PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge sentenced the parents of a Michigan school shooter to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented a “runaway train” — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">killing of four students in 2021</a>.

Jennifer and James Crumbley are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-shooting-james-crumbley-d13192e4057ec00836e4ce99c17bd375">the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting</a>. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teen’s mental health.

Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didn’t volunteer it during a brief meeting.

Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting. Ethan, now 17, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-michigan-school-shooting-ethan-crumbley-sentencing-fb10065053ca542b0d443671bab53947">serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes</a>.

“These convictions are not about poor parenting,” Judge Cheryl Matthews said. "These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.

“About repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up,” the judge said. “Opportunity knocked over and over again — louder and louder — and was ignored. No one answered.”

Defense attorneys asked that the Crumbleys be spared a prison term, noting they have already served nearly 2 1/2 years in jail after failing to meet a $500,000 bond after their arrest.

The Crumbleys will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in custody and will get credit for the jail time. If parole is denied, they can't be held longer than 15 years.

Before sentencing, family members of the slain students asked the judge for a 10-year term, condemning the parents as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.

“The blood of our children is on your hands, too,” said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.

“While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays,” Beausoleil told the Crumbleys.

Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the couple and more lined the walls.

Prosecutors said simple acts by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.

“Consider the devastating impact of their gross negligence that was foreseeable," prosecutor Karen McDonald told the judge.

She then quoted the grim handwritten lines on Ethan's math paper: “Help me. Blood everywhere. The world is dead.”

“All the while a 9 millimeter (gun) had just been purchased for him and 50 rounds of ammunition,” McDonald said.

The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors saw the teen's violent drawing on his school assignment and heard testimony about the crucial hours before the attack.

Ethan had told a counselor he was sad — a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away — but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.

The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley had purchased just four days earlier — a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his “beauty.”

His parents didn't take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.

No one, however, checked Ethan's backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">killed four students</a>&nbsp;— Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin — and wounded seven other people.

Before being sentenced, James Crumbley, 47, stood and insisted he did not know his son was deeply troubled.

"My heart is really broken for everybody involved. ... I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count," he said.

Jennifer Crumbley, 46, began her remarks by expressing her “deepest sorrow” about the shooting. She also said her comment at her trial about not doing anything differently was “completely misunderstood.”

“My son did seem so normal. I didn't have a reason to do anything different,” Jennifer Crumbley said. “With the benefit of hindsight and information I have now, my answer would be drastically different."

She blamed the school for not giving her the “bigger picture” about Ethan: sleeping in class, watching a video of a mass shooting, writing negative thoughts about his family.

“The prosecution has tried to mold us into the type of parents society wants to believe are so horrible only a school or mass shooter could be bred from,” Jennifer Crumbley said. “We were good parents. We were the average family."

During the trials, there was no testimony from specialists about Ethan's state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.

“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” he wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”

Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley told jurors he was simply “messing around.”

At the close of James Crumbley's trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621716369.png" alt="James Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>James Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge sentenced the parents of a Michigan school shooter to at least 10 years in prison Tuesday for failing to take steps that could have prevented a “runaway train” — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oxford-high-school-shooting">killing of four students in 2021</a>.Jennifer and James Crumbley are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-shooting-james-crumbley-d13192e4057ec00836e4ce99c17bd375">the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting</a>. They were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at home and indifference toward the teen’s mental health.Ethan Crumbley drew dark images of a gun, a bullet and a wounded man on a math assignment, accompanied by despondent phrases. Staff at Oxford High School did not demand that he go home but were surprised when the Crumbleys didn’t volunteer it during a brief meeting.Later that day, on Nov. 30, 2021, the 15-year-old pulled a handgun from his backpack and began shooting. Ethan, now 17, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oxford-michigan-school-shooting-ethan-crumbley-sentencing-fb10065053ca542b0d443671bab53947">serving a life sentence for murder and other crimes</a>.“These convictions are not about poor parenting,” Judge Cheryl Matthews said. "These convictions confirm repeated acts, or lack of acts, that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.“About repeatedly ignoring things that would make a reasonable person feel the hair on the back of their neck stand up,” the judge said. “Opportunity knocked over and over again — louder and louder — and was ignored. No one answered.”Defense attorneys asked that the Crumbleys be spared a prison term, noting they have already served nearly 2 1/2 years in jail after failing to meet a $500,000 bond after their arrest.The Crumbleys will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in custody and will get credit for the jail time. If parole is denied, they can't be held longer than 15 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638621694054.png" alt="Jennifer Crumbley as shown in her 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>Jennifer Crumbley as shown in her 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>Before sentencing, family members of the slain students asked the judge for a 10-year term, condemning the parents as failures whose selfishness led to four deaths and a community tragedy.“The blood of our children is on your hands, too,” said Craig Shilling, wearing a hoodie with the image of son Justin Shilling on his chest.Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin, recalled simple things she enjoyed doing for her daughter, such as scheduling an oil change for her car or helping choose senior year classes.“While you were purchasing a gun for your son and leaving it unlocked, I was helping her finish her college essays,” Beausoleil told the Crumbleys.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638551635768.png" alt="Ethan Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan" />
 <figcaption>Ethan Crumbley as shown in his 2021 booking photo from Oakland County, Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>Five deputies in the courtroom stood watch over the couple and more lined the walls.Prosecutors said simple acts by both parents could have stopped the catastrophe.“Consider the devastating impact of their gross negligence that was foreseeable," prosecutor Karen McDonald told the judge.She then quoted the grim handwritten lines on Ethan's math paper: “Help me. Blood everywhere. The world is dead.”“All the while a 9 millimeter (gun) had just been purchased for him and 50 rounds of ammunition,” McDonald said.The couple had separate trials in Oakland County court, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Detroit. Jurors saw the teen's violent drawing on his school assignment and heard testimony about the crucial hours before the attack.Ethan had told a counselor he was sad — a grandmother had died and his only friend suddenly had moved away — but said the drawing only reflected his interest in creating video games.The Crumbleys attended a meeting at the school that lasted less than 15 minutes. They did not mention that the gun resembled one James Crumbley had purchased just four days earlier — a Sig Sauer 9 mm that Ethan had described on social media as his “beauty.”His parents didn't take him home, choosing instead to return to work and accepting a list of mental health providers. School staff said Ethan could stay on campus. A counselor, Shawn Hopkins, said he believed it would be safer for the boy than possibly being alone at home.No one, however, checked Ethan's backpack. He pulled the gun out later that day and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">killed four students</a>&nbsp;— Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Shilling and Baldwin — and wounded seven other people.Before being sentenced, James Crumbley, 47, stood and insisted he did not know his son was deeply troubled."My heart is really broken for everybody involved. ... I have cried for you and the loss of your children more times than I can count," he said.Jennifer Crumbley, 46, began her remarks by expressing her “deepest sorrow” about the shooting. She also said her comment at her trial about not doing anything differently was “completely misunderstood.”“My son did seem so normal. I didn't have a reason to do anything different,” Jennifer Crumbley said. “With the benefit of hindsight and information I have now, my answer would be drastically different."She blamed the school for not giving her the “bigger picture” about Ethan: sleeping in class, watching a video of a mass shooting, writing negative thoughts about his family.“The prosecution has tried to mold us into the type of parents society wants to believe are so horrible only a school or mass shooter could be bred from,” Jennifer Crumbley said. “We were good parents. We were the average family."During the trials, there was no testimony from specialists about Ethan's state of mind. But the judge, over defense objections, allowed the jury to see excerpts from his journal.“I have zero help for my mental problems and it’s causing me to shoot up the ... school,” he wrote. “I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help.”Asked about Ethan reporting hallucinations months before the shooting, Jennifer Crumbley told jurors he was simply “messing around.”At the close of James Crumbley's trial, the prosecutor demonstrated how a cable lock, found in a package at home, could have secured the gun.

