Evergy’s request to increase rates was met with animus in Wichita.

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/epa-estimates-more-than-54000-lead-pipes-remain-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Evergy’s request that Kansas customers pay another $218 million each year is a symptom of a system built without efficiency, an environmental advocate says.

And until Kansas regulators allow the investor-owned utility to implement its proposed suite of programs designed to bring down customers’ usage, Ashok Gupta, an economist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, says costs will keep going up.

“The root cause of high costs is that the system sits idle 50% or more of the time in order to serve the really, really hot days and really, really cold days,” Gupta said.

Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, formed from the merger of Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light in 2018. In April, for the first time after a five-year moratorium, it filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase its rates for Kansas customers. Testimony from consumer, environmental and business advocates is due at the end of August. A decision is likely to come by the end of the year.

For the average customer in the Kansas City area, the requested rate increase would mean another $3.47 each month. But for the rest of the company’s Kansas territory —&nbsp;which covers most of the eastern half of the state, including Topeka, Wichita and Salina — monthly bills would rise by $14.24. Regulators don’t have to grant all of what Evergy asked for.

Evergy’s filings say most of the requested increase is to pay for upgrades it has made to the system, including replacing power lines and adding technology that can more quickly isolate the cause of a power outage to reduce its reach. Another chunk would help the company recoup the costs from its aging coal plants so it can retire them. Regulated utilities like Evergy can adjust rates to recoup the costs of adding power plants or distribution infrastructure.

But Gupta said lowering demand by making Kansas homes more energy efficient would save money in the long run by keeping Evergy from having to build more and more. Kansas is ranked 49th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It fell from 47th last year.

“As winters get colder and summers get hotter, the costs are only going to go up,” Gupta said.&nbsp;

Evergy requested permission from the Kansas Corporation Commission to institute several energy efficiency programs, such as incentives for energy-efficient appliances and weatherization. But staff of the KCC hit the brakes on the programs despite buy-in from Evergy, consumer advocates and environmentalists. They said the program was too expensive.

A year later, the effort is at a standstill. The commission has its choice of Evergy’s original proposal or a pared-down version supported by staff.

A spokesman for the commission said there is no timeline for when commissioners must decide on a program.

In the meantime, Evergy has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/06/16/evergy-slashes-planned-renewable-energy-additions-proposes-more-natural-gas/">delayed coal plant closures and proposed new natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;to meet demand, something environmental activists have decried.

Courtney Lewis, a spokeswoman for Evergy, said the company’s request for energy efficiency programs is still active and, if approved, would be considered in future plan updates. She said it’s a more cost-effective way to meet customers’ needs.&nbsp;

Evergy could propose another rate hike as soon as next year to meet the demand of the Panasonic plant planned in De Soto. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.

“We’re asking low-income residential customers to increase their bills by $70 a year,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “And, at the same time, filing a plan that doubles down on expensive coal and gas.”

Chuck Caisley, of Evergy, told a crowd in Wichita that nobody likes to see rates rise.&nbsp;

“In a time of significant inflation across the economy, an increase in electrical rates isn’t something that anybody wants, and, frankly, it’s not something that Evergy as a company wants to do,” Caisley said.

Evergy’s proposed rate hike would be the first since 2017. In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-04-25-Evergy-Files-Kansas-First-Rate-Review-in-Five-Years-to-Recover-Investments-to-Modernize-the-Power-Grid,-Increase-Reliability-and-Enhance-Customer-Service">news release announcing the rate case filing</a>, the company pointed out that other utilities’ rates in the region have climbed, on average, 13%. Inflation has driven the costs of other goods up 20%.

But Kansas’ electric rates still remain higher than surrounding states, according to the Energy Information Administration.

And Evergy’s proposal to raise rates by almost 10% across its Kansas territory —&nbsp;aside from the Kansas City area —&nbsp;was met with frustration at a public meeting in Wichita.

“This is going to hurt us economically when it comes to being competitive with other areas of the state,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “… It’s going to hurt us when it comes to attracting jobs, and more importantly, it’s going to hurt our citizens.”

Whipple started to say the rate hike would hurt elderly residents on fixed incomes when he was cut off by the moderator of the meeting.

“I’m getting to my question,” Whipple said.

The moderator, a member of the KCC staff, replied: “OK, please do.”

Whipple, frustrated: “Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.”

“No. No, no no,” the moderator replied. “I want to give all of your constituents the opportunity to ask a question.”

Whipple questioned why customers should pay for Evergy’s executive benefits.

Dozens of customers expressed outrage at the proposed hike.

“How are we going to fix this?” asked Shannon Thomas. “Because I’m a poverty-level mom. $15 a month is going to hurt me.”

Lewis, the Evergy spokeswoman, said the utility works to keep costs low because its staff knows rate hikes can be difficult. She said the utility has a team that works with customers who need help paying their bills. The company provides face-to-face assistance and information to more than 14,000 customers each year.

Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, said the agency, which represents residential and small business utility customers, is still developing its comments on Evergy’s request.

But he said CURB will likely go after executive salaries, any unnecessary or exorbitant spending by Evergy on infrastructure, and the company’s requested rate of return for investments.

Nickel said CURB was supporting the “time-of-use pricing” included in the rate case. Customers can opt into plans where energy is more expensive during times of peak demand, such as 4 p.m. on a hot summer day, and cheaper during non-peak times.&nbsp;

Evergy is rolling out the pricing scheme in Missouri to considerable blowback. But in Kansas, customers can opt in voluntarily.

Nickel, like Gupta, said implementing energy efficiency programs could help control Evergy’s prices in the long-run. The state has a policy saying utilities and regulators should work together on energy efficiency.

