The Missouri State Highway Patrol asks the public to be aware of and plan for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The viewing path in Missouri will cover more than 115 miles of the state.

Totality enters Missouri as it will follow a diagonal line crossing over Poplar Bluff, MO, and exit Missouri at Cape Girardeau, MO, as it crosses the Mississippi River at 2:04 p.m. Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive in the days leading up to the event. This influx of additional motorists will affect traffic patterns. Please plan your trip accordingly.

o avoid the heaviest traffic when traveling for the event, it will be helpful to leave early and plan to remain at your viewing location until a period after the eclipse to avoid any congestion afterwards. For the most up-to-date information on the roads, visit the Patrol's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf/9300de8f24f618a68625729800536892/www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov">www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov</a>, to check road conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map or download the Traveler Information Map to your smart device.The Patrol reminds every driver to pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and wear a seat belt.

&nbsp;Don’t stop along the interstate or park on the shoulder.

· Find a safe location to view the event and get there early.

· Don’t take photographs while driving.·

 Turn your headlights on and do not rely on your automatic headlights.

· Prepare for extra congestion, especially on interstates, on the day before, day of and day after the eclipse.

· Watch out for increased pedestrian traffic along smaller roads. People may randomly park and walk alongside roads in the hour before the total eclipse to get the best viewing.

· Avoid travel during the eclipse or in the area of the path of totality if you can.

· Never wear eclipse glasses when driving a car or operating a boat.

· Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has a full tank of gas.· Bring along water and snacks in your vehicle.

If you have planned a day on the water for April 8, make sure your boat has the proper lighting if you will be on the water during the eclipse. It will become quite dark. Be aware of your surroundings and what hazards exist near your boat leading up to the eclipse, so you're prepared when the eclipse occurs. Always keep a safe distance between yourself and other boaters. Swimmers will be hard to see as the eclipse occurs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712317899499.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Missouri State Highway Patrol asks the public to be aware of and plan for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The viewing path in Missouri will cover more than 115 miles of the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085263547.png" alt="Image AP" />
 <figcaption>Image AP</figcaption>
 </figure>Totality enters Missouri as it will follow a diagonal line crossing over Poplar Bluff, MO, and exit Missouri at Cape Girardeau, MO, as it crosses the Mississippi River at 2:04 p.m. Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive in the days leading up to the event. This influx of additional motorists will affect traffic patterns. Please plan your trip accordingly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711653160174.png" alt="You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. NASA photo by Mamta Patel Nagaraja" />
 <figcaption>You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. NASA photo by Mamta Patel Nagaraja</figcaption>
 </figure>o avoid the heaviest traffic when traveling for the event, it will be helpful to leave early and plan to remain at your viewing location until a period after the eclipse to avoid any congestion afterwards. For the most up-to-date information on the roads, visit the Patrol's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf/9300de8f24f618a68625729800536892/www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov">www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov</a>, to check road conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map or download the Traveler Information Map to your smart device.The Patrol reminds every driver to pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and wear a seat belt.Additional safe driving tips include:&nbsp;Don’t stop along the interstate or park on the shoulder.· Find a safe location to view the event and get there early.· Don’t take photographs while driving.· Turn your headlights on and do not rely on your automatic headlights.· Prepare for extra congestion, especially on interstates, on the day before, day of and day after the eclipse.· Watch out for increased pedestrian traffic along smaller roads. People may randomly park and walk alongside roads in the hour before the total eclipse to get the best viewing.· Avoid travel during the eclipse or in the area of the path of totality if you can.· Never wear eclipse glasses when driving a car or operating a boat.· Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has a full tank of gas.· Bring along water and snacks in your vehicle.If you have planned a day on the water for April 8, make sure your boat has the proper lighting if you will be on the water during the eclipse. It will become quite dark. Be aware of your surroundings and what hazards exist near your boat leading up to the eclipse, so you're prepared when the eclipse occurs. Always keep a safe distance between yourself and other boaters. Swimmers will be hard to see as the eclipse occurs.

Patrol:  Total solar eclipse safety reminders

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Fort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.

Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings.

Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured.

"We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.

She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination.

"Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."

It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.

Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.

Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.

Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.

She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan.

"I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.

Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.

After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;

She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims.

"I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."

Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.

The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;

The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.

Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.

Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.

Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344136151.jpeg" alt="A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings."My heart sunk," she said.Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured."We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344244847.jpeg" alt="Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)" />
 <figcaption>Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)</figcaption>
 </figure>She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination."Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344368401.jpeg" alt="A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344504127.jpeg" alt="Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan."I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims."I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344618441.jpeg" alt="A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

FHSU professor from Taiwan shares concerns for homeland after earthquake

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—A former Kansas corrections officer was sentenced for attempted trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Lucas Alan Ray, 36, of Holton, was employed with the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer beginning in January of 2020.&nbsp; In August of 2023, Sheriff Morse opened an investigation into a report that an employee was trafficking contraband into the jail facility. 

The investigation alleged that an employee was receiving monies on a cash app from friends or relatives of inmates for legal items. Ray was placed on administrate leave, and at the investigations conclusion and terminated from employment with the Sheriff’s Office on August 31, 2023.&nbsp;

 A complaint was forwarded to the Jackson County Attorney’s Office where Ray was eventually charged and summoned to court. Ray pled no contest to attempted trafficking contraband. Ray was sentenced on Friday March 29 and given probation of 18 months with court services with an underlying sentence of 8 months in prison.

Sheriff Tim Morse commented, “It is imperative to protect those in our custody. It is as important for law enforcement agencies to demand integrity of its employees, and justice should apply to all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712328512805.png" alt="Ray photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—A former Kansas corrections officer was sentenced for attempted trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.Lucas Alan Ray, 36, of Holton, was employed with the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer beginning in January of 2020.&nbsp; In August of 2023, Sheriff Morse opened an investigation into a report that an employee was trafficking contraband into the jail facility. The investigation alleged that an employee was receiving monies on a cash app from friends or relatives of inmates for legal items. Ray was placed on administrate leave, and at the investigations conclusion and terminated from employment with the Sheriff’s Office on August 31, 2023.&nbsp; A complaint was forwarded to the Jackson County Attorney’s Office where Ray was eventually charged and summoned to court. Ray pled no contest to attempted trafficking contraband. Ray was sentenced on Friday March 29 and given probation of 18 months with court services with an underlying sentence of 8 months in prison.Sheriff Tim Morse commented, “It is imperative to protect those in our custody. It is as important for law enforcement agencies to demand integrity of its employees, and justice should apply to all.”

Kansas jail deputy fired, sentenced for crimes at work

Junction City firefighters worked a warehouse fire involving two sheds at 948&nbsp; Grant Ave. Friday. There were no injuries. According to Fire Chief Jason Lankas.&nbsp; A state fire marshal office representative was called in to help with the case but the cause is undetermined right now. Lankas indicated that the investigation would probably continue Monday.

