FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex ctimes.

On Monday, police responded to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City for a reported rape, according to a media release.

Through the investigation, it was learned that 50-year-old Willie Clay, Jr.,&nbsp; allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted the victim at his residence earlier that day. 

Police arrested Clay at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center. He is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Rape and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718146737641.png" alt="Clay photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Clay photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex ctimes.On Monday, police responded to St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City for a reported rape, according to a media release.Through the investigation, it was learned that 50-year-old Willie Clay, Jr.,&nbsp; allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted the victim at his residence earlier that day. Police arrested Clay at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center. He is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Rape and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy.

Kan. man allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted victim

DOUGLAS COUNTY– Police are investigating a homicide that occurred Tuesday night during a fight.

Just after 10:30p.m. law enforcement responded to a report from witnesses who observed two men in a physical fight at intersection of E 25th Terrace and Franklin Road in Lawrence, according to a media release.

A deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was first on scene in the immediate aftermath of the altercation and observed both individuals on the ground, one of them unconscious. 

Responding deputies and officers quickly detained one man and began rendering aid to the unresponsive other man. Despite extensive life-saving efforts by law enforcement and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, the victim later identified as 43-year-old&nbsp; Christopher Allen Lickteig was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect identified as 34-year-old George Luke Miller was taken to Lawrence Police Headquarters for questioning, and subsequently arrested on a requested charge of first-degree murder.

Lickteig and Miller were staying at the Lawrence Community Shelter.

The events and circumstances of the evening, including whether the two men knew each other, are still being investigated. At this early stage of the investigation, detectives do not believe weapons were involved, nor did they recover one at the scene. Police have already interviewed several witnesses and will continue to gather evidence and track down leads to determine what led up to the event.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center at (785)832-7509, or information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785) 843-TIPS (8477).

DOUGLAS COUNTY– Police are investigating a homicide that occurred Tuesday night during a fight.Just after 10:30p.m. law enforcement responded to a report from witnesses who observed two men in a physical fight at intersection of E 25th Terrace and Franklin Road in Lawrence, according to a media release.A deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was first on scene in the immediate aftermath of the altercation and observed both individuals on the ground, one of them unconscious. Responding deputies and officers quickly detained one man and began rendering aid to the unresponsive other man. Despite extensive life-saving efforts by law enforcement and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, the victim later identified as 43-year-old&nbsp; Christopher Allen Lickteig was pronounced dead at the scene.The suspect identified as 34-year-old George Luke Miller was taken to Lawrence Police Headquarters for questioning, and subsequently arrested on a requested charge of first-degree murder.Lickteig and Miller were staying at the Lawrence Community Shelter.The events and circumstances of the evening, including whether the two men knew each other, are still being investigated. At this early stage of the investigation, detectives do not believe weapons were involved, nor did they recover one at the scene. Police have already interviewed several witnesses and will continue to gather evidence and track down leads to determine what led up to the event.Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center at (785)832-7509, or information may be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785) 843-TIPS (8477).

Police ID Kansas man killed during street fight

NEOSHO COUNTY—A Kansas man died from injuries in an accident that occurred just before noon Tuesday in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Camaro driven by Marcus Earl Howard, 39, Chanute, was&nbsp;southbound on Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;A westbound bicycle ridden by Harvey Morris Love, 67, Chanute, struck the side rear of the car as it made a right turn into Santa Fe Park.

EMS transported Love to KU Medical Center where he died on Wednesday,&nbsp; according to the Patrol.&nbsp;

NEOSHO COUNTY—A Kansas man died from injuries in an accident that occurred just before noon Tuesday in Neosho County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Camaro driven by Marcus Earl Howard, 39, Chanute, was&nbsp;southbound on Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp; &nbsp;A westbound bicycle ridden by Harvey Morris Love, 67, Chanute, struck the side rear of the car as it made a right turn into Santa Fe Park.EMS transported Love to KU Medical Center where he died on Wednesday,&nbsp; according to the Patrol.&nbsp;

Kansas bicyclist dies from injuries after crash into car

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Wichita have captured a wanted suspect.

On Wednesday, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon,&nbsp;according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.

Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.

On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide. Police are no longer searching for Orange, according to Moses.

The details of this case have been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, resulting in Walker being charged with Second-Degree Murder, according to Moses.

This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718212493808.png" alt="Walker photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Walker photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Wichita have captured a wanted suspect.On Wednesday, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon,&nbsp;according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide. Police are no longer searching for Orange, according to Moses.The details of this case have been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, resulting in Walker being charged with Second-Degree Murder, according to Moses.This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024.

Police capture suspect wanted for June 4 Kansas homicide

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.

(click below to watch the President's comments)

“Never give up on hope,” Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

The speech came hours after the president’s son Hunter Biden was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.

The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.

He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.

The president has avoided publicly commenting on his son’s case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.

Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being “complicit” in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-how-many-palestinians-has-israels-campaign-killed-2024-05-14/">has killed 35,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-hamas-accept-new-israeli-ceasefire-plan-intended-end-war">U.S. backed cease-fire deal</a>&nbsp;remains elusive.

The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.

“That’s alright,” he said. “Folks, it’s ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.”

Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors “who have turned their pain” into advocacy.

“You’ve helped power a movement,” Biden said.

The gun safety law Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/06/24/congress-sends-biden-historic-gun-safety-legislation-with-gop-support/">signed</a>&nbsp;in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.

One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.

The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact “red flag laws,” which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.

The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/biden-administration-to-create-new-gun-violence-prevention-office/">creation</a>&nbsp;of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to “target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.”

The statutes “directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison,” according to the Justice Department.

“Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.

The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.

Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he won’t tell people to “get over” a mass shooting.

