CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates began making historic changes in their policies on sexuality on Tuesday — voting without debate to reverse a series of anti-LGBTQ policies.

The delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination's bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.

The 667-54 vote, coming during their legislative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, removes some of the scaffolding around the United Methodist Church's longstanding bans on LGBTQ-affirming policies regarding ordination, marriage and funding.

Still to come later this week are votes on the core of the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage in church law and policy, which may draw more debate. However, the large majority achieved by Tuesday's votes indicate the tenor of the General Conference. The consensus was so overwhelming that these items were rolled into the legislative “consent calendar," normally reserved for non-controversial measures.

The actions follow a historic schism in what was long the third-largest denomination in the United States. About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">one-quarter of U.S. congregations</a>&nbsp;left between 2019 and 2023, mostly conservative churches dismayed that the denomination wasn't enforcing its longstanding LGBTQ bans. With the absence of many conservative delegates, who had been in the solid majority in previous general conferences and had steadily reinforced such bans over the decades, progressive delegates are moving quickly to reverse such policies.

Such actions could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methodists-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-conservatives-africa-1319aea6e1d2ad8755a905a8c4b1bf79">Africa</a>, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.

United Methodist Church law still bans the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” into ministry — a decades-old rule that will come up for a vote later this week.

However, on Tuesday, the General Conference voted to remove a related ban — on church officials considering someone for ordination who fits that category. It removed bans on bishops ordaining LGBTQ people as clergy or consecrating them as bishops.

It also removed mandatory penalties — imposed by a 2019 General Conference — on clergy who conduct ceremonies celebrating same-sex weddings or unions.

And it imposed a moratorium on any church judicial processes seeking to discipline any clergy for violating LGBTQ-related rules.

In addition, the General Conference took actions toward being openly LGBTQ-affirming.

It repealed a longstanding ban on any United Methodist entity using funds “to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.” That previous ban also forbade the funding of any effort to "reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends" and expressly supported the funding of responses to the anti-HIV epidemic. However, the mixed wording of the old rule has been replaced with a ban on funding any effort to “reject any LGBTQIA+ person or openly discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people.”

“It’s a very liberating day for United Methodists who are actively involved with LGBTQ people,” said the Rev. David Meredith, board chair for the Reconciling Ministries Network, a group that has long advocated for LGBTQ inclusion in the church.

Compared with past, contentious general conferences, this one is "much more upbeat," added Jan Lawrence, executive director of the network. “Yes, we’re going to have things we disagree on. But the vitriol that we saw in 2019, that is not evident at all.”

Other rule changes called for considering of LGBTQ people along with other demographic categories for appointments in an effort to have diversity on various church boards and entities.

The General Conference is the UMC’s first legislative gathering since 2019, one that features its most progressive slate of delegates in recent memory following the departure of more than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States because it essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

Those departures came during a window between 2019 and 2023 allowing U.S. congregations to leave with their properties, held in trust for the denomination, under friendlier than normal terms. Conservatives are advocating that such terms be extended for international and U.S. churches that don't agree with the General Conference's actions.

“We get it, the United Methodist Church wants to be done with disaffiliation," said the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the conservative advocacy group Good News. “They want to step into this new day. We do not want to keep them from that. But how can disaffiliation be over when it never began for the majority of United Methodists?”

Still to come this week are final votes on whether to remove the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage, and whether to whether to replace a longstanding document that had called the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching.”

All of those proposals had overwhelming support in committee votes last week.

The changes would be historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years.

Last week, the conference endorsed a regionalization plan that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change – which still requires local ratification -- could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions. Delegates on Tuesday approved a related measure related to regionalization.

The conference last week also approved the departure of a small group of conservative churches in the former Soviet Union.

The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.

The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714509026540.png" alt="View from the livestream of the General Conference on Tuesday" />
 <figcaption>View from the livestream of the General Conference on Tuesday</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates began making historic changes in their policies on sexuality on Tuesday — voting without debate to reverse a series of anti-LGBTQ policies.The delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination's bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.The 667-54 vote, coming during their legislative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, removes some of the scaffolding around the United Methodist Church's longstanding bans on LGBTQ-affirming policies regarding ordination, marriage and funding.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714509299729.png" alt="Delegate from the New England region Effie McLain of spoke during the Tuesday session as shown on the livestream" />
 <figcaption>Delegate from the New England region Effie McLain of spoke during the Tuesday session as shown on the livestream</figcaption>
 </figure>Still to come later this week are votes on the core of the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage in church law and policy, which may draw more debate. However, the large majority achieved by Tuesday's votes indicate the tenor of the General Conference. The consensus was so overwhelming that these items were rolled into the legislative “consent calendar," normally reserved for non-controversial measures.The actions follow a historic schism in what was long the third-largest denomination in the United States. About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">one-quarter of U.S. congregations</a>&nbsp;left between 2019 and 2023, mostly conservative churches dismayed that the denomination wasn't enforcing its longstanding LGBTQ bans. With the absence of many conservative delegates, who had been in the solid majority in previous general conferences and had steadily reinforced such bans over the decades, progressive delegates are moving quickly to reverse such policies.Such actions could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methodists-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-conservatives-africa-1319aea6e1d2ad8755a905a8c4b1bf79">Africa</a>, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.United Methodist Church law still bans the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” into ministry — a decades-old rule that will come up for a vote later this week.However, on Tuesday, the General Conference voted to remove a related ban — on church officials considering someone for ordination who fits that category. It removed bans on bishops ordaining LGBTQ people as clergy or consecrating them as bishops.It also removed mandatory penalties — imposed by a 2019 General Conference — on clergy who conduct ceremonies celebrating same-sex weddings or unions.And it imposed a moratorium on any church judicial processes seeking to discipline any clergy for violating LGBTQ-related rules.In addition, the General Conference took actions toward being openly LGBTQ-affirming.It repealed a longstanding ban on any United Methodist entity using funds “to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.” That previous ban also forbade the funding of any effort to "reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends" and expressly supported the funding of responses to the anti-HIV epidemic. However, the mixed wording of the old rule has been replaced with a ban on funding any effort to “reject any LGBTQIA+ person or openly discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people.”“It’s a very liberating day for United Methodists who are actively involved with LGBTQ people,” said the Rev. David Meredith, board chair for the Reconciling Ministries Network, a group that has long advocated for LGBTQ inclusion in the church.Compared with past, contentious general conferences, this one is "much more upbeat," added Jan Lawrence, executive director of the network. “Yes, we’re going to have things we disagree on. But the vitriol that we saw in 2019, that is not evident at all.”Other rule changes called for considering of LGBTQ people along with other demographic categories for appointments in an effort to have diversity on various church boards and entities.The General Conference is the UMC’s first legislative gathering since 2019, one that features its most progressive slate of delegates in recent memory following the departure of more than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States because it essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.Those departures came during a window between 2019 and 2023 allowing U.S. congregations to leave with their properties, held in trust for the denomination, under friendlier than normal terms. Conservatives are advocating that such terms be extended for international and U.S. churches that don't agree with the General Conference's actions.“We get it, the United Methodist Church wants to be done with disaffiliation," said the Rev. Rob Renfroe, president of the conservative advocacy group Good News. “They want to step into this new day. We do not want to keep them from that. But how can disaffiliation be over when it never began for the majority of United Methodists?”Still to come this week are final votes on whether to remove the bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage, and whether to whether to replace a longstanding document that had called the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching.”All of those proposals had overwhelming support in committee votes last week.The changes would be historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years.Last week, the conference endorsed a regionalization plan that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change – which still requires local ratification -- could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions. Delegates on Tuesday approved a related measure related to regionalization.The conference last week also approved the departure of a small group of conservative churches in the former Soviet Union.The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

United Methodists begin to reverse longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it has finalized a ban on consumer uses of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-methylene-chloride">methylene chloride</a>, a chemical that is widely used as a paint stripper but is known to cause liver cancer and other health problems.

