NEW YORK (AP) — The theft of sensitive information belonging to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-data-breach-dark-web-passcodes-fbef4afe0c1deec9ffb470f2ec134f41">millions of AT&amp;T's current and former customers</a>&nbsp;has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said this weekend.

In a Saturday announcement addressing the data breach, AT&amp;T said that a dataset found on the “dark web” contains information including some Social Security numbers and passcodes for about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders.

Whether the data “originated from AT&amp;T or one of its vendors" is still unknown, the Dallas-based company noted — adding that it had launched an investigation into the incident. AT&amp;T has also begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised.

WHAT INFORMATION WAS COMPROMISED IN THIS BREACH?

Although varying by each customer and account, AT&amp;T says that information involved in this breach included Social Security numbers and passcodes — which, unlike passwords, are numerical PINS that are typically four digits long.

Full names, email addresses, mailing address, phone numbers, dates of birth and AT&amp;T account numbers may have also been compromised. The impacted data is from 2019 or earlier and does not appear to include financial information or call history, the company said.

Consumers impacted by this breach should be receiving an email or letter directly from AT&amp;T about the incident. The email notices began going out on Saturday, an AT&amp;T spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press.

Beyond these notifications, AT&amp;T said that it had already reset the passcodes of current users. The company added that it would pay for credit monitoring services where applicable.

AT&amp;T also said that it “launched a robust investigation” with internal and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation further.

HAS AT&amp;T SEEN DATA BREACHES LIKE THIS BEFORE?

AT&amp;T has seen several data breaches that range in size and impact&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/at-t-employee-improperly-viewed-customer-accounts-d67d2f088d7c4edbb4a79a5f20445b41">over the years</a>.

While the company says the data in this latest breach surfaced on a hacking forum nearly two weeks ago, it closely resembles a similar breach that surfaced in 2021 but which AT&amp;T never acknowledged,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/739a98e040034eb79be4f951e72d52f8">cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt</a>&nbsp;told the AP Saturday.

“If they assess this and they made the wrong call on it, and we’ve had a course of years pass without them being able to notify impacted customers,” then it’s likely the company will soon face class action lawsuits, said Hunt, founder of an Australia-based website that warns people when their personal information has been exposed.

A spokesperson for AT&amp;T declined to comment further when asked about these similarities Sunday.

Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.

The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-software-mobile-phones-b9110ad02f8d5e17d130b259fa19d852">multifactor authentication</a>&nbsp;when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, it's good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. You'll also want to visit a company's official website for reliable contact information — as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-credit-freezes-fraud-alerts">notes</a>&nbsp;that nationwide credit bureaus — such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — offer free credit freezes and fraud alerts that consumers can set up to help protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711934822314.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The theft of sensitive information belonging to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/att-data-breach-dark-web-passcodes-fbef4afe0c1deec9ffb470f2ec134f41">millions of AT&amp;T's current and former customers</a>&nbsp;has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said this weekend.In a Saturday announcement addressing the data breach, AT&amp;T said that a dataset found on the “dark web” contains information including some Social Security numbers and passcodes for about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders.Whether the data “originated from AT&amp;T or one of its vendors" is still unknown, the Dallas-based company noted — adding that it had launched an investigation into the incident. AT&amp;T has also begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised.Here's what you need to know.WHAT INFORMATION WAS COMPROMISED IN THIS BREACH?Although varying by each customer and account, AT&amp;T says that information involved in this breach included Social Security numbers and passcodes — which, unlike passwords, are numerical PINS that are typically four digits long.Full names, email addresses, mailing address, phone numbers, dates of birth and AT&amp;T account numbers may have also been compromised. The impacted data is from 2019 or earlier and does not appear to include financial information or call history, the company said.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?Consumers impacted by this breach should be receiving an email or letter directly from AT&amp;T about the incident. The email notices began going out on Saturday, an AT&amp;T spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press.WHAT ACTION HAS AT&amp;T TAKEN?Beyond these notifications, AT&amp;T said that it had already reset the passcodes of current users. The company added that it would pay for credit monitoring services where applicable.AT&amp;T also said that it “launched a robust investigation” with internal and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation further.HAS AT&amp;T SEEN DATA BREACHES LIKE THIS BEFORE?AT&amp;T has seen several data breaches that range in size and impact&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/at-t-employee-improperly-viewed-customer-accounts-d67d2f088d7c4edbb4a79a5f20445b41">over the years</a>.While the company says the data in this latest breach surfaced on a hacking forum nearly two weeks ago, it closely resembles a similar breach that surfaced in 2021 but which AT&amp;T never acknowledged,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/739a98e040034eb79be4f951e72d52f8">cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt</a>&nbsp;told the AP Saturday.“If they assess this and they made the wrong call on it, and we’ve had a course of years pass without them being able to notify impacted customers,” then it’s likely the company will soon face class action lawsuits, said Hunt, founder of an Australia-based website that warns people when their personal information has been exposed.A spokesperson for AT&amp;T declined to comment further when asked about these similarities Sunday.HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF GOING FORWARD?Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-software-mobile-phones-b9110ad02f8d5e17d130b259fa19d852">multifactor authentication</a>&nbsp;when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, it's good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. You'll also want to visit a company's official website for reliable contact information — as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls.In addition, the Federal Trade Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-credit-freezes-fraud-alerts">notes</a>&nbsp;that nationwide credit bureaus — such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — offer free credit freezes and fraud alerts that consumers can set up to help protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity.

AT&T: Data breach leaked millions of customers' information online

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal&nbsp; &nbsp; officer involved shooting in Kansas City.

Just before 6a.m. Sunday police responded to a 911 call for help in the 4000 Block of Myrtle Avenue in Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol in charge of the investigation.

At the scene officer located a man armed with a handgun walking in the street in front of a nearby residence. Kansas City Police officer attempted to negotiate with him to drop the handgun. The man presented the gun in the direction of officers and several officers fired their weapons.The man was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital where he died.

Police have not released the name of the man who died or additional details.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal&nbsp; &nbsp; officer involved shooting in Kansas City.Just before 6a.m. Sunday police responded to a 911 call for help in the 4000 Block of Myrtle Avenue in Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol in charge of the investigation.At the scene officer located a man armed with a handgun walking in the street in front of a nearby residence. Kansas City Police officer attempted to negotiate with him to drop the handgun. The man presented the gun in the direction of officers and several officers fired their weapons.The man was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital where he died.Police have not released the name of the man who died or additional details.

Man dies in Kansas City police officer-shooting

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/endangered-species-biden-trump-rollbacks-9791aaaa955d26b599ba802d7c931e7c">on Thursday restored</a>&nbsp;rules to protect imperiled plants and animals that had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-bernhardt-animals-ap-top-news-politics-donald-trump-9bf4541d89e6444783814e53302ce479">rolled back</a>&nbsp;under former President Donald Trump.

Among the changes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reinstate a decades-old regulation that mandates blanket protections for species newly classified as threatened. That means officials won't have to craft time-intensive plans to shield each individual species while protections are pending, as has been done recently with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wolverine-species-endangered-climate-change-024ec09a032851a26a248fab93ad7d0e">North American wolverines</a>&nbsp;in the Rocky Mountains,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-lakes-wildlife-turtles-alligators-bd236f66da0ffd11fd46aa42ccc505d3">alligator snapping turtles</a>&nbsp;in the southeastern U.S. and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-california-climate-environment-owls-fe794372cf1650407ef60f12da663958">spotted owls in California</a>.

The restoration of more protective regulations rankled Republicans who said the Endangered Species Act was being wielded too broadly and to the detriment of economic growth. Meanwhile, wildlife advocates were only partially satisfied, saying some potentially harmful changes under Trump were untouched.

The blanket protections rule had been dropped in 2019 as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-bernhardt-animals-ap-top-news-politics-donald-trump-9bf4541d89e6444783814e53302ce479">a suite of changes to the application of the species law</a>&nbsp;under Trump that were encouraged by industry. Those changes came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-science-aaf1091c5aae40b0a110daaf04950672">extinctions accelerate</a>&nbsp;globally due to habitat loss and other pressures.

Another rule Thursday said officials will not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ms-state-wire-mt-state-wire-ap-top-news-tx-state-wire-la-state-wire-643be5ec34895c008809a9ab4cfcd518">consider economic impacts</a>&nbsp;when deciding if animals and plants need protection. The rules from the wildlife service and National Marine Fisheries Service make it easier to designate areas as critical for a species’ survival, even if it is no longer found in those locations.

Species that could benefit from the rules include imperiled fish and freshwater mussels in the Southeast, where the aquatic animals in many cases are absent from portions of their historical range, officials have said.

Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in a statement that the rule changes underscored the agency's commitment to using the best available science to halt population declines as “climate change, degraded and fragmented habitat, invasive species, and wildlife disease” threaten many species.

Details on the rules were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of their public release. Officials said almost a half-million public comments were submitted on the three rules.

Environmentalists expressed frustration that it took years for Democratic President Joe Biden to act on some of the Trump-era rollbacks. Stoking their urgency is the prospect of a new Republican administration following the 2024 election that could yet again ease protections.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, a former Fish and Wildlife Service director and now president at Defenders of Wildlife, characterized Thursday's announcement as a “marginal win” that restores essential protections for wildlife, but leaves in place some of the changes made in 2019 under Trump. The environmental group said the retained provisions would open the door to the destruction of habitat critical for some species to survive.

The rules have gotten strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who say Biden's Democratic administration has hampered oil, gas and coal development, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-lands-conservation-leases-biden-c96bb20ed80e2b5f459bb7afc366f651">favors conservation over development</a>.

“We know the Endangered Species Act is an outdated piece of legislation that has repeatedly failed its primary goal of recovering listed species, yet Biden is now undoing crucial reforms and issuing new regulations that will not benefit listed species,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas.

Many energy companies, ranchers, developers and representatives of other industries have long viewed the 1973 Endangered Species Act as an impediment. Under Trump, they successfully lobbied to weaken the law’s regulations as part of a broad dismantling of environmental safeguards.

Trump officials also rolled back endangered species rules and protections for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-washington-oregon-environment-7b9c53a88608054d521ac7d6025461fa">northern spotted owl</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-white-environment-and-nature-wildlife-wolves-0961f3065ab154ee693936295c18a5a0">gray wolves</a>&nbsp;and other species.

The spotted owl decision was reversed in 2021 after officials said Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-california-forests-oregon-48c1dc3a59bda47c178437d6b1e538bd">political appointees used faulty science</a>&nbsp;to justify opening millions of acres of West Coast forest to potential logging. Protections for wolves across most of the U.S. were restored by a federal court in 2021.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/endangered-species-biden-trump-rollbacks-9791aaaa955d26b599ba802d7c931e7c">on Thursday restored</a>&nbsp;rules to protect imperiled plants and animals that had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-bernhardt-animals-ap-top-news-politics-donald-trump-9bf4541d89e6444783814e53302ce479">rolled back</a>&nbsp;under former President Donald Trump.Among the changes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reinstate a decades-old regulation that mandates blanket protections for species newly classified as threatened. That means officials won't have to craft time-intensive plans to shield each individual species while protections are pending, as has been done recently with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wolverine-species-endangered-climate-change-024ec09a032851a26a248fab93ad7d0e">North American wolverines</a>&nbsp;in the Rocky Mountains,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-lakes-wildlife-turtles-alligators-bd236f66da0ffd11fd46aa42ccc505d3">alligator snapping turtles</a>&nbsp;in the southeastern U.S. and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-california-climate-environment-owls-fe794372cf1650407ef60f12da663958">spotted owls in California</a>.The restoration of more protective regulations rankled Republicans who said the Endangered Species Act was being wielded too broadly and to the detriment of economic growth. Meanwhile, wildlife advocates were only partially satisfied, saying some potentially harmful changes under Trump were untouched.The blanket protections rule had been dropped in 2019 as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-bernhardt-animals-ap-top-news-politics-donald-trump-9bf4541d89e6444783814e53302ce479">a suite of changes to the application of the species law</a>&nbsp;under Trump that were encouraged by industry. Those changes came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-science-aaf1091c5aae40b0a110daaf04950672">extinctions accelerate</a>&nbsp;globally due to habitat loss and other pressures.Another rule Thursday said officials will not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ms-state-wire-mt-state-wire-ap-top-news-tx-state-wire-la-state-wire-643be5ec34895c008809a9ab4cfcd518">consider economic impacts</a>&nbsp;when deciding if animals and plants need protection. The rules from the wildlife service and National Marine Fisheries Service make it easier to designate areas as critical for a species’ survival, even if it is no longer found in those locations.Species that could benefit from the rules include imperiled fish and freshwater mussels in the Southeast, where the aquatic animals in many cases are absent from portions of their historical range, officials have said.Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in a statement that the rule changes underscored the agency's commitment to using the best available science to halt population declines as “climate change, degraded and fragmented habitat, invasive species, and wildlife disease” threaten many species.Details on the rules were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of their public release. Officials said almost a half-million public comments were submitted on the three rules.Environmentalists expressed frustration that it took years for Democratic President Joe Biden to act on some of the Trump-era rollbacks. Stoking their urgency is the prospect of a new Republican administration following the 2024 election that could yet again ease protections.Jamie Rappaport Clark, a former Fish and Wildlife Service director and now president at Defenders of Wildlife, characterized Thursday's announcement as a “marginal win” that restores essential protections for wildlife, but leaves in place some of the changes made in 2019 under Trump. The environmental group said the retained provisions would open the door to the destruction of habitat critical for some species to survive.The rules have gotten strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who say Biden's Democratic administration has hampered oil, gas and coal development, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-lands-conservation-leases-biden-c96bb20ed80e2b5f459bb7afc366f651">favors conservation over development</a>.“We know the Endangered Species Act is an outdated piece of legislation that has repeatedly failed its primary goal of recovering listed species, yet Biden is now undoing crucial reforms and issuing new regulations that will not benefit listed species,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas.Many energy companies, ranchers, developers and representatives of other industries have long viewed the 1973 Endangered Species Act as an impediment. Under Trump, they successfully lobbied to weaken the law’s regulations as part of a broad dismantling of environmental safeguards.Trump officials also rolled back endangered species rules and protections for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-washington-oregon-environment-7b9c53a88608054d521ac7d6025461fa">northern spotted owl</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-white-environment-and-nature-wildlife-wolves-0961f3065ab154ee693936295c18a5a0">gray wolves</a>&nbsp;and other species.The spotted owl decision was reversed in 2021 after officials said Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-california-forests-oregon-48c1dc3a59bda47c178437d6b1e538bd">political appointees used faulty science</a>&nbsp;to justify opening millions of acres of West Coast forest to potential logging. Protections for wolves across most of the U.S. were restored by a federal court in 2021.

Biden restores threatened species protections dropped by Trump

Thousands of Fraudulent Tax Returns, Using Stolen Identities, Funneled Refunds to Bank Accounts in Russia

KANSAS CITY —A Russian national sentenced in federal court in Kansas City on Friday for his role in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to file thousands of federal income tax returns that claimed more than $11 million in fraudulent refunds, according&nbsp; to the United State's Attorney.

Anton Vikharev, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Vikharev to pay $2,020,569 in restitution and to forfeit to the government $537,000.

On July 26, 2023, Vikharev pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Vikharev admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by filing false and fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen identities from January 2015 through March 1, 2018.

In this scheme, 7,167 false and fraudulent tax returns were filed for tax years 2011- 2016. The returns, which used the stolen names and Social Security numbers of other people, claimed $11,178,361 in fraudulent refunds. The Internal Revenue Service actually paid at least $2,020,569 in fraudulent tax refunds.

Fraudulent refunds were deposited into bank accounts the conspirators controlled. Vikharev’s role in the conspiracy was to withdraw fraudulent tax refunds from bank ATMs in cash, launder the cash through gold purchases and through high volume cash deposits into other accounts, and send the stolen money to Russia via wire transfers. Conspirators bought gold bullion with some of the proceeds. After the proceeds were laundered, conspirators wired at least $1,411,082 to accounts in Russia. Vikharev personally received $156,120 in proceeds wired to Russian bank accounts in his control.

Vikharev laundered some of the proceeds from the fraud conspiracy by purchasing a total of $537,000 in gold, some of which was sold with the proceeds wired to co-conspirators in Russia, which is the basis for the forfeiture money judgment.

Vikharev left the United States in early July 2017. He exited the United States at the southern border into Mexico. From Mexico, Vikharev flew to Cuba and then to Russia. On June 4, 2021, Vikharev was arrested in Toronto, Canada. Vikharev was detained in custody while he litigated extradition to the United States for approximately two years.

According to court documents, Vikharev, a Russian citizen, originally came to the United States on June 12, 2012, on a student visa that expired on Sept. 9, 2012. Vikharev stayed illegally in the United States for five more years. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Vikharev agreed to a judicial order of removal from the United States following incarceration.