After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead – an 11-year-old student and the principal – was a “terrible thing that happened,” his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-iowa-school-shooting-get-over-it-rcna132642">advice</a>&nbsp;was to “get over it. We have to move forward.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday touted his administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence as the second anniversary of bipartisan gun safety legislation he signed into law approaches.(click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1020357619757302%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=207" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Never give up on hope,” Biden said during an annual conference hosted by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.The speech came hours after the president’s son Hunter Biden was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">found guilty</a>&nbsp;in a federal court in Delaware of lying on paperwork related to purchasing a gun and unlawfully possessing that gun, according to media reports.The federal jury found Hunter Biden, who has struggled with drug addiction, guilty on three related felony charges: lying to a licensed gun dealer, falsely stating on an application for a gun that he was not using drugs and for unlawfully having the gun for 11 days.He could face up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender his sentence is expected to be much less severe.The president has avoided publicly commenting on his son’s case and he did not mention the verdict in his speech.<h2>Gaza protest</h2>Shortly after Biden began his speech, he was interrupted by a protester who accused the president of being “complicit” in the high death toll of the Israel-Hamas war that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-how-many-palestinians-has-israels-campaign-killed-2024-05-14/">has killed 35,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;since Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government. An agreement over a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-hamas-accept-new-israeli-ceasefire-plan-intended-end-war">U.S. backed cease-fire deal</a>&nbsp;remains elusive.The crowd immediately drowned out the protester. A group of protesters was removed, according to a White House pool report.Biden tried to calm the crowd.“That’s alright,” he said. “Folks, it’s ok, look they care, innocent children have been lost, they make a point.”<h2>Law nears second anniversary</h2>Biden went back to his speech, and thanked the gun safety advocates and survivors “who have turned their pain” into advocacy.“You’ve helped power a movement,” Biden said.The gun safety law Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/06/24/congress-sends-biden-historic-gun-safety-legislation-with-gop-support/">signed</a>&nbsp;in 2022 was the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It stemmed from two deadly mass shootings less than two weeks apart in 2022.One was at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.The other was in Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store.The 2022 law provided $750 million for states to enact “red flag laws,” which allow the courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is a threat to themselves or others as well as $11 billion in mental health services for schools and families. The law cracked down on straw purchases, illegal transactions in which a buyer acquires a gun for someone else.The bill also requires those who are under 21 and want to purchase a firearm to undergo a background check that takes into account a review of juvenile and mental health records. It also led to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/biden-administration-to-create-new-gun-violence-prevention-office/">creation</a>&nbsp;of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.The Justice Department also announced Tuesday it has charged more than 500 people under provisions of the gun safety law to “target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.”The statutes “directly prohibit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking and significantly enhance the penalties for those crimes, providing for up to 15 years in prison,” according to the Justice Department.“Criminals rely on illegal gun traffickers and straw purchasers to obtain the weapons they use to harm our communities,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.<h2>More work to do</h2>Biden acknowledged that more needs to be done on gun safety legislation and he called on Congress to ban assault weapons and require universal background checks and safe storage of firearms. In a divided Congress, any gun-related legislation is unlikely to pass.The last time Congress passed major gun legislation was 1994, when then-President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons that spanned 10 years. When it expired, Congress did not renew the ban.Biden also took a jab at his rival, former President Donald J. Trump, and said that he won’t tell people to “get over” a mass shooting.After a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said during a campaign speech in Sioux City, Iowa, that while the school shooting that left two dead – an 11-year-old student and the principal – was a “terrible thing that happened,” his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-iowa-school-shooting-get-over-it-rcna132642">advice</a>&nbsp;was to “get over it. We have to move forward.”

🎥Biden touts gun safety record to advocates, as son found guilty on felony charges

SALINE&nbsp; COUNTY —Janet Willson, the 43-year-old who woman suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen on May 26 in rural Saline County died on Tuesday afternoon at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said Willson was shot with a single .410 gauge shotgun and the injury is now believed to be self-inflicted.

Timothy Lecklider was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of attempted murder in connection to the shooting.

On June 10 investigators conducted an interview with the victim and coupled with evidence collected at the scene determined that Lecklider was not involved in the shooting.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available

SALINE COUNTY —A man accused of shooting his wife in the stomach is out of jail after a lengthy investigation by the Saline County sheriff's office.

Just before 7:30p.m.&nbsp; Sunday May 26, deputies responded to a residence located at 10798 W. Watkins Road in rural Saline County for a report of a woman claiming to have been shot by her husband.

Responding deputies found&nbsp; 43, Janet Wilson in the yard of the residence with a single .410 Guage shotgun wound to the abdomen.

Deputies took 60-year-old Timothy Lecklider into custody at the scene and booked him into the Saline County Jail on&nbsp; requested charges of attempted Murder. 

On June 10, investigators conducted an interview with the victim and coupled with evidence collected at the scene determined that Lecklider was not involved in the shooting.&nbsp; The sheriff's office release him from jail.

According to a statement from the Saline County Sheriff's office, the woman' injury is now believed to be self-inflicted.&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

SALINE&nbsp; COUNTY —Janet Willson, the 43-year-old who woman suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen on May 26 in rural Saline County died on Tuesday afternoon at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said Willson was shot with a single .410 gauge shotgun and the injury is now believed to be self-inflicted.Timothy Lecklider was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of attempted murder in connection to the shooting.On June 10 investigators conducted an interview with the victim and coupled with evidence collected at the scene determined that Lecklider was not involved in the shooting.Check the Post for additional details as they become available-----------SALINE COUNTY —A man accused of shooting his wife in the stomach is out of jail after a lengthy investigation by the Saline County sheriff's office.Just before 7:30p.m.&nbsp; Sunday May 26, deputies responded to a residence located at 10798 W. Watkins Road in rural Saline County for a report of a woman claiming to have been shot by her husband.Responding deputies found&nbsp; 43, Janet Wilson in the yard of the residence with a single .410 Guage shotgun wound to the abdomen.Deputies took 60-year-old Timothy Lecklider into custody at the scene and booked him into the Saline County Jail on&nbsp; requested charges of attempted Murder. On June 10, investigators conducted an interview with the victim and coupled with evidence collected at the scene determined that Lecklider was not involved in the shooting.&nbsp; The sheriff's office release him from jail.According to a statement from the Saline County Sheriff's office, the woman' injury is now believed to be self-inflicted.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.--------------------

Sheriff: Kan. man falsely accused of shooting his wife; she has died

WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt&nbsp;sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding their unlawful pressure campaign on states by the Biden Administration to regulate broadband rates through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NTIA-BEAD-rate-regulation-letter-.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full letter.

The letter highlights NTIA’s covert strategy to mandate pricing on state proposals which will lead to fewer people connected and less competition: &nbsp;

“Revealingly, NTIA’s latest feedback in its so called “curing process” seems to provide that meeting statutory requirement is in fact not satisfactory and that the only low-cost option acceptable must be established as “an exact price or formula” in order to receive funding. In requiring this, your agency is now conditioning BEAD funding on a set price, effectively rate regulating service providers and willfully violating the law,”&nbsp;reads the letter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“If you and Secretary Raimondo continue to pursue this strategy of double talk that NTIA is simply giving preference to states that agree to a specific price and not mandating a specific rate, please know that I along with fellow colleagues on the committee plan to use the fullest extent of our oversight authority to hold you accountable,”&nbsp;continues the letter.

Read the letter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NTIA-BEAD-rate-regulation-letter-.pdf">here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706961774551.png" alt="Photo (Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption>Photo (Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt&nbsp;sent a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding their unlawful pressure campaign on states by the Biden Administration to regulate broadband rates through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NTIA-BEAD-rate-regulation-letter-.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full letter.The letter highlights NTIA’s covert strategy to mandate pricing on state proposals which will lead to fewer people connected and less competition: &nbsp;“Revealingly, NTIA’s latest feedback in its so called “curing process” seems to provide that meeting statutory requirement is in fact not satisfactory and that the only low-cost option acceptable must be established as “an exact price or formula” in order to receive funding. In requiring this, your agency is now conditioning BEAD funding on a set price, effectively rate regulating service providers and willfully violating the law,”&nbsp;reads the letter.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If you and Secretary Raimondo continue to pursue this strategy of double talk that NTIA is simply giving preference to states that agree to a specific price and not mandating a specific rate, please know that I along with fellow colleagues on the committee plan to use the fullest extent of our oversight authority to hold you accountable,”&nbsp;continues the letter.BACKGROUND:<ul>
 <li>All 50 states have applied through the BEAD program to expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas.</li><li>Congress expressly prohibited NTIA from regulating the rates charged for broadband service in the authorizing language that created the BEAD program.</li><li>As part of the BEAD program, states are required in their initial proposal to submit a low-cost service option as a condition of receiving funding, however states were given flexibility in how they determine low-cost based on individual factors unique to the state.&nbsp;</li><li>Unfortunately, NTIA has determined that neither the letter of the law or unique factors that affect each state are suitable for their approval.</li><li>Instead, as revealed through recent communication between NTIA and the State of Virginia, NTIA states that an exact price is the only sufficient condition for funding. &nbsp;</li><li>Currently, only eight states been approved for BEAD funding by NTIA, all of which ended up proposing a fixed price low-cost option. Missouri is one of the 42 remaining states who have yet to be approved.</li><li>NTIA has no authority to enact such policies and must be held accountable for its flagrant actions that will ultimately harm consumers.</li>
 </ul>Read the letter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NTIA-BEAD-rate-regulation-letter-.pdf">here.</a>

Mo. U.S. Senator calls out Biden admin. for broadband rate regulation 

KANSAS CITY- KC Scout, a bi-state initiative between Kansas and Missouri&nbsp; Departments of Transportation to provide travel and traffic information and service for the Kansas City metro area, suffered a cyberattack on April 25. 