&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FRFES?__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Fort Riley Fire &amp; Emergency Services</a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054314330525&amp;__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Geary County Rural Fire</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080884993480&amp;__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Grandview Plaza Fire Department</a>&nbsp;provided mutual aid support and Junction City Public Works also helped clear debris with a backhoe.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lankas noted that their were actually two warehouse sheds that contained equipment ranging from tractor and tools to boats and cars. The sheds were owned by William Stanley. A specific damage estimate was not available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712373297799.jpeg" alt="Photos Junction Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Junction Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey Terrill, JC PostJunction City firefighters worked a warehouse fire involving two sheds at 948&nbsp; Grant Ave. Friday. There were no injuries. According to Fire Chief Jason Lankas.&nbsp; A state fire marshal office representative was called in to help with the case but the cause is undetermined right now. Lankas indicated that the investigation would probably continue Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712373337831.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FRFES?__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Fort Riley Fire &amp; Emergency Services</a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054314330525&amp;__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Geary County Rural Fire</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080884993480&amp;__cft__[0]=AZU800HZyWCVuIZo3TMftFSZGp_HK7fTYsKMmk4LFXYW9opZ9lXMF9vPGkEcWzy7vTYeU7FAKIIMOMEl_YQVpsSd4lBsAIuSw2tSbC9SQl68sziE2irjw922y-mmqt0kcyCAr0L1wxehkJJTS8ArGmiwOQdwS_cowYIspE-Xj-fc9ATX4kgWy3LrRaWORZgLRi4&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Grandview Plaza Fire Department</a>&nbsp;provided mutual aid support and Junction City Public Works also helped clear debris with a backhoe.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lankas noted that their were actually two warehouse sheds that contained equipment ranging from tractor and tools to boats and cars. The sheds were owned by William Stanley. A specific damage estimate was not available.

Boat, cars and tractor damaged in Kansas warehouse fire

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

Around 1:00pm Friday, police responded to 5600 block of E. 31st Street on a sound of shots call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders located a man in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim or any suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712365459887.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Around 1:00pm Friday, police responded to 5600 block of E. 31st Street on a sound of shots call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders located a man in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim or any suspect information.

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in car in Kansas City

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are struggling to overcome political divisions that have prevented their state's residents from seeing major income tax cuts over the past two years even as other states have slashed income tax rates.

The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a bill early Saturday morning that would cut income, sales and property taxes by more than $1.5 billion over three years. However, statements from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly earlier in the week and from a top aide Friday night suggested she might veto the plan. It wasn't clear supporters would have the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to override such an action.

The debate appears stuck where it was at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-kansas-gop-infighting-3fcfeb252137bdda907655ae7f7fd69e">start of 2023</a>, with top Republicans pushing for a single personal income tax rate instead of the current three and Kelly opposed to steps in that direction. Because lawmakers bundle mulitple tax cuts in a single bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">the stalemate</a>&nbsp;has prevented Kansas from enacting other proposals, such as eliminating taxes on retirees' Social Security benefits and lowering state-imposed property taxes that help fund public schools.

Like other states, Kansas has been flush with tax revenues and is still projected to have surpluses of more than $3.7 billion at the end of June 2025. But its inability to enact tax cuts contrasts sharply with Georgia, where last month the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-brian-kemp-corporate-income-tax-cuts-7a414376871e7baf20bfb2ea12bb7260">Republican-controlled General Assembly passed</a>&nbsp;personal and corporate income tax cuts that GOP Gov. Brian Kemp favored.

A dozen other states cut income tax rates last year, according to the conservative Tax Foundation.

“I see a future where this is probably going to get vetoed because of every conversation that I've had,” Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat and Kelly ally, said during her chamber's debate.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2036_03_04052024.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;approved by Kansas lawmakers would move the state to two personal income tax rates instead of the current three, setting the top rate at 5.55% instead of the current 5.7%. It would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state's property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240406005529_283298/">24-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240406023605_397539/">119-0</a>&nbsp;in the House. The results showed Kelly's fellow Democrats were split. In the Senate, they largely opposed the plan, while in the House, they supported the bill.

Kelly typically has signed bills with large bipartisan majorities, but Democrats and a few Republican dissenters have stuck with her in the Senate to prevent veto overrides on tax issues.

Lawmakers adjourned Saturday morning for a spring break but are set to reconvene April 25 for their last five days in session this year.

A key issue for the governor's Senate allies was whether the plan eventually would cause budget problems within a few years.

Debates over tax cuts in Kansas have been fraught since a nationally notorious 2012-13 experiment in slashing income taxes under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback was followed by large budget shortfalls that persisted until lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/07/kansas-brownback-tax-veto-override/">repealed most of the cuts</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Kelly, then a state senator, won her first term as governor in 2018 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/gubernatorial-elections-f5741d8d0d8c40979857c9d2d6afae9f">running against Brownback’s policies</a>&nbsp;and still mentions the tax experiment regularly.

Before Saturday’s votes, Kelly's chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told reporters the plan would cost the state about $75 million more per year — or $225 million more over three years — than Kelly deemed affordable.

“It far exceeds the number she’s been pretty clear with,” Lawrence said.

Kelly had backed a compromise plan that her office drafted with top Republicans this week, preserving the state's three personal income tax rates but dropping the top rate to 5.5%. She told House Democrats in a Thursday morning meeting that she opposed going to two tax rates because it was a step toward a single-rate “flat” tax that she believes benefits wealthy taxpayers the most.

“We don’t want to start down that path,” Kelly told the group.

But House Democrats believed the plan Kelly favored also was too weighted toward wealthy taxpayers, and they were joined by Republicans who didn't think it was generous enough to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-budget-3965759b4a8fc1de84aca2b235300b5a">scuttled it</a>&nbsp;Thursday in the House.

House Democrats saw the plan approved Saturday as much better. They circulated figures showing the cuts would eliminate income taxes for married couples earning $25,000 or less, with the percentage income tax cut dropping as taxpayers grew wealthier.

“It was what I wanted to see, which is real relief for real people," House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, told his colleagues in a meeting before the House vote.

“Let's give the money back to the taxpayers,” Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, an eastern Kansas Republican, said during her chamber's debate. “Keep it in their pockets

