efforts to win asylum. But because the immigration courts are so backlogged by the time the final determination happens, many have been in the country for years, making it more difficult and expensive to deport them.The senators and the Biden administration have considered toughening the so-called credible fear standard that's used in the initial interviews to determine if migrants seeking asylum would likely have a winnable case before an immigration judge.Advocates for immigrants argue that the credible fear standard is deliberately low in recognition of the fact that migrants being interviewed have usually fled desperate conditions, don't have legal representation and are still shaken by their journeys.BORDER SECURITYIt was the Republicans who demanded negotiations over the border, refusing to provide aid for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion</a>, unless Biden also agreed to changes to cut immigration.While Biden had initially proposed $14 billion to bolster border security in the national security package, Republicans said money was not enough. They want to enshrine policy changes at the border into law, some echoing Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner for the presidential nomination, who takes a hard line against immigration.Still, billions of dollars of funding will almost certainly be part of any deal.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">Border Patrol officers are overwhelmed</a>&nbsp;processing migrants who turn themselves in seeking asylum. Biden had proposed $3.1 billion for additional border agents as well more asylum officers, immigration judge teams and processing personnel. Supporters say the money for the asylum system is crucial to addressing the backlog in immigration courts and essentially getting the process moving faster.Biden has also suggested $1.2 billion for Customs and Border Protection officers and inspection systems to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl.While the president also proposed funds to help communities in the U.S. that are taking in the record numbers of new arrivals, Republicans have resisted sending money to the cities, largely Democratic, that are helping house and provide care for the migrants.REDUCING BORDER BUILD-UPOver and over, senators have emerged from hours of closed-door talks with an exasperated conclusion: Immigration policy is complicated.“Millions of decisions,” said Sen. James Lankford, a Republican of Oklahoma. “Underneath every big idea is 100 smaller decisions that all have to be made, and every one is complicated.”Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said: “It’s interconnected. So if you press in one side and it pops out the other, it takes time to get this right.”One of the toughest issues to resolve has been how to dissuade migrants from even embarking on their journeys to the U.S. in the first place, particularly from countries experiencing unrest, economic calamity or widespread gang violence.Senators have discussed ways to encourage people to apply for asylum before they arrive at the border — either in their home country, or if that’s not plausible, a country they travel through on their way to the U.S.The Biden administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-united-states-government-caribbean-mexico-mobile-apps-49b38b18869ed3b2260fb6d774153456">launched a new system</a>&nbsp;earlier this year that encourages people seeking asylum to schedule an appointment, via a smartphone app, to seek entry at the border.In talks, the White House has also insisted on keeping in place&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-immigration-af0643a4fb8f45388fe247e44c9b2c5e">its ability to allow 30,000 people a month</a>&nbsp;from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti entry into the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and fly into the country.The idea is to create a more orderly, efficient asylum system that reduces chaos at the border.But record numbers of migrants are still arriving. Illegal crossings topped 10,000 some days in December.ENFORCEMENTNegotiators have run into trouble in the talks when it comes to enforcement measures. One potential compromise would set a threshold for the number of border crossings, and once the number is reached, stricter enforcement measures would take effect.Under that system, if the crossings get too high authorities would shut down the border for asylum claims, enable fast-track removals of migrants who have already entered unlawfully, and detain some migrants while they are screened for valid asylum claims.Funding in the package could also go to bolstering immigration enforcement, including detention facilities, according to one person familiar with the private negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.Advocates for immigrants worry that some of the restrictions under discussion could just push the build-up of migrants south of the U.S.-Mexico border.“We’re turning Mexico into a staging area for migrants moving north,” said Dylan Corbett, who heads the Hope Border Institute, in a call with reporters. “Mexico doesn’t have the infrastructure to be able to deal with this.”They also warn that the expedited removal measures would strike fear in the millions of immigrants lacking permanent legal status while effectively turning Trump-style administrative policies into law, making them potentially more difficult to challenge in court.Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent central to the negotiations, said that the potentially lasting impact of their work hangs over the talks.“A mistake here will matter for many years,” she said.

Deal on US border policy is closer than it seems

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-backlash-2c89312cdd0d2652a9b57ce71f1533fd">she was unable to say unequivocally</a>&nbsp;that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.

