WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-gaza-taiwan-c0645ad3f47f9d919c8988a98593e887">$95 billion in war aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.

The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 79-18 vote late Tuesday after the House had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-tiktok-congress-a8910452e623413bf1da1e491d1d94ba">approved the package</a>&nbsp;Saturday. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted against the bill.

Biden, who worked with congressional leaders to win support, is expected to quickly sign the legislation and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">start the process of sending weapons to Ukraine</a>, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-aid-package-5b2cfac8351bff94d8c1ead8704110a3">struggling to hold its front lines</a>&nbsp;against Russia. The legislation would also send $26 billion in wartime assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza, and $8 billion to counter Chinese threats in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. officials said about $1 billion of the aid could be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-pentagon-weapons-congress-54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">on its way shortly</a>, with the bulk following in coming weeks.

In an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that if Congress hadn’t passed the aid, “America would have paid a price economically, politically, militarily."

“Very few things we have done have risen to this level of historic importance,” he said.

On the Senate floor, Schumer said the Senate was sending a message to U.S. allies: “We will stand with you.”

Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made passage of the legislation a top priority, agreeing to tie the Ukraine and Israel aid to help ensure passage and arguing there could be dire consequences for the United States and many of its global allies if Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression is left unchecked. They worked with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, to overcome seemingly intractable Republican opposition to the Ukraine aid, in particular — eventually winning large majorities in both chambers.

McConnell said in a separate interview before the vote that it "is one of the biggest days in the time that I’ve been here.”

“At least on this episode, I think we turned the tables on the isolationists," McConnell said.

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-tiktok-congress-a8910452e623413bf1da1e491d1d94ba">approved the package</a>&nbsp;in a series of four votes on Saturday, with the Ukraine portion passing 311-112.

The $61 billion for Ukraine comes as the war-torn country desperately needs new firepower and as Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his attacks. Ukrainian soldiers have struggled as Russia has seized the momentum on the battlefield and gained significant territory.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-national-security-aid-russia-b172cb344d5c7867ed1370246c863794">told</a>&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday the U.S. will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">send</a>&nbsp;badly needed air defense weaponry as soon as the legislation is passed.

“The President has assured me that the package will be approved quickly and that it will be powerful, strengthening our air defense as well as long-range and artillery capabilities,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Monday.

In an effort to gain more votes, Republicans in the House majority also added a bill to the foreign aid package that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-us-ban-sale-china-congress-de12b4d22aa8095e62cb0982a6e62235">could ban the social media app TikTok</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake within a year. That legislation had wide bipartisan support in both chambers.

The TikTok bill was one of several tweaks Johnson to the package the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-senate-5fdcf8cb1964681dcce0f4fe7b9a0f86">Senate passed in February</a>&nbsp;as he tried to move the bill through the House despite significant opposition within his conference. Other additions include a stipulation that $9 billion of the economic assistance to Ukraine is in the form of “forgivable loans"; provisions that allow the U.S. to seize frozen Russian central bank assets to rebuild Ukraine; and bills to impose sanctions on Iran, Russia, China and criminal organizations that traffic fentanyl.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime hawk who voted against the foreign aid package in February because it wasn’t paired with legislation to stem migration at the border, was one of the Republicans who switched their votes. “If we don't help Ukraine now, this war will spread, and Americans who are not involved will be involved,” Graham said.

The package has had broad congressional support since Biden first requested the money last summer. But congressional leaders had to navigate strong opposition from a growing number of conservatives who question U.S. involvement in foreign wars and argue that Congress should be focused instead on the surge of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican who is a close ally to Donald Trump, said that despite the strong showing of support for funding Ukraine’s defense, opposition is growing among Republicans.

“The United States is spread too thin," Vance said, "And that that argument I think, is winning the American people and it’s slowly winning the Senate, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

The growing fault line in the GOP between those conservatives who are skeptical of the aid and the more traditional, “Reagan Republicans" who strongly support it may prove to be career-defining for the two top Republican leaders.

McConnell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">who has made the Ukraine aid a top priority</a>, said last month that he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-republican-leader-stepping-down-ba478d570a4561aa7baf91a204d7e366">step down from leadership</a>&nbsp;after becoming increasingly distanced from many in his conference on the Ukraine aid and other issues. Johnson, who said he put the bills on the floor after praying for guidance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-ukraine-aid-speaker-ouster-c525efc953d532242d6d441c55724992">faces threats of an ouster</a>&nbsp;after a majority of Republicans voted against the aid to Ukraine.

Johnson said after House passage that “we did our work here, and I think history will judge it well."

Opponents in the Senate, like the House, included some left-wing senators who are opposed to aiding Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has bombarded Gaza and killed thousands of civilians. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, voted against the package.

“We must end our complicity in this terrible war,” Sanders said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713922038193.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center right) on the Senate floor during the vote count Tuesday night-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center right) on the Senate floor during the vote count Tuesday night-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-gaza-taiwan-c0645ad3f47f9d919c8988a98593e887">$95 billion in war aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 79-18 vote late Tuesday after the House had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-tiktok-congress-a8910452e623413bf1da1e491d1d94ba">approved the package</a>&nbsp;Saturday. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran voted with the majority. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Missouri Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted against the bill.Biden, who worked with congressional leaders to win support, is expected to quickly sign the legislation and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">start the process of sending weapons to Ukraine</a>, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-aid-package-5b2cfac8351bff94d8c1ead8704110a3">struggling to hold its front lines</a>&nbsp;against Russia. The legislation would also send $26 billion in wartime assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza, and $8 billion to counter Chinese threats in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713922886129.png" alt="-During a weekend meeting in Ukraine, Massachusetts Congressman Will Keating showing President Zelenskyy the members of the House who approved the $60 Billion in funding.-courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>-During a weekend meeting in Ukraine, Massachusetts Congressman Will Keating showing President Zelenskyy the members of the House who approved the $60 Billion in funding.-courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tonight I will vote against sending an additional $60 billion to Ukraine. No more blank checks. <a href="https://t.co/TaDkwDhJPi">pic.twitter.com/TaDkwDhJPi</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1782929534968308141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. officials said about $1 billion of the aid could be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-pentagon-weapons-congress-54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">on its way shortly</a>, with the bulk following in coming weeks.In an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that if Congress hadn’t passed the aid, “America would have paid a price economically, politically, militarily."“Very few things we have done have risen to this level of historic importance,” he said.On the Senate floor, Schumer said the Senate was sending a message to U.S. allies: “We will stand with you.”Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made passage of the legislation a top priority, agreeing to tie the Ukraine and Israel aid to help ensure passage and arguing there could be dire consequences for the United States and many of its global allies if Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression is left unchecked. They worked with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, to overcome seemingly intractable Republican opposition to the Ukraine aid, in particular — eventually winning large majorities in both chambers.McConnell said in a separate interview before the vote that it "is one of the biggest days in the time that I’ve been here.”“At least on this episode, I think we turned the tables on the isolationists," McConnell said.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-tiktok-congress-a8910452e623413bf1da1e491d1d94ba">approved the package</a>&nbsp;in a series of four votes on Saturday, with the Ukraine portion passing 311-112.The $61 billion for Ukraine comes as the war-torn country desperately needs new firepower and as Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his attacks. Ukrainian soldiers have struggled as Russia has seized the momentum on the battlefield and gained significant territory.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-national-security-aid-russia-b172cb344d5c7867ed1370246c863794">told</a>&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday the U.S. will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">send</a>&nbsp;badly needed air defense weaponry as soon as the legislation is passed.“The President has assured me that the package will be approved quickly and that it will be powerful, strengthening our air defense as well as long-range and artillery capabilities,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Monday.In an effort to gain more votes, Republicans in the House majority also added a bill to the foreign aid package that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-us-ban-sale-china-congress-de12b4d22aa8095e62cb0982a6e62235">could ban the social media app TikTok</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake within a year. That legislation had wide bipartisan support in both chambers.The TikTok bill was one of several tweaks Johnson to the package the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-senate-5fdcf8cb1964681dcce0f4fe7b9a0f86">Senate passed in February</a>&nbsp;as he tried to move the bill through the House despite significant opposition within his conference. Other additions include a stipulation that $9 billion of the economic assistance to Ukraine is in the form of “forgivable loans"; provisions that allow the U.S. to seize frozen Russian central bank assets to rebuild Ukraine; and bills to impose sanctions on Iran, Russia, China and criminal organizations that traffic fentanyl.South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime hawk who voted against the foreign aid package in February because it wasn’t paired with legislation to stem migration at the border, was one of the Republicans who switched their votes. “If we don't help Ukraine now, this war will spread, and Americans who are not involved will be involved,” Graham said.The package has had broad congressional support since Biden first requested the money last summer. But congressional leaders had to navigate strong opposition from a growing number of conservatives who question U.S. involvement in foreign wars and argue that Congress should be focused instead on the surge of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican who is a close ally to Donald Trump, said that despite the strong showing of support for funding Ukraine’s defense, opposition is growing among Republicans.“The United States is spread too thin," Vance said, "And that that argument I think, is winning the American people and it’s slowly winning the Senate, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”The growing fault line in the GOP between those conservatives who are skeptical of the aid and the more traditional, “Reagan Republicans" who strongly support it may prove to be career-defining for the two top Republican leaders.McConnell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">who has made the Ukraine aid a top priority</a>, said last month that he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-republican-leader-stepping-down-ba478d570a4561aa7baf91a204d7e366">step down from leadership</a>&nbsp;after becoming increasingly distanced from many in his conference on the Ukraine aid and other issues. Johnson, who said he put the bills on the floor after praying for guidance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-ukraine-aid-speaker-ouster-c525efc953d532242d6d441c55724992">faces threats of an ouster</a>&nbsp;after a majority of Republicans voted against the aid to Ukraine.Johnson said after House passage that “we did our work here, and I think history will judge it well."Opponents in the Senate, like the House, included some left-wing senators who are opposed to aiding Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has bombarded Gaza and killed thousands of civilians. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, voted against the package.“We must end our complicity in this terrible war,” Sanders said.