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712400149021.jpeg" alt="A view of the House chamber early Saturday as lawmakers wrapped a long day of work- image Kansas Legislature YouTube" />
 <figcaption>A view of the House chamber early Saturday as lawmakers wrapped a long day of work- image Kansas Legislature YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are struggling to overcome political divisions that have prevented their state's residents from seeing major income tax cuts over the past two years even as other states have slashed income tax rates.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a bill early Saturday morning that would cut income, sales and property taxes by more than $1.5 billion over three years. However, statements from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly earlier in the week and from a top aide Friday night suggested she might veto the plan. It wasn't clear supporters would have the two-thirds majorities in both chambers needed to override such an action.The debate appears stuck where it was at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-kansas-gop-infighting-3fcfeb252137bdda907655ae7f7fd69e">start of 2023</a>, with top Republicans pushing for a single personal income tax rate instead of the current three and Kelly opposed to steps in that direction. Because lawmakers bundle mulitple tax cuts in a single bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-veto-kelly-1c321169e87d69480efe91db0ef55f28">the stalemate</a>&nbsp;has prevented Kansas from enacting other proposals, such as eliminating taxes on retirees' Social Security benefits and lowering state-imposed property taxes that help fund public schools.Like other states, Kansas has been flush with tax revenues and is still projected to have surpluses of more than $3.7 billion at the end of June 2025. But its inability to enact tax cuts contrasts sharply with Georgia, where last month the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-brian-kemp-corporate-income-tax-cuts-7a414376871e7baf20bfb2ea12bb7260">Republican-controlled General Assembly passed</a>&nbsp;personal and corporate income tax cuts that GOP Gov. Brian Kemp favored.A dozen other states cut income tax rates last year, according to the conservative Tax Foundation.“I see a future where this is probably going to get vetoed because of every conversation that I've had,” Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Kansas City-area Democrat and Kelly ally, said during her chamber's debate.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2036_03_04052024.pdf">The bill</a>&nbsp;approved by Kansas lawmakers would move the state to two personal income tax rates instead of the current three, setting the top rate at 5.55% instead of the current 5.7%. It would eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when a retiree earns $75,000 a year. It would reduce the state's property taxes for public schools and eliminate an already-set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.The votes were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240406005529_283298/">24-9</a>&nbsp;in the Senate and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240406023605_397539/">119-0</a>&nbsp;in the House. The results showed Kelly's fellow Democrats were split. In the Senate, they largely opposed the plan, while in the House, they supported the bill.Kelly typically has signed bills with large bipartisan majorities, but Democrats and a few Republican dissenters have stuck with her in the Senate to prevent veto overrides on tax issues.Lawmakers adjourned Saturday morning for a spring break but are set to reconvene April 25 for their last five days in session this year.A key issue for the governor's Senate allies was whether the plan eventually would cause budget problems within a few years.Debates over tax cuts in Kansas have been fraught since a nationally notorious 2012-13 experiment in slashing income taxes under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback was followed by large budget shortfalls that persisted until lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/07/kansas-brownback-tax-veto-override/">repealed most of the cuts</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Kelly, then a state senator, won her first term as governor in 2018 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/gubernatorial-elections-f5741d8d0d8c40979857c9d2d6afae9f">running against Brownback’s policies</a>&nbsp;and still mentions the tax experiment regularly.Before Saturday’s votes, Kelly's chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told reporters the plan would cost the state about $75 million more per year — or $225 million more over three years — than Kelly deemed affordable.“It far exceeds the number she’s been pretty clear with,” Lawrence said.Kelly had backed a compromise plan that her office drafted with top Republicans this week, preserving the state's three personal income tax rates but dropping the top rate to 5.5%. She told House Democrats in a Thursday morning meeting that she opposed going to two tax rates because it was a step toward a single-rate “flat” tax that she believes benefits wealthy taxpayers the most.“We don’t want to start down that path,” Kelly told the group.But House Democrats believed the plan Kelly favored also was too weighted toward wealthy taxpayers, and they were joined by Republicans who didn't think it was generous enough to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-budget-3965759b4a8fc1de84aca2b235300b5a">scuttled it</a>&nbsp;Thursday in the House.House Democrats saw the plan approved Saturday as much better. They circulated figures showing the cuts would eliminate income taxes for married couples earning $25,000 or less, with the percentage income tax cut dropping as taxpayers grew wealthier.“It was what I wanted to see, which is real relief for real people," House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, told his colleagues in a meeting before the House vote.Most Republican lawmakers agreed.“Let's give the money back to the taxpayers,” Senate tax committee Chair Caryn Tyson, an eastern Kansas Republican, said during her chamber's debate. “Keep it in their pockets

Kansas lawmakers approve a tax cut bill 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a deadly explosion and fire in Wichita.

Just before noon Thursday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received reports of an explosion at an apartment complex garage located at 8406 E. Harry in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

 Wichita Police and Fire personnel responded to find a garage on the east side of the complex ablaze. Amidst firefighting efforts, the body of a deceased man was discovered near the garage.

 Authorities are in the process of confirming his identity and informing&nbsp; next-of-kin.

In response to the incident, additional resources, including detectives, the bomb squad from the Wichita Police Department, Wichita Fire Investigators, and federal investigators from the FBI and ATF, were deployed to the scene.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim was engaged in mixing an unidentified substance before the explosion, potentially linked to illegal homemade pyrotechnics manufacturing.

The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Wichita Police Department and the&nbsp; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Moses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712262626265.png" alt="The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a deadly explosion and fire in Wichita.Just before noon Thursday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received reports of an explosion at an apartment complex garage located at 8406 E. Harry in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses. Wichita Police and Fire personnel responded to find a garage on the east side of the complex ablaze. Amidst firefighting efforts, the body of a deceased man was discovered near the garage. Authorities are in the process of confirming his identity and informing&nbsp; next-of-kin.In response to the incident, additional resources, including detectives, the bomb squad from the Wichita Police Department, Wichita Fire Investigators, and federal investigators from the FBI and ATF, were deployed to the scene.Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim was engaged in mixing an unidentified substance before the explosion, potentially linked to illegal homemade pyrotechnics manufacturing.The ongoing investigation is a collaborative effort between the Wichita Police Department and the&nbsp; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Moses.

Police: Fatal Kan. explosion linked to illegal homemade fireworks

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are reporting a new Fentanyl trend in Kansas.

According to a social media report from the Harvey County Sheriff, "we most typically find Fentanyl in Dirty 30s in our area - usually round, pale blue counterfeit Oxycodone pills that contain Fentanyl. More recently, we've had two cases where we've discovered pink-tinted Fentanyl powder."

"Often, Fentanyl is consumed by someone using foil to smoke the pill or powder. When it is smoked, there's a black, burnt residue left on the foil. If someone is having a medical emergency, or to report a crime, call 911."

"If you have information that could assist in an investigation and would like to talk with us, please call us at the Sheriff's Office at 316-284-6960 and ask to speak to a drug investigator."