But he said for “almost 10 years, we haven’t gotten squat.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687004047927.png" alt=" Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka, Kansas (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption> Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka, Kansas (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Evergy’s request to increase rates was met with animus in Wichita.</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/epa-estimates-more-than-54000-lead-pipes-remain-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>Evergy’s request that Kansas customers pay another $218 million each year is a symptom of a system built without efficiency, an environmental advocate says.And until Kansas regulators allow the investor-owned utility to implement its proposed suite of programs designed to bring down customers’ usage, Ashok Gupta, an economist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, says costs will keep going up.“The root cause of high costs is that the system sits idle 50% or more of the time in order to serve the really, really hot days and really, really cold days,” Gupta said.Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, formed from the merger of Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light in 2018. In April, for the first time after a five-year moratorium, it filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase its rates for Kansas customers. Testimony from consumer, environmental and business advocates is due at the end of August. A decision is likely to come by the end of the year.For the average customer in the Kansas City area, the requested rate increase would mean another $3.47 each month. But for the rest of the company’s Kansas territory —&nbsp;which covers most of the eastern half of the state, including Topeka, Wichita and Salina — monthly bills would rise by $14.24. Regulators don’t have to grant all of what Evergy asked for.Evergy’s filings say most of the requested increase is to pay for upgrades it has made to the system, including replacing power lines and adding technology that can more quickly isolate the cause of a power outage to reduce its reach. Another chunk would help the company recoup the costs from its aging coal plants so it can retire them. Regulated utilities like Evergy can adjust rates to recoup the costs of adding power plants or distribution infrastructure.But Gupta said lowering demand by making Kansas homes more energy efficient would save money in the long run by keeping Evergy from having to build more and more. Kansas is ranked 49th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It fell from 47th last year.“As winters get colder and summers get hotter, the costs are only going to go up,” Gupta said.&nbsp;Evergy requested permission from the Kansas Corporation Commission to institute several energy efficiency programs, such as incentives for energy-efficient appliances and weatherization. But staff of the KCC hit the brakes on the programs despite buy-in from Evergy, consumer advocates and environmentalists. They said the program was too expensive.A year later, the effort is at a standstill. The commission has its choice of Evergy’s original proposal or a pared-down version supported by staff.A spokesman for the commission said there is no timeline for when commissioners must decide on a program.In the meantime, Evergy has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/06/16/evergy-slashes-planned-renewable-energy-additions-proposes-more-natural-gas/">delayed coal plant closures and proposed new natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;to meet demand, something environmental activists have decried.Courtney Lewis, a spokeswoman for Evergy, said the company’s request for energy efficiency programs is still active and, if approved, would be considered in future plan updates. She said it’s a more cost-effective way to meet customers’ needs.&nbsp;Evergy could propose another rate hike as soon as next year to meet the demand of the Panasonic plant planned in De Soto. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.“We’re asking low-income residential customers to increase their bills by $70 a year,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “And, at the same time, filing a plan that doubles down on expensive coal and gas.”Chuck Caisley, of Evergy, told a crowd in Wichita that nobody likes to see rates rise.&nbsp;“In a time of significant inflation across the economy, an increase in electrical rates isn’t something that anybody wants, and, frankly, it’s not something that Evergy as a company wants to do,” Caisley said.<h2>Current rate increase</h2>Evergy’s proposed rate hike would be the first since 2017. In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-04-25-Evergy-Files-Kansas-First-Rate-Review-in-Five-Years-to-Recover-Investments-to-Modernize-the-Power-Grid,-Increase-Reliability-and-Enhance-Customer-Service">news release announcing the rate case filing</a>, the company pointed out that other utilities’ rates in the region have climbed, on average, 13%. Inflation has driven the costs of other goods up 20%.But Kansas’ electric rates still remain higher than surrounding states, according to the Energy Information Administration.And Evergy’s proposal to raise rates by almost 10% across its Kansas territory —&nbsp;aside from the Kansas City area —&nbsp;was met with frustration at a public meeting in Wichita.“This is going to hurt us economically when it comes to being competitive with other areas of the state,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “… It’s going to hurt us when it comes to attracting jobs, and more importantly, it’s going to hurt our citizens.”Whipple started to say the rate hike would hurt elderly residents on fixed incomes when he was cut off by the moderator of the meeting.“I’m getting to my question,” Whipple said.The moderator, a member of the KCC staff, replied: “OK, please do.”Whipple, frustrated: “Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.”“No. No, no no,” the moderator replied. “I want to give all of your constituents the opportunity to ask a question.”Whipple questioned why customers should pay for Evergy’s executive benefits.Dozens of customers expressed outrage at the proposed hike.“How are we going to fix this?” asked Shannon Thomas. “Because I’m a poverty-level mom. $15 a month is going to hurt me.”Lewis, the Evergy spokeswoman, said the utility works to keep costs low because its staff knows rate hikes can be difficult. She said the utility has a team that works with customers who need help paying their bills. The company provides face-to-face assistance and information to more than 14,000 customers each year.Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, said the agency, which represents residential and small business utility customers, is still developing its comments on Evergy’s request.But he said CURB will likely go after executive salaries, any unnecessary or exorbitant spending by Evergy on infrastructure, and the company’s requested rate of return for investments.Nickel said CURB was supporting the “time-of-use pricing” included in the rate case. Customers can opt into plans where energy is more expensive during times of peak demand, such as 4 p.m. on a hot summer day, and cheaper during non-peak times.&nbsp;Evergy is rolling out the pricing scheme in Missouri to considerable blowback. But in Kansas, customers can opt in voluntarily.Nickel, like Gupta, said implementing energy efficiency programs could help control Evergy’s prices in the long-run. The state has a policy saying utilities and regulators should work together on energy efficiency.But he said for “almost 10 years, we haven’t gotten squat.”

Evergy requests first rate increase in 5 years. Rates outside KC would jump 10%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;probe, deepening the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.

Garland said he was naming David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who has been probing the financial and business dealings of the president's son, as the special counsel.

Just as his appointment as special counsel was announced, Weiss notified a federal judge in Delaware that plea deal talks in the Hunter Biden case were at an “impasse.”

Garland noted the “extraordinary circumstances” of the matter as he made the announcement at the Justice Department. He said that Weiss asked to be appointed to the position and told him that “in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel."

“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said.

The move is a momentous development from the typically cautious Garland and comes amid a pair of sweeping Justice Department probes into Donald Trump, the former president, and President Joe Biden's chief rival in next year's election.

It also comes as House Republicans are mounting their own investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

Last month, Hunter Biden’s plea deal over tax evasion collapsed after U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-taxes-gun-drugs-690d38f1ffae4dfce2c171d21e7d3594">raised multiple concerns</a>&nbsp;about the specifics.

Republicans had derided that agreement as a “sweetheart” deal as they pushed their own probe.

The Republicans claimed Weiss was being blocked from becoming a special counsel a claim he and the Justice Department denied.

By being named special counsel Weiss will have broader authority to conduct a more sweeping investigation across various areas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;probe, deepening the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Attorney General announces appointment of David Weiss as Special Counsel: &quot;Beginning in 2019, Mr. Weiss in his capacity as U.S. Attorney...began investigating allegations of certain criminal conduct by, among others, Robert Hunter Biden...that investigation remains ongoing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/eeAdVtBAxX">pic.twitter.com/eeAdVtBAxX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1690040363329761294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Garland said he was naming David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who has been probing the financial and business dealings of the president's son, as the special counsel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This action by Biden’s DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption. If Weiss negotiated the sweetheart deal that couldn’t get approved, how can he be trusted as a Special Counsel? House Republicans will continue to pursue…&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1690049403824807939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Just as his appointment as special counsel was announced, Weiss notified a federal judge in Delaware that plea deal talks in the Hunter Biden case were at an “impasse.”Garland noted the “extraordinary circumstances” of the matter as he made the announcement at the Justice Department. He said that Weiss asked to be appointed to the position and told him that “in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel."“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said.The move is a momentous development from the typically cautious Garland and comes amid a pair of sweeping Justice Department probes into Donald Trump, the former president, and President Joe Biden's chief rival in next year's election.It also comes as House Republicans are mounting their own investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.Last month, Hunter Biden’s plea deal over tax evasion collapsed after U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-taxes-gun-drugs-690d38f1ffae4dfce2c171d21e7d3594">raised multiple concerns</a>&nbsp;about the specifics.Republicans had derided that agreement as a “sweetheart” deal as they pushed their own probe.The Republicans claimed Weiss was being blocked from becoming a special counsel a claim he and the Justice Department denied.By being named special counsel Weiss will have broader authority to conduct a more sweeping investigation across various areas.

🎥 Trump-appointee named special counsel in Hunter Biden probe

TOPEKA - On Thursday afternoon, Country Stampede posted to social media and emailed festival-goers of the need to search for a new venue for 2024 and future years.

In 2019, the festival moved from Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan to Topeka.

On Friday, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce responded to the news the Country Stampede was looking for a new home.

" Country Stampede is a unique and important part of Manhattan’s history."

"Thousands of people traveled to Manhattan over the two decades the event was held annually at Tuttle Creek State Park to see some of the most successful country music artists in the business."

"The economic impact on our community was extremely important and Visit Manhattan and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce played a significant role in the ongoing success of the event."

"The move to Topeka in 2019 coincided with a change in ownership and a change in strategic direction of the event."

"We, along with tourism groups across the region, received a request for proposal (RFP) from entities representing Country Stampede to determine our community’s interest in hosting the festival again."

"While we are always excited for opportunities to attract world class events to Manhattan, the logistics of holding such an event requires a significant commitment from the community."