Hawley, Schmitt vote no: Senate Oks $95B aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

DOUGLAS COUNTY - A Kansas pleaded no contest Friday to two counts of aggravated endangering of a child, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

The charges against 26-year-old Lukas Armstrong of Baldwin City stemmed from an incident that occurred on September 13, 2019, when officers from the Lawrence Kansas Police Department were called to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Overland Park in relation to a two-year-old patient. Findings from the child’s exam were reported as being indicative of violent child abuse. Armstrong, who had often provided child care to the child, was the boyfriend of the child’s mother at the time.&nbsp;

“The safety of our youngest community members must always be a top priority,” District Attorney Valdez said. “As we observe National Child Abuse Awareness Month, we as a community must raise awareness, help children heal and continue to hold perpetrators accountable.”

Armstrong faces between 5 months to a maximum of 17 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for each conviction, according to Valdez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713619394791.png" alt="Armstrong-photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Armstrong-photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY - A Kansas pleaded no contest Friday to two counts of aggravated endangering of a child, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.The charges against 26-year-old Lukas Armstrong of Baldwin City stemmed from an incident that occurred on September 13, 2019, when officers from the Lawrence Kansas Police Department were called to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Overland Park in relation to a two-year-old patient. Findings from the child’s exam were reported as being indicative of violent child abuse. Armstrong, who had often provided child care to the child, was the boyfriend of the child’s mother at the time.&nbsp;“The safety of our youngest community members must always be a top priority,” District Attorney Valdez said. “As we observe National Child Abuse Awareness Month, we as a community must raise awareness, help children heal and continue to hold perpetrators accountable.”Armstrong faces between 5 months to a maximum of 17 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for each conviction, according to Valdez.

Kan. man enters plea for child abuse of girlfriend's toddler

NEW YORK (AP) — A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;'s “eyes and ears" during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress harmful stories and even arranged to purchase the silence of a doorman.

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/P.v%20Trump%20Transcript%20042244.pdf">Click here to read the </a>transcript of Day 1 in the historic Trump trial

The testimony from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-pecker">David Pecker</a>&nbsp;was designed to bolster the prosecution's premise of a decades-long friendship between Trump and the former publisher of the National Enquirer that culminated in an agreement to give the candidate's lawyer a heads-up on negative tips and stories so they could be quashed.

The effort to suppress unflattering information was designed to illegally influence the election, prosecutors have alleged in striving to elevate the gravity of the first trial of a former American president and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">first of four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against Trump to reach a jury.

Pecker is the first witness against Trump, who faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments meant to prevent harmful stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.

With Trump sitting just feet away in the courtroom, Pecker detailed his intimate, behind-the-scenes involvement in Trump's rise from political novice to the Republican nomination and the White House. He explained how he and the National Enquirer parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy tabloid stories that smeared Trump's opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump, including a porn actor's claim of an extramarital sexual encounter a decade earlier.

Pecker traced the origins of their relationship to a 1980s meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and said the friendship bloomed alongside the success of the real estate developer's TV show “The Apprentice" and the program's subsequent celebrity version.

Their ties were solidified during a pivotal August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower involving Trump, his lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen, and another aide, Hope Hicks, in which Pecker was asked what he and the publications he led could do for the campaign.

Pecker said he volunteered to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. But that wasn't all, he said, telling jurors how he told Trump: “I will be your eyes and ears.”

“I said that anything I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself, or if I hear about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen," so that the rights could be purchased and the stories could be killed.

“So they would not get published?” asked prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.

“So they would not get published,” Pecker replied.

To illustrate their point, prosecutors displayed a screenshot of various flattering headlines the National Enquirer published about Trump, including “Donald Dominates!’ and “World Exclusive: The Donald Trump Nobody Knows.” The jury was also shown disparaging and outlandish stories about Trump's opponents, including surgeon Ben Carson and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.

Pecker painted Cohen as a shadow editor of the National Enquirer’s pro-Trump coverage, directing the tabloid to go after whichever Republican candidate was gaining momentum.

“I would receive a call from Michael Cohen, and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard which candidate and which direction we should go,” Pecker said, referring to the tabloid's then-editor.

Pecker said he underscored to Howard that the agreement with the Trump operation was “highly, highly confidential.” He said he wanted the tabloid’s bureau chiefs to be on the lookout for any stories involving Trump and said he wanted them to verify the stories before alerting Cohen.

“I did not want anyone else to know this agreement I had and what I wanted to do,” the ex-publisher added.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to his role in the hush money payments. He was once a confidant of Trump's, but their relationship deteriorated in spectacular fashion. Cohen is expected to be a star government witness, and he routinely posts profane broadsides against Trump on social media.

Trump's lawyers are expected to make attacks on Cohen's credibility a foundation of their defense, but in opening with Pecker, prosecutors hoped to focus attention on a witness with a less volatile backstory. Besides maintaining that Trump is innocent, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors that Cohen cannot be trusted and has “an obsession with getting Trump.”

Pecker's testimony Tuesday followed a hearing earlier in the day in which prosecutors urged Judge Juan M. Merchan to hold Trump in contempt and fine him $1,000 for each of 10 social media posts that they say violated an earlier gag order barring attacks on witnesses, jurors and others involved in the case.

Merchan did not immediately rule, but he seemed skeptical of defense arguments that Trump was merely responding in his posts to others' attacks and had been trying to comply with the order.

Prosecutors allege that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race through a practice known in the tabloid industry as “catch-and-kill” — catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.

In this case, that included a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter that Trump denies. Prosecutors also described other arrangements, including one that paid a former Playboy model $150,000 to suppress claims of a nearly yearlong affair with the married Trump, which Trump also denies.

In another instance, Pecker recounted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-f37ecfc4710b468db6a103a245146172">$30,000</a>&nbsp;payment from the National Enquirer to a Trump Tower doorman for the rights to a rumor that Trump had fathered a child with an employee at Trump World Tower. The tabloid concluded the story was not true, and the woman and Trump have denied the allegations.

As Pecker described receiving the tip in court, Trump shook his head.

Pecker said upon hearing the rumor, he immediately called Cohen, who said it was “absolutely not true” but that he would look into whether the people involved had indeed worked for Trump’s company.

“I made the decision to purchase the story because of the potential embarrassment it had to the campaign and to Mr. Trump,” Pecker said.

In response to the prosecutor’s question about who he understood the boss to be, Pecker replied: “Donald Trump.”

Explaining why he decided to have the National Enquirer foot the bill, Pecker testified: “This was going to be a very big story. I believe it was important that this story be removed from the marketplace.”

If he published the story, Pecker said it would be “probably the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley.”