"Your help could be life-saving for someone.Know that there is help and support out there. Several local organizations have resources available to aid individuals with drug use treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national helpline is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-662-4357 or visiting <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffindtreatment.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1LbYpTrgIR6lHjpBbwx7umfnUsHoKZA9VtjBhYhNRS3_9NPgF3Tzl8wyg_aem_AcUlXzsTCbJeFW8Cy5NxGxr0StbrYPy3NWPAoaxo0_hQQY2dWekP3B6XXi4dNJwDUw1jIHhJ6VeXZjC8KkP3g9cj&amp;h=AT00Am6kriFxcOm1t6e-WZB9uWPsnn8xEMkpO_B0Pdc0cd2j0j74DwLp2O1sgajqsnneGCtlgQJ53rZNtraPL9PozjhSvCTSylTiyhgStnLfX-jC9Ga4GeLS3R2I25VmaGjT9RY&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1bWOMPDEbs-2lIX2WJ-qfW5c1kKJ1pKxnWmZ1ucIFUkhVq7xAyd_Ckg952Nr8GcalV2YCBLQZsxkDI8YWAVsJCnn3R8sYQA5AJUO3-xrChWqNqddDeccO_khaEO1XWW93TCV72sZMT_-sQLVNFVgAoMankwWjdrqbg-FsmOi4QUhhtlPP_NDtc6dmfnmeEXxD5-ui6J0bK" target="_blank">findtreatment.gov.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712329850870.png" alt="Fentanyl " />
 <figcaption>Fentanyl </figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are reporting a new Fentanyl trend in Kansas.According to a social media report from the Harvey County Sheriff, "we most typically find Fentanyl in Dirty 30s in our area - usually round, pale blue counterfeit Oxycodone pills that contain Fentanyl. More recently, we've had two cases where we've discovered pink-tinted Fentanyl powder.""Often, Fentanyl is consumed by someone using foil to smoke the pill or powder. When it is smoked, there's a black, burnt residue left on the foil. If someone is having a medical emergency, or to report a crime, call 911.""If you have information that could assist in an investigation and would like to talk with us, please call us at the Sheriff's Office at 316-284-6960 and ask to speak to a drug investigator."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691103676337.png" alt="Fentanyl Dirty 30s File photo" />
 <figcaption>Fentanyl Dirty 30s File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"Your help could be life-saving for someone.Know that there is help and support out there. Several local organizations have resources available to aid individuals with drug use treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national helpline is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-662-4357 or visiting <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffindtreatment.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1LbYpTrgIR6lHjpBbwx7umfnUsHoKZA9VtjBhYhNRS3_9NPgF3Tzl8wyg_aem_AcUlXzsTCbJeFW8Cy5NxGxr0StbrYPy3NWPAoaxo0_hQQY2dWekP3B6XXi4dNJwDUw1jIHhJ6VeXZjC8KkP3g9cj&amp;h=AT00Am6kriFxcOm1t6e-WZB9uWPsnn8xEMkpO_B0Pdc0cd2j0j74DwLp2O1sgajqsnneGCtlgQJ53rZNtraPL9PozjhSvCTSylTiyhgStnLfX-jC9Ga4GeLS3R2I25VmaGjT9RY&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1bWOMPDEbs-2lIX2WJ-qfW5c1kKJ1pKxnWmZ1ucIFUkhVq7xAyd_Ckg952Nr8GcalV2YCBLQZsxkDI8YWAVsJCnn3R8sYQA5AJUO3-xrChWqNqddDeccO_khaEO1XWW93TCV72sZMT_-sQLVNFVgAoMankwWjdrqbg-FsmOi4QUhhtlPP_NDtc6dmfnmeEXxD5-ui6J0bK" target="_blank">findtreatment.gov.</a>

Kan. sheriff's deputies discover pink-tinted fentanyl powder

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — An actor who appeared in a spinoff of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-entertainment-sports-business-9ae01a1be9f47387fcc79f07c838c739">popular television western “Yellowstone”</a>&nbsp;was found dead after he went missing amid a domestic violence investigation in Kansas, authorities said Friday.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=803186598510154&amp;set=a.219561300206023">said in a statement</a>&nbsp;that deputies found the body of 27-year-old Cole Brings Plenty in a wooded area. Crime scene investigators and the medical examiner were at the location, but no details were released about a cause of death.

Two days earlier Brings Plenty was charged in a nearby county with aggravated burglary, domestic battery and criminal restraint. An arrest warrant was issued.

Police in the town of Lawrence said officers responded Sunday to an apartment where a woman was screaming for help, and Brings Plenty had left before they arrived.

He then missed an audition for an upcoming film project that was scheduled for Monday morning over Zoom, his agent, Peter Yanke of Phirgun Mair Worldwide, said this week.

Brings Plenty appeared in two episodes of the first season of “1923,” a Paramount+ series starring Harrison Ford that is a prequel to the Paramount Network hit “Yellowstone.” He also had recent small roles in two other Westerns from INSP TV, “Into the Wild Frontier” and “The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger.”

His uncle Mo Brings Plenty is a star of “Yellowstone” and acts as a cultural adviser for Native American issues on both that show and “1923.” He posted a flyer about his nephew’s disappearance on Instagram, and police said the family reported the younger man missing.

JOHNSON COUNTY —The search for an alleged Kansas domestic violence suspect has ended

Just before noon Friday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an unoccupied vehicle in the area of 200th and Homestead Lane in rural Johnson County, Kansas, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.

Deputies searched the area and found a deceased man in a wooded area. He was later identified as 27-year-old Cole Brings Plenty. Crime scene investigators and the medical examiner responded to the scene.

On Sunday officers responded to reports of a woman screaming for help, but the suspect fled before officers arrived. The investigation identified Brings Plenty and traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident.

The Johnson County sheriff's office and Lawrence Police released no additional details Friday afternoon.

DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged domestic violence continue asking the public for help to locate Cole Brings Plenty after an incident Sunday morning at an apartment in Lawrence, according to a media release.

The Lawrence Police drone team worked most of Thursday afternoon south of Lawrence to try to cover a lot of ground quickly - hoping to uncover any leads.&nbsp; Police are following up on all the calls and information coming in.

Police also are in close contact with the family, who are very concerned as the days pass and are collaborating with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/298304525732132/about/?locale=pt_PT">Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Trans </a>Chapter of Lawrence.

Brings Plenty’s car was last seen on 59 Highway headed south out of Lawrence.  He drives the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB. If you have any information on his whereabouts or his vehicle, call 911, LKPD at 785.832.7509, or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (785) 843-8477.

&nbsp;If you see Cole Brings Plenty, or his vehicle, call 911 or you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-8477

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085646947.png" alt="Plenty photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Plenty photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — An actor who appeared in a spinoff of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-entertainment-sports-business-9ae01a1be9f47387fcc79f07c838c739">popular television western “Yellowstone”</a>&nbsp;was found dead after he went missing amid a domestic violence investigation in Kansas, authorities said Friday.The Johnson County Sheriff's Office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=803186598510154&amp;set=a.219561300206023">said in a statement</a>&nbsp;that deputies found the body of 27-year-old Cole Brings Plenty in a wooded area. Crime scene investigators and the medical examiner were at the location, but no details were released about a cause of death.Two days earlier Brings Plenty was charged in a nearby county with aggravated burglary, domestic battery and criminal restraint. An arrest warrant was issued.Police in the town of Lawrence said officers responded Sunday to an apartment where a woman was screaming for help, and Brings Plenty had left before they arrived.He then missed an audition for an upcoming film project that was scheduled for Monday morning over Zoom, his agent, Peter Yanke of Phirgun Mair Worldwide, said this week.Brings Plenty appeared in two episodes of the first season of “1923,” a Paramount+ series starring Harrison Ford that is a prequel to the Paramount Network hit “Yellowstone.” He also had recent small roles in two other Westerns from INSP TV, “Into the Wild Frontier” and “The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger.”His uncle Mo Brings Plenty is a star of “Yellowstone” and acts as a cultural adviser for Native American issues on both that show and “1923.” He posted a flyer about his nephew’s disappearance on Instagram, and police said the family reported the younger man missing.--------------JOHNSON COUNTY —The search for an alleged Kansas domestic violence suspect has endedJust before noon Friday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an unoccupied vehicle in the area of 200th and Homestead Lane in rural Johnson County, Kansas, according to Sheriff Calvin Hayden.Deputies searched the area and found a deceased man in a wooded area. He was later identified as 27-year-old Cole Brings Plenty. Crime scene investigators and the medical examiner responded to the scene.On Sunday officers responded to reports of a woman screaming for help, but the suspect fled before officers arrived. The investigation identified Brings Plenty and traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident.The Johnson County sheriff's office and Lawrence Police released no additional details Friday afternoon.----------------DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; –Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged domestic violence continue asking the public for help to locate Cole Brings Plenty after an incident Sunday morning at an apartment in Lawrence, according to a media release.The Lawrence Police drone team worked most of Thursday afternoon south of Lawrence to try to cover a lot of ground quickly - hoping to uncover any leads.&nbsp; Police are following up on all the calls and information coming in.Police also are in close contact with the family, who are very concerned as the days pass and are collaborating with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/298304525732132/about/?locale=pt_PT">Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Trans </a>Chapter of Lawrence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085673888.png" alt="Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB - photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Brings Plenty was last known to be driving the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB - photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On Sunday officers responded to reports of a woman screaming for help, but the suspect fled before officers arrived. The investigation identified Brings Plenty and traffic cameras showed him leaving the city immediately after the incident.Brings Plenty’s car was last seen on 59 Highway headed south out of Lawrence. He drives the 2005 Ford Explorer bearing Kansas license plate 368PXB. If you have any information on his whereabouts or his vehicle, call 911, LKPD at 785.832.7509, or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (785) 843-8477.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712086415073.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;If you see Cole Brings Plenty, or his vehicle, call 911 or you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at (785)843-8477