The EPA said its action will protect Americans from health risks while allowing certain commercial uses to continue with robust worker protections.

The rule banning methylene chloride is the second risk management rule to be finalized by President Joe Biden's administration under landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-congress-united-states-government-f6eb1fbdbaab4560aff3609cfcd457f4">2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act</a>. The first was an action last month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-asbestos-cancer-brakes-biden-72b0fa8b36adedaff6000034d35c2acd">ban asbestos</a>, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.

“Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go to work and never come home,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-s-regan">EPA Administrator Michael Regan</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. The new rule , he said, “brings an end to unsafe methylene chloride practices and implements the strongest worker protections possible for the few remaining industrial uses, ensuring no one in this country is put in harm’s way by this dangerous chemical."

Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, is a colorless liquid that emits a toxic vapor that has killed at least 88 workers since 1980, the EPA said. Long-term health effects include a variety of cancers, including liver cancer and lung cancer, and damage to the nervous, immune and reproductive systems.

The EPA rule would ban all consumer uses but allow certain “critical” uses in the military and industrial processing, with worker protections in place, said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Methylene chloride will continue to be allowed to make refrigerants as an alternative to other chemicals that produce greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change, Freedhoff said. It also will be allowed for use in electric vehicle batteries and for critical military functions.

“The uses we think can safely continue (all) happen in sophisticated industrial settings, and in some cases there are no real substitutes available,'' Freedhoff said.

The chemical industry has argued that the EPA is overstating the risks of methylene chloride and that adequate protections have mitigated health risks.

The American Chemistry Council, the industry's top lobbying group, called methylene chloride “an essential compound" used to make many products and goods Americans rely on every day, including paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing and metal cleaning and degreasing.

An EPA proposal last year could introduce “regulatory uncertainty and confusion" with existing exposure limits set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the group said.

The chemical council also said it was concerned that the EPA had not fully evaluated the rule's impacts on the domestic supply chain and could end up prohibiting up to half of all end uses subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

While the EPA banned one consumer use of methylene chloride in 2019, use of the chemical has remained widespread and continues to pose significant and sometimes fatal danger to workers, the agency said. The EPA’s final risk management rule requires companies to rapidly phase down manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses and most industrial and commercial uses, including in home renovations.

Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses will be prohibited within two years.

Liz Hitchcock, director of a safer chemicals program for the advocacy group Toxic-Free Future, praised the new rule but added: “As glad as we are to see today’s rule banning all consumer and most commercial uses, we are concerned that limits to its scope will allow continued exposure for too many workers to methylene chloride’s dangerous and deadly effects.”

Wendy Hartley, whose son Kevin died from methylene chloride poisoning after refinishing a bathtub at work, called the new rule "a huge step that will protect vulnerable workers.”

Kevin Hartley, 21, of Tennessee, died in 2017. He was an organ donor, Wendy Hartley said, adding that because of the EPA's actions, “Kevin’s death will continue to save lives."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714487791856.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it has finalized a ban on consumer uses of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-methylene-chloride">methylene chloride</a>, a chemical that is widely used as a paint stripper but is known to cause liver cancer and other health problems.The EPA said its action will protect Americans from health risks while allowing certain commercial uses to continue with robust worker protections.The rule banning methylene chloride is the second risk management rule to be finalized by President Joe Biden's administration under landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-congress-united-states-government-f6eb1fbdbaab4560aff3609cfcd457f4">2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act</a>. The first was an action last month to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-asbestos-cancer-brakes-biden-72b0fa8b36adedaff6000034d35c2acd">ban asbestos</a>, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.“Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go to work and never come home,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-s-regan">EPA Administrator Michael Regan</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. The new rule , he said, “brings an end to unsafe methylene chloride practices and implements the strongest worker protections possible for the few remaining industrial uses, ensuring no one in this country is put in harm’s way by this dangerous chemical."Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, is a colorless liquid that emits a toxic vapor that has killed at least 88 workers since 1980, the EPA said. Long-term health effects include a variety of cancers, including liver cancer and lung cancer, and damage to the nervous, immune and reproductive systems.The EPA rule would ban all consumer uses but allow certain “critical” uses in the military and industrial processing, with worker protections in place, said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.Methylene chloride will continue to be allowed to make refrigerants as an alternative to other chemicals that produce greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change, Freedhoff said. It also will be allowed for use in electric vehicle batteries and for critical military functions.“The uses we think can safely continue (all) happen in sophisticated industrial settings, and in some cases there are no real substitutes available,'' Freedhoff said.The chemical industry has argued that the EPA is overstating the risks of methylene chloride and that adequate protections have mitigated health risks.The American Chemistry Council, the industry's top lobbying group, called methylene chloride “an essential compound" used to make many products and goods Americans rely on every day, including paint stripping, pharmaceutical manufacturing and metal cleaning and degreasing.An EPA proposal last year could introduce “regulatory uncertainty and confusion" with existing exposure limits set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the group said.The chemical council also said it was concerned that the EPA had not fully evaluated the rule's impacts on the domestic supply chain and could end up prohibiting up to half of all end uses subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.While the EPA banned one consumer use of methylene chloride in 2019, use of the chemical has remained widespread and continues to pose significant and sometimes fatal danger to workers, the agency said. The EPA’s final risk management rule requires companies to rapidly phase down manufacturing, processing and distribution of methylene chloride for all consumer uses and most industrial and commercial uses, including in home renovations.Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses will be prohibited within two years.Liz Hitchcock, director of a safer chemicals program for the advocacy group Toxic-Free Future, praised the new rule but added: “As glad as we are to see today’s rule banning all consumer and most commercial uses, we are concerned that limits to its scope will allow continued exposure for too many workers to methylene chloride’s dangerous and deadly effects.”Wendy Hartley, whose son Kevin died from methylene chloride poisoning after refinishing a bathtub at work, called the new rule "a huge step that will protect vulnerable workers.”Kevin Hartley, 21, of Tennessee, died in 2017. He was an organ donor, Wendy Hartley said, adding that because of the EPA's actions, “Kevin’s death will continue to save lives."

EPA bans consumer use of a toxic chemical widely used as a paint stripper

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man on multiple allegations after a Bison at Yellowstone National Park injured him.

According to the National Park Service, on April 21, a 40-year-old man identified as Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached a bison too closely (within 25 yards) and was injured by the bison.

The incident occurred on the West Entrance Road near the Seven Mile Bridge, located 7 miles east of the park’s West Entrance.

Park Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg. They located the suspect's vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Rangers arrested Yoder on requested charges of being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that may endanger oneself, disorderly conduct as to create or maintain a hazardous condition and approaching wildlife and disturbing wildlife.

The driver of the vehicle Yoder traveled in, 37-year-old McKenna Bass, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was also arrested and on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation and disturbing wildlife.

Rangers transported Yoder to a nearby medical facility where he was medically evaluated, treated for minor injuries and released from medical care. He then was transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center.

Yoder and Bass appeared in court on April 22 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.&nbsp; Each violation can result in fines up to $5,000 and six months in jail. This incident, the first reported incident of a visitor being injured by a bison in 2024, remains under investigation.

