COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr" target="_blank">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;has challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to a head-to-head debate for when both address a Libertarian convention later this month, a move that comes as the presumptive GOP nominee has ramped up both criticism of Kennedy's independent bid and demands that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;meet him on a debate stage.

Arguing that he is “drawing a lot of voters from your former supporters,” Kennedy said to Trump in an open letter posted Tuesday to X that the Libertarian convention provides “perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”

Trump has been bullish in calling on Biden to debate him ahead of the November general election but has shied away from other rivals’ previous debate entreaties. Trump skipped the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">GOP primary debates</a>, saying it was unnecessary because voters know him and his record.

Kennedy, who last year challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination before launching an independent bid, has argued that his relatively strong showing in a few national polls gives his candidacy heft. Polls during the 2016 presidential campaign regularly put libertarian Gary Johnson’s support in the high single or low double digits, but he ultimately received only about 3% of the vote nationwide.

In the open letter to Trump, Kennedy said their debate could “show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other." Kennedy wrote that convention organizers "are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!”

Spokespeople for the Trump campaign and the Libertarian Party did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Kennedy's debate challenge.

Kennedy and Trump are scheduled to appear on separate days before attendees at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-libertarian-rfk-jr-voters-gop-biden-659e6f19dec85344bfe1f93e0ea1c0a1" target="_blank">Libertarian National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Washington, D.C. later this month. Both candidates have been courting support from libertarian-leaning voters, although Kennedy — who is working to appear on all 50 ballots, a state-by-state petition process — has ruled out officially running as a Libertarian candidate.

In recent weeks, Trump's campaign has ramped up its attacks against Kennedy, who has appealed to disaffected Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463" target="_blank">looking for an alternative</a>&nbsp;to the pending rematch of the 2020 election.

Last month, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “RFK Jr. is a Democrat ‘Plant,’ a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden." MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump's candidacy, has also issued its own critical posts and created an anti-Kennedy website.

Leaving court one day last week after his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-cohen-9be06e3d33c25af7060552a44001cc1a" target="_blank">hush money trial</a>, Trump told reporters asking about Kennedy’s campaign that he didn’t feel threatened by it, pointing to polling.

“He might hurt me, I don’t know. But he has very low numbers, certainly not numbers that he can debate with, and he’s got to get his numbers up a lot higher before he’s credible,” Trump said. “The numbers that he’s taking away, they say will be against Biden. I don’t know, it could be a little bit against me, but I don’t see him as a factor.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711482471368.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr" target="_blank">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;has challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to a head-to-head debate for when both address a Libertarian convention later this month, a move that comes as the presumptive GOP nominee has ramped up both criticism of Kennedy's independent bid and demands that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;meet him on a debate stage.Arguing that he is “drawing a lot of voters from your former supporters,” Kennedy said to Trump in an open letter posted Tuesday to X that the Libertarian convention provides “perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”Trump has been bullish in calling on Biden to debate him ahead of the November general election but has shied away from other rivals’ previous debate entreaties. Trump skipped the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">GOP primary debates</a>, saying it was unnecessary because voters know him and his record.Kennedy, who last year challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination before launching an independent bid, has argued that his relatively strong showing in a few national polls gives his candidacy heft. Polls during the 2016 presidential campaign regularly put libertarian Gary Johnson’s support in the high single or low double digits, but he ultimately received only about 3% of the vote nationwide.In the open letter to Trump, Kennedy said their debate could “show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other." Kennedy wrote that convention organizers "are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!”Spokespeople for the Trump campaign and the Libertarian Party did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Kennedy's debate challenge.Kennedy and Trump are scheduled to appear on separate days before attendees at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-libertarian-rfk-jr-voters-gop-biden-659e6f19dec85344bfe1f93e0ea1c0a1" target="_blank">Libertarian National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Washington, D.C. later this month. Both candidates have been courting support from libertarian-leaning voters, although Kennedy — who is working to appear on all 50 ballots, a state-by-state petition process — has ruled out officially running as a Libertarian candidate.In recent weeks, Trump's campaign has ramped up its attacks against Kennedy, who has appealed to disaffected Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463" target="_blank">looking for an alternative</a>&nbsp;to the pending rematch of the 2020 election.Last month, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “RFK Jr. is a Democrat ‘Plant,’ a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden." MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump's candidacy, has also issued its own critical posts and created an anti-Kennedy website.Leaving court one day last week after his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-cohen-9be06e3d33c25af7060552a44001cc1a" target="_blank">hush money trial</a>, Trump told reporters asking about Kennedy’s campaign that he didn’t feel threatened by it, pointing to polling.“He might hurt me, I don’t know. But he has very low numbers, certainly not numbers that he can debate with, and he’s got to get his numbers up a lot higher before he’s credible,” Trump said. “The numbers that he’s taking away, they say will be against Biden. I don’t know, it could be a little bit against me, but I don’t see him as a factor.”___

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges Donald Trump to debate

Districts contracting with Pennsylvania company qualify for state matching funds

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

TOPEKA — Firearm detection software company ZeroEyes hired lobbyists in Kansas and more than a dozen other states this year to improve prospects of cornering the market on multimillion-dollar school district security contracts by inserting restrictions in legislation to undermine the ability of rival venders to bid.

“We started working with statehouses to do some sort of direct appropriated money, that kind of thing, or maybe some policy changes,” said Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer for ZeroEyes of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

After business lobbying successes in Utah, Texas, Florida and Michigan, Carroll said the company expanded its operation this year to state capitols in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, North Carolina and half-dozen other states. The objective of hiring four lobbyists in Kansas was to convince legislators to support a bill incentivizing school districts to enter contracts with ZeroEyes for deployment of AI technology capable of monitoring security camera feeds to identify gun-wielding intruders.

Rep. Kristey Williams, the Augusta Republican and chairperson of the House K-12 Budget Committee, invited Carroll to make a presentation to her committee in February.

“Take a couple minutes and do the live demo,” Williams urged Carroll. “It’s impressive.”

The ZeroEyes appearance was part of an “informational” hearing, which in legislative speak meant it wasn’t a regular committee meeting in which vendors or lobbyists with opinions contrary to those of ZeroEyes would be given an opportunity to make a sales pitch to legislators.

An early version of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb387_03_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 387</a>&nbsp;explicitly declared Kansas school districts that hired ZeroEyes would be eligible for a slice of the state’s $5 million School Safety and Security Grant program.

The final version of the bill sent Gov. Laura Kelly didn’t overtly earmark state tax dollars for the no-bid arrangement beneficial to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://zeroeyes.com/">ZeroEyes</a>, but a rival vendor says four of eight precisely written caveats within that bill excluded all companies except ZeroEyes from leveraging state grant funding to obtain AI security systems.

A school district in Kansas could go with a different vendor, but language in the bill meant the dollar-for-dollar match from the state would only be available to districts that signed with ZeroEyes. The financial incentive would be in play if the governor chose to sign the bill rather than line-item veto the ZeroEyes provision. The bill, which contained the annual budget appropriation for Kansas’ public schools, passed the House on a vote of 115-2 and the Senate by a margin of 35-2.

“I look at us as a bipartisan, nonpartisan solution,” Carroll said. “We are not trying to get overly involved in any kind of Second Amendment debate, or civil rights debate or any mental health debate.”

Overall cost of video monitoring services would be a major consideration for school districts in Kansas. During the presentation to the House committee, Carroll said outfitting Kansas’ 1,300 school buildings with ZeroEyes technology and providing 24/7 oversight of images captured on 25 cameras in each school would cost $8.5 million annually. An upgrade to the option of 50 cameras in each school building would annually cost taxpayers $15.2 million per year.

Mark Franken, vice president of marketing at Omnilert in Leesburg, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C., said the industry had taken notice of ZeroEyes’ hardball business tactics in statehouses. He said Omnilert hired lobbyists in a couple states, but not Kansas, to make legislators aware of ZeroEyes’ anti-competitive campaign.