History: Parents of school shooter get years in prison

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations involving a violent attack on his girlfriend.

On April 3, Sheriff’s deputies were requested to meet with a Finney County woman who had injuries from an altercation with her boyfriend the day prior, according to a media release.

Deputies found the woman to have significant injuries and medical care was requested. Deputies learned that the incident had occurred over multiple days which involved the woman being shot at with a gun, battered, held against her will and raped.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Kyle Deger of Garden City. Deputies found Deger, arrested and booked him into the Finney County Jail requested charges, Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree (Domestic Violence), Aggravated Battery (Domestic Violence), Rape, Aggravated Kidnapping (Domestic Violence), Aggravated Endangering a Child and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Methamphetamine

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712368557453.png" alt="Deger photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Deger photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations involving a violent attack on his girlfriend.On April 3, Sheriff’s deputies were requested to meet with a Finney County woman who had injuries from an altercation with her boyfriend the day prior, according to a media release.Deputies found the woman to have significant injuries and medical care was requested. Deputies learned that the incident had occurred over multiple days which involved the woman being shot at with a gun, battered, held against her will and raped.The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Kyle Deger of Garden City. Deputies found Deger, arrested and booked him into the Finney County Jail requested charges, Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree (Domestic Violence), Aggravated Battery (Domestic Violence), Rape, Aggravated Kidnapping (Domestic Violence), Aggravated Endangering a Child and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of Methamphetamine

SW Kansas man accused of violent sex assault on girlfriend

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly stabbing and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, the Wichita Police Department responded to a report of a knife incident near the Arkansas River, north of the Lincoln Street Bridge, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders at the scene along the walking path, discovered 43-year-old Lonnie Hunter who had died from multiple stab wounds.

Investigators from the Wichita Police Homicide Unit took over the investigation. After speaking with witnesses, they quickly learned that Lonnie Hunter was walking with a group of individuals when a confrontation ensued with a suspect described as a homeless man. The altercation led to Lonnie Hunter being stabbed multiple times, causing his tragic death. The suspect fled the area before the arrival of law enforcement.

Through diligent pursuit of leads, the Wichita Police tracked down and apprehended<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=255933"> 35-year-old Todd Angevine,</a> according to the Sedgwick County booking report.

Wichita Police Homicide Investigators continue working to uncover the details surrounding this incident and follow up on all leads to piece together the events that led to the killing.

The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=255933">Angevine is being held</a> on a requested charges of second-degree murder, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712578838661.png" alt="Angevine-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Angevine-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly stabbing and have a suspect in custody.Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, the Wichita Police Department responded to a report of a knife incident near the Arkansas River, north of the Lincoln Street Bridge, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders at the scene along the walking path, discovered 43-year-old Lonnie Hunter who had died from multiple stab wounds.Investigators from the Wichita Police Homicide Unit took over the investigation. After speaking with witnesses, they quickly learned that Lonnie Hunter was walking with a group of individuals when a confrontation ensued with a suspect described as a homeless man. The altercation led to Lonnie Hunter being stabbed multiple times, causing his tragic death. The suspect fled the area before the arrival of law enforcement.Through diligent pursuit of leads, the Wichita Police tracked down and apprehended<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=255933"> 35-year-old Todd Angevine,</a> according to the Sedgwick County booking report.Wichita Police Homicide Investigators continue working to uncover the details surrounding this incident and follow up on all leads to piece together the events that led to the killing.The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=255933">Angevine is being held</a> on a requested charges of second-degree murder, according to online jail records.

Suspect accused in deadly Kansas knife attack

The 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series, sponsored and organized by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, continues on Tuesday, April 9, with a reading by Hadara Bar-Nadav.

The reading will begin at 7 pm at Red Fern Booksellers, 106 S Santa Fe Ave, in downtown Salina. Admission will be $5 cash at the door and will be free for students with ID.

Traci Brimhall, Kansas Poet Laureate, curated this year’s series. Brimhall selected poets with a broad range of perspectives who will share their work in Salina this month.

“One of the first poets I met when I moved to Kansas a decade ago was Hadara Bar-Nadav. She had seen I had moved to the state and reached out to me, which is such an amazing act of generosity for someone in a new place. I'm thrilled to hear her read from her new book out this year, The Animal Is Chemical. Her work is always beautiful, but these new poems about the body, trauma, and the pharmaceutical industry are exceptionally powerful. These poems heal me in ways that medicine can't," said Brimhall.