For the past several weeks, efforts to restore KC Scout services have been underway. On Wednesday, June 12, motorists on Kansas City metro highways will once again see test messages displayed on the highway digital signs, according to a media release from the agency.

If testing is successful, real-time information should return to the boards in the next week. 

Returning real-time information is considered the first step to restoring all KC Scout systems and services. Additional restoration efforts continue and include having the website operational, camera views available online, and camera stream access.

The DOTs and KC Scout thank everyone for their patience during the service outage and as efforts toward complete service restoration continues.

The Kansas and Missouri DOTs remind motorists that emergency services are still available in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist Vehicle (MAV) continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. 

MoDOT Emergency Response Continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. Immediate and critical traffic information impacting the KC metro area is being shared through <a href="http://modot.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR09GLiozaM6T2M7ml6P9tPbFHXdqYtwrCawElwvj05vcTT7adsVux2-FbA_aem_AU_Pj1jPyIyhQQIuX9YBs7g64rJIJI0zcUP74BHHUcUWGNKr5V6JSNOc6OQKB_t2rPjMX4Npb6h1Ha9EekcQfDIV" target="_blank">modot.org</a> in Missouri and <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FKanDrive.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3xuYCQar7psg-4ovMKcjcjBnRurW9rZldPmJ8X4lSJruvNuClp4umCYgM_aem_AU93-LO_i4ikP37x8LdPD_NjgMMznedT8Z-TrwECmO1VSb-acK5dm1uNIeD2ZrGd4C2VNsQ6uRiZa20B6c9XiRkd&amp;h=AT3BvUtWPvA4w1Im4fah0k5j48u8IsudQy_HbogRx8mOPjt34IOQtB8a4tWUFjAomjHWnlcBtVDrWy32nrIZDgnu7IQNgHDpry6zW0IXU0TqtvsHctzxaRzE2Q3O5UFCX_RXBxY&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT2zLeQexISXF2s50qRhcxTGlrpA-O9NFCwI4JPBpA2BimQ9_NkpKAGYXZYOHl5rQcX7i6wZ2se4pk3WgCdfK-McTm9Tfa6tKz2_2fpuHkUcNOyxA6XiAboYbAqHxCSQ2yPJS0382FQbMQIKSYtdkztZ6lpjKF7QxRqlB4qZPACsKZTFZkcav_cmQDxFXacrAjyGuEAOF3svFc25dOxNIinoSsU5jmzmnTmtyzetW9AFIhzb2b0MOEdqiC48UAcn-56NL4WzhQGIf3CiVt7f" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a> in Kansas.

 While data is not available via KC Scout cameras, message boards or website, the Missouri and Kansas traveler information sites, apps, and phone numbers are providing traffic conditions and lane closures from rush hour, construction and crash information in the KC metro area.

