KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally enticing a child victim to engage in illicit sexual activity and for receiving child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Anthony Byron Marshall, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Marshall to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. Marshall will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On July 25, 2023, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and four counts of receiving child pornography.

In May 2021, FBI agents learned Marshall had been texting with the subject of another child pornography investigation. In one text, Marshall requested images of child pornography, and received a MEGA link. FBI investigators located the MEGA link, which contained 15 images and 89 videos of known child pornography and 70 images and 1,401 videos of suspected child pornography.

On Oc.t 19, 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Marshall’s residence. Agents seized a number of electronics, including Marshall’s iPhone. Investigators found sexually explicit communications between Marshall and two juvenile females, ages 13 and 17, as well as sexually explicit videos that each of the victims had sent to Marshall. Investigators interviewed the child victims, who reported several instances of illegal sexual activity with Marshall.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally enticing a child victim to engage in illicit sexual activity and for receiving child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Anthony Byron Marshall, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Marshall to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. Marshall will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.On July 25, 2023, Marshall pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and four counts of receiving child pornography.In May 2021, FBI agents learned Marshall had been texting with the subject of another child pornography investigation. In one text, Marshall requested images of child pornography, and received a MEGA link. FBI investigators located the MEGA link, which contained 15 images and 89 videos of known child pornography and 70 images and 1,401 videos of suspected child pornography.On Oc.t 19, 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Marshall’s residence. Agents seized a number of electronics, including Marshall’s iPhone. Investigators found sexually explicit communications between Marshall and two juvenile females, ages 13 and 17, as well as sexually explicit videos that each of the victims had sent to Marshall. Investigators interviewed the child victims, who reported several instances of illegal sexual activity with Marshall.

Juveniles texted explicit videos to 31-year-old Kansas City man 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are reporting they are now starting to recover Xylazine mixed with Fentanyl in Clay County, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

Xylazine, aka "tranq," is a powerful sedative for animals. It increases the risk of fatal overdose, and because it's not an opioid, it can't be reversed with Narcan.

Click here for more information from the CDC on Xylazine

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are reporting they are now starting to recover Xylazine mixed with Fentanyl in Clay County, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qT1bxOc-et0?si=3gVEZ1byoMHXgiiX&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Xylazine, aka "tranq," is a powerful sedative for animals. It increases the risk of fatal overdose, and because it's not an opioid, it can't be reversed with Narcan.Click here for more information from the CDC on Xylazine

🎥Xylazine, mixed with fentanyl reported in areas of Kansas City

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man who was out on bond when he crashed into a teen athlete last year, severing her legs, has been found guilty in the crash.

A jury convicted 22-year-old Daniel Riley on Thursday of second-degree assault, armed criminal action, fourth-degree assault and driving without a valid license, prosecutors said in a statement. Jurors recommended a term of nearly 19 years in prison when he's sentenced next month.

Riley was a robbery suspect who was out on bond when he sped through a St. Louis intersection in February 2023, hitting an occupied car, then a parked car and pinning 17-year-old Janae Edmondson between two vehicles.

Riley's attorney, Daniel Diemer, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Friday.

Edmondson, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was in St. Louis with her family for a volleyball tournament. They had just left a restaurant after eating dinner following her game when the crash happened.

Her father, an Army veteran, used a bystander's belt to apply a tourniquet to his daughter's legs and is credited by doctors with saving her life.

Edmondson, who also suffered internal injuries and a fractured pelvis and has undergone nearly 30 surgeries, is suing the city of St. Louis and Riley.

The crash led to efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-missouri-580ba7357da5f946f98d40083625ada5">to remove</a>&nbsp;then-St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner from office. Gardner’s critics blamed her when it was learned that Riley had violated the terms of his bond dozens of times but remained free.

Gardner, a Democrat and St. Louis' first Black prosecutor, initially fought the effort and said the attempt to oust her was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-circuit-attorney-kim-gardner-ouster-6aae0cdddf686648e3ef7e97b29407bd">politically and racially motivated</a>&nbsp;by Republicans with whom she had long been at odds.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man who was out on bond when he crashed into a teen athlete last year, severing her legs, has been found guilty in the crash.A jury convicted 22-year-old Daniel Riley on Thursday of second-degree assault, armed criminal action, fourth-degree assault and driving without a valid license, prosecutors said in a statement. Jurors recommended a term of nearly 19 years in prison when he's sentenced next month.Riley was a robbery suspect who was out on bond when he sped through a St. Louis intersection in February 2023, hitting an occupied car, then a parked car and pinning 17-year-old Janae Edmondson between two vehicles.Riley's attorney, Daniel Diemer, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Friday.Edmondson, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was in St. Louis with her family for a volleyball tournament. They had just left a restaurant after eating dinner following her game when the crash happened.Her father, an Army veteran, used a bystander's belt to apply a tourniquet to his daughter's legs and is credited by doctors with saving her life.Edmondson, who also suffered internal injuries and a fractured pelvis and has undergone nearly 30 surgeries, is suing the city of St. Louis and Riley.The crash led to efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-missouri-580ba7357da5f946f98d40083625ada5">to remove</a>&nbsp;then-St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner from office. Gardner’s critics blamed her when it was learned that Riley had violated the terms of his bond dozens of times but remained free.Gardner, a Democrat and St. Louis' first Black prosecutor, initially fought the effort and said the attempt to oust her was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-circuit-attorney-kim-gardner-ouster-6aae0cdddf686648e3ef7e97b29407bd">politically and racially motivated</a>&nbsp;by Republicans with whom she had long been at odds.