Hadara Bar-Nadav is an NEA fellow and award-winning author of several books of poetry, among them The Animal Is Chemical, The New Nudity, Lullaby (with Exit Sign), The Frame Called Ruin, and A Glass of Milk to Kiss Goodnight, as well as the chapbooks Fountain and Furnace and Show Me Yours. She is also co-author with Michelle Boisseau of the best-selling textbook Writing Poems, 8th ed. Her poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, The Believer, Kenyon Review, The New Republic, Ploughshares, Poetry, Tin House, and elsewhere. 

Hadara is a Professor of English and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712606825930.png" alt="Spring Poetry Series" />
 <figcaption>Spring Poetry Series</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe 40th Salina Spring Poetry Series, sponsored and organized by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, continues on Tuesday, April 9, with a reading by Hadara Bar-Nadav.The reading will begin at 7 pm at Red Fern Booksellers, 106 S Santa Fe Ave, in downtown Salina. Admission will be $5 cash at the door and will be free for students with ID.Traci Brimhall, Kansas Poet Laureate, curated this year’s series. Brimhall selected poets with a broad range of perspectives who will share their work in Salina this month.“One of the first poets I met when I moved to Kansas a decade ago was Hadara Bar-Nadav. She had seen I had moved to the state and reached out to me, which is such an amazing act of generosity for someone in a new place. I'm thrilled to hear her read from her new book out this year, The Animal Is Chemical. Her work is always beautiful, but these new poems about the body, trauma, and the pharmaceutical industry are exceptionally powerful. These poems heal me in ways that medicine can't," said Brimhall.Hadara Bar-Nadav is an NEA fellow and award-winning author of several books of poetry, among them The Animal Is Chemical, The New Nudity, Lullaby (with Exit Sign), The Frame Called Ruin, and A Glass of Milk to Kiss Goodnight, as well as the chapbooks Fountain and Furnace and Show Me Yours. She is also co-author with Michelle Boisseau of the best-selling textbook Writing Poems, 8th ed. Her poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, The Believer, Kenyon Review, The New Republic, Ploughshares, Poetry, Tin House, and elsewhere. Hadara is a Professor of English and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities.

Hadara Bar-Nadav to read at next Salina Spring Poetry event on Tuesday

NASHVILLE —Country artist Morgan Wallen, 30, was booked into jail early Monday on requested charges that include 3 felony counts of reckless endangerment and 1 count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, according to a social media report from Metro Nashville Police.

According to police Wallen was arrested for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief's Bar on Sunday night. The chair landed on Broadway Street, near two Metro Nashville Police officers. His bond was $15,250, according to police.

In May of 2020, Wallen apologized following his arrest on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges. That arrest occurred&nbsp; after he was kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar in downtown Nashville, according to the Associated Press.

After the May 2020 arrest, Wallen said on social media that he and some friends were “horse-playing” after a few bar stops.

Wallen’s hits include “Whiskey Glasses” and “Chasin’ You.” He competed on “The Voice” in 2014 and co-wrote songs for Jason Aldean and Kane Brown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712583620863.png" alt="Wallen photo Metro Nashville Police" />
 <figcaption>Wallen photo Metro Nashville Police</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE —Country artist Morgan Wallen, 30, was booked into jail early Monday on requested charges that include 3 felony counts of reckless endangerment and 1 count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, according to a social media report from Metro Nashville Police.According to police Wallen was arrested for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief's Bar on Sunday night. The chair landed on Broadway Street, near two Metro Nashville Police officers. His bond was $15,250, according to police.In May of 2020, Wallen apologized following his arrest on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges. That arrest occurred&nbsp; after he was kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar in downtown Nashville, according to the Associated Press.After the May 2020 arrest, Wallen said on social media that he and some friends were “horse-playing” after a few bar stops.Wallen’s hits include “Whiskey Glasses” and “Chasin’ You.” He competed on “The Voice” in 2014 and co-wrote songs for Jason Aldean and Kane Brown.

Police: Morgan Wallen jailed after throwing chair from roof of bar

MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Millions of spectators along a narrow corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada eagerly awaited Monday's celestial sensation — a total eclipse of the sun — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-weather-forecast-e7e9e9957c87d1b0b7e35c39ba441aa7">forecasters called for clouds.</a>

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/key_messages/LatestKeyMessage_2.png">best weather</a>&nbsp;was expected at the tail end of the eclipse in Vermont and Maine, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

It promised to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">North America’s biggest eclipse crowd</a>&nbsp;ever, thanks to the densely populated path and the lure of more than four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other choice spots. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting.

“Cloud cover is one of the trickier things to forecast,” National Weather Service meteorologist Alexa Maines explained at Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center on Sunday. “At the very least, it won’t snow.”

The cliff-hanging uncertainty added to the drama. Rain or shine, "it’s just about sharing the experience with other people,” said Chris Lomas from Gotham, England, who was staying at a sold-out trailer resort outside Dallas, the biggest city in totality's path.

For Monday's full eclipse, the moon was due to slip right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona visible, would be long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.

The out-of-sync darkness lasts up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. That's almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It will be another 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse on this scale.

Extending five hours from the first bite out of the sun to the last, Monday's eclipse begins in the Pacific and makes landfall at Mazatlan, Mexico, before moving into Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and 12 other U.S. states in the Midwest, Middle Atlantic and New England, and then Canada. Last stop: Newfoundland, with the eclipse ending in the North Atlantic.

It will take just 1 hour, 40 minutes for the moon's shadow to race more than 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) across the continent.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-eye-damage-eclipse-glasses-cb70dd4fc9caebfee4d61064bc5176b6">Eye protection</a>&nbsp;is needed with proper eclipse glasses and filters to look at the sun, except when it ducks completely out of sight during an eclipse.

The path of totality — approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide — encompasses several major cities this time, including Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles (320 kilometers). Add in all the eclipse chasers, amateur astronomers, scientists and just plain curious, and it’s no wonder the hotels and flights are sold out and the roads jammed.

Experts from NASA and scores of universities are posted along the route, poised to launch research rockets and weather balloons, and conduct experiments. The International Space Station’s seven astronauts also will be on the lookout, 270 miles (435 kilometers) up.

MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Eclipse spectators staked out their spots across three countries Sunday, fervently hoping for clear skies despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-weather-forecast-e7e9e9957c87d1b0b7e35c39ba441aa7">forecasts calling for clouds</a>&nbsp;along most of the sun-vanishing route.