Information is available via phone and website/app:• Missouri: Call 888.275.6636 or visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR23NOg9ltm4ZJpZbdxRkEIFN0TaoFvORY9PGdMkxElEE70ZCsITu-yXcRA_aem_AU-B352m2PQPljEBTProh45ETIDJscqeytEukT3LU_tXwrSzgkHeGPlpYPJaPWXjTmqYOtKSQ1RixmPc-51EIF40&amp;h=AT0dWceqRie8zbWexflVX7-My66eFcL9ej-WENfNeMKP-Z3hTDpCVYZ6TaZ0LPobj_sQE1KQ9iCxGPNJtPTVf9E1LRNACj6vEitqyyK--vCfmqFdQDRhShuDLHOEDfQOrCHNGN8&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT2zLeQexISXF2s50qRhcxTGlrpA-O9NFCwI4JPBpA2BimQ9_NkpKAGYXZYOHl5rQcX7i6wZ2se4pk3WgCdfK-McTm9Tfa6tKz2_2fpuHkUcNOyxA6XiAboYbAqHxCSQ2yPJS0382FQbMQIKSYtdkztZ6lpjKF7QxRqlB4qZPACsKZTFZkcav_cmQDxFXacrAjyGuEAOF3svFc25dOxNIinoSsU5jmzmnTmtyzetW9AFIhzb2b0MOEdqiC48UAcn-56NL4WzhQGIf3CiVt7f" target="_blank">www.modot.org</a>• Kansas: Call 511 or visit <a href="https://kandrive.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0c-j-JkJHap5Q6vN3MSg0GZRDJDWLBJLAGOvvWj2Fkzmf9hv0InjcGMgk_aem_AU9Hu0FzAwQIQbJ9xJQxXphqllGgKogv3kEOvHGFZ2OIsE1DAtr1BLSKA9YMc-KfvX1TMZx-VkK_ycidwrRMGuFx" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a>MoDOT and KDOT remind travelers to drive safely based on current road conditions and traffic flow. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KSDOTHQ?__cft__[0]=AZVru8tYlyqKjuIw0otj4k84FYMfnyMxk0zT7tBpH-8HNx_rKCb23yRUuJe51SOwtuy64CnDCrNvlEqvfY_QoxSWGKCPgdxWOfrLabRLW2nbW5cndRm5-GcBp-8pdUelzbqMnNjMp2536B5ix080dqtkTi3scLnP1lgengZ6TwrGANqYtTjgi-vMXsFJB0jyijSG_LkNADtJ3mESBWhH1YY3yWm66eA1KjerJlMJq8z6SVQ95lUfqaacuiBB6dcA9Uc&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Kansas Department of Transportation</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity?__cft__[0]=AZVru8tYlyqKjuIw0otj4k84FYMfnyMxk0zT7tBpH-8HNx_rKCb23yRUuJe51SOwtuy64CnDCrNvlEqvfY_QoxSWGKCPgdxWOfrLabRLW2nbW5cndRm5-GcBp-8pdUelzbqMnNjMp2536B5ix080dqtkTi3scLnP1lgengZ6TwrGANqYtTjgi-vMXsFJB0jyijSG_LkNADtJ3mESBWhH1YY3yWm66eA1KjerJlMJq8z6SVQ95lUfqaacuiBB6dcA9Uc&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">MoDOT Kansas City</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718146988748.png" alt="Image from a traffic crash in May of 2023" />
 <figcaption>Image from a traffic crash in May of 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY- KC Scout, a bi-state initiative between Kansas and Missouri&nbsp; Departments of Transportation to provide travel and traffic information and service for the Kansas City metro area, suffered a cyberattack on April 25. For the past several weeks, efforts to restore KC Scout services have been underway. On Wednesday, June 12, motorists on Kansas City metro highways will once again see test messages displayed on the highway digital signs, according to a media release from the agency.If testing is successful, real-time information should return to the boards in the next week. Returning real-time information is considered the first step to restoring all KC Scout systems and services. Additional restoration efforts continue and include having the website operational, camera views available online, and camera stream access.The DOTs and KC Scout thank everyone for their patience during the service outage and as efforts toward complete service restoration continues.The Kansas and Missouri DOTs remind motorists that emergency services are still available in Kansas and Missouri. Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist Vehicle (MAV) continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. MoDOT Emergency Response Continue to proactively run routes and respond to incidents in their jurisdiction. Immediate and critical traffic information impacting the KC metro area is being shared through <a href="http://modot.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR09GLiozaM6T2M7ml6P9tPbFHXdqYtwrCawElwvj05vcTT7adsVux2-FbA_aem_AU_Pj1jPyIyhQQIuX9YBs7g64rJIJI0zcUP74BHHUcUWGNKr5V6JSNOc6OQKB_t2rPjMX4Npb6h1Ha9EekcQfDIV" target="_blank">modot.org</a> in Missouri and <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FKanDrive.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3xuYCQar7psg-4ovMKcjcjBnRurW9rZldPmJ8X4lSJruvNuClp4umCYgM_aem_AU93-LO_i4ikP37x8LdPD_NjgMMznedT8Z-TrwECmO1VSb-acK5dm1uNIeD2ZrGd4C2VNsQ6uRiZa20B6c9XiRkd&amp;h=AT3BvUtWPvA4w1Im4fah0k5j48u8IsudQy_HbogRx8mOPjt34IOQtB8a4tWUFjAomjHWnlcBtVDrWy32nrIZDgnu7IQNgHDpry6zW0IXU0TqtvsHctzxaRzE2Q3O5UFCX_RXBxY&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT2zLeQexISXF2s50qRhcxTGlrpA-O9NFCwI4JPBpA2BimQ9_NkpKAGYXZYOHl5rQcX7i6wZ2se4pk3WgCdfK-McTm9Tfa6tKz2_2fpuHkUcNOyxA6XiAboYbAqHxCSQ2yPJS0382FQbMQIKSYtdkztZ6lpjKF7QxRqlB4qZPACsKZTFZkcav_cmQDxFXacrAjyGuEAOF3svFc25dOxNIinoSsU5jmzmnTmtyzetW9AFIhzb2b0MOEdqiC48UAcn-56NL4WzhQGIf3CiVt7f" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a> in Kansas. While data is not available via KC Scout cameras, message boards or website, the Missouri and Kansas traveler information sites, apps, and phone numbers are providing traffic conditions and lane closures from rush hour, construction and crash information in the KC metro area.Information is available via phone and website/app:• Missouri: Call 888.275.6636 or visit <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modot.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR23NOg9ltm4ZJpZbdxRkEIFN0TaoFvORY9PGdMkxElEE70ZCsITu-yXcRA_aem_AU-B352m2PQPljEBTProh45ETIDJscqeytEukT3LU_tXwrSzgkHeGPlpYPJaPWXjTmqYOtKSQ1RixmPc-51EIF40&amp;h=AT0dWceqRie8zbWexflVX7-My66eFcL9ej-WENfNeMKP-Z3hTDpCVYZ6TaZ0LPobj_sQE1KQ9iCxGPNJtPTVf9E1LRNACj6vEitqyyK--vCfmqFdQDRhShuDLHOEDfQOrCHNGN8&amp;__tn__=-UK-y-R&amp;c[0]=AT2zLeQexISXF2s50qRhcxTGlrpA-O9NFCwI4JPBpA2BimQ9_NkpKAGYXZYOHl5rQcX7i6wZ2se4pk3WgCdfK-McTm9Tfa6tKz2_2fpuHkUcNOyxA6XiAboYbAqHxCSQ2yPJS0382FQbMQIKSYtdkztZ6lpjKF7QxRqlB4qZPACsKZTFZkcav_cmQDxFXacrAjyGuEAOF3svFc25dOxNIinoSsU5jmzmnTmtyzetW9AFIhzb2b0MOEdqiC48UAcn-56NL4WzhQGIf3CiVt7f" target="_blank">www.modot.org</a>• Kansas: Call 511 or visit <a href="https://kandrive.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0c-j-JkJHap5Q6vN3MSg0GZRDJDWLBJLAGOvvWj2Fkzmf9hv0InjcGMgk_aem_AU9Hu0FzAwQIQbJ9xJQxXphqllGgKogv3kEOvHGFZ2OIsE1DAtr1BLSKA9YMc-KfvX1TMZx-VkK_ycidwrRMGuFx" target="_blank">KanDrive.gov</a>MoDOT and KDOT remind travelers to drive safely based on current road conditions and traffic flow. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KSDOTHQ?__cft__[0]=AZVru8tYlyqKjuIw0otj4k84FYMfnyMxk0zT7tBpH-8HNx_rKCb23yRUuJe51SOwtuy64CnDCrNvlEqvfY_QoxSWGKCPgdxWOfrLabRLW2nbW5cndRm5-GcBp-8pdUelzbqMnNjMp2536B5ix080dqtkTi3scLnP1lgengZ6TwrGANqYtTjgi-vMXsFJB0jyijSG_LkNADtJ3mESBWhH1YY3yWm66eA1KjerJlMJq8z6SVQ95lUfqaacuiBB6dcA9Uc&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Kansas Department of Transportation</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MoDOT.KansasCity?__cft__[0]=AZVru8tYlyqKjuIw0otj4k84FYMfnyMxk0zT7tBpH-8HNx_rKCb23yRUuJe51SOwtuy64CnDCrNvlEqvfY_QoxSWGKCPgdxWOfrLabRLW2nbW5cndRm5-GcBp-8pdUelzbqMnNjMp2536B5ix080dqtkTi3scLnP1lgengZ6TwrGANqYtTjgi-vMXsFJB0jyijSG_LkNADtJ3mESBWhH1YY3yWm66eA1KjerJlMJq8z6SVQ95lUfqaacuiBB6dcA9Uc&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">MoDOT Kansas City</a>

Cyberattack: Network of KC traffic cameras could return next week

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the “day after” the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.

Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.

The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/#:~:text=The%20Abraham%20Accords%20Declaration,and%20freedom%2C%20including%20religious%20freedom.">agreement</a>&nbsp;to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

“As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel — and all of the Middle East — is free of the evil that is Hamas,” McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Trone called the working group a “promising start.”

“Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people,” he said in a statement.

The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to “convene meetings to engage” executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to “deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.”

The group’s first meeting was a “frank, off-the-record exchange” with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneider’s spokesperson.

Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a “united front to counter Iran and its proxies.”

“It cannot be the United States’ job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table,” Wagner said in a statement.

The lawmakers’ announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-hamas-accept-new-israeli-ceasefire-plan-intended-end-war">proposal</a>&nbsp;outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.

Blinken&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-remarks-to-the-press-24/">told</a>&nbsp;reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “reaffirmed” his commitment to the proposal.