Jurors viewed an internal Enquirer email and invoice describing the payments to the doorman to kill his story. One document describes the funds coming from the publication’s “corporate” account. An invoice references an “immediate” $30,000 bank transfer payment for “‘Trump’ non-published story.”

Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts</a>&nbsp;arise from reimbursements that prosecutors say Trump's company made to Cohen for hush money payments and that were falsely recorded as legal expenses.

The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, though it’s unclear whether Merchan would seek to put him behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713921168558.png" alt="AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool)" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;'s “eyes and ears" during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress harmful stories and even arranged to purchase the silence of a doorman.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713916840023.png" alt="-The court system is taking the&nbsp;novel step of posting the daily transcripts of the trial proceedings. The transcript for each day is available before the end of the following business day." />
 <figcaption>-The court system is taking the&nbsp;novel step of posting the daily transcripts of the trial proceedings. The transcript for each day is available before the end of the following business day.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/P.v%20Trump%20Transcript%20042244.pdf">Click here to read the </a>transcript of Day 1 in the historic Trump trialThe testimony from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-pecker">David Pecker</a>&nbsp;was designed to bolster the prosecution's premise of a decades-long friendship between Trump and the former publisher of the National Enquirer that culminated in an agreement to give the candidate's lawyer a heads-up on negative tips and stories so they could be quashed.The effort to suppress unflattering information was designed to illegally influence the election, prosecutors have alleged in striving to elevate the gravity of the first trial of a former American president and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">first of four criminal cases</a>&nbsp;against Trump to reach a jury.Pecker is the first witness against Trump, who faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments meant to prevent harmful stories from surfacing in the final days of the 2016 campaign.With Trump sitting just feet away in the courtroom, Pecker detailed his intimate, behind-the-scenes involvement in Trump's rise from political novice to the Republican nomination and the White House. He explained how he and the National Enquirer parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy tabloid stories that smeared Trump's opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress seamy stories about Trump, including a porn actor's claim of an extramarital sexual encounter a decade earlier.Pecker traced the origins of their relationship to a 1980s meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and said the friendship bloomed alongside the success of the real estate developer's TV show “The Apprentice" and the program's subsequent celebrity version.Their ties were solidified during a pivotal August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower involving Trump, his lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen, and another aide, Hope Hicks, in which Pecker was asked what he and the publications he led could do for the campaign.Pecker said he volunteered to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. But that wasn't all, he said, telling jurors how he told Trump: “I will be your eyes and ears.”“I said that anything I hear in the marketplace, if I hear anything negative about yourself, or if I hear about women selling stories, I would notify Michael Cohen," so that the rights could be purchased and the stories could be killed.“So they would not get published?” asked prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.“So they would not get published,” Pecker replied.To illustrate their point, prosecutors displayed a screenshot of various flattering headlines the National Enquirer published about Trump, including “Donald Dominates!’ and “World Exclusive: The Donald Trump Nobody Knows.” The jury was also shown disparaging and outlandish stories about Trump's opponents, including surgeon Ben Carson and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.Pecker painted Cohen as a shadow editor of the National Enquirer’s pro-Trump coverage, directing the tabloid to go after whichever Republican candidate was gaining momentum.“I would receive a call from Michael Cohen, and he would direct me and direct Dylan Howard which candidate and which direction we should go,” Pecker said, referring to the tabloid's then-editor.Pecker said he underscored to Howard that the agreement with the Trump operation was “highly, highly confidential.” He said he wanted the tabloid’s bureau chiefs to be on the lookout for any stories involving Trump and said he wanted them to verify the stories before alerting Cohen.“I did not want anyone else to know this agreement I had and what I wanted to do,” the ex-publisher added.Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to his role in the hush money payments. He was once a confidant of Trump's, but their relationship deteriorated in spectacular fashion. Cohen is expected to be a star government witness, and he routinely posts profane broadsides against Trump on social media.Trump's lawyers are expected to make attacks on Cohen's credibility a foundation of their defense, but in opening with Pecker, prosecutors hoped to focus attention on a witness with a less volatile backstory. Besides maintaining that Trump is innocent, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors that Cohen cannot be trusted and has “an obsession with getting Trump.”Pecker's testimony Tuesday followed a hearing earlier in the day in which prosecutors urged Judge Juan M. Merchan to hold Trump in contempt and fine him $1,000 for each of 10 social media posts that they say violated an earlier gag order barring attacks on witnesses, jurors and others involved in the case.Merchan did not immediately rule, but he seemed skeptical of defense arguments that Trump was merely responding in his posts to others' attacks and had been trying to comply with the order.Prosecutors allege that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race through a practice known in the tabloid industry as “catch-and-kill” — catching a potentially damaging story by buying the rights to it and then killing it through agreements that prevent the paid person from telling the story to anyone else.In this case, that included a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter that Trump denies. Prosecutors also described other arrangements, including one that paid a former Playboy model $150,000 to suppress claims of a nearly yearlong affair with the married Trump, which Trump also denies.In another instance, Pecker recounted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-f37ecfc4710b468db6a103a245146172">$30,000</a>&nbsp;payment from the National Enquirer to a Trump Tower doorman for the rights to a rumor that Trump had fathered a child with an employee at Trump World Tower. The tabloid concluded the story was not true, and the woman and Trump have denied the allegations.As Pecker described receiving the tip in court, Trump shook his head.Pecker said upon hearing the rumor, he immediately called Cohen, who said it was “absolutely not true” but that he would look into whether the people involved had indeed worked for Trump’s company.“I made the decision to purchase the story because of the potential embarrassment it had to the campaign and to Mr. Trump,” Pecker said.In response to the prosecutor’s question about who he understood the boss to be, Pecker replied: “Donald Trump.”Explaining why he decided to have the National Enquirer foot the bill, Pecker testified: “This was going to be a very big story. I believe it was important that this story be removed from the marketplace.”If he published the story, Pecker said it would be “probably the biggest sale of the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley.”Jurors viewed an internal Enquirer email and invoice describing the payments to the doorman to kill his story. One document describes the funds coming from the publication’s “corporate” account. An invoice references an “immediate” $30,000 bank transfer payment for “‘Trump’ non-published story.”Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts</a>&nbsp;arise from reimbursements that prosecutors say Trump's company made to Cohen for hush money payments and that were falsely recorded as legal expenses.The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, though it’s unclear whether Merchan would seek to put him behind bars. A conviction would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.___Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.___

Read transcript: Day 1 of historic Trump civil trial

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations

Just after 1p.m. April 19, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy stopped and arrested a Culligan employee after multiple witnesses reported the Culligan box truck he was driving was dragging along a barbed wire fence, according to&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The driver, later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp; Thomas Norton of Salina reported falling asleep and veering from the roadway.

"The box truck was southbound, left the highway, traveled down off and through the interstate fence," Soldan said. "Then we get a second report, a third report that the thing had come back up onto the interstate, back in through a field, and was dragging a chunk of barbed wire fence."

Norton then drove eastbound on Interstate 70 with the portion of the fence, exited the interstate at Ninth Street, and parked at a gas station near Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue.

Once stopped, Soldan said Saline County deputies then began conversations with Norton, who reported he fell asleep, leading him to veer off the highway.

Norton was booked on requested charges of possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, leaving the scene of an accident, improper driving on a laned roadway and no seatbelt," Soldan said. "The fence that was damaged belonged the Kansas Department of Transportation."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713870120799.png" alt="Norton-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Norton-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegationsJust after 1p.m. April 19, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy stopped and arrested a Culligan employee after multiple witnesses reported the Culligan box truck he was driving was dragging along a barbed wire fence, according to&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.The driver, later identified as 35-year-old&nbsp; Thomas Norton of Salina reported falling asleep and veering from the roadway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713804331122.jpeg" alt="-The location where the Culligan box truck driver, Thomas Norton, veered through an interstate fence on Friday, April 19, just north of the junction of Interstates 135 and 70 on I-135. Photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>-The location where the Culligan box truck driver, Thomas Norton, veered through an interstate fence on Friday, April 19, just north of the junction of Interstates 135 and 70 on I-135. Photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>"The box truck was southbound, left the highway, traveled down off and through the interstate fence," Soldan said. "Then we get a second report, a third report that the thing had come back up onto the interstate, back in through a field, and was dragging a chunk of barbed wire fence."Norton then drove eastbound on Interstate 70 with the portion of the fence, exited the interstate at Ninth Street, and parked at a gas station near Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713804390720.jpeg" alt="-Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies arrest 35-year-old Culligan employee Thomas Norton on Friday, April 19, at Rod's 2 in Salina.&nbsp;Photo by Joyce" />
 <figcaption>-Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies arrest 35-year-old Culligan employee Thomas Norton on Friday, April 19, at Rod's 2 in Salina.&nbsp;Photo by Joyce</figcaption>
 </figure>Once stopped, Soldan said Saline County deputies then began conversations with Norton, who reported he fell asleep, leading him to veer off the highway.Norton was booked on requested charges of possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, leaving the scene of an accident, improper driving on a laned roadway and no seatbelt," Soldan said. "The fence that was damaged belonged the Kansas Department of Transportation."