The park reminded visitors: It’s your responsibility to respect safety regulations and view wildlife from a safe distance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714504661549.png" alt="Photo National Park Service Jacob W. Frank" />
 <figcaption>Photo National Park Service Jacob W. Frank</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man on multiple allegations after a Bison at Yellowstone National Park injured him.According to the National Park Service, on April 21, a 40-year-old man identified as Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached a bison too closely (within 25 yards) and was injured by the bison.The incident occurred on the West Entrance Road near the Seven Mile Bridge, located 7 miles east of the park’s West Entrance.Park Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg. They located the suspect's vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.Rangers arrested Yoder on requested charges of being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that may endanger oneself, disorderly conduct as to create or maintain a hazardous condition and approaching wildlife and disturbing wildlife.The driver of the vehicle Yoder traveled in, 37-year-old McKenna Bass, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was also arrested and on requested charges of driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation and disturbing wildlife.Rangers transported Yoder to a nearby medical facility where he was medically evaluated, treated for minor injuries and released from medical care. He then was transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center.Yoder and Bass appeared in court on April 22 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.&nbsp; Each violation can result in fines up to $5,000 and six months in jail. This incident, the first reported incident of a visitor being injured by a bison in 2024, remains under investigation.The park reminded visitors: It’s your responsibility to respect safety regulations and view wildlife from a safe distance.

Man injured, charged with harassing bison in Yellowstone

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — On of four law enforcement officers killed in a shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday had previously worked in Kansas.&nbsp;

According to the Overland Park Police Department, "we especially mourn the loss of former Overland Park Police Officer William "Alden" Elliott who started his law enforcement career with our agency in August of 2008."

Alden Elliott and Officer Sam Poloche, veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, were shot and killed while working with the U.S. Marshals task force.

The shootout that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-north-carolina-shooting-police-42d3e25ec6ec990634c9ac209e0f779a">killed the four law enforcement officers</a>&nbsp;and wounded four others in North Carolina began as officers approached a home to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm, police said.

Some of the officers who rushed to the Charlotte neighborhood Monday afternoon to rescue the first wave of downed officers were wounded as a second shooter began firing on them after they killed the wanted man, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said.

“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said at a news conference.

After a three-hour standoff, the suburban Charlotte home was torn open. Armored vehicles smashed into it, ripping off windows and entire doorways that were left broken. Several armored vehicles were parked across yards, some with tree branches dangling off them.

The U.S. Marshals Task Force was fired on by the wanted suspect as they approached the house and the man was killed in the front yard, Jennings said. Police identified him as Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39. He was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony flee to elude in Lincoln County, North Carolina. A second person then fired on officers from inside the home where a high-powered rifle was found, Jennings added.

After the police department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team negotiated with other people in the house, two females came out and were taken to a police station to be interviewed by detectives, police said in a news release. Previously, police had said a woman and 17-year-old male were being questioned.

The Marshal’s Service confirmed one of its agents was killed. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction identified two of the task force officers killed as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot. Both had been with the department for 14 years. They served as probation/parole officers before joining the department’s Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, the department said. Poloche joined in 2013 and Elliot in 2016.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer died a few hours later at the hospital, Jennings said. Eyer was named the officer of the month for the force for April a few weeks ago, the chief said.

“He certainly gave his life and dedicated his life to protecting our citizens,” Jennings said.

One other member of the task force, which is made up of federal agents and other officers from across the region, was injured.

Three other Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who responded to the scene were shot while trying to rescue the wounded officers.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was in Charlotte and was speaking to the families of the officers killed and hurt.

Neighbors said gunfire lasted for several minutes.

WSOC-TV said their helicopter captured an armored vehicle driving through yards and knocking over recycling bins before officers removed a person with blood on their shirt who was then loaded into an ambulance.

After the home was cleared, the helicopter pilot said he couldn't show the front lawn of the home because the scene was too graphic and disturbing.

“A lot of the questions that need to be answered, we don’t even know what those questions are now," Jennings said, somberly briefing reporters less than four hours after the shooting. “We have to get a full understanding of why this occurred and also uphold the integrity of the investigation.”

Many roads in the area including Interstate 77 were closed so ambulances could get to hospitals faster. TV footage showed ambulances speeding to hospitals escorted by vehicles both in front and behind with their sirens wailing.

Rissa Reign was cleaning her house when she heard the first shots ring out. There was a pause, then a second set of shots and then a third. She stepped outside.

“When we came outside, there were no cops at all, then cops started rushing, rushing, rushing, rushing in,” she said, adding armored SWAT trucks quickly followed and they "were going over the grass, everything, and they started shooting again.”

The neighborhood, of one– and two-story, brick homes and small trimmed lawns, is very safe, said Alex Rivera, who lives on a street nearby.

“I see, like, 50 police cars zooming in, and then I hear gunshots,” he said on the front porch of the house he shares with his cousin. “I was scared, because there was so much going on.“

Another neighbor, William Cunningham, was moved to tears as he sat on his porch. He said he is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm but never expected such violence in his own neighborhood.

“Bless those officers and bless their families,” he said. “Nobody should get killed over a warrant.”

Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were placed on lockdown around afternoon dismissal, but that was lifted in the late afternoon, the district said.

Police urged people to stay away from the neighborhood and asked residents to remain inside their homes until the all clear was given.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and spoke with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to express his condolences and support for the community.

“They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us," Biden said in a statement late Monday. "We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.”

The last marshal shot and killed in the line of duty was in November 2018. Chase White was shot in Tucson, Arizona, by a man wanted for stalking local law enforcement officers, the agency said.

The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Charlotte and comprised of 70 federal, state and local agencies. Fugitive task forces are collaborations between agencies to find and arrest suspects in crimes.

In six years, the regional task force has apprehended more than 8,900 fugitives, the U.S. Marshals Service said on its website.

