KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double-homicide at a park in the Kansas City area have captured two suspects identified as 19-year-old Marquis Earl Lee Savannah and a 17-year-old.

Just after 10:30p.m. April 13, police were dispatched to a shooting at Wilbur Young Park, 1100 SE Adams Dairy Parkway in Blue Springs, according to a media release from police.

Police found shooting victims identified as as  LaDronal Hamilton Jr., 19,  Kansas City, Missouri and Karmello Matlock, 20,  Blue Springs, Missouri. &nbsp;EMS transported them to local hospitals where both&nbsp; were later declared deceased.

&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy was also shot and received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714057660581.png" alt="Savannah-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Savannah-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double-homicide at a park in the Kansas City area have captured two suspects identified as 19-year-old Marquis Earl Lee Savannah and a 17-year-old.Just after 10:30p.m. April 13, police were dispatched to a shooting at Wilbur Young Park, 1100 SE Adams Dairy Parkway in Blue Springs, according to a media release from police.Police found shooting victims identified as as LaDronal Hamilton Jr., 19, Kansas City, Missouri and Karmello Matlock, 20, Blue Springs, Missouri. &nbsp;EMS transported them to local hospitals where both&nbsp; were later declared deceased.&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy was also shot and received non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Police: 2 in custody for double murder at Kansas City Park

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas man who died in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County has been identified as&nbsp;Michael Landsness, 37, of Lawrence, according to Douglas County sheriff's department spokesperson George Diepenbrock.

According to the preliminary crash investigation, a 2008 Kia driven by Landsness was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound&nbsp;the 1400 block of N 1300 Road&nbsp;east of 31st and Louisiana streets.

The Kia crossed the center line and struck a 2017 Ford F150&nbsp; head-on as it traveled in the inside eastbound lane.&nbsp;

Landsness was pronounced dead at the scene. Medics extricated the Kia passenger, Coty Galbreath, 34, Kansas City, Missouri, who suffered serious injuries and was air-lifted to a Kansas City area hospital. He remains hospitalized on Thursday afternoon, according to Diepenbrock. 

The driver and passenger in the F150 were taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital and have both been treated and released.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas man who died in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Douglas County has been identified as&nbsp;Michael Landsness, 37, of Lawrence, according to Douglas County sheriff's department spokesperson George Diepenbrock.According to the preliminary crash investigation, a 2008 Kia driven by Landsness was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound&nbsp;the 1400 block of N 1300 Road&nbsp;east of 31st and Louisiana streets.The Kia crossed the center line and struck a 2017 Ford F150&nbsp; head-on as it traveled in the inside eastbound lane.&nbsp;Landsness was pronounced dead at the scene. Medics extricated the Kia passenger, Coty Galbreath, 34, Kansas City, Missouri, who suffered serious injuries and was air-lifted to a Kansas City area hospital. He remains hospitalized on Thursday afternoon, according to Diepenbrock. The driver and passenger in the F150 were taken by ground ambulance to an area hospital and have both been treated and released.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in wrong-way, head-on crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.

When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.

After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.

Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.

The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.

While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.

That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.

“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”

Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.

“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="File photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs for fourth straight week

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.

The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.

Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.

“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.

The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.

The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' governor is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to give the state's National Guard a “border mission" of helping Texas in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">its partisan fight</a>&nbsp;with the Biden administration over illegal immigration.

Top Republicans in the Kansas House were considering Thursday whether their chamber can muster the two-thirds majority necessary to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-immigration-kansas-budget-2aac7fd60ebd6184b5870b6df5ca753c">immigration provisions</a>&nbsp;in the next state budget. The Senate's top Republican promised to mount an override effort, but the House would vote first.

Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a budget provision that would have directed her administration to confer with Texas' Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and send Kansas National Guard personnel or equipment to the border. The GOP proposal would have helped Texas enforce a state law allowing its officials to arrest migrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally. She also vetoed a provision setting aside $15.7 million for the effort.

Abbott is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrants-arrest-law-court-hearing-149fa2b2447b98dd134a05c3ec51f62a">a legal battle</a>&nbsp;with Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, which insists the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government control of border security. In her veto message, Kelly said border security is a federal issue and suggested that the budget provisions improperly encroached on her power as the Kansas National Guard's commander in chief.

“It is not the Legislature's role to direct the operations or call out the National Guard,” she wrote. “When a governor deploys soldiers as part of a federal mission, it is done intentionally and in a manner that ensures we are able to protect our communities.”

Kansas legislators reconvened Thursday after a spring break and are scheduled to wrap up their work for the year Tuesday.

Republicans nationwide have expressed support for Texas, and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson acknowledged Thursday that the $15.7 million in spending by Kansas would represent mostly “moral support” for Texas' much larger effort.

Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said the state constitution gives legislators the authority to pass laws to give directions to agencies under Kelly's control.

“She’s tied in with the Biden administration, so she’s not motivated to help solve that problem,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Kansas House and Senate approved separate resolutions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hr6035_enrolled.pdf">expressing support for Texas.</a>&nbsp;Democrats said the Texas governor's stance is constitutionally suspect and has created a humanitarian crisis.

Masterson said Republicans would try to override the veto. However, because the provisions were tucked into a budget bill, it's not clear that GOP leaders have the necessary two-thirds majorities in both chambers — though they would if all Republicans were present and voted yes.