He said one method ZeroEyes inhibited competition was to convince state legislators to write bills requiring bidders to hold a U.S. Department of Homeland Security “safety act” validation. The only company to go through that paperwork process to obtain the DHS document was ZeroEyes, Franken said.

“Kansas is one of several states where that tactic has been used. It’s actually happening in Missouri right now,” Franken said. “We would love to bid. We’re all for open competition.”

He said vender competition would result in school districts getting technology most suited to the need and at a price that was fair whether it was a larger school district such as Wichita, Blue Valley, Olathe and Topeka or a smaller district ranging from Buhler, Garnett, Wellsville, McLouth to Bucklin.

A reduction in the per-camera cost of AI monitoring services would stretch taxpayer dollars so more school cameras could be linked to gun-identification software, he said.

Omnilert has been in the AI security business for about four years and its clients include Baltimore County schools where 7,500 cameras were being monitored throughout the district, he said.

The bill on Kelly’s desk required venders to have contracts in at least 30 states and customers in the public and private sectors. It required the vendor to have received a patent on AI security technology. It must have developed its software in the United States without third-party or open-source data, be compliant with the safety act at DHS and manage an operations center staffed by “highly trained analysts.” It couldn’t collect or monetize biometric data or personally identifiable information.

These features were attributed to ZeroEyes in the verbal presentation to the House committee or in marketing information on the company’s website.

Frank Harwood, deputy commissioner of fiscal and administrative affairs for the Kansas State Department of Education, said 188 school districts in Kansas applied last year for part of the $5 million allocated annually by the state for school safety and security projects. Requests from those school districts totaled $14 million, he said.

Harwood said the vast majority of schools in Kansas had some building coverage with security cameras. He said some schools might have a handful of cameras in each building while others could have 200 cameras in a large high school complex.

A security company making recommendations about placement of cameras to make use of AI software would likely suggest installation of additional cameras to deal with coverage gaps inside and outside school buildings, he said.

“You’re going to have a lot of districts that will say, and the company will say, you don’t have enough cameras in the right places,” Harwood said.

Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, R-Ottawa, said she was supportive of collaboration among businesses and school districts to better defend against potential attacks on students, teachers and administrators. She expressed appreciation for the dedication of ZeroEyes executives to the problem of school violence.

“It is unfortunate, the disregard for life,” she said. “It is absolutely heartbreaking.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715277614119.png" alt=" Rep. Kristey Williams, the Augusta Republican and chairperson of the House K-12 Budget Committee, negotiated a budget bill offering state-funded incentives to school districts that hired a Pennsylvania security vendor, but not that company's rival vendors, to provide artificial intelligence services capable of identifying gun-toting people in school buildings. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Kristey Williams, the Augusta Republican and chairperson of the House K-12 Budget Committee, negotiated a budget bill offering state-funded incentives to school districts that hired a Pennsylvania security vendor, but not that company's rival vendors, to provide artificial intelligence services capable of identifying gun-toting people in school buildings. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Districts contracting with Pennsylvania company qualify for state matching funds</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Firearm detection software company ZeroEyes hired lobbyists in Kansas and more than a dozen other states this year to improve prospects of cornering the market on multimillion-dollar school district security contracts by inserting restrictions in legislation to undermine the ability of rival venders to bid.In Kansas, the gambit may work.“We started working with statehouses to do some sort of direct appropriated money, that kind of thing, or maybe some policy changes,” said Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer for ZeroEyes of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.After business lobbying successes in Utah, Texas, Florida and Michigan, Carroll said the company expanded its operation this year to state capitols in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, North Carolina and half-dozen other states. The objective of hiring four lobbyists in Kansas was to convince legislators to support a bill incentivizing school districts to enter contracts with ZeroEyes for deployment of AI technology capable of monitoring security camera feeds to identify gun-wielding intruders.Rep. Kristey Williams, the Augusta Republican and chairperson of the House K-12 Budget Committee, invited Carroll to make a presentation to her committee in February.“Take a couple minutes and do the live demo,” Williams urged Carroll. “It’s impressive.”The ZeroEyes appearance was part of an “informational” hearing, which in legislative speak meant it wasn’t a regular committee meeting in which vendors or lobbyists with opinions contrary to those of ZeroEyes would be given an opportunity to make a sales pitch to legislators.<h2>ZeroEyes only</h2>An early version of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_sb387_03_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 387</a>&nbsp;explicitly declared Kansas school districts that hired ZeroEyes would be eligible for a slice of the state’s $5 million School Safety and Security Grant program.The final version of the bill sent Gov. Laura Kelly didn’t overtly earmark state tax dollars for the no-bid arrangement beneficial to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://zeroeyes.com/">ZeroEyes</a>, but a rival vendor says four of eight precisely written caveats within that bill excluded all companies except ZeroEyes from leveraging state grant funding to obtain AI security systems.A school district in Kansas could go with a different vendor, but language in the bill meant the dollar-for-dollar match from the state would only be available to districts that signed with ZeroEyes. The financial incentive would be in play if the governor chose to sign the bill rather than line-item veto the ZeroEyes provision. The bill, which contained the annual budget appropriation for Kansas’ public schools, passed the House on a vote of 115-2 and the Senate by a margin of 35-2.“I look at us as a bipartisan, nonpartisan solution,” Carroll said. “We are not trying to get overly involved in any kind of Second Amendment debate, or civil rights debate or any mental health debate.”Overall cost of video monitoring services would be a major consideration for school districts in Kansas. During the presentation to the House committee, Carroll said outfitting Kansas’ 1,300 school buildings with ZeroEyes technology and providing 24/7 oversight of images captured on 25 cameras in each school would cost $8.5 million annually. An upgrade to the option of 50 cameras in each school building would annually cost taxpayers $15.2 million per year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715277659912.png" alt=" Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer of the AI school-safety company ZeroEyes, made a sales pitch to a Kansas House committee in February. A K-12 budget bill offers state matching grant funding to school districts that hire ZeroEyes, but not the company’s competitors. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Kieran Carroll, chief strategy officer of the AI school-safety company ZeroEyes, made a sales pitch to a Kansas House committee in February. A K-12 budget bill offers state matching grant funding to school districts that hire ZeroEyes, but not the company’s competitors. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Love to bid’</h2>Mark Franken, vice president of marketing at Omnilert in Leesburg, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C., said the industry had taken notice of ZeroEyes’ hardball business tactics in statehouses. He said Omnilert hired lobbyists in a couple states, but not Kansas, to make legislators aware of ZeroEyes’ anti-competitive campaign.He said one method ZeroEyes inhibited competition was to convince state legislators to write bills requiring bidders to hold a U.S. Department of Homeland Security “safety act” validation. The only company to go through that paperwork process to obtain the DHS document was ZeroEyes, Franken said.“Kansas is one of several states where that tactic has been used. It’s actually happening in Missouri right now,” Franken said. “We would love to bid. We’re all for open competition.”He said vender competition would result in school districts getting technology most suited to the need and at a price that was fair whether it was a larger school district such as Wichita, Blue Valley, Olathe and Topeka or a smaller district ranging from Buhler, Garnett, Wellsville, McLouth to Bucklin.A reduction in the per-camera cost of AI monitoring services would stretch taxpayer dollars so more school cameras could be linked to gun-identification software, he said.Omnilert has been in the AI security business for about four years and its clients include Baltimore County schools where 7,500 cameras were being monitored throughout the district, he said.The bill on Kelly’s desk required venders to have contracts in at least 30 states and customers in the public and private sectors. It required the vendor to have received a patent on AI security technology. It must have developed its software in the United States without third-party or open-source data, be compliant with the safety act at DHS and manage an operations center staffed by “highly trained analysts.” It couldn’t collect or monetize biometric data or personally identifiable information.These features were attributed to ZeroEyes in the verbal presentation to the House committee or in marketing information on the company’s website.<h2>Demand for security</h2>Frank Harwood, deputy commissioner of fiscal and administrative affairs for the Kansas State Department of Education, said 188 school districts in Kansas applied last year for part of the $5 million allocated annually by the state for school safety and security projects. Requests from those school districts totaled $14 million, he said.Harwood said the vast majority of schools in Kansas had some building coverage with security cameras. He said some schools might have a handful of cameras in each building while others could have 200 cameras in a large high school complex.A security company making recommendations about placement of cameras to make use of AI software would likely suggest installation of additional cameras to deal with coverage gaps inside and outside school buildings, he said.“You’re going to have a lot of districts that will say, and the company will say, you don’t have enough cameras in the right places,” Harwood said.Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, R-Ottawa, said she was supportive of collaboration among businesses and school districts to better defend against potential attacks on students, teachers and administrators. She expressed appreciation for the dedication of ZeroEyes executives to the problem of school violence.“It is unfortunate, the disregard for life,” she said. “It is absolutely heartbreaking.”