Click <a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/banner/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/">here to watch</a>&nbsp;as NASA streams a telescope view of the sun 12 NoonCDT

North America won’t see another coast-to-coast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;for 21 years, prompting the weekend’s worry and mad rush.

Monday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_aPG0AeG1s">extravaganza stretches</a>&nbsp;from Mexico’s Pacific beaches to Canada’s rugged Atlantic shores, with 15 U.S. states in between.

“I have arrived in the path of totality!” Ian Kluft announced Sunday afternoon after pulling into Mesquite from Portland, Oregon, a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) drive.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rpUg8NkM0&amp;list=PLnwt1fUa-EViXobU4hL_foNyr38Cf27SU&amp;index=6">total eclipse</a>&nbsp;happens when the moon lines up perfectly between Earth and the sun, blotting out the sunlight. That means a little over four minutes of daytime darkness east of Dallas in Mesquite, where locals like Jorge Martinez have the day off. The land surveyor plans to “witness history” from home with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter, Nati.

“Hopefully, she’ll remember. She’s excited, too,” he said following breakfast at Dos Panchas Mexican Restaurant.

Inside the jammed restaurant, manager Adrian Martinez figured on staying open Monday.

“Wish it was going to be sunny like today,” he said. “But cloudiness? Hopefully, it still looks pretty good.”

Near Ennis, Texas, to the south, the Range Vintage Trailer Resort was also packed, selling out of spots more than a year ago.

“I booked it instantly, then I told my wife, ‘We’re going to Texas,’” Gotham, England’s Chris Lomas said from the trailer resort Sunday. Even if clouds obscure the covered-up sun, “it will still go dark. It’s just about sharing the experience with other people,” he added.

In Cleveland, the eclipse persuaded women's Final Four fans Matt and Sheila Powell to stick around an extra day after Sunday's game. But they were debating whether to begin their drive home to Missouri Valley, Iowa, early Monday in search of clearer skies along the eclipse’s path. “We’re trying to be flexible,” Powell said.

Even the eclipse professionals were up in the air.

Eclipse mapmaker Michael Zeiler had a perfect record ahead of Monday, seeing 11 out of 11 total solar eclipses after successfully relocating three of those times at the last minute for better weather.

“We are the complete opposite of tornado chasers, always seeking clear skies,” Zeiler said in an email over the weekend. This time, though, he was staying put in Fredericksburg, Texas, with his family, 10 of them altogether, and holding onto “a considerable ray of hope.”

Farther north, in Buffalo, New York, Jeff Sherman flew in from Somerville, Massachusetts, to catch his second total solar eclipse. After seeing the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse in 2017, “now I have to see any one that’s nearby, he said.

Kluft also enjoyed clear skies for the 2017 eclipse, in Oregon, and rolled into Mesquite wearing the T-shirt from that big event. As for Monday’s cloudy forecast across Texas, “at least I’ll be around people who are like-minded.”

Dicey weather was also predicted almost all the way to Lake Erie, despite Sunday’s gorgeous weather. The only places promised clear skies along Monday's narrow 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) corridor of totality were New England and Canada.

Like everywhere else, the weather was the hot topic at the Buffalo Naval and Military Park on Sunday. By mid-morning, volunteer Tom Villa already had greeted tourists from several states, as well as Canada and Brazil.

“They hope it’s like this tomorrow, of course, but you know, the weather is the weather,” he said.