Body of alleged Kan. domestic violence suspect found in rural area

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with &nbsp;the fatal shooting of another man who was shot in the morning hours of March 20, 2024, while walking in the Midtown area of Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Tyron Lee Sims, 61, faces Murder in the 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the area of the shooting about 5 a.m. on March 20. Officers found the victim, who was soon declared deceased. He had been shot twice. 

Surveillance video captured the victim walking northbound another another man is seen chasing the victim. Audio of two gunshots was captured on the video. The shooter, who is wearing a black hat and a hooded sweatshirt with a pinkie ring, fled on foot to the north. 

He's observed buzzing into a building. He's seen with distinctive clothing and jewelry. After obtaining a search warrant, officers found medication bottles with the defendant's name, ammunition and an empty pistol case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711544087069.png" alt="Sims-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sims-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with &nbsp;the fatal shooting of another man who was shot in the morning hours of March 20, 2024, while walking in the Midtown area of Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Tyron Lee Sims, 61, faces Murder in the 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the area of the shooting about 5 a.m. on March 20. Officers found the victim, who was soon declared deceased. He had been shot twice. Surveillance video captured the victim walking northbound another another man is seen chasing the victim. Audio of two gunshots was captured on the video. The shooter, who is wearing a black hat and a hooded sweatshirt with a pinkie ring, fled on foot to the north. He's observed buzzing into a building. He's seen with distinctive clothing and jewelry. After obtaining a search warrant, officers found medication bottles with the defendant's name, ammunition and an empty pistol case.

Surveillance video shows suspect near scene of KC murder

GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a man found at a rest stop in Geary County have identified James J. Cramer of St. Louis, Missouri.

Just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the Geary County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the I-70 eastbound rest stop just before&nbsp;Moritz Road reference to a check welfare, according to a media release.

Deputies located Cramer in the driver’s seat of a gold van.&nbsp; The sheriff's office not did release his age or cause of death.

This case is still under investigation and the Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone that may have information on this case to call 785-238-2261.

GEARY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a man found at a rest stop in Geary County have identified James J. Cramer of St. Louis, Missouri.Just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the Geary County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the I-70 eastbound rest stop just before&nbsp;Moritz Road reference to a check welfare, according to a media release.Deputies located Cramer in the driver’s seat of a gold van.&nbsp; The sheriff's office not did release his age or cause of death.This case is still under investigation and the Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone that may have information on this case to call 785-238-2261.

Sheriff IDs Mo. man found dead at rest area on I-70

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Kansas senators killed a school finance bill that would have guided state education funding for the next three years, heeding warnings from public schools advocates that the bill’s special education provision could have proven disastrous.

&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb387/">Senate Bill 387</a>&nbsp;allocated billions for K-12 schools, but also came with a provision that public school advocates warned would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/03/education-advocate-kansas-school-finance-bill-would-permanently-underfund-special-education/">“permanently underfund K-12 schools.”</a>&nbsp;

The bill would have overhauled the state’s special education funding formula,&nbsp;using local dollars as part of the calculation. Public education advocates, including the Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas National Educators Association, spoke against the proposed formula, calling it one that would mask a lack of state funding for special education. In a joint statement, the groups said the calculation was a “series of accounting gimmicks.”

“That’s not new money,” said Rep. David Younger, a Ulysses Republican, in Thursday opposition to the bill. “That’s money that’s coming in that’s supposed to be there. Counting local option budget money is not new money. That’s local money. And I stand by my claim that this is voodoo math.”&nbsp;

The special education formula currently factors in costs of providing services, costs of regular education and federal aid to determine each district’s state special education aid. The proposed formula would have used factors such as Medicaid and state hospital funding, along with district-level budgets to determine special education aid.

Others warned the state cannot afford to further underfund special education. Money for special education goes toward educational needs for gifted and disabled students in Kansas public schools.&nbsp;

Statute dictates that state funding cover 92% of the extra cost of providing services to K-12 special education students statewide, but the state hasn’t met this requirement since 2011. The state currently covers around 69% of expenditures by local school districts.&nbsp;

Kansas schools are left to shoulder the other costs— a task that has become increasingly difficult as the number of Kansas students utilizing special ed services continues to rise. Approximately 18% of Kansas students used special ed services in the 2022-2023 school year.

Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican tasked with crafting education policy, pushed back on these claims. Williams is well-known for promoting private school vouchers,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/">arguing that some children</a>&nbsp;need religion before math.&nbsp;

“It is the responsible answer,”&nbsp; Williams said of SB387. “It is the transparent and accountable answer in the changes that we’ve made, in the accountability that we have included.&nbsp;

In a late night Thursday vote, Senators voted 12-26 against the bill, hours after House lawmakers narrowly passed the bill with a 65-58 vote.

Sen. Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, said he couldn’t support the bill due to hometown opposition.&nbsp;

“I cannot support major changes to K-12 finance, while there’s universal opposition back home,” Blasi said.

