By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation that would update how the federal government prepares for and then responds to pandemics and natural disasters.

The broadly bipartisan legislation moved through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee following a 17-3 vote after members adopted two bipartisan amendments.

Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Braun of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama voted against moving the bill to the Senate floor. Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin voted present.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic showed Congress that the existing Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was “far from perfect.”

Congress originally established the law in 2006, following the federal government’s “failures” in responding to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Cassidy said.

“Although mistakes were made during COVID-19, we did learn some tough lessons and we hope this legislation is here to make sure that future generations are not forced to learn on the fly should another crisis occur,” Cassidy said.

“We’re updating the playbook and we’re ensuring that our framework remains flexible to address those future threats — a future Hurricane Katrina for example,” he added.

The legislation, Cassidy said, would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee’s chair, said during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/s-2333-pandemic-and-all-hazards-preparedness-and-response-act">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill would help the federal government better prepare for future pandemics and natural disasters as well as possible biological, chemical or nuclear threats.

“I think it is fair to say that while all of our public health people worked tirelessly and did everything they could to protect the American people, it would be an understatement to say we were tragically unprepared to respond to that crisis,” Sanders said.

The 107-page&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_text.pdf">bill</a>&nbsp;has several sections, including a reauthorization of the Hospital Preparedness Program, an update of the National Health Security Strategy and updates to the Annual Threat-Based Review for the Strategic National Stockpile, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_section_by_section2.pdf">summary</a>.

The bill, Sanders said, would require companies to tell the U.S. Food and Drug Administration if there’s a spike in demand for any of their products that they are unable to meet, like a shortage of children’s Tylenol.

The measure would also expand emergency medical services in rural areas, Sanders said.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2333/text?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.+2333%22%5D%7D">bill</a>&nbsp;is co-sponsored in the Senate by Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey, Utah Republican Mitt Romney, Sanders and Cassidy.

The HELP Committee adopted two amendments to the bill, one from North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd and New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan as well as a second amendment from Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper and Budd.

The Budd-Hassan amendment would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile, which purchases and stores personal protective equipment, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, among other critical supplies. The amendment implements some recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office.

The Hickenlooper-Budd amendment would establish an emerging pathogen preparedness program at the FDA that would allow the agency to respond faster during a future pandemic.

“This new team will allow FDA to dedicate the necessary manpower to be able to quickly evaluate and … clear the many countermeasures that would come before them during a pandemic,” Hickenlooper said. “Getting these countermeasures to the public fast in a time of crisis will save lives.”

The FDA had requested the authority from Congress, he said.

Cassidy spoke out against the amendment, saying he was unsure why the FDA would need Congress to establish a new program for emerging threats since it already has “an office of counterterrorism and emerging threats.”

The HELP Committee also rejected several amendments.

A majority of the panel did not agree to add a proposal from Tuberville that would have required any new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directors nominated by the president to get Senate approval immediately, moving up the timetable from January 2025.

Braun and Budd had an amendment rejected that would have prevented the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department from declaring a public health emergency on gun violence.

The panel rejected several amendments from Paul, including one that would have divided the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health up into three different agencies.

Paul unsuccessfully proposed another amendment that would have barred federal funding from going to gain of function research in China.

Paul defined that as “any research project that may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals.”

Sanders said Paul’s concerns about that type of research are important and pledged to work with the Kentucky Republican on the issue moving forward, though he said the bill itself gets at the issue.

“I worked with ranking member Cassidy to include a provision in this bill to make sure that any country, including China, that is deemed dangerous by our intelligence community would not be able to receive medical research dollars from the U.S. government for a minimum of five years,” Sanders said.

Paul’s amendment on gain of function research, Sanders said, could have jeopardized international collaborations on medical research.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1617126228958.jpeg" alt="The legislation would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies." />
 <figcaption>The legislation would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation that would update how the federal government prepares for and then responds to pandemics and natural disasters.The broadly bipartisan legislation moved through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee following a 17-3 vote after members adopted two bipartisan amendments.Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Braun of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama voted against moving the bill to the Senate floor. Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin voted present.Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic showed Congress that the existing Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was “far from perfect.”Congress originally established the law in 2006, following the federal government’s “failures” in responding to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Cassidy said.“Although mistakes were made during COVID-19, we did learn some tough lessons and we hope this legislation is here to make sure that future generations are not forced to learn on the fly should another crisis occur,” Cassidy said.“We’re updating the playbook and we’re ensuring that our framework remains flexible to address those future threats — a future Hurricane Katrina for example,” he added.The legislation, Cassidy said, would increase accountability and transparency in how the federal government helps state and local governments prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.<h2>‘Tragically unprepared’</h2>Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the committee’s chair, said during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/s-2333-pandemic-and-all-hazards-preparedness-and-response-act">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill would help the federal government better prepare for future pandemics and natural disasters as well as possible biological, chemical or nuclear threats.“I think it is fair to say that while all of our public health people worked tirelessly and did everything they could to protect the American people, it would be an understatement to say we were tragically unprepared to respond to that crisis,” Sanders said.The 107-page&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_text.pdf">bill</a>&nbsp;has several sections, including a reauthorization of the Hospital Preparedness Program, an update of the National Health Security Strategy and updates to the Annual Threat-Based Review for the Strategic National Stockpile, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pahpara_section_by_section2.pdf">summary</a>.The bill, Sanders said, would require companies to tell the U.S. Food and Drug Administration if there’s a spike in demand for any of their products that they are unable to meet, like a shortage of children’s Tylenol.The measure would also expand emergency medical services in rural areas, Sanders said.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2333/text?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.+2333%22%5D%7D">bill</a>&nbsp;is co-sponsored in the Senate by Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey, Utah Republican Mitt Romney, Sanders and Cassidy.<h2>National stockpile</h2>The HELP Committee adopted two amendments to the bill, one from North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd and New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan as well as a second amendment from Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper and Budd.The Budd-Hassan amendment would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile, which purchases and stores personal protective equipment, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, among other critical supplies. The amendment implements some recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office.The Hickenlooper-Budd amendment would establish an emerging pathogen preparedness program at the FDA that would allow the agency to respond faster during a future pandemic.“This new team will allow FDA to dedicate the necessary manpower to be able to quickly evaluate and … clear the many countermeasures that would come before them during a pandemic,” Hickenlooper said. “Getting these countermeasures to the public fast in a time of crisis will save lives.”The FDA had requested the authority from Congress, he said.Cassidy spoke out against the amendment, saying he was unsure why the FDA would need Congress to establish a new program for emerging threats since it already has “an office of counterterrorism and emerging threats.”<h2>Tuberville amendment</h2>The HELP Committee also rejected several amendments.A majority of the panel did not agree to add a proposal from Tuberville that would have required any new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directors nominated by the president to get Senate approval immediately, moving up the timetable from January 2025.Braun and Budd had an amendment rejected that would have prevented the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department from declaring a public health emergency on gun violence.The panel rejected several amendments from Paul, including one that would have divided the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health up into three different agencies.Paul unsuccessfully proposed another amendment that would have barred federal funding from going to gain of function research in China.Paul defined that as “any research project that may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals.”Sanders said Paul’s concerns about that type of research are important and pledged to work with the Kentucky Republican on the issue moving forward, though he said the bill itself gets at the issue.“I worked with ranking member Cassidy to include a provision in this bill to make sure that any country, including China, that is deemed dangerous by our intelligence community would not be able to receive medical research dollars from the U.S. government for a minimum of five years,” Sanders said.Paul’s amendment on gain of function research, Sanders said, could have jeopardized international collaborations on medical research.

U.S. Senate panel OKs bill to help form better pandemic response

DELEWARE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend drowning that took the life of a Kansas man.