 Mo. driver found guilty in crash that severed a teen athlete's legs

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Just after noon on Saturday, the Derby Police Department was dispatched to the area near McIntosh and Songbird after receiving a report of a body next to the tracks, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Upon arrival, Derby Police found a person deceased next to the train tracks. The person had been struck by a train. The body was released to the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office. Derby PD is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Police on the ongoing investigation.&nbsp;

If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Derby Police Department at 788-1557.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710019854606.png" alt="photo city of Derby" />
 <figcaption>photo city of Derby</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Just after noon on Saturday, the Derby Police Department was dispatched to the area near McIntosh and Songbird after receiving a report of a body next to the tracks, according to a media release.&nbsp;Upon arrival, Derby Police found a person deceased next to the train tracks. The person had been struck by a train. The body was released to the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office. Derby PD is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Police on the ongoing investigation.&nbsp;If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Derby Police Department at 788-1557.&nbsp;

Police: Body found near railroad tracks in Kansas 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on the powerful U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a White House-supported bill that would force TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company or face prohibition from U.S. app stores and web hosting services.

Members voted 50-0 Thursday to advance the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Protecting%20Americans%20From%20Foriegn%20Adversary%20Controlled%20Applications_3.5.24.pdf">Protect Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act</a>, legislation that would make it illegal for U.S. entities to distribute, maintain or update apps or other immersive technology owned by ByteDance.

The wildly popular social media platform has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-blast-tiktok-ceo-bipartisan-support-us-ban-looks-possible">long been a concern</a>&nbsp;of Congress and intelligence officials. Lawmakers passed legislation in December 2022&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-tiktok-is-being-banned-for-some-federal-employees">banning</a>&nbsp;the app from most federal employee devices. The Montana legislature&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-state-already-has-voted-ban-tiktok-congress-its-going-be-much-tougher-16">banned</a>&nbsp;the app last year, but the law&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/montana-appealing-ruling-that-blocked-state-barring-tiktok-use-2024-01-03/">remains</a>&nbsp;in legal limbo.

The bill received sweeping support because of national security concerns over China, a major U.S. adversary, having access to Americans’ data and a grip on their attention spans. Chinese companies can be made to share sensitive information with that country’s government.

The legislation has moved at an unusually fast pace, only having been introduced in the House Tuesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/SteveScalise/status/1765869542121599159?s=20">said</a>&nbsp;he plans to bring the bill to the floor as early as next week.

Committee members sat in a multi-hour classified hearing with U.S. intelligence officials before Thursday’s vote. During the hearing, the lawmakers “witnessed firsthand, in real time, how the Chinese Communist Party can weaponize platforms like TikTok to manipulate the American people,” Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington Republican,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/events/full-committee-markup-of-two-bills">said</a>&nbsp;in her opening remarks.

The Biden administration worked with lawmakers from both parties to craft the bill and “want to see this bill get done so it can get to the president’s desk,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday.

Despite the administration’s support for the bill, President Joe Biden’s reelection&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-campaign-joins-tiktok-but-administration-still-warns-of-apps-national-security-concerns">campaign joined TikTok</a>&nbsp;less than a month ago.

Thursday’s scheduled vote set off a frenzy among TikTok users, whom the company urged to contact Congress. Lawmakers’ offices were flooded with calls, many from young people.

TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users and almost 7,000 U.S. employees, maintains the bill, if enacted, would result in an outright ban of the platform.

“This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States,” a spokesperson for TikTok said in an emailed statement Thursday. “The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”

Both the White House and House Republicans disagreed with TikTok’s accusation of a ban.

“We don’t see this as banning these apps — that’s not what this is — but by ensuring that their ownership isn’t in the hands of those who may do us harm. This is about our national security, obviously, and this is what we’re focused on here,” Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.