The Legislature is expected to adjourn after Friday for three weeks, adding a sense of urgency as lawmakers scramble to approve policy before the break. If no new education bill arises by Friday night, lawmakers will adjourn without an education budget blueprint in place.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674609354567.png" alt="File photo&nbsp; Kansas Senators voted late Thursday against a wide-ranging public school finance bill. " />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp; Kansas Senators voted late Thursday against a wide-ranging public school finance bill. </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;Kansas ReflectorTOPEKA — Kansas senators killed a school finance bill that would have guided state education funding for the next three years, heeding warnings from public schools advocates that the bill’s special education provision could have proven disastrous.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb387/">Senate Bill 387</a>&nbsp;allocated billions for K-12 schools, but also came with a provision that public school advocates warned would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/03/education-advocate-kansas-school-finance-bill-would-permanently-underfund-special-education/">“permanently underfund K-12 schools.”</a>&nbsp;The bill would have overhauled the state’s special education funding formula,&nbsp;using local dollars as part of the calculation. Public education advocates, including the Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas National Educators Association, spoke against the proposed formula, calling it one that would mask a lack of state funding for special education. In a joint statement, the groups said the calculation was a “series of accounting gimmicks.”“That’s not new money,” said Rep. David Younger, a Ulysses Republican, in Thursday opposition to the bill. “That’s money that’s coming in that’s supposed to be there. Counting local option budget money is not new money. That’s local money. And I stand by my claim that this is voodoo math.”&nbsp;The special education formula currently factors in costs of providing services, costs of regular education and federal aid to determine each district’s state special education aid. The proposed formula would have used factors such as Medicaid and state hospital funding, along with district-level budgets to determine special education aid.Others warned the state cannot afford to further underfund special education. Money for special education goes toward educational needs for gifted and disabled students in Kansas public schools.&nbsp;Statute dictates that state funding cover 92% of the extra cost of providing services to K-12 special education students statewide, but the state hasn’t met this requirement since 2011. The state currently covers around 69% of expenditures by local school districts.&nbsp;Kansas schools are left to shoulder the other costs— a task that has become increasingly difficult as the number of Kansas students utilizing special ed services continues to rise. Approximately 18% of Kansas students used special ed services in the 2022-2023 school year.Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican tasked with crafting education policy, pushed back on these claims. Williams is well-known for promoting private school vouchers,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/">arguing that some children</a>&nbsp;need religion before math.&nbsp;“It is the responsible answer,”&nbsp; Williams said of SB387. “It is the transparent and accountable answer in the changes that we’ve made, in the accountability that we have included.&nbsp;In a late night Thursday vote, Senators voted 12-26 against the bill, hours after House lawmakers narrowly passed the bill with a 65-58 vote.Sen. Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, said he couldn’t support the bill due to hometown opposition.&nbsp;“I cannot support major changes to K-12 finance, while there’s universal opposition back home,” Blasi said.The Legislature is expected to adjourn after Friday for three weeks, adding a sense of urgency as lawmakers scramble to approve policy before the break. If no new education bill arises by Friday night, lawmakers will adjourn without an education budget blueprint in place.&nbsp;

Kansas senators shoot down ‘voodoo math’ public education bill

TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. (AP) —Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of two Kansas women whose vehicle was found abandoned in the Oklahoma Panhandle last weekend, authorities said Friday.

Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, were driving to Oklahoma to pick up Butler’s children to attend a March 30 birthday party in Kansas but never showed up, Tom Singer, the pastor of the church Butler attended, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-missing-women-texas-county-disappearance-jillian-kelley-veronica-butler/60388744">KOCO-TV</a>.

Hunter McKee, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson, said investigators believe foul play led to women's disappearance based on what was found their vehicle.

McKee declined to say what evidence was found in the vehicle, citing the continuing investigation.

Singer did not immediately return phone calls for comment Friday morning.

McKee said the abandoned vehicle was found by Texas County deputies and referred additional questions to Texas County Sheriff Matt Boley, who did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

The sheriff's office has turned the investigation over to the OSBI.

“We’re still looking into where and when they were last seen,” McKee said.

Investigators are searching the area in Texas County around where the vehicle was found, according to McKee, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of Elkhart, Kansas, on the Oklahoma-Kansas state line.

The area is about 260 miles (418 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711967700182.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. (AP) —Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of two Kansas women whose vehicle was found abandoned in the Oklahoma Panhandle last weekend, authorities said Friday.Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, were driving to Oklahoma to pick up Butler’s children to attend a March 30 birthday party in Kansas but never showed up, Tom Singer, the pastor of the church Butler attended, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-missing-women-texas-county-disappearance-jillian-kelley-veronica-butler/60388744">KOCO-TV</a>.Hunter McKee, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson, said investigators believe foul play led to women's disappearance based on what was found their vehicle.McKee declined to say what evidence was found in the vehicle, citing the continuing investigation.Singer did not immediately return phone calls for comment Friday morning.McKee said the abandoned vehicle was found by Texas County deputies and referred additional questions to Texas County Sheriff Matt Boley, who did not immediately return a phone call for comment.The sheriff's office has turned the investigation over to the OSBI.“We’re still looking into where and when they were last seen,” McKee said.McKee said no children are missing.Investigators are searching the area in Texas County around where the vehicle was found, according to McKee, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of Elkhart, Kansas, on the Oklahoma-Kansas state line.The area is about 260 miles (418 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City.

Police update search for two missing Kansas women

NEW YORK (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/earthquake-new-york-updates">earthquake centered between New York and Philadelphia</a>&nbsp;shook skyscrapers and suburbs across the northeastern U.S. for several seconds Friday morning, causing no major damage but startling millions of people in an area unaccustomed to such tremors.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, or about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of New York City and 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. The agency's figures indicated that over 42 million people might have felt the rumbling.

People from Baltimore to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border reported feeling the ground shake. While there were no immediate reports of serious damage, officials were checking bridges and other major infrastructure, Amtrak slowed trains throughout the busy Northeast Corridor, and a Philadelphia-area commuter rail line suspended service out of what it said was “an abundance of caution.”

Pictures and decorative plates tumbled off the wall in Christiann Thompson's house in Whitehouse Station, she said. Thompson was volunteering at the local library when the quake hit, leaving few effects, but she got a report from her husband on the scene at home.

“The dogs lost their minds and got very terrified and ran around," she said.

It was “pretty weird and scary” for Shawn Clark, who felt the quake in his 26th-floor midtown Manhattan office. Clark, an attorney, initially feared an explosion or construction accident. His colleague Finn Dusenbery worried the ceiling or even the building would collapse.

The earthquake slowed travel along the East Coast, with some flights diverted and traffic snarled on roads and rails for runway, bridge, and tunnel inspections. Flights to the Newark, New York and Baltimore airports were held at their origins for a time while officials inspected runways for cracks. At least five flights en route to Newark were diverted and landed at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

Among the affected travelers: Seton Hall University’s men’s basketball team, which was stuck in Indianapolis, where it won the National Invitational Tournament on Thursday. The team said its flight to Newark was being held because of the earthquake-related ground stop, likely delaying a welcome-home celebration scheduled for Friday afternoon on Seton Hall's campus in South Orange, New Jersey.

Traffic through the Holland Tunnel between Jersey City, New Jersey, and lower Manhattan was stopped for about 10 minutes for inspections, the Port Authority of New York and Jersey said.

In midtown Manhattan, motorists blared their horns on shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a boom and felt their building shaking. Cellphone circuits were overloaded for a time as people tried to reach loved ones and figure out what was going on.