“So everyone’s vote is in, except for one vote, and that’s Hamas. And that’s what we wait for,” Blinken said.

Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S.,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15723.doc.htm">endorsed</a>&nbsp;the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.

The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israel’s southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israel’s figures.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-deaths-women-children-360c6aabc03421c718d4a8452cec2c67">death toll</a>&nbsp;from Israel’s continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718187403950.png" alt="Rep. Ann Wagner-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ann Wagner-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has launched an effort to spur planning for what the Gaza Strip will look like the “day after” the Israel-Hamas war, even as agreement over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal remains elusive.Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois and David Trone of Maryland, along with Republicans Ann Wagner of Missouri and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, formed the Gaza Working Group with the goal of involving Congress in discussions about the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to a joint press release sent to reporters Tuesday.The four leaders formed the Abraham Accords Caucus in 2022 following the 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/#:~:text=The%20Abraham%20Accords%20Declaration,and%20freedom%2C%20including%20religious%20freedom.">agreement</a>&nbsp;to normalize relations between Israel and the three Arab states of Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. The companion caucus in the U.S. Senate is led by Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Cory Booker of New Jersey, alongside GOP Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Joni Ernst of Iowa.“As leaders of the Abraham Accords Caucus, we have an obligation to envision and work towards a future in which Israel — and all of the Middle East — is free of the evil that is Hamas,” McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.Trone called the working group a “promising start.”“Moving forward, we must work together to ensure Hamas is no longer in power by establishing a free and fair democracy in Gaza, secure the safety of Israel and surrounding nations and provide hope and diplomacy for their people,” he said in a statement.The group did not detail or endorse a specific plan for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, but rather aims to “convene meetings to engage” executive branch officials, diplomats and experts to “deliberate and ask questions regarding pertinent issues.”The group’s first meeting was a “frank, off-the-record exchange” with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, according to the joint release. The group met with Herzog on June 4, according to Schneider’s spokesperson.Wagner said stabilizing the region is important to maintaining a “united front to counter Iran and its proxies.”“It cannot be the United States’ job to rebuild Gaza, but together with Israel we can choose who sits at that table,” Wagner said in a statement.<h2>Ceasefire talks&nbsp;</h2>The lawmakers’ announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the region for his eighth visit since the start of the conflict, this time to urge agreement on the latest cease-fire&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-hamas-accept-new-israeli-ceasefire-plan-intended-end-war">proposal</a>&nbsp;outlined by President Joe Biden on May 31.Blinken&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-remarks-to-the-press-24/">told</a>&nbsp;reporters in Tel Aviv Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “reaffirmed” his commitment to the proposal.“So everyone’s vote is in, except for one vote, and that’s Hamas. And that’s what we wait for,” Blinken said.Fourteen nations on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, including the U.S.,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15723.doc.htm">endorsed</a>&nbsp;the proposal Monday. Russia abstained.The Israel-Hamas war has been ongoing since Hamas militants infiltrated Israel’s southern border on Oct. 7, killing roughly 1,200, according to Israel’s figures.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-deaths-women-children-360c6aabc03421c718d4a8452cec2c67">death toll</a>&nbsp;from Israel’s continued offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza reached 36,379 at the end of May, according to the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip run by the Hamas-controlled government.

Ann Wagner joins bipartisan U.S. House caucus planning for post-war Middle East

KANSAS CITY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 10a.m. Monday just south of Kansas City in Cass County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol a 1994 Kenworth semi driven by 31-year0-old Chaz M. Cage of Garden City, Missouri, was southbound on MO 7 just south of Kircher Road.

The vehicle rear-ended a Department of Transportation TMA and truck driven by Madelynn R. Sonstegard, 23, Concordia, Missouri, during a striping operation.

EMS transported&nbsp;Sonstegard to Belton Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; A passenger on the MODOT vehicle Jacob W. Smith, 34, Amorett, Missouri and Cage were transported to Cass Regional Medical Center.

Because both were buckled, the employees will be okay. They took quick actions to evacuate after the crash and before a resulting fire engulfed the vehicles, according to a statement from MODOT.

The department of transportation reminded driver to "please watch for mobile operations on roadways for your safety and ours. And remember to always buckle up and put your phones down."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718188183101.png" alt="Photos MODOT" />
 <figcaption>Photos MODOT</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 10a.m. Monday just south of Kansas City in Cass County, Missouri.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol a 1994 Kenworth semi driven by 31-year0-old Chaz M. Cage of Garden City, Missouri, was southbound on MO 7 just south of Kircher Road.The vehicle rear-ended a Department of Transportation TMA and truck driven by Madelynn R. Sonstegard, 23, Concordia, Missouri, during a striping operation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718187750721.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported&nbsp;Sonstegard to Belton Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; A passenger on the MODOT vehicle Jacob W. Smith, 34, Amorett, Missouri and Cage were transported to Cass Regional Medical Center.Because both were buckled, the employees will be okay. They took quick actions to evacuate after the crash and before a resulting fire engulfed the vehicles, according to a statement from MODOT.The department of transportation reminded driver to "please watch for mobile operations on roadways for your safety and ours. And remember to always buckle up and put your phones down."

3 hospitalized after semi rear-ends DOT vehicle near Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City area man who is a convicted sex offender pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing thousands of videos and images of child pornography.

James Anthony Bee, 56, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of possessing child pornography.

Bee has a prior federal felony conviction for distributing child pornography, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Bee’s term of supervised release began on Dec. 30, 2021.

On Nov. 2, 2022, probation officers conducted an unannounced home inspection at Bee’s residence. A probation officer noticed several cell phone charging cords on his bedroom floor. The terms of Bee’s supervised release prohibited him from possessing electronic devices with access to any on-line computer service without the prior approval of the probation office. Upon retrieving the cords, the probation officer discovered that one of the cords was connected to an SD card reader, which contained a micro-SD card inside the reader.

When Bee arrived and realized the probation officers had found the SD card and were going to search it, he struck the living room window twice with his hand, breaking it. He retrieved a piece of glass and attempted to cut his neck with it. The probation officers contacted emergency services and Bee was transported to the hospital for treatment.

A forensic examination of the SD card found more than 1,300 videos of child pornography and more than 9,000 images of child pornography.

Under federal statutes, Bee is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Oct. 24, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718142111023.png" alt="Bee photo Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Bee photo Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City area man who is a convicted sex offender pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing thousands of videos and images of child pornography.James Anthony Bee, 56, Raytown, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of possessing child pornography.Bee has a prior federal felony conviction for distributing child pornography, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Bee’s term of supervised release began on Dec. 30, 2021.On Nov. 2, 2022, probation officers conducted an unannounced home inspection at Bee’s residence. A probation officer noticed several cell phone charging cords on his bedroom floor. The terms of Bee’s supervised release prohibited him from possessing electronic devices with access to any on-line computer service without the prior approval of the probation office. Upon retrieving the cords, the probation officer discovered that one of the cords was connected to an SD card reader, which contained a micro-SD card inside the reader.When Bee arrived and realized the probation officers had found the SD card and were going to search it, he struck the living room window twice with his hand, breaking it. He retrieved a piece of glass and attempted to cut his neck with it. The probation officers contacted emergency services and Bee was transported to the hospital for treatment.A forensic examination of the SD card found more than 1,300 videos of child pornography and more than 9,000 images of child pornography.Under federal statutes, Bee is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Oct. 24, 2024.