The legislation empowers the president, in conjunction with executive branch agencies, to determine when a divestiture or other transaction “would result in the relevant covered company no longer being controlled by a foreign adversary” — in other words, when TikTok has severed financial ties with ByteDance.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/committeeonccp/status/1765816310284378353?s=20">post</a>&nbsp;on X from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said the panic among users Thursday showed “clear demonstration of how TikTok gives an adversary political power on U.S. soil.”

“TikTok is LYING to the American people about our bill. It does not ban the app, but offers them a pathway to remain in the U.S.,” read the post from the committee chaired by Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, one of the bill’s original sponsors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648638137366.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on the powerful U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a White House-supported bill that would force TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company or face prohibition from U.S. app stores and web hosting services.Members voted 50-0 Thursday to advance the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Protecting%20Americans%20From%20Foriegn%20Adversary%20Controlled%20Applications_3.5.24.pdf">Protect Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act</a>, legislation that would make it illegal for U.S. entities to distribute, maintain or update apps or other immersive technology owned by ByteDance.The wildly popular social media platform has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-blast-tiktok-ceo-bipartisan-support-us-ban-looks-possible">long been a concern</a>&nbsp;of Congress and intelligence officials. Lawmakers passed legislation in December 2022&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-tiktok-is-being-banned-for-some-federal-employees">banning</a>&nbsp;the app from most federal employee devices. The Montana legislature&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-state-already-has-voted-ban-tiktok-congress-its-going-be-much-tougher-16">banned</a>&nbsp;the app last year, but the law&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/montana-appealing-ruling-that-blocked-state-barring-tiktok-use-2024-01-03/">remains</a>&nbsp;in legal limbo.The bill received sweeping support because of national security concerns over China, a major U.S. adversary, having access to Americans’ data and a grip on their attention spans. Chinese companies can be made to share sensitive information with that country’s government.The legislation has moved at an unusually fast pace, only having been introduced in the House Tuesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/SteveScalise/status/1765869542121599159?s=20">said</a>&nbsp;he plans to bring the bill to the floor as early as next week.Committee members sat in a multi-hour classified hearing with U.S. intelligence officials before Thursday’s vote. During the hearing, the lawmakers “witnessed firsthand, in real time, how the Chinese Communist Party can weaponize platforms like TikTok to manipulate the American people,” Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington Republican,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/events/full-committee-markup-of-two-bills">said</a>&nbsp;in her opening remarks.The Biden administration worked with lawmakers from both parties to craft the bill and “want to see this bill get done so it can get to the president’s desk,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday.Despite the administration’s support for the bill, President Joe Biden’s reelection&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-campaign-joins-tiktok-but-administration-still-warns-of-apps-national-security-concerns">campaign joined TikTok</a>&nbsp;less than a month ago.Thursday’s scheduled vote set off a frenzy among TikTok users, whom the company urged to contact Congress. Lawmakers’ offices were flooded with calls, many from young people.TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users and almost 7,000 U.S. employees, maintains the bill, if enacted, would result in an outright ban of the platform.“This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States,” a spokesperson for TikTok said in an emailed statement Thursday. “The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”Both the White House and House Republicans disagreed with TikTok’s accusation of a ban.“We don’t see this as banning these apps — that’s not what this is — but by ensuring that their ownership isn’t in the hands of those who may do us harm. This is about our national security, obviously, and this is what we’re focused on here,” Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.The legislation empowers the president, in conjunction with executive branch agencies, to determine when a divestiture or other transaction “would result in the relevant covered company no longer being controlled by a foreign adversary” — in other words, when TikTok has severed financial ties with ByteDance.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/committeeonccp/status/1765816310284378353?s=20">post</a>&nbsp;on X from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said the panic among users Thursday showed “clear demonstration of how TikTok gives an adversary political power on U.S. soil.”“TikTok is LYING to the American people about our bill. It does not ban the app, but offers them a pathway to remain in the U.S.,” read the post from the committee chaired by Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, one of the bill’s original sponsors.

Bill to split TikTok from Chinese ownership gets unanimous vote from U.S. House panel

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

TOPEKA — Parents who send their children to un-accredited private schools in the state could receive a hefty tax credit under new legislation. Public school advocates warn against the proposal, characterizing the move as a blatant voucher scheme that could harm the state’s public school system.

Encapsulated as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb509/">Senate Bill 509</a>, the plan would allow taxpayers who have children enrolled in private schools to receive a refundable tax credit, as long as these children are also eligible to enroll in a public school. The tax credits would amount to an estimated $240 million in tax year 2024, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Leah Fliter, assistant executive director of advocacy with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said tax dollars should not go to private schools.&nbsp;

&nbsp;“We should not support forcing Kansas taxpayers to subsidize tuition for existing private school students through vouchers and we shouldn’t support vouchers for unaccredited schools with no accountability,” Fliter said Wednesday during the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation bill hearing.