Kansas bill dangles cash to persuade K-12 school districts to hire a specific gun-detection vendor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday signed legislation to once again try to kick Planned Parenthood out of the state's Medicaid program.

Parson's signature could mean Missouri joins a small band of states — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas, according to Planned Parenthood — to have successfully blocked Medicaid funding for the organization.

“Our administration has been the strongest pro-life administration in Missouri history,” Parson said. “We’ve ended all elective abortions in this state, approved new support for mothers, expecting mothers, and children, and, with this bill, ensured that we are not sending taxpayer dollars to abortion providers for any purpose."

In Missouri, Republicans have tried for years to block Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood clinics because of its association with abortion. That has continued even though Planned Parenthood no longer performs abortions in Missouri.

A state law prohibiting most abortions took effect after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">U.S. Supreme Court overturned</a>&nbsp;a nationwide right to abortion in June 2022.

Defunding efforts in the state have been repeatedly thwarted in the courts. A February Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-planned-parenthood-5e343d00de4cc4b3e3a7bcbe5f56d2d6">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;found that lawmakers’ latest attempt at defunding Planned Parenthood was unconstitutional.

“This bill not only defies the ruling of Missouri’s highest court but also flouts federal Medicaid law,” the region's Planned Parenthood center said in a statement. “By denying Medicaid patients’ right to receive health care from Planned Parenthood, politicians are directly obstructing access to much-needed health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, annual wellness exams, and STI testing and treatment.”

Missouri Planned Parenthood plans to continue treating Medicaid patients at no cost, according to the organization.

Meanwhile, abortion-rights advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-constitution-amendment-ballot-voter-d6c3098ca082772954b36e03287f5b10">last week</a>&nbsp;turned in more than twice the needed number of signatures to put a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-campaign-fundraising-election-740fd1267ab84d5e2a4cf6ebe5a56b71">proposal to legalize abortion</a>&nbsp;on the Missouri ballot this year.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday signed legislation to once again try to kick Planned Parenthood out of the state's Medicaid program.Parson's signature could mean Missouri joins a small band of states — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas, according to Planned Parenthood — to have successfully blocked Medicaid funding for the organization.“Our administration has been the strongest pro-life administration in Missouri history,” Parson said. “We’ve ended all elective abortions in this state, approved new support for mothers, expecting mothers, and children, and, with this bill, ensured that we are not sending taxpayer dollars to abortion providers for any purpose."In Missouri, Republicans have tried for years to block Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood clinics because of its association with abortion. That has continued even though Planned Parenthood no longer performs abortions in Missouri.A state law prohibiting most abortions took effect after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">U.S. Supreme Court overturned</a>&nbsp;a nationwide right to abortion in June 2022.Defunding efforts in the state have been repeatedly thwarted in the courts. A February Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-medicaid-planned-parenthood-5e343d00de4cc4b3e3a7bcbe5f56d2d6">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;found that lawmakers’ latest attempt at defunding Planned Parenthood was unconstitutional.“This bill not only defies the ruling of Missouri’s highest court but also flouts federal Medicaid law,” the region's Planned Parenthood center said in a statement. “By denying Medicaid patients’ right to receive health care from Planned Parenthood, politicians are directly obstructing access to much-needed health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, annual wellness exams, and STI testing and treatment.”Missouri Planned Parenthood plans to continue treating Medicaid patients at no cost, according to the organization.Meanwhile, abortion-rights advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-constitution-amendment-ballot-voter-d6c3098ca082772954b36e03287f5b10">last week</a>&nbsp;turned in more than twice the needed number of signatures to put a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-campaign-fundraising-election-740fd1267ab84d5e2a4cf6ebe5a56b71">proposal to legalize abortion</a>&nbsp;on the Missouri ballot this year.

Mo. governor signs bill to kick Planned Parenthood off Medicaid

RILEY COUNTY— The mayor of Manhattan resigned after he was arrested in connection with an alleged DUI crash that occurred just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Manhattan.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, an Infinity passenger vehicle driven by 72-year-old <a href="https://cityofmhk.com/1703/Mayor-Wynn-Butler">Winfried Butler,</a> of Manhattan, struck Candlewood Liquor&nbsp;in the 3200 block of Kimball Avenue.

&nbsp;The total estimated loss in this matter is over $1,000. Butler was arrested and cited for driving under the influence.&nbsp; He met the requirement of a $750 bond and is no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After his arrest Butler resigned, according to a statement from fellow city commissioner Peter Oppelt.&nbsp; Mayor Pro Tem Susan Adamchak will now take over as mayor.

Butler was first elected to the Manhattan City Commission in April 2011, according to the city web site. He served as Mayor in 2014-2015 and 2021. He was re-elected to the Commission in 2021 for a four-year term.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715272569983.png" alt="-Crash photos courtesy Candlewood Retail Liquor. They are still open for business." />
 <figcaption>-Crash photos courtesy Candlewood Retail Liquor. They are still open for business.</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY— The mayor of Manhattan resigned after he was arrested in connection with an alleged DUI crash that occurred just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Manhattan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715267065929.png" alt="Butler photo City of Manhattan" />
 <figcaption>Butler photo City of Manhattan</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, an Infinity passenger vehicle driven by 72-year-old <a href="https://cityofmhk.com/1703/Mayor-Wynn-Butler">Winfried Butler,</a> of Manhattan, struck Candlewood Liquor&nbsp;in the 3200 block of Kimball Avenue.&nbsp;The total estimated loss in this matter is over $1,000. Butler was arrested and cited for driving under the influence.&nbsp; He met the requirement of a $750 bond and is no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715272595068.png" alt="-Crash photos courtesy Candlewood Retail Liquor. They are still open for business." />
 <figcaption>-Crash photos courtesy Candlewood Retail Liquor. They are still open for business.</figcaption>
 </figure>After his arrest Butler resigned, according to a statement from fellow city commissioner Peter Oppelt.&nbsp; Mayor Pro Tem Susan Adamchak will now take over as mayor.Butler was first elected to the Manhattan City Commission in April 2011, according to the city web site. He served as Mayor in 2014-2015 and 2021. He was re-elected to the Commission in 2021 for a four-year term.

Mayor of Manhattan resigns after alleged DUI crash into liquor store

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused of stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue from a Wichita park is due back in court Thursday afternoon.

Ricky Alderete, 45, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">&nbsp;Alderete</a>&nbsp;is charged with Felony Theft – Value over $25,000, Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Identity Theft and Making False Information,&nbsp;according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.&nbsp; Alderete has previous convictions for theft and burglary in Sumner County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp;on $150,000 bond.

Alerete was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records.</a>

Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.

On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located a suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.

On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call.

The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses. Police detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the  statue.

Alderete has been the only suspect apprehended in the statue’s destruction. His arraignment is now set for May 9 at 1:15 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707844320270.png" alt="Alderete-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Alderete-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused of stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue from a Wichita park is due back in court Thursday afternoon.Ricky Alderete, 45, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">&nbsp;Alderete</a>&nbsp;is charged with Felony Theft – Value over $25,000, Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Identity Theft and Making False Information,&nbsp;according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.&nbsp; Alderete has previous convictions for theft and burglary in Sumner County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp;on $150,000 bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706214143377.png" alt="Photo City of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo City of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>Alerete was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records.</a>Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located a suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706641670170.png" alt="-Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>-Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call.The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses. Police detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the statue.Alderete has been the only suspect apprehended in the statue’s destruction. His arraignment is now set for May 9 at 1:15 p.m.