Kan. driver jailed after he 'fell asleep' and truck destroyed KDOT fence 

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities have served a search warrant on a&nbsp; residence in the 400 block of East 6th Street in Holton Tuesday in connection with a cold case investigation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

The search warrant stems from a missing person investigation and an investigation into the death of another person.&nbsp; Russian immigrant Yulia Shevtensko Larrison went missing in 2001 and Elena Kristova Larrison, also a Russian immigrant, was killed in a reported accident in Holton in 2006.

 The incidents were previously investigated by the Holton Police Department.&nbsp; The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office re-opened investigations concerning both incidents in 2019.&nbsp; At this time, no arrests have been made.

If anyone has any information regarding either of these two incidents, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251 or the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.&nbsp; Anonymous tips can be submitted online at https:www.kbi.ks.gov/sar

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713901671162.png" alt="-Yulia Shevtensko Larrison went missing in 2001-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>-Yulia Shevtensko Larrison went missing in 2001-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities have served a search warrant on a&nbsp; residence in the 400 block of East 6th Street in Holton Tuesday in connection with a cold case investigation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.The search warrant stems from a missing person investigation and an investigation into the death of another person.&nbsp; Russian immigrant Yulia Shevtensko Larrison went missing in 2001 and Elena Kristova Larrison, also a Russian immigrant, was killed in a reported accident in Holton in 2006. The incidents were previously investigated by the Holton Police Department.&nbsp; The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office re-opened investigations concerning both incidents in 2019.&nbsp; At this time, no arrests have been made.If anyone has any information regarding either of these two incidents, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251 or the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME.&nbsp; Anonymous tips can be submitted online at https:www.kbi.ks.gov/sar

Search warrant served in connection with Kansas cold case killing

FTC’s final rule will generate over 8,500 new businesses each year, raise worker wages, lower health care costs, and boost innovation

WASHINGTON —The Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/noncompete-rule.pdf">issued a final rule</a>&nbsp;to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, protecting the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation, according to a statement from the agency.

“Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism, including from the more than 8,500 new startups that would be created a year once noncompetes are banned,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “The FTC’s final rule to ban noncompetes will ensure Americans have the freedom to pursue a new job, start a new business, or bring a new idea to market.”

The FTC estimates that the final rule banning noncompetes will lead to new business formation growing by 2.7% per year, resulting in more than 8,500 additional new businesses created each year. The final rule is expected to result in higher earnings for workers, with estimated earnings increasing for the average worker by an additional $524 per year, and it is expected to lower health care costs by up to $194 billion over the next decade. In addition, the final rule is expected to help drive innovation, leading to an estimated average increase of 17,000 to 29,000 more patents each year for the next 10 years under the final rule.

Noncompetes are a widespread and often exploitative practice imposing contractual conditions that prevent workers from taking a new job or starting a new business. Noncompetes often force workers to either stay in a job they want to leave or bear other significant harms and costs, such as being forced to switch to a lower-paying field, being forced to relocate, being forced to leave the workforce altogether, or being forced to defend against expensive litigation. An estimated 30 million workers—nearly one in five Americans—are subject to a noncompete.

Under the FTC’s new rule, existing noncompetes for the vast majority of workers will no longer be enforceable after the rule’s effective date.&nbsp;Existing noncompetes for senior executives - who represent less than 0.75% of workers - can remain in force under the FTC’s final rule, but employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives.&nbsp;Employers will be required to provide notice to workers other than senior executives who are bound by an existing noncompete that they will not be enforcing any noncompetes against them.

In January 2023, the FTC issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/01/ftc-proposes-rule-ban-noncompete-clauses-which-hurt-workers-harm-competition">proposed rule</a>&nbsp;which was subject to a 90-day public comment period. The FTC received more than 26,000 comments on the proposed rule, with over 25,000 comments in support of the FTC’s proposed ban on noncompetes. The comments informed the FTC’s final rulemaking process, with the FTC carefully reviewing each comment and making changes to the proposed rule in response to the public’s feedback.

In the final rule, the Commission has determined that it is an unfair method of competition, and therefore a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act, for employers to enter into noncompetes with workers and to enforce certain noncompetes.

The Commission found that noncompetes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in labor markets by inhibiting efficient matching between workers and employers. The Commission also found that noncompetes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in product and service markets, inhibiting new business formation and innovation. There is also evidence that noncompetes lead to increased market concentration and higher prices for consumers.

The Commission found that employers have several alternatives to noncompetes that still enable firms to protect their investments without having to enforce a noncompete.

Trade secret laws and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) both provide employers with well-established means to protect proprietary and other sensitive information. Researchers estimate that over 95% of workers with a noncompete already have an NDA.

The Commission also finds that instead of using noncompetes to lock in workers, employers that wish to retain employees can compete on the merits for the worker’s labor services by improving wages and working conditions.

Under the final rule, existing noncompetes for senior executives can remain in force. Employers, however, are prohibited from entering into or enforcing new noncompetes with senior executives. The final rule defines senior executives as workers earning more than $151,164 annually and who are in policy-making positions.

Additionally, the Commission has eliminated a provision in the proposed rule that would have required employers to legally modify existing noncompetes by formally rescinding them. That change will help to streamline compliance.

Instead, under the final rule, employers will simply have to provide notice to workers bound to an existing noncompete that the noncompete agreement will not be enforced against them in the future. To aid employers’ compliance with this requirement, the Commission has included<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/noncompete-rule">&nbsp;model language</a>&nbsp;in the final rule that employers can use to communicate to workers.&nbsp;

The Commission vote to approve the issuance of the final rule was 3-2 with Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Andrew N. Ferguson voting no. Commissioners’ written statements will follow at a later date.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;final rule will become effective 120 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Once the rule is effective, market participants can report information about a suspected violation of the rule to the Bureau of Competition by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:noncompete@ftc.gov">noncompete@ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;

The Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/office-policy-planning">develops policy initiatives</a>&nbsp;on issues that affect competition, consumers, and the U.S. economy. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize.&nbsp;Follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected/social-media">FTC on social media</a>, read&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts">consumer alerts</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog">business blog</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected">sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713903059519.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTC’s final rule will generate over 8,500 new businesses each year, raise worker wages, lower health care costs, and boost innovationWASHINGTON —The Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/noncompete-rule.pdf">issued a final rule</a>&nbsp;to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, protecting the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation, according to a statement from the agency.“Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism, including from the more than 8,500 new startups that would be created a year once noncompetes are banned,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “The FTC’s final rule to ban noncompetes will ensure Americans have the freedom to pursue a new job, start a new business, or bring a new idea to market.”The FTC estimates that the final rule banning noncompetes will lead to new business formation growing by 2.7% per year, resulting in more than 8,500 additional new businesses created each year. The final rule is expected to result in higher earnings for workers, with estimated earnings increasing for the average worker by an additional $524 per year, and it is expected to lower health care costs by up to $194 billion over the next decade. In addition, the final rule is expected to help drive innovation, leading to an estimated average increase of 17,000 to 29,000 more patents each year for the next 10 years under the final rule.Noncompetes are a widespread and often exploitative practice imposing contractual conditions that prevent workers from taking a new job or starting a new business. Noncompetes often force workers to either stay in a job they want to leave or bear other significant harms and costs, such as being forced to switch to a lower-paying field, being forced to relocate, being forced to leave the workforce altogether, or being forced to defend against expensive litigation. An estimated 30 million workers—nearly one in five Americans—are subject to a noncompete.Under the FTC’s new rule, existing noncompetes for the vast majority of workers will no longer be enforceable after the rule’s effective date.&nbsp;Existing noncompetes for senior executives - who represent less than 0.75% of workers - can remain in force under the FTC’s final rule, but employers are banned from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes, even if they involve senior executives.&nbsp;Employers will be required to provide notice to workers other than senior executives who are bound by an existing noncompete that they will not be enforcing any noncompetes against them.In January 2023, the FTC issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/01/ftc-proposes-rule-ban-noncompete-clauses-which-hurt-workers-harm-competition">proposed rule</a>&nbsp;which was subject to a 90-day public comment period. The FTC received more than 26,000 comments on the proposed rule, with over 25,000 comments in support of the FTC’s proposed ban on noncompetes. The comments informed the FTC’s final rulemaking process, with the FTC carefully reviewing each comment and making changes to the proposed rule in response to the public’s feedback.In the final rule, the Commission has determined that it is an unfair method of competition, and therefore a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act, for employers to enter into noncompetes with workers and to enforce certain noncompetes.The Commission found that noncompetes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in labor markets by inhibiting efficient matching between workers and employers. The Commission also found that noncompetes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in product and service markets, inhibiting new business formation and innovation. There is also evidence that noncompetes lead to increased market concentration and higher prices for consumers.<h2>Alternatives to Noncompetes</h2>The Commission found that employers have several alternatives to noncompetes that still enable firms to protect their investments without having to enforce a noncompete.Trade secret laws and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) both provide employers with well-established means to protect proprietary and other sensitive information. Researchers estimate that over 95% of workers with a noncompete already have an NDA.The Commission also finds that instead of using noncompetes to lock in workers, employers that wish to retain employees can compete on the merits for the worker’s labor services by improving wages and working conditions.<h2>Changes from the NPRM</h2>Under the final rule, existing noncompetes for senior executives can remain in force. Employers, however, are prohibited from entering into or enforcing new noncompetes with senior executives. The final rule defines senior executives as workers earning more than $151,164 annually and who are in policy-making positions.Additionally, the Commission has eliminated a provision in the proposed rule that would have required employers to legally modify existing noncompetes by formally rescinding them. That change will help to streamline compliance.Instead, under the final rule, employers will simply have to provide notice to workers bound to an existing noncompete that the noncompete agreement will not be enforced against them in the future. To aid employers’ compliance with this requirement, the Commission has included<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/noncompete-rule">&nbsp;model language</a>&nbsp;in the final rule that employers can use to communicate to workers.&nbsp;The Commission vote to approve the issuance of the final rule was 3-2 with Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Andrew N. Ferguson voting no. Commissioners’ written statements will follow at a later date.&nbsp;The&nbsp;final rule will become effective 120 days after publication in the Federal Register.Once the rule is effective, market participants can report information about a suspected violation of the rule to the Bureau of Competition by emailing&nbsp;<a href="mailto:noncompete@ftc.gov">noncompete@ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;The Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/office-policy-planning">develops policy initiatives</a>&nbsp;on issues that affect competition, consumers, and the U.S. economy. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize.&nbsp;Follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected/social-media">FTC on social media</a>, read&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts">consumer alerts</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog">business blog</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected">sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts</a>.

New federal rule bans companies from enforcing noncompete agreements

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.&nbsp;

Just after 4:00p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of Quincy, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders located a victim in his late teens or early 20s in the street suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. Police have not reported suspect information or identified the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713832575590.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.&nbsp;Just after 4:00p.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of Quincy, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders located a victim in his late teens or early 20s in the street suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. Police have not reported suspect information or identified the victim.

KCPD: Man found with fatal gunshot wound in the street 

Minnetonka, Minnesota (AP) —UnitedHealth says files with personal information that could cover a “substantial portion of people in America” may have been taken in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-cyberattack-hospitals-pharmacy-alphv-unitedhealthcare-521347eb9e8490dad695a7824ed11c41">the cyberattack</a>&nbsp;earlier this year on its Change Healthcare business.

The company said Monday after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. But it may take several months of analysis before UnitedHealth can identify and notify people who were affected.

UnitedHealth did say that some screen shots containing protected health information or personally identifiable information were posted for about a week online on the dark web, which standard browsers can’t access.

The company is still monitoring the internet and dark web and said there has been no addition file publication. It has started&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/ns/health-data-breach.html">a website</a>&nbsp;to answer questions and a call center. But the company said it won’t be able to offer specifics on the impact to individual data.

The company also is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for people affected by the attack.

UnitedHealth bought Change Healthcare in a roughly $8 billion deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-minnesota-us-department-of-justice-55f01b05097e6e57716d6263275a5e3d">that closed in 2022</a>&nbsp;after surviving a challenge from federal regulators. The U.S. Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-us-department-of-justice-18499bf074c30f1d89fe0c26ca2e7b13">had sued earlier that year</a>&nbsp;to block the deal, arguing that it would hurt competition by putting too much information about health care claims in the hands of one company.

UnitedHealth said in February that a ransomware group had gained access to some of the systems of its Change Healthcare business, which provides technology used to submit and process insurance claims.

The attack disrupted payment and claims processing around the country, stressing doctor’s offices and health care systems.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-healthcare-cyberattack-federal-government-hhs-88ac99fc0c62e69dc60fc5c39682e859">Federal civil rights investigators</a>&nbsp;are already looking into whether protected health information was exposed in the attack.

UnitedHealth said Monday that it was still restoring services disrupted by the attack. It has been focused first on restoring those that affect patient access to care or medication.

The company said both pharmacy services and medical claims were back to near normal levels. It said payment process was back to about 86% of pre-attack levels.

UnitedHealth said last week when it reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-change-cyberattack-first-quarter-076a2bcbf0db3b5e6c4ffa27589c3692">first-quarter results</a>&nbsp;that the company has provided more than $6 billion in advance funding and interest-free loans to health care providers affected by the attack.

UnitedHealth took an $872 million hit from from the cyberattack in the first quarter, and company officials said that could grow beyond $1.5 billion for the year.

Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs one of the nation’s largest health insurers. It also runs one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits management businesses, provides care and offers technology services.

Minnetonka, Minnesota (AP) —UnitedHealth says files with personal information that could cover a “substantial portion of people in America” may have been taken in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-cyberattack-hospitals-pharmacy-alphv-unitedhealthcare-521347eb9e8490dad695a7824ed11c41">the cyberattack</a>&nbsp;earlier this year on its Change Healthcare business.The company said Monday after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. But it may take several months of analysis before UnitedHealth can identify and notify people who were affected.UnitedHealth did say that some screen shots containing protected health information or personally identifiable information were posted for about a week online on the dark web, which standard browsers can’t access.The company is still monitoring the internet and dark web and said there has been no addition file publication. It has started&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/ns/health-data-breach.html">a website</a>&nbsp;to answer questions and a call center. But the company said it won’t be able to offer specifics on the impact to individual data.The company also is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for people affected by the attack.UnitedHealth bought Change Healthcare in a roughly $8 billion deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-minnesota-us-department-of-justice-55f01b05097e6e57716d6263275a5e3d">that closed in 2022</a>&nbsp;after surviving a challenge from federal regulators. The U.S. Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-us-department-of-justice-18499bf074c30f1d89fe0c26ca2e7b13">had sued earlier that year</a>&nbsp;to block the deal, arguing that it would hurt competition by putting too much information about health care claims in the hands of one company.UnitedHealth said in February that a ransomware group had gained access to some of the systems of its Change Healthcare business, which provides technology used to submit and process insurance claims.The attack disrupted payment and claims processing around the country, stressing doctor’s offices and health care systems.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/change-healthcare-cyberattack-federal-government-hhs-88ac99fc0c62e69dc60fc5c39682e859">Federal civil rights investigators</a>&nbsp;are already looking into whether protected health information was exposed in the attack.UnitedHealth said Monday that it was still restoring services disrupted by the attack. It has been focused first on restoring those that affect patient access to care or medication.The company said both pharmacy services and medical claims were back to near normal levels. It said payment process was back to about 86% of pre-attack levels.UnitedHealth said last week when it reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-change-cyberattack-first-quarter-076a2bcbf0db3b5e6c4ffa27589c3692">first-quarter results</a>&nbsp;that the company has provided more than $6 billion in advance funding and interest-free loans to health care providers affected by the attack.UnitedHealth took an $872 million hit from from the cyberattack in the first quarter, and company officials said that could grow beyond $1.5 billion for the year.Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs one of the nation’s largest health insurers. It also runs one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits management businesses, provides care and offers technology services.