At U.N. headquarters in New York, the shaking interrupted the chief executive of Save The Children, Janti Soeripto, as she briefed an emergency Security Council session on the threat of famine in Gaza and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-world-central-kitchen-gaza-aid-workers-69b6176362dafc8e4e2754b2342faa1d">Israeli drone strikes that killed aid workers</a>&nbsp;there.

“Is it an earthquake?” Soeripto wondered aloud, then asked if it was all right to go ahead. She did, but soon diplomats’ phones blared with earthquake alerts.

In New York City’s Astoria neighborhood, Cassondra Kurtz was giving her 14-year-old Chihuahua, Chiki, a cocoa-butter rubdown for her dry skin. Kurtz was recording the moment on video when her apartment started shaking hard enough that a large mirror banged audibly against a wall.

Kurtz assumed at first it was a big truck going by. The video captured her looking around, perplexed. Chiki, however, “was completely unbothered.”

Earthquakes are less common on the eastern than western edges of the U.S. because the East Coast does not lie on a boundary of tectonic plates. The biggest Eastern quakes usually occur along the mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends through Iceland and the Atlantic Ocean.

Quakes on the East Coast can still pack a punch, as its rocks are better than their western counterparts at spreading earthquake energy across long distances.

“If we had the same magnitude quake in California, it probably wouldn’t be felt nearly as far away,” said USGS geophysicist Paul Caruso.

A 4.8-magnitude quake isn't large enough to cause damage, except for some minor effects near the epicenter, the agency posted on X.

Robert Thorson, a University of Connecticut earth sciences professor, said the quake resulted from the constant compression of the earth's hard, brittle crust in New Jersey.

“It’s like having a big block of ice in a vise, and you are just slowly cranking up the vise,” he said. Eventually, you’re going to get some crackling on it.”

Friday's quake was felt as far as Vermont and New Hampshire, where some residents initially figured it was snow falling off their roofs or plow trucks rumbling by.

Stacy Santa Cruz, a paralegal, watched her computer screen shake at her office in Hartford, Connecticut.

“I kind of was taken aback, but then I kind of processed that it might have been an earthquake," she said, noting that she'd experienced a significant quake in her native Peru.

Earthquakes with magnitudes near or above 5 struck near New York City in 1737, 1783 and 1884, the USGS said. And Friday's stirred memories of the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada. With an epicenter in Virginia, it left cracks in the Washington Monument and rattled New Yorkers ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest earthquake to hit the East Coast since World War II.

On Friday, President Joe Biden said he had had spoken to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy about the earthquake. The White House said the administration would provide help if needed to state and local officials.

As of noon, New York City had no indications of major safety or infrastructure problems from the earthquake, said Mayor Eric Adams, who said he didn't feel the quake himself. City Buildings Commissioner James Oddo said officials would watch out for any delayed cracks or other effects on the Big Apple’s 1.1 million buildings.

A Chinatown art gallery owner, Kristen Thomas, worried for the fate of a sculpture that features five real eggs poised on a candelabra-like base. But the piece, by Carlos Estévez, was unbroken.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the quake was felt throughout the state, but officials had no reports of any life-threatening problems.

Solomon Byron felt it as he sat on a park bench in Manhattan’s East Village.

“I was just like, ‘Where is that vibration coming from?'" Byron recalled. He was especially puzzled since there were no subways running nearby.

But he didn’t realize there had been an earthquake until he got the alert on his cellphone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712329282349.png" alt="Quake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey-USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Quake centered near Lebanon, New Jersey-USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/earthquake-new-york-updates">earthquake centered between New York and Philadelphia</a>&nbsp;shook skyscrapers and suburbs across the northeastern U.S. for several seconds Friday morning, causing no major damage but startling millions of people in an area unaccustomed to such tremors.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I AM FINE&mdash; Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1776254633599480130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgovkathyhochul%2Fvideos%2F1150569402614787%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Earthquakes are uncommon but not unheard of along the Atlantic Coast, a zone one study called a &quot;passive-aggressive margin&quot; b/c there&#39;s no active plate boundary between the Atlantic &amp; N. American plates, but there are stresses. Did you feel the NJ quake? <a href="https://t.co/ADcDLsTp8b">https://t.co/ADcDLsTp8b</a>&mdash; USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/USGS_Quakes/status/1776262335688044979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York. My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.&mdash; Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovKathyHochul/status/1776257181454676383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, or about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of New York City and 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. The agency's figures indicated that over 42 million people might have felt the rumbling.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JFK Airport remains open and operational. Flights are arriving and departing at this time. Please check with your carrier for any updates to your flight status.&mdash; John F. Kennedy Airport (@JFKairport) <a href="https://twitter.com/JFKairport/status/1776270324952170522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>People from Baltimore to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border reported feeling the ground shake. While there were no immediate reports of serious damage, officials were checking bridges and other major infrastructure, Amtrak slowed trains throughout the busy Northeast Corridor, and a Philadelphia-area commuter rail line suspended service out of what it said was “an abundance of caution.”Pictures and decorative plates tumbled off the wall in Christiann Thompson's house in Whitehouse Station, she said. Thompson was volunteering at the local library when the quake hit, leaving few effects, but she got a report from her husband on the scene at home.“The dogs lost their minds and got very terrified and ran around," she said.It was “pretty weird and scary” for Shawn Clark, who felt the quake in his 26th-floor midtown Manhattan office. Clark, an attorney, initially feared an explosion or construction accident. His colleague Finn Dusenbery worried the ceiling or even the building would collapse.The earthquake slowed travel along the East Coast, with some flights diverted and traffic snarled on roads and rails for runway, bridge, and tunnel inspections. Flights to the Newark, New York and Baltimore airports were held at their origins for a time while officials inspected runways for cracks. At least five flights en route to Newark were diverted and landed at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.Among the affected travelers: Seton Hall University’s men’s basketball team, which was stuck in Indianapolis, where it won the National Invitational Tournament on Thursday. The team said its flight to Newark was being held because of the earthquake-related ground stop, likely delaying a welcome-home celebration scheduled for Friday afternoon on Seton Hall's campus in South Orange, New Jersey.Traffic through the Holland Tunnel between Jersey City, New Jersey, and lower Manhattan was stopped for about 10 minutes for inspections, the Port Authority of New York and Jersey said.In midtown Manhattan, motorists blared their horns on shuddering streets. Some Brooklyn residents heard a boom and felt their building shaking. Cellphone circuits were overloaded for a time as people tried to reach loved ones and figure out what was going on.At U.N. headquarters in New York, the shaking interrupted the chief executive of Save The Children, Janti Soeripto, as she briefed an emergency Security Council session on the threat of famine in Gaza and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-world-central-kitchen-gaza-aid-workers-69b6176362dafc8e4e2754b2342faa1d">Israeli drone strikes that killed aid workers</a>&nbsp;there.“Is it an earthquake?” Soeripto wondered aloud, then asked if it was all right to go ahead. She did, but soon diplomats’ phones blared with earthquake alerts.In New York City’s Astoria neighborhood, Cassondra Kurtz was giving her 14-year-old Chihuahua, Chiki, a cocoa-butter rubdown for her dry skin. Kurtz was recording the moment on video when her apartment started shaking hard enough that a large mirror banged audibly against a wall.Kurtz assumed at first it was a big truck going by. The video captured her looking around, perplexed. Chiki, however, “was completely unbothered.”Earthquakes are less common on the eastern than western edges of the U.S. because the East Coast does not lie on a boundary of tectonic plates. The biggest Eastern quakes usually occur along the mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends through Iceland and the Atlantic Ocean.Quakes on the East Coast can still pack a punch, as its rocks are better than their western counterparts at spreading earthquake energy across long distances.“If we had the same magnitude quake in California, it probably wouldn’t be felt nearly as far away,” said USGS geophysicist Paul Caruso.A 4.8-magnitude quake isn't large enough to cause damage, except for some minor effects near the epicenter, the agency posted on X.Robert Thorson, a University of Connecticut earth sciences professor, said the quake resulted from the constant compression of the earth's hard, brittle crust in New Jersey.“It’s like having a big block of ice in a vise, and you are just slowly cranking up the vise,” he said. Eventually, you’re going to get some crackling on it.”Friday's quake was felt as far as Vermont and New Hampshire, where some residents initially figured it was snow falling off their roofs or plow trucks rumbling by.Stacy Santa Cruz, a paralegal, watched her computer screen shake at her office in Hartford, Connecticut.“I kind of was taken aback, but then I kind of processed that it might have been an earthquake," she said, noting that she'd experienced a significant quake in her native Peru.Earthquakes with magnitudes near or above 5 struck near New York City in 1737, 1783 and 1884, the USGS said. And Friday's stirred memories of the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake that jolted tens of millions of people from Georgia to Canada. With an epicenter in Virginia, it left cracks in the Washington Monument and rattled New Yorkers ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.Registering magnitude 5.8, it was the strongest earthquake to hit the East Coast since World War II.On Friday, President Joe Biden said he had had spoken to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy about the earthquake. The White House said the administration would provide help if needed to state and local officials.As of noon, New York City had no indications of major safety or infrastructure problems from the earthquake, said Mayor Eric Adams, who said he didn't feel the quake himself. City Buildings Commissioner James Oddo said officials would watch out for any delayed cracks or other effects on the Big Apple’s 1.1 million buildings.A Chinatown art gallery owner, Kristen Thomas, worried for the fate of a sculpture that features five real eggs poised on a candelabra-like base. But the piece, by Carlos Estévez, was unbroken.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the quake was felt throughout the state, but officials had no reports of any life-threatening problems.Solomon Byron felt it as he sat on a park bench in Manhattan’s East Village.“I was just like, ‘Where is that vibration coming from?'" Byron recalled. He was especially puzzled since there were no subways running nearby.But he didn’t realize there had been an earthquake until he got the alert on his cellphone.