According to a media release from the Grand River Dam Authority, a 1979 Mastercraft driven by 47-year-old Daniel Siebert of Wichita was in the back of<a href="https://grda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GRDA-Grand-Lake-Map-and-Rules-Brochure-2019.pdf"> Duck Creek portion of Grand Lake</a> in northeast Oklahoma Saturday evening.&nbsp;

Witnesses reported Siebert fell out of and was struck by the boat. He was the only&nbsp; person on board. He did not resurface. First responders worked to stop the boat. Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday divers recovered his body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690160840200.png" alt="Image courtesy Grand River Dam Authority" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Grand River Dam Authority</figcaption>
 </figure>DELEWARE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend drowning that took the life of a Kansas man.According to a media release from the Grand River Dam Authority, a 1979 Mastercraft driven by 47-year-old Daniel Siebert of Wichita was in the back of<a href="https://grda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GRDA-Grand-Lake-Map-and-Rules-Brochure-2019.pdf"> Duck Creek portion of Grand Lake</a> in northeast Oklahoma Saturday evening.&nbsp;Witnesses reported Siebert fell out of and was struck by the boat. He was the only&nbsp; person on board. He did not resurface. First responders worked to stop the boat. Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday divers recovered his body.

Body of Kansas man recovered after fall from boat 

DENVER (AP) — An 18-year-old from suburban Denver who allegedly planned to go to Iraq to fight for the Islamic State group was arrested last week as he tried to board a flight to Turkey.

Davin Daniel Meyer of Castle Rock, who was arrested Friday, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado announced late Monday.

Meyer's lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message or email seeking comment.

According to his arrest affidavit, law enforcement began investigating him in June 2022 when someone who knew him contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The person said they were concerned because, after following white supremacist ideology, Meyer, then 17, had turned to Islam and was frequently watching and listening to “radical Islamic sermons online." The FBI was notified by the sheriff's office, it said.

The person, who was not identified in the document, said Meyer said “he wanted to die in his early twenties for Allah."

“In October 2022, the individual informed the FBI that Meyer had stated that if he could not go to the Middle East, he planned to get fertilizer and build a bomb in the United States,” the arrest affidavit said.

The document noted that Meyer had previously undergone mental health treatment and has been diagnosed with conditions including autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder.

Soon after he turned 18 in November, Meyer began communicating online with someone he thought was an Islamic State facilitator but was actually a paid FBI informant, the document said. The following month, that person introduced Meyer to another informant who claimed to be an Islamic State travel facilitator, who met with Meyer three times to talk about his plan to pay and prepare for traveling to join the Islamic State.

Meyer talked about problems finding a job that would allow him to follow his religious practices, such as not having to interact with women or listen to music, it said. After his mother offered to pay for an apartment for him and cover some living expenses for him, he decided to use that money to pay for his trip and buy gear that he needed to become a fighter, the document said.

Concerned that his mother would worry about him, he talked about leaving a note on the counter saying he had left by his own choice.

Meyer bought a ticket for July 14 to travel to Ankara, Turkey, where he believed he would meet with Islamic State members and travel on to Iraq to become a fighter, the arrest affidavit said.

That day, he “repeatedly expressed anxiety and hesitation” to one of the informants, but he also “repeatedly expressed determination to go through with his plans,” it said.

Meyer was arrested after showing his boarding pass to the gate agent and walking down the jet bridge to the plane, the arrest affidavit said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690157195054.png" alt="Davin Daniel Meyer -photo courtesy FBI" />
 <figcaption>Davin Daniel Meyer -photo courtesy FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — An 18-year-old from suburban Denver who allegedly planned to go to Iraq to fight for the Islamic State group was arrested last week as he tried to board a flight to Turkey.Davin Daniel Meyer of Castle Rock, who was arrested Friday, has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado announced late Monday.Meyer's lawyer did not immediately return a telephone message or email seeking comment.According to his arrest affidavit, law enforcement began investigating him in June 2022 when someone who knew him contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The person said they were concerned because, after following white supremacist ideology, Meyer, then 17, had turned to Islam and was frequently watching and listening to “radical Islamic sermons online." The FBI was notified by the sheriff's office, it said.The person, who was not identified in the document, said Meyer said “he wanted to die in his early twenties for Allah."“In October 2022, the individual informed the FBI that Meyer had stated that if he could not go to the Middle East, he planned to get fertilizer and build a bomb in the United States,” the arrest affidavit said.The document noted that Meyer had previously undergone mental health treatment and has been diagnosed with conditions including autism spectrum disorder and major depressive disorder.Soon after he turned 18 in November, Meyer began communicating online with someone he thought was an Islamic State facilitator but was actually a paid FBI informant, the document said. The following month, that person introduced Meyer to another informant who claimed to be an Islamic State travel facilitator, who met with Meyer three times to talk about his plan to pay and prepare for traveling to join the Islamic State.Meyer talked about problems finding a job that would allow him to follow his religious practices, such as not having to interact with women or listen to music, it said. After his mother offered to pay for an apartment for him and cover some living expenses for him, he decided to use that money to pay for his trip and buy gear that he needed to become a fighter, the document said.Concerned that his mother would worry about him, he talked about leaving a note on the counter saying he had left by his own choice.Meyer bought a ticket for July 14 to travel to Ankara, Turkey, where he believed he would meet with Islamic State members and travel on to Iraq to become a fighter, the arrest affidavit said.That day, he “repeatedly expressed anxiety and hesitation” to one of the informants, but he also “repeatedly expressed determination to go through with his plans,” it said.Meyer was arrested after showing his boarding pass to the gate agent and walking down the jet bridge to the plane, the arrest affidavit said.

Colorado teen accused of ties to foreign terrorist organization

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating five suspects on drug allegations after a&nbsp;lengthy investigation.

Just before 10:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 404 S. 3rd Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Deputies seized Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales and pipes as evidence from the residence.

They arrested 42-year-old Douglas Milford of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Jessica Dominguez, 38, Hiawatha was&nbsp; arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Anthony Tull, 46, Robinson was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Obstruction and a Hiawatha Failure to Appear Warrant.

Allicia Ramirez, 34, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Leonard Stanley Bindel, 63, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction. Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales, pipes, etc were seized as evidence from the residence.&nbsp; Many hours went in the preparation, execution and follow up of the search warrant as well as casework.&nbsp; I am very fortunate to have proactive officers who thoroughly investigate concerns from the public and follow up accordingly.&nbsp; We take illegal drug use anywhere&nbsp; in Brown County very seriously and will continue to hold&nbsp; those accountable&nbsp; who choose to lead this lifestyle. The case is still under investigation and other charges could be possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you to the Sac and Fox PD and Hiawatha PD for their assistance in this case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956434544.png" alt="Photo Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating five suspects on drug allegations after a&nbsp;lengthy investigation.Just before 10:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 404 S. 3rd Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Deputies seized Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales and pipes as evidence from the residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956490094.png" alt="Milford-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Milford-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested 42-year-old Douglas Milford of Hiawatha on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956547961.png" alt=" Dominguez-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption> Dominguez-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jessica Dominguez, 38, Hiawatha was&nbsp; arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956598497.png" alt="Tull-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Tull-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony Tull, 46, Robinson was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Obstruction and a Hiawatha Failure to Appear Warrant. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956645066.png" alt="Ramirez-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramirez-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Allicia Ramirez, 34, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689956698867.png" alt="Bindel" />
 <figcaption>Bindel</figcaption>
 </figure> Leonard Stanley Bindel, 63, Hiawatha was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstruction. Meth, Marijuana, needles, syringes, scales, pipes, etc were seized as evidence from the residence.&nbsp; Many hours went in the preparation, execution and follow up of the search warrant as well as casework.&nbsp; I am very fortunate to have proactive officers who thoroughly investigate concerns from the public and follow up accordingly.&nbsp; We take illegal drug use anywhere&nbsp; in Brown County very seriously and will continue to hold&nbsp; those accountable&nbsp; who choose to lead this lifestyle. The case is still under investigation and other charges could be possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you to the Sac and Fox PD and Hiawatha PD for their assistance in this case.