Two co-defendants in this case are last known to be in Russia, which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

Thousands of Fraudulent Tax Returns, Using Stolen Identities, Funneled Refunds to Bank Accounts in RussiaKANSAS CITY —A Russian national sentenced in federal court in Kansas City on Friday for his role in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to file thousands of federal income tax returns that claimed more than $11 million in fraudulent refunds, according&nbsp; to the United State's Attorney.Anton Vikharev, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Vikharev to pay $2,020,569 in restitution and to forfeit to the government $537,000.On July 26, 2023, Vikharev pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Vikharev admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States by filing false and fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen identities from January 2015 through March 1, 2018.In this scheme, 7,167 false and fraudulent tax returns were filed for tax years 2011- 2016. The returns, which used the stolen names and Social Security numbers of other people, claimed $11,178,361 in fraudulent refunds. The Internal Revenue Service actually paid at least $2,020,569 in fraudulent tax refunds.Fraudulent refunds were deposited into bank accounts the conspirators controlled. Vikharev’s role in the conspiracy was to withdraw fraudulent tax refunds from bank ATMs in cash, launder the cash through gold purchases and through high volume cash deposits into other accounts, and send the stolen money to Russia via wire transfers. Conspirators bought gold bullion with some of the proceeds. After the proceeds were laundered, conspirators wired at least $1,411,082 to accounts in Russia. Vikharev personally received $156,120 in proceeds wired to Russian bank accounts in his control.Vikharev laundered some of the proceeds from the fraud conspiracy by purchasing a total of $537,000 in gold, some of which was sold with the proceeds wired to co-conspirators in Russia, which is the basis for the forfeiture money judgment.Vikharev left the United States in early July 2017. He exited the United States at the southern border into Mexico. From Mexico, Vikharev flew to Cuba and then to Russia. On June 4, 2021, Vikharev was arrested in Toronto, Canada. Vikharev was detained in custody while he litigated extradition to the United States for approximately two years.According to court documents, Vikharev, a Russian citizen, originally came to the United States on June 12, 2012, on a student visa that expired on Sept. 9, 2012. Vikharev stayed illegally in the United States for five more years. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Vikharev agreed to a judicial order of removal from the United States following incarceration.Two co-defendants in this case are last known to be in Russia, which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

IRS paid Russian national $2 million in refunds for fake tax returns

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Stock up on groceries. Print off driving directions. And be very, very patient.

Small towns and rural enclaves along the path of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">April's total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;are steeling for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-travel-14b52646d918184922d651bf8c8daab2">huge crowds of sun chasers</a>&nbsp;who plan to catch a glimpse of day turning into dusk in North America.

Tourism and community leaders in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rpUg8NkM0">path of totality from Texas to Maine</a>&nbsp;have trucked in extra fuel and port-a-potties, and urged residents and visitors to be prepared. Some counties have issued disaster declarations to get extra help with policing and other aid, similar to the aftermath of severe storms. And in Oklahoma, the National Guard will help.

Because of expected heavy traffic and other disruptions, hundreds of schools are closing or switching to remote learning in states including Texas, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Look no further back than the last U.S. total solar eclipse in 2017 to understand the concern, said Tom Traub, who is part of NASA's eclipse ambassador program.

That year, he traveled to Beatrice, Nebraska, where the normal population of around 12,000 swelled to around 40,000 as eclipse watchers arrived.

“You had gas stations running out of gas," said Traub, who also serves on the board that runs the Martz-Kohl Observatory near Frewsburg, New York. “You had restaurants running out of food. You had restrooms that were full and closed.”

This time around, top viewing locations want to avoid a repeat.

“They are preparing for mostly a worst-case scenario," he said. "And hopefully that won’t be the case.”

In central Texas, emergency officials in Hays County recommend a "solar eclipse survival bag” stocked with items including a mobile phone and charger.

The bag, the instructions advise, also should contain a hard copy of maps and a compass — “goin’ old school!”

The reminder to bring a fully charged phone — but to expect possible jammed signals — is widespread in prime viewing spots. In 2017, drivers using their cellphones to share photos and navigate through traffic overwhelmed towers.

“Write down key phone numbers just in case,” advised the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Austin.

Don't wait until the last minute to buy groceries is common advice from several Texas counties that have issued disaster declarations so they can get get extra help with the crowds.

Among them is Kerr County, located about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where the normal population of 53,000 is expected to double or triple.

“Make sure your vehicles are tanked up, that you have sufficient grocery supplies, that your prescriptions are filled and that you are stocked up on provisions for any animals in your care,” Rob Kelly, the county's top official who signed the disaster declaration, said in an online post.

In Ohio, where Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order this month to assure the state was well prepared, emergency management officials are urging residents to top off their gas tanks or fully charge their electric vehicles before heading out.

Traub suggests people treat the eclipse like a snowstorm: “Stock up, get ready, prepare to hunker down.”

At Serafin’s Food Market in Erie, Pennsylvania, owner Dan Serafin is ordering extra milk, eggs, water and batteries in preparation. “This is nuts,” he said.

Even smaller regional airports are getting ready. In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, extra fuel is being hauled in, said airport manager Katrina Amos.

The airport was caught off guard in 2017, when the city of around 40,000 along the Mississippi River also was in the path of totality.

Between 40 to 50 extra planes landed that day. ‘We didn’t expect this,’” said Amos.

This year, volunteers have signed up to help park all the extra planes that are expected. There also will be hamburgers and hot dogs, Amos said.

Offshore, the Coast Guard will have boats patrolling in Lake Erie; it's along the path and some boaters plan to watch from the water.

It will be all hands on deck at fire departments in the path of the eclipse, said Dr. Brad Raetzke, an emergency room doctor in Columbus, Ohio, who also is a medical director for several fire departments in the area.

He's concerned about eye injuries if people stare at the sun without protective glasses. And with all the extra traffic, there also will likely be more crash injuries, said Raetzke.

In 2017, he went with his family to Nashville, Tennessee, to watch the eclipse. The return trip took 15 hours, instead of the typical six. “So I can understand the importance of planning,” he said.

In Erie, where hotels are nearing capacity, residents are urged to leave the interstates to visitors, with signs posted more than 150 miles (241 kilometers) outside the city limits warning of delays.

Traffic will be "just almost nightmarish once totality ends,” said Chris Temple, the VisitErie spokesperson, who has been in meetings for more than a year planning for an onslaught of visitors that could double the size of the city of 94,000.

Despite the hassles, the city's tourism slogan to get eclipse-ready — SHINE — ends with a reminder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711653070657.png" alt="Employees and visitors at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory stopped to watch the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. Credit: NASA/Josh Krohn" />
 <figcaption>Employees and visitors at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory stopped to watch the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. Credit: NASA/Josh Krohn</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Stock up on groceries. Print off driving directions. And be very, very patient.Small towns and rural enclaves along the path of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-83164668ee08b0a0c92e1d2ac41e91aa">April's total solar eclipse</a>&nbsp;are steeling for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/total-solar-eclipse-travel-14b52646d918184922d651bf8c8daab2">huge crowds of sun chasers</a>&nbsp;who plan to catch a glimpse of day turning into dusk in North America.<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/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/Mamta Patel Nagaraja</figcaption>
 </figure>Tourism and community leaders in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7rpUg8NkM0">path of totality from Texas to Maine</a>&nbsp;have trucked in extra fuel and port-a-potties, and urged residents and visitors to be prepared. Some counties have issued disaster declarations to get extra help with policing and other aid, similar to the aftermath of severe storms. And in Oklahoma, the National Guard will help.Because of expected heavy traffic and other disruptions, hundreds of schools are closing or switching to remote learning in states including Texas, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.WHY ALL THE WARNINGS?Look no further back than the last U.S. total solar eclipse in 2017 to understand the concern, said Tom Traub, who is part of NASA's eclipse ambassador program.That year, he traveled to Beatrice, Nebraska, where the normal population of around 12,000 swelled to around 40,000 as eclipse watchers arrived.“You had gas stations running out of gas," said Traub, who also serves on the board that runs the Martz-Kohl Observatory near Frewsburg, New York. “You had restaurants running out of food. You had restrooms that were full and closed.”This time around, top viewing locations want to avoid a repeat.“They are preparing for mostly a worst-case scenario," he said. "And hopefully that won’t be the case.”CELLPHONES MIGHT NOT WORKIn central Texas, emergency officials in Hays County recommend a "solar eclipse survival bag” stocked with items including a mobile phone and charger.The bag, the instructions advise, also should contain a hard copy of maps and a compass — “goin’ old school!”The reminder to bring a fully charged phone — but to expect possible jammed signals — is widespread in prime viewing spots. In 2017, drivers using their cellphones to share photos and navigate through traffic overwhelmed towers.“Write down key phone numbers just in case,” advised the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Austin.STOCK UP ON FUEL AND FOODDon't wait until the last minute to buy groceries is common advice from several Texas counties that have issued disaster declarations so they can get get extra help with the crowds.Among them is Kerr County, located about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where the normal population of 53,000 is expected to double or triple.“Make sure your vehicles are tanked up, that you have sufficient grocery supplies, that your prescriptions are filled and that you are stocked up on provisions for any animals in your care,” Rob Kelly, the county's top official who signed the disaster declaration, said in an online post.In Ohio, where Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order this month to assure the state was well prepared, emergency management officials are urging residents to top off their gas tanks or fully charge their electric vehicles before heading out.Traub suggests people treat the eclipse like a snowstorm: “Stock up, get ready, prepare to hunker down.”At Serafin’s Food Market in Erie, Pennsylvania, owner Dan Serafin is ordering extra milk, eggs, water and batteries in preparation. “This is nuts,” he said.PREPARATIONS IN THE AIR AND AT SEAEven smaller regional airports are getting ready. In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, extra fuel is being hauled in, said airport manager Katrina Amos.The airport was caught off guard in 2017, when the city of around 40,000 along the Mississippi River also was in the path of totality.Between 40 to 50 extra planes landed that day. ‘We didn’t expect this,’” said Amos.This year, volunteers have signed up to help park all the extra planes that are expected. There also will be hamburgers and hot dogs, Amos said.Offshore, the Coast Guard will have boats patrolling in Lake Erie; it's along the path and some boaters plan to watch from the water.BRACE FOR TRAFFIC HASSLEIt will be all hands on deck at fire departments in the path of the eclipse, said Dr. Brad Raetzke, an emergency room doctor in Columbus, Ohio, who also is a medical director for several fire departments in the area.He's concerned about eye injuries if people stare at the sun without protective glasses. And with all the extra traffic, there also will likely be more crash injuries, said Raetzke.In 2017, he went with his family to Nashville, Tennessee, to watch the eclipse. The return trip took 15 hours, instead of the typical six. “So I can understand the importance of planning,” he said.In Erie, where hotels are nearing capacity, residents are urged to leave the interstates to visitors, with signs posted more than 150 miles (241 kilometers) outside the city limits warning of delays.Traffic will be "just almost nightmarish once totality ends,” said Chris Temple, the VisitErie spokesperson, who has been in meetings for more than a year planning for an onslaught of visitors that could double the size of the city of 94,000.Despite the hassles, the city's tourism slogan to get eclipse-ready — SHINE — ends with a reminder.“Enjoy the moment," said Temple