“We try to give all options available to support our border, support our fellow states and make sure our nation’s safe," said House Majority Leader Chris Croft, a Kansas City-area Republican.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714067952123.png" alt="Photo Greg Abbott-Texas Department of Public Safety" />
 <figcaption>Photo Greg Abbott-Texas Department of Public Safety</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' governor is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to give the state's National Guard a “border mission" of helping Texas in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">its partisan fight</a>&nbsp;with the Biden administration over illegal immigration.Top Republicans in the Kansas House were considering Thursday whether their chamber can muster the two-thirds majority necessary to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-immigration-kansas-budget-2aac7fd60ebd6184b5870b6df5ca753c">immigration provisions</a>&nbsp;in the next state budget. The Senate's top Republican promised to mount an override effort, but the House would vote first.Kelly on Wednesday vetoed a budget provision that would have directed her administration to confer with Texas' Republican governor, Greg Abbott, and send Kansas National Guard personnel or equipment to the border. The GOP proposal would have helped Texas enforce a state law allowing its officials to arrest migrants suspected of crossing into the U.S. illegally. She also vetoed a provision setting aside $15.7 million for the effort.Abbott is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrants-arrest-law-court-hearing-149fa2b2447b98dd134a05c3ec51f62a">a legal battle</a>&nbsp;with Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, which insists the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government control of border security. In her veto message, Kelly said border security is a federal issue and suggested that the budget provisions improperly encroached on her power as the Kansas National Guard's commander in chief.“It is not the Legislature's role to direct the operations or call out the National Guard,” she wrote. “When a governor deploys soldiers as part of a federal mission, it is done intentionally and in a manner that ensures we are able to protect our communities.”Kansas legislators reconvened Thursday after a spring break and are scheduled to wrap up their work for the year Tuesday.Republicans nationwide have expressed support for Texas, and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson acknowledged Thursday that the $15.7 million in spending by Kansas would represent mostly “moral support” for Texas' much larger effort.Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said the state constitution gives legislators the authority to pass laws to give directions to agencies under Kelly's control.“She’s tied in with the Biden administration, so she’s not motivated to help solve that problem,” he said.Earlier this year, the Kansas House and Senate approved separate resolutions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hr6035_enrolled.pdf">expressing support for Texas.</a>&nbsp;Democrats said the Texas governor's stance is constitutionally suspect and has created a humanitarian crisis.Masterson said Republicans would try to override the veto. However, because the provisions were tucked into a budget bill, it's not clear that GOP leaders have the necessary two-thirds majorities in both chambers — though they would if all Republicans were present and voted yes.“We try to give all options available to support our border, support our fellow states and make sure our nation’s safe," said House Majority Leader Chris Croft, a Kansas City-area Republican.

Kan. governor vetoes effort to help Texas in border security fight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander.

Jerron Lightfoot, 20, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, said he was “truly sorry and never intended to hurt anyone” before he was sentenced Wednesday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-875df269f435e2242d6667fac23b045f">Feb. 15, 2023,</a>&nbsp;crash killed Officer James Muhlbauer, who was 42, Jesse Eckes, who was 52, and Muhlbauer's police dog, Champ.

Police determined that Lightfoot sped up to nearly 90 mph just two seconds before hitting Muhlbauer’s car on the driver’s side. The impact sent the car crashing into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.

Lightfoot, who initially blamed his brakes, entered a guilty plea this&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-crash-officer-k9-pedestrian-killed-0b3a559786a63643291b92f9312b9e04">February</a>&nbsp;in which prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison.

Eckes’ sister, Mandi Dunbar, argued against sentencing Lightfoot to prison, saying her brother was in and out of jail during his life. She said his life might have turned out better if he had been given a chance when he was younger.

But family and friends of Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer and father of three, sought the maximum sentence.

The hearing ended with Lightfoot handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, which was packed with friends and family, along with uniformed officers.

“Currently, I don’t think I can forgive him, maybe in time,” Muhlbauer’s widow, Cassie Muhlbauer said outside the courthouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676644200134.png" alt="Lightfoot-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lightfoot-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander.Jerron Lightfoot, 20, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, said he was “truly sorry and never intended to hurt anyone” before he was sentenced Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676902567063.png" alt="Officer James Muhlbauer and K9 Champ" />
 <figcaption>Officer James Muhlbauer and K9 Champ</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-875df269f435e2242d6667fac23b045f">Feb. 15, 2023,</a>&nbsp;crash killed Officer James Muhlbauer, who was 42, Jesse Eckes, who was 52, and Muhlbauer's police dog, Champ.Police determined that Lightfoot sped up to nearly 90 mph just two seconds before hitting Muhlbauer’s car on the driver’s side. The impact sent the car crashing into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.Lightfoot, who initially blamed his brakes, entered a guilty plea this&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-crash-officer-k9-pedestrian-killed-0b3a559786a63643291b92f9312b9e04">February</a>&nbsp;in which prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison.Eckes’ sister, Mandi Dunbar, argued against sentencing Lightfoot to prison, saying her brother was in and out of jail during his life. She said his life might have turned out better if he had been given a chance when he was younger.But family and friends of Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer and father of three, sought the maximum sentence.The hearing ended with Lightfoot handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, which was packed with friends and family, along with uniformed officers.“Currently, I don’t think I can forgive him, maybe in time,” Muhlbauer’s widow, Cassie Muhlbauer said outside the courthouse.

Kan. man sentenced for crash that killed officer, pedestrian and K-9

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Cpl. Jon Sumner of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office was on active patrol when he encountered a suspicious vehicle parked directly within the middle of the Kansas and Kansas 99 intersection south of Alma, according to a media release. 

&nbsp;Sumner observed the driver slouched over the steering wheel and summoned EMS. Realizing the vehicle was running and still in drive&nbsp; Sumner immediately returned to his patrol vehicle and gently set his push bar in direct contact with the suspect vehicle grill in a head to head to prevent it from rolling off road, into traffic or suddenly being able to flee or elude. 

Sumner roused awake and made contact with the driver, identified as 25-year-old Dustin Marquarndt of Dwight, Kansas. Marquarndt was asked to step out of the vehicle after&nbsp; Sumner noticed signs of impairment and the presence of a firearm. 