Deputies find meth, marijuana sold at Kansas home

MILLER COUNTY —Eight people were injured and one arrested after an accident just before midnight Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Nortech driven by Adam J. Ramirez, 47, Huntington Beach, California, was eastbound at the 1.3 mile mark of the Osage Arm of the main channel.

The boat ran aground, struck a home, overturned and all eight on board were ejected.

Troopers arrested Ramirez in requested charges of BWI causing serious physical injury, according to online jail records. He was released for medical treatment.

EMS transported Ramirez and three other adults from California, a man and woman in their 50s from Mississippi, a 23-year-old woman from Illinois and a 28-year-old man from Michigan to Lake Regional Hospital.&nbsp; None were wearing life jackets, according to the MSHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690141606768.png" alt="Troopers reconstructed the crash scene using a drone.-photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Troopers reconstructed the crash scene using a drone.-photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>MILLER COUNTY —Eight people were injured and one arrested after an accident just before midnight Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Nortech driven by Adam J. Ramirez, 47, Huntington Beach, California, was eastbound at the 1.3 mile mark of the Osage Arm of the main channel.The boat ran aground, struck a home, overturned and all eight on board were ejected.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690141571320.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Troopers arrested Ramirez in requested charges of BWI causing serious physical injury, according to online jail records. He was released for medical treatment.EMS transported Ramirez and three other adults from California, a man and woman in their 50s from Mississippi, a 23-year-old woman from Illinois and a 28-year-old man from Michigan to Lake Regional Hospital.&nbsp; None were wearing life jackets, according to the MSHP.

8 injured after boat crash into home at Lake of the Ozarks

Moran’s $3.5 million campaign treasury dominates among state’s D.C. delegation

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ fundraising haul of $600,000 in the second quarter of 2023 was more than twice the total of other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, but U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran easily maintained his financial advantage with a campaign account stuffed with nearly $3.5 million.

Davids, the delegation’s lone Democrat, was the biggest spender during the three-month period by running through $190,000. That left her with $811,000 in cash at the end of June. She is among targets of Republicans nationally and has drawn attention of three GOP primary candidates in the eastern Kansas district.

“Of all the incumbents, she’s the one that has to be fundraising nonstop. That’s just the way it is, especially after redistricting,” said Bob Beatty, a professor of political science at Washburn University in Topeka. “The 3rd District is interesting. The GOP truly believes it can win it, but the votes say otherwise.”

Beatty said Davids would need to raise several million dollars for the 2024 campaign and a GOP nominee in that district would require $5 million to be competitive. The 3rd District is certain to attract large expenditures by outside groups, he said.

“One purpose of money is to scare away opponents,” Beatty said.

The Kansas Legislature, by overriding Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, recast the state’s four congressional districts ahead of the 2022 election with the goal of ousting Davids. The changes eliminated half of Democrat-rich Wyandotte County and added a cluster of rural counties to support Republican challenger Amanda Adkins. In November, Davids defeated Adkins, winning reelection by more than 12 percentage points.

Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, said the fundraising report from the second quarter affirmed “momentum behind Representative Davids hasn’t died down.”

Federal Election Commission documents submitted by the campaigns showed two of Davids’ Republican peers from Kansas in the U.S. House had more robust campaign accounts at this point in the 2024 election cycle.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman in office since a special election in 2017, raised $289,000 in the second quarter while spending $158,000. That gave him $1.1 million in cash, which led the four-member House contingent. In 2022, Estes won reelection with 63% of the vote in a district centered around Wichita.

In the rural 1st District, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann brought in $191,000, spent $80,000 and retained $1 million in his campaign account. Mann carried two-thirds of the general election vote in 2022 to earn a second term in the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, the 2nd District Republican serving eastern and southeastern Kansas, took on $226,000 and spent half that amount in the second quarter. That left him with $513,000, the least among the state’s six federal lawmakers. He won in 2022 with 57% of the vote in November.

Moran, who entered the U.S. Senate in 2011 after 14 years in the U.S. House, generated $122,000 and spent $52,000 in the quarter. That nudged his bulging campaign account to $3.48 million. Moran, 69, was easily reelected in 2022, and wouldn’t stand again until 2028. In the alternative, he could be a GOP candidate for governor in 2026.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who replaced retired U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in 2021, had $597,000 in cash at close of the second quarter. He raised $148,000 and spent $23,000 over the three-month reporting period. He would be up for reelection in 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690077531536.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat at right in the photograph, led the Kansas congressional delegation by raising $600,000 in the second quarter. Federal Election Commission reports show U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the veteran Republican, has the largest campaign account with nearly $3.5 million. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District Democrat at right in the photograph, led the Kansas congressional delegation by raising $600,000 in the second quarter. Federal Election Commission reports show U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, the veteran Republican, has the largest campaign account with nearly $3.5 million. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Moran’s $3.5 million campaign treasury dominates among state’s D.C. delegation</h2>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ fundraising haul of $600,000 in the second quarter of 2023 was more than twice the total of other members of the Kansas congressional delegation, but U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran easily maintained his financial advantage with a campaign account stuffed with nearly $3.5 million.Davids, the delegation’s lone Democrat, was the biggest spender during the three-month period by running through $190,000. That left her with $811,000 in cash at the end of June. She is among targets of Republicans nationally and has drawn attention of three GOP primary candidates in the eastern Kansas district.“Of all the incumbents, she’s the one that has to be fundraising nonstop. That’s just the way it is, especially after redistricting,” said Bob Beatty, a professor of political science at Washburn University in Topeka. “The 3rd District is interesting. The GOP truly believes it can win it, but the votes say otherwise.”Beatty said Davids would need to raise several million dollars for the 2024 campaign and a GOP nominee in that district would require $5 million to be competitive. The 3rd District is certain to attract large expenditures by outside groups, he said.“One purpose of money is to scare away opponents,” Beatty said.The Kansas Legislature, by overriding Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, recast the state’s four congressional districts ahead of the 2022 election with the goal of ousting Davids. The changes eliminated half of Democrat-rich Wyandotte County and added a cluster of rural counties to support Republican challenger Amanda Adkins. In November, Davids defeated Adkins, winning reelection by more than 12 percentage points.Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, said the fundraising report from the second quarter affirmed “momentum behind Representative Davids hasn’t died down.”Federal Election Commission documents submitted by the campaigns showed two of Davids’ Republican peers from Kansas in the U.S. House had more robust campaign accounts at this point in the 2024 election cycle.U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman in office since a special election in 2017, raised $289,000 in the second quarter while spending $158,000. That gave him $1.1 million in cash, which led the four-member House contingent. In 2022, Estes won reelection with 63% of the vote in a district centered around Wichita.In the rural 1st District, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann brought in $191,000, spent $80,000 and retained $1 million in his campaign account. Mann carried two-thirds of the general election vote in 2022 to earn a second term in the U.S. House.U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, the 2nd District Republican serving eastern and southeastern Kansas, took on $226,000 and spent half that amount in the second quarter. That left him with $513,000, the least among the state’s six federal lawmakers. He won in 2022 with 57% of the vote in November.Moran, who entered the U.S. Senate in 2011 after 14 years in the U.S. House, generated $122,000 and spent $52,000 in the quarter. That nudged his bulging campaign account to $3.48 million. Moran, 69, was easily reelected in 2022, and wouldn’t stand again until 2028. In the alternative, he could be a GOP candidate for governor in 2026.U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who replaced retired U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in 2021, had $597,000 in cash at close of the second quarter. He raised $148,000 and spent $23,000 over the three-month reporting period. He would be up for reelection in 2026.