"We will be working with our regional partners including the City of Manhattan and Tuttle Creek State Park officials to determine how we develop the best Manhattan response to this opportunity."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691763202118.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA - On Thursday afternoon, Country Stampede posted to social media and emailed festival-goers of the need to search for a new venue for 2024 and future years.In 2019, the festival moved from Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan to Topeka.On Friday, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce responded to the news the Country Stampede was looking for a new home." Country Stampede is a unique and important part of Manhattan’s history.""Thousands of people traveled to Manhattan over the two decades the event was held annually at Tuttle Creek State Park to see some of the most successful country music artists in the business.""The economic impact on our community was extremely important and Visit Manhattan and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce played a significant role in the ongoing success of the event.""The move to Topeka in 2019 coincided with a change in ownership and a change in strategic direction of the event.""We, along with tourism groups across the region, received a request for proposal (RFP) from entities representing Country Stampede to determine our community’s interest in hosting the festival again.""While we are always excited for opportunities to attract world class events to Manhattan, the logistics of holding such an event requires a significant commitment from the community.""We will be working with our regional partners including the City of Manhattan and Tuttle Creek State Park officials to determine how we develop the best Manhattan response to this opportunity."

Country Stampede could move back to Manhattan

Nominees find merit in nimble, collaborative public universities and colleges

BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The two latest appointees to the Kansas Board of Regents want to intensify recruitment at public colleges and universities while strengthening opportunities for diverse populations of students to excel academically and prepare for jobs in the economy.

Overall enrollment has slumped during the past five years at 32 institutions under oversight of the Board of Regents, sliding to 165,000 in 2022 after sitting at 182,000 in 2017. Cumulative reductions during the period amounted to 15.5% at community colleges, 9.2% at technical colleges and 6% at state universities in Kansas.

“One of the biggest challenges is declining enrollment,” said Alysia Johnston, a former community college administrator nominated by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by a Republican-led Senate confirmation committee. “We have to make sure that all Kansans understand the opportunities of higher education.”

Johnston, who was president of Fort Scott Community College for eight years, said universities and colleges in Kansas offered a wide range of four-year and two-year degrees as well as licensure and certificate programs leading to a better quality of life and a family-sustaining income. She said it was important the Board of Regents continued working toward a seamless education system for transfer students.

While Kansas higher education generally reflected national trends, there were exceptions in the past five years as enrollment grew 5.9% at Wichita State University. The Colby and Pratt community colleges also defied the declining-enrollment trend as did three technical colleges in the state.

Fall semester 2023 enrollments won’t be released until September, but Emporia State University has projected a 5% decline in students. It’s unclear how tuition increases at state universities ranging from 5% to 7% could influence decisions of potential students.

Board of Regents nominee Neelima Parasker, founder and president of SnapIT Solutions in Overland Park, said the state was missing out on opportunities to work with youth on two-year and four-year degrees demanded in high-technology fields. She said Board of Regents institutions should make strides in welcoming adult learners who wanted to overhaul technical skills and fill gaps in the workforce.

“In the technology industry,” Parasker said, “we believe there is no end to learning.”

In Senate confirmation hearings where lawmakers offered bipartisan support for the governor’s nominees to the Board of Regents, Parasker and Johnston were asked about the influence of diversity, equity and inclusion programs on higher education.

Winfield Sen. Larry Alley, who serves as Senate majority leader and chairman of the confirmation committee, said there was concern about DEI initiatives on Board of Regents’ campuses. Alley and other GOP lawmakers in Kansas have sought to eliminate DEI at state universities, arguing they were part of a disruptive “woke” agenda that applied an ideological litmus test to students, faculty and administrators.

Parasker, who earned an engineering degree in India before immigrating to the United States and completing a master’s degree in computer science at Oklahoma City University, said Kansans should be afforded opportunities to advance their education without unnecessary impediments.

“It doesn’t matter what the color of skin,” she said. “If they have the potential and the drive to move forward as leaders, it becomes our responsibility to remove roadblocks.”

Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and a master’s degree at Pittsburg State University, and devoted 37 years to classroom instruction and administrative work at community colleges. She said two-year colleges had a capacity to provide learning opportunities to broad student populations, including first-generation college students with all sorts of backgrounds and influences.

“We do serve a lot of underserved populations,” Johnston said. “If our students are willing to put in the work and meet the challenges, then we are going to be there doing what we can to remove hurdles and make sure they’re successful.”

Johnston and Parasker said they grew up in families that instilled the importance of education. They also said they believed colleges and universities had to collaborate with business and industry in Kansas to prepare students to meet demands of the economy.

“We all need to work together to make sure we’re providing workforce training and supporting business and entrepreneurs through innovation and partnerships,” Johnston said.

If confirmed by the Kansas Senate during the 2024 legislative session, Parasker and Johnston would serve four-year terms on the Board of Regents ending in June 2027.

The nine-member Board of Regents has jurisdiction over 32 public higher education institutions. That included six state universities, 19 community colleges, six technical colleges and Washburn University, which is a municipal university and operates the state’s seventh technical school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691750321541.png" alt=" Neelima Parasker, appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Board of Regents, said she was keen to recruit students to public colleges and universities, and prepare that diverse cadre of students for a high-tech economy. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Neelima Parasker, appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Board of Regents, said she was keen to recruit students to public colleges and universities, and prepare that diverse cadre of students for a high-tech economy. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nominees find merit in nimble, collaborative public universities and colleges</h2>BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The two latest appointees to the Kansas Board of Regents want to intensify recruitment at public colleges and universities while strengthening opportunities for diverse populations of students to excel academically and prepare for jobs in the economy.Overall enrollment has slumped during the past five years at 32 institutions under oversight of the Board of Regents, sliding to 165,000 in 2022 after sitting at 182,000 in 2017. Cumulative reductions during the period amounted to 15.5% at community colleges, 9.2% at technical colleges and 6% at state universities in Kansas.“One of the biggest challenges is declining enrollment,” said Alysia Johnston, a former community college administrator nominated by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by a Republican-led Senate confirmation committee. “We have to make sure that all Kansans understand the opportunities of higher education.”Johnston, who was president of Fort Scott Community College for eight years, said universities and colleges in Kansas offered a wide range of four-year and two-year degrees as well as licensure and certificate programs leading to a better quality of life and a family-sustaining income. She said it was important the Board of Regents continued working toward a seamless education system for transfer students.While Kansas higher education generally reflected national trends, there were exceptions in the past five years as enrollment grew 5.9% at Wichita State University. The Colby and Pratt community colleges also defied the declining-enrollment trend as did three technical colleges in the state.Fall semester 2023 enrollments won’t be released until September, but Emporia State University has projected a 5% decline in students. It’s unclear how tuition increases at state universities ranging from 5% to 7% could influence decisions of potential students.Board of Regents nominee Neelima Parasker, founder and president of SnapIT Solutions in Overland Park, said the state was missing out on opportunities to work with youth on two-year and four-year degrees demanded in high-technology fields. She said Board of Regents institutions should make strides in welcoming adult learners who wanted to overhaul technical skills and fill gaps in the workforce.“In the technology industry,” Parasker said, “we believe there is no end to learning.”In Senate confirmation hearings where lawmakers offered bipartisan support for the governor’s nominees to the Board of Regents, Parasker and Johnston were asked about the influence of diversity, equity and inclusion programs on higher education.Winfield Sen. Larry Alley, who serves as Senate majority leader and chairman of the confirmation committee, said there was concern about DEI initiatives on Board of Regents’ campuses. Alley and other GOP lawmakers in Kansas have sought to eliminate DEI at state universities, arguing they were part of a disruptive “woke” agenda that applied an ideological litmus test to students, faculty and administrators.Parasker, who earned an engineering degree in India before immigrating to the United States and completing a master’s degree in computer science at Oklahoma City University, said Kansans should be afforded opportunities to advance their education without unnecessary impediments.“It doesn’t matter what the color of skin,” she said. “If they have the potential and the drive to move forward as leaders, it becomes our responsibility to remove roadblocks.”Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and a master’s degree at Pittsburg State University, and devoted 37 years to classroom instruction and administrative work at community colleges. She said two-year colleges had a capacity to provide learning opportunities to broad student populations, including first-generation college students with all sorts of backgrounds and influences.“We do serve a lot of underserved populations,” Johnston said. “If our students are willing to put in the work and meet the challenges, then we are going to be there doing what we can to remove hurdles and make sure they’re successful.”Johnston and Parasker said they grew up in families that instilled the importance of education. They also said they believed colleges and universities had to collaborate with business and industry in Kansas to prepare students to meet demands of the economy.“We all need to work together to make sure we’re providing workforce training and supporting business and entrepreneurs through innovation and partnerships,” Johnston said.If confirmed by the Kansas Senate during the 2024 legislative session, Parasker and Johnston would serve four-year terms on the Board of Regents ending in June 2027.The nine-member Board of Regents has jurisdiction over 32 public higher education institutions. That included six state universities, 19 community colleges, six technical colleges and Washburn University, which is a municipal university and operates the state’s seventh technical school.