While&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/private-school-vouchers/">voucher proposals</a>&nbsp;have failed in previous years, conservative lawmakers continue to push the measures under the idea that Kansas parents should have more educational choices for their children.&nbsp;

Voucher opponents call the move unfair, especially since&nbsp;more than 60 Kansas counties don’t have private schools, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/#:~:text=Sixty%2Dfive%20Kansas%20counties%20don,in%20Johnson%20and%20Sedgwick%20counties.">2023 data</a>.

While exact figures aren’t reported, there are thought to be around 125 accredited and 28 unaccredited private schools operating in Kansas. Many of these schools could be characterized as religious based. Around one-third of these schools are established in Johnson and Sedgwick counties.&nbsp;

“In unaccredited schools, we have no way to know the students are learning,” Fliter said. “No background checks are required. There’s no oversight by the Kansas State Department of Education or any other organization and there are no requirements for unaccredited schools to report students abuse or neglect.”

For taxpayers who have children enrolled in accredited private schools, the tax credit would equal 75% of base aid for student excellence per child. Base aid represents the amount of state financial aid per student. Taxpayers who have children enrolled in accredited private schools would receive a tax credit equal to 50% of BASE.&nbsp;

During the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 26,700 students were enrolled in accredited private schools according to state Department of Education reporting. With base aid set at $5,088 in tax year 2024, these potential tax credits would total $101.9 million.&nbsp;

KDE officials estimated 54,300 students would fall into the unaccredited private school category, totaling $138.1 million in tax credits for this group. Home schooled students would be eligible for this tax credit.&nbsp;

The proposal is supported by several private school officials and lobbying groups such as the Kansas Catholic Conference, which serves as the public policy arm of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas.

Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, testified in support of the move.&nbsp;

“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and best educators of their children,” Weber said. “This does not mean parents must personally educate their child, but it does mean they should be afforded as many options and pathways as possible toward that end. …The citizenship, academic, social, and cultural opportunities provided at Catholic schools are vital to shaping Kansas into the community we want to be. Please support SB 509 and help make that happen.”

Since the state’s current financial tax software system can’t create a tax credit without an original filed return, the Department of Revenue estimated an additional $293,576 in costs would be needed in fiscal year 2025 to implement bill provisions and modify the tax system.&nbsp;

The legislation was met with mixed reactions from committee lawmakers during the initial hearing.

“Why should the state take on the burden of, in essence funding, private opportunities when it’s already providing a public education for every child?”&nbsp; Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, asked.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709988179321.png" alt="Leah Fliter, of the Kansas Association of School Boards, urged lawmakers against financially supporting unaccredited schools in the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Leah Fliter, of the Kansas Association of School Boards, urged lawmakers against financially supporting unaccredited schools in the state. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Parents who send their children to un-accredited private schools in the state could receive a hefty tax credit under new legislation. Public school advocates warn against the proposal, characterizing the move as a blatant voucher scheme that could harm the state’s public school system.Encapsulated as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb509/">Senate Bill 509</a>, the plan would allow taxpayers who have children enrolled in private schools to receive a refundable tax credit, as long as these children are also eligible to enroll in a public school. The tax credits would amount to an estimated $240 million in tax year 2024, according to the bill’s fiscal note.Leah Fliter, assistant executive director of advocacy with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said tax dollars should not go to private schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We should not support forcing Kansas taxpayers to subsidize tuition for existing private school students through vouchers and we shouldn’t support vouchers for unaccredited schools with no accountability,” Fliter said Wednesday during the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation bill hearing.While&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/private-school-vouchers/">voucher proposals</a>&nbsp;have failed in previous years, conservative lawmakers continue to push the measures under the idea that Kansas parents should have more educational choices for their children.&nbsp;Voucher opponents call the move unfair, especially since&nbsp;more than 60 Kansas counties don’t have private schools, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/#:~:text=Sixty%2Dfive%20Kansas%20counties%20don,in%20Johnson%20and%20Sedgwick%20counties.">2023 data</a>.While exact figures aren’t reported, there are thought to be around 125 accredited and 28 unaccredited private schools operating in Kansas. Many of these schools could be characterized as religious based. Around one-third of these schools are established in Johnson and Sedgwick counties.&nbsp;“In unaccredited schools, we have no way to know the students are learning,” Fliter said. “No background checks are required. There’s no oversight by the Kansas State Department of Education or any other organization and there are no requirements for unaccredited schools to report students abuse or neglect.”For taxpayers who have children enrolled in accredited private schools, the tax credit would equal 75% of base aid for student excellence per child. Base aid represents the amount of state financial aid per student. Taxpayers who have children enrolled in accredited private schools would receive a tax credit equal to 50% of BASE.&nbsp;During the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 26,700 students were enrolled in accredited private schools according to state Department of Education reporting. With base aid set at $5,088 in tax year 2024, these potential tax credits would total $101.9 million.&nbsp;KDE officials estimated 54,300 students would fall into the unaccredited private school category, totaling $138.1 million in tax credits for this group. Home schooled students would be eligible for this tax credit.&nbsp;The proposal is supported by several private school officials and lobbying groups such as the Kansas Catholic Conference, which serves as the public policy arm of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas.Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, testified in support of the move.&nbsp;“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and best educators of their children,” Weber said. “This does not mean parents must personally educate their child, but it does mean they should be afforded as many options and pathways as possible toward that end. …The citizenship, academic, social, and cultural opportunities provided at Catholic schools are vital to shaping Kansas into the community we want to be. Please support SB 509 and help make that happen.”Since the state’s current financial tax software system can’t create a tax credit without an original filed return, the Department of Revenue estimated an additional $293,576 in costs would be needed in fiscal year 2025 to implement bill provisions and modify the tax system.&nbsp;The legislation was met with mixed reactions from committee lawmakers during the initial hearing.“Why should the state take on the burden of, in essence funding, private opportunities when it’s already providing a public education for every child?”&nbsp; Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, asked.&nbsp;