Jackie Robinson statue suspect set for arraignment hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">all-out assault on Rafah</a>&nbsp;— the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.

Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the U.S. was still committed to Israel's defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”

&nbsp;On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, " catering to his pro-terrorist, pro-Hamas faction of his party, Joe Biden is blocking aid to Israel. We are demanding answers.

The U.S. has historically provided enormous amounts of military aid to Israel. That has only accelerated in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 in Israel and led to about 250 being taken captive by militants. Biden's comments and his decision last week to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.

The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, according to a senior U.S. administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The focus of U.S. concern was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban area.

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday confirmed the weapons delay, telling the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense that the U.S. paused “one shipment of high payload munitions.”

“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”

It also comes as the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-leahy-biden-nsm-military-aid-812864bc424b93c886226e33f5c3f0e5">due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict</a>&nbsp;this week on whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid</a>&nbsp;have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-commencement-protests-gaza-9bb8051253c45947509feb32ced78f8c">pressure on Biden</a>&nbsp;to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.

Biden signed off on the pause in an order conveyed last week to the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment on the matter. The White House National Security Council sought to keep the decision out of the public eye for several days until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Biden’s administration in April began reviewing future transfers of military assistance as Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. The official said the decision to pause the shipment was made last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the shipment at a later date.

U.S. officials had declined for days to comment on the halted transfer, word of which came as Biden on Tuesday described U.S. support for Israel as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gaza-israel-jewish-congress-f2f84c9e7c52345c35e5cb4c2d00a417">“ironclad, even when we disagree.”</a>

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news, said the decision to pause the shipment was “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating." He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the U.S. campus protests and the upcoming election.

The decision also drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said they only learned about the military aid holdup from press reports, despite assurances from the Biden administration that no such pauses were in the works. The Republicans called on Biden in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SMJ-MM-5.8.24-Letter.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;to swiftly end the blockage, saying it “risks emboldening Israel's enemies,” and to brief lawmakers on the nature of the policy reviews.

Biden has faced pressure from some on the left — and condemnation from the critics on the right who say Biden has moderated his support for an essential Mideast ally.

“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his voice rising in anger during an exchange with Austin. “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose.”

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Biden ally, said in a statement the pause on big bombs must be a “first step.”

“Our leverage is clear,” Sanders said. “Over the years, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. We can no longer be complicit in Netanyahu’s horrific war against the Palestinian people.”

Austin, meanwhile, told lawmakers that "it’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand.”

"A small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” he said, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.

Israeli troops on Tuesday seized control of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-offensive-israel-netanyahu-hamas-palestinians-014b2d850bbe28897b624bc5e5378320">Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing</a>&nbsp;in what the White House described as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">limited operation</a>&nbsp;that stopped short of the full-on Israeli invasion of the city that Biden has repeatedly warned against on humanitarian grounds, most recently in a Monday call with Netanyahu.

Israel has ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from the city. Israeli forces have also carried out what it describes as “targeted strikes” on the eastern part of Rafah and captured the Rafah crossing, a critical conduit for the flow of humanitarian aid along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Privately, concern has mounted inside the White House about what’s unfolding in Rafah, but publicly administration officials have stressed that they did not think the operations had defied Biden’s warnings against a widescale operation in the city.

The State Department is separately considering whether to approve the continued transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which place precision guidance systems onto bombs, to Israel, but the review didn’t pertain to imminent shipments.

Itamar Yaar, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council said the U.S. move is largely symbolic, but a sign of trouble and could become more of a problem if it is sustained.

“It’s not some kind of American embargo on American munitions support, but I think its some kind of diplomatic message to Mr. Netanyahu that he needs to take into consideration American interests more than he has over the last few months," he said. "At least for now it will not impact Israeli capability but it’s some kind of a signal, a ‘be careful.’”

The U.S. dropped the 2,000-pound bomb sparingly in its long war against the Islamic State militant group. Israel, by contrast, has used the bomb frequently in the seven-month Gaza war. Experts say the use of the weapon, in part, has helped drive the enormous Palestinian casualty count that the Hamas-run health ministry puts at more than 34,000 dead, though it doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians.

The U.S.-Israel relationship has been close through both Democratic and Republican administrations. But there have been other moments of deep tension since Israel's founding in which U.S. leaders have threatened to hold up aid in attempt to sway Israeli leadership.

President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As it targets Hamas’ underground tunnels in Gaza, Israel has relied on powerful 2,000-pound bombs provided by the United States. But now those deliveries are on hold.

The U.S. is pausing a shipment of 1,800 of the bombs, as well as 1,700 500-pound bombs, U.S. officials said. The decision comes as Israel is planning an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah in an attempt to root out the final elements of Hamas.

With more than 1 million refugees sheltering in Rafah, U.S. officials are concerned the bombs could inflict massive casualties. Human rights groups have long said that Israel’s use of powerful bombs has caused the indiscriminate killings of civilians.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4">told a Senate panel Wednesday</a>&nbsp;that smaller, more precise weapons are needed for a densely populated area like Rafah.

Still, he made clear the decision wasn’t final.

“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">unfolding events in Rafah</a>.”

A look at the 2,000-pound bomb and why there’s so much concern about its use in Rafah.

While the U.S. has dropped 2,000-pound bombs off its aircraft since World War II, current versions date back to the Vietnam War. It's an air-dropped munition, one that can carry a higher payload because it doesn't have an engine. It's one of the larger munitions in the U.S. inventory, said Ryan Brobst, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' Center on Military and Political Power.

The 2,000-pound bomb has multiple variants — some are designed to penetrate deep, underground targets while others detonate above ground and cause widespread damage. Depending on the variant, and whether the munition is dropped in an open or urban area, its blast radius can be as far as a quarter mile away or a much more confined area.

The bombs are “dumb” or unguided bombs but can be turned into more precise weapons with the addition of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, or JDAM kits which add a tail fin and navigation.

That added kit enables troops to guide the munition to a target, rather than simply dropping it from a fighter jet onto the ground. The kits make the weapons more precise, but in a densely populated urban environment, a JDAM kit is not going to make much of a difference — a precise hit will still have the reach to kill unintended bystanders.

U.S. fighter jets, bombers and drones can all fire the JDAMs, and the U.S. began providing the munitions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-e48cceaba41f1ec55e35f9dec099fe44">to Ukraine in 2022,</a>&nbsp;a slightly modified version that could be launched from Ukrainian aircraft. After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the U.S. provided 2,000-pound munitions to Israel to assist in its defense.

And unlike other types of munitions in the U.S. inventory, the military has an ample supply of them, so providing them doesn’t involve the same type of stockpile pressures the U.S. has with other more limited munitions like the 155mm artillery rounds.

The Israeli military has said little about what kinds of bombs and artillery it is using in Gaza. But from blast fragments found on-site and analyses of strike footage, experts are confident that the vast majority of bombs dropped on the besieged enclave are U.S.-made. They say the 2,000-pound bombs have killed hundreds in densely populated areas.

Brobst said the 2,000-pound bombs are still needed to assist Israel in striking Hamas' tunnel network in Rafah.

Wes Bryant, a weapons expert and retired American Air Force master sergeant who served on an independent task force for the State and Defense Departments on Israel's use of weapons in Gaza, said that the pause would be a “huge hit” to the Israeli arsenal.

The 2,000- and 500-pound bombs are some of the main munitions used by Israel in its seven-month war campaign, Bryant said.

“They have been burning right through them,” said Bryant. He said the munitions are made by major American weapons manufacturers like Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Atomics.