Latest Kan. Board of Regents appointees placing a premium on student recruiting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a report of porch pirates have made arrests.

On Thursday afternoon, Maize Police with assistance from the Wichita Police Department arrested two individuals in connection with recent thefts of packages in the Wichita metropolitan area and recovered several pieces of property believed to have been taken in the thefts, according to a media release.

 If you recently encountered a theft of a delivered package to your residence, please email Maize Detective Piper at jpiper@maizeks.gov and provide a description of the item(s) that were taken and any associated police case number you made.

The suspects in the thefts were a white male and female driving a gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP.&nbsp; According to online jail records the suspects are identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=742012">18-year-old Audrey French</a>&nbsp;and 19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=260827">Gavin Shaffer.</a>&nbsp;

They are being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of stolen property and theft.

Just after 6p.m. August 3, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180365684.png" alt="photo Maize Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Maize Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a report of porch pirates have made arrests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691719945216.png" alt="Shaffer-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Shaffer-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday afternoon, Maize Police with assistance from the Wichita Police Department arrested two individuals in connection with recent thefts of packages in the Wichita metropolitan area and recovered several pieces of property believed to have been taken in the thefts, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691719974818.png" alt="French-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>French-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> If you recently encountered a theft of a delivered package to your residence, please email Maize Detective Piper at jpiper@maizeks.gov and provide a description of the item(s) that were taken and any associated police case number you made.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180397601.png" alt="Gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP-photo Maize Police" />
 <figcaption>Gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP-photo Maize Police</figcaption>
 </figure> The suspects in the thefts were a white male and female driving a gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP.&nbsp; According to online jail records the suspects are identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=742012">18-year-old Audrey French</a>&nbsp;and 19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=260827">Gavin Shaffer.</a>&nbsp;They are being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of stolen property and theft.Just after 6p.m. August 3, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.

Police: Porch pirates caught on camera are in a Kansas jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;wears on and Ukraine pushes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-major-push-12334bbee83b608221dafced4727369e">a counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.

The package includes $12 billion to replenish U.S. federal disaster funds at home after a deadly climate season of heat and storms, and funds to bolster the enforcement at the Southern border with Mexico, including money to curb the flow of deadly fentanyl. All told, it’s a $40 billion package.

While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-europe-congress-government-and-politics-bddc8fc02afcc2a072bbdd388dc1a658">the last such supplemental spending request</a>&nbsp;from the White House for Ukraine funding was easily approved in 2022 despite reservations from Republicans, there’s a different dynamic this time.

A political divide on the issue has steadily grown, with the Republican-led House facing enormous pressure to demonstrate support for the party's leader, Donald Trump, who has been very skeptical of the war. And American support for the effort has been slowly softening.

White House budget director Shalanda Young, in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urged swift action to follow through on the U.S. “commitment to the Ukrainian peoples’ defense of their homeland and to democracy around the world” as well as other needs.

The request was crafted with an eye to picking up support from Republicans, as well as Democrats, particularly with increased domestic funding around border issues — a top priority for the GOP. The Republicans have been been highly critical of the Biden administration’s approach to halting the flow of migrants crossing from Mexico.

Still, the price tag of $40 billion may be too much for Republicans who are fighting to slash, not raise, federal outlays. As a supplemental request, the package the White House is sending to Congress falls outside the budget caps both parties agreed to as part of the debt ceiling showdown earlier this year.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement there was strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate.

“The latest request from the Biden administration shows America’s continued commitment to helping Americans here at home and our friends abroad,” he said. "We hope to join with our Republican colleagues this fall to avert an unnecessary government shutdown and fund this critical emergency supplemental request.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has championed of support for Ukraine, was more subdued.

“I look forward to carefully reviewing the Administration’s request to make sure it is necessary and appropriate," McConnell said in a statement, "to keep America safe, secure our borders, support our allies, and help communities rebuild after disasters.”

President Joe Biden and his senior national security team have repeatedly said the United States will help Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-zelenskyy-washington-4d5fc23be5518e689fbbcac334769d59">“as long as it takes”</a>&nbsp;to oust Russia from its borders. Privately, administration officials have warned Ukrainian officials that there is a limit to the patience of a narrowly divided Congress — and American public — for the costs of a war with no clear end.

“For people who might be concerned the costs are getting too high, we’d ask them what the costs — not just in treasure but in blood, perhaps even American blood — could be if Putin subjugates Ukraine,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said this week.

Support among the American public for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-military-and-defense-0f550a262fb6178a7d91b8be6e2c601b">providing Ukraine weaponry</a>&nbsp;and direct economic assistance has softened with time. An AP-NORC poll conducted in January 2023 around the one-year mark of the conflict, found that 48% favored the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine, down from the 60% of U.S. adults who were in favor sending Ukraine weapons in May 2022. While Democrats have generally been more supportive than Republicans of offering weaponry, their support dropped slightly from 71% to 63% in the same period. Republicans’ support dropped more, from 53% to 39%.

Dozens of Republicans in the House and some GOP senators have expressed reservations, and even voted against, spending more federal dollars for the war effort. Many of those Republicans are aligning with Trump’s objections to the U.S. involvement overseas.

That means any final vote on Ukraine aid will likely need to rely on a hefty coalition led by Democrats from Biden’s party to ensure approval.

The funding includes money to counter Russian and Chinese influence elsewhere by bolstering the World Bank and providing aid to resist Russian-aligned Wagner forces in Africa. Domestically, there’s an additional $60 million to address increased wildfires that have erupted nationwide. And the request includes $4 billion for the Southern border, including $2.2 billion for border management and $766 million to stop the flow of fentanyl and provide prevention and recovery support. There is also $100 million earmarked for the Department of Labor to ramp up investigations of suspected child labor violations.

To ease passage, Congress would likely try to attach the package to a must-pass measure for broader government funding in the U.S. that’s needed by Oct. 1 to prevent any shutdown in federal offices.

Members of Congress have repeatedly pressed Defense Department leaders on how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to Ukraine to ensure that it is not subject to fraud or ending up in the wrong hands. The Pentagon has said it has a “robust program” to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once it is there, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system.

Ukraine is pushing through with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">its ongoing counteroffensive</a>, in an effort to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from territory they’ve occupied since a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The counteroffensive has come up against heavily mined terrain and reinforced defensive fortifications.