Catholic group, others advocate for tax credits to benefit Kansas private schools

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Saturday signed a $460 billion package of spending bills approved by the Senate in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies. The legislation's success gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year.

The measure contains six annual spending bills and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-deadline-congress-2533c1a6b6eb25cc63e78f089e27d3a0">already passed the House.</a>&nbsp;In signing it into law, Biden thanked leaders and negotiators from both parties in both chambers for their work, which the White House said will mean that agencies “may continue their normal operations.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by a March 22 deadline.

“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after lawmakers passed the measure Friday night just hours before a deadline.

He said the bill's passage would allow for the hiring of more air traffic controllers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-railroad-safety-explosion-fra-inspections-afc2d979e5bdc2a88cb6b2bfc7583cd9/">rail safety inspectors</a>, give federal firefighters a raise and boost support for homeless veterans, among other things.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 75-22. Lawmakers sought votes on several amendments and wanted to have their say on the bill and other priorities during debate on the floor. It had been unclear midday if senators would be able to avert a short shutdown, though eventual passage was never really in doubt.

“I would urge my colleagues to stop playing with fire here,” said Sen. Susan Collins, the top-ranking Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It would be irresponsible for us not to clear these bills and do the fundamental job that we have of funding government. What is more important?”

The votes came more than five months into the current budget year after congressional leaders relied on a series of stopgap bills to keep federal agencies funded for a few more weeks or months at a time while they struggled to reach agreement on full-year spending.

In the end, total discretionary spending set by Congress is expected to come in at about $1.66 trillion for the full budget year ending Sept. 30.

Republicans were able to keep non-defense spending relatively flat compared with the previous year. Supporters say that's progress in an era when annual federal deficits exceeding $1 trillion have become the norm. But many Republican lawmakers were seeking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-house-republicans-spending-cuts-deff84c0e2ff7d3bd076b8c38e14cca4">much steeper cuts</a>&nbsp;and more policy victories.

The House Freedom Caucus, which contains dozens of the GOP’s most conservative members, urged Republicans to vote against the first spending package and the second one still being negotiated.

Democrats staved off most of the policy riders that Republicans sought to include in the package. For example, they beat back an effort to block new rules that expand access to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;pill mifepristone. They were also able to fully fund a nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children, providing about $7 billion for what is known as the WIC program. That’s a $1 billion increase from the previous year.

Republicans were able to achieve some policy wins, however. One provision will prevent the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Another policy mandate prohibits the Justice Department from investigating parents who exercise free speech at local school board meetings.

Another provision strengthens&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/veterans-guns-congress-spending-bill-93919a8f43357152a90b5de9f61c08c1">gun rights for certain veterans</a>, though opponents of the move said it could make it easier for those with very serious mental health conditions like dementia to obtain a firearm.

”This isn't the package I would have written on my own," said Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “But I am proud that we have protected absolutely vital funding that the American people rely on in their daily lives.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said one problem he sees with the bill is that there was too much compromise, and that led to too much spending.

“A lot of people don't understand this," he said. “They think there is no cooperation in Washington and the opposite is true. There is compromise every day on every spending bill."

“It's compromise between big-government Democrats and big-government Republicans,” he added.

Still, with a divided Congress and a Democratic-led White House, any bill that doesn't have buy-in from members of both political parties stands no chance of passage.