(Gay is also featured in this congressional hearing video below)

Gay is the second Ivy League president to resign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-governor-antisemitism-colleges-israel-gaza-ae1294d644b3305cc51e8d9bb7252766">in the past month</a>&nbsp;following the congressional testimony. Gay, Harvard’s first Black president, announced her departure just months into her tenure in a letter to the Harvard community.

Following the congressional hearing, Gay’s academic career came under intense scrutiny by conservative activists who unearthed several instances of alleged plagiarism in her 1997 doctoral dissertation. Harvard’s governing board initially rallied behind Gay, saying a review of her scholarly work turned up “a few instances of inadequate citation” but no evidence of research misconduct.

Days later, the Harvard Corporation revealed that it found two additional examples of “duplicative language without appropriate attribution.” The board said Gay would update her dissertation and request corrections.

The Harvard Corporation said the resignation came “with great sadness” and thanked Gay for her “deep and unwavering commitment to Harvard and to the pursuit of academic excellence.”

Alan M. Garber, provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president until Harvard finds a replacement, the board said in a statement. Garber, an economist and physician, has served as provost for 12 years.

Gay and the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania came under fire last month for their lawyerly answers to a line of questioning from New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, who asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate the colleges’ code of conduct.

The three presidents had been called before the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce to answer accusations that universities were failing to protect Jewish students amid rising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-antisemitism-europe-massacre-war-protests-1d26266dfd9b2b8dd4c795f420abab47">fears of antisemitism worldwide</a>&nbsp;and fallout from Israel’s intensifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>, which faces heightened criticism for the mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-31-2023-1d854750b0caaa517677d3361c00cd06">Palestinian death toll</a>.

Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when “speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.” The answer faced swift backlash from Republican and some Democratic lawmakers as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-islamophobia-colleges-biden-israel-hamas-57e32457f9113a168cc21d16fa008a79">the White House</a>. The hearing was parodied in the opening skit on “Saturday Night Live.”

Gay later apologized, telling The Crimson student newspaper that she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.

“What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,” Gay said.

The episode marred Gay’s tenure at Harvard — she became president in July — and sowed discord at the Ivy League campus. Rabbi David Wolpe later resigned from a new committee on antisemitism created by Gay, saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that “events on campus and the painfully inadequate testimony reinforced the idea that I cannot make the sort of difference I had hoped.”

The House committee announced days after the hearing that it would investigate the policies and disciplinary procedures at Harvard, MIT and Penn. Separate federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-colleges-civil-rights-investigation-discrimination-f93aa9355f4c2d97b188df8546cc5131">civil rights investigations</a>&nbsp;were previously opened at Harvard, Penn and several other universities in response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-colleges-civil-rights-investigation-discrimination-f93aa9355f4c2d97b188df8546cc5131">complaints</a>&nbsp;submitted to the U.S. Education Department.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned Tuesday amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-backlash-2c89312cdd0d2652a9b57ce71f1533fd">she was unable to say unequivocally</a>&nbsp;that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy.(Gay is also featured in this congressional hearing video below)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned Saturday after facing backlash from her congressional testimony earlier this week on antisemitism on college campuses. Here&#39;s the exchange. <a href="https://t.co/EVrAMy33qh">pic.twitter.com/EVrAMy33qh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1733607598803292487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Gay is the second Ivy League president to resign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-governor-antisemitism-colleges-israel-gaza-ae1294d644b3305cc51e8d9bb7252766">in the past month</a>&nbsp;following the congressional testimony. Gay, Harvard’s first Black president, announced her departure just months into her tenure in a letter to the Harvard community.Following the congressional hearing, Gay’s academic career came under intense scrutiny by conservative activists who unearthed several instances of alleged plagiarism in her 1997 doctoral dissertation. Harvard’s governing board initially rallied behind Gay, saying a review of her scholarly work turned up “a few instances of inadequate citation” but no evidence of research misconduct.Days later, the Harvard Corporation revealed that it found two additional examples of “duplicative language without appropriate attribution.” The board said Gay would update her dissertation and request corrections.The Harvard Corporation said the resignation came “with great sadness” and thanked Gay for her “deep and unwavering commitment to Harvard and to the pursuit of academic excellence.”Alan M. Garber, provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president until Harvard finds a replacement, the board said in a statement. Garber, an economist and physician, has served as provost for 12 years.Gay and the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania came under fire last month for their lawyerly answers to a line of questioning from New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, who asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate the colleges’ code of conduct.The three presidents had been called before the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce to answer accusations that universities were failing to protect Jewish students amid rising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-antisemitism-europe-massacre-war-protests-1d26266dfd9b2b8dd4c795f420abab47">fears of antisemitism worldwide</a>&nbsp;and fallout from Israel’s intensifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war in Gaza</a>, which faces heightened criticism for the mounting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-31-2023-1d854750b0caaa517677d3361c00cd06">Palestinian death toll</a>.Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when “speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.” The answer faced swift backlash from Republican and some Democratic lawmakers as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-islamophobia-colleges-biden-israel-hamas-57e32457f9113a168cc21d16fa008a79">the White House</a>. The hearing was parodied in the opening skit on “Saturday Night Live.”Gay later apologized, telling The Crimson student newspaper that she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.“What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,” Gay said.The episode marred Gay’s tenure at Harvard — she became president in July — and sowed discord at the Ivy League campus. Rabbi David Wolpe later resigned from a new committee on antisemitism created by Gay, saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that “events on campus and the painfully inadequate testimony reinforced the idea that I cannot make the sort of difference I had hoped.”The House committee announced days after the hearing that it would investigate the policies and disciplinary procedures at Harvard, MIT and Penn. Separate federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-colleges-civil-rights-investigation-discrimination-f93aa9355f4c2d97b188df8546cc5131">civil rights investigations</a>&nbsp;were previously opened at Harvard, Penn and several other universities in response to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-colleges-civil-rights-investigation-discrimination-f93aa9355f4c2d97b188df8546cc5131">complaints</a>&nbsp;submitted to the U.S. Education Department.