The U.S. has approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-texas-michael-mccaul-114e61bdd752d387a3df813638dab68a">four rounds of aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion, totaling about $113 billion, with some of that money going toward replenishment of U.S. military equipment that was sent to the frontlines. Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-ed54dbd327c4362ee052f851f497fcd4">approved the latest round of aid</a>&nbsp;in December, totaling roughly $45 billion for Ukraine and NATO allies. While the package was designed to last through the end of the fiscal year in September, much depends upon events on the ground.

“We remain confident that we’ll be able to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

There were questions in November about waning Republican support to approve the package, but it ultimately passed. Now, though, House Speaker McCarthy is facing pressure to impeach Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct and it’s not clear whether a quick show of support for Ukraine could cause political damage in what’s expected to be a bruising 2024 reelection campaign.

Trump contends that American involvement has only drawn Russia closer to other adversarial states like China, and has condemned the tens of billions of dollars that the United States has provided in aid for Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676898415388.png" alt="Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a&nbsp; February visit in Ukraine -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a&nbsp; February visit in Ukraine -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;wears on and Ukraine pushes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-major-push-12334bbee83b608221dafced4727369e">a counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s Groundhog Day - again. The Biden Family LLC is asking for another $24B from your family’s paycheck to Ukraine. Remember when Congress didn’t have the fortitude to spend $20B to build the wall &amp; secure the Mexico border? We could’ve paid for it 8x w/ the money sent to Ukraine&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1689983630158811136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The package includes $12 billion to replenish U.S. federal disaster funds at home after a deadly climate season of heat and storms, and funds to bolster the enforcement at the Southern border with Mexico, including money to curb the flow of deadly fentanyl. All told, it’s a $40 billion package.While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-europe-congress-government-and-politics-bddc8fc02afcc2a072bbdd388dc1a658">the last such supplemental spending request</a>&nbsp;from the White House for Ukraine funding was easily approved in 2022 despite reservations from Republicans, there’s a different dynamic this time.A political divide on the issue has steadily grown, with the Republican-led House facing enormous pressure to demonstrate support for the party's leader, Donald Trump, who has been very skeptical of the war. And American support for the effort has been slowly softening.White House budget director Shalanda Young, in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urged swift action to follow through on the U.S. “commitment to the Ukrainian peoples’ defense of their homeland and to democracy around the world” as well as other needs.The request was crafted with an eye to picking up support from Republicans, as well as Democrats, particularly with increased domestic funding around border issues — a top priority for the GOP. The Republicans have been been highly critical of the Biden administration’s approach to halting the flow of migrants crossing from Mexico.Still, the price tag of $40 billion may be too much for Republicans who are fighting to slash, not raise, federal outlays. As a supplemental request, the package the White House is sending to Congress falls outside the budget caps both parties agreed to as part of the debt ceiling showdown earlier this year.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement there was strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate.“The latest request from the Biden administration shows America’s continued commitment to helping Americans here at home and our friends abroad,” he said. "We hope to join with our Republican colleagues this fall to avert an unnecessary government shutdown and fund this critical emergency supplemental request.”Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has championed of support for Ukraine, was more subdued.“I look forward to carefully reviewing the Administration’s request to make sure it is necessary and appropriate," McConnell said in a statement, "to keep America safe, secure our borders, support our allies, and help communities rebuild after disasters.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671657547305.png" alt="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Washington in December-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Washington in December-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>President Joe Biden and his senior national security team have repeatedly said the United States will help Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-zelenskyy-washington-4d5fc23be5518e689fbbcac334769d59">“as long as it takes”</a>&nbsp;to oust Russia from its borders. Privately, administration officials have warned Ukrainian officials that there is a limit to the patience of a narrowly divided Congress — and American public — for the costs of a war with no clear end.“For people who might be concerned the costs are getting too high, we’d ask them what the costs — not just in treasure but in blood, perhaps even American blood — could be if Putin subjugates Ukraine,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said this week.Support among the American public for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-military-and-defense-0f550a262fb6178a7d91b8be6e2c601b">providing Ukraine weaponry</a>&nbsp;and direct economic assistance has softened with time. An AP-NORC poll conducted in January 2023 around the one-year mark of the conflict, found that 48% favored the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine, down from the 60% of U.S. adults who were in favor sending Ukraine weapons in May 2022. While Democrats have generally been more supportive than Republicans of offering weaponry, their support dropped slightly from 71% to 63% in the same period. Republicans’ support dropped more, from 53% to 39%.Dozens of Republicans in the House and some GOP senators have expressed reservations, and even voted against, spending more federal dollars for the war effort. Many of those Republicans are aligning with Trump’s objections to the U.S. involvement overseas.That means any final vote on Ukraine aid will likely need to rely on a hefty coalition led by Democrats from Biden’s party to ensure approval.The funding includes money to counter Russian and Chinese influence elsewhere by bolstering the World Bank and providing aid to resist Russian-aligned Wagner forces in Africa. Domestically, there’s an additional $60 million to address increased wildfires that have erupted nationwide. And the request includes $4 billion for the Southern border, including $2.2 billion for border management and $766 million to stop the flow of fentanyl and provide prevention and recovery support. There is also $100 million earmarked for the Department of Labor to ramp up investigations of suspected child labor violations.To ease passage, Congress would likely try to attach the package to a must-pass measure for broader government funding in the U.S. that’s needed by Oct. 1 to prevent any shutdown in federal offices.Members of Congress have repeatedly pressed Defense Department leaders on how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to Ukraine to ensure that it is not subject to fraud or ending up in the wrong hands. The Pentagon has said it has a “robust program” to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once it is there, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system.Ukraine is pushing through with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">its ongoing counteroffensive</a>, in an effort to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from territory they’ve occupied since a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The counteroffensive has come up against heavily mined terrain and reinforced defensive fortifications.The U.S. has approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-texas-michael-mccaul-114e61bdd752d387a3df813638dab68a">four rounds of aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion, totaling about $113 billion, with some of that money going toward replenishment of U.S. military equipment that was sent to the frontlines. Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-ed54dbd327c4362ee052f851f497fcd4">approved the latest round of aid</a>&nbsp;in December, totaling roughly $45 billion for Ukraine and NATO allies. While the package was designed to last through the end of the fiscal year in September, much depends upon events on the ground.“We remain confident that we’ll be able to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.There were questions in November about waning Republican support to approve the package, but it ultimately passed. Now, though, House Speaker McCarthy is facing pressure to impeach Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct and it’s not clear whether a quick show of support for Ukraine could cause political damage in what’s expected to be a bruising 2024 reelection campaign.Trump contends that American involvement has only drawn Russia closer to other adversarial states like China, and has condemned the tens of billions of dollars that the United States has provided in aid for Ukraine.

Biden wants billions in additional funding for Ukraine

MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Miami County.

According to Paola Police, a vehicle was northbound in the southbound lanes of&nbsp; U.S. 69 at 327th Street. The vehicle and a southbound vehicle collided.

First responders found both drivers deceased. Authorities have not released the names of the drivers. There were no other occupants involved. The accident remains under investigation, according to the police department.

MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Miami County.According to Paola Police, a vehicle was northbound in the southbound lanes of&nbsp; U.S. 69 at 327th Street. The vehicle and a southbound vehicle collided.First responders found both drivers deceased. Authorities have not released the names of the drivers. There were no other occupants involved. The accident remains under investigation, according to the police department.