 Some tips to prepare for April's total solar eclipse

By CASEY QUINLAN,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a>

Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen.

High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy.

The Consumer Confidence Index,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence">released</a>&nbsp;by the business nonprofit and research organization the Conference Board, is a survey indicating how optimistic or pessimistic consumers feel about their financial well-being and the economy.

The Consumer Confidence Index fell slightly in March from 104.8 to 104.7, well below some economist expectations of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.barrons.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-032624/card/consumer-confidence-dips-on-growing-economic-worries-pDVBQ69ULE3gKM0XJyge#:~:text=Confidence%20has%20improved%20considerably%20since,147.6%20in%20the%20prior%20month.">106.5</a>. Although consumers’ perception of the likelihood of a recession fell this month, consumers were less confident about their family’s financial situation in the next six months. The percentage of consumers who expected their incomes to fall rose from 11.9% in February to 13.8% in March.

Elizabeth Pancotti, director of special initiatives for the Roosevelt Institute, said that consumers’ experience of the economy and their financial situation may come down to crises they’re feeling that may not show up at a macro level but may strike their budgets particularly hard.

“When egg prices finally come down and chicken prices finally come down, but orange juice is high because of some random citrus greening disease or some other shocking food item, your total grocery bill doesn’t come down and that really highlights it,” she said.&nbsp; “There’s one crisis after another at a micro level, which I think is really why we’re not seeing that divergence between overall economic strength and at a very micro level, the feelings of average consumers.”

Pancotti acknowledged that housing is also one of the highest expenses for consumers right now, and those prices aren’t showing as much movement as other areas of consumers’ budgets.

“For most families, it is the largest purchase they make every month,” she said.

Consumer sentiment, a smaller survey conducted by the University of Michigan, also gauges people’s sense of the economy overall, the labor market, and how they see inflation. On Thursday, U.S. consumer sentiment jumped to 79.4 from 76.9 in February and 62 a year earlier, making this its highest level since July 2021.

Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in the report that this number is an indication that consumers believe the economy is “holding steady.”

“As the election season progresses and debates over economic policy become more salient for consumers, their outlook for the economy could become more volatile in the months ahead,” she added.”

Kevin Kliesen, business economist and research officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said consumer confidence and consumer sentiment are still far below pre-pandemic levels and that it’s a puzzle as to why when the economy has “been growing fairly strongly” in the past year and a half. But like Pancotti, he added that high prices at the store compared to pre-pandemic prices may be playing a role in those measures.

“If you’re like me, you look at something, and you go, ‘Oh my gosh. I remember when it was so much less before the pandemic.’ So I think that calls into question, probably, a lot of people’s perceptions of the overall state of the economy and importantly their consumer finances,” he said.

What can we expect from inflation and the Fed?

As the Federal Reserve looks to its favorite inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, economists are watching the PCE closely for signs the Fed will cut rates in the coming months. This policy change is expected to have effects on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/20/fed-declines-to-cut-interest-rates-saying-its-not-clear-inflation-has-slowed-enough-yet/">housing market</a>&nbsp;as well as the growth of businesses.

The PCE rose 0.3% from January to February and 2.5% over the past year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/personal-income-and-outlays-february-2024">according to</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp; Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Friday release. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell responded to the news when he spoke at the San Francisco Fed and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-29/powell-says-latest-inflation-data-in-line-with-expectations?utm_medium=social&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=business">said</a>&nbsp;the numbers were “in line with expectations” but not as reassuring as the numbers Fed officials saw last year.

Despite this reception from Powell, some financial experts believe inflation will ease up soon. Cristian Tiu, associate professor of finance at the University at Buffalo, said that although the economy is adding jobs, he doesn’t believe the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/job-quality-index-jqi/">quality of those jobs</a>&nbsp;is high enough to sustain this price growth for much longer.

“Prices basically on consumer goods can’t be driven up forever just by the very top of the wage distribution. The rest of the wage distribution actually looks pretty modest. So I don’t think these price increases can actually be sustained,” Tiu said.