Assisting the driver from the vehicle, Sumner observed illegal narcotics in plain view. The subsequent lawful probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 1 gram of Methamphetamine, 4 grams of Cocaine &amp; other associated illicit narcotics paraphernalia. 

Due to the totality of circumstances &amp; objective reasonableness to include the driver exhibiting signs of impairment, Cpl Sumner placed Mr. Marquarndt under arrest without incident transported him to the county jail where he was booked in on requested charges of possession of opiates/narcotic or certain stimulant, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal parking on highway and not wearing his seat belt. 

Upon driver refusal to voluntarily submit to chemical testing, Sumner applied for, was granted and then executed a lawful blood draw search warrant upon the accused.&nbsp;

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Cpl. Jon Sumner of the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office was on active patrol when he encountered a suspicious vehicle parked directly within the middle of the Kansas and Kansas 99 intersection south of Alma, according to a media release. &nbsp;Sumner observed the driver slouched over the steering wheel and summoned EMS. Realizing the vehicle was running and still in drive&nbsp; Sumner immediately returned to his patrol vehicle and gently set his push bar in direct contact with the suspect vehicle grill in a head to head to prevent it from rolling off road, into traffic or suddenly being able to flee or elude. Sumner roused awake and made contact with the driver, identified as 25-year-old Dustin Marquarndt of Dwight, Kansas. Marquarndt was asked to step out of the vehicle after&nbsp; Sumner noticed signs of impairment and the presence of a firearm. Assisting the driver from the vehicle, Sumner observed illegal narcotics in plain view. The subsequent lawful probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 1 gram of Methamphetamine, 4 grams of Cocaine &amp; other associated illicit narcotics paraphernalia. Due to the totality of circumstances &amp; objective reasonableness to include the driver exhibiting signs of impairment, Cpl Sumner placed Mr. Marquarndt under arrest without incident transported him to the county jail where he was booked in on requested charges of possession of opiates/narcotic or certain stimulant, possession of marijuana, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal parking on highway and not wearing his seat belt. Upon driver refusal to voluntarily submit to chemical testing, Sumner applied for, was granted and then executed a lawful blood draw search warrant upon the accused.&nbsp;

Kan. man jailed after he passed out in running vehicle at intersection

The last-minute inclusion, aimed at Kansas City, would force any city to repay all state funds, with interest, if it became a ‘sanctuary city’ for undocumented migrants

By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Republican lawmakers are seeking to target Kansas City with heavy sanctions if it moves ahead with stated plans by Mayor Quinton Lucas to welcome immigrants with legal clearance to work while in the United States.

The last item added to the state budget Wednesday during deliberations of the Senate Appropriations Committee was language that cuts all state funding for cities that become sanctuaries for immigrants. It also requires any money already received by those cities to be paid back with interest.

The provision, added to the budget at the urging of Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, came in response to statements Lucas made, first to Bloomberg News and later to local media and on social media, that he is in talks with mayors in New York and Denver to help them with large numbers of recently arrived migrants.

“We wanted to have the clawback provisions in there to make sure that if he does that, once we’re out of session, and some of that money is expended by the city of Kansas City, the state has the ability to seek reimbursement of that, as well as interest,” Luetkemeyer said.

The language almost passed unnoticed in the fast-paced hearing, until state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, raised objections.&nbsp;

She said the provision is borne of cruelty to migrants and animosity toward a city controlled by Democrats.

“I want them to be able to come here and be safe, be able to work, be able to go to school, be able to eat and do the things that they do, be entrepreneurs that they want to,” Washington said.

Washington was caught off guard by the provision yet, like other Democrats, voted for most of the budget bills as they were approved on their way to Senate floor debate. The amendment was added to every bill so it could impact school funding, student college aid and grants to civic groups, depending on how it is interpreted.

The controversy over Kansas City’s welcoming policy began after Lucas spoke to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/new-york-migrants-invited-by-kansas-city-mayor-to-fill-jobs-demand?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcxMzI4OTI0MywiZXhwIjoxNzEzODk0MDQzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTQzFQUDNUMVVNMFcwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIzRjQyNkUyMzlGNUE0QTNBOUE5OTk2RDNDRDhBMzQxMiJ9.YmLdB9bBbUL_FYnybHif9WbL47nqqmwP9ygtXQ9qs-M&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;for an article published April 16.

“We need a lot more employees,” Lucas said. “If there are people who are willing and ready to work, then I believe that there could be a place for them.”

That drew a rebuke from Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who said Missouri laws prohibit the transportation or employment of undocumented immigrants.

“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners,” Bailey wrote in a letter to Lucas included in a news release. “Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”

In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1780982347304780059">statement on X</a>, as opposition led by Republicans escalated, Lucas said he is trying to welcome people legally able to work.&nbsp;

“What we’re saying is if you’ve gone through that work permit, you’ve worked with the Department of Homeland Security, and you are lawfully present here in the United States, then you know what, we want to welcome you,” Lucas wrote. “We want to make sure there’s a way to find work in our community.”

Lucas clarified his position again during a meeting Tuesday of the Kansas City Council’s Special Committee for Legal Review.

“There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests we are a sanctuary city,” he said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article287951995.html">according to the Kansas City Star</a>. “There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests that this city is funding or in some conspiracy to help create more illegal immigration.”

“No funds shall be expended to any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy, in accordance with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=67.307&amp;bid=2746&amp;hl=">Section 67.307, RSMO</a>. any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy and has received state funds during the current fiscal year shall pay back all funds with interest calculated at the statutory rate of interest as provided in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.040&amp;bid=23339&amp;hl=">Section 408.040.4, RSMO</a>.”

The law barring Missouri cities from declaring they are sanctuary cities defines that as an ordinance or policy to limit or prohibit communication with federal immigration agencies “to verify or report the immigration status” of any individual or grants people in the United States illegally the right to lawful presence.