The bill also includes more than 6,600 projects requested by individual lawmakers with a price tag of about $12.7 billion. The projects attracted criticism from some Republican members, though members from both parties broadly participated in requesting them on behalf of their states and congressional districts. Paul called the spending "sort of the grease that eases in billions and trillions of other dollars, because you get people to buy into the total package by giving them a little bit of pork for their town, a little bit of pork for their donors.”

But an effort by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, to strip out the projects mustered only 32 votes with 64 against. Murray said Scott's effort would overrule “all the hard work, all the input we asked everyone to provide us about projects that would help their constituents."

Even though lawmakers find themselves passing spending bills five months into the budget year, Republicans are framing the process as improved nonetheless because they broke the cycle of passing all the spending bills in one massive package that lawmakers have little time to study before being asked to vote on it or risk a government shutdown. Still, others said that breaking up funding into two chunks of legislation war hardly a breakthrough.

The first package covers the departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior and Transportation, among others.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Saturday signed a $460 billion package of spending bills approved by the Senate in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies. The legislation's success gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year.The measure contains six annual spending bills and had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-deadline-congress-2533c1a6b6eb25cc63e78f089e27d3a0">already passed the House.</a>&nbsp;In signing it into law, Biden thanked leaders and negotiators from both parties in both chambers for their work, which the White House said will mean that agencies “may continue their normal operations.”Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by a March 22 deadline.“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after lawmakers passed the measure Friday night just hours before a deadline.He said the bill's passage would allow for the hiring of more air traffic controllers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-railroad-safety-explosion-fra-inspections-afc2d979e5bdc2a88cb6b2bfc7583cd9/">rail safety inspectors</a>, give federal firefighters a raise and boost support for homeless veterans, among other things.The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 75-22. Lawmakers sought votes on several amendments and wanted to have their say on the bill and other priorities during debate on the floor. It had been unclear midday if senators would be able to avert a short shutdown, though eventual passage was never really in doubt.“I would urge my colleagues to stop playing with fire here,” said Sen. Susan Collins, the top-ranking Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It would be irresponsible for us not to clear these bills and do the fundamental job that we have of funding government. What is more important?”The votes came more than five months into the current budget year after congressional leaders relied on a series of stopgap bills to keep federal agencies funded for a few more weeks or months at a time while they struggled to reach agreement on full-year spending.In the end, total discretionary spending set by Congress is expected to come in at about $1.66 trillion for the full budget year ending Sept. 30.Republicans were able to keep non-defense spending relatively flat compared with the previous year. Supporters say that's progress in an era when annual federal deficits exceeding $1 trillion have become the norm. But many Republican lawmakers were seeking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-house-republicans-spending-cuts-deff84c0e2ff7d3bd076b8c38e14cca4">much steeper cuts</a>&nbsp;and more policy victories.The House Freedom Caucus, which contains dozens of the GOP’s most conservative members, urged Republicans to vote against the first spending package and the second one still being negotiated.Democrats staved off most of the policy riders that Republicans sought to include in the package. For example, they beat back an effort to block new rules that expand access to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;pill mifepristone. They were also able to fully fund a nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children, providing about $7 billion for what is known as the WIC program. That’s a $1 billion increase from the previous year.Republicans were able to achieve some policy wins, however. One provision will prevent the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Another policy mandate prohibits the Justice Department from investigating parents who exercise free speech at local school board meetings.Another provision strengthens&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/veterans-guns-congress-spending-bill-93919a8f43357152a90b5de9f61c08c1">gun rights for certain veterans</a>, though opponents of the move said it could make it easier for those with very serious mental health conditions like dementia to obtain a firearm.”This isn't the package I would have written on my own," said Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “But I am proud that we have protected absolutely vital funding that the American people rely on in their daily lives.”Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said one problem he sees with the bill is that there was too much compromise, and that led to too much spending.“A lot of people don't understand this," he said. “They think there is no cooperation in Washington and the opposite is true. There is compromise every day on every spending bill."“It's compromise between big-government Democrats and big-government Republicans,” he added.Still, with a divided Congress and a Democratic-led White House, any bill that doesn't have buy-in from members of both political parties stands no chance of passage.The bill also includes more than 6,600 projects requested by individual lawmakers with a price tag of about $12.7 billion. The projects attracted criticism from some Republican members, though members from both parties broadly participated in requesting them on behalf of their states and congressional districts. Paul called the spending "sort of the grease that eases in billions and trillions of other dollars, because you get people to buy into the total package by giving them a little bit of pork for their town, a little bit of pork for their donors.”But an effort by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, to strip out the projects mustered only 32 votes with 64 against. Murray said Scott's effort would overrule “all the hard work, all the input we asked everyone to provide us about projects that would help their constituents."Even though lawmakers find themselves passing spending bills five months into the budget year, Republicans are framing the process as improved nonetheless because they broke the cycle of passing all the spending bills in one massive package that lawmakers have little time to study before being asked to vote on it or risk a government shutdown. Still, others said that breaking up funding into two chunks of legislation war hardly a breakthrough.The first package covers the departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior and Transportation, among others.