Davids posts robust fundraising total in 2nd quarter, tops among Kansas incumbents

KANSAS CITY – A Sacramento, California, man was sentenced in federal court last week&nbsp; for mailing packages of methamphetamine to southwest Missouri as part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties, according to the United State's Attorney.

John Gabriel Martinez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 152 months in federal prison without parole.

On April 21, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 15, 2016, to March 18, 2017, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

On Oct. 4, 2016, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers executed a search warrant at the residence of co-defendant Daryl B. Weston, 41, of Purcell, Mo. Troopers found approximately 11 grams of pure methamphetamine and $14,822 in cash. Troopers seized a package addressed to Weston from Martinez that contained approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Weston later told investigators that Martinez had sent him four additional packages that contained a total of nearly six pounds of methamphetamine; co-conspirators then sent drug proceeds back to Martinez.

Co-conspirators admitted they deposited drug proceeds into Martinez’s account at a local branch of Joplin Metro Credit Union. Further investigation revealed that many others in the Joplin area were sending drug proceeds to Martinez in California through local branches of Joplin Metro Credit Union and through the Moneygram system at local Wal-Marts. The total amount of drug proceeds laundered in this case though a credit union and Moneygram was at least $153,014.

Martinez is the final defendant to be sentenced among 19 defendants indicted in this case. Weston was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2022, to eight years in federal prison without parole.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY – A Sacramento, California, man was sentenced in federal court last week&nbsp; for mailing packages of methamphetamine to southwest Missouri as part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties, according to the United State's Attorney.John Gabriel Martinez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 152 months in federal prison without parole.On April 21, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 15, 2016, to March 18, 2017, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.On Oct. 4, 2016, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers executed a search warrant at the residence of co-defendant Daryl B. Weston, 41, of Purcell, Mo. Troopers found approximately 11 grams of pure methamphetamine and $14,822 in cash. Troopers seized a package addressed to Weston from Martinez that contained approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Weston later told investigators that Martinez had sent him four additional packages that contained a total of nearly six pounds of methamphetamine; co-conspirators then sent drug proceeds back to Martinez.Co-conspirators admitted they deposited drug proceeds into Martinez’s account at a local branch of Joplin Metro Credit Union. Further investigation revealed that many others in the Joplin area were sending drug proceeds to Martinez in California through local branches of Joplin Metro Credit Union and through the Moneygram system at local Wal-Marts. The total amount of drug proceeds laundered in this case though a credit union and Moneygram was at least $153,014.Martinez is the final defendant to be sentenced among 19 defendants indicted in this case. Weston was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2022, to eight years in federal prison without parole.&nbsp;

Man admits mailing meth to SW Missouri for distribution

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on&nbsp; Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas, according to a media release from the governor's office.

Every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”&nbsp;

The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write,&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday - at no cost to families. The program's impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9pbWFnaW5hdGlvbmxpYnJhcnkuY29tLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MjEuODAwMTA1OTEifQ.bzFaZSRXxCS77UQos2FT4n-dg65BPSxXpkMdmI6gPS0/s/1303160919/br/223036027431-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;imaginationlibrary.com.</a>&nbsp;

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on&nbsp; Monday, August 14, 2023, American icon&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton will visit Kansas to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program at a closed event hosted by the Imagination Library of Kansas, according to a media release from the governor's office.Every child in Kansas from birth to age five can receive free books every month from&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. This is made possible through increased funding provided to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund by Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature. These funds supplement local and regional resources to ensure equitable opportunity across the state. The Imagination Library has gifted over 200 million books worldwide since its launch in 1995.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am pleased that we have reached this amazing milestone – being able to provide the gift of reading for children and families across Kansas,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.&nbsp;“We know that a child’s first five years are critical for health development and childhood literacy. By increasing access to the Imagination Library, we will be nurturing a love for reading and supporting the foundation of a child’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive future. I urge all eligible Kansas families to sign their children up for the Imagination Library of Kansas.”&nbsp;The early childhood period (birth to five years) is the most influential for a child’s future, providing the foundation for a child to grow, learn, and thrive. Leaders across Kansas have been focused on developing strategies to promote early literacy and support educators, parents, and families in fostering commitments to reading. Forming an Imagination Library of Kansas is a significant step towards actualizing these goals by placing books directly in the child’s home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pratt, Kansas, has the distinction of starting the first Imagination Library site outside Tennessee in 2005. Today, Kansas is celebrating over 52,200 children enrolled and celebrating the milestone of gifting more than 3.8 million books to children since 2005.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write,&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 to foster a love of reading for the children within her home county. Today, her program mails over 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month until their fifth birthday - at no cost to families. The program's impact has been widely researched, and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly9pbWFnaW5hdGlvbmxpYnJhcnkuY29tLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA3MjEuODAwMTA1OTEifQ.bzFaZSRXxCS77UQos2FT4n-dg65BPSxXpkMdmI6gPS0/s/1303160919/br/223036027431-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;imaginationlibrary.com.</a>&nbsp;

Dolly Parton to visit Kansas Monday for Imagination Library celebration

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that new commitments by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence technology</a>&nbsp;to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by his White House are an important step toward managing the “enormous” promise and risks posed by the technology.

Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them. Some of the commitments call for third-party oversight of the workings of the next generation of AI systems, though they don't detail who will audit the technology or hold the companies accountable.

“We must be clear eyed and vigilant about the threats emerging technologies can pose," Biden said, adding that the companies have a “fundamental obligation” to ensure their products are safe.

“Social media has shown us the harm that powerful technology can do without the right safeguards in place," Biden added. “These commitments are a promising step, but we have a lot more work to do together."

A surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools that can write convincingly human-like text and churn out new images and other media has brought public fascination as well as concern about their ability to trick people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread disinformation</a>, among other dangers.

The four tech giants, along with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and startups Anthropic and Inflection, have committed to security testing “carried out in part by independent experts” to guard against major risks, such as to biosecurity and cybersecurity, the White House said in a statement.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">That testing</a>&nbsp;will also examine the potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-welfare-algorithm-investigation-9497ee937e0053ad4144a86c68241ef1">for societal harms</a>, such as bias and discrimination, and more theoretical dangers about advanced AI systems that could gain control of physical systems or “self-replicate” by making copies of themselves.

The companies have also committed to methods for reporting vulnerabilities to their systems and to using digital watermarking to help distinguish between real and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-artificial-intelligence-21fa207a1254401197fd1e0d7ecd14cb">AI-generated images or audio known as deepfakes</a>.

Executives from the seven companies met behind closed doors with Biden and other officials Friday as they pledged to follow the standards.

“He was very firm and clear” that he wanted the companies to continue to be innovative, but at the same time “felt that this needed a lot of attention,” Inflection CEO Mustafa Suleyman said in an interview after the White House gathering.

“It’s a big deal to bring all the labs together, all the companies,” said Suleyman, whose Palo Alto, California-based startup is the youngest and smallest of the firms. “This is supercompetitive and we wouldn’t come together under other circumstances.”

The companies will also publicly report flaws and risks in their technology, including effects on fairness and bias, according to the pledge.

The voluntary commitments are meant to be an immediate way of addressing risks ahead of a longer-term push to get Congress to pass laws regulating the technology.