The statute setting the interest makes it equal to the rate set by the Federal Reserve for its loans to banks, plus 3%, which would make it 8.25% to 8.5% as of Wednesday.

The penalty is withholding grants administered by state agencies. It is triggered when a complaint is made, and requires “any member of the general assembly” to ask the attorney general for an official opinion on whether there has been a violation.

The language in the budget goes beyond that law and will be thrown out in the courts, Washington said. There is no provision for taking money back, she noted.

“If we are going to be the protectors of our state’s budget, and respect the citizens of this state, we have got to stop doing things that are going to cost us a lot of money in court,” Washington said.

Seeking a repayment with interest is legal, Lutkemeyer said.

“The statute is silent as to that issue,” he said. “We’re just filling that gap.”

The Center for Immigration Studies, which defines sanctuary cities as those with “laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals,” does not consider any city in Missouri a sanctuary city.

In a statement, state Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said the language will not impact immigration.

“There are no sanctuary cities in Missouri and this language will not actually do anything to help our state,” Arthur said. “It is simply another distraction from the fact that Congressional Republicans are refusing to pass the bipartisan border security bill that would finally address the real crisis at the border.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714049902348.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testifies in an April 10 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Missouri lawmakers are targeting Kansas City for sanctions over Lucas’s recent remarks welcoming immigrants able to work legally (Screenshot from U.S. Senate stream)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testifies in an April 10 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Missouri lawmakers are targeting Kansas City for sanctions over Lucas’s recent remarks welcoming immigrants able to work legally (Screenshot from U.S. Senate stream).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The last-minute inclusion, aimed at Kansas City, would force any city to repay all state funds, with interest, if it became a ‘sanctuary city’ for undocumented migrants</h2>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Republican lawmakers are seeking to target Kansas City with heavy sanctions if it moves ahead with stated plans by Mayor Quinton Lucas to welcome immigrants with legal clearance to work while in the United States.The last item added to the state budget Wednesday during deliberations of the Senate Appropriations Committee was language that cuts all state funding for cities that become sanctuaries for immigrants. It also requires any money already received by those cities to be paid back with interest.The provision, added to the budget at the urging of Republican state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, came in response to statements Lucas made, first to Bloomberg News and later to local media and on social media, that he is in talks with mayors in New York and Denver to help them with large numbers of recently arrived migrants.“We wanted to have the clawback provisions in there to make sure that if he does that, once we’re out of session, and some of that money is expended by the city of Kansas City, the state has the ability to seek reimbursement of that, as well as interest,” Luetkemeyer said.The language almost passed unnoticed in the fast-paced hearing, until state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, raised objections.&nbsp;She said the provision is borne of cruelty to migrants and animosity toward a city controlled by Democrats.“I want them to be able to come here and be safe, be able to work, be able to go to school, be able to eat and do the things that they do, be entrepreneurs that they want to,” Washington said.Washington was caught off guard by the provision yet, like other Democrats, voted for most of the budget bills as they were approved on their way to Senate floor debate. The amendment was added to every bill so it could impact school funding, student college aid and grants to civic groups, depending on how it is interpreted.The controversy over Kansas City’s welcoming policy began after Lucas spoke to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/new-york-migrants-invited-by-kansas-city-mayor-to-fill-jobs-demand?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcxMzI4OTI0MywiZXhwIjoxNzEzODk0MDQzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTQzFQUDNUMVVNMFcwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIzRjQyNkUyMzlGNUE0QTNBOUE5OTk2RDNDRDhBMzQxMiJ9.YmLdB9bBbUL_FYnybHif9WbL47nqqmwP9ygtXQ9qs-M&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;for an article published April 16.“We need a lot more employees,” Lucas said. “If there are people who are willing and ready to work, then I believe that there could be a place for them.”That drew a rebuke from Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who said Missouri laws prohibit the transportation or employment of undocumented immigrants.“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners,” Bailey wrote in a letter to Lucas included in a news release. “Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1780982347304780059">statement on X</a>, as opposition led by Republicans escalated, Lucas said he is trying to welcome people legally able to work.&nbsp;“What we’re saying is if you’ve gone through that work permit, you’ve worked with the Department of Homeland Security, and you are lawfully present here in the United States, then you know what, we want to welcome you,” Lucas wrote. “We want to make sure there’s a way to find work in our community.”Lucas clarified his position again during a meeting Tuesday of the Kansas City Council’s Special Committee for Legal Review.“There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests we are a sanctuary city,” he said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article287951995.html">according to the Kansas City Star</a>. “There is nothing that has been proposed that suggests that this city is funding or in some conspiracy to help create more illegal immigration.”The provision added the budget states:“No funds shall be expended to any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy, in accordance with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=67.307&amp;bid=2746&amp;hl=">Section 67.307, RSMO</a>. any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy and has received state funds during the current fiscal year shall pay back all funds with interest calculated at the statutory rate of interest as provided in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=408.040&amp;bid=23339&amp;hl=">Section 408.040.4, RSMO</a>.”The law barring Missouri cities from declaring they are sanctuary cities defines that as an ordinance or policy to limit or prohibit communication with federal immigration agencies “to verify or report the immigration status” of any individual or grants people in the United States illegally the right to lawful presence.The statute setting the interest makes it equal to the rate set by the Federal Reserve for its loans to banks, plus 3%, which would make it 8.25% to 8.5% as of Wednesday.The penalty is withholding grants administered by state agencies. It is triggered when a complaint is made, and requires “any member of the general assembly” to ask the attorney general for an official opinion on whether there has been a violation.The language in the budget goes beyond that law and will be thrown out in the courts, Washington said. There is no provision for taking money back, she noted.“If we are going to be the protectors of our state’s budget, and respect the citizens of this state, we have got to stop doing things that are going to cost us a lot of money in court,” Washington said.Seeking a repayment with interest is legal, Lutkemeyer said.“The statute is silent as to that issue,” he said. “We’re just filling that gap.”The Center for Immigration Studies, which defines sanctuary cities as those with “laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals,” does not consider any city in Missouri a sanctuary city.In a statement, state Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said the language will not impact immigration.“There are no sanctuary cities in Missouri and this language will not actually do anything to help our state,” Arthur said. “It is simply another distraction from the fact that Congressional Republicans are refusing to pass the bipartisan border security bill that would finally address the real crisis at the border.”