Police: 2 dead after wrong-way crash on Kan. highway

The Fairway Police Department would like to invite the public to join&nbsp; in honoring Officer Jonah Oswald. Officer Oswald gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve the citizens of fairway, Kansas.&nbsp;

The arrangements for officer Oswald include:

Parade of blue and Candlelight Vigil – Friday August 11, 2023, beginning at 7:30 PM.&nbsp;

A parade of first responder vehicles will depart the Shamrock Trading Corporation at 9300 Metcalf in Overland Park and drive a parade route through the cities of Overland Park, Mission, Fairway, and Prairie Village. The parade will end at Harmon Park, 7700 Mission Road, in Prairie Village, where a candlelight vigil will then take place.

The public is invited to display blue colors at their homes and businesses and view the parade of police vehicles from the safety of the sidewalk near the parade route.

When all parade vehicles have arrived at Harmon Park, a candlelight vigil will take place near the skate park. This is estimated to be between 9:00-9:30 PM.

Sunday August 13, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM&nbsp;at Westside Family Church.&nbsp;The church is located at 8500 Woodsonia Dr. Lenexa, KS. 66227

Monday August 14, 2023, at 11:00 AM,&nbsp;also at the Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Dr. Lenexa, KS. 66227.&nbsp;

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is directing flags be flown at half-staff at all state grounds, buildi`ngs and facilities from sunrise to sundown on Monday to honor Officer Oswald.

There will be no graveside service, however there will be a short ceremony outside of the church when the service is concluded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691612574385.png" alt="Jonah Oswald-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jonah Oswald-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Fairway Police Department would like to invite the public to join&nbsp; in honoring Officer Jonah Oswald. Officer Oswald gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve the citizens of fairway, Kansas.&nbsp;The arrangements for officer Oswald include:Parade of BlueParade of blue and Candlelight Vigil – Friday August 11, 2023, beginning at 7:30 PM.&nbsp;A parade of first responder vehicles will depart the Shamrock Trading Corporation at 9300 Metcalf in Overland Park and drive a parade route through the cities of Overland Park, Mission, Fairway, and Prairie Village. The parade will end at Harmon Park, 7700 Mission Road, in Prairie Village, where a candlelight vigil will then take place.The public is invited to display blue colors at their homes and businesses and view the parade of police vehicles from the safety of the sidewalk near the parade route.When all parade vehicles have arrived at Harmon Park, a candlelight vigil will take place near the skate park. This is estimated to be between 9:00-9:30 PM.Visitation&nbsp;&nbsp;Sunday August 13, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM&nbsp;at Westside Family Church.&nbsp;The church is located at 8500 Woodsonia Dr. Lenexa, KS. 66227Funeral&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday August 14, 2023, at 11:00 AM,&nbsp;also at the Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Dr. Lenexa, KS. 66227.&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is directing flags be flown at half-staff at all state grounds, buildi`ngs and facilities from sunrise to sundown on Monday to honor Officer Oswald.Ceremonial honors&nbsp;There will be no graveside service, however there will be a short ceremony outside of the church when the service is concluded.

Visitation, funeral service set for fallen Kansas officer

PLATTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred just before 2a.m. Thursday on MO Highway 45 Spur near Stilling’s Road in rural Platte County. 

 The shooting occurred at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department, and a domestic violence suspect identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas, according to&nbsp;Captain Jeffrey Shanks.

EMS transported Heath-Taylor from the scene to an area hospital where he remained in critical condition Thursday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691671445584.png" alt="The Platte County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The Platte County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred just before 2a.m. Thursday on MO Highway 45 Spur near Stilling’s Road in rural Platte County. The shooting occurred at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department, and a domestic violence suspect identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas, according to&nbsp;Captain Jeffrey Shanks.EMS transported Heath-Taylor from the scene to an area hospital where he remained in critical condition Thursday night. No officers were injured at the scene.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man wounded in officer-shooting in Missouri

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who made desperate escapes from oncoming flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">fires raced</a>&nbsp;toward their homes.

Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 55 people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">wiped out a historic town</a>, officials confirmed Thursday.

Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert people to various natural disasters and other threats. But many of Lahaina’s survivors said in interviews at evacuation centers that they didn’t hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.

Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman from Lahaina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-fire-maui-lahaina-homes-burned-1b15d9bc4cc0e92cd309928cff865577">didn’t know about the fire</a>&nbsp;until he smelled smoke. Power and cell phone service had both gone out earlier that day, leaving the town with no real-time information about the danger.

He tried to leave in his Jeep, but had to abandon the vehicle and run to the shore when cars nearby began exploding. He hid behind a seawall for hours, the wind blowing hot ash and cinders over him.

Firefighters eventually arrived and escorted Leonard and other survivors through the flames to safety.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub told The Associated Press on Thursday that the department's records don't show that Maui's warning sirens were triggered on Tuesday. Instead, the county used emergency alerts sent to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, Weintraub said.

It’s not clear if those alerts were sent before widespread power and cellular outages cut off most communication to Lahaina.

Communications have been spotty across Maui, with 911, landline and cellular service failing at times. Power was also out in parts of the island.

Fueled by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry summer</a>&nbsp;and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane,</a>&nbsp;the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched brush covering the island and then flattening homes and anything else that lay in its path.

Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura said the fire moved so quickly from brush to neighborhood that it was impossible for to get messages to the emergency management agencies responsible for emergency alerts.

The wildfire is already the state’s deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami, which killed 61 people on the Big Island. During a Thursday press conference, Gov. Josh Green said the death toll will likely rise further as search and rescue operations continue.

“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” Green said after walking the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfires-journalist-account-8d6628953db012bfe14b35fc8cb2403e">ruins of the town</a>&nbsp;Thursday morning with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. “Without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina.”

The fire is also the deadliest U.S. wildfire since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise.

Lahaina’s wildfire risk was well known. Maui County’s hazard mitigation plan, last updated in 2020, identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfire ignitions and a large number of buildings at risk of wildfire damage.

The report also noted that West Maui had the island’s highest population of people living in multi-unit housing, the second-highest rate of households without a vehicle, and the highest rate of non-English speakers.

“This may limit the population’s ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,” the plan noted.

Maui’s firefighting efforts may also have been hampered by a small staff, said Bobby Lee, the president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association. There are a maximum of 65 firefighters working at any given time in Maui County, and they are responsible for fighting fires on three islands — Maui, Molokai and Lanai — he said.

Those crews have about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but they are all designed for on-road use. The department does not have any off-road vehicles, he said.

That means fire crews can't attack brush fires thoroughly before they reach roads or populated areas, Lee said. The high winds caused by Hurricane Dora made that extremely difficult, he said.

“You’re basically dealing with trying to fight a blowtorch,” Lee said. “You’ve got to be careful — you don’t want to get caught downwind from that, because you’re going to get run over in a wind-driven fire of that magnitude.”

Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for Lahaina residents, Bissen noted, while tourists in hotels were told to shelter in place so that emergency vehicles could get into the area.

The mayor said that downed power poles added to the chaos as people attempted to flee Lahaina by cutting off two important roads out of town. Speaking at a Thursday afternoon press conference, he said that 29 poles fell with live wires still attached, and leaving only the narrow highway toward Kahakuloa.

Marlon Vasquez, a 31-year-old cook from Guatemala who came to the U.S. in January 2022, said that when he heard fire alarms, it was already too late to flee in his car.

“I opened the door, and the fire was almost on top of us," he said from an evacuation center at a gymnasium. “We ran and ran. We ran almost the whole night and into the next day, because the fire didn’t stop."

Vasquez and his brother Eduardo escaped via roads that were clogged with vehicles full of people. The smoke was so toxic that he vomited. He said he's not sure his roommates and neighbors made it to safety.

Lahaina residents saw the Hale Mahaolu senior living facility erupt in flames as they were escaping.