UnitedHealth paid ransom to bad actors; patient data compromised

WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1782445733071004133&amp;redir_log=060098234643287" target="_blank">mobilize the National Guard</a>&nbsp;to protect Jewish American students in response to anti-Israel, pro-terrorist demonstrations that have broken out on college campuses.

"On college campuses across the United States, Jewish Americans are at risk&nbsp;[...]&nbsp;In your statement on Passover, you stated that 'in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.' Now, you must take action to match those words,"&nbsp;wrote Senator Hawley.&nbsp;

"You must immediately mobilize the National Guard and any other authorities necessary to ensure the safety of Jewish American students and citizens,"&nbsp;Hawley continued.

Last October, the Senate unanimously&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14502QQQ9087810QQQ7987650QQQ8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fsenate-passes-hawley-resolution-condemning-antisemitism-college-campuses%2523%253a%257e%253atext%253dSenate%252520Passes%252520Hawley%252520Resolution%252520Condemning%252520Antisemitism%252520on%252520College%252520Campuses%252c-Thursday%25252C%252520October%25252026%2526text%253dToday%252520the%252520U.S.%252520Senate%252520passed%252c7%252520terrorist%252520attack%252520against%252520Israel.%26redir_log%3d854300373832101&amp;redir_log=943543390563546" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;Senator Hawley's&nbsp;resolution&nbsp;condemning Hamas and the antisemitic rhetoric emanating from campus student groups, which have continued to celebrate the Oct. 7 terrorist&nbsp;attack against Israel. The passage of Senator Hawley's resolution came after Democrats initially&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14502QQQ9087810QQQ7987650QQQ8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fdemocrats-block-hawley-resolution-condemn-antisemitic-activities-college-campuses%26redir_log%3d591119202206791&amp;redir_log=235021319151988">blocked</a>&nbsp;the measure.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fsites%2fdefault%2ffiles%2f2024-04%2fHawley-Letter-to-Biden-re-Columbia_0.pdf&amp;redir_log=471072155468652" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full letter from the Senator.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713893853332.jpeg" alt="The New School students and pro-Palestinian supporters rally outside The New School University Center building, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)" />
 <figcaption>The New School students and pro-Palestinian supporters rally outside The New School University Center building, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1782445733071004133&amp;redir_log=060098234643287" target="_blank">mobilize the National Guard</a>&nbsp;to protect Jewish American students in response to anti-Israel, pro-terrorist demonstrations that have broken out on college campuses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713894040483.png" alt="Senator demands Biden use National Guard to protect Jewish students&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Senator demands Biden use National Guard to protect Jewish students&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>"On college campuses across the United States, Jewish Americans are at risk&nbsp;[...]&nbsp;In your statement on Passover, you stated that 'in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.' Now, you must take action to match those words,"&nbsp;wrote Senator Hawley.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Eisenhower sent the 101st to Little Rock. It’s time for Biden to call out the National Guard at our universities to protect Jewish Americans&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1782400528988664103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"You must immediately mobilize the National Guard and any other authorities necessary to ensure the safety of Jewish American students and citizens,"&nbsp;Hawley continued.Last October, the Senate unanimously&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14502QQQ9087810QQQ7987650QQQ8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fsenate-passes-hawley-resolution-condemning-antisemitism-college-campuses%2523%253a%257e%253atext%253dSenate%252520Passes%252520Hawley%252520Resolution%252520Condemning%252520Antisemitism%252520on%252520College%252520Campuses%252c-Thursday%25252C%252520October%25252026%2526text%253dToday%252520the%252520U.S.%252520Senate%252520passed%252c7%252520terrorist%252520attack%252520against%252520Israel.%26redir_log%3d854300373832101&amp;redir_log=943543390563546" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;Senator Hawley's&nbsp;resolution&nbsp;condemning Hamas and the antisemitic rhetoric emanating from campus student groups, which have continued to celebrate the Oct. 7 terrorist&nbsp;attack against Israel. The passage of Senator Hawley's resolution came after Democrats initially&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2foutreach.senate.gov%2fiqextranet%2fiqClickTrk.aspx%3f%26cid%3dSenHawley%26crop%3d14502QQQ9087810QQQ7987650QQQ8019990%26report_id%3d%26redirect%3dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hawley.senate.gov%252fdemocrats-block-hawley-resolution-condemn-antisemitic-activities-college-campuses%26redir_log%3d591119202206791&amp;redir_log=235021319151988">blocked</a>&nbsp;the measure.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14718.9092084.7988699.8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fsites%2fdefault%2ffiles%2f2024-04%2fHawley-Letter-to-Biden-re-Columbia_0.pdf&amp;redir_log=471072155468652" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full letter from the Senator.

Mo. Senator demands Biden use National Guard to protect Jewish students 

Eds: CORRECTS: This story was first published on April 19, 2024. It was updated on April 23, 2024 to correct details in the 20th paragraph about one of the election bills vetoed by the governor. That bill would require county election officials to track how many ballots an individual delivers for other voters, as the state limits the delivery of 10 ballots per person. It does not eliminate the extra three days a voter has after Election Day to return a mail ballot.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Friday vetoed proposed tax breaks for anti-abortion counseling centers while allowing restrictions on college diversity initiatives approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature to become law without her signature.

Gov. Laura Kelly also vetoed a bill with bipartisan support to increase the penalties for killing a law enforcement dog or horse, a move that the GOP leader who pushed it called “political pettiness.” In addition, she rejected two elections measures fueled at least in part by the influence of people promoting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-technology-health-arizona-e1b49d2311bf900f44fa5c6dac406762">baseless</a>&nbsp;election conspiracies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-ba265d04c9ac03870352ce4399b99755">among Republicans.</a>

Kelly's action on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2105_enrolled.pdf">the bill</a>&nbsp;dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives stood out because it broke with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/culture-war-kansas-abortion-diversity-eb8c355ac54b19c5efc80090accb9ce9">her vetoes last year</a>&nbsp;of anti-DEI measure from the current state budget.

The new law, taking effect July 1, prohibits state universities, community colleges and technical schools from requiring prospective students or applicants for jobs or promotions to make statements on their views about diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Kelly let it become law only two days after the state's higher education board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-universities-kansas-fb98a63434394dbd9b675983244ec757">adopted its own, narrower ban</a>&nbsp;on the same practices.

“While I have concerns about this legislation, I don’t believe that the conduct targeted in this legislation occurs in our universities," Kelly said in her message on the bill, contradicting statements made by GOP legislators.

Legislators are scheduled to return Thursday from a spring break and wrap up their work for the year in six days. Top Republicans immediately pledged to try to override Friday’s vetoes.

Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-state-legislation-diversity-4d80ec7e9d372e74b129efc402ac0b76">in about two dozen states</a>&nbsp;have sought to limit DEI initiatives, arguing that they are discriminatory and enforce a liberal political orthodoxy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-legislature-dei-2a4d677d7488d45b0188e0d2f6aa6029">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-government-college-university-dei-cox-efdf4862d8a2b96d28606dcb8ce30ca8">Utah</a>&nbsp;enacted new anti-DEI laws this year, and a ban enacted in Texas last year has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-texas-university-job-cuts-939b334d85108e498c0f85d2ad44ebc2">more than 100 job cuts</a>&nbsp;on University of Texas campuses.

The new policy from the Kansas Board of Regents applies only to state universities and does not specify any penalties, while the new law will allow a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation.

Backers of DEI programs say they are being misrepresented. The American Psychological Association defines&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/equity-diversity-inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;as a framework to guide “fair treatment and full participation of all people,” especially those in minority groups.

“We need to move forward and focus our efforts on making college more affordable and providing students from all backgrounds with the tools they need to succeed,” Kelly said in her message on the bill.

With the bill helping the state's nearly 60 anti-abortion centers, Kelly's veto was expected because she is a strong supporter of abortion rights. She already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-care-abortion-pornography-kansas-7b4141984334258017da842a3542570c">has vetoed</a>&nbsp;two other measures championed by abortion opponents this year.

But GOP lawmakers in Kansas have had increasing success in overriding Kelly’s actions. Republican leaders appear to have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-born-alive-kansas-3bf5b23d13f5dc41d6d799c64ccafc33">abortion issues</a>&nbsp;and appeared close on the DEI bill.

The latest abortion measure would exempt anti-abortion centers that provide free services to prospective mothers and new parents from paying the state's 6.5% sales tax on what they buy and give donors to them income tax credits totaling up to $10 million a year.