AP reporters Jamie Stengle near Ennis, Texas; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; and Stephanie Nano in Cleveland contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085263547.png" alt="NASA will stream telescope&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/banner/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/">views of the sun</a>&nbsp;and on NASA TV starting at Noon CDT.Image Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>NASA will stream telescope&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/banner/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/">views of the sun</a>&nbsp;and on NASA TV starting at Noon CDT.Image Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Millions of spectators along a narrow corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada eagerly awaited Monday's celestial sensation — a total eclipse of the sun — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-weather-forecast-e7e9e9957c87d1b0b7e35c39ba441aa7">forecasters called for clouds.</a>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/key_messages/LatestKeyMessage_2.png">best weather</a>&nbsp;was expected at the tail end of the eclipse in Vermont and Maine, as well as New Brunswick and Newfoundland.It promised to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">North America’s biggest eclipse crowd</a>&nbsp;ever, thanks to the densely populated path and the lure of more than four minutes of midday darkness in Texas and other choice spots. Almost everyone in North America was guaranteed at least a partial eclipse, weather permitting.“Cloud cover is one of the trickier things to forecast,” National Weather Service meteorologist Alexa Maines explained at Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center on Sunday. “At the very least, it won’t snow.”The cliff-hanging uncertainty added to the drama. Rain or shine, "it’s just about sharing the experience with other people,” said Chris Lomas from Gotham, England, who was staying at a sold-out trailer resort outside Dallas, the biggest city in totality's path.For Monday's full eclipse, the moon was due to slip right in front of the sun, entirely blocking it. The resulting twilight, with only the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona visible, would be long enough for birds and other animals to fall silent, and for planets, stars and maybe even a comet to pop out.The out-of-sync darkness lasts up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds. That's almost twice as long as it was during the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse seven years ago because the moon is closer to Earth. It will be another 21 years before the U.S. sees another total solar eclipse on this scale.Extending five hours from the first bite out of the sun to the last, Monday's eclipse begins in the Pacific and makes landfall at Mazatlan, Mexico, before moving into Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and 12 other U.S. states in the Midwest, Middle Atlantic and New England, and then Canada. Last stop: Newfoundland, with the eclipse ending in the North Atlantic.It will take just 1 hour, 40 minutes for the moon's shadow to race more than 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) across the continent.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-eye-damage-eclipse-glasses-cb70dd4fc9caebfee4d61064bc5176b6">Eye protection</a>&nbsp;is needed with proper eclipse glasses and filters to look at the sun, except when it ducks completely out of sight during an eclipse.The path of totality — approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide — encompasses several major cities this time, including Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York and Montreal. An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles (320 kilometers). Add in all the eclipse chasers, amateur astronomers, scientists and just plain curious, and it’s no wonder the hotels and flights are sold out and the roads jammed.Experts from NASA and scores of universities are posted along the route, poised to launch research rockets and weather balloons, and conduct experiments. The International Space Station’s seven astronauts also will be on the lookout, 270 miles (435 kilometers) up.___MESQUITE, Texas (AP) — Eclipse spectators staked out their spots across three countries Sunday, fervently hoping for clear skies despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-weather-forecast-e7e9e9957c87d1b0b7e35c39ba441aa7">forecasts calling for clouds</a>&nbsp;along most of the sun-vanishing route.Click <a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/banner/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/">here to watch</a>&nbsp;as NASA streams a telescope view of the sun 12 NoonCDTNorth America won’t see another coast-to-coast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;for 21 years, prompting the weekend’s worry and mad rush.Monday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_aPG0AeG1s">extravaganza stretches</a>&nbsp;from Mexico’s Pacific beaches to Canada’s rugged Atlantic shores, with 15 U.S. states in between.“I have arrived in the path of totality!” Ian Kluft announced Sunday afternoon after pulling into Mesquite from Portland, Oregon, a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) drive.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rpUg8NkM0&amp;list=PLnwt1fUa-EViXobU4hL_foNyr38Cf27SU&amp;index=6">total eclipse</a>&nbsp;happens when the moon lines up perfectly between Earth and the sun, blotting out the sunlight. That means a little over four minutes of daytime darkness east of Dallas in Mesquite, where locals like Jorge Martinez have the day off. The land surveyor plans to “witness history” from home with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter, Nati.“Hopefully, she’ll remember. She’s excited, too,” he said following breakfast at Dos Panchas Mexican Restaurant.Inside the jammed restaurant, manager Adrian Martinez figured on staying open Monday.“Wish it was going to be sunny like today,” he said. “But cloudiness? Hopefully, it still looks pretty good.”Near Ennis, Texas, to the south, the Range Vintage Trailer Resort was also packed, selling out of spots more than a year ago.“I booked it instantly, then I told my wife, ‘We’re going to Texas,’” Gotham, England’s Chris Lomas said from the trailer resort Sunday. Even if clouds obscure the covered-up sun, “it will still go dark. It’s just about sharing the experience with other people,” he added.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711653160174.png" alt="You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. Photo by NASA/Mamta Patel Nagaraja" />
 <figcaption>You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. Photo by NASA/Mamta Patel Nagaraja</figcaption>
 </figure>In Cleveland, the eclipse persuaded women's Final Four fans Matt and Sheila Powell to stick around an extra day after Sunday's game. But they were debating whether to begin their drive home to Missouri Valley, Iowa, early Monday in search of clearer skies along the eclipse’s path. “We’re trying to be flexible,” Powell said.Even the eclipse professionals were up in the air.Eclipse mapmaker Michael Zeiler had a perfect record ahead of Monday, seeing 11 out of 11 total solar eclipses after successfully relocating three of those times at the last minute for better weather.“We are the complete opposite of tornado chasers, always seeking clear skies,” Zeiler said in an email over the weekend. This time, though, he was staying put in Fredericksburg, Texas, with his family, 10 of them altogether, and holding onto “a considerable ray of hope.”Farther north, in Buffalo, New York, Jeff Sherman flew in from Somerville, Massachusetts, to catch his second total solar eclipse. After seeing the U.S. coast-to-coast eclipse in 2017, “now I have to see any one that’s nearby, he said.Kluft also enjoyed clear skies for the 2017 eclipse, in Oregon, and rolled into Mesquite wearing the T-shirt from that big event. As for Monday’s cloudy forecast across Texas, “at least I’ll be around people who are like-minded.”Dicey weather was also predicted almost all the way to Lake Erie, despite Sunday’s gorgeous weather. The only places promised clear skies along Monday's narrow 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) corridor of totality were New England and Canada.Like everywhere else, the weather was the hot topic at the Buffalo Naval and Military Park on Sunday. By mid-morning, volunteer Tom Villa already had greeted tourists from several states, as well as Canada and Brazil.“They hope it’s like this tomorrow, of course, but you know, the weather is the weather,” he said.___AP reporters Jamie Stengle near Ennis, Texas; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; and Stephanie Nano in Cleveland contributed.___

Huge crowds await a total solar eclipse. Clouds may spoil the view

MONTOMGERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a reported burglary.

Just before 8a.m. April 3, Montgomery County Dispatch received a 911 call regarding an active burglary and theft occurring northwest of Coffeyville near the industrial park, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

The reporting person informed dispatch that the chain had been removed from the barn doors and, while they were on the property, a black Dodge Charger passenger vehicle pulled out of the barn and fled the property. 

The reporting person attempted to follow the vehicle, but it couldn't be located.&nbsp;

Shortly after, Coffeyville Police Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the reporting person. They stopped the vehicle and detained the driver identified as 54-year-old Robert Mikel of Coffeyville, Kansas, and passenger 33-year-old Jacob Lind of Altamont, Kansas.

Deputies arrived on the scene and confirmed there was stolen property inside the vehicle. Mikel and Lind were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on requested charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property. 

Deputies executed a search warrant on the vehicle, recovering the stolen property, which will be returned to the rightful owner.

This case has been sent to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for proper charging.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712324544258.png" alt="Mikel-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Mikel-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTOMGERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a reported burglary.Just before 8a.m. April 3, Montgomery County Dispatch received a 911 call regarding an active burglary and theft occurring northwest of Coffeyville near the industrial park, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.The reporting person informed dispatch that the chain had been removed from the barn doors and, while they were on the property, a black Dodge Charger passenger vehicle pulled out of the barn and fled the property. The reporting person attempted to follow the vehicle, but it couldn't be located.&nbsp;Shortly after, Coffeyville Police Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the reporting person. They stopped the vehicle and detained the driver identified as 54-year-old Robert Mikel of Coffeyville, Kansas, and passenger 33-year-old Jacob Lind of Altamont, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712324464734.png" alt="Lind-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Lind-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrived on the scene and confirmed there was stolen property inside the vehicle. Mikel and Lind were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on requested charges of burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property. Deputies executed a search warrant on the vehicle, recovering the stolen property, which will be returned to the rightful owner.This case has been sent to the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office for proper charging.&nbsp;

Suspects caught during rural Kansas home burglary

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations.