Biden signs spending bills passed just before a shutdown deadline

DALLAS (AP) — Once again, most Americans will set their clocks forward by one hour this weekend, losing perhaps a bit of sleep but gaining more glorious sunlight in the evenings as the days warm into summer.

How we came to move the clock forward in the spring, and then push it back in the fall, is a tale of that spans over more than a century — one that's driven by two world wars, mass confusion at times and a human desire to bask in the sun for a long as possible.

There's been plenty of debate over the practice, but about 70 countries — about 40% of those across the globe — currently use what Americans call daylight saving time.

While springing the clocks forward “kind of jolts our system,” the extra daylight gets people outdoors, exercising and having fun, says Anne Buckle, web editor at timeanddate.com, which features information on time, time zones and astronomy.

“The really, really awesome advantage is the bright evenings, right?" she says. "It is actually having hours of daylight after you come home from work to spend time with your family or activities. And that is wonderful.”

Here are some things to know so you'll be conversant about the practice of humans changing time:

In the 1890s, George Vernon Hudson, an astronomer and entomologist in New Zealand, proposed a time shift in the spring and fall to increase the daylight. And in the early 1900s, British home builder William Willett, troubled that people weren't up enjoying the morning sunlight, made a similar push. But neither proposal gained enough traction to be implemented.

Germany began using daylight saving time during World War I with the thought that it would save energy. Other countries, including the United States, soon followed suit. During World War II, the U.S. once again instituted what was dubbed “war time” nationwide, this time year-round.

In the United States today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes daylight saving time. Around the world, Europe, much of Canada and part of Australia also implement it, while Russia and Asia don’t currently.

After World War II, a patchwork of timekeeping emerged across the United States, with some areas keeping daylight saving time and others ditching it.

“You might have one town has daylight saving time, the neighboring town might have daylight saving time but start it and end it on different dates and the third neighboring town might not have it at all,” says David Prerau, author of the book “Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.”

At one point, if riders on a 35-mile (56-kilometer) bus ride from Steubenville, Ohio, to Moundsville, West Virginia, wanted their watches to be accurate, they'd need to change them seven times as they dipped in and out of daylight saving time, Prerau says.

So in 1966, the U.S. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which say states can either implement daylight saving time or not, but it has to be statewide. The act also mandates the day that daylight saving time starts and ends across the country.

Confusion over the time change isn't just something from the past. In the nation of Lebanon last spring, chaos ensued when the government announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-savings-time-9aee80838f6dfd53fd3564981f9667a8">last-minute decision</a>&nbsp;to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month — until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Some institutions made the change and others refused as citizens tried to piece together their schedules. Within days, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-saving-time-a85575b650af7fcc419e3fdb1b2090e8">decision was reversed.</a>

“It really turned into a huge mess where nobody knew what time it was,” Buckle says.

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE CLOCKS?

Changing the clocks twice a year leads to a lot of grumbling, and pushes to either use standard time all year, or stick to daylight saving time all year often crop up.

During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. started doing daylight saving time all year long, and Americans didn't like it. With the sun not rising in the winter in some areas till around 9 a.m. or even later, people were waking up in the dark, going to work in the dark and sending their children to school in the dark, Prerau says.

”It became very unpopular very quickly," Prerau says.

And, he notes, using standard time all year would mean losing that extra hour of daylight for eight months in the evenings in the United States.

In 1908, the Canadian city of Thunder Bay — then the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur — changed from the central time zone to the eastern time zone for the summer and fall after a citizen named John Hewitson argued that would afford an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the outdoors, says Michael deJong, curator/archivist at the Thunder Bay Museum.

The next year, though, Port Arthur stayed on eastern time, while Fort William changed back to central time in the fall, which, predictably, "led to all sorts of confusion,” deJong says.

Today, the city of Thunder Bay is on eastern time, and observes daylight saving time, giving the area, “just delightfully warm, long days to enjoy” in the summer, says Paul Pepe, tourism manager for Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.