In March 2007, two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers were killed while responding to a domestic dispute by someone not directly involved in the fight. Demeatrius Antonio Montgomery is serving a life sentence in the killings of officers Jeffrey Shelton and Sean Clark.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714487763008.jpeg" alt="Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Multiple law enforcement vehicles respond in the neighborhood where several officers on a task force trying to serve a warrant were shot in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 29, 2024. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — On of four law enforcement officers killed in a shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina on Monday had previously worked in Kansas.&nbsp;According to the Overland Park Police Department, "we especially mourn the loss of former Overland Park Police Officer William "Alden" Elliott who started his law enforcement career with our agency in August of 2008."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714488120185.png" alt="Alden Elliott courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alden Elliott courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Alden Elliott and Officer Sam Poloche, veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, were shot and killed while working with the U.S. Marshals task force.The shootout that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-north-carolina-shooting-police-42d3e25ec6ec990634c9ac209e0f779a">killed the four law enforcement officers</a>&nbsp;and wounded four others in North Carolina began as officers approached a home to serve a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm, police said.Some of the officers who rushed to the Charlotte neighborhood Monday afternoon to rescue the first wave of downed officers were wounded as a second shooter began firing on them after they killed the wanted man, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said.“Today we lost some heroes who were out simply trying to keep our community safe,” Jennings said at a news conference.After a three-hour standoff, the suburban Charlotte home was torn open. Armored vehicles smashed into it, ripping off windows and entire doorways that were left broken. Several armored vehicles were parked across yards, some with tree branches dangling off them.The U.S. Marshals Task Force was fired on by the wanted suspect as they approached the house and the man was killed in the front yard, Jennings said. Police identified him as Terry Clark Hughes Jr, 39. He was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of felony flee to elude in Lincoln County, North Carolina. A second person then fired on officers from inside the home where a high-powered rifle was found, Jennings added.After the police department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team negotiated with other people in the house, two females came out and were taken to a police station to be interviewed by detectives, police said in a news release. Previously, police had said a woman and 17-year-old male were being questioned.The Marshal’s Service confirmed one of its agents was killed. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction identified two of the task force officers killed as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliot. Both had been with the department for 14 years. They served as probation/parole officers before joining the department’s Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, the department said. Poloche joined in 2013 and Elliot in 2016.Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Joshua Eyer died a few hours later at the hospital, Jennings said. Eyer was named the officer of the month for the force for April a few weeks ago, the chief said.“He certainly gave his life and dedicated his life to protecting our citizens,” Jennings said.One other member of the task force, which is made up of federal agents and other officers from across the region, was injured.Three other Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who responded to the scene were shot while trying to rescue the wounded officers.North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was in Charlotte and was speaking to the families of the officers killed and hurt.Neighbors said gunfire lasted for several minutes.WSOC-TV said their helicopter captured an armored vehicle driving through yards and knocking over recycling bins before officers removed a person with blood on their shirt who was then loaded into an ambulance.After the home was cleared, the helicopter pilot said he couldn't show the front lawn of the home because the scene was too graphic and disturbing.“A lot of the questions that need to be answered, we don’t even know what those questions are now," Jennings said, somberly briefing reporters less than four hours after the shooting. “We have to get a full understanding of why this occurred and also uphold the integrity of the investigation.”Many roads in the area including Interstate 77 were closed so ambulances could get to hospitals faster. TV footage showed ambulances speeding to hospitals escorted by vehicles both in front and behind with their sirens wailing.Rissa Reign was cleaning her house when she heard the first shots ring out. There was a pause, then a second set of shots and then a third. She stepped outside.“When we came outside, there were no cops at all, then cops started rushing, rushing, rushing, rushing in,” she said, adding armored SWAT trucks quickly followed and they "were going over the grass, everything, and they started shooting again.”The neighborhood, of one– and two-story, brick homes and small trimmed lawns, is very safe, said Alex Rivera, who lives on a street nearby.“I see, like, 50 police cars zooming in, and then I hear gunshots,” he said on the front porch of the house he shares with his cousin. “I was scared, because there was so much going on.“Another neighbor, William Cunningham, was moved to tears as he sat on his porch. He said he is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm but never expected such violence in his own neighborhood.“Bless those officers and bless their families,” he said. “Nobody should get killed over a warrant.”Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were placed on lockdown around afternoon dismissal, but that was lifted in the late afternoon, the district said.Police urged people to stay away from the neighborhood and asked residents to remain inside their homes until the all clear was given.President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and spoke with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to express his condolences and support for the community.“They are heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, rushing into harm’s way to protect us," Biden said in a statement late Monday. "We mourn for them and their loved ones. And we pray for the recoveries of the courageous officers who were wounded.”The last marshal shot and killed in the line of duty was in November 2018. Chase White was shot in Tucson, Arizona, by a man wanted for stalking local law enforcement officers, the agency said.The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Charlotte and comprised of 70 federal, state and local agencies. Fugitive task forces are collaborations between agencies to find and arrest suspects in crimes.In six years, the regional task force has apprehended more than 8,900 fugitives, the U.S. Marshals Service said on its website.In March 2007, two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers were killed while responding to a domestic dispute by someone not directly involved in the fight. Demeatrius Antonio Montgomery is serving a life sentence in the killings of officers Jeffrey Shelton and Sean Clark.

1 of 4 officers killed in North Carolina standoff began career in Kansas

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

TOPEKA — Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six, appointed to the state’s highest appellate court by Gov. Mike Hayden, has died, the court said in a statement Tuesday.

Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who replaced Six when he retired in 2003, said he was a “dedicated public servant of the highest order.” He served on the Supreme Court from September 1988 to January 2003 and was a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals for one year before selected by Hayden for the Supreme Court.

“As a justice, he will be remembered for his brilliant legal mind, his principled decision-making, his clear writing and his courtesy, respect and fairness to all,” Luckert said. “As a person, he was kind, insatiably curious, genuinely caring and famous for his bow ties.”

She said Six was “held in the highest professional and personal esteem by his colleagues and friends. Our hearts are with his family who have lost him and his beloved wife within a span of 10 days.”

Six, 95, of Lawrence died April 27. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lilian Six, on April 17. He was survived by a daughter, Catherine Six-Sallerson of East Hampton, New York, and a son, Stephen Six of Lawrence, who served as Kansas attorney general from 2008 to 2011.

Six served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and received a law degree from the University of Kansas in 1956. He worked in private practice and as an assistant attorney general in Kansas. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Six was a volunteer in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Gov. Laura Kelly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714509681629.png" alt="Justice Fred Six courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Justice Fred Six courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six, appointed to the state’s highest appellate court by Gov. Mike Hayden, has died, the court said in a statement Tuesday.Chief Justice Marla Luckert, who replaced Six when he retired in 2003, said he was a “dedicated public servant of the highest order.” He served on the Supreme Court from September 1988 to January 2003 and was a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals for one year before selected by Hayden for the Supreme Court.“As a justice, he will be remembered for his brilliant legal mind, his principled decision-making, his clear writing and his courtesy, respect and fairness to all,” Luckert said. “As a person, he was kind, insatiably curious, genuinely caring and famous for his bow ties.”She said Six was “held in the highest professional and personal esteem by his colleagues and friends. Our hearts are with his family who have lost him and his beloved wife within a span of 10 days.”Six, 95, of Lawrence died April 27. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Lilian Six, on April 17. He was survived by a daughter, Catherine Six-Sallerson of East Hampton, New York, and a son, Stephen Six of Lawrence, who served as Kansas attorney general from 2008 to 2011.Six served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and received a law degree from the University of Kansas in 1956. He worked in private practice and as an assistant attorney general in Kansas. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Six was a volunteer in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Gov. Laura Kelly.

Retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice Fred Six dies at age 95

TOPEKA —The Drive to Zero Coalition and the Kansas Department of Transportation urge drivers to always put safety first by wearing seatbelts, sober driving and avoiding distractions.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner is featured in a new video he shared Tuesday afternoon.

&nbsp;"Fatal crashes are preventable. Always&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/buckleup?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvJvie57f3sXIz4Gj0Xg3nR_YdQvjD7rhTjfrxtuTlNoQT6Ex6U_IMqkL1vsKnUzlJbCw3_Ilugnp_X5q9KyXEQOmiQ1EJT7KBLy13sREuaQl-y5OGElQ5pOo46pJSmCuCf-Q4jS4_pW4E20NEWz6yMnX-4RTNUg2cuDiqjoNau5IaCYEZfg6y0PQ7qD7hBhs27Uk5m6aZDNVa94_nvCkT&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#BuckleUp</a>, always&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/drivesober?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvJvie57f3sXIz4Gj0Xg3nR_YdQvjD7rhTjfrxtuTlNoQT6Ex6U_IMqkL1vsKnUzlJbCw3_Ilugnp_X5q9KyXEQOmiQ1EJT7KBLy13sREuaQl-y5OGElQ5pOo46pJSmCuCf-Q4jS4_pW4E20NEWz6yMnX-4RTNUg2cuDiqjoNau5IaCYEZfg6y0PQ7qD7hBhs27Uk5m6aZDNVa94_nvCkT&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#DriveSober</a>." <a href="https://kansasdrivetozero.com/">Click here for more</a> on the Drive to Zero campaign.