A report compiled by the independent task force for the State and Defense Departments last month said U.S. sources informed one of its members that 300,000 munitions had been dropped on or fired in Gaza during the first six months of the war.

It cited “credible” media investigations that in the first month of the Israeli campaign alone, there were at least 500 craters in Gaza consistent with the use of 2,000-pound bombs.

The potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have sheltered because they have nowhere else to go, has drawn significant administration concern.

At the hearing, Austin questioned whether the 2,000-pound bomb was the right tool for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-08-2024-385416e25c74f57c4286fbc2eb93ebc1">Rafah operation.</a>

“It’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand. And a small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” said Austin, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.

Israel reacted strongly to the U.S. decision. Its U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the pause “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating,” in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news. He suggested that the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, campus protests and the upcoming election.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697623511291.png" alt="File -President Biden greets Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last fall- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File -President Biden greets Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last fall- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">all-out assault on Rafah</a>&nbsp;— the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the U.S. was still committed to Israel's defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”&nbsp;On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, " catering to his pro-terrorist, pro-Hamas faction of his party, Joe Biden is blocking aid to Israel. We are demanding answers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715134220290.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price. This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can&#39;t afford to lose. This is Hiroshima &amp; Nagasaki on steroids&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LindseyGrahamSC</a> <a href="https://t.co/YU8w3346Cd">pic.twitter.com/YU8w3346Cd</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1788240461922009549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. has historically provided enormous amounts of military aid to Israel. That has only accelerated in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 in Israel and led to about 250 being taken captive by militants. Biden's comments and his decision last week to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, according to a senior U.S. administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The focus of U.S. concern was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban area.“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.”Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday confirmed the weapons delay, telling the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense that the U.S. paused “one shipment of high payload munitions.”“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”It also comes as the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-leahy-biden-nsm-military-aid-812864bc424b93c886226e33f5c3f0e5">due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict</a>&nbsp;this week on whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid</a>&nbsp;have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-commencement-protests-gaza-9bb8051253c45947509feb32ced78f8c">pressure on Biden</a>&nbsp;to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.Biden signed off on the pause in an order conveyed last week to the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment on the matter. The White House National Security Council sought to keep the decision out of the public eye for several days until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.Biden’s administration in April began reviewing future transfers of military assistance as Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. The official said the decision to pause the shipment was made last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the shipment at a later date.U.S. officials had declined for days to comment on the halted transfer, word of which came as Biden on Tuesday described U.S. support for Israel as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gaza-israel-jewish-congress-f2f84c9e7c52345c35e5cb4c2d00a417">“ironclad, even when we disagree.”</a>Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news, said the decision to pause the shipment was “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating." He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the U.S. campus protests and the upcoming election.The decision also drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said they only learned about the military aid holdup from press reports, despite assurances from the Biden administration that no such pauses were in the works. The Republicans called on Biden in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SMJ-MM-5.8.24-Letter.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;to swiftly end the blockage, saying it “risks emboldening Israel's enemies,” and to brief lawmakers on the nature of the policy reviews.Biden has faced pressure from some on the left — and condemnation from the critics on the right who say Biden has moderated his support for an essential Mideast ally.“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his voice rising in anger during an exchange with Austin. “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose.”Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Biden ally, said in a statement the pause on big bombs must be a “first step.”“Our leverage is clear,” Sanders said. “Over the years, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. We can no longer be complicit in Netanyahu’s horrific war against the Palestinian people.”Austin, meanwhile, told lawmakers that "it’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand.”"A small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” he said, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.Israeli troops on Tuesday seized control of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-offensive-israel-netanyahu-hamas-palestinians-014b2d850bbe28897b624bc5e5378320">Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing</a>&nbsp;in what the White House described as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">limited operation</a>&nbsp;that stopped short of the full-on Israeli invasion of the city that Biden has repeatedly warned against on humanitarian grounds, most recently in a Monday call with Netanyahu.Israel has ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from the city. Israeli forces have also carried out what it describes as “targeted strikes” on the eastern part of Rafah and captured the Rafah crossing, a critical conduit for the flow of humanitarian aid along the Gaza-Egypt border.Privately, concern has mounted inside the White House about what’s unfolding in Rafah, but publicly administration officials have stressed that they did not think the operations had defied Biden’s warnings against a widescale operation in the city.The State Department is separately considering whether to approve the continued transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which place precision guidance systems onto bombs, to Israel, but the review didn’t pertain to imminent shipments.Itamar Yaar, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council said the U.S. move is largely symbolic, but a sign of trouble and could become more of a problem if it is sustained.“It’s not some kind of American embargo on American munitions support, but I think its some kind of diplomatic message to Mr. Netanyahu that he needs to take into consideration American interests more than he has over the last few months," he said. "At least for now it will not impact Israeli capability but it’s some kind of a signal, a ‘be careful.’”The U.S. dropped the 2,000-pound bomb sparingly in its long war against the Islamic State militant group. Israel, by contrast, has used the bomb frequently in the seven-month Gaza war. Experts say the use of the weapon, in part, has helped drive the enormous Palestinian casualty count that the Hamas-run health ministry puts at more than 34,000 dead, though it doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians.The U.S.-Israel relationship has been close through both Democratic and Republican administrations. But there have been other moments of deep tension since Israel's founding in which U.S. leaders have threatened to hold up aid in attempt to sway Israeli leadership.President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — As it targets Hamas’ underground tunnels in Gaza, Israel has relied on powerful 2,000-pound bombs provided by the United States. But now those deliveries are on hold.The U.S. is pausing a shipment of 1,800 of the bombs, as well as 1,700 500-pound bombs, U.S. officials said. The decision comes as Israel is planning an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah in an attempt to root out the final elements of Hamas.With more than 1 million refugees sheltering in Rafah, U.S. officials are concerned the bombs could inflict massive casualties. Human rights groups have long said that Israel’s use of powerful bombs has caused the indiscriminate killings of civilians.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4">told a Senate panel Wednesday</a>&nbsp;that smaller, more precise weapons are needed for a densely populated area like Rafah.Still, he made clear the decision wasn’t final.“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">unfolding events in Rafah</a>.”A look at the 2,000-pound bomb and why there’s so much concern about its use in Rafah.2,000-POUND BOMBSWhile the U.S. has dropped 2,000-pound bombs off its aircraft since World War II, current versions date back to the Vietnam War. It's an air-dropped munition, one that can carry a higher payload because it doesn't have an engine. It's one of the larger munitions in the U.S. inventory, said Ryan Brobst, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' Center on Military and Political Power.The 2,000-pound bomb has multiple variants — some are designed to penetrate deep, underground targets while others detonate above ground and cause widespread damage. Depending on the variant, and whether the munition is dropped in an open or urban area, its blast radius can be as far as a quarter mile away or a much more confined area.The bombs are “dumb” or unguided bombs but can be turned into more precise weapons with the addition of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, or JDAM kits which add a tail fin and navigation.That added kit enables troops to guide the munition to a target, rather than simply dropping it from a fighter jet onto the ground. The kits make the weapons more precise, but in a densely populated urban environment, a JDAM kit is not going to make much of a difference — a precise hit will still have the reach to kill unintended bystanders.U.S. fighter jets, bombers and drones can all fire the JDAMs, and the U.S. began providing the munitions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-e48cceaba41f1ec55e35f9dec099fe44">to Ukraine in 2022,</a>&nbsp;a slightly modified version that could be launched from Ukrainian aircraft. After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the U.S. provided 2,000-pound munitions to Israel to assist in its defense.And unlike other types of munitions in the U.S. inventory, the military has an ample supply of them, so providing them doesn’t involve the same type of stockpile pressures the U.S. has with other more limited munitions like the 155mm artillery rounds.USE IN GAZAThe Israeli military has said little about what kinds of bombs and artillery it is using in Gaza. But from blast fragments found on-site and analyses of strike footage, experts are confident that the vast majority of bombs dropped on the besieged enclave are U.S.-made. They say the 2,000-pound bombs have killed hundreds in densely populated areas.Brobst said the 2,000-pound bombs are still needed to assist Israel in striking Hamas' tunnel network in Rafah.Wes Bryant, a weapons expert and retired American Air Force master sergeant who served on an independent task force for the State and Defense Departments on Israel's use of weapons in Gaza, said that the pause would be a “huge hit” to the Israeli arsenal.The 2,000- and 500-pound bombs are some of the main munitions used by Israel in its seven-month war campaign, Bryant said.“They have been burning right through them,” said Bryant. He said the munitions are made by major American weapons manufacturers like Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Atomics.THE PERIL FOR RAFAHA report compiled by the independent task force for the State and Defense Departments last month said U.S. sources informed one of its members that 300,000 munitions had been dropped on or fired in Gaza during the first six months of the war.It cited “credible” media investigations that in the first month of the Israeli campaign alone, there were at least 500 craters in Gaza consistent with the use of 2,000-pound bombs.The potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have sheltered because they have nowhere else to go, has drawn significant administration concern.At the hearing, Austin questioned whether the 2,000-pound bomb was the right tool for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-08-2024-385416e25c74f57c4286fbc2eb93ebc1">Rafah operation.</a>“It’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand. And a small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” said Austin, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.Israel reacted strongly to the U.S. decision. Its U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the pause “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating,” in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news. He suggested that the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, campus protests and the upcoming election.