KC-area sex offender admits having thousands of child porn videos

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716899069165.jpeg" alt="Lecklider photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Lecklider photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —A man accused of shooting his wife in the stomach is out of jail after a lengthy investigation by the Saline County sheriff's office.Just before 7:30p.m.&nbsp; Sunday May 26, deputies responded to a residence located at 10798 W. Watkins Road in rural Saline County for a report of a woman claiming to have been shot by her husband.Responding deputies found&nbsp; 43, Janet Wilson in the yard of the residence with a single .410 Guage shotgun wound to the abdomen.Deputies took 60-year-old Timothy Lecklider into custody at the scene and booked him into the Saline County Jail on&nbsp; requested charges of attempted Murder. On June 10, investigators conducted an interview with the victim and coupled with evidence collected at the scene determined that Lecklider was not involved in the shooting.&nbsp; The sheriff's office release him from jail.According to a statement from the Saline County Sheriff's office, the woman' injury is now believed to be self-inflicted.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.--------------------

Sheriff: Kan. man falsely accused of shooting his wife

JOHNSON COUNTY – On Monday, the Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced that a shooting involving a Shawnee Police Officer on February 18, was lawful and justified under Kansas law.  

The circumstances the officers faced that day are something no officer ever wants to face during their career.

Just after 11a.m. on Sunday February 18, police were notified of a rolling disturbance with shots fired from a truck along Kansas 7, according to Shawnee, Kansas Police.

Subsequently, Shawnee police responded to a robbery in progress call at a QuikTrip in the 20600 block of Shawnee Mission Parkway. Officers were informed of shots being fired inside the business. Officers engaged an armed subject later identified as&nbsp;43-year-old Brett Smiley, at the door.&nbsp;

EMS transported Smiley&nbsp; to the hospital in critical condition and he died of his injuries..

No citizens or officers were injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The actions of our officers on the day of the incident saved lives and prevented additional injuries to customers and employees inside the business," the Shawnee Police Department stated in a media release.

"We want to thank the outside agencies involved in the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team (OICIIT) and the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for their thorough investigation and review of this incident. An independent, comprehensive review ensures transparency and trust."

"Our officer will return to his duties, where he will continue to work to keep our community safe."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718129481818.png" alt="Security camera images from inside the QuickTrip provided by the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Security camera images from inside the QuickTrip provided by the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY – On Monday, the Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced that a shooting involving a Shawnee Police Officer on February 18, was lawful and justified under Kansas law. The circumstances the officers faced that day are something no officer ever wants to face during their career.Just after 11a.m. on Sunday February 18, police were notified of a rolling disturbance with shots fired from a truck along Kansas 7, according to Shawnee, Kansas Police.Subsequently, Shawnee police responded to a robbery in progress call at a QuikTrip in the 20600 block of Shawnee Mission Parkway. Officers were informed of shots being fired inside the business. Officers engaged an armed subject later identified as&nbsp;43-year-old Brett Smiley, at the door.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708393250204.png" alt="Brett Smiley-photo Johnson County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Brett Smiley-photo Johnson County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported Smiley&nbsp; to the hospital in critical condition and he died of his injuries..No citizens or officers were injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The actions of our officers on the day of the incident saved lives and prevented additional injuries to customers and employees inside the business," the Shawnee Police Department stated in a media release."We want to thank the outside agencies involved in the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team (OICIIT) and the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for their thorough investigation and review of this incident. An independent, comprehensive review ensures transparency and trust.""Our officer will return to his duties, where he will continue to work to keep our community safe."

Kan. officer won't face charges in deadly shooting at QuickTrip 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Senate Republicans released their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Senate%20Republican%20Framework%20Short%20Summary.pdf">Farm Bill framework</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, and Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall held a press availability on Zoom to talk about it.&nbsp;

"This Farm Bill touches, I would think, every Kansan, in some way, somehow," Marshall said. "What are the next steps? I would explain it like this. A farmer goes in to buy a combine and he agrees with the dealer, all the ins and outs he wants, what type of header he wants on that combine. What we haven't agreed on yet is the price."

It sounds like the difference really isn't that large, all things considered.

"The Democrats and Republicans, we both want strong crop insurance, we both want strong nutrition programs," Marshall said. "We want rural economic development. I think it's just a matter of where we're going to move some dollars from one place to the other and still keep this on budget, because our Farm Bill is completely paid for. We're not asking for any more monies. The Democrats Farm Bill has a request for, I think $20 or $30 billion more each year."

Practically speaking, there's not a lot of legislative time between now and the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30.

"We'll see how far apart we are," Marshall said. "There will be a lot of talks between the two staffs, the two ag committee staffs, as well and see where we can close the gap. There really aren't very many legislative days left up here this summer. We have an election in November. I understand. We'll see if we can mark up something here in the next month or so. It will probably be this summer."

If the deal doesn't get done by the deadline, there is still the idea of a short term continuation of the current bill, which has already been extended for a sixth year, at least to past the election. Ag state legislators really don't want that, as they'd like more certainty, if possible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718131641346.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL&nbsp;Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Senate Republicans released their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Senate%20Republican%20Framework%20Short%20Summary.pdf">Farm Bill framework</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, and Kansas U.S. Senator Dr. Roger Marshall held a press availability on Zoom to talk about it.&nbsp;"This Farm Bill touches, I would think, every Kansan, in some way, somehow," Marshall said. "What are the next steps? I would explain it like this. A farmer goes in to buy a combine and he agrees with the dealer, all the ins and outs he wants, what type of header he wants on that combine. What we haven't agreed on yet is the price."It sounds like the difference really isn't that large, all things considered."The Democrats and Republicans, we both want strong crop insurance, we both want strong nutrition programs," Marshall said. "We want rural economic development. I think it's just a matter of where we're going to move some dollars from one place to the other and still keep this on budget, because our Farm Bill is completely paid for. We're not asking for any more monies. The Democrats Farm Bill has a request for, I think $20 or $30 billion more each year."Practically speaking, there's not a lot of legislative time between now and the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30."We'll see how far apart we are," Marshall said. "There will be a lot of talks between the two staffs, the two ag committee staffs, as well and see where we can close the gap. There really aren't very many legislative days left up here this summer. We have an election in November. I understand. We'll see if we can mark up something here in the next month or so. It will probably be this summer."If the deal doesn't get done by the deadline, there is still the idea of a short term continuation of the current bill, which has already been extended for a sixth year, at least to past the election. Ag state legislators really don't want that, as they'd like more certainty, if possible.

Senate Republicans release their Farm Bill framework

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo., —A Kansas woman and a man from Colorado died in an accident just before 1 p.m. Monday in Johnson County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 16-year-old boy from Warrensburg was eastbound on U.S. 50 at Business 50 in Warrensburg, Missouri.

The driver fell asleep. The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, reentered the road, crossed Business 50, became airborne and struck&nbsp; a northbound 2022 Acura RDX driven by Patricia L. Moffett 83, Overland Park, who was stopped at intersection.