Kelly said in her veto message that it is not appropriate for the state to “divert taxpayer dollars to largely unregulated crisis pregnancy centers.”

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2465_02_04042024_tax1.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;also includes provisions designed to financially help parents who adopt or want to adopt children.

“Governor Kelly has shown once again that her only allegiance is to the profit-driven abortion industry, and not to vulnerable Kansas women, children, and families,” Jeanne Gawdun, a lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state's most influential anti-abortion group, said in a statement.

Abortion opponents in Kansas are blocked from pursuing the same kind of severe restrictions or bans on abortion imposed in neighboring states, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">A Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution, and a statewide vote in August 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively affirmed</a>&nbsp;that position.

“This bill goes against the wishes of Kansans,” Kelly said in her veto message.

Kelly also has clashed repeatedly with Republicans on voting rights issues.

One of the elections bills she vetoed would require county election officials to track how many ballots an individual delivers for other voters, as the state limits the delivery of 10 ballots per person. Legislators set that limit in 2021, but many Republicans argue that the state hasn't been able to adequately enforce it. GOP lawmakers contend the limit prevents fraud and lost ballots, though there was no evidence of such problems.

The other elections bill would prohibit state agencies and local officials from using federal funds in administering elections or promoting voting without the Legislature's express permission. Republicans see spending by the Biden administration as an attempt to improperly boost Democratic turnout.

But Kelly chided lawmakers for “focusing on problems that do not exist."

“I would urge the Legislature to focus on real issues impacting Kansans,” Kelly said in her veto message on the second bill.

The veto of the bill on police dogs was perhaps Kelly's most surprising action. Increased penalties have had bipartisan support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dogs-kansas-racial-disparties-policing-8e47eddc6193557b762e8245a55815f1">across the U.S.,</a>&nbsp;and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis this week signed&nbsp;<a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a_1074_enr.pdf">a measure</a>&nbsp;this week.

The Kansas measure was inspired by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dog-strangled-memorial-kansas-833d090ca3d030f3e0b83a321ec5fd29">the November death</a>&nbsp;of Bane, an 8-year-old Wichita police dog, who authorities say was strangled by a suspect in a domestic violence case. It would allow a first-time offender to be sentenced to up to five years and fined up to $10,000.

Kelly said the issue needed more study, saying the new penalties for killing a police dog would be out of line with other, more severe crimes, “without justification."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713015977836.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo Sherman Smith" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo Sherman Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>Eds: CORRECTS: This story was first published on April 19, 2024. It was updated on April 23, 2024 to correct details in the 20th paragraph about one of the election bills vetoed by the governor. That bill would require county election officials to track how many ballots an individual delivers for other voters, as the state limits the delivery of 10 ballots per person. It does not eliminate the extra three days a voter has after Election Day to return a mail ballot.---------By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Friday vetoed proposed tax breaks for anti-abortion counseling centers while allowing restrictions on college diversity initiatives approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature to become law without her signature.Gov. Laura Kelly also vetoed a bill with bipartisan support to increase the penalties for killing a law enforcement dog or horse, a move that the GOP leader who pushed it called “political pettiness.” In addition, she rejected two elections measures fueled at least in part by the influence of people promoting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-technology-health-arizona-e1b49d2311bf900f44fa5c6dac406762">baseless</a>&nbsp;election conspiracies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-ba265d04c9ac03870352ce4399b99755">among Republicans.</a>Kelly's action on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2105_enrolled.pdf">the bill</a>&nbsp;dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives stood out because it broke with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/culture-war-kansas-abortion-diversity-eb8c355ac54b19c5efc80090accb9ce9">her vetoes last year</a>&nbsp;of anti-DEI measure from the current state budget.The new law, taking effect July 1, prohibits state universities, community colleges and technical schools from requiring prospective students or applicants for jobs or promotions to make statements on their views about diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Kelly let it become law only two days after the state's higher education board&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-universities-kansas-fb98a63434394dbd9b675983244ec757">adopted its own, narrower ban</a>&nbsp;on the same practices.“While I have concerns about this legislation, I don’t believe that the conduct targeted in this legislation occurs in our universities," Kelly said in her message on the bill, contradicting statements made by GOP legislators.Legislators are scheduled to return Thursday from a spring break and wrap up their work for the year in six days. Top Republicans immediately pledged to try to override Friday’s vetoes.Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-state-legislation-diversity-4d80ec7e9d372e74b129efc402ac0b76">in about two dozen states</a>&nbsp;have sought to limit DEI initiatives, arguing that they are discriminatory and enforce a liberal political orthodoxy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-legislature-dei-2a4d677d7488d45b0188e0d2f6aa6029">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-government-college-university-dei-cox-efdf4862d8a2b96d28606dcb8ce30ca8">Utah</a>&nbsp;enacted new anti-DEI laws this year, and a ban enacted in Texas last year has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-texas-university-job-cuts-939b334d85108e498c0f85d2ad44ebc2">more than 100 job cuts</a>&nbsp;on University of Texas campuses.The new policy from the Kansas Board of Regents applies only to state universities and does not specify any penalties, while the new law will allow a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation.Backers of DEI programs say they are being misrepresented. The American Psychological Association defines&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/equity-diversity-inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;as a framework to guide “fair treatment and full participation of all people,” especially those in minority groups.“We need to move forward and focus our efforts on making college more affordable and providing students from all backgrounds with the tools they need to succeed,” Kelly said in her message on the bill.With the bill helping the state's nearly 60 anti-abortion centers, Kelly's veto was expected because she is a strong supporter of abortion rights. She already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-care-abortion-pornography-kansas-7b4141984334258017da842a3542570c">has vetoed</a>&nbsp;two other measures championed by abortion opponents this year.But GOP lawmakers in Kansas have had increasing success in overriding Kelly’s actions. Republican leaders appear to have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-born-alive-kansas-3bf5b23d13f5dc41d6d799c64ccafc33">abortion issues</a>&nbsp;and appeared close on the DEI bill.The latest abortion measure would exempt anti-abortion centers that provide free services to prospective mothers and new parents from paying the state's 6.5% sales tax on what they buy and give donors to them income tax credits totaling up to $10 million a year.Kelly said in her veto message that it is not appropriate for the state to “divert taxpayer dollars to largely unregulated crisis pregnancy centers.”<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2465_02_04042024_tax1.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;also includes provisions designed to financially help parents who adopt or want to adopt children.“Governor Kelly has shown once again that her only allegiance is to the profit-driven abortion industry, and not to vulnerable Kansas women, children, and families,” Jeanne Gawdun, a lobbyist for Kansans for Life, the state's most influential anti-abortion group, said in a statement.Abortion opponents in Kansas are blocked from pursuing the same kind of severe restrictions or bans on abortion imposed in neighboring states, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">A Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution, and a statewide vote in August 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively affirmed</a>&nbsp;that position.“This bill goes against the wishes of Kansans,” Kelly said in her veto message.Kelly also has clashed repeatedly with Republicans on voting rights issues.One of the elections bills she vetoed would require county election officials to track how many ballots an individual delivers for other voters, as the state limits the delivery of 10 ballots per person. Legislators set that limit in 2021, but many Republicans argue that the state hasn't been able to adequately enforce it. GOP lawmakers contend the limit prevents fraud and lost ballots, though there was no evidence of such problems.The other elections bill would prohibit state agencies and local officials from using federal funds in administering elections or promoting voting without the Legislature's express permission. Republicans see spending by the Biden administration as an attempt to improperly boost Democratic turnout.But Kelly chided lawmakers for “focusing on problems that do not exist."“I would urge the Legislature to focus on real issues impacting Kansans,” Kelly said in her veto message on the second bill.The veto of the bill on police dogs was perhaps Kelly's most surprising action. Increased penalties have had bipartisan support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dogs-kansas-racial-disparties-policing-8e47eddc6193557b762e8245a55815f1">across the U.S.,</a>&nbsp;and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis this week signed&nbsp;<a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024A/bills/2024a_1074_enr.pdf">a measure</a>&nbsp;this week.The Kansas measure was inspired by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-dog-strangled-memorial-kansas-833d090ca3d030f3e0b83a321ec5fd29">the November death</a>&nbsp;of Bane, an 8-year-old Wichita police dog, who authorities say was strangled by a suspect in a domestic violence case. It would allow a first-time offender to be sentenced to up to five years and fined up to $10,000.Kelly said the issue needed more study, saying the new penalties for killing a police dog would be out of line with other, more severe crimes, “without justification."