For this reason, he doesn’t think the Fed should continue to put brakes on the economy through restrictive monetary policy. Tiu added that he sees inflation as driven partly by corporate profit-seeking, with companies&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/20/fed-declines-to-cut-interest-rates-saying-its-not-clear-inflation-has-slowed-enough-yet/">taking advantage of inflation</a>&nbsp;to continue to keep prices higher than they can justify for the American consumer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642689710083.jpeg" alt="-High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing&nbsp;a role in how Americans feel about their finances as recession fears recede. " />
 <figcaption>-High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing&nbsp;a role in how Americans feel about their finances as recession fears recede. </figcaption>
 </figure>By CASEY QUINLAN,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a>Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen.High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy.<h2>What is driving consumer confidence?</h2>The Consumer Confidence Index,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence">released</a>&nbsp;by the business nonprofit and research organization the Conference Board, is a survey indicating how optimistic or pessimistic consumers feel about their financial well-being and the economy.The Consumer Confidence Index fell slightly in March from 104.8 to 104.7, well below some economist expectations of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.barrons.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-032624/card/consumer-confidence-dips-on-growing-economic-worries-pDVBQ69ULE3gKM0XJyge#:~:text=Confidence%20has%20improved%20considerably%20since,147.6%20in%20the%20prior%20month.">106.5</a>. Although consumers’ perception of the likelihood of a recession fell this month, consumers were less confident about their family’s financial situation in the next six months. The percentage of consumers who expected their incomes to fall rose from 11.9% in February to 13.8% in March.Elizabeth Pancotti, director of special initiatives for the Roosevelt Institute, said that consumers’ experience of the economy and their financial situation may come down to crises they’re feeling that may not show up at a macro level but may strike their budgets particularly hard.“When egg prices finally come down and chicken prices finally come down, but orange juice is high because of some random citrus greening disease or some other shocking food item, your total grocery bill doesn’t come down and that really highlights it,” she said.&nbsp; “There’s one crisis after another at a micro level, which I think is really why we’re not seeing that divergence between overall economic strength and at a very micro level, the feelings of average consumers.”Pancotti acknowledged that housing is also one of the highest expenses for consumers right now, and those prices aren’t showing as much movement as other areas of consumers’ budgets.“For most families, it is the largest purchase they make every month,” she said.<h2>Why isn’t consumer sentiment higher?</h2>Consumer sentiment, a smaller survey conducted by the University of Michigan, also gauges people’s sense of the economy overall, the labor market, and how they see inflation. On Thursday, U.S. consumer sentiment jumped to 79.4 from 76.9 in February and 62 a year earlier, making this its highest level since July 2021.Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in the report that this number is an indication that consumers believe the economy is “holding steady.”“As the election season progresses and debates over economic policy become more salient for consumers, their outlook for the economy could become more volatile in the months ahead,” she added.”Kevin Kliesen, business economist and research officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said consumer confidence and consumer sentiment are still far below pre-pandemic levels and that it’s a puzzle as to why when the economy has “been growing fairly strongly” in the past year and a half. But like Pancotti, he added that high prices at the store compared to pre-pandemic prices may be playing a role in those measures.“If you’re like me, you look at something, and you go, ‘Oh my gosh. I remember when it was so much less before the pandemic.’ So I think that calls into question, probably, a lot of people’s perceptions of the overall state of the economy and importantly their consumer finances,” he said.<h2>What can we expect from inflation and the Fed?</h2>As the Federal Reserve looks to its favorite inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, economists are watching the PCE closely for signs the Fed will cut rates in the coming months. This policy change is expected to have effects on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/20/fed-declines-to-cut-interest-rates-saying-its-not-clear-inflation-has-slowed-enough-yet/">housing market</a>&nbsp;as well as the growth of businesses.The PCE rose 0.3% from January to February and 2.5% over the past year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/personal-income-and-outlays-february-2024">according to</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp; Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Friday release. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell responded to the news when he spoke at the San Francisco Fed and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-29/powell-says-latest-inflation-data-in-line-with-expectations?utm_medium=social&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=business">said</a>&nbsp;the numbers were “in line with expectations” but not as reassuring as the numbers Fed officials saw last year.Despite this reception from Powell, some financial experts believe inflation will ease up soon. Cristian Tiu, associate professor of finance at the University at Buffalo, said that although the economy is adding jobs, he doesn’t believe the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/job-quality-index-jqi/">quality of those jobs</a>&nbsp;is high enough to sustain this price growth for much longer.“Prices basically on consumer goods can’t be driven up forever just by the very top of the wage distribution. The rest of the wage distribution actually looks pretty modest. So I don’t think these price increases can actually be sustained,” Tiu said.For this reason, he doesn’t think the Fed should continue to put brakes on the economy through restrictive monetary policy. Tiu added that he sees inflation as driven partly by corporate profit-seeking, with companies&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/03/20/fed-declines-to-cut-interest-rates-saying-its-not-clear-inflation-has-slowed-enough-yet/">taking advantage of inflation</a>&nbsp;to continue to keep prices higher than they can justify for the American consumer.

Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting in Pawnee County have made an arrest.

 Just after 5:00 p.m. Saturday, emergency dispatch was notified of a shooting that had just occurred at a property on K19 Highway South near Larned, Kansas, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett

The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department, Larned Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Pawnee County EMS responded to the scene where they discovered one male gunshot victim. The individual was transported to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital where he late died from his injuries.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting in the investigation at the request of the Pawnee County Sheriff. Special agents from the KBI processed the crime scene. A formal autopsy has been ordered.

Michael Reynolds, 67 of Larned, was taken into custody at the scene without incident, on requested charges of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He is being held at the Pawnee County Jail.

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting in Pawnee County have made an arrest. Just after 5:00 p.m. Saturday, emergency dispatch was notified of a shooting that had just occurred at a property on K19 Highway South near Larned, Kansas, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNettThe Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department, Larned Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Pawnee County EMS responded to the scene where they discovered one male gunshot victim. The individual was transported to the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital where he late died from his injuries.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting in the investigation at the request of the Pawnee County Sheriff. Special agents from the KBI processed the crime scene. A formal autopsy has been ordered.Michael Reynolds, 67 of Larned, was taken into custody at the scene without incident, on requested charges of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He is being held at the Pawnee County Jail.

67-year-old accused in deadly rural Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is facing criticism from&nbsp;religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 — which corresponds with Easter Sunday this year — as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”

The Democratic president issued the proclamation calling on “all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”

But in 2024, the March 31 designation overlaps with Easter, one of Christianity's holiest celebrations. Donald Trump's campaign accused Biden, a Roman Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and fellow Republicans piled on.

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall criticized the President for declaring the most significant day on the Christian calendar a transgender day of celebration.

"This is not a coincidence or oversight. Joe Biden is openly and intentionally slapping hundreds of millions of American Christians in the face on our most celebrated Holy Day. Sickening."

Former President Trump campaign used his social media platform to&nbsp; criticize Biden.

"We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ," said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's press secretary. She assailed what she called the Biden administration's "years-long assault on the Christian faith.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on social media that the “Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter” and called the decision “outrageous and abhorrent.”

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said the Republicans criticizing Biden “are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric.”

“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American," Bates said. "President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.”

Biden devoutly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing to be a core part of his morality and identity. In 2021, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">met with Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;at the Vatican and afterward told reporters that the pontiff said he was a “good Catholic” who should keep receiving Communion.

The White House web site published the full Biden proclamation:

Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves.  Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.  Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves.  Every American deserves that freedom.

Transgender Americans shape our Nation’s soul — proudly serving in the military, curing deadly diseases, holding elected office, running thriving businesses, fighting for justice, raising families, and much more.  As kids, they deserve what every child deserves:  the chance to learn in safe and supportive schools, to develop meaningful friendships, and to live openly and honestly.  As adults, they deserve the same rights enjoyed by every American, including equal access to health care, housing, and jobs and the chance to age with grace as senior citizens.  But today, too many transgender Americans are still denied those rights and freedoms.  A wave of discriminatory State laws is targeting transgender youth, terrifying families and hurting kids who are not hurting anyone.  An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, in particular women and girls of color, has taken lives far too soon.  Last year’s Club Q shooting in Colorado was another painful example of this kind of violence — a stain on the conscience of our Nation.

&nbsp;My Administration has fought to end these injustices from day one, working to ensure that transgender people and the entire LGBTQI+ community can live openly and safely.  On my first day as President, I issued an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to root out discrimination against LGBTQI+ people and their families.  We have appointed a record number of openly LGBTQI+ leaders, and I was proud to rescind the ban on openly transgender people serving in the military.  We are also working to make public spaces and travel more accessible, including with more inclusive gender markers on United States passports.  We are improving access to public services and entitlements like Social Security.  We are cracking down on discrimination in housing and education.  And last December, I signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that every American can marry the person they love and have that marriage accepted, period.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, we are also working to ease the tremendous strain that discrimination, bullying, and harassment can put on transgender children — more than half of whom seriously considered suicide in the last year.  The Department of Education is, for example, helping ensure that transgender students have equal opportunities to learn and thrive at school, and the Department of Justice is pushing back against extreme laws that seek to ban evidence-based gender-affirming health care.

There is much more to do.  I continue to call on the Congress to finally pass the Equality Act and extend long-overdue civil rights protections to all LGBTQI+ Americans to ensure they can live with safety and dignity.  Together, we also have to keep challenging the hundreds of hateful State laws that have been introduced across the country, making sure every child knows that they are made in the image of God, that they are loved, and that we are standing up for them.