Some advocates for AI regulations said Biden’s move is a start but more needs to be done to hold the companies and their products accountable.

“A closed-door deliberation with corporate actors resulting in voluntary safeguards isn’t enough,” said Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute. “We need a much more wide-ranging public deliberation, and that’s going to bring up issues that companies almost certainly won’t voluntarily commit to because it would lead to substantively different results, ones that may more directly impact their business models.”

While voluntary, agreeing to submit to “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">red team” tests</a>&nbsp;that poke at their AI systems is not an easy promise, said Suleyman.

“The commitment we’ve made to have red-teamers basically try to break our models, identify weaknesses and then share those methods with the other large language model developers is a pretty significant commitment,” Suleyman said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he will introduce legislation to regulate AI and is working closely with the Biden administration "and our bipartisan colleagues” to build upon the pledges made Friday.

A number of technology executives have called for regulation, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-white-house-harris-578d623e473b0eeb3fa3e4728d7e9868">several attended an earlier White House</a>&nbsp;summit in May.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post Friday that his company is making some commitments that go beyond the White House pledge, including support for regulation that would create a “licensing regime for highly capable models.”

Some experts and upstart competitors worry that the type of regulation being floated could be a boon for deep-pocketed first-movers led by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft as smaller players are elbowed out by the high cost of making their AI systems adhere to regulatory strictures.

The White House pledge notes that it mostly only applies to models that “are overall more powerful than the current industry frontier,” set by recent models such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and image generator DALL-E 2 and similar releases from Anthropic, Google and Amazon.

A number of countries have been looking at ways to regulate AI, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">European Union lawmakers</a>&nbsp;negotiating sweeping AI rules for the 27-nation bloc that could restrict applications deemed to have the highest risks.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said the United Nations is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-un-big-tech-first-5a184197c4281365866b5963d56f84ea">“the ideal place”</a>&nbsp;to adopt global standards and appointed a board that will report back on options for global AI governance by the end of the year.

Guterres also said he welcomed calls from some countries for the creation of a new U.N. body to support global efforts to govern AI, inspired by such models as the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The White House said Friday that it has consulted on the voluntary commitments with a number of countries.

The pledge is heavily focused on safety risks but doesn't address other worries about the latest AI technology, including the effect on jobs and market competition, the environmental resources required to build the models, and copyright concerns about the writings, art and other human handiwork being used to teach AI systems how to produce human-like content.

Last week, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal for the AI company to license AP’s archive of news stories. The amount it will pay for that content was not disclosed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690031816449.png" alt="Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them.-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them.-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that new commitments by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence technology</a>&nbsp;to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by his White House are an important step toward managing the “enormous” promise and risks posed by the technology.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tg2FNynmToM?start=11" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden announced that his administration has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure that their AI products are safe before they release them. Some of the commitments call for third-party oversight of the workings of the next generation of AI systems, though they don't detail who will audit the technology or hold the companies accountable.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, I was joined by leaders from American companies driving innovation in AI to announce their voluntary commitments for responsible innovation. These commitments – which companies will implement immediately – underscore the principles of safety, security, and trust. <a href="https://t.co/6kvrcl4krv">pic.twitter.com/6kvrcl4krv</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1682519577920503812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We must be clear eyed and vigilant about the threats emerging technologies can pose," Biden said, adding that the companies have a “fundamental obligation” to ensure their products are safe.“Social media has shown us the harm that powerful technology can do without the right safeguards in place," Biden added. “These commitments are a promising step, but we have a lot more work to do together."A surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools that can write convincingly human-like text and churn out new images and other media has brought public fascination as well as concern about their ability to trick people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-business-artificial-intelligence-afb4618ff593db9e3e51ecbd91dc3eef">spread disinformation</a>, among other dangers.The four tech giants, along with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and startups Anthropic and Inflection, have committed to security testing “carried out in part by independent experts” to guard against major risks, such as to biosecurity and cybersecurity, the White House said in a statement.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">That testing</a>&nbsp;will also examine the potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/child-welfare-algorithm-investigation-9497ee937e0053ad4144a86c68241ef1">for societal harms</a>, such as bias and discrimination, and more theoretical dangers about advanced AI systems that could gain control of physical systems or “self-replicate” by making copies of themselves.The companies have also committed to methods for reporting vulnerabilities to their systems and to using digital watermarking to help distinguish between real and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-artificial-intelligence-21fa207a1254401197fd1e0d7ecd14cb">AI-generated images or audio known as deepfakes</a>.Executives from the seven companies met behind closed doors with Biden and other officials Friday as they pledged to follow the standards.“He was very firm and clear” that he wanted the companies to continue to be innovative, but at the same time “felt that this needed a lot of attention,” Inflection CEO Mustafa Suleyman said in an interview after the White House gathering.“It’s a big deal to bring all the labs together, all the companies,” said Suleyman, whose Palo Alto, California-based startup is the youngest and smallest of the firms. “This is supercompetitive and we wouldn’t come together under other circumstances.”The companies will also publicly report flaws and risks in their technology, including effects on fairness and bias, according to the pledge.The voluntary commitments are meant to be an immediate way of addressing risks ahead of a longer-term push to get Congress to pass laws regulating the technology.Some advocates for AI regulations said Biden’s move is a start but more needs to be done to hold the companies and their products accountable.“A closed-door deliberation with corporate actors resulting in voluntary safeguards isn’t enough,” said Amba Kak, executive director of the AI Now Institute. “We need a much more wide-ranging public deliberation, and that’s going to bring up issues that companies almost certainly won’t voluntarily commit to because it would lead to substantively different results, ones that may more directly impact their business models.”While voluntary, agreeing to submit to “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hacking-jailbreaking-chatgpt-bing-defcon-biden-ai-97b963db084800f11b26b8a023b1713f">red team” tests</a>&nbsp;that poke at their AI systems is not an easy promise, said Suleyman.“The commitment we’ve made to have red-teamers basically try to break our models, identify weaknesses and then share those methods with the other large language model developers is a pretty significant commitment,” Suleyman said.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he will introduce legislation to regulate AI and is working closely with the Biden administration "and our bipartisan colleagues” to build upon the pledges made Friday.A number of technology executives have called for regulation, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-white-house-harris-578d623e473b0eeb3fa3e4728d7e9868">several attended an earlier White House</a>&nbsp;summit in May.Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post Friday that his company is making some commitments that go beyond the White House pledge, including support for regulation that would create a “licensing regime for highly capable models.”Some experts and upstart competitors worry that the type of regulation being floated could be a boon for deep-pocketed first-movers led by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft as smaller players are elbowed out by the high cost of making their AI systems adhere to regulatory strictures.The White House pledge notes that it mostly only applies to models that “are overall more powerful than the current industry frontier,” set by recent models such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and image generator DALL-E 2 and similar releases from Anthropic, Google and Amazon.A number of countries have been looking at ways to regulate AI, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">European Union lawmakers</a>&nbsp;negotiating sweeping AI rules for the 27-nation bloc that could restrict applications deemed to have the highest risks.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said the United Nations is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-un-big-tech-first-5a184197c4281365866b5963d56f84ea">“the ideal place”</a>&nbsp;to adopt global standards and appointed a board that will report back on options for global AI governance by the end of the year.Guterres also said he welcomed calls from some countries for the creation of a new U.N. body to support global efforts to govern AI, inspired by such models as the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.The White House said Friday that it has consulted on the voluntary commitments with a number of countries.The pledge is heavily focused on safety risks but doesn't address other worries about the latest AI technology, including the effect on jobs and market competition, the environmental resources required to build the models, and copyright concerns about the writings, art and other human handiwork being used to teach AI systems how to produce human-like content.Last week, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal for the AI company to license AP’s archive of news stories. The amount it will pay for that content was not disclosed.