TOPEKA —The Drive to Zero Coalition and the Kansas Department of Transportation urge drivers to always put safety first by wearing seatbelts, sober driving and avoiding distractions.Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner is featured in a new video he shared Tuesday afternoon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fatal crashes are preventable. Always <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuckleUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuckleUp</a>, always <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DriveSober?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DriveSober</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DriveToZero?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DriveToZero</a> <a href="https://t.co/HUwE1VTzxK">pic.twitter.com/HUwE1VTzxK</a>&mdash; Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperBenKHP/status/1785385523948720396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;"Fatal crashes are preventable. Always&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/buckleup?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvJvie57f3sXIz4Gj0Xg3nR_YdQvjD7rhTjfrxtuTlNoQT6Ex6U_IMqkL1vsKnUzlJbCw3_Ilugnp_X5q9KyXEQOmiQ1EJT7KBLy13sREuaQl-y5OGElQ5pOo46pJSmCuCf-Q4jS4_pW4E20NEWz6yMnX-4RTNUg2cuDiqjoNau5IaCYEZfg6y0PQ7qD7hBhs27Uk5m6aZDNVa94_nvCkT&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#BuckleUp</a>, always&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/drivesober?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvJvie57f3sXIz4Gj0Xg3nR_YdQvjD7rhTjfrxtuTlNoQT6Ex6U_IMqkL1vsKnUzlJbCw3_Ilugnp_X5q9KyXEQOmiQ1EJT7KBLy13sREuaQl-y5OGElQ5pOo46pJSmCuCf-Q4jS4_pW4E20NEWz6yMnX-4RTNUg2cuDiqjoNau5IaCYEZfg6y0PQ7qD7hBhs27Uk5m6aZDNVa94_nvCkT&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#DriveSober</a>." <a href="https://kansasdrivetozero.com/">Click here for more</a> on the Drive to Zero campaign.

🎥 Trooper Ben Gardner featured in new Drive Safe Kansas ad

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-drug-enforcement-administration">The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration</a>&nbsp;will move to reclassify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana">marijuana</a>&nbsp;as a less dangerous drug, The Associated Press has learned, a historic shift to generations of American drug policy that could have wide ripple effects across the country.

The DEA’s proposal, which still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-health-schumer-becerra-dea-c00db5dabbeb9efd94cf17baff241e85">the medical uses of cannabis</a>&nbsp;and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use.

The agency’s move, confirmed to the AP on Tuesday by five people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive regulatory review, clears the last significant regulatory hurdle before the agency’s biggest policy change in more than 50 years can take effect.

Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment on the plan to move marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-federal-regulation-reclassifying-health-b0b5fc3d34a83d2c95db1665f8149d42">following a recommendation</a>&nbsp;from the federal Health and Human Services Department. After the public-comment period the agency would publish the final rule.

It comes after President Joe Biden called for a review of federal marijuana law in October 2022 and moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-government-and-politics-2d5e3d9e2cfbbbe3ee114536738894a8">pardon thousands of Americans</a>&nbsp;convicted federally of simple possession of the drug. He has also called on governors and local leaders to take similar steps to erase marijuana convictions.

“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” Biden said in December. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”

The election year announcement could help Biden, a Democrat, boost flagging support, particularly among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-campaign-oldest-president-young-voters-152d11d3090518a2e5eee63b9a596673">younger voters</a>.

Schedule III drugs are still controlled substances and subject to rules and regulations, and people who traffic in them without permission could still face federal criminal prosecution.

Some critics argue the DEA shouldn’t change course on marijuana, saying rescheduling isn’t necessary and could lead to harmful side effects.

Jack Riley, a former deputy administrator of the DEA, said he had concerns about the proposed change because he thinks marijuana remains a possible “gateway drug," one that may lead to the use of other drugs.

“But in terms of us getting clear to use our resources to combat other major drugs, that’s a positive,” Riley said, noting that fentanyl alone accounts for more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. a year.

On the other end of the spectrum, others argue marijuana should be treated the way alcohol is.

Last week, 21 Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York sent a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Attorney General Merrick Garland arguing marijuana should be dropped from the controlled-substances list and instead regulated like alcohol.

“It is time for the DEA to act,” the lawmakers wrote. “Right now, the Administration has the opportunity to resolve more than 50 years of failed, racially discriminatory marijuana policy.”

Federal drug policy has lagged behind many states in recent years, with 38 having already legalized medical marijuana and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-marijuana-legalization-election-2023-6d15efb27fdcd41e7364f2b7cd3177f4">24 legalizing its recreational use</a>.

That’s helped fuel fast growth in the marijuana industry, with an estimated worth of nearly $30 billion. Easing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden that can be 70% or more for businesses, according to industry groups. It could also make it easier to research marijuana, since it’s very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies on Schedule I substances.

The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system would likely be more muted, since federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.

But loosening restrictions could carry a host of unintended consequences in the drug war and beyond.

Critics point out that as a Schedule III drug, marijuana would remain regulated by the DEA. That means the roughly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. would have to register with the DEA like regular pharmacies and fulfill strict reporting requirements, something that they are loath to do and that the DEA is ill equipped to handle

Then there’s the United States' international treaty obligations, chief among them the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which requires the criminalization of cannabis. In 2016, during the Obama administration, the DEA cited the U.S.’ international obligations and the findings of a federal court of appeals in Washington in denying a similar request to reschedule marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698531124512.png" alt="Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment on the plan to move marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. file photo by Rebecca Rivas" />
 <figcaption>Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment on the plan to move marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. file photo by Rebecca Rivas</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-drug-enforcement-administration">The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration</a>&nbsp;will move to reclassify&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana">marijuana</a>&nbsp;as a less dangerous drug, The Associated Press has learned, a historic shift to generations of American drug policy that could have wide ripple effects across the country.The DEA’s proposal, which still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-health-schumer-becerra-dea-c00db5dabbeb9efd94cf17baff241e85">the medical uses of cannabis</a>&nbsp;and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs. However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use.The agency’s move, confirmed to the AP on Tuesday by five people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive regulatory review, clears the last significant regulatory hurdle before the agency’s biggest policy change in more than 50 years can take effect.Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment on the plan to move marijuana from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-federal-regulation-reclassifying-health-b0b5fc3d34a83d2c95db1665f8149d42">following a recommendation</a>&nbsp;from the federal Health and Human Services Department. After the public-comment period the agency would publish the final rule.It comes after President Joe Biden called for a review of federal marijuana law in October 2022 and moved to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-government-and-politics-2d5e3d9e2cfbbbe3ee114536738894a8">pardon thousands of Americans</a>&nbsp;convicted federally of simple possession of the drug. He has also called on governors and local leaders to take similar steps to erase marijuana convictions.“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” Biden said in December. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”The election year announcement could help Biden, a Democrat, boost flagging support, particularly among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-campaign-oldest-president-young-voters-152d11d3090518a2e5eee63b9a596673">younger voters</a>.Schedule III drugs are still controlled substances and subject to rules and regulations, and people who traffic in them without permission could still face federal criminal prosecution.Some critics argue the DEA shouldn’t change course on marijuana, saying rescheduling isn’t necessary and could lead to harmful side effects.Jack Riley, a former deputy administrator of the DEA, said he had concerns about the proposed change because he thinks marijuana remains a possible “gateway drug," one that may lead to the use of other drugs.“But in terms of us getting clear to use our resources to combat other major drugs, that’s a positive,” Riley said, noting that fentanyl alone accounts for more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. a year.On the other end of the spectrum, others argue marijuana should be treated the way alcohol is.Last week, 21 Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York sent a letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Attorney General Merrick Garland arguing marijuana should be dropped from the controlled-substances list and instead regulated like alcohol.“It is time for the DEA to act,” the lawmakers wrote. “Right now, the Administration has the opportunity to resolve more than 50 years of failed, racially discriminatory marijuana policy.”Federal drug policy has lagged behind many states in recent years, with 38 having already legalized medical marijuana and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-marijuana-legalization-election-2023-6d15efb27fdcd41e7364f2b7cd3177f4">24 legalizing its recreational use</a>.That’s helped fuel fast growth in the marijuana industry, with an estimated worth of nearly $30 billion. Easing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden that can be 70% or more for businesses, according to industry groups. It could also make it easier to research marijuana, since it’s very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies on Schedule I substances.The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system would likely be more muted, since federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.But loosening restrictions could carry a host of unintended consequences in the drug war and beyond.Critics point out that as a Schedule III drug, marijuana would remain regulated by the DEA. That means the roughly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. would have to register with the DEA like regular pharmacies and fulfill strict reporting requirements, something that they are loath to do and that the DEA is ill equipped to handleThen there’s the United States' international treaty obligations, chief among them the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which requires the criminalization of cannabis. In 2016, during the Obama administration, the DEA cited the U.S.’ international obligations and the findings of a federal court of appeals in Washington in denying a similar request to reschedule marijuana.___