Just after 6:30p.m. April 1, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Ford Windstar van on Arizona and Banner Road in Holton around 6:30 P.M.&nbsp; for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested&nbsp; 56-year-old Mary Jayne Johnson and 69-year-old Peggie Loretta Sierra both of Holton on drug allegations.

During the course of the investigation deputies served a search warrant at the residence where both subjects were staying.&nbsp; Deputies and Holton Police served a search warrant around 10 P.M. at 813 Wisconsin Avenue in Holton.&nbsp; They seized illegal drugs and contraband from the home. Two additional individuals 35-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Allyn Johnson and Jeannine Elizabeth Jim both of Holton.

Mary Jayne Johnson, 56, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp;on requested charges of  aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, 2 counts of possession of controlled substance&nbsp;and 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Peggie Loretta Sierra, 69, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, 2 counts of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;2 counts of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of cocaine,&nbsp;possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeannine Elizabeth Jim, 31, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua Allyn Johnson, 35, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested for a probation violation and&nbsp;on requested charges of  aggravated endangering a child, expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351189255.png" alt="Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations.Just after 6:30p.m. April 1, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Ford Windstar van on Arizona and Banner Road in Holton around 6:30 P.M.&nbsp; for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested&nbsp; 56-year-old Mary Jayne Johnson and 69-year-old Peggie Loretta Sierra both of Holton on drug allegations.During the course of the investigation deputies served a search warrant at the residence where both subjects were staying.&nbsp; Deputies and Holton Police served a search warrant around 10 P.M. at 813 Wisconsin Avenue in Holton.&nbsp; They seized illegal drugs and contraband from the home. Two additional individuals 35-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Allyn Johnson and Jeannine Elizabeth Jim both of Holton.Mary Jayne Johnson, 56, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp;on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, 2 counts of possession of controlled substance&nbsp;and 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351166116.png" alt="Sierra-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sierra-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Peggie Loretta Sierra, 69, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, 2 counts of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;2 counts of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of cocaine,&nbsp;possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351139467.png" alt="Jim-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jim-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeannine Elizabeth Jim, 31, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351106916.png" alt="Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Joshua Allyn Johnson, 35, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested for a probation violation and&nbsp;on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child, expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas traffic stop leads to search warrant and 4 in jail

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Fort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.

Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings.

Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured.

"We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.

She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination.

"Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."

It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.

Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.

Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.

Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.

She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan.

"I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.

Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.

After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;

She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims.

"I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."

Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.

The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;

The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.

Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.

Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.

Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344136151.jpeg" alt="A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings."My heart sunk," she said.Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured."We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344244847.jpeg" alt="Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)" />
 <figcaption>Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)</figcaption>
 </figure>She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination."Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344368401.jpeg" alt="A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344504127.jpeg" alt="Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan."I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims."I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344618441.jpeg" alt="A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

FHSU professor from Taiwan shares concerns for homeland after earthquake

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle from Indiana.

On Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reported stolen from East Chicago, Indiana, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The vehicle was spotted traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 75, just north of Independence, Kansas. 

Deputies proceeded with a felony traffic stop, successfully taking the driver 29-year-old Adam Hiner into custody without any further incident. 

Hiner was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. 

Montgomery County Dispatch informed the reporting agency of the vehicle's recovery, and arrangements were made for its return to the rightful owner at a later date.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712323573524.png" alt="Hiner-photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Hiner-photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle from Indiana.On Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reported stolen from East Chicago, Indiana, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The vehicle was spotted traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 75, just north of Independence, Kansas. Deputies proceeded with a felony traffic stop, successfully taking the driver 29-year-old Adam Hiner into custody without any further incident. Hiner was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Montgomery County Dispatch informed the reporting agency of the vehicle's recovery, and arrangements were made for its return to the rightful owner at a later date.

Kansas deputies catch Indiana stolen vehicle suspect

SHAWNEE&nbsp; COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a burglary and robbery have captured a wanted suspect.

On March 20, police asked the public for help to locate 33-year-old&nbsp;

&nbsp;Thomas “Tommy” Lathrom of Topeka, about an ongoing aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary incident that happened on March 1, 2024. 

Just before 6a.m. Thursday, police located Lathrom at a residence in the 3600 block of SE 6th Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; Lathrom was&nbsp;attempting to hide in a shed behind the home. He barricaded himself inside the shed for a brief period, but was taken into custody without incident.

Police booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary, Battery and Theft. He is being held without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712244318974.png" alt="Lathrom as shown in his Thursday Shawnee Co. booking photo" />
 <figcaption>Lathrom as shown in his Thursday Shawnee Co. booking photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE&nbsp; COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a burglary and robbery have captured a wanted suspect.On March 20, police asked the public for help to locate 33-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomas “Tommy” Lathrom of Topeka, about an ongoing aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary incident that happened on March 1, 2024. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710947696116.png" alt="Lathrom's photo from the police alert March 20." />
 <figcaption>Lathrom's photo from the police alert March 20.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 6a.m. Thursday, police located Lathrom at a residence in the 3600 block of SE 6th Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; Lathrom was&nbsp;attempting to hide in a shed behind the home. He barricaded himself inside the shed for a brief period, but was taken into custody without incident.Police booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary, Battery and Theft. He is being held without bond.

Violent Kansas robbery suspect caught hiding in a shed

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a series of armed robberies.

Just before 11p.m. March 1, police responded to a reported robbery in the 600 block of SE Lime Street in Topeka. Upon arrival, it was alleged that an individual&nbsp; with a firearm robbed two individuals and left prior to officers arrival.

Just after 10:30 a.m. March 3, police responded to another reported robbery in the 700 block of SE Lawrence Street in Topeka. Upon arrival, it was alleged that an individual matching the description from the incident on March 1, used a firearm to rob an individual and left prior to officers arrival.

Just after 2p.m. April 3, police located the wanted alleged robbery offender, identified as Deon K. Ikner, 19, of Topeka, in the 200 block of SE 7th Street in Topeka. Ikner was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;2 x Aggravated Robbery; Armed w/dangerous weapon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712237535781.png" alt="Ikner-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ikner-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a series of armed robberies.Just before 11p.m. March 1, police responded to a reported robbery in the 600 block of SE Lime Street in Topeka. Upon arrival, it was alleged that an individual&nbsp; with a firearm robbed two individuals and left prior to officers arrival.Just after 10:30 a.m. March 3, police responded to another reported robbery in the 700 block of SE Lawrence Street in Topeka. Upon arrival, it was alleged that an individual matching the description from the incident on March 1, used a firearm to rob an individual and left prior to officers arrival.Just after 2p.m. April 3, police located the wanted alleged robbery offender, identified as Deon K. Ikner, 19, of Topeka, in the 200 block of SE 7th Street in Topeka. Ikner was later arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;2 x Aggravated Robbery; Armed w/dangerous weapon.