DALLAS (AP) — Once again, most Americans will set their clocks forward by one hour this weekend, losing perhaps a bit of sleep but gaining more glorious sunlight in the evenings as the days warm into summer.Where did this all come from, though?How we came to move the clock forward in the spring, and then push it back in the fall, is a tale of that spans over more than a century — one that's driven by two world wars, mass confusion at times and a human desire to bask in the sun for a long as possible.There's been plenty of debate over the practice, but about 70 countries — about 40% of those across the globe — currently use what Americans call daylight saving time.While springing the clocks forward “kind of jolts our system,” the extra daylight gets people outdoors, exercising and having fun, says Anne Buckle, web editor at timeanddate.com, which features information on time, time zones and astronomy.“The really, really awesome advantage is the bright evenings, right?" she says. "It is actually having hours of daylight after you come home from work to spend time with your family or activities. And that is wonderful.”Here are some things to know so you'll be conversant about the practice of humans changing time:HOW DID THIS ALL GET STARTED?In the 1890s, George Vernon Hudson, an astronomer and entomologist in New Zealand, proposed a time shift in the spring and fall to increase the daylight. And in the early 1900s, British home builder William Willett, troubled that people weren't up enjoying the morning sunlight, made a similar push. But neither proposal gained enough traction to be implemented.Germany began using daylight saving time during World War I with the thought that it would save energy. Other countries, including the United States, soon followed suit. During World War II, the U.S. once again instituted what was dubbed “war time” nationwide, this time year-round.In the United States today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes daylight saving time. Around the world, Europe, much of Canada and part of Australia also implement it, while Russia and Asia don’t currently.INCONSISTENCY AND MASS CONFUSIONAfter World War II, a patchwork of timekeeping emerged across the United States, with some areas keeping daylight saving time and others ditching it.“You might have one town has daylight saving time, the neighboring town might have daylight saving time but start it and end it on different dates and the third neighboring town might not have it at all,” says David Prerau, author of the book “Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.”At one point, if riders on a 35-mile (56-kilometer) bus ride from Steubenville, Ohio, to Moundsville, West Virginia, wanted their watches to be accurate, they'd need to change them seven times as they dipped in and out of daylight saving time, Prerau says.So in 1966, the U.S. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which say states can either implement daylight saving time or not, but it has to be statewide. The act also mandates the day that daylight saving time starts and ends across the country.Confusion over the time change isn't just something from the past. In the nation of Lebanon last spring, chaos ensued when the government announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-savings-time-9aee80838f6dfd53fd3564981f9667a8">last-minute decision</a>&nbsp;to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month — until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Some institutions made the change and others refused as citizens tried to piece together their schedules. Within days, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-daylight-saving-time-a85575b650af7fcc419e3fdb1b2090e8">decision was reversed.</a>“It really turned into a huge mess where nobody knew what time it was,” Buckle says.WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE CLOCKS?Changing the clocks twice a year leads to a lot of grumbling, and pushes to either use standard time all year, or stick to daylight saving time all year often crop up.During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. started doing daylight saving time all year long, and Americans didn't like it. With the sun not rising in the winter in some areas till around 9 a.m. or even later, people were waking up in the dark, going to work in the dark and sending their children to school in the dark, Prerau says.”It became very unpopular very quickly," Prerau says.And, he notes, using standard time all year would mean losing that extra hour of daylight for eight months in the evenings in the United States.A NOD TO THE EARLY ADOPTERSIn 1908, the Canadian city of Thunder Bay — then the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur — changed from the central time zone to the eastern time zone for the summer and fall after a citizen named John Hewitson argued that would afford an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the outdoors, says Michael deJong, curator/archivist at the Thunder Bay Museum.The next year, though, Port Arthur stayed on eastern time, while Fort William changed back to central time in the fall, which, predictably, "led to all sorts of confusion,” deJong says.Today, the city of Thunder Bay is on eastern time, and observes daylight saving time, giving the area, “just delightfully warm, long days to enjoy” in the summer, says Paul Pepe, tourism manager for Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.

Why spring forward: Wars, confusion and a hunger for sunlight 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A distracted driver and Kansas State Trooper avoided injury after a rear-end crash earlier this week.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a distracted driver struck the rear drivers side of a Troop F patrol vehicle that had come to a stop. Troop F includes a portion of 13 counties in south central Kansas. There were no injuries.&nbsp;

The KHP reminded drivers, "Please put your cell phones and other devices away while driving. Distracted driving crashes are preventable."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709776453129.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A distracted driver and Kansas State Trooper avoided injury after a rear-end crash earlier this week.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FkshighwayPatrol%2Fvideos%2F370058252527002%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=14" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a distracted driver struck the rear drivers side of a Troop F patrol vehicle that had come to a stop. Troop F includes a portion of 13 counties in south central Kansas. There were no injuries.&nbsp;The KHP reminded drivers, "Please put your cell phones and other devices away while driving. Distracted driving crashes are preventable."

🎥KHP: Distracted driver rear-ends State Trooper