&nbsp;America is founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives.  We have never fully lived up to that, but we have never walked away from it either.  Today, as we celebrate transgender people, we also celebrate every American’s fundamental right to be themselves, bringing us closer to realizing America’s full promise.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2023, as Transgender Day of Visibility.&nbsp; I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination against all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two&nbsp;thousand&nbsp;twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United&nbsp;States of&nbsp;America the two&nbsp;hundred and forty-seventh.&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681139726547.png" alt="File photo-President Biden at the 2023 Easter Egg Roll -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo-President Biden at the 2023 Easter Egg Roll -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711823699429.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is facing criticism from&nbsp;religious conservatives for proclaiming March 31 — which corresponds with Easter Sunday this year — as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”The Democratic president issued the proclamation calling on “all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”But in 2024, the March 31 designation overlaps with Easter, one of Christianity's holiest celebrations. Donald Trump's campaign accused Biden, a Roman Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and fellow Republicans piled on.Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall criticized the President for declaring the most significant day on the Christian calendar a transgender day of celebration."This is not a coincidence or oversight. Joe Biden is openly and intentionally slapping hundreds of millions of American Christians in the face on our most celebrated Holy Day. Sickening."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is not a coincidence or oversight. Joe Biden is openly and intentionally slapping hundreds of millions of American Christians in the face on our most celebrated Holy Day. Sickening. If you’re on the fence about this coming November - remember this. <a href="https://t.co/GkiMDeaMSo">https://t.co/GkiMDeaMSo</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1774115214104928534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Former President Trump campaign used his social media platform to&nbsp; criticize Biden.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711835521211.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ," said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's press secretary. She assailed what she called the Biden administration's "years-long assault on the Christian faith.”House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on social media that the “Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter” and called the decision “outrageous and abhorrent.”White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said the Republicans criticizing Biden “are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric.”“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American," Bates said. "President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.”Biden devoutly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing to be a core part of his morality and identity. In 2021, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-pope-francis-business-poverty-rome-b4675e7b3115c5f3ddd3a735f9ee1e25">met with Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;at the Vatican and afterward told reporters that the pontiff said he was a “good Catholic” who should keep receiving Communion.The White House web site published the full Biden proclamation:Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves. Every American deserves that freedom.Transgender Americans shape our Nation’s soul — proudly serving in the military, curing deadly diseases, holding elected office, running thriving businesses, fighting for justice, raising families, and much more. As kids, they deserve what every child deserves: the chance to learn in safe and supportive schools, to develop meaningful friendships, and to live openly and honestly. As adults, they deserve the same rights enjoyed by every American, including equal access to health care, housing, and jobs and the chance to age with grace as senior citizens. But today, too many transgender Americans are still denied those rights and freedoms. A wave of discriminatory State laws is targeting transgender youth, terrifying families and hurting kids who are not hurting anyone. An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, in particular women and girls of color, has taken lives far too soon. Last year’s Club Q shooting in Colorado was another painful example of this kind of violence — a stain on the conscience of our Nation.&nbsp;My Administration has fought to end these injustices from day one, working to ensure that transgender people and the entire LGBTQI+ community can live openly and safely. On my first day as President, I issued an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to root out discrimination against LGBTQI+ people and their families. We have appointed a record number of openly LGBTQI+ leaders, and I was proud to rescind the ban on openly transgender people serving in the military. We are also working to make public spaces and travel more accessible, including with more inclusive gender markers on United States passports. We are improving access to public services and entitlements like Social Security. We are cracking down on discrimination in housing and education. And last December, I signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that every American can marry the person they love and have that marriage accepted, period.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, we are also working to ease the tremendous strain that discrimination, bullying, and harassment can put on transgender children — more than half of whom seriously considered suicide in the last year. The Department of Education is, for example, helping ensure that transgender students have equal opportunities to learn and thrive at school, and the Department of Justice is pushing back against extreme laws that seek to ban evidence-based gender-affirming health care.There is much more to do. I continue to call on the Congress to finally pass the Equality Act and extend long-overdue civil rights protections to all LGBTQI+ Americans to ensure they can live with safety and dignity. Together, we also have to keep challenging the hundreds of hateful State laws that have been introduced across the country, making sure every child knows that they are made in the image of God, that they are loved, and that we are standing up for them.&nbsp;America is founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives. We have never fully lived up to that, but we have never walked away from it either. Today, as we celebrate transgender people, we also celebrate every American’s fundamental right to be themselves, bringing us closer to realizing America’s full promise.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2023, as Transgender Day of Visibility.&nbsp; I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination against all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two&nbsp;thousand&nbsp;twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United&nbsp;States of&nbsp;America the two&nbsp;hundred and forty-seventh.&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Kan. U.S. Senator slams Biden for honoring Transgender on Easter

MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a home in McPherson.

Just before 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 400 Block of East Avenue A in McPherson, according to a media release.

A 41-year-old man was at home when he heard someone trying to get into his residence. The homeowner went to the door with his firearm. The male suspect attempted to enter the residence and the homeowner fired his weapon one time hitting the suspect in the abdomen.

McPherson EMS transported the suspect to the McPherson Hospital. The male suspect was later transferred to Hutchinson Regional Hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.

If anyone has any information about this incident they are encouraged to contact the McPherson Police Department.

As always, police asked residents to remember the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/9pm?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZUD_FVa63P1GgfHhzheZuDZG1iiGoZ_VMLCrJ53dJwY516p_zFZEwhIm0RrVttZ2_ciuugR6q0R3-LaFtxGioCsdtdz4d1-_PBuSbLaVl0xHhTWslQe9BG8wcPCzwGAU1TSmJLdahIpCigvEPUwdJK5RZ0dcffsrWfyc5RLTahVqEpJoCiJTygaZ5LgIdJk6zs&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">9pm</a>&nbsp;routine. Keep your vehicles, residences, and garages locked and keep your valuables secured and out of sight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MCPHERSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at a home in McPherson.Just before 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the 400 Block of East Avenue A in McPherson, according to a media release.A 41-year-old man was at home when he heard someone trying to get into his residence. The homeowner went to the door with his firearm. The male suspect attempted to enter the residence and the homeowner fired his weapon one time hitting the suspect in the abdomen.McPherson EMS transported the suspect to the McPherson Hospital. The male suspect was later transferred to Hutchinson Regional Hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.If anyone has any information about this incident they are encouraged to contact the McPherson Police Department.As always, police asked residents to remember the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/9pm?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZUD_FVa63P1GgfHhzheZuDZG1iiGoZ_VMLCrJ53dJwY516p_zFZEwhIm0RrVttZ2_ciuugR6q0R3-LaFtxGioCsdtdz4d1-_PBuSbLaVl0xHhTWslQe9BG8wcPCzwGAU1TSmJLdahIpCigvEPUwdJK5RZ0dcffsrWfyc5RLTahVqEpJoCiJTygaZ5LgIdJk6zs&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">9pm</a>&nbsp;routine. Keep your vehicles, residences, and garages locked and keep your valuables secured and out of sight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police: Homeowner shot intruder at Kansas home

KANSAS CITY —One person and a pet died in an accident just after 4p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

A black GMC Yukon was westbound on East 27th Street at Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

The driver lost control of the SUV. It traveled off the roadway to the right, shearing off a large wooden utility pole and striking a large metal utility pole. 

The vehicle burst into flames after impact with the metal pole. As the vehicle exploded, debris struck and damaged three other vehicles that were stopped at the red traffic signal, facing west on East 27th at Prospect. 

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez. A puppy that was inside the vehicle was ejected out and also pronounced dead at the scene. 

Power was lost in the area and Evergy worked to restore the power. Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

KANSAS CITY —One person and a pet died in an accident just after 4p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.A black GMC Yukon was westbound on East 27th Street at Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.The driver lost control of the SUV. It traveled off the roadway to the right, shearing off a large wooden utility pole and striking a large metal utility pole. The vehicle burst into flames after impact with the metal pole. As the vehicle exploded, debris struck and damaged three other vehicles that were stopped at the red traffic signal, facing west on East 27th at Prospect. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez. A puppy that was inside the vehicle was ejected out and also pronounced dead at the scene. Power was lost in the area and Evergy worked to restore the power. Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

KCPD: Driver, puppy killed in SUV crash and fire

ROME (AP) — Rallying from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems, Pope Francis led some 30,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday, making a strong appeal for a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.

Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St. Peter’s Square and then delivered a heartfelt prayer for peace in his annual roundup of global crises delivered from the loggia overlooking the piazza. In between, he made several loops around the piazza in his popemobile, greeting well-wishers.

“Peace is never made with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts,” Francis said, to applause from the wind-swept crowd below.

Francis appeared in good form, despite having celebrated the 2½-hour nighttime Easter Vigil just hours before. The pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-1b743492e19762ac4a71cefb556967d0">battling respiratory problems</a>&nbsp;all winter.

The Vatican said some 30,000 people attended the Mass, with more packing the Via della Conciliazione boulevard leading to the piazza. At the start of the service, a gust of wind knocked over a large religious icon on the altar just a few feet from the pope; ushers quickly righted it.

Easter Mass is one of the most important dates on the liturgical calendar, celebrating what the faithful believe was Jesus’ resurrection after his crucifixion. The Mass precedes the pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing, in which the pope traditionally offers a laundry list of the threats afflicting humanity.

This year, Francis said his thoughts went particularly to people in Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, particularly the children who he said had “forgotten how to smile.”

“In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!” he said.

He called for the “prompt” release of prisoners taken from Israel on Oct. 7, an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and for humanitarian access to reach Palestinians.

“Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” he said in a speech that also touched on the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking.

For the past few weeks, Francis has generally avoided delivering long speeches to avoid the strain on his breathing. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-palm-sunday-ukraine-gaza-ab758834cb0f99887b6f58a2c771fcc5">ditched his Palm Sunday homily</a>&nbsp;last week and decided at the last minute to stay home from the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.

The Vatican said in a brief explanation that the decision was made to “conserve his health.”

The decision clearly paid off, as Francis was able to recite the prayers of the lengthy Saturday night Easter Vigil service, including administering the sacraments of baptism and First Communion to eight new Catholics, and preside over Easter Sunday Mass and deliver his speech.