Biden administration plans to reclassify marijuana, easing restrictions nationwide

SHAWNEE COUNTY – A suspect wounded in an officer involved shooting in Topeka remains hospitalized, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

At around 3:10 p.m. on April 20, police received a 911 call reporting that a suspect connected to an armed carjacking that occurred in Topeka earlier in the day, was in the area of 16th&nbsp;and Harrison Street.

Preliminary information indicates that police responded and observed the suspect, Terrell D. Hayes-Osby, 34, of Topeka, running from police.

 Officers engaged in a foot pursuit heading west on 16th&nbsp;St., across Topeka Blvd. During the pursuit, Hayes-Osby fired in the direction of officers. Four officers returned fire. Hayes-Osby was struck. The shooting occurred around 3:25 p.m. near 16th&nbsp;and Tyler Street.

Medical aid was rendered. EMS responded and transported Hayes-Osby to a local hospital. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.

Hayes-Osby was hospitalized in serious condition. He is improving and is expected to survive. He has previous convictions for 2nd degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713698320085.png" alt="Hayes-Osby has previous convictions for 2nd degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hayes-Osby has previous convictions for 2nd degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – A suspect wounded in an officer involved shooting in Topeka remains hospitalized, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.At around 3:10 p.m. on April 20, police received a 911 call reporting that a suspect connected to an armed carjacking that occurred in Topeka earlier in the day, was in the area of 16th&nbsp;and Harrison Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713660808243.png" alt="-Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>-Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary information indicates that police responded and observed the suspect, Terrell D. Hayes-Osby, 34, of Topeka, running from police. Officers engaged in a foot pursuit heading west on 16th&nbsp;St., across Topeka Blvd. During the pursuit, Hayes-Osby fired in the direction of officers. Four officers returned fire. Hayes-Osby was struck. The shooting occurred around 3:25 p.m. near 16th&nbsp;and Tyler Street.Medical aid was rendered. EMS responded and transported Hayes-Osby to a local hospital. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.Hayes-Osby was hospitalized in serious condition. He is improving and is expected to survive. He has previous convictions for 2nd degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. ---------------

Kan. carjacking suspect shot by police remains hospitalized

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.

Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found there were nine. The ruling was a stinging rebuke for the presumptive Republican nominee, who had insisted he was exercising his free speech rights. Trump stared down at the table in front of him as the judge read the ruling, frowning slightly.

Merchan wrote that he is “keenly aware of, and protective of,” Trump’s First Amendment rights, “particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.”

“It is critically important that defendant’s legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,” Merchan wrote.

Still, he warned, that the court would not tolerate "willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”

The ruling came at the start of the second week of testimony in the historic case. Manhattan prosecutors say Trump and his associates took part in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. He has pleaded not guilty.

Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business Friday, Merchan ruled, and he must remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Merchan said. The judge is also weighing other alleged gag order violations by Trump and will hear arguments Thursday.

Of the 10 posts, the one Merchan ruled was not a violation came on April 10, a post referring to witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels as “sleaze bags." Merchan said Trump’s contention that he was responding to previous posts by Cohen “is sufficient to give” him pause on whether the post was a violation.

Among those he found to be violations, Merchan ruled that a Trump post quoting Fox News host Jesse Watters’ claim that liberal activists were lying to infiltrate the jury “constitutes a clear violation” of the gag order. Merchan noted that the words contained within the quotation marks in Trump’s April 17 post misstated what Watters actually said.

“Thus, in this court’s view, this post constitutes the words of defendant himself,” Merchan wrote.

Merchan cautioned that the gag order “not be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses” and that if people who are protected by the order, like Cohen, continue to attack Trump “it becomes apparent” they don’t need the gag order’s protection. Cohen has said he will refrain from commenting about Trump until after he testifies at the trial.

Meanwhile, testimony resumed Tuesday with Gary Farro, a banker who helped Cohen, Trump's former attorney, open accounts, including one that Cohen used to buy the silence of porn performer Stormy Daniels. She alleged a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies.

Jurors so far have heard from two other witnesses. Trump’s former longtime executive assistant, Rhona Graff, recounted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">she recalled once seeing Daniels at Trump's office suite</a>&nbsp;in Trump Tower and figured she was a potential contestant for one of Trump’s “Apprentice”-brand shows.

Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-national-enquirer-d44d4a7ce66cc08edb5981b3afb882ba">National Enquirer publisher David Pecker</a>&nbsp;laid out how he agreed to serve as the Trump campaign's “eyes and ears” by helping to squelch unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women.

Through detailed testimony on email exchanges, business transactions and bank accounts, prosecutors are forming the foundation of their argument that Trump is guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts of falsifying business records</a>&nbsp;in connection with the hush money payments. The prosecution is leading up to crucial testimony from Cohen himself, who went to federal prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-michael-cohen-74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64">pleading guilty to campaign finance violations</a>&nbsp;and other crimes. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

It's unclear when Cohen will take the stand; the trial is expected to go on another month or more. And with every moment Trump is in court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">as the first of his four criminal trials plays out</a>, he's growing increasingly frustrated while the November election moves ever closer.

For his part, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee has been campaigning in his off-hours, but is required to be in court when it is in session, four days a week. Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Trump criticized prosecutors again.

“This is a case that should have never been brought,” he said.

Prosecutors used Pecker, Trump's longtime friend, to detail a “catch-and-kill” arrangement in which he collected seamy stories about the candidate so the National Enquirer or Trump's associates could buy and bury the claims.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">Pecker described how he paid $180,000</a>&nbsp;to scoop up and sit on stories from a doorman and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. He didn't involve himself in the Daniels payout, he said. He testified for parts of four days.

Trump says all the stories were false. His attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">used cross-examination to suggest Trump</a>&nbsp;was really engaged in an effort to protect his name and his family — not to influence the outcome of the presidential election.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">Farro first took the stand Friday</a>. While a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he was assigned to work with Trump's lawyer for about three years, in part because of his “ability to handle individuals who may be a little challenging," Farro said, adding that he didn't find Cohen difficult.

Farro detailed to jurors the process of helping Cohen create accounts for two limited-liability companies — corporate-speak for a business account that protects the person behind the account from liability, debt and other issues. Farro testified that Cohen indicated the companies, Resolution Consultants LLC and Essential Consultants LLC, would be involved in real estate consulting.