Correction: Kan. governor vetoes bills on abortion and even police dogs

BARTON COUNTY —With zero to low visibility, a&nbsp;Russell USD 407  activity bus was involved in an accident Tuesday morning, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

 The bus was transporting the Russell/Victoria baseball team to Liberal for a doubleheader.

The accident occurred on Northwest 30 Avenue, north Northwest 50 Road, in Barton County. Law enforcement blocked off Northwest 30 Avenue from Northwest 50 Road and north. No injuries have been reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713889135840.jpeg" alt="Photo by Mike Courson, Great Bend Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Mike Courson, Great Bend Post</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —With zero to low visibility, a&nbsp;Russell USD 407 activity bus was involved in an accident Tuesday morning, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The bus was transporting the Russell/Victoria baseball team to Liberal for a doubleheader.The accident occurred on Northwest 30 Avenue, north Northwest 50 Road, in Barton County. Law enforcement blocked off Northwest 30 Avenue from Northwest 50 Road and north. No injuries have been reported.

Kansas school bus with baseball team involved in crash

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Manhattan.

Just before 12:30a.m. Tuesday, the Riley County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 1400 block of Watson Place in Manhattan, according to a media release.

Riley County Police Officers responded to the scene and found a 20-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The victim was transported via air ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Manhattan.Just before 12:30a.m. Tuesday, the Riley County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 1400 block of Watson Place in Manhattan, according to a media release.Riley County Police Officers responded to the scene and found a 20-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.The victim was transported via air ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

Woman air-lifted to hospital after shooting in Manhattan

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6000 block of Leavenworth Road, according to a media release. 

First responders discovered a man in the parking lot of a business. He was pronounced deceased on scene. 

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. 

&nbsp;This is the seventh homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6000 block of Leavenworth Road, according to a media release. First responders discovered a man in the parking lot of a business. He was pronounced deceased on scene. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. &nbsp;This is the seventh homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.

Homicide: Man found dead in parking lot of Kansas business

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The picture for tax cuts in Kansas and the next state budget remained stable with the release of a new fiscal forecast that reinforced the dynamics of a conflict over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-tax-cuts-budget-036b39b7ccc52eeb8e4f460901aee56c">proposed tax cuts</a>&nbsp;between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

<a href="https://budget.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Short_Memo_04-19-2024.pdf">The new forecast</a>&nbsp;from state officials and legislative researchers came with lawmakers scheduled to reconvene Thursday after a spring break for the final six days of their annual session. Kelly has until Thursday to act on a bill cutting income, sales and property taxes and another measure containing the bulk of the next state budget.

The new forecast replaces projections made in November for tax collections through the end of June 2025. It trims the previous estimates by about 1.2% or $119 million for the current budget year, which ends June 30. But it boosts them by $80 million for the budget year that begins July while projecting that the state also will earn more interest than previously expected on its idle funds.

In both budget years, the state's annual tax collections are expected to exceed $10 billion, and a new profile of the state's finances by legislative researchers projects that Kansas will have more than $3.7 billion in surplus funds at the end of June 2025, even with the tax cuts approved by lawmakers.

“Everything is relatively stable at this point,” Shirley Morrow, the acting director of the Legislature's research staff, said during a Statehouse news conference.

The tax bill on Kelly's desk would cut taxes by a total of more than $1.5 billion over the next three years. Kelly's chief of staff has described it as larger than Kelly deems affordable over the long term, and the governor said Tuesday that she wanted to see the new fiscal forecast before making any decision.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement that the new forecast should make signing the tax bill "an easy ‘yes’ for the governor.”

The bill would move Kansas from three individual income tax rates to two, with the top rate dropping to 5.55% from the current 5.7%. Republican leaders wanted to go to a single rate, but Kelly views that idea as helping “the super wealthy.” She has told fellow Democrats that she opposes going to two rates.

The measure also would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state’s property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

The plan split Kelly's fellow Democrats. Those in the Senate largely opposed it and echoed Kelly's concerns. The House approved it without any opposing votes — and many Democrats there praised it as providing tax relief for all classes of Kansas residents.

The same unity among House Democrats isn't likely during a vote to override Kelly's veto because some will want to support Kelly. But House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said he can't in good conscience ask Democrats to back a veto if he can't be sure a better plan is possible.

"I’m very happy with the product that we ended up with,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t know that there’s anything out there that would be better than this one.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704387739420.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas Historical Society" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Historical Society</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The picture for tax cuts in Kansas and the next state budget remained stable with the release of a new fiscal forecast that reinforced the dynamics of a conflict over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-tax-cuts-budget-036b39b7ccc52eeb8e4f460901aee56c">proposed tax cuts</a>&nbsp;between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature.<a href="https://budget.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Short_Memo_04-19-2024.pdf">The new forecast</a>&nbsp;from state officials and legislative researchers came with lawmakers scheduled to reconvene Thursday after a spring break for the final six days of their annual session. Kelly has until Thursday to act on a bill cutting income, sales and property taxes and another measure containing the bulk of the next state budget.The new forecast replaces projections made in November for tax collections through the end of June 2025. It trims the previous estimates by about 1.2% or $119 million for the current budget year, which ends June 30. But it boosts them by $80 million for the budget year that begins July while projecting that the state also will earn more interest than previously expected on its idle funds.In both budget years, the state's annual tax collections are expected to exceed $10 billion, and a new profile of the state's finances by legislative researchers projects that Kansas will have more than $3.7 billion in surplus funds at the end of June 2025, even with the tax cuts approved by lawmakers.“Everything is relatively stable at this point,” Shirley Morrow, the acting director of the Legislature's research staff, said during a Statehouse news conference.The tax bill on Kelly's desk would cut taxes by a total of more than $1.5 billion over the next three years. Kelly's chief of staff has described it as larger than Kelly deems affordable over the long term, and the governor said Tuesday that she wanted to see the new fiscal forecast before making any decision.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement that the new forecast should make signing the tax bill "an easy ‘yes’ for the governor.”The bill would move Kansas from three individual income tax rates to two, with the top rate dropping to 5.55% from the current 5.7%. Republican leaders wanted to go to a single rate, but Kelly views that idea as helping “the super wealthy.” She has told fellow Democrats that she opposes going to two rates.The measure also would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state’s property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.The plan split Kelly's fellow Democrats. Those in the Senate largely opposed it and echoed Kelly's concerns. The House approved it without any opposing votes — and many Democrats there praised it as providing tax relief for all classes of Kansas residents.The same unity among House Democrats isn't likely during a vote to override Kelly's veto because some will want to support Kelly. But House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said he can't in good conscience ask Democrats to back a veto if he can't be sure a better plan is possible."I’m very happy with the product that we ended up with,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t know that there’s anything out there that would be better than this one.”

New fiscal forecast for Kansas reinforces the dynamics of debate over tax cuts

BUTLER COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fatal weekend fire in Butler County.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, crews responded to the fire at a home near the&nbsp;15000 Block of SW County Line Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; When the first units arrived on scene the home was fully involved.

Firefighters removed a woman from the residence via a window and she was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Two other people also died in the fire, according to Cundiff.

Sheriff's office investigators are working to ID&nbsp;of all the victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713807731459.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fatal weekend fire in Butler County.Just after 3a.m. Sunday, crews responded to the fire at a home near the&nbsp;15000 Block of SW County Line Road, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; When the first units arrived on scene the home was fully involved.Firefighters removed a woman from the residence via a window and she was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Two other people also died in the fire, according to Cundiff.Sheriff's office investigators are working to ID&nbsp;of all the victims.

Sheriff working to ID 3 victims in deadly Kan. house fire

WASHINGTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident during a pursuit by law enforcement just after 10a.m. Monday in Washington County.

WASHINGTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident during a pursuit by law enforcement just after 10a.m. Monday in Washington County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ram 1500 driven by&nbsp; Robert Darius Allen, 22, Bellevue, Washington was northbound fleeing from law enforcement&nbsp; on Kansas 15 Northbound one and one half miles south of U.S. 36.The pickup traveled into the east ditch. rolled and struck an embankment.EMS transported Allen and a passenger Rylee Lavern&nbsp;Linders, 22, Bellevue, Washington, to the Washington County, Kansas hospital. They were not wearing seat belt, according to the KHP. One&nbsp; juvenile was present in the vehicle; juvenile protected data, according to the KHP.