Chelsey Vierra's great-grandmother, Louise Abihai, was living at Hale Mahaolu, and the family doesn't know if she got out. “She doesn’t have a phone. She’s 97 years old,” Vierra said Thursday. “She can walk. She is strong.”

Relatives are monitoring shelter lists and calling the hospital. “We got to find our loved one, but there’s no communication here,” said Vierra, who fled the flames. “We don’t know who to ask about where she went.”

Tourists were advised to stay away, and tens of thousands of people have crowded airports to leave the island. Officials turned the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu into an assistance center, stocking it with water, food, and volunteers who help visitors arrange travel home.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Maui. Traveling in Utah on Thursday, he pledged that the federal response will ensure that “anyone who’s lost a loved one, or whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately.” Biden promised to streamline requests for assistance and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was “surging emergency personnel” on the island.

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll rose to at least 53 and survivors told harrowing tales of narrow escapes with only the clothes on their backs.

A flyover of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">historic Lahaina</a>&nbsp;showed entire neighborhoods that had been a vibrant vision of color and island life reduced to gray ash. Block after block was nothing but rubble and blackened foundations, including along famous Front Street, where tourists shopped and dined just days ago. Boats in the harbor were scorched, and smoke hovered over the town, which dates to the 1700s and is the biggest community on the island’s west side.

“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told The Associated Press. More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by fires that were still burning, he said.

Already the state's deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami killed 61 people on the Big Island, the death toll will likely rise further as search and rescue operations continue, Green added.

Many businesses, including one of the town’s oldest shops, were destroyed. As owner Tiffany Kidder Winn assessed the damage Wednesday at the Whaler's Locker gift store, she came upon a line of burned-out vehicles, some with charred bodies inside.

“It looked like they were trying to get out, but were stuck in traffic and couldn’t get off Front Street,” she said. She later spotted a body leaning against a seawall.

Winn said the destruction was so widespread, “I couldn’t even tell where I was, because all the landmarks were gone.”

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane,</a>&nbsp;the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched growth covering the island and then feasting on homes and anything else that lay in its path.

The official death toll of 53 as of Thursday makes this the deadliest U.S. wildfire since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise. The Hawaii toll could rise, though, as rescuers reach parts of the island that had been inaccessible due to the three ongoing fires, including the one in Lahaina that was 80% contained on Thursday, according to a Maui County news release. Dozens of people have been injured, some critically.

“We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern,” said Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Search and rescue teams still won't be able to reach certain areas until the fire lines are secure and access is safe, Weintraub added.

The flames left some people with mere minutes to act and led some to flee into the ocean. A Lahaina man, Bosco Bae,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/681387130/videos/pcb.10159000941762131/995043825254569">posted video on Facebook</a>&nbsp;from Tuesday night that showed fire burning nearly every building on a street as sirens blared and windblown sparks raced by. Bae, who said he was one of the last people to leave the town, was evacuated to the island's main airport and was waiting to be allowed to return home.

Marlon Vasquez, a 31-year-old cook from Guatemala who came to the U.S. in January 2022, said that when he heard the fire alarms, it was already too late to flee in his car.

Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described their harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies. The couple and their 6-year-old son got back to their apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water, and only had time to grab a change of clothes and run as the bushes around them caught fire.

“We barely made it out,” Kawaakoa, 34, said at an evacuation shelter, still unsure if anything was left of their apartment.

As the family fled, they called 911 when they saw the Hale Mahaolu senior living facility across the road erupt in flames.

Communications have been spotty on the island, with 911, landline and cellular service failing at times. Power was also out in parts of Maui.

Tourists were advised to stay away, and about 11,000 flew out of Maui on Wednesday with at least 1,500 more expected to leave Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, state transportation director. Officials prepared the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to receive thousands.

In coastal Kihei, southeast of Lahaina, wide swaths of ground glowed red with embers Wednesday night as flames continued to chew through trees and buildings. Gusty winds blew sparks over a black and orange patchwork of charred earth and still-crackling hot spots.

The fires were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-winds-fires-evacuations-7137adb0fe7612a465f6ae2be7f96afb">fanned by strong winds</a>&nbsp;from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south. It's the latest in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">series of disasters</a>&nbsp;caused by extreme weather around the globe this summer. Experts say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">climate change</a>&nbsp;is increasing the likelihood of such events.

Wildfires aren't unusual in Hawaii, but the weather of the past few weeks created the fuel for a devastating blaze and, once ignited, the high winds created the disaster, said Thomas Smith an associate professor in Environmental Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Hawaii's Big Island is also currently seeing blazes, Mayor Mitch Roth said, although there were no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there.

With communications hampered, it was difficult for many to check in with friends and family members. Some people were posting messages on social media. A Family Assistance Center opened at the Kahului Community Center for people looking for the missing.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, of the Hawaii State Department of Defense, said Wednesday night that officials were working to get communications restored, distribute water and possibly add law enforcement personnel. He said National Guard helicopters had dropped 150,000 gallons (568,000 liters) of water on the fires.