🎥Harvard president resigns amid plagiarism claims, antisemitism testimony

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a house party and have made an arrest.

On Sunday, police arrested 18-year-old Marc Oliver on a warrant for requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;1st degree murder, aggravated battery, criminal discharge of a firearm and a probation violation, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

In the early morning on October 21, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they found 2 male victims with gunshot wounds. A 3rd male victim later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound from the incident.&nbsp;

Within a week of the shooting, detectives arrested Cordarius Gowdy, 21; Damerius McGee, 18, both of Ogden and Christopher Stowers, 21, of Manhattan on probable cause offenses of attempted first-degree murder aggravated battery and one count of firing into an occupied dwelling.&nbsp;

Oliver was issued total bond of $1,000,000. All four suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail.&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a house party and have made an arrest.On Sunday, police arrested 18-year-old Marc Oliver on a warrant for requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;1st degree murder, aggravated battery, criminal discharge of a firearm and a probation violation, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.In the early morning on October 21, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they found 2 male victims with gunshot wounds. A 3rd male victim later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound from the incident.&nbsp;Within a week of the shooting, detectives arrested Cordarius Gowdy, 21; Damerius McGee, 18, both of Ogden and Christopher Stowers, 21, of Manhattan on probable cause offenses of attempted first-degree murder aggravated battery and one count of firing into an occupied dwelling.&nbsp;Oliver was issued total bond of $1,000,000. All four suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail.&nbsp;

Police arrest 4th suspect for Kansas house party shooting

KANSAS CIT(AP) — Two people are dead after a robbery suspect's vehicle was going the wrong way on an interstate highway while being chased by officers early Tuesday and slammed into another vehicle, killing both drivers, police said.

The accident happened just after 4 a.m. on Interstate 435 in Kansas City. Names of those killed have not been released.

Armed robberies occurred between around 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. at three convenience stores. Soon after the third crime, police saw the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit, police spokeswoman Alayna Gonzalez said in a news release.