U.S. bomb shipment to Israel remains on hold in dispute over attack

KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a triple shooting at a home in Kansas City have identified the man who died as&nbsp;23-year-old Prophet Thompson, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;

Just after 7:30p.m.Tuesday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a a shooting at a home in the 11700 block of Corrington Avenue in Kansas City, according to Gonzalez.

Officers located several individuals who summoned officers to a nearby residence. As officers approached the home, a woman was observed just outside the residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and unresponsive.&nbsp; Medical aid was rendered until EMS responded and transported her to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition.

Officers were then notified of an additional victim inside of the home that had been struck by gunfire. First responders located Thompson suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. Responding officers rendered medical aid until EMS arrived and pronounced him deceased on scene.

An additional teenage male victim arrived at an area hospital a short time later believed to be involved in this incident. He was listed in critical condition. A juvenile teen was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715167763674.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a triple shooting at a home in Kansas City have identified the man who died as&nbsp;23-year-old Prophet Thompson, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;Just after 7:30p.m.Tuesday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a a shooting at a home in the 11700 block of Corrington Avenue in Kansas City, according to Gonzalez.Officers located several individuals who summoned officers to a nearby residence. As officers approached the home, a woman was observed just outside the residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and unresponsive.&nbsp; Medical aid was rendered until EMS responded and transported her to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715167851598.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Officers were then notified of an additional victim inside of the home that had been struck by gunfire. First responders located Thompson suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. Responding officers rendered medical aid until EMS arrived and pronounced him deceased on scene.An additional teenage male victim arrived at an area hospital a short time later believed to be involved in this incident. He was listed in critical condition. A juvenile teen was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police ID victim in triple shooting at Kansas City home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Ascension hospitals in Wichita are investigating a cyberattack.

On Wednesday, officials with Ascension Via Christi, 929 North Saint Francis Street in Wichita detected unusual activity on select technology network systems, which officials now believe is due to a cyber security event, according to a media release from the hospital.

Authorities continue to investigate the situation. Hospital officials responded immediately, initiated their investigation and activated&nbsp; remediation efforts. Access to some systems have been interrupted as this process continues.

The hospital care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible, according to the release. There has been a disruption to clinical operations, and hospital staff continues to assess the impact and duration of the disruption.

Ascension has engaged Mandiant, a third party expert, to assist in the investigation and remediation process, and&nbsp; have notified the appropriate authorities. Together, the hospital staff is working to fully investigate what information, if any, may have been affected by the situation. 

"Should we determine that any sensitive information was affected, we will notify and support those individuals in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.":

Out of an abundance of caution the hospital is recommending that business partners temporarily suspend the connection to the Ascension environment. The hospital will inform partners when it is appropriate to reconnect into the hospital environment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715251352366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Ascension hospitals in Wichita are investigating a cyberattack.On Wednesday, officials with Ascension Via Christi, 929 North Saint Francis Street in Wichita detected unusual activity on select technology network systems, which officials now believe is due to a cyber security event, according to a media release from the hospital.Authorities continue to investigate the situation. Hospital officials responded immediately, initiated their investigation and activated&nbsp; remediation efforts. Access to some systems have been interrupted as this process continues.The hospital care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible, according to the release. There has been a disruption to clinical operations, and hospital staff continues to assess the impact and duration of the disruption.Ascension has engaged Mandiant, a third party expert, to assist in the investigation and remediation process, and&nbsp; have notified the appropriate authorities. Together, the hospital staff is working to fully investigate what information, if any, may have been affected by the situation. "Should we determine that any sensitive information was affected, we will notify and support those individuals in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal guidelines.":Out of an abundance of caution the hospital is recommending that business partners temporarily suspend the connection to the Ascension environment. The hospital will inform partners when it is appropriate to reconnect into the hospital environment.

Cyberattack: Wichita hospital operations disrupted, patients diverted

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed responsibility for two missile attacks in the Gulf of Aden on two Panama-flagged container ships that caused no damage. Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader again threatened that Tehran could build a nuclear weapon if it chose to pursue atomic armaments.

The comments by Yemeni military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree and former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi come as the allies of Hamas continue to pressure Israel over its continuing war on the militant group in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis insist their assaults on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Suez Canal and onward to the Mediterranean Sea will continue as long as the war goes on. Meanwhile, Iran already has launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid the war, bringing a yearslong shadow conflict between the two nations out into the light.

Saree in a prerecorded statement claimed attacks on the MSC Diego and MSC Gina. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a U.S.-led coalition of nations operating in the Mideast, said those two missile attacks happened early Tuesday.

"Neither were hit and all crew on board are safe," the center said. “The vessels were last reported proceeding to next port of call.”

The center added that the vessels were “likely targeted due to perceived Israeli affiliation.”

Both vessels were operating for Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Saree did not say why it took the rebels two day to claim the attacks. He also claimed the Houthis targeted the MSC Vittoria, another container ship, in the Indian Ocean. An attack on that vessel, however, has not been reported or acknowledged by any authorities.

The Houthis say their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are aimed at pressuring Israel to end its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war against Hamas in Gaza</a>, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there, according to local health officials. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat.

Meanwhile Thursday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency carried the comments made by Kharrazi, a former foreign minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

Speaking to the Al Jazeera news network in an interview that appeared not to have been immediately aired, Kharrazi elaborated on an atomic bomb threat he made to the channel back in 2022 amid tensions with the West over Iran's tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

“If Iran’s existence is threatened, we will have to change our nuclear doctrine,” Kharrazi said, according to IRNA. "Recently, the military officials also announced that if Israel wants to attack nuclear facilities, it is possible and imaginable to revise Iran’s nuclear doctrine and policies and divert from the previous declaration considerations.”