The Coast Guard said it rescued 14 people who jumped into the water to escape the flames and smoke.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said Wednesday that officials hadn't yet begun investigating the immediate cause of the fires.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691662929011.png" alt="Image taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui" />
 <figcaption>Image taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui</figcaption>
 </figure>LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who made desperate escapes from oncoming flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">fires raced</a>&nbsp;toward their homes.Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire killed at least 55 people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">wiped out a historic town</a>, officials confirmed Thursday.Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert people to various natural disasters and other threats. But many of Lahaina’s survivors said in interviews at evacuation centers that they didn’t hear any sirens and only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman from Lahaina,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-fire-maui-lahaina-homes-burned-1b15d9bc4cc0e92cd309928cff865577">didn’t know about the fire</a>&nbsp;until he smelled smoke. Power and cell phone service had both gone out earlier that day, leaving the town with no real-time information about the danger.He tried to leave in his Jeep, but had to abandon the vehicle and run to the shore when cars nearby began exploding. He hid behind a seawall for hours, the wind blowing hot ash and cinders over him.Firefighters eventually arrived and escorted Leonard and other survivors through the flames to safety.Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub told The Associated Press on Thursday that the department's records don't show that Maui's warning sirens were triggered on Tuesday. Instead, the county used emergency alerts sent to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, Weintraub said.It’s not clear if those alerts were sent before widespread power and cellular outages cut off most communication to Lahaina.Communications have been spotty across Maui, with 911, landline and cellular service failing at times. Power was also out in parts of the island.Fueled by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry summer</a>&nbsp;and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane,</a>&nbsp;the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched brush covering the island and then flattening homes and anything else that lay in its path.Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura said the fire moved so quickly from brush to neighborhood that it was impossible for to get messages to the emergency management agencies responsible for emergency alerts.The wildfire is already the state’s deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami, which killed 61 people on the Big Island. During a Thursday press conference, Gov. Josh Green said the death toll will likely rise further as search and rescue operations continue.“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” Green said after walking the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfires-journalist-account-8d6628953db012bfe14b35fc8cb2403e">ruins of the town</a>&nbsp;Thursday morning with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. “Without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina.”The fire is also the deadliest U.S. wildfire since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise.Lahaina’s wildfire risk was well known. Maui County’s hazard mitigation plan, last updated in 2020, identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfire ignitions and a large number of buildings at risk of wildfire damage.The report also noted that West Maui had the island’s highest population of people living in multi-unit housing, the second-highest rate of households without a vehicle, and the highest rate of non-English speakers.“This may limit the population’s ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,” the plan noted.Maui’s firefighting efforts may also have been hampered by a small staff, said Bobby Lee, the president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association. There are a maximum of 65 firefighters working at any given time in Maui County, and they are responsible for fighting fires on three islands — Maui, Molokai and Lanai — he said.Those crews have about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but they are all designed for on-road use. The department does not have any off-road vehicles, he said.That means fire crews can't attack brush fires thoroughly before they reach roads or populated areas, Lee said. The high winds caused by Hurricane Dora made that extremely difficult, he said.“You’re basically dealing with trying to fight a blowtorch,” Lee said. “You’ve got to be careful — you don’t want to get caught downwind from that, because you’re going to get run over in a wind-driven fire of that magnitude.”Mandatory evacuation orders were in place for Lahaina residents, Bissen noted, while tourists in hotels were told to shelter in place so that emergency vehicles could get into the area.The mayor said that downed power poles added to the chaos as people attempted to flee Lahaina by cutting off two important roads out of town. Speaking at a Thursday afternoon press conference, he said that 29 poles fell with live wires still attached, and leaving only the narrow highway toward Kahakuloa.Marlon Vasquez, a 31-year-old cook from Guatemala who came to the U.S. in January 2022, said that when he heard fire alarms, it was already too late to flee in his car.“I opened the door, and the fire was almost on top of us," he said from an evacuation center at a gymnasium. “We ran and ran. We ran almost the whole night and into the next day, because the fire didn’t stop."Vasquez and his brother Eduardo escaped via roads that were clogged with vehicles full of people. The smoke was so toxic that he vomited. He said he's not sure his roommates and neighbors made it to safety.Lahaina residents saw the Hale Mahaolu senior living facility erupt in flames as they were escaping.Chelsey Vierra's great-grandmother, Louise Abihai, was living at Hale Mahaolu, and the family doesn't know if she got out. “She doesn’t have a phone. She’s 97 years old,” Vierra said Thursday. “She can walk. She is strong.”Relatives are monitoring shelter lists and calling the hospital. “We got to find our loved one, but there’s no communication here,” said Vierra, who fled the flames. “We don’t know who to ask about where she went.”Tourists were advised to stay away, and tens of thousands of people have crowded airports to leave the island. Officials turned the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu into an assistance center, stocking it with water, food, and volunteers who help visitors arrange travel home.President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Maui. Traveling in Utah on Thursday, he pledged that the federal response will ensure that “anyone who’s lost a loved one, or whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately.” Biden promised to streamline requests for assistance and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was “surging emergency personnel” on the island.___LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll rose to at least 53 and survivors told harrowing tales of narrow escapes with only the clothes on their backs.A flyover of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">historic Lahaina</a>&nbsp;showed entire neighborhoods that had been a vibrant vision of color and island life reduced to gray ash. Block after block was nothing but rubble and blackened foundations, including along famous Front Street, where tourists shopped and dined just days ago. Boats in the harbor were scorched, and smoke hovered over the town, which dates to the 1700s and is the biggest community on the island’s west side.“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told The Associated Press. More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by fires that were still burning, he said.Already the state's deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami killed 61 people on the Big Island, the death toll will likely rise further as search and rescue operations continue, Green added.“We are heartsick,” Green said.Many businesses, including one of the town’s oldest shops, were destroyed. As owner Tiffany Kidder Winn assessed the damage Wednesday at the Whaler's Locker gift store, she came upon a line of burned-out vehicles, some with charred bodies inside.“It looked like they were trying to get out, but were stuck in traffic and couldn’t get off Front Street,” she said. She later spotted a body leaning against a seawall.Winn said the destruction was so widespread, “I couldn’t even tell where I was, because all the landmarks were gone.”Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane,</a>&nbsp;the fire started Tuesday and took Maui by surprise, racing through parched growth covering the island and then feasting on homes and anything else that lay in its path.The official death toll of 53 as of Thursday makes this the deadliest U.S. wildfire since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise. The Hawaii toll could rise, though, as rescuers reach parts of the island that had been inaccessible due to the three ongoing fires, including the one in Lahaina that was 80% contained on Thursday, according to a Maui County news release. Dozens of people have been injured, some critically.“We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern,” said Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.Search and rescue teams still won't be able to reach certain areas until the fire lines are secure and access is safe, Weintraub added.The flames left some people with mere minutes to act and led some to flee into the ocean. A Lahaina man, Bosco Bae,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/681387130/videos/pcb.10159000941762131/995043825254569">posted video on Facebook</a>&nbsp;from Tuesday night that showed fire burning nearly every building on a street as sirens blared and windblown sparks raced by. Bae, who said he was one of the last people to leave the town, was evacuated to the island's main airport and was waiting to be allowed to return home.Marlon Vasquez, a 31-year-old cook from Guatemala who came to the U.S. in January 2022, said that when he heard the fire alarms, it was already too late to flee in his car.“I opened the door, and the fire was almost on top of us," he said from an evacuation center at a gymnasium. “We ran and ran. We ran almost the whole night and into the next day, because the fire didn’t stop."Vasquez and his brother Eduardo escaped via roads that were clogged with vehicles full of people. The smoke was so toxic that he vomited. He said he's not sure his roommates and neighbors made it to safety.Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described their harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies. The couple and their 6-year-old son got back to their apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water, and only had time to grab a change of clothes and run as the bushes around them caught fire.“We barely made it out,” Kawaakoa, 34, said at an evacuation shelter, still unsure if anything was left of their apartment.As the family fled, they called 911 when they saw the Hale Mahaolu senior living facility across the road erupt in flames.Chelsey Vierra's great-grandmother, Louise Abihai, was living at Hale Mahaolu, and the family doesn't know if she got out. “She doesn’t have a phone. She’s 97 years old,” Vierra said Thursday. “She can walk. She is strong.”Relatives are monitoring shelter lists and calling the hospital. “We got to find our loved one, but there’s no communication here,” said Vierra, who fled the flames. “We don’t know who to ask about where she went.”Communications have been spotty on the island, with 911, landline and cellular service failing at times. Power was also out in parts of Maui.Tourists were advised to stay away, and about 11,000 flew out of Maui on Wednesday with at least 1,500 more expected to leave Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, state transportation director. Officials prepared the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to receive thousands.In coastal Kihei, southeast of Lahaina, wide swaths of ground glowed red with embers Wednesday night as flames continued to chew through trees and buildings. Gusty winds blew sparks over a black and orange patchwork of charred earth and still-crackling hot spots.The fires were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-winds-fires-evacuations-7137adb0fe7612a465f6ae2be7f96afb">fanned by strong winds</a>&nbsp;from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south. It's the latest in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">series of disasters</a>&nbsp;caused by extreme weather around the globe this summer. Experts say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">climate change</a>&nbsp;is increasing the likelihood of such events.Wildfires aren't unusual in Hawaii, but the weather of the past few weeks created the fuel for a devastating blaze and, once ignited, the high winds created the disaster, said Thomas Smith an associate professor in Environmental Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science.Hawaii's Big Island is also currently seeing blazes, Mayor Mitch Roth said, although there were no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there.With communications hampered, it was difficult for many to check in with friends and family members. Some people were posting messages on social media. A Family Assistance Center opened at the Kahului Community Center for people looking for the missing.Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, of the Hawaii State Department of Defense, said Wednesday night that officials were working to get communications restored, distribute water and possibly add law enforcement personnel. He said National Guard helicopters had dropped 150,000 gallons (568,000 liters) of water on the fires.The Coast Guard said it rescued 14 people who jumped into the water to escape the flames and smoke.Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said Wednesday that officials hadn't yet begun investigating the immediate cause of the fires.President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Maui. Traveling in Utah on Thursday, he pledged that the federal response will ensure that “anyone who’s lost a loved one, or whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately.” Biden promised to streamline requests for assistance and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was “surging emergency personnel” on the island.___