During the chase, the driver traveled south in the northbound lanes of the interstate, causing the crash, Gonzalez said. The accident remains under investigation

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704216760410.png" alt="View of one of the vehicles involved in the deadly crash-photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>View of one of the vehicles involved in the deadly crash-photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CIT(AP) — Two people are dead after a robbery suspect's vehicle was going the wrong way on an interstate highway while being chased by officers early Tuesday and slammed into another vehicle, killing both drivers, police said.The accident happened just after 4 a.m. on Interstate 435 in Kansas City. Names of those killed have not been released.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704216864089.png" alt="photo of crash scene photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>photo of crash scene photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>Armed robberies occurred between around 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. at three convenience stores. Soon after the third crime, police saw the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit, police spokeswoman Alayna Gonzalez said in a news release.During the chase, the driver traveled south in the northbound lanes of the interstate, causing the crash, Gonzalez said. The accident remains under investigation

KC robbery suspect, other driver killed in wrong-way crash 

COFFEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 245 Southern Coffey County in Leroy are investigating a social media threat to the school district, according to a statement from the Coffey County School District.

"No matter the credibility of any threat, the Sheriff's Office will investigate, and all steps will be taken to ensure all students and faculty are provided a safe learning environment," according to Sheriff, Thomas Johnson.

This case is currently active, and any individual identified as being responsible will be prosecuted. Anyone with information should contact Coffey County Sheriff's Office at 620-364-2123.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697128767642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>COFFEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 245 Southern Coffey County in Leroy are investigating a social media threat to the school district, according to a statement from the Coffey County School District."No matter the credibility of any threat, the Sheriff's Office will investigate, and all steps will be taken to ensure all students and faculty are provided a safe learning environment," according to Sheriff, Thomas Johnson.This case is currently active, and any individual identified as being responsible will be prosecuted. Anyone with information should contact Coffey County Sheriff's Office at 620-364-2123.

Sheriff: Alleged social media threat in Kansas school district

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on alleged sex crimes.

On New Year's Day, police arrested 21-year-old Joseph J. Gill, 21, Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Gill was jailed on $500,000 bond on a District Court warrant for rape and aggravated sexual battery.&nbsp; The arrest is in connection to a police investigation that began on October 25, 2020 focusing on a case involving a female victim.

He was also accused in a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704135951585.png" alt="Gill-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Gill-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on alleged sex crimes.On New Year's Day, police arrested 21-year-old Joseph J. Gill, 21, Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Gill was jailed on $500,000 bond on a District Court warrant for rape and aggravated sexual battery.&nbsp; The arrest is in connection to a police investigation that began on October 25, 2020 focusing on a case involving a female victim.He was also accused in a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

Kansas man arrested for rape case reported in 2020

KANSAS CITY —Liberty Hospital, 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, Mo.,continues to investigate the disruption to their computer systems that began December 19.

On Friday night, the hospital reported the computer systems disruption has since been determined to be a cybersecurity incident, according to a statement on the hospital web site.

"We are in the process of confirming the nature and extent of the event. It is too soon to know how long confirmation will take or to provide a definitive recovery timeline."

"Liberty Hospital became aware of a disruption to our computer systems on December 19, 2023. The hospital proactively took its entire computer network offline, and the information technology (IT) team took immediate action to begin understanding the event while ensuring patients continued to receive safe care."

"Third-party cybersecurity specialists were quickly called in, and the hospital implemented additional safety protocols. In collaboration with numerous EMS teams and hospitals from across the Kansas City area, Liberty Hospital swiftly transferred patients who required higher levels of care than systems were equipped to support at that time. Clinical staff moved to downtime processes and innovative workarounds to safely care for patients who remained."

"During the next several days, the hospital's IT team and other specialists worked diligently to revive the affected systems safely and methodically. The hospital continued to perform low-risk procedures in the main operating rooms, outpatient surgery department and Birthing Center and accepted walk-in patients at the emergency department. Just in time for the busy holiday weekend, the hospital's emergency department opened to ambulances."

"Across the metro area, hospitals are at- or over-capacity, and we are doing our part to provide healthcare for sick patients as we are safely able to do so."

As of Dec. 28, many clinical and surgical services have resumed. If you have questions about an upcoming appointment, please call your clinic or the hospital in advance of your arrival.

The emergency department is caring for an increasing number of patients each day. Due to downtime patient safety procedures, typical ER wait times may be longer than usual. We encourage patients who may not require emergency care to seek care first from their primary care provider or Liberty Hospital Urgent Care Shoal Creek.

At Liberty Hospital Primary Care and Specialty Care clinics, prescription refills for outpatients may not occur electronically at this time. If you need a prescription refill, call your provider's office to ensure it will be submitted to your pharmacy.