The impact pushed the Acura into a road sign. Moffett and a passenger Derek B. Moffett, 55, Erie, Colorado, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Life-Flight transported two other passengers in the Acura identified as&nbsp; Alexandria B. Moffett, 19, and a 16-year-old girl both from Erie, Colorado to Research Medical Center. A private vehicle transported the 16-year-old pickup driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, to Western Missouri Medical Center, according to the MSHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo., —A Kansas woman and a man from Colorado died in an accident just before 1 p.m. Monday in Johnson County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 16-year-old boy from Warrensburg was eastbound on U.S. 50 at Business 50 in Warrensburg, Missouri.The driver fell asleep. The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, reentered the road, crossed Business 50, became airborne and struck&nbsp; a northbound 2022 Acura RDX driven by Patricia L. Moffett 83, Overland Park, who was stopped at intersection.The impact pushed the Acura into a road sign. Moffett and a passenger Derek B. Moffett, 55, Erie, Colorado, were pronounced dead at the scene.Life-Flight transported two other passengers in the Acura identified as&nbsp; Alexandria B. Moffett, 19, and a 16-year-old girl both from Erie, Colorado to Research Medical Center. A private vehicle transported the 16-year-old pickup driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, to Western Missouri Medical Center, according to the MSHP.

Kansas woman dies in crash after teen driver fell asleep

GEARY COUNTY —A load of french fries went up in flames Tuesday in Geary County.

Just after 1:30a.m. Geary County Fire responded to a semi trailer fully engulfed in flames on Interstate 70 just east of Milford Lake Road, according to Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges.

The truck was a refrigerated unit carrying approximately 30,000 pounds of french fries. There were no injuries reported.

The eastbound I-70 off ramp will b closed until about noon while cleanup continues. Berges estimated the total loss at $80,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718117052290.jpeg" alt="Photo by Garry Berges" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Garry Berges</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —A load of french fries went up in flames Tuesday in Geary County.Just after 1:30a.m. Geary County Fire responded to a semi trailer fully engulfed in flames on Interstate 70 just east of Milford Lake Road, according to Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges.The truck was a refrigerated unit carrying approximately 30,000 pounds of french fries. There were no injuries reported.The eastbound I-70 off ramp will b closed until about noon while cleanup continues. Berges estimated the total loss at $80,000.

30,000 pounds of french fries burn on Interstate 70

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Missouri man drowned Monday at Lake of the Ozarks.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol 81-year-old Allan G. Mueller of Jefferson City was last seen at 5p.m. Monday on his dock and was reported as missing to the Camden County Sheriff.

Mueller entered the water at an unknown time, by unknown means and was wearing a flotation device. He was found floating face down by&nbsp; troopers at the 10 mile marker of Spring Cove.

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Missouri man drowned Monday at Lake of the Ozarks.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol 81-year-old Allan G. Mueller of Jefferson City was last seen at 5p.m. Monday on his dock and was reported as missing to the Camden County Sheriff.Mueller entered the water at an unknown time, by unknown means and was wearing a flotation device. He was found floating face down by&nbsp; troopers at the 10 mile marker of Spring Cove.

Missouri man drowns at Lake of the Ozarks

The undercover video allegedly shows Planned Parenthood staff telling a man pretending to have a 13-year-old pregnant niece how they could help her obtain an abortion out of state

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Planned Parenthood is asking a Missouri judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state’s attorney general alleging the clinic is transporting minors out of state for abortions.&nbsp;

The lawsuit was filed based on an undercover video filmed by a man affiliated with a right-wing group&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article289159614.html">pretending to be the uncle of a 13-year-old</a>&nbsp;in need of an abortion whose parents couldn’t know.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on social media Monday that the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24BA-CV00990&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT13#header">lawsuit filed in February</a>&nbsp;is the latest step in a years-long attempt to “drive Planned Parenthood out of Missouri.”&nbsp;

“It is time to eradicate Planned Parenthood once and for all to end this pattern of abhorrent, unethical, and illegal behavior,” he wrote.

Planned Parenthood continues to argue it has not broken the law, pointing to the “fictitious” nature of the video.

Judge Brouck Jacobs presided over the hearing Monday afternoon in Boone County. The lawsuit was brought against Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which has Missouri clinics in the Kansas City region and Columbia.

“There is no allegation that any child, any minor has been taken across state lines; there’s no allegation that any parent has complained,” John Andrew Hirth argued on behalf of Planned Parenthood. “There’s no allegation that any abortion has been performed either in Missouri or outside of Missouri, with or without parental consent here. The whole conversation is hypothetical.”

Jacobs asked Kathryn Monroe, representing the attorney general’s office, if she agreed.&nbsp;

Monroe said while there was no 13-year-old girl in the video, and the man’s questions were hypothetical, the employee at Planned Parenthood thought the situation was real.&nbsp;

“There was admitted conduct about what they would do in this actual situation,” she said.

The video, captured in December at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the Kansas City area, was later posted on social media by Project Veritas, a self-proclaimed conservative news organization founded in 2010 that often conducts undercover stings that are ultimately disproven. Its now-ousted founder, James O’Keefe, is currently&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/james-okeefe-project-veritas-westchester-investigation-9ba0592a335c00c8579c0e33a4968fc9">under investigation by New York authorities</a>, and the organization has a long history of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/06/project-veritas-voter-fraud-pennsylvania-james-okeefe">spreading claims that are later discredited.&nbsp;</a>

In 2015, Project Veritas released a video purporting to show Planned Parenthood selling fetal tissues from abortions in violation of federal law. That led to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/2015/07/22/missouri-to-investigate-planned-parenthood/21764572007/">investigation by Missouri lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that was unable to substantiate any such sales by Missouri-based Planned Parenthood affiliates.

In the video from Kansas City, the made-up girl’s parents couldn’t know about the abortion, the man secretly taping the interaction for Project Veritas told the Planned Parenthood employees. Staff then directed him to their affiliate clinics in Kansas where they said he could “bypass” parental consent.&nbsp;

When the man asked how often girls go out of state for abortions, the Planned Parenthood employee said it happens “every day.”

Monroe pointed to this quote, saying it shows Planned Parenthood could realistically be helping real minors access abortion now and in the future.

The attorney general’s office pointed to Missouri law which states: “No one shall intentionally cause aid or assist a minor to obtain an abortion.”&nbsp;

That law was written before the state’s trigger law went into place in June 2022, effectively making all abortions — with the expectation of cases where the mother’s life is at risk — illegal.

Missouri doesn’t have explicit laws requiring parental consent for minors getting abortions in other states, nor does it prohibit minors from going to other states to get abortions.

A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains said in February that they do not provide any form of transportation directly to any patients, regardless of age or where they live. They also described the video, taken without staff’s knowledge, as “heavily doctored and edited.”&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0005_section/065_067_0005_k/">Kansas law</a>&nbsp;requires physicians to either obtain parental consent or to go through the judicial bypass process where a judge can authorize a minor to get an abortion without parental consent.

Hirth pointed to a 2007 case, Planned Parenthood v. Nixon, in which he said the court found that information or counseling given by Planned Parenthood — such as laying out a patients’ options in another state —&nbsp;would be considered free speech and would not be classified as aiding or assisting in abortions.