Senate committee adds anti-immigration sanctions targeting Kansas City 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Deepwater, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for fraudulently obtaining more than $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to the United State's Attorney.

Brian Ruth, Sr., 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Ruth to pay a $15,000 fine, to pay $522,765 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, and to forfeit to the government $336,000. Ruth was taken into custody immediately following the hearing to begin serving his prison term.

On May 5, 2021, Ruth pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Ruth admitted that he applied online in May and June 2020, and received three PPP loans totaling $522,765 for three separate business entities. Each of the loan applications contained materially false statements and included fraudulent supporting documents. Ruth, who was convicted in 2018 of filing false or fraudulent tax returns, falsely claimed on his PPP loan documents that he had not been convicted of a fraud offense within the last five years of applying for these loans.

Ruth falsely claimed his three businesses were operational and employed numerous individuals in February 2020, when in reality, the businesses had not been open or operational and did not employ anyone.

Ruth also admitted that he directed the fraudulently obtained PPP loan proceeds to be wired to his bank accounts. According to court documents, at least five bank accounts under Ruth’s name were seized in an effort to recover some of the monies he had fraudulently stolen. When Ruth’s bank accounts were seized by law enforcement, they contained less than $6 in all of the five accounts collectively. Ruth spent all of the money he stole within about five months to fund his luxurious lifestyle.

Ruth used the proceeds of his fraud to gamble, purchase real estate, and purchase a 2016 Cadillac, a 2020 Dodge Charger, and a 2017 Dodge Challenger. Ruth traded the Cadillac and the Charger (along with $27,415) to purchase the Challenger.

According to court documents, Ruth has prior convictions for 10 felonies and 11 misdemeanors that include stealing, passing bad checks, theft, identity theft, violating protection orders, filing false tax returns, and immoral conduct with a minor. He has been arrested and/or charged with an additional 23 felony and 26 misdemeanor offenses throughout his life, including passing bad checks, trespassing, identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, burglary, and possessing a dangerous weapon. Ruth has not gone a single year in his life in which he has not been arrested and/or convicted for some type of fraud or other criminal offense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714046893806.png" alt="Ruth-photo Greene Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Ruth-photo Greene Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Deepwater, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for fraudulently obtaining more than $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to the United State's Attorney.Brian Ruth, Sr., 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Ruth to pay a $15,000 fine, to pay $522,765 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, and to forfeit to the government $336,000. Ruth was taken into custody immediately following the hearing to begin serving his prison term.On May 5, 2021, Ruth pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Ruth admitted that he applied online in May and June 2020, and received three PPP loans totaling $522,765 for three separate business entities. Each of the loan applications contained materially false statements and included fraudulent supporting documents. Ruth, who was convicted in 2018 of filing false or fraudulent tax returns, falsely claimed on his PPP loan documents that he had not been convicted of a fraud offense within the last five years of applying for these loans.Ruth falsely claimed his three businesses were operational and employed numerous individuals in February 2020, when in reality, the businesses had not been open or operational and did not employ anyone.Ruth also admitted that he directed the fraudulently obtained PPP loan proceeds to be wired to his bank accounts. According to court documents, at least five bank accounts under Ruth’s name were seized in an effort to recover some of the monies he had fraudulently stolen. When Ruth’s bank accounts were seized by law enforcement, they contained less than $6 in all of the five accounts collectively. Ruth spent all of the money he stole within about five months to fund his luxurious lifestyle.Ruth used the proceeds of his fraud to gamble, purchase real estate, and purchase a 2016 Cadillac, a 2020 Dodge Charger, and a 2017 Dodge Challenger. Ruth traded the Cadillac and the Charger (along with $27,415) to purchase the Challenger.According to court documents, Ruth has prior convictions for 10 felonies and 11 misdemeanors that include stealing, passing bad checks, theft, identity theft, violating protection orders, filing false tax returns, and immoral conduct with a minor. He has been arrested and/or charged with an additional 23 felony and 26 misdemeanor offenses throughout his life, including passing bad checks, trespassing, identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, burglary, and possessing a dangerous weapon. Ruth has not gone a single year in his life in which he has not been arrested and/or convicted for some type of fraud or other criminal offense.

Missouri man sentenced for pandemic business loan fraud

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

ALMA, KS - On Wednesday, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the area of K-99 just southeast of the Wabaunsee High School practice field on the report of rolled over commercial truck.

A Commercial truck was northbound on K99 when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which caused it to roll onto the passenger side, blocking both lanes of the roadway.

Wabaunsee High School USD 329 SRO(WBSO), Steve Bundy was the first to arrive on scene, followed by Wabaunsee County Undersheriff, Eric Kirsch. Also, responding to the scene were AMR and the Wabaunsee Fire District 6(Alma) .

Undersheriff Kirsch can be <a href="https://fb.watch/rFhEbmCuWZ/">seen in the video</a>&nbsp;breaking out the windshield to get the truck driver out of the truck.

According to Kirsch, due to the contents of the truck, along with the fuel, they needed to get the driver out quickly to ensure his safety.