Kansas teen accused in series of armed robberies

Amendment of tribal compact with state mirrors deal with Prairie Band

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

TOPEKA — The Kansas House and Senate voted Tuesday to amend the state’s gambling compact with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports wagering on the tribe’s reservation land in northeast Kansas.

The joint legislative Committee on Inter-Tribal Relations endorsed Monday the sports-betting agreement applicable the tribe’s casino at White Cloud along the Missouri River. On Tuesday, the House passed the measure 101-20 and the Senate echoed that sentiment 30-5. The resolutions were forwarded to Gov. Laura Kelly. Before the Iowa Tribe initiated sports book betting, the revised gambling compact must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior for review and approval.

The Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation, which operates a casino about 15 miles north of Topeka, was the first tribe to complete the sports-wagering process in July 2023. In April 2023, the Senate approved the tribe’s revised compact 27-8 and it was endorsed 93-27 in the House.

“This is substantively, other than changing the names and dates, identical to the compact this committee approved last year for Prairie Band,” said attorney Russ Brien, a&nbsp;member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

Sports betting expanded in states and on tribal lands following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that struck down federal law limiting legal sports wagering operations.

After years of debate, the Legislature approved a mobile and retail sports gambling bill in 2022 that was signed by Kelly. The bill applied to state-licensed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksBootHillCasino.asp">Boot Hill Casino &amp; Resort</a>&nbsp;in Dodge City,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksHollywoodCasino.asp">Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksKansasStarCasino.asp">Kansas Star Casino</a>&nbsp;in Mulvane and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksKansasCrossingCasino.asp">Kansas Crossing Casino</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburg.

Tribes in Kansas also could take part in sports gambling, including on professional and collegiate events, but had to follow a different procedure for full regulatory approval. Tribal casinos interested in sports betting must submit a request to the governor and engage with the executive branch in negotiations on tweaks to the compact.

Justin Whitten, chief counsel to the governor, said the revised compact would authorize in-person sports wagering on reservation land held by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. The compact included a trigger mechanism that would open the door to remote online wagering from locations throughout the state, Whitten said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712080662752.png" alt=" Justin Whitten, general counsel for Gov. Laura Kelly, outlines details of a revised state-tribal gaming compact to allow sports wagering on land of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. A joint House and Senate committee approved the compact, but it must clear the Legislature and win approval of the U.S. Department of Interior. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Justin Whitten, general counsel for Gov. Laura Kelly, outlines details of a revised state-tribal gaming compact to allow sports wagering on land of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. A joint House and Senate committee approved the compact, but it must clear the Legislature and win approval of the U.S. Department of Interior. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Amendment of tribal compact with state mirrors deal with Prairie Band</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House and Senate voted Tuesday to amend the state’s gambling compact with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports wagering on the tribe’s reservation land in northeast Kansas.The joint legislative Committee on Inter-Tribal Relations endorsed Monday the sports-betting agreement applicable the tribe’s casino at White Cloud along the Missouri River. On Tuesday, the House passed the measure 101-20 and the Senate echoed that sentiment 30-5. The resolutions were forwarded to Gov. Laura Kelly. Before the Iowa Tribe initiated sports book betting, the revised gambling compact must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior for review and approval.The Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation, which operates a casino about 15 miles north of Topeka, was the first tribe to complete the sports-wagering process in July 2023. In April 2023, the Senate approved the tribe’s revised compact 27-8 and it was endorsed 93-27 in the House.“This is substantively, other than changing the names and dates, identical to the compact this committee approved last year for Prairie Band,” said attorney Russ Brien, a&nbsp;member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.Sports betting expanded in states and on tribal lands following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association that struck down federal law limiting legal sports wagering operations.After years of debate, the Legislature approved a mobile and retail sports gambling bill in 2022 that was signed by Kelly. The bill applied to state-licensed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksBootHillCasino.asp">Boot Hill Casino &amp; Resort</a>&nbsp;in Dodge City,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksHollywoodCasino.asp">Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksKansasStarCasino.asp">Kansas Star Casino</a>&nbsp;in Mulvane and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.500nations.com/casinos/ksKansasCrossingCasino.asp">Kansas Crossing Casino</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburg.Tribes in Kansas also could take part in sports gambling, including on professional and collegiate events, but had to follow a different procedure for full regulatory approval. Tribal casinos interested in sports betting must submit a request to the governor and engage with the executive branch in negotiations on tweaks to the compact.Justin Whitten, chief counsel to the governor, said the revised compact would authorize in-person sports wagering on reservation land held by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. The compact included a trigger mechanism that would open the door to remote online wagering from locations throughout the state, Whitten said.

Kan. Legislature approves agreement with Iowa Tribe to allow sports gambling

Jimmie "Jim" D. Mayhew September 22, 1943 ~ April 1, 2024

Jimmie D. Mayhew, 80, Abilene, KS, passed away on April 1, 2024. He was born in Marysville KS, the son of Dale and Bonnie (Bothwell) Mayhew.

He was preceded in death by his parents and former wife, Bobbie Jo Torrence.

He is survived by wife, Pattie, of the home; sister, Sheri (Roger) Dowding, Syracuse, NE; brother, Tanner (Leah), St. Joseph, MO; son, David (Melinda), grandchildren, Joseph and Nathon Mayhew, Okarche, OK; Daughter, Janna (Mike) Medlin, grandchildren Ethan, Dillon Smith and Kylee (Kendon) Brown, all of Oklahoma; Stepson Brian (Desiree), Lorissa and Davin Bailey, Leavenworth, KS; stepdaughter, Heather (RJ) Ferrari, Avalyn and Mackenzie Ferrari and stepson, David P. Leach, Chicago, IL.