🎥 Biden: Tech firms agree to artificial intelligence safeguards

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Mexican man accused of a violent sex assault in 2007 in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.

Roman Vela, 41,&nbsp;Monterrey, Mexico,&nbsp; was charged with rape, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies booked&nbsp; Vela into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

On April 28, the district attorney's office reported Vela&nbsp;was arrested at a border crossing between Mexico and Texas on an active Sedgwick County warrant&nbsp; for one count of rape. He was&nbsp; held in Webb County, Texas until the extradition to Kansas this week.

The arrest was the culmination of an ongoing effort between the Department of State in Mexico; Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Mexico; HSI Kansas City, Mo., and the Sedgwick County DA's Office in Wichita.

Vela is due back in court July 31. He is being held on a one-million dollar bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689866371606.png" alt="Vela photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vela photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Mexican man accused of a violent sex assault in 2007 in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.Roman Vela, 41,&nbsp;Monterrey, Mexico,&nbsp; was charged with rape, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies booked&nbsp; Vela into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records.&nbsp;On April 28, the district attorney's office reported Vela&nbsp;was arrested at a border crossing between Mexico and Texas on an active Sedgwick County warrant&nbsp; for one count of rape. He was&nbsp; held in Webb County, Texas until the extradition to Kansas this week.The arrest was the culmination of an ongoing effort between the Department of State in Mexico; Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Mexico; HSI Kansas City, Mo., and the Sedgwick County DA's Office in Wichita.Vela is due back in court July 31. He is being held on a one-million dollar bond.&nbsp;

Mexican man charged with rape in Kan. jailed on $1 million bond

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man injured in a pedestrian accident just after 5a.m. Saturday in Sedgwick County has died.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Michael Keith, 42, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 235 just south of Central in the #2 lane.

The pickup struck struck a pedestrian identified as 22-year-old Colin&nbsp;Garrett of Arion, Iowa, who was attempting to cross the interstate.

EMS transported Garrett to a Wichita hospital where he was died.&nbsp; Keith was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man injured in a pedestrian accident just after 5a.m. Saturday in Sedgwick County has died.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Michael Keith, 42, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 235 just south of Central in the #2 lane.The pickup struck struck a pedestrian identified as 22-year-old Colin&nbsp;Garrett of Arion, Iowa, who was attempting to cross the interstate.EMS transported Garrett to a Wichita hospital where he was died.&nbsp; Keith was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Man struck by a pickup on Kansas highway has died

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges in the June 19 fatal shooting of Marquis Kindred after a struggle over a handgun, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Mekhi D. Curry, 18, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Stealing.

According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers dispatched to the scene of a shooting on June 19, 2023 in the early afternoon. 

Two victims were found in the front yard of a residence, both suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

 The victim and the defendant scuffled over a firearm. Video from doorbell cameras in the area showed the defendant and one of the victims fighting. 

Then a vehicle door opened and an individual exited the vehicle. A gunshot was heard and the defendant and the person who exited the vehicle got back into a silver sedan and fled.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689862140489.png" alt="Curry-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Curry-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges in the June 19 fatal shooting of Marquis Kindred after a struggle over a handgun, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Mekhi D. Curry, 18, faces Murder 2nd Degree and Stealing.According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers dispatched to the scene of a shooting on June 19, 2023 in the early afternoon. Two victims were found in the front yard of a residence, both suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The victim and the defendant scuffled over a firearm. Video from doorbell cameras in the area showed the defendant and one of the victims fighting. Then a vehicle door opened and an individual exited the vehicle. A gunshot was heard and the defendant and the person who exited the vehicle got back into a silver sedan and fled.&nbsp;

KC teen charged in deadly struggle over a handgun

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Movie theater operator AMC has ditched plans to charge more seats for seats with better sightlines after rival chains did not follow along.

AMC began the pilot program five months ago in three U.S. markets where it said it charged slightly more for better seats, and less for those in the front of the theater and others with inferior views.

AMC said its competitors didn’t raise or cut prices on any of their seats based on location. The company said because it wants its pricing to remain competitive, it’s ending the pilot program in the coming weeks and there will be no attempt to roll out those changes nationwide.

AMC also found that more than three out of every four guests who previously sat in the preferred sightline section continued to choose seats in that section, even with a slight up-charge. But it saw little to no increase in people buying front row seats that were cheaper.

AMC first announced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amc-ticket-prices-7dbf4b9ddc7d531e252c21b790e860be">pilot program</a>&nbsp;in February.

AMC, based in Leawood, Kansas, said it's now going to focus on testing more spacious seating for the front row with seats that recline at some U.S. locations later this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675797951504.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Movie theater operator AMC has ditched plans to charge more seats for seats with better sightlines after rival chains did not follow along.AMC began the pilot program five months ago in three U.S. markets where it said it charged slightly more for better seats, and less for those in the front of the theater and others with inferior views.AMC said its competitors didn’t raise or cut prices on any of their seats based on location. The company said because it wants its pricing to remain competitive, it’s ending the pilot program in the coming weeks and there will be no attempt to roll out those changes nationwide.AMC also found that more than three out of every four guests who previously sat in the preferred sightline section continued to choose seats in that section, even with a slight up-charge. But it saw little to no increase in people buying front row seats that were cheaper.AMC first announced the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amc-ticket-prices-7dbf4b9ddc7d531e252c21b790e860be">pilot program</a>&nbsp;in February.AMC, based in Leawood, Kansas, said it's now going to focus on testing more spacious seating for the front row with seats that recline at some U.S. locations later this year.

Plan to charge more for good seats in movie theaters falls flat

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews later this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado.

The railroad will continue using two crew members on its trains during the test, but officials say this could bolster their case in future negotiations for cutting crew size if it is successful.

UP's Jason Pinder confirmed the pilot program Monday when he testified against a proposed Kansas rule that would require two-person crews. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad has long been a leading proponent in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/railroads-to-renew-push-for-one-man-crews-in-contract-talks-3f97553f0ec9474784249fa4a17e1169">industry's push</a>&nbsp;to go down to one-person crews.

This plan had to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-business-transportation-cce1888bacfb5b76a57a0b9843e21e82">shelved earlier this year</a>&nbsp;after the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors opposed it. But that union later agreed to let Union Pacific test out ground-based conductors as long as it maintained current crew sizes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-train-crews-derailment-union-pacific-8bc04b745bf49337ad94cec87d2df92b">agreed to drop ongoing negotiations</a>&nbsp;over reducing crew size. Even though UP abandoned its current proposal to eliminate conductors on trains, the railroad can reintroduce the idea in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">next contract negotiations</a>&nbsp;that begin in 2025.

Union officials say there has been no change in SMART-TD's longstanding opposition to the idea of eliminating the second person in the cab of a locomotive because of safety concerns. In fact, the union's Ty Dragoo testified Monday that “We're huge proponents” of the proposed Kansas rule.

If that state's regulators approve, Kansas would join at least nine other states that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroads-freight-safety-derailment-state-laws-42fa5ddae7486e44c7383def082d31a3">passed laws</a>&nbsp;requiring two-man crews. The others are California, Wisconsin, Arizona, West Virginia. Minnesota, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-transportation-budget-rail-safety-derailment-bc3e97140763a5accd8bc40cfa664611">Ohio</a>. Railroad safety has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">key focus nationwide</a>&nbsp;this year in the wake of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery February derailment</a>&nbsp;in eastern Ohio that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">forced evacuations</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">created lingering health concerns</a>&nbsp;and several other rail crashes.