Prosecutors showed jurors emails in which Cohen describes the opening of the Resolution Consultants account as an “important matter.”

Cohen acknowledged when he pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 that it had been formed to send money to American Media Inc., the Enquirer publisher. It was meant as a payback for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-5fdc819697a76536ed83cbf28d4a523c">their purchase of McDougal's story.</a>&nbsp;But the deal never went through.

Farro said that since the account was never funded, it was never technically opened. Instead, Cohen pivoted to starting up the Essential Consultants account, which he later used to pay Daniels $130,000.

When asked whether Cohen seemed anxious to get the bank accounts set up, Farro testified: “Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me, he gave a sense of urgency.”

Farro told the 12-person panel that the bank’s policy prohibited doing business with entities tied to “adult entertainment,” including pornography and strip clubs. Trump’s lawyers have not yet had a chance to cross-examine Farro.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713921168558.png" alt="File-Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business Friday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File-Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business Friday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found there were nine. The ruling was a stinging rebuke for the presumptive Republican nominee, who had insisted he was exercising his free speech rights. Trump stared down at the table in front of him as the judge read the ruling, frowning slightly.Merchan wrote that he is “keenly aware of, and protective of,” Trump’s First Amendment rights, “particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.”“It is critically important that defendant’s legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,” Merchan wrote.Still, he warned, that the court would not tolerate "willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”The ruling came at the start of the second week of testimony in the historic case. Manhattan prosecutors say Trump and his associates took part in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by burying negative stories. He has pleaded not guilty.Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business Friday, Merchan ruled, and he must remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social account and two from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Merchan said. The judge is also weighing other alleged gag order violations by Trump and will hear arguments Thursday.Of the 10 posts, the one Merchan ruled was not a violation came on April 10, a post referring to witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels as “sleaze bags." Merchan said Trump’s contention that he was responding to previous posts by Cohen “is sufficient to give” him pause on whether the post was a violation.Among those he found to be violations, Merchan ruled that a Trump post quoting Fox News host Jesse Watters’ claim that liberal activists were lying to infiltrate the jury “constitutes a clear violation” of the gag order. Merchan noted that the words contained within the quotation marks in Trump’s April 17 post misstated what Watters actually said.“Thus, in this court’s view, this post constitutes the words of defendant himself,” Merchan wrote.Merchan cautioned that the gag order “not be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses” and that if people who are protected by the order, like Cohen, continue to attack Trump “it becomes apparent” they don’t need the gag order’s protection. Cohen has said he will refrain from commenting about Trump until after he testifies at the trial.Meanwhile, testimony resumed Tuesday with Gary Farro, a banker who helped Cohen, Trump's former attorney, open accounts, including one that Cohen used to buy the silence of porn performer Stormy Daniels. She alleged a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies.Jurors so far have heard from two other witnesses. Trump’s former longtime executive assistant, Rhona Graff, recounted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">she recalled once seeing Daniels at Trump's office suite</a>&nbsp;in Trump Tower and figured she was a potential contestant for one of Trump’s “Apprentice”-brand shows.Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-national-enquirer-d44d4a7ce66cc08edb5981b3afb882ba">National Enquirer publisher David Pecker</a>&nbsp;laid out how he agreed to serve as the Trump campaign's “eyes and ears” by helping to squelch unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women.Through detailed testimony on email exchanges, business transactions and bank accounts, prosecutors are forming the foundation of their argument that Trump is guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">34 felony counts of falsifying business records</a>&nbsp;in connection with the hush money payments. The prosecution is leading up to crucial testimony from Cohen himself, who went to federal prison after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-michael-cohen-74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64">pleading guilty to campaign finance violations</a>&nbsp;and other crimes. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.It's unclear when Cohen will take the stand; the trial is expected to go on another month or more. And with every moment Trump is in court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">as the first of his four criminal trials plays out</a>, he's growing increasingly frustrated while the November election moves ever closer.For his part, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee has been campaigning in his off-hours, but is required to be in court when it is in session, four days a week. Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Trump criticized prosecutors again.“This is a case that should have never been brought,” he said.Prosecutors used Pecker, Trump's longtime friend, to detail a “catch-and-kill” arrangement in which he collected seamy stories about the candidate so the National Enquirer or Trump's associates could buy and bury the claims.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">Pecker described how he paid $180,000</a>&nbsp;to scoop up and sit on stories from a doorman and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. He didn't involve himself in the Daniels payout, he said. He testified for parts of four days.Trump says all the stories were false. His attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">used cross-examination to suggest Trump</a>&nbsp;was really engaged in an effort to protect his name and his family — not to influence the outcome of the presidential election.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7">Farro first took the stand Friday</a>. While a senior managing director at First Republic Bank, he was assigned to work with Trump's lawyer for about three years, in part because of his “ability to handle individuals who may be a little challenging," Farro said, adding that he didn't find Cohen difficult.Farro detailed to jurors the process of helping Cohen create accounts for two limited-liability companies — corporate-speak for a business account that protects the person behind the account from liability, debt and other issues. Farro testified that Cohen indicated the companies, Resolution Consultants LLC and Essential Consultants LLC, would be involved in real estate consulting.Prosecutors showed jurors emails in which Cohen describes the opening of the Resolution Consultants account as an “important matter.”Cohen acknowledged when he pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 that it had been formed to send money to American Media Inc., the Enquirer publisher. It was meant as a payback for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-5fdc819697a76536ed83cbf28d4a523c">their purchase of McDougal's story.</a>&nbsp;But the deal never went through.Farro said that since the account was never funded, it was never technically opened. Instead, Cohen pivoted to starting up the Essential Consultants account, which he later used to pay Daniels $130,000.When asked whether Cohen seemed anxious to get the bank accounts set up, Farro testified: “Every time Michael Cohen spoke to me, he gave a sense of urgency.”Farro told the 12-person panel that the bank’s policy prohibited doing business with entities tied to “adult entertainment,” including pornography and strip clubs. Trump’s lawyers have not yet had a chance to cross-examine Farro.

Judge fines Trump thousands over violating gag order

JOHNSON COUNTY —A driver involved in a deadly wrong-way crash that occurred&nbsp;just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Johnson County has been charged with murder.

The Johnson County District Attorney charged Matthew E. Karabas, 27, Monroe, New Jersey&nbsp; with first degree murder, second degree murder, driving under the influence, aggravated battery and fleeing and eluding police.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Jeep Gladiator driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Karabas was southbound&nbsp;&nbsp;in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just northeast&nbsp; from Edgerton Road.

The Jeep struck a 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Garrido S. Chinea, 29, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.

A passenger in the Jeep identified as Eric M. Diaz, 22, Melbourne, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Karabas to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious injuries. Chinea was not injured. Karabas also was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

He is due in court on May 1, according to online jail records.

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Johnson County.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Jeep Gladiator driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Matthew E. Karabas, 27, Monroe, New Jersey, was southbound&nbsp;&nbsp;in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just northeast&nbsp; from Edgerton Road.