"Patients with concerns about their billing are encouraged to call&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a>. Our customer service team will look at their concerns individually and address them accordingly."

"Patients scheduled for elective outpatient imaging – such as routine mammograms – should contact patient scheduling to avoid wait times. Beginning on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., outpatient scheduling may be reached at&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927016">816.792.7016</a>. We regret any inconvenience this may cause."

Patient portals may not yet be accessible. In the meantime, patients may pay bills by phone Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703156650753.png" alt="Liberty Hospital courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Liberty Hospital courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Liberty Hospital, 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, Mo.,continues to investigate the disruption to their computer systems that began December 19.On Friday night, the hospital reported the computer systems disruption has since been determined to be a cybersecurity incident, according to a statement on the hospital web site. "We are in the process of confirming the nature and extent of the event. It is too soon to know how long confirmation will take or to provide a definitive recovery timeline.""Liberty Hospital became aware of a disruption to our computer systems on December 19, 2023. The hospital proactively took its entire computer network offline, and the information technology (IT) team took immediate action to begin understanding the event while ensuring patients continued to receive safe care.""Third-party cybersecurity specialists were quickly called in, and the hospital implemented additional safety protocols. In collaboration with numerous EMS teams and hospitals from across the Kansas City area, Liberty Hospital swiftly transferred patients who required higher levels of care than systems were equipped to support at that time. Clinical staff moved to downtime processes and innovative workarounds to safely care for patients who remained.""During the next several days, the hospital's IT team and other specialists worked diligently to revive the affected systems safely and methodically. The hospital continued to perform low-risk procedures in the main operating rooms, outpatient surgery department and Birthing Center and accepted walk-in patients at the emergency department. Just in time for the busy holiday weekend, the hospital's emergency department opened to ambulances.""Across the metro area, hospitals are at- or over-capacity, and we are doing our part to provide healthcare for sick patients as we are safely able to do so."As of Dec. 28, many clinical and surgical services have resumed. If you have questions about an upcoming appointment, please call your clinic or the hospital in advance of your arrival.The emergency department is caring for an increasing number of patients each day. Due to downtime patient safety procedures, typical ER wait times may be longer than usual. We encourage patients who may not require emergency care to seek care first from their primary care provider or Liberty Hospital Urgent Care Shoal Creek.At Liberty Hospital Primary Care and Specialty Care clinics, prescription refills for outpatients may not occur electronically at this time. If you need a prescription refill, call your provider's office to ensure it will be submitted to your pharmacy."Patients with concerns about their billing are encouraged to call&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a>. Our customer service team will look at their concerns individually and address them accordingly.""Patients scheduled for elective outpatient imaging – such as routine mammograms – should contact patient scheduling to avoid wait times. Beginning on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., outpatient scheduling may be reached at&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927016">816.792.7016</a>. We regret any inconvenience this may cause."Patient portals may not yet be accessible. In the meantime, patients may pay bills by phone Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.<ul>
 <li>Liberty Hospital:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a></li><li>Primary and Specialty Care Clinics:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a></li><li>Liberty Hospital Outpatient Surgery Department:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a></li><li>Urgent Care:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18167927110">816.792.7110</a></li><li>Emergency Room Physicians:&nbsp;<a href="tel:+18166568648">816.656.8648</a></li>
 </ul>-----

KC-area hospital continues to battle cybersecurity incident 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and after asking the public for help have identified the victim and are still working to notify family, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703285918610.png" alt="photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and after asking the public for help have identified the victim and are still working to notify family, according to the Clay County Sheriff's OfficeAn employee at Rocky Hollow Park found the body at about 8:15 a.m. December 22, off a roadway at the park, located at 14812 Old Quarry Road, Excelsior Springs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703802024415.png" alt="Flores-photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Flores-photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Charges have been filed against a suspect in the homicide of the man whose body was located at Rocky Hollow Park on Dec. 22. Investigators need help to locate 48-year-old Elena Delcarmen Flores. She has been charged with 1st-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse, according to the Clay County Sheriff.She lives in Gardner, Kansas but investigators believe she may no longer be in the KC metro area. She may also go by Elena Torres, Elena Flores Garcia or Elena Stores. She is 5-foot-5 and 200 pounds. If you know where she is, call&nbsp; 816-407-3723 or <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> at 816-474-TIPS (8477). 2/2