The railroads strongly oppose state laws on their operations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-safety-ohio-crew-size-derailment-lawsuit-429df55468cc112d7057d4dd1dcf5322">usually challenge</a>&nbsp;them in court because they argue that the federal government should be the only one to regulate the industry to ensure there is a uniform set of rules nationwide. The Federal Railroad Administration is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/588d6f7829c4836b9d2feff5c21a5097">currently considering</a>&nbsp;a proposed rule that would require two-person crews, but it's not clear when they will act on the rule.

Members of Congress have also proposed requiring two-man crews as part of a package of rail reforms drafted after the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. That bill garnered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">bipartisan support initially</a>&nbsp;but hasn't yet been debated on the floor of the Senate, and it faces uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled House where most lawmakers are reluctant to approve new regulations.

The pilot program will run in western Nebraska between North Platte and Morrill and in Colorado and Wyoming between Denver and Cheyenne starting in August and September. The railroad’s idea is to test out how quickly a conductor in a truck can respond to any problem compared to how quickly a conductor on the train will be able to walk back along the train to find an issue. UP still has to work out exactly how big of a territory a ground-based conductor might cover.

Railroads have fought any crew size requirement because they say there isn't enough data to show operating trains with one crew member would be riskier, and they argue that railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">become safer</a>&nbsp;in recent decades even as crews shrank from five to the current standard of two. The railroads have argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-accidents-business-us-news-ne-state-wire-d6ca21953111e4d7b457bac02e5b6813">modern technology</a>&nbsp;— particularly the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-transportation-safety-us-news-transportation-887894df4186c7a6b796dc39121d8f3c">automatic braking system</a>&nbsp;railroads were required to install in recent years — makes the conductor unnecessary on a train and executives believe that moving conductors off of trains would improve their quality of life by giving them more predictable schedules and keeping them from going on the road.

While all the major freight railroads continue to use two-person crews, a number of short-line railroads have already been using one-person crews for years. Chuck Baker, the president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, testified at the Kansas hearing Monday that many of those smaller railroads have also found other benefits of having a conductor based in a truck such as having them adjust switches ahead of a train or go ahead to visit with customers before a train arrives.

But all the rail unions have long opposed moving conductors out of locomotives, arguing they help monitor track conditions and radio communications while ensuring that engineers remain alert and respond to any emergencies or mechanical problems on the train. In the case of a derailment or collision, conductors are the first ones to respond before any additional help can arrive.

The unions say the value of having a conductor onboard has been demonstrated time and time again including during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/707da58c97b742369022db304099d78c">fiery 2013 derailment</a>&nbsp;near Casselton, North Dakota, when the conductor was able to help separate undamaged tank cars filled with crude oil from the rest of the train so they could be pulled away from the fire.

Critics of the idea of moving conductors out of the locomotive cabs have also raised practical questions about whether a conductor driving a truck would even be able to reach a train in remote locations where no roads are near the tracks. Plus, a conductor in a truck could be delayed in traffic.

A major highway runs next to the tracks in Western Nebraska that UP plans to test, but it may be harder for a conductor in a truck to reach trains in the mountainous territory of Colorado.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews later this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado.The railroad will continue using two crew members on its trains during the test, but officials say this could bolster their case in future negotiations for cutting crew size if it is successful.UP's Jason Pinder confirmed the pilot program Monday when he testified against a proposed Kansas rule that would require two-person crews. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad has long been a leading proponent in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/railroads-to-renew-push-for-one-man-crews-in-contract-talks-3f97553f0ec9474784249fa4a17e1169">industry's push</a>&nbsp;to go down to one-person crews.This plan had to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-business-transportation-cce1888bacfb5b76a57a0b9843e21e82">shelved earlier this year</a>&nbsp;after the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors opposed it. But that union later agreed to let Union Pacific test out ground-based conductors as long as it maintained current crew sizes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-train-crews-derailment-union-pacific-8bc04b745bf49337ad94cec87d2df92b">agreed to drop ongoing negotiations</a>&nbsp;over reducing crew size. Even though UP abandoned its current proposal to eliminate conductors on trains, the railroad can reintroduce the idea in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-government-and-politics-207229bcd558b6a6c1d58f3f85e2d804">next contract negotiations</a>&nbsp;that begin in 2025.Union officials say there has been no change in SMART-TD's longstanding opposition to the idea of eliminating the second person in the cab of a locomotive because of safety concerns. In fact, the union's Ty Dragoo testified Monday that “We're huge proponents” of the proposed Kansas rule.If that state's regulators approve, Kansas would join at least nine other states that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroads-freight-safety-derailment-state-laws-42fa5ddae7486e44c7383def082d31a3">passed laws</a>&nbsp;requiring two-man crews. The others are California, Wisconsin, Arizona, West Virginia. Minnesota, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-transportation-budget-rail-safety-derailment-bc3e97140763a5accd8bc40cfa664611">Ohio</a>. Railroad safety has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">key focus nationwide</a>&nbsp;this year in the wake of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery February derailment</a>&nbsp;in eastern Ohio that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">forced evacuations</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">created lingering health concerns</a>&nbsp;and several other rail crashes.The railroads strongly oppose state laws on their operations and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-safety-ohio-crew-size-derailment-lawsuit-429df55468cc112d7057d4dd1dcf5322">usually challenge</a>&nbsp;them in court because they argue that the federal government should be the only one to regulate the industry to ensure there is a uniform set of rules nationwide. The Federal Railroad Administration is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/588d6f7829c4836b9d2feff5c21a5097">currently considering</a>&nbsp;a proposed rule that would require two-person crews, but it's not clear when they will act on the rule.Members of Congress have also proposed requiring two-man crews as part of a package of rail reforms drafted after the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. That bill garnered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">bipartisan support initially</a>&nbsp;but hasn't yet been debated on the floor of the Senate, and it faces uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled House where most lawmakers are reluctant to approve new regulations.The pilot program will run in western Nebraska between North Platte and Morrill and in Colorado and Wyoming between Denver and Cheyenne starting in August and September. The railroad’s idea is to test out how quickly a conductor in a truck can respond to any problem compared to how quickly a conductor on the train will be able to walk back along the train to find an issue. UP still has to work out exactly how big of a territory a ground-based conductor might cover.Railroads have fought any crew size requirement because they say there isn't enough data to show operating trains with one crew member would be riskier, and they argue that railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">become safer</a>&nbsp;in recent decades even as crews shrank from five to the current standard of two. The railroads have argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-accidents-business-us-news-ne-state-wire-d6ca21953111e4d7b457bac02e5b6813">modern technology</a>&nbsp;— particularly the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-transportation-safety-us-news-transportation-887894df4186c7a6b796dc39121d8f3c">automatic braking system</a>&nbsp;railroads were required to install in recent years — makes the conductor unnecessary on a train and executives believe that moving conductors off of trains would improve their quality of life by giving them more predictable schedules and keeping them from going on the road.While all the major freight railroads continue to use two-person crews, a number of short-line railroads have already been using one-person crews for years. Chuck Baker, the president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, testified at the Kansas hearing Monday that many of those smaller railroads have also found other benefits of having a conductor based in a truck such as having them adjust switches ahead of a train or go ahead to visit with customers before a train arrives.But all the rail unions have long opposed moving conductors out of locomotives, arguing they help monitor track conditions and radio communications while ensuring that engineers remain alert and respond to any emergencies or mechanical problems on the train. In the case of a derailment or collision, conductors are the first ones to respond before any additional help can arrive.The unions say the value of having a conductor onboard has been demonstrated time and time again including during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/707da58c97b742369022db304099d78c">fiery 2013 derailment</a>&nbsp;near Casselton, North Dakota, when the conductor was able to help separate undamaged tank cars filled with crude oil from the rest of the train so they could be pulled away from the fire.Critics of the idea of moving conductors out of the locomotive cabs have also raised practical questions about whether a conductor driving a truck would even be able to reach a train in remote locations where no roads are near the tracks. Plus, a conductor in a truck could be delayed in traffic.A major highway runs next to the tracks in Western Nebraska that UP plans to test, but it may be harder for a conductor in a truck to reach trains in the mountainous territory of Colorado.