Rare earthquake centered near New York City rattles the Northeast

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle from Indiana.

On Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reported stolen from East Chicago, Indiana, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The vehicle was spotted traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 75, just north of Independence, Kansas. 

Deputies proceeded with a felony traffic stop, successfully taking the driver 29-year-old Adam Hiner into custody without any further incident. 

Hiner was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. 

Montgomery County Dispatch informed the reporting agency of the vehicle's recovery, and arrangements were made for its return to the rightful owner at a later date.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712323573524.png" alt="Hiner-photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Hiner-photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle from Indiana.On Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reported stolen from East Chicago, Indiana, according to Sheriff Ron Wade. The vehicle was spotted traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 75, just north of Independence, Kansas. Deputies proceeded with a felony traffic stop, successfully taking the driver 29-year-old Adam Hiner into custody without any further incident. Hiner was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and booked on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. Montgomery County Dispatch informed the reporting agency of the vehicle's recovery, and arrangements were made for its return to the rightful owner at a later date.

Kansas deputies catch Indiana stolen vehicle suspect

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

KU receives $22M in federal funding for high-security lab space

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712322417326.png" alt=" FBI director Christopher Wray speaks about threats to national securing during an April 4, 2024, cybersecurity conference at the University of Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> FBI director Christopher Wray speaks about threats to national securing during an April 4, 2024, cybersecurity conference at the University of Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>KU receives $22M in federal funding for high-security lab space</h2>LAWRENCE — FBI director Christopher Wray provided a sobering analysis Thursday of the increasingly “complex and persistent and severe” cybersecurity threat posed by foreign adversaries to national security, the economy and critical infrastructure.In a speech at the University of Kansas Cybersecurity Conference, Wray said criminals use ransomware to wreak havoc on business operations, food distributors, 911 call centers, police departments, schools and hospitals with the goal of “disrupting our democratic society.”“They’re more pervasive, hit a wider array of victims and carry the potential for greater damage than ever before,” Wray said. “Even as I’m standing here talking to you, we’re investigating more than 100 different ransomware variants, each of them with scores and scores of victims.”Wray said the FBI places a premium on collaborations with academic partners, including KU, to confront the threats.Congress has earmarked $22 million for the KU National Security Innovation Center, an economic development organization and business incubator. The funding will help pay for an 80,000-square-foot high-security office and lab space.Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who announced the federal funding during the cybersecurity conference, said the project was part of his dream to provide educational opportunities for Kansans, as well as the opportunity to have careers and raise families in the state.“I want to make certain that we do everything today that increases the chances that the student, the young kid, a kid growing up in small town or big city Kansas, who happens to get fascinated by science or engineering or mathematics, has a place to be educated,” Moran said.“What a great thing it would be if you wanted to study science and engineering, be a researcher, and you said, ‘I want to go to school in Kansas.’ And if you wanted a career in those fields, you said, ‘I want to live in Kansas,’ ” he added.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712322381138.png" alt=" U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announces federal funding for the University of Kansas Innovation Park during an April 4, 2024, cybersecurity conference at KU. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announces federal funding for the University of Kansas Innovation Park during an April 4, 2024, cybersecurity conference at KU. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Moran said his work as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee — he joked that’s “probably an oxymoron for most of you — made him realize that other countries are doing everything they can to steal America’s secrets. If they get a leg up, he said, they can “succeed in diminishing the future of the United States of America.”“The threats are real,” Moran said. “They’re growing. They’re damaging, and the capabilities of our adversaries are increasing.”Wray identified China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the most prominent of foreign adversaries. He said foreign intelligence officers moonlight as cyber criminals, and profit-minded criminals by day are state-sponsored hackers by night.“It’s getting more and more difficult to discern where cybercriminal activity ends and adversarial nation-state activity begins, as the line between the two just gets blurrier and blurrier,” Wray said.The good news, he said, is the FBI has demonstrated success in taking down Russian malware and high-profile ransomware gangs. He said agents collaborate with allies to compromise criminal command and control networks, shut down their servers and websites, and deploy encryption protections. The FBI also targets money launderers and cryptocurrency wallets connected to illegal activity in an effort to “try to hit them everywhere it hurts and then put them down, hard.”KU chancellor Doug Girod said the university was committed to doing the research that would push the field of cybersecurity forward. The work was necessary, he joked, because during the pandemic he received notice that fraudulent unemployment claims had been filed on his behalf in three states.“This world of cyber warfare is really World War 3, and we are losing it right now,” Girod said. “We just can’t see it.”