He attended Fairbury College, Fairbury, Nebraska. Following his attendance there he joined the National Guard and was subsequently activated in 1969, serving in Vietnam. Other duty assignments included Kansas, Alaska, Colorado, and Maryland. He retired from his military career as a Major and subsequently served as a civilian with the Directorate of Logistics, as the Ft. Riley Property Book Officer.

During his retirement years, he loved bird-watching; photography, serving the Boy Scouts in Abilene; Konza prairie as a docent; Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Canton, KS; President of the Kansas Ornithological Society; President of the Smoky Hill Trail Association and on the Board of Trustees for the Dickinson County Historical Society.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dusty Bookshelf, 700 N. Manhattan Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/783c1fe3-e015-41d1-a6c5-235764b2f91c">Salina non-profit leader wins 2024 Remarkable Women award</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712153641086.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jimmie "Jim" D. Mayhew September 22, 1943 ~ April 1, 2024 Jimmie D. Mayhew, 80, Abilene, KS, passed away on April 1, 2024. He was born in Marysville KS, the son of Dale and Bonnie (Bothwell) Mayhew.He was preceded in death by his parents and former wife, Bobbie Jo Torrence.He is survived by wife, Pattie, of the home; sister, Sheri (Roger) Dowding, Syracuse, NE; brother, Tanner (Leah), St. Joseph, MO; son, David (Melinda), grandchildren, Joseph and Nathon Mayhew, Okarche, OK; Daughter, Janna (Mike) Medlin, grandchildren Ethan, Dillon Smith and Kylee (Kendon) Brown, all of Oklahoma; Stepson Brian (Desiree), Lorissa and Davin Bailey, Leavenworth, KS; stepdaughter, Heather (RJ) Ferrari, Avalyn and Mackenzie Ferrari and stepson, David P. Leach, Chicago, IL.He attended Fairbury College, Fairbury, Nebraska. Following his attendance there he joined the National Guard and was subsequently activated in 1969, serving in Vietnam. Other duty assignments included Kansas, Alaska, Colorado, and Maryland. He retired from his military career as a Major and subsequently served as a civilian with the Directorate of Logistics, as the Ft. Riley Property Book Officer.During his retirement years, he loved bird-watching; photography, serving the Boy Scouts in Abilene; Konza prairie as a docent; Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Canton, KS; President of the Kansas Ornithological Society; President of the Smoky Hill Trail Association and on the Board of Trustees for the Dickinson County Historical Society.Memorial contributions may be made to the Dusty Bookshelf, 700 N. Manhattan Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.A celebration of life will take place at a later date.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/783c1fe3-e015-41d1-a6c5-235764b2f91c">Salina non-profit leader wins 2024 Remarkable Women award</a>

Jimmie "Jim" D. Mayhew

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run have filed charges against the driver.

Kelsi Ann Carmack, 24, of Kansas City, Kan., is charged with felony failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.

Just before 8a.m. Thursday, a vehicle driven by Carmack struck a man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas&nbsp;in the parking garage at the University of Kansas Cancer Center,&nbsp;2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.&nbsp; Ward died of his injuries.

Carmack left the scene of the accident, according to police but was located and taken in for questioning, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.

Carmack was later booked into the Johnson County Jail and has met the requirement of a $7,500 bond. She is due in court April 10, according to online jail records.

Despite the tragedy, KU Cancer Center officials said care continued inside the facility.&nbsp; The hospital released a statement on the tragedy.

"Employees and health system leaders are feeling what many in our community are experiencing… shock and extreme sadness in this moment. We are dedicated to helping and healing patients, and so the news that this accident involved an employee is especially tragic to us on many levels."

"We are also extremely proud of how employees stayed focused on providing care to the many patients with clinic visits and cancer care appointments immediately after the accident and throughout the day. That patient care continues at the Cancer Center uninterrupted. We are providing counselors to anyone and everyone at the cancer center that feels a need. Our thoughts are with the families of all involved in this tragic accident."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711760936115.png" alt="Carmack-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Carmack-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal hit-and-run have filed charges against the driver.Kelsi Ann Carmack, 24, of Kansas City, Kan., is charged with felony failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711707455954.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>Just before 8a.m. Thursday, a vehicle driven by Carmack struck a man identified as 94-year-old William J. Ward of Leawood, Kansas&nbsp;in the parking garage at the University of Kansas Cancer Center,&nbsp;2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Westwood, Kansas.&nbsp; Ward died of his injuries.Carmack left the scene of the accident, according to police but was located and taken in for questioning, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.Carmack was later booked into the Johnson County Jail and has met the requirement of a $7,500 bond. She is due in court April 10, according to online jail records.Despite the tragedy, KU Cancer Center officials said care continued inside the facility.&nbsp; The hospital released a statement on the tragedy."Employees and health system leaders are feeling what many in our community are experiencing… shock and extreme sadness in this moment. We are dedicated to helping and healing patients, and so the news that this accident involved an employee is especially tragic to us on many levels.""We are also extremely proud of how employees stayed focused on providing care to the many patients with clinic visits and cancer care appointments immediately after the accident and throughout the day. That patient care continues at the Cancer Center uninterrupted. We are providing counselors to anyone and everyone at the cancer center that feels a need. Our thoughts are with the families of all involved in this tragic accident."

Kansas woman charged in fatal hit-and-run at KU Cancer Center

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan–Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug and other allegations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711926552559.png" alt="Martinez-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan–Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug and other allegations.Just after 9:30p.m. March 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1992 Honda passenger car near 150th and U.S. Highway 75 for traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the course of the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal substances inside the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712003788643.png" alt="Cohorn photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Cohorn photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Michael Allin Cohorn, 53, of El Dorado, Kansas, was arrested for violating the Kansas offender registration act and driving while suspended. A passenger, Amanda Carol Martinez, 38, of Topeka, was arrested on a requested charge of&nbsp; distribution of methamphetamine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711926529424.png" alt="Stapleton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Stapleton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Another passenger of the vehicle, Sherra Dianne Stapleton, 45 of Topeka, was arrested on a requested charge of possession of methamphetamine. All three were transported to and booked into the Jackson County Jail, according to Morse.Cohorn has been listed as a registered Kansas sex offender since 2000. He has eight previous sex crime convictions from 1998 and 1999 including incest, sexual battery and aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the offender registry.