Union Pacific renews push for 1-person crews

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly stabbing.

Just before 2p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a deceased individual in the 700 Block of Nebraska Avenue, according to a media release.

First responders found a woman in an apartment with apparent stab wounds. She was deceased. Police took a suspect into custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690031090884.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly stabbing.Just before 2p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a deceased individual in the 700 Block of Nebraska Avenue, according to a media release.First responders found a woman in an apartment with apparent stab wounds. She was deceased. Police took a suspect into custody.&nbsp;Police released no additional details.

Homicide: Kan. woman found stabbed in her apartment

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve launched a new instant payment service Thursday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8d6e9d6406398cb51ded58becceaacf4">FedNow allows banks and credit unions</a>&nbsp;to sign up to send real-time payments so they can offer customers a quicker way to send money between banks.

<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/fednow_about.htm">FedNow,</a> which was first announced in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20190805a.htm">2019</a>, published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/organizations">list of banks</a>&nbsp;and credit unions that are already signed up to the service. However, it might take longer for customers to be able to use the service with their bank.

Here’s what you need to know about FedNow.

FedNow offers instant payment services for banks and credit unions to transfer money for their customers. Unlike other private money-transferring services like PayPal or Venmo, FedNow services are not offered to customers directly through a third-party app or website. The services will only be available through banks or credit unions. However, once banks have adopted FedNow, they’re expected to make it available on their websites and apps.

Once a bank offers the FedNow services, customers will be able to send money instantly. The service is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Among&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/organizations-certified">the banks</a>&nbsp;that will offer the FedNow services soon are Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.

By creating FedNow, the Fed is making it quicker and more accessible for people to send and receive online payments. The Fed is also catching up with other countries that already have real-time payment systems like FedNow, including England, China, Sweden and India.

FedNow will also equip banks with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.clevelandfed.org/collections/speeches/2023/sp-20230712-update-on-the-federal-reserves-instant-payments-service">tools to identify and combat fraud attempts.</a>&nbsp;These tools include the ability for banks to flag suspicious accounts and limit the amount and frequency of payments by those accounts.

Customers, including individuals and businesses, whose banks or credit unions offer FedNow services will be able to send and receive money in real-time. If, for example, a customer wants to send money to a friend, both people have to bank with institutions that offer FedNow services.

WHAT ARE SOME SCENARIOS WHERE I CAN USE FEDNOW?

Given the speed of transactions, this service can be beneficial for customers in many ways.

— If your employer sends your paycheck through FedNow, the paycheck will be able to clear in seconds rather than days.

— If you forgot to pay your rent until the last minute, you will be able to send the money late at night without waiting to have it cleared the next business day.

FedNow is now live but it might take months or years for customers to be able to use this service, it all depends on when your bank makes it available.

WILL MY PRIVACY BE PROTECTED WITH FEDNOW?

The Federal Reserve and the FedNow service cannot access people’s bank accounts and it doesn’t have the authority for additional surveillance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-banking-federal-reserve-fednow-429714320991">according to Fed officials</a>.

WILL FEDNOW REPLACE VENMO, PAYPAY OR OTHER SERVICES?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689966177750.png" alt="“The Federal Reserve has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency.-Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>“The Federal Reserve has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency.-Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve launched a new instant payment service Thursday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8d6e9d6406398cb51ded58becceaacf4">FedNow allows banks and credit unions</a>&nbsp;to sign up to send real-time payments so they can offer customers a quicker way to send money between banks.<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/fednow_about.htm">FedNow,</a> which was first announced in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20190805a.htm">2019</a>, published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/organizations">list of banks</a>&nbsp;and credit unions that are already signed up to the service. However, it might take longer for customers to be able to use the service with their bank.Here’s what you need to know about FedNow.<h2>HOW DOES FEDNOW WORK?</h2>FedNow offers instant payment services for banks and credit unions to transfer money for their customers. Unlike other private money-transferring services like PayPal or Venmo, FedNow services are not offered to customers directly through a third-party app or website. The services will only be available through banks or credit unions. However, once banks have adopted FedNow, they’re expected to make it available on their websites and apps.Once a bank offers the FedNow services, customers will be able to send money instantly. The service is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Among&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/organizations-certified">the banks</a>&nbsp;that will offer the FedNow services soon are Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.<h2>WHY DID THE FED CREATE FEDNOW?</h2>By creating FedNow, the Fed is making it quicker and more accessible for people to send and receive online payments. The Fed is also catching up with other countries that already have real-time payment systems like FedNow, including England, China, Sweden and India.FedNow will also equip banks with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.clevelandfed.org/collections/speeches/2023/sp-20230712-update-on-the-federal-reserves-instant-payments-service">tools to identify and combat fraud attempts.</a>&nbsp;These tools include the ability for banks to flag suspicious accounts and limit the amount and frequency of payments by those accounts.<h2>WHO CAN USE FEDNOW?</h2>Customers, including individuals and businesses, whose banks or credit unions offer FedNow services will be able to send and receive money in real-time. If, for example, a customer wants to send money to a friend, both people have to bank with institutions that offer FedNow services.<h2>WHAT ARE SOME SCENARIOS WHERE I CAN USE FEDNOW?</h2>Given the speed of transactions, this service can be beneficial for customers in many ways.Here are some examples:— If your employer sends your paycheck through FedNow, the paycheck will be able to clear in seconds rather than days.— If you forgot to pay your rent until the last minute, you will be able to send the money late at night without waiting to have it cleared the next business day.<h2>WHEN WILL FEDNOW BE AVAILABLE TO ME?</h2>FedNow is now live but it might take months or years for customers to be able to use this service, it all depends on when your bank makes it available.<h2>WILL MY PRIVACY BE PROTECTED WITH FEDNOW?</h2>The Federal Reserve and the FedNow service cannot access people’s bank accounts and it doesn’t have the authority for additional surveillance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-banking-federal-reserve-fednow-429714320991">according to Fed officials</a>.<h2>WILL FEDNOW REPLACE VENMO, PAYPAY OR OTHER SERVICES?</h2>There are key differences between the FedNow service and apps such as Venmo and PayPal. FedNow is a service offered directly to banks and not to customers, which means FedNow does not have an app or website where customers will be able to send money to each other.<h2>WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDNOW AND ZELLE?</h2>While both FedNow and Zelle allow customers to make online transactions, there are some key differences. Zelle is a private app that works with some financial institutions while FedNow is backed by the Federal Reserve and is envisioned to be adopted by the majority of banks in the country.Zelle lets you send and receive money instantly but the money might not be available for customers until days after the transaction. With FedNow, the Fed says the money will be available within seconds. Zelle has a customer-facing platform that allows customers to send money through their app while FedNow will not directly interact with customers but rather offer the services to banks.<h2>WILL FEDNOW REPLACE CASH?</h2>Fed officials have stressed FedNow is unrelated to the notion of a government-run digital currency, which social media users also falsely claim would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-FedNow-CBDC-223356937707">lead to the elimination of cash</a>.“The Federal Reserve has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) &amp; would not do so without clear support from Congress and executive branch, ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law,” the agency wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/federalreserve/status/1644391858733187082">series of tweets</a>&nbsp;in April “A CBDC would not replace cash or other payment options.”