A passenger in the Jeep identified as Eric M. Diaz, 22, Melbourne, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Karabas to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious injuries. Chinea was not injured. Karabas was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —A driver involved in a deadly wrong-way crash that occurred&nbsp;just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Johnson County has been charged with murder.The Johnson County District Attorney charged Matthew E. Karabas, 27, Monroe, New Jersey&nbsp; with first degree murder, second degree murder, driving under the influence, aggravated battery and fleeing and eluding police.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Jeep Gladiator driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Karabas was southbound&nbsp;&nbsp;in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just northeast&nbsp; from Edgerton Road.The Jeep struck a 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Garrido S. Chinea, 29, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.A passenger in the Jeep identified as Eric M. Diaz, 22, Melbourne, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Karabas to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious injuries. Chinea was not injured. Karabas also was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.He is due in court on May 1, according to online jail records.------------JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Johnson County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Jeep Gladiator driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Matthew E. Karabas, 27, Monroe, New Jersey, was southbound&nbsp;&nbsp;in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just northeast&nbsp; from Edgerton Road.The Jeep struck a 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Garrido S. Chinea, 29, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.A passenger in the Jeep identified as Eric M. Diaz, 22, Melbourne, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported Karabas to Overland Park Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious injuries. Chinea was not injured. Karabas was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

Driver charged in deadly wrong-way crash on Kansas highway

Legislation calls for issuing bonds for sports facilities costing at least $1 billion

TOPEKA — Kansas House and Senate members worked Monday to consider whether to approve an economic development package designed to attract the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals or professional hockey or basketball franchises to Kansas.

The legislation would specifically limit the state’s incentives to sports facility projects costing more than $1 billion and the state Department of Commerce would be authorized to negotiate and make offers to no more than two sports teams.

The bonds issued for the projects could be used for all costs associated with stadiums and other infrastructure and would be repayable over a 30-year period. The incentive packages would be available until June 2025, but the legislation would allow that deadline to be extended for one year.

“Sorry for the short notice,” said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican and chairman of the House commerce committee, told five other legislators on a negotiating committee. “I think it’s important to have this done before we adjourn the session. It’s just important to send a very positive message to the sports community that we’re here and we’re very serious about this.”

A bipartisan team of three negotiators from both the House and Senate were considering the proposal. The package, if it moves forward, would be amended into House Bill 2663. Majorities in the House and Senate would have to vote for the bill before it was sent to Gov. Laura Kelly.

“We see an incredible opportunity, and exciting opportunity, to put Kansas on the map along with states that have professional sports. However, there is a lot in this bill to be digested,” said Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and chair of the Senate’s commerce committee.

The 2024 Legislature is expected to wrap up the session, perhaps Tuesday, but lawmakers could be called back for a special session if necessary.

In early April, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped fund a downtown Kansas City stadium for the Royals and allow major renovations at Arrowhead Stadium used by the Chiefs. More than 58% of voters opposed the plan for replacing the three-eights of a cent sales tax used to maintain Truman Sports Complex to accommodate investments in the two stadiums.

“We want to make sure that, since Jackson County dropped the ball here, that we’re in a position to do a scoop-and-score,” Tarwater said.

Tarwater said conversations among legislators and others had been ongoing, but without direct negotiations with the Chiefs or Royals.

“We’ve been working on some sort of a solution for them for some time now,” he said. “We just want to make sure that we have the right plan for when the time is right for us to start those negotiations.”

He said the project would involve issuance of state-approved STAR bonds, which would finance construction and be repaid with sales and liquor tax revenue. In addition, the legislation would call for bonds issued through a community improvement district and through tax increment financing.

No Kansan would be asked to approve a sales tax increase for the professional sports facilities, Tarwater said.

“We are using tomorrow’s money. It’s tomorrow’s money we otherwise wouldn’t receive because these structures will bring in the business and they will cause development around them and the sales tax from those developments is what funds these bonds,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714481561841.png" alt="House and Senate lawmakers worked Monday on a proposed bill that would allow issuance of bonds to attract the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals or other professional sports franchise to Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>House and Senate lawmakers worked Monday on a proposed bill that would allow issuance of bonds to attract the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals or other professional sports franchise to Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislation calls for issuing bonds for sports facilities costing at least $1 billion</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas House and Senate members worked Monday to consider whether to approve an economic development package designed to attract the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals or professional hockey or basketball franchises to Kansas.The legislation would specifically limit the state’s incentives to sports facility projects costing more than $1 billion and the state Department of Commerce would be authorized to negotiate and make offers to no more than two sports teams.The bonds issued for the projects could be used for all costs associated with stadiums and other infrastructure and would be repayable over a 30-year period. The incentive packages would be available until June 2025, but the legislation would allow that deadline to be extended for one year.“Sorry for the short notice,” said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican and chairman of the House commerce committee, told five other legislators on a negotiating committee. “I think it’s important to have this done before we adjourn the session. It’s just important to send a very positive message to the sports community that we’re here and we’re very serious about this.”A bipartisan team of three negotiators from both the House and Senate were considering the proposal. The package, if it moves forward, would be amended into House Bill 2663. Majorities in the House and Senate would have to vote for the bill before it was sent to Gov. Laura Kelly.“We see an incredible opportunity, and exciting opportunity, to put Kansas on the map along with states that have professional sports. However, there is a lot in this bill to be digested,” said Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and chair of the Senate’s commerce committee.The 2024 Legislature is expected to wrap up the session, perhaps Tuesday, but lawmakers could be called back for a special session if necessary.In early April, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped fund a downtown Kansas City stadium for the Royals and allow major renovations at Arrowhead Stadium used by the Chiefs. More than 58% of voters opposed the plan for replacing the three-eights of a cent sales tax used to maintain Truman Sports Complex to accommodate investments in the two stadiums.“We want to make sure that, since Jackson County dropped the ball here, that we’re in a position to do a scoop-and-score,” Tarwater said.Tarwater said conversations among legislators and others had been ongoing, but without direct negotiations with the Chiefs or Royals.“We’ve been working on some sort of a solution for them for some time now,” he said. “We just want to make sure that we have the right plan for when the time is right for us to start those negotiations.”He said the project would involve issuance of state-approved STAR bonds, which would finance construction and be repaid with sales and liquor tax revenue. In addition, the legislation would call for bonds issued through a community improvement district and through tax increment financing.No Kansan would be asked to approve a sales tax increase for the professional sports facilities, Tarwater said.“We are using tomorrow’s money. It’s tomorrow’s money we otherwise wouldn’t receive because these structures will bring in the business and they will cause development around them and the sales tax from those developments is what funds these bonds,” he said.

Jackson Co. dropped the ball; Kansas making last-minute drive to lure Chiefs, Royals

KANSAS CITY —There were no injuries after a water rescue Monday in Kansas City.

Just after 6p.m.,&nbsp; the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported stranded boater on the Missouri River, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 The boater was able to call 911 and reported that their motor had quit and that they were floating down river with no control over the vessel. 

The boat managed to make its way to the south bank just west of the Broadway bridge. 

KCFD launched two rescue boats and crews and made their way to the stranded boaters. The high river and the excessive debris in the river from the weekend storms made this a particularly dangerous operation. After locating the stranded boat, KCFD rescue boat towed the boat and its passengers to the Kaw Point boat ramp. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714474102580.png" alt="Kaw Point Boat ramp area on the river -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Kaw Point Boat ramp area on the river -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —There were no injuries after a water rescue Monday in Kansas City.Just after 6p.m.,&nbsp; the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported stranded boater on the Missouri River, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. The boater was able to call 911 and reported that their motor had quit and that they were floating down river with no control over the vessel. The boat managed to make its way to the south bank just west of the Broadway bridge. KCFD launched two rescue boats and crews and made their way to the stranded boaters. The high river and the excessive debris in the river from the weekend storms made this a particularly dangerous operation. After locating the stranded boat, KCFD rescue boat towed the boat and its passengers to the Kaw Point boat ramp.