The driver was not injured in the crash and can be heard on the video asking for water immediately after getting out of the truck. K-99 was closed for just over an hour while crews removed the truck from the roadway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714000490651.png" alt="Photo Wabaunsee County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wabaunsee County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostALMA, KS - On Wednesday, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the area of K-99 just southeast of the Wabaunsee High School practice field on the report of rolled over commercial truck.<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/TAcVSc7X-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Wabaunsee Co Sheriff's Office Extract Driver From Rolled Semi" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>A Commercial truck was northbound on K99 when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which caused it to roll onto the passenger side, blocking both lanes of the roadway.Wabaunsee High School USD 329 SRO(WBSO), Steve Bundy was the first to arrive on scene, followed by Wabaunsee County Undersheriff, Eric Kirsch. Also, responding to the scene were AMR and the Wabaunsee Fire District 6(Alma) .Undersheriff Kirsch can be <a href="https://fb.watch/rFhEbmCuWZ/">seen in the video</a>&nbsp;breaking out the windshield to get the truck driver out of the truck.According to Kirsch, due to the contents of the truck, along with the fuel, they needed to get the driver out quickly to ensure his safety.The driver was not injured in the crash and can be heard on the video asking for water immediately after getting out of the truck. K-99 was closed for just over an hour while crews removed the truck from the roadway.

🎥Driver rescued from overturned truck on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">provided secretly by the United States</a>, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.

Long sought by Ukrainian leaders, the new missiles give Ukraine nearly double the striking distance — up to 300 kilometers (190 miles) — that it had with the mid-range version of the weapon that it received from the U.S. last October.

"We’ve already sent some, we will send more now that we have additional authority and money,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. The additional ATACMS were included in a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mike-johnson-ukraine-israel-b72aed9b195818735d24363f2bc34ea4">military aid package signed by President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Biden approved delivery of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in February, and then in March the U.S. included a “significant” number of them in a $300 million aid package announced, officials said.

U.S. officials would not provide the exact number of missiles given last month or in the latest aid package, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">totals about $1 billion</a>.

Ukraine has been forced to ration its weapons and is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">increasing Russian attacks.</a>&nbsp;Ukraine had been begging for the long-range system because the missiles provide a critical ability to strike Russian targets that are farther away, allowing Ukrainian forces to stay safely out of range.

Information about the delivery was kept so quiet that lawmakers and others in recent days have been demanding that the U.S. send the weapons — not knowing they were already in Ukraine.

For months, the U.S. resisted sending Ukraine the long-range missiles out of concern that Kyiv could use them to hit deep into Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the conflict. That was a key reason the administration sent the mid-range version, with a range of about 160 kilometers (roughly 100 miles), in October instead.

Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday that the White House and military planners looked carefully at the risks of providing long-range fires to Ukraine and determined that the time was right to provide them now.

He told The Associated Press in an interview that long-range weapons will help Ukraine take out Russian logistics nodes and troop concentrations that are not on the front lines. Grady declined to identify what specific weapons were being provided but said they will be “very disruptive if used properly, and I’m confident they will be.”

Like many of the other sophisticated weapons systems provided to Ukraine, the administration weighed whether their use would risk further escalating the conflict. The administration is continuing to make clear that the weapons cannot be used to hit targets inside Russia. At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel said Wednesday that Biden directed his national security team to send the ATACMS specifying that they be used inside Ukrainian sovereign territory.

“I think the time is right, and the boss (Biden) made the decision the time is right to provide these based on where the fight is right now,” Grady said Wednesday. “I think it was a very well considered decision, and we really wrung it out — but again, any time you introduce a new system, any change — into a battlefield, you have to think through the escalatory nature of it.”

Ukrainian officials haven’t publicly acknowledged the receipt or use of long-range ATACMS. But in thanking Congress for passing the new aid bill Tuesday, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-aid-package-kharkiv-drones-cadd79c8abd56ad58d07c93253e04ef1">Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted</a>&nbsp;on the social platform X that “Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense are extremely important tools for the quick restoration of a just peace.”

One U.S. official said the Biden administration warned Russia last year that if Moscow acquired and used long-range ballistic missiles in Ukraine, Washington would provide the same capability to Kyiv. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about internal discussions.

Russia got some of those weapons from North Korea and has used them on the battlefield in Ukraine, said the official, prompting the Biden administration to greenlight the new long-range missiles.

The U.S. had refused to confirm that the long-range missiles were given to Ukraine until they were actually used on the battlefield and Kyiv leaders approved the public release. One official said the weapons were used early last week to strike the airfield in Dzhankoi, a city in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/crimea">Crimea</a>, a peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. They were used again overnight east of the occupied city of Berdyansk.

Videos on social media last week showed the explosions at the military airfield, but officials at the time would not confirm it was the ATACMS.

"These strikes proved -– once again -– that Ukraine can notch battlefield victories when given the right tools,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who has long pressed the administration to send the long-range weapons.

Ukraine’s first use of the weapon came as political gridlock in Congress had delayed approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ukraine-house-speaker-42a2f281a5437beaa8af4c3345987637">$95 billion foreign aid package</a>&nbsp;for months, including funding for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. Facing acute shortages of artillery and air defense systems, Ukraine has been rationing its munitions as U.S. funding was delayed.

With the war now in its third year, Russia used the delay in U.S. weapons deliveries and its own edge in firepower and personnel to step up attacks across eastern Ukraine. It has increasingly used satellite-guided gliding bombs — dropped from planes from a safe distance — to pummel Ukrainian forces beset by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-parliament-recruit-army-russia-war-5b7d9f58bb398b4ad1296311b8130b92">shortage of troops</a>&nbsp;and ammunition.

The mid-range missiles provided last year, and some of the long-range ones sent more recently, carry cluster munitions that open in the air when fired, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead. Others sent recently have a single warhead.

One critical factor in the February decision to send the weapons was the U.S. Army’s ability to begin replacing the older ATACMS. The Army is now buying the Precision Strike Missile, so is more comfortable taking ATACMS off the shelves to provide to Ukraine, the official said.