After a busy Holy Week, Francis should have some time to recover as there are no major foreign trips scheduled for several months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711361555231.png" alt="File photo Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Rallying from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems, Pope Francis led some 30,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday, making a strong appeal for a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine.Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St. Peter’s Square and then delivered a heartfelt prayer for peace in his annual roundup of global crises delivered from the loggia overlooking the piazza. In between, he made several loops around the piazza in his popemobile, greeting well-wishers.“Peace is never made with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts,” Francis said, to applause from the wind-swept crowd below.Francis appeared in good form, despite having celebrated the 2½-hour nighttime Easter Vigil just hours before. The pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-1b743492e19762ac4a71cefb556967d0">battling respiratory problems</a>&nbsp;all winter.The Vatican said some 30,000 people attended the Mass, with more packing the Via della Conciliazione boulevard leading to the piazza. At the start of the service, a gust of wind knocked over a large religious icon on the altar just a few feet from the pope; ushers quickly righted it.Easter Mass is one of the most important dates on the liturgical calendar, celebrating what the faithful believe was Jesus’ resurrection after his crucifixion. The Mass precedes the pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing, in which the pope traditionally offers a laundry list of the threats afflicting humanity.This year, Francis said his thoughts went particularly to people in Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, particularly the children who he said had “forgotten how to smile.”“In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!” he said.He called for the “prompt” release of prisoners taken from Israel on Oct. 7, an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and for humanitarian access to reach Palestinians.“Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” he said in a speech that also touched on the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking.For the past few weeks, Francis has generally avoided delivering long speeches to avoid the strain on his breathing. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-palm-sunday-ukraine-gaza-ab758834cb0f99887b6f58a2c771fcc5">ditched his Palm Sunday homily</a>&nbsp;last week and decided at the last minute to stay home from the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.The Vatican said in a brief explanation that the decision was made to “conserve his health.”The decision clearly paid off, as Francis was able to recite the prayers of the lengthy Saturday night Easter Vigil service, including administering the sacraments of baptism and First Communion to eight new Catholics, and preside over Easter Sunday Mass and deliver his speech.After a busy Holy Week, Francis should have some time to recover as there are no major foreign trips scheduled for several months.

Pope overcomes health concerns to preside over Easter Sunday Mass

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-80fcb836622ba8e18883ce778786c1cc">Powerball jackpot climbed</a>&nbsp;to an estimated $975 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Saturday night, continuing a nearly three-month stretch without a big winner.

The winning numbers drawn were: 12, 13, 33, 50, 52 and the red Powerball 23.

No one has won Powerball’s top prize since New Year’s Day when a ticket in Michigan hit for $842.4 million, bringing the number of consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner to 38. That winless streak nears the record of 41 consecutive drawings, set twice in 2022 and 2021.

The $975 million prize is for a sole winner who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">chooses an annuity</a>&nbsp;paid over 30 years. A winner opting for cash would be paid $471.7 million. The prizes would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.

As the prizes grow, the drawings attract more ticket sales and the jackpots subsequently become harder to hit. The game’s long odds for Saturday’s drawing were 1 in 292.2 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-80fcb836622ba8e18883ce778786c1cc">Powerball jackpot climbed</a>&nbsp;to an estimated $975 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Saturday night, continuing a nearly three-month stretch without a big winner.The winning numbers drawn were: 12, 13, 33, 50, 52 and the red Powerball 23.No one has won Powerball’s top prize since New Year’s Day when a ticket in Michigan hit for $842.4 million, bringing the number of consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner to 38. That winless streak nears the record of 41 consecutive drawings, set twice in 2022 and 2021.The $975 million prize is for a sole winner who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">chooses an annuity</a>&nbsp;paid over 30 years. A winner opting for cash would be paid $471.7 million. The prizes would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.As the prizes grow, the drawings attract more ticket sales and the jackpots subsequently become harder to hit. The game’s long odds for Saturday’s drawing were 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball jackpot jumps to $975 million; no big winner Saturday

JERUSALEM - U.S. military crews conducted another air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on Friday to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. However not all the bundles are reaching those in need.&nbsp;

During the Friday mission, approximately 26 bundles landed in the sea. U.S. Central Command does not assess civilian harm or damage to infrastructure at this time but continues to monitor the situation.

The U.S. military confirmed March 9, that humanitarian airdrops into the Gaza Strip carried out by other countries into the Gaza Strip killed civilians. Officials did not identify the countries involved.

“We are aware of reports of civilians killed as a result of humanitarian airdrops,” the statement read. “We express sympathies to the families of those who were killed. Contrary to some reports, this was not the result of U.S. airdrops.”

The joint operation Friday included two C-17 U.S. Air Force aircraft, and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies.&nbsp;

U.S. C-17s dropped over 46,000 U.S. meal equivalents into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.&nbsp;It was the third air drop in the past seven days.

The U.S. Department of Defense humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing U.S. and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering. These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711804894408.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM - U.S. military crews conducted another air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on Friday to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. However not all the bundles are reaching those in need.&nbsp;During the Friday mission, approximately 26 bundles landed in the sea. U.S. Central Command does not assess civilian harm or damage to infrastructure at this time but continues to monitor the situation.The U.S. military confirmed March 9, that humanitarian airdrops into the Gaza Strip carried out by other countries into the Gaza Strip killed civilians. Officials did not identify the countries involved.“We are aware of reports of civilians killed as a result of humanitarian airdrops,” the statement read. “We express sympathies to the families of those who were killed. Contrary to some reports, this was not the result of U.S. airdrops.”The joint operation Friday included two C-17 U.S. Air Force aircraft, and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711805183312.png" alt="File photo from the airdrop on March 21-U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo from the airdrop on March 21-U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. C-17s dropped over 46,000 U.S. meal equivalents into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.&nbsp;It was the third air drop in the past seven days.The U.S. Department of Defense humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing U.S. and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering. These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries.

Not all U.S airdrops of food, supplies into Gaza reaching those in need

GEARY COUNTY —Police in Junction City reported their ongoing investigations into fentanyl distribution have led to significant breakthroughs, according to a media release.

 JCPD Officers and Detectives have seized more than 2,300 fentanyl-laced pills, known as "Dirty 30s," along with 3 kilograms of pure fentanyl. This seizure has removed the equivalent of approximately 1.5 million potential lethal doses of fentanyl from the streets, considering both the pills and the pure fentanyl seized. 

Police said multiple arrests have been made. They are reminding the public about the dangers of synthetic opioids, echoing the message of the DEA's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/onepillcankill?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvTsYqLSYre7DtDnPah5jcGStrgUeB9wsg0PCyosFaFBEphle4mIHm32SIkeyC1CzpDXC8Un7l353ZYHmiKtBpWlbSGSW4MS1qnq5R_bQv6EhfNmqWWDeysEohdKxNnsMVMmITXqBLMSM8owuqkN3otmoFletqXdXoFKOHzFXl6ZpKMHfXnpe8cv4_7xgWpwU&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#OnePillCanKill</a> campaign. This campaign highlights the alarming rise in overdose deaths linked to fentanyl, a substance up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Just a tiny amount can be deadly.

The DEA warned that counterfeit pills, often made to look like prescription medications, are flooding communities. These pills are easily accessible and pose a significant risk, especially to young people who might be unaware of their lethal potential. Only consume medication that you receive from your doctor or pharmacy.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711889635481.png" alt="Photo Junction City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Junction City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —Police in Junction City reported their ongoing investigations into fentanyl distribution have led to significant breakthroughs, according to a media release. JCPD Officers and Detectives have seized more than 2,300 fentanyl-laced pills, known as "Dirty 30s," along with 3 kilograms of pure fentanyl. This seizure has removed the equivalent of approximately 1.5 million potential lethal doses of fentanyl from the streets, considering both the pills and the pure fentanyl seized. Police said multiple arrests have been made. They are reminding the public about the dangers of synthetic opioids, echoing the message of the DEA's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/onepillcankill?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXvTsYqLSYre7DtDnPah5jcGStrgUeB9wsg0PCyosFaFBEphle4mIHm32SIkeyC1CzpDXC8Un7l353ZYHmiKtBpWlbSGSW4MS1qnq5R_bQv6EhfNmqWWDeysEohdKxNnsMVMmITXqBLMSM8owuqkN3otmoFletqXdXoFKOHzFXl6ZpKMHfXnpe8cv4_7xgWpwU&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#OnePillCanKill</a> campaign. This campaign highlights the alarming rise in overdose deaths linked to fentanyl, a substance up to 50 times more potent than heroin. Just a tiny amount can be deadly. The DEA warned that counterfeit pills, often made to look like prescription medications, are flooding communities. These pills are easily accessible and pose a significant risk, especially to young people who might be unaware of their lethal potential. Only consume medication that you receive from your doctor or pharmacy.&nbsp;

Police seize 2,300 fentanyl laced pills in Junction City

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

ERIE — The mother of a child rape victim trembled in the courtroom as she read her daughter’s description of shattered trust and night terrors that have consumed her life.