Tensions have grown between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from Tehran’s nuclear deal. Since then, Iran has abandoned all limits the deal put on its program and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Israel have hit a new high. Tehran launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">Israel’s apparent attack on an Iranian consular building in Syria</a>&nbsp;killed two Iranian generals and others.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-s300-radar-hit-isfahan-attack-ce6719d3df8ebf5af08b035427ee215c">The Iranian city of Isfahan then apparently came under Israeli fire</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks, despite being surrounded by sensitive nuclear sites.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed responsibility for two missile attacks in the Gulf of Aden on two Panama-flagged container ships that caused no damage. Meanwhile, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader again threatened that Tehran could build a nuclear weapon if it chose to pursue atomic armaments.The comments by Yemeni military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree and former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi come as the allies of Hamas continue to pressure Israel over its continuing war on the militant group in the Gaza Strip.The Houthis insist their assaults on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Suez Canal and onward to the Mediterranean Sea will continue as long as the war goes on. Meanwhile, Iran already has launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel amid the war, bringing a yearslong shadow conflict between the two nations out into the light.Saree in a prerecorded statement claimed attacks on the MSC Diego and MSC Gina. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a U.S.-led coalition of nations operating in the Mideast, said those two missile attacks happened early Tuesday."Neither were hit and all crew on board are safe," the center said. “The vessels were last reported proceeding to next port of call.”The center added that the vessels were “likely targeted due to perceived Israeli affiliation.”Both vessels were operating for Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Saree did not say why it took the rebels two day to claim the attacks. He also claimed the Houthis targeted the MSC Vittoria, another container ship, in the Indian Ocean. An attack on that vessel, however, has not been reported or acknowledged by any authorities.The Houthis say their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are aimed at pressuring Israel to end its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war against Hamas in Gaza</a>, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there, according to local health officials. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat.Meanwhile Thursday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency carried the comments made by Kharrazi, a former foreign minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami.Speaking to the Al Jazeera news network in an interview that appeared not to have been immediately aired, Kharrazi elaborated on an atomic bomb threat he made to the channel back in 2022 amid tensions with the West over Iran's tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.“If Iran’s existence is threatened, we will have to change our nuclear doctrine,” Kharrazi said, according to IRNA. "Recently, the military officials also announced that if Israel wants to attack nuclear facilities, it is possible and imaginable to revise Iran’s nuclear doctrine and policies and divert from the previous declaration considerations.”Tensions have grown between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from Tehran’s nuclear deal. Since then, Iran has abandoned all limits the deal put on its program and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90%.Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and Israel have hit a new high. Tehran launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">Israel’s apparent attack on an Iranian consular building in Syria</a>&nbsp;killed two Iranian generals and others.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-s300-radar-hit-isfahan-attack-ce6719d3df8ebf5af08b035427ee215c">The Iranian city of Isfahan then apparently came under Israeli fire</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks, despite being surrounded by sensitive nuclear sites.

Iran backed terrorist claim 2 attacks as official renews nuclear bomb threats

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities investigating a fatal Monday&nbsp; afternoon head-on crash have identified the man who died as&nbsp;Arlen Thacker of Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Thacker was driving a Dodge Durango in the crash with a pickup near the intersection Hydraulic and Industrial Street in Wichita.

&nbsp;The driver of the pickup refused treatment. Police have not released additional details of the crash as they continue their investigation, according to Ford.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715028115212.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities investigating a fatal Monday&nbsp; afternoon head-on crash have identified the man who died as&nbsp;Arlen Thacker of Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.Thacker was driving a Dodge Durango in the crash with a pickup near the intersection Hydraulic and Industrial Street in Wichita.&nbsp;The driver of the pickup refused treatment. Police have not released additional details of the crash as they continue their investigation, according to Ford.

Police ID Kansas man who died in head-on crash

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison for threatening to kill the President of the United States of America, according to the United State's Attorney.

Cody McCormick, 28, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat against the President of the United States, according to court documents.

In April 2023, McCormick sent a Wichita television station a Facebook message detailing his intention to murder U.S. President Joseph (Joe) Biden. The message read in part, “I will get a Greyhound bus ticket and go and shoot him."

U.S. Secret Service agents interviewed McCormick. The agents asked McCormick if they needed to be worried about him if President Biden came to Wichita. McCormick responded that if given the opportunity, he would "force him (POTUS) to step down from office" and would "kidnap him". 

He also told agents, "My intent is to kill Joe Biden if I don't get the help I need." The U.S. Secret Service and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684355644373.png" alt="McCormick has previous convictions for criminal threat and aggravated battery. He is being held in Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>McCormick has previous convictions for criminal threat and aggravated battery. He is being held in Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison for threatening to kill the President of the United States of America, according to the United State's Attorney.Cody McCormick, 28, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat against the President of the United States, according to court documents.In April 2023, McCormick sent a Wichita television station a Facebook message detailing his intention to murder U.S. President Joseph (Joe) Biden. The message read in part, “I will get a Greyhound bus ticket and go and shoot him."U.S. Secret Service agents interviewed McCormick. The agents asked McCormick if they needed to be worried about him if President Biden came to Wichita. McCormick responded that if given the opportunity, he would "force him (POTUS) to step down from office" and would "kidnap him". He also told agents, "My intent is to kill Joe Biden if I don't get the help I need." The U.S. Secret Service and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case.

Kan. man told Secret Service he intended to kill President Biden

NEW YORK (AP) — Porn actor Stormy Daniels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-trial-updates-day-13">took the witness stand</a>&nbsp;Tuesday in the hush money case against Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/manhattan-new-york-new-york-city-michael-cohen-courts-73d00a3a59fa49489358d5120a2688cc">looked on</a>&nbsp;as she detailed their alleged sexual encounter and the payment she got to keep it quiet.

<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-7-2024/00054.html">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full transcript of Stormy Daniels testimony

Prosecutors allege Trump paid Daniels to keep quiet about the claims as he ran for president in 2016. Her testimony aired them very publicly as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee seeks to win the White House again.

Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and his lawyers unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial midway through her testimony.

It's the biggest spectacle yet in the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-5fdc819697a76536ed83cbf28d4a523c">criminal trial</a>&nbsp;of a former American president, now in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">third week of testimony</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan.

Here are some takeaways from Daniels' testimony:

The case centers on a $130,000 payment to Daniels from Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, in the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign. Prosecutors say it was part of a scheme to illegally influence the campaign by burying negative stories about him.

His lawyers have sought to show that Trump was trying to protect his reputation and family — not his campaign — by shielding them from embarrassing stories about his personal life.

Daniels, whose real name is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephanie-clifford">Stephanie Clifford</a>, told jurors that she started exotic dancing in high school and appearing in adult films at age 23, eventually moving on to direct more than 150 films and winning a roster of porn industry awards.

Daniels testified she first met and chatted with Trump at a 2006 Lake Tahoe celebrity golf outing where her studio was a sponsor.

He referred to her as “the smart one” and asked her if she wanted to go to dinner, she said. Daniels testified that she accepted Trump’s invitation because she wanted to avoid dinner with her co-workers and thought it might help her career. Trump had his bodyguard get her number, she said.

When they met up later in his penthouse, she appreciated that he seemed interested in the business aspects of the industry rather than the “sexy stuff." He also suggested putting her on his TV show, “The Apprentice,” a possibility she hoped could help establish her as a writer and director.

She left to use the bathroom and was startled to find Trump in his underwear when she returned, she said. She didn’t feel physically or verbally threatened but realized that he was “bigger and blocking the way,” she testified.

“The next thing I know was: I was on the bed,” and they were having sex, Daniels recalled. The encounter was brief but left her “shaking,” she said. “I just wanted to leave,” she testified.

Daniels was asked if Trump ever told her to keep things between them confidential and said, “Absolutely not.” She said she learned in 2011 that a magazine had learned the story of their encounter and she agreed to do an interview for $15,000 to make money and “control the narrative.” The story never ran.

In 2016, when Trump was running for president, Daniels said she authorized her manager to shop the story around but did not initially receive interest from news outlets. She said that changed in October with the release of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-access-hollywood-hush-money-new-york-2c52279a45ede2a111ff1fe447d2fdac">“Access Hollywood” tape</a>&nbsp;in which Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission. She said she learned that Cohen wanted to buy her silence.

Midway through her testimony, Trump's lawyers moved for a mistrial.

Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that Daniels' testimony about the alleged encounter and other meetings with him had “nothing to do with this case,” and would unfairly prejudice the jury.

The judge rejected it, and he faulted defense attorneys for not raising more of their objections while she was testifying.

Before Daniels took the stand, Trump’s lawyers had tried to stop her from testifying about the encounter's details, saying it was irrelevant in “a case about books and records.”