But the attorney general’s office argued that the Missouri clinic still aided in a hypothetical abortion, pointing to a point in the video where the employee says “we can cut off our letterhead so it doesn’t even say where she was,” in reference to a doctor’s note in order to miss school. The employee also says that Planned Parenthood often sets up hotels for those who need to travel out of state.

It’s not clear if “we” implies that specific clinic or Planned Parenthood in Kansas.

Monroe argued these offers represented “an active attempt to conceal where a minor was.”&nbsp;

“If you call and let them know what’s going on, they’ll do whatever they can to help you,” the employee said, referring to the Kansas clinic locations.

The video does not show the employee physically setting up any doctor’s notes or calling to set up a hotel.

“The issue here is about conduct that happened in Kansas or is alleged to have happened in Kansas,” Hirth said. “Or it was alleged to happen in Kansas, hypothetically in the future.”

Hirth added that medical offices are not supposed to reveal what medical procedure a student misses&nbsp; school for regardless of the reason.&nbsp;

The hearing lasted about 40 minutes, at which point Jacobs said he took the issue under advisement.

The Project Veritas video has been widely shared by Missouri Republican lawmakers, and was referenced on the House and Senate floors during debates over a bill seeking to end Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri, which do not perform abortions but do provide services like cancer screenings, STI testing and contraceptives.&nbsp;

That bill eventually passed despite Democrats’ attempts to kill it by filibustering.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-bill-medicaid-planned-parenthood/">Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law this spring.</a>

Hanna Sumpter, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement Monday that while the lawsuit is based on hypotheticals, she believes the harms of such a court filing are real.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718109201152.png" alt="Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The undercover video allegedly shows Planned Parenthood staff telling a man pretending to have a 13-year-old pregnant niece how they could help her obtain an abortion out of state</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Planned Parenthood is asking a Missouri judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state’s attorney general alleging the clinic is transporting minors out of state for abortions.&nbsp;The lawsuit was filed based on an undercover video filmed by a man affiliated with a right-wing group&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article289159614.html">pretending to be the uncle of a 13-year-old</a>&nbsp;in need of an abortion whose parents couldn’t know.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on social media Monday that the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24BA-CV00990&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT13#header">lawsuit filed in February</a>&nbsp;is the latest step in a years-long attempt to “drive Planned Parenthood out of Missouri.”&nbsp;“It is time to eradicate Planned Parenthood once and for all to end this pattern of abhorrent, unethical, and illegal behavior,” he wrote.Planned Parenthood continues to argue it has not broken the law, pointing to the “fictitious” nature of the video.Judge Brouck Jacobs presided over the hearing Monday afternoon in Boone County. The lawsuit was brought against Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which has Missouri clinics in the Kansas City region and Columbia.“There is no allegation that any child, any minor has been taken across state lines; there’s no allegation that any parent has complained,” John Andrew Hirth argued on behalf of Planned Parenthood. “There’s no allegation that any abortion has been performed either in Missouri or outside of Missouri, with or without parental consent here. The whole conversation is hypothetical.”Jacobs asked Kathryn Monroe, representing the attorney general’s office, if she agreed.&nbsp;Monroe said while there was no 13-year-old girl in the video, and the man’s questions were hypothetical, the employee at Planned Parenthood thought the situation was real.&nbsp;“There was admitted conduct about what they would do in this actual situation,” she said.The video, captured in December at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the Kansas City area, was later posted on social media by Project Veritas, a self-proclaimed conservative news organization founded in 2010 that often conducts undercover stings that are ultimately disproven. Its now-ousted founder, James O’Keefe, is currently&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/james-okeefe-project-veritas-westchester-investigation-9ba0592a335c00c8579c0e33a4968fc9">under investigation by New York authorities</a>, and the organization has a long history of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/06/project-veritas-voter-fraud-pennsylvania-james-okeefe">spreading claims that are later discredited.&nbsp;</a>In 2015, Project Veritas released a video purporting to show Planned Parenthood selling fetal tissues from abortions in violation of federal law. That led to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/2015/07/22/missouri-to-investigate-planned-parenthood/21764572007/">investigation by Missouri lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that was unable to substantiate any such sales by Missouri-based Planned Parenthood affiliates.In the video from Kansas City, the made-up girl’s parents couldn’t know about the abortion, the man secretly taping the interaction for Project Veritas told the Planned Parenthood employees. Staff then directed him to their affiliate clinics in Kansas where they said he could “bypass” parental consent.&nbsp;When the man asked how often girls go out of state for abortions, the Planned Parenthood employee said it happens “every day.”Monroe pointed to this quote, saying it shows Planned Parenthood could realistically be helping real minors access abortion now and in the future.The attorney general’s office pointed to Missouri law which states: “No one shall intentionally cause aid or assist a minor to obtain an abortion.”&nbsp;That law was written before the state’s trigger law went into place in June 2022, effectively making all abortions — with the expectation of cases where the mother’s life is at risk — illegal.Missouri doesn’t have explicit laws requiring parental consent for minors getting abortions in other states, nor does it prohibit minors from going to other states to get abortions.A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains said in February that they do not provide any form of transportation directly to any patients, regardless of age or where they live. They also described the video, taken without staff’s knowledge, as “heavily doctored and edited.”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0005_section/065_067_0005_k/">Kansas law</a>&nbsp;requires physicians to either obtain parental consent or to go through the judicial bypass process where a judge can authorize a minor to get an abortion without parental consent.Hirth pointed to a 2007 case, Planned Parenthood v. Nixon, in which he said the court found that information or counseling given by Planned Parenthood — such as laying out a patients’ options in another state —&nbsp;would be considered free speech and would not be classified as aiding or assisting in abortions.But the attorney general’s office argued that the Missouri clinic still aided in a hypothetical abortion, pointing to a point in the video where the employee says “we can cut off our letterhead so it doesn’t even say where she was,” in reference to a doctor’s note in order to miss school. The employee also says that Planned Parenthood often sets up hotels for those who need to travel out of state.It’s not clear if “we” implies that specific clinic or Planned Parenthood in Kansas.Monroe argued these offers represented “an active attempt to conceal where a minor was.”&nbsp;“If you call and let them know what’s going on, they’ll do whatever they can to help you,” the employee said, referring to the Kansas clinic locations.The video does not show the employee physically setting up any doctor’s notes or calling to set up a hotel.“The issue here is about conduct that happened in Kansas or is alleged to have happened in Kansas,” Hirth said. “Or it was alleged to happen in Kansas, hypothetically in the future.”Hirth added that medical offices are not supposed to reveal what medical procedure a student misses&nbsp; school for regardless of the reason.&nbsp;The hearing lasted about 40 minutes, at which point Jacobs said he took the issue under advisement.The Project Veritas video has been widely shared by Missouri Republican lawmakers, and was referenced on the House and Senate floors during debates over a bill seeking to end Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri, which do not perform abortions but do provide services like cancer screenings, STI testing and contraceptives.&nbsp;That bill eventually passed despite Democrats’ attempts to kill it by filibustering.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-bill-medicaid-planned-parenthood/">Gov. Mike Parson signed it into law this spring.</a>Hanna Sumpter, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement Monday that while the lawsuit is based on hypotheticals, she believes the harms of such a court filing are real.“Ultimately, these attacks from anti-abortion groups and politicians hurt real patients –” she wrote. “Shaming and stigmatizing the safe and effective healthcare providers and services they need.”