She was in Neosho County District Court to hear the judge determine a prison sentence she feared would be insufficient under a plea deal made by prosecutor Linus Thuston. She made her own plea: Send the rapist to prison for the maximum time possible.

“I do not believe that the current plea agreement accurately represents the crimes that were done to my daughter,” she told the judge Wednesday. “My daughter deserves justice.”

Judge Daryl Ahlquist stuck with Thuston’s deal, sentencing the man who confessed to repeatedly raping an 11-year-old to seven years in state prison. With good behavior, he could be free in less than six years, before the victim turns 18.

The mother, who cried during sentencing, was prepared to be disappointed. She revealed in court that she had secretly recorded a conversation with Thuston in case he later betrayed her trust.

In the recording — which Kansas Reflector obtained and verified by the file’s date stamp — Thuston outlines a deal that would require a longer prison sentence than the one the rapist received, and includes a conversation about Thuston representing the rapist’s family members in unrelated cases.

That potential conflict of interest and plea deal in the child rape case raises more questions about Thuston, a Republican&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/18/neosho-county-attorney-faces-criminal-investigation-by-state-authorities-scrutiny-by-local-leaders/">who has been under scrutiny for two years</a>&nbsp;amid a state criminal investigation into allegations that he accepted fees for reduced jail time and misused the funds. The status of that investigation is unclear.

In court Wednesday, Thuston denied that he had misled the mother about the terms of the plea agreement when they met in January.

The mother, seated among supporters in the courtroom, stood up and told the judge she had an hour-long recording of&nbsp; that conversation. If the judge were to listen to just the first 10 minutes, she said, he would know she was telling the truth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711725777392.png" alt=" Neosho County prosecutor Linus Thuston exits the courtroom March 27, 2024, in Erie after a sentencing hearing for a child rape case. Under a plea deal offered by Thuston, the man will serve up to seven years in prison. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Neosho County prosecutor Linus Thuston exits the courtroom March 27, 2024, in Erie after a sentencing hearing for a child rape case. Under a plea deal offered by Thuston, the man will serve up to seven years in prison. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>ERIE — The mother of a child rape victim trembled in the courtroom as she read her daughter’s description of shattered trust and night terrors that have consumed her life.She was in Neosho County District Court to hear the judge determine a prison sentence she feared would be insufficient under a plea deal made by prosecutor Linus Thuston. She made her own plea: Send the rapist to prison for the maximum time possible.“I do not believe that the current plea agreement accurately represents the crimes that were done to my daughter,” she told the judge Wednesday. “My daughter deserves justice.”Judge Daryl Ahlquist stuck with Thuston’s deal, sentencing the man who confessed to repeatedly raping an 11-year-old to seven years in state prison. With good behavior, he could be free in less than six years, before the victim turns 18.The mother, who cried during sentencing, was prepared to be disappointed. She revealed in court that she had secretly recorded a conversation with Thuston in case he later betrayed her trust.In the recording — which Kansas Reflector obtained and verified by the file’s date stamp — Thuston outlines a deal that would require a longer prison sentence than the one the rapist received, and includes a conversation about Thuston representing the rapist’s family members in unrelated cases.That potential conflict of interest and plea deal in the child rape case raises more questions about Thuston, a Republican&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/18/neosho-county-attorney-faces-criminal-investigation-by-state-authorities-scrutiny-by-local-leaders/">who has been under scrutiny for two years</a>&nbsp;amid a state criminal investigation into allegations that he accepted fees for reduced jail time and misused the funds. The status of that investigation is unclear.In court Wednesday, Thuston denied that he had misled the mother about the terms of the plea agreement when they met in January.The mother, seated among supporters in the courtroom, stood up and told the judge she had an hour-long recording of&nbsp; that conversation. If the judge were to listen to just the first 10 minutes, she said, he would know she was telling the truth.Ahlquist appeared troubled by the exchange between Thuston and the mother.“I appreciate that you have that, but I’m not going to listen to it at this time,” Ahlquist said.Kansas Reflector doesn’t identify survivors of sexual violence without their consent and is not naming the mother or abuser in order to protect the child’s identity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711725832560.png" alt=" The sentencing hearing was held March 27, 2024, at the Neosho County Courthouse in Erie. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The sentencing hearing was held March 27, 2024, at the Neosho County Courthouse in Erie. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘The best deal’</h2>Thuston has been scrutinized before for granting diversions or probation in cases involving child sex crimes.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/18/neosho-county-attorney-faces-criminal-investigation-by-state-authorities-scrutiny-by-local-leaders/">A 2022 investigation by Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;examined concerns about those cases, as well as his handling of finances and alleged conflicts of interest.In this case, Thuston charged the man last May under a statute known as Jessica’s Law, which applies to an adult sexually assaulting a child younger than 14. If convicted at trial, the sentence would be a minimum of 25 years to life in prison.Thuston met with the child’s mother on Jan. 5 to discuss the status of the case. She said she recorded the conversation because she was aware of past plea deals made by Thuston involving child sex crimes. She shared a copy of the recording with Kansas Reflector, and allowed a reporter to look at the audio file’s date stamp on her phone.She said she didn’t tell Thuston she was recording their conversation “because I wanted him to be authentic.”In the recording, Thuston told her he was working on a plea deal involving a felony that would require 10 years in prison. He said he would rather reach an agreement on a lesser charge than go to trial and “force this kid to get up and describe their first sexual experience in front of a jury.”Thuston said he was in a strong position to bargain with the defense attorney because the man had confessed to his crimes. Thuston said the offer to enter a plea for aggravated sodomy “has essentially been accepted. We just haven’t done it on the record yet.”The mother said she was confused because the charge wouldn’t align with the facts of the case.“Sometimes we will create things, essentially, to go with what we already have, to get to the point where we need to be,” Thuston said in the recording. “So we may say it’s agg sodomy when we know it’s really rape, but just to get us to where we need to get, whether it’s sodomy or rape, it’s getting to the number that we’re looking for.”In this case, the number would be “essentially right at 10 years,” he said.The mother also wanted to know about Thuston’s professional relationship with the defendant’s mother and grandmother. She said they have “made it known that they have you hired in private practice.” And she had seen Thuston talking to the defendant’s mother in the hallway of the courthouse.Thuston said they were talking about an unrelated civil case.“But from the outside peering in, you could see that that might be misinterpreted,” she said.“There’s been no conversation with any member of his family,” Thuston said.The mother was horrified in February when Thuston presented a different deal in court that involved three lower-level felonies — aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent solicitation of a child, and aggravated endangering a child.During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Thuston told the judge that he had gone over the revised plea deal with the mother when they met in January. He said the deal for a more serious felony was proposed and rejected last August.He repeated that timeline during a brief interview after the hearing. But after learning that Kansas Reflector had listened to the recording of the Jan. 5 meeting, and that the mother contends there was no other communication about the plea deal, Thuston said he told her about the revised terms in the courtroom on the day the plea was entered.During the interview for this story, Thuston defended the revised agreement, which lowered the prison sentence from 10 years to 7.“Without forcing the child to testify, this was the best deal I was going to be able to get,” Thuston said. “He was going to go to prison, and we’re talking about a two-and-a-half-year difference.”Steve Leben, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City who spent 27 years as a judge in Kansas, said a prosecutor has discretion to offer plea deals that victims don’t like. Victims often want more prison time, Leben said, especially in rape cases. The victim is still entitled to be heard by the court, he added.<h2>‘Things are not fair’</h2>The child rapist appeared relaxed Wednesday as he sat in the jury box in black-and-white striped jail garb with flipflops, handcuffs and ankle shackles. He eyed the mother until it was time for him to appear before the judge. He declined to make a statement to the court.The mother asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence allowed for the crimes included in the plea deal, but the judge declined because the maximum of 87 months wasn’t much different from the 84 months the parties had agreed upon.The man will get credit for the time he has spent in county jail while the case was being litigated. Upon release, he will have to register as a sex offender for life.The mother sat in the witness stand to read a statement she had prepared, as well as a letter written by her daughter.“I have nightmares about it every night,” the girl wrote. “I can’t stop thinking about you, and that is not a good thing. But most of all you made me feel bad for telling on you.”The mother paused at times to wipe away tears or clear her throat.She continued reading the letter: “My mom is a good mom because she cares for us with love and she treats us like a good mom should, and I don’t like seeing her upset, sad or even crying because of how much pressure people make her have. It’s not fair. I think things are not fair.”