Prosecutors countered that Daniels’ testimony gets at what Trump was trying to hide and they were “very mindful” not to draw too much graphic detail. Before Daniels took the stand, they told the judge the testimony would be “really basic,” and would not “involve any details of genitalia.”

While the judge didn’t side with Trump’s lawyers, he acknowledged that some details were excessive. The objections could potentially be used by Trump’s lawyers if he is convicted and they file an appeal.

Trump's lawyers tried to attack Daniels' credibility, suggesting she was motivated by money and that her account has shifted over the years.

“Am I correct that you hate President Trump?” Defense lawyer Susan Necheles asked Daniels at one point. Daniels acknowledged she did.

“And you want him to go to jail?” the lawyer asked.

“I want him to be held accountable,” Daniels said. Pressed again whether that meant going to jail, she said, “If he’s convicted.”

The defense pressed Daniels on the fact that she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stormy-daniels-trump-defamation-lawsuit-0ee5623fc8965ad3d2fc77a7126d24c7">owes Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees</a>&nbsp;stemming from an unsuccessful defamation lawsuit and on a 2022 tweet in which she said she “will go to jail before I pay a penny.” Daniels dug in at times in the face of pointed questions, forcefully denying the idea that she had tried to extort Trump.

Trump whispered frequently to his attorney during Daniels’ testimony, and his expression seemed to be pained at one point as she recounted details about the dinner she says they shared. He shook his head and appeared to say something under his breath as Daniels testified that Trump told her he didn’t sleep in the same room as his wife.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715113495617.png" alt="-Photo of Trump and Stormy Daniels entered into evidence released by the New York State Court System&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>-Photo of Trump and Stormy Daniels entered into evidence released by the New York State Court System&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Porn actor Stormy Daniels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-trial-updates-day-13">took the witness stand</a>&nbsp;Tuesday in the hush money case against Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/manhattan-new-york-new-york-city-michael-cohen-courts-73d00a3a59fa49489358d5120a2688cc">looked on</a>&nbsp;as she detailed their alleged sexual encounter and the payment she got to keep it quiet.<a href="https://pdfs.nycourts.gov/PeopleVs.DTrump-71543/transcripts/5-7-2024/00054.html">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full transcript of Stormy Daniels testimony<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715221476288.png" alt="On Wednesday night, the New York Courts released Stormy Daniels' testimony from the historic trump trial&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>On Wednesday night, the New York Courts released Stormy Daniels' testimony from the historic trump trial&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors allege Trump paid Daniels to keep quiet about the claims as he ran for president in 2016. Her testimony aired them very publicly as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee seeks to win the White House again.Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and his lawyers unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial midway through her testimony.It's the biggest spectacle yet in the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-5fdc819697a76536ed83cbf28d4a523c">criminal trial</a>&nbsp;of a former American president, now in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-gag-order-d853768fff5fafbdee55623579889140">third week of testimony</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan.Here are some takeaways from Daniels' testimony:WHO IS STORMY DANIELS?The case centers on a $130,000 payment to Daniels from Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, in the final weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign. Prosecutors say it was part of a scheme to illegally influence the campaign by burying negative stories about him.His lawyers have sought to show that Trump was trying to protect his reputation and family — not his campaign — by shielding them from embarrassing stories about his personal life.Daniels, whose real name is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephanie-clifford">Stephanie Clifford</a>, told jurors that she started exotic dancing in high school and appearing in adult films at age 23, eventually moving on to direct more than 150 films and winning a roster of porn industry awards.MEETING TRUMPDaniels testified she first met and chatted with Trump at a 2006 Lake Tahoe celebrity golf outing where her studio was a sponsor.He referred to her as “the smart one” and asked her if she wanted to go to dinner, she said. Daniels testified that she accepted Trump’s invitation because she wanted to avoid dinner with her co-workers and thought it might help her career. Trump had his bodyguard get her number, she said.When they met up later in his penthouse, she appreciated that he seemed interested in the business aspects of the industry rather than the “sexy stuff." He also suggested putting her on his TV show, “The Apprentice,” a possibility she hoped could help establish her as a writer and director.She left to use the bathroom and was startled to find Trump in his underwear when she returned, she said. She didn’t feel physically or verbally threatened but realized that he was “bigger and blocking the way,” she testified.“The next thing I know was: I was on the bed,” and they were having sex, Daniels recalled. The encounter was brief but left her “shaking,” she said. “I just wanted to leave,” she testified.PAYMENTS FOR SILENCEDaniels was asked if Trump ever told her to keep things between them confidential and said, “Absolutely not.” She said she learned in 2011 that a magazine had learned the story of their encounter and she agreed to do an interview for $15,000 to make money and “control the narrative.” The story never ran.In 2016, when Trump was running for president, Daniels said she authorized her manager to shop the story around but did not initially receive interest from news outlets. She said that changed in October with the release of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-access-hollywood-hush-money-new-york-2c52279a45ede2a111ff1fe447d2fdac">“Access Hollywood” tape</a>&nbsp;in which Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission. She said she learned that Cohen wanted to buy her silence.MISTRIAL PUSHMidway through her testimony, Trump's lawyers moved for a mistrial.Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued that Daniels' testimony about the alleged encounter and other meetings with him had “nothing to do with this case,” and would unfairly prejudice the jury.The judge rejected it, and he faulted defense attorneys for not raising more of their objections while she was testifying.Before Daniels took the stand, Trump’s lawyers had tried to stop her from testifying about the encounter's details, saying it was irrelevant in “a case about books and records.”Prosecutors countered that Daniels’ testimony gets at what Trump was trying to hide and they were “very mindful” not to draw too much graphic detail. Before Daniels took the stand, they told the judge the testimony would be “really basic,” and would not “involve any details of genitalia.”While the judge didn’t side with Trump’s lawyers, he acknowledged that some details were excessive. The objections could potentially be used by Trump’s lawyers if he is convicted and they file an appeal.CROSS-EXAMINATIONTrump's lawyers tried to attack Daniels' credibility, suggesting she was motivated by money and that her account has shifted over the years.“Am I correct that you hate President Trump?” Defense lawyer Susan Necheles asked Daniels at one point. Daniels acknowledged she did.“And you want him to go to jail?” the lawyer asked.“I want him to be held accountable,” Daniels said. Pressed again whether that meant going to jail, she said, “If he’s convicted.”The defense pressed Daniels on the fact that she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stormy-daniels-trump-defamation-lawsuit-0ee5623fc8965ad3d2fc77a7126d24c7">owes Trump hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees</a>&nbsp;stemming from an unsuccessful defamation lawsuit and on a 2022 tweet in which she said she “will go to jail before I pay a penny.” Daniels dug in at times in the face of pointed questions, forcefully denying the idea that she had tried to extort Trump.TRUMP IN COURTTrump whispered frequently to his attorney during Daniels’ testimony, and his expression seemed to be pained at one point as she recounted details about the dinner she says they shared. He shook his head and appeared to say something under his breath as Daniels testified that Trump told her he didn’t sleep in the same room as his wife.At one point, the judge told defense lawyers during a sidebar conversation — out of earshot of the jury and the public — that he could hear Trump “cursing audibly" and see him shaking his head, according to a transcript of the proceedings.“I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don’t want to embarrass him,” Judge Juan Merchan told Blanche, Trump's lawyer. Blanche assured the judge he would talk to his client.“You need to speak to him. I won’t tolerate that,” the judge said.On the way out of the courthouse, Trump called it “a very revealing day." He didn't address Daniels' testimony explicitly but claimed the prosecutors' case was “totally falling apart.”A JARRING SPLIT SCREENTrump’s appearance in court Tuesday, like all other days he’s stuck in the courtroom, means he can’t be out on the campaign trail as he runs for president a third time. It’s a frequent source of his complaints, but Daniels' testimony in particular might underscore how much of a distraction the trial is from the business of running for president.While Trump was stuck in a Manhattan courthouse away from voters and unable to speak for much of the day, his rival, Democratic President Joe Biden, was attending a Holocaust remembrance ceremony and condemning antisemitism.