At the White House, Sullivan said the administration “has worked relentlessly to address those concerns" and stocks are now coming off the production line and the ATACMS can be sent without hurting U.S. military readiness.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;signed into law into law Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-gaza-taiwan-c0645ad3f47f9d919c8988a98593e887">a $95 billion war aid measure</a>&nbsp;that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that also includes a provision that would force social media site TikTok to be sold or be banned in U.S.

The announcement marks an end to long, painful battle with Republicans in Congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine.

“We rose to the moment. we came together. and we got it done," Biden said at White House event to announce the signing. "Now we need to move fast, and we are,”

But significant damage has been done to the Biden administration’s effort to help Ukraine repel Russia’s brutal invasion during the funding impasse that dates back to August, when the Democratic president made his first emergency spending request for Ukraine aid. Even with a burst of new weapons and ammunition, it is unlikely Ukraine will immediately recover after months of setbacks.

Biden said the transfer of an initial aid package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-pentagon-weapons-congress-54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">military assistance</a>&nbsp;will begin in a matter of hours — the first tranche from about $61 billion allocated for Ukraine, according to U.S. officials. It is expected to include air defense capabilities, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other weapons to shore up Ukrainian forces who have seen morale sink as Russian President Vladimir Putin has racked up win after win.

But longer term, it remains uncertain if Ukraine — after months of losses in Eastern Ukraine and sustaining massive damage to its infrastructure — can make enough progress to sustain American political support before burning through the latest influx of money.

“It’s not going in the Ukrainians' favor in the Donbas, certainly not elsewhere in the country,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby, referring to the eastern industrial heartland where Ukraine has suffered setbacks. “Mr. Putin thinks he can play for time. So we’ve got to try to make up some of that time.”

Russia now appears focused on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. Russian forces have exploited air&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kharkiv-attacks-751d368a403127f2cc0e6e6e5fd43d15">defense shortages in the city,</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-power-plant-missiles-drones-94692e19900f60c2c3641c9352a416ed">pummeling the region’s energy infrastructure</a>, and looking to shape conditions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-offensive-putin-8fce40ee08fdcc483f1d0fbe51c44bbe">for a potential summer offensive</a>&nbsp;to seize the city.

House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a vote on the supplemental aid package for months as members of his party's far right wing, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, threatened to move to oust him if he allowed a vote to send more assistance to Ukraine. Those threats persist.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested his fellow Republicans' holding up the funding could have a lasting impact on Ukraine's hopes of winning the war.

“Make no mistake: Delay in providing Ukraine the weapons to defend itself has strained the prospects of defeating Russian aggression,” McConnell said Tuesday. "Dithering and hesitation have compounded the challenges we face.”

Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 presidential GOP nominee, has complained that European allies have not done enough for Ukraine. While he stopped short of endorsing the supplemental funding package, his tone has shifted in recent days, acknowledging that Ukraine's survival is important to the United States.

Indeed, many European leaders have long been nervous that a second Trump presidency would mean decreased U.S. support for Ukraine and for the NATO military alliance. The European anxiety was heightened in February when Trump in a campaign speech warned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-nato-artillery-shells-59663a6a14ad180be86bc79a86cea07b">NATO allies</a>&nbsp;that he “would encourage” Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-foreign-aid-russia-2b8054a9fe185eec34c2c541cece655d">“to do whatever the hell they want”</a>&nbsp;to countries that don't meet defense spending goals if he returns to the White House.

It was a key moment in the debate over Ukraine spending. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg quickly called out Trump for putting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-trump-nato-277d1b30ba6fd0ee37ca626c59ab05ed">“American and European soldiers at increased risk.”</a>&nbsp;Biden days later called Trump's comments&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-trump-nato-277d1b30ba6fd0ee37ca626c59ab05ed">"dangerous" and “un-American”</a>&nbsp;and accused Trump of playing into Putin's hands.

But in reality, the White House maneuvering to win additional funding for Ukraine started months earlier.

Biden, the day after returning from a whirlwind trip to Tel Aviv following Hamas militants' stunning Oct. 7 attack on Israel, used a rare prime time address to make his pitch for the supplemental funding.

At the time, the House was in chaos because the Republican majority had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jim-jordan-house-speaker-mccarthy-trump-abdef873a8d14979848b658e4ef46fd2">unable to select a speaker</a>&nbsp;to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who had been ousted more than two weeks earlier. McCarthy’s reckoning with the GOP's far right came after he agreed earlier in the year to allow federal spending levels that many in his right flank disagreed with and wanted undone.

Far-right Republicans have also adamantly opposed sending more money for Ukraine, with the war appearing to have no end in sight. Biden in August requested more than $20 billion to keep aid flowing into Ukraine, but the money was stripped out of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">a must-pass spending bill</a>&nbsp;even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-washington-visit-congress-ukraine-war-1d20574fb3ea4fb5efcc7db5458a33a3">a personal plea</a>&nbsp;for continued U.S. backing.

By late October, Republicans finally settled on Johnson, a low-profile Louisiana Republican whose thinking on Ukraine was opaque, to serve as the next speaker. Biden during his congratulatory call with Johnson urged him to quickly pass Ukraine aid and began a months-long, largely behind-the-scenes effort to bring the matter to a vote.

In private conversations with Johnson, Biden and White House officials leaned into the stakes for Europe if Ukraine were to fall to Russia. Five days after Johnson was formally elected speaker, national security adviser Jake Sullivan outlined to him the administration's strategy on Ukraine and assured him that accountability measures were in place in Ukraine to track where the aid was going — an effort to address a common complaint from conservatives.

On explicit orders from Biden himself, White House officials also avoided directly attacking Johnson over the stalled aid — a directive the president repeatedly instilled in his senior staff.

For his part, Johnson came off to White House officials as direct and an honest actor throughout the negotiations, according to a senior administration official. Biden had success finding common ground with Republicans earlier in his term to win the passage of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1 trillion infrastructure deal</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/micron-biden-trump-schumer-chips-computer-ab9eeef7636262177e7b1aabbd6d1245">legislation to boost the U.S. semiconductor industry,</a>&nbsp;and an expansion of federal health care services for veterans exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits. And he knew there was plenty of Republican support for further Ukraine funding.

At frustrating moments during the negotiations, Biden urged his aides to “just keep talking, keep working,” according to the official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

So they did. In a daily meeting convened by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, the president's top aides — seated around a big oval table in Zients' office — would brainstorm possible ways to better make the case about Ukraine’s dire situation in the absence of aid.

Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, and legislative affairs director Shuwanza Goff were in regular contact with Johnson. Goff and Johnson’s senior staff also spoke frequently as a deal came into focus.

The White House also sought to accommodate Johnson and his various asks. For instance, administration officials at the speaker's request briefed Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Ralph Norman, R-S.C. — two conservatives who were persistent antagonists of Johnson.

All the while, senior Biden officials frequently updated McConnell as well as key Republican committee leaders, including Reps. Michael McCaul and Mike Turner.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Biden's instincts to resist pressuring Johnson proved correct.

“Joe Biden has a very good sense of when to heavily intervene and when to try to shape things,” Schumer said.

In public, the administration deployed a strategy of downgrading intelligence that demonstrated Russia's efforts to tighten its ties with U.S. adversaries China, North Korea and Iran to fortify Moscow's defense industrial complex and get around U.S. and European sanctions.

For example, U.S. officials this month laid out intelligence findings that showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-china-russia-ukraine-war-265df843be030b7183c95b6f3afca8ec">China has surged sales</a>&nbsp;to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry. Earlier, the White House publicized intelligence that Russia has acquired ballistic missiles from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-missiles-ammunitions-5fd4221d9c4844240011632fd9b9e849">North Korea</a>&nbsp;and has acquired attack drones from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-iran-ballistic-missiles-f14501f6f9a6401af7f8835b2ddd01cf">Iran</a>.

The $61 billion can help triage Ukrainian forces, but Kyiv will need much more for a fight that could last years, military experts say.

Realistic goals for the months ahead for Ukraine — and its allies — include avoiding the loss of major cities, slowing Russia's momentum and getting additional weaponry to Kyiv that could help them go on the offensive in 2025, said Bradley Bowman, a defense strategy and policy analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington.

“In our microwave culture, we tend to want immediate results,” Bowman said. “And sometimes things are just hard and you can’t get immediate results. I think Ukrainian success is not guaranteed, but Russian success is if we stop supporting Ukraine."

🎥 US secretly sent long-range missiles to Ukraine to hit Russia

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Gerald Jones, II, Kansas City, Kansas.

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

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

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

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

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Gerald Jones, II, Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6000 block of Leavenworth Road, according to a media release.First responders discovered Jones in the parking lot of a business. He was pronounced deceased on scene.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.&nbsp;This is the seventh homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.

Homicide: Police ID Kan. man found dead in parking lot of business

JERUSALEM (AP) — A warship — part of a U.S.-led coalition protecting shipping in the Mideast — intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile fired over the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, the American military said, marking a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">new attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;after a recent lull.

The Houthis claimed the assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The explosion happened some 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in a statement.

Early Thursday, the U.S. military's Central Command said a coalition warship shot down the missile likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members.

“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships," Central Command said.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed the attack but insisted without evidence that the missile hit the Yorktown. Saree also claimed the Houthis targeted another ship in the Indian Ocean, without providing proof. The Houthis have made repeated claims that turned out to not be true during their yearslong war in Yemen.

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 sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the U.S.-led campaign against them and firing off drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

The Houthis have said they would continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The ships targeted by the Houthis largely have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962. The group seized Sanaa, Yemen's capital, in late 2014. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the group in a stalemated conflict since 2015.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on American college campuses, calling them antisemitic and comparing them to the lead-up to the Holocaust.

In a video statement released Wednesday, Netanyahu said that “antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities” where “they call for the annihilation of Israel.”

“This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s,” he said. “It’s unconscionable.”

He called on state, local and federal officials to intervene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708804229711.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — A warship — part of a U.S.-led coalition protecting shipping in the Mideast — intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile fired over the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, the American military said, marking a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">new attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;after a recent lull.The Houthis claimed the assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The explosion happened some 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in a statement.Early Thursday, the U.S. military's Central Command said a coalition warship shot down the missile likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members.“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships," Central Command said.Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed the attack but insisted without evidence that the missile hit the Yorktown. Saree also claimed the Houthis targeted another ship in the Indian Ocean, without providing proof. The Houthis have made repeated claims that turned out to not be true during their yearslong war in Yemen.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 sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the U.S.-led campaign against them and firing off drones and missiles steadily in the last months.The Houthis have said they would continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.The ships targeted by the Houthis largely have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962. The group seized Sanaa, Yemen's capital, in late 2014. A Saudi-led coalition has been battling the group in a stalemated conflict since 2015.Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on American college campuses, calling them antisemitic and comparing them to the lead-up to the Holocaust.In a video statement released Wednesday, Netanyahu said that “antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities” where “they call for the annihilation of Israel.”“This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s,” he said. “It’s unconscionable.”He called on state, local and federal officials to intervene.Groups organizing the protests deny allegations of antisemitism, saying the demonstrations are directed at Israel and its actions in Gaza.Students demanding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-protests-israel-divestment-palestinians-3f37f96f7be8e1124f266842d9caa627">schools cut financial ties</a>&nbsp;to Israel and divest from companies enabling its monthslong conflict, which was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. Dozens have been arrested on charges of trespassing or disorderly conduct.Some Jewish students are taking part in the protests, while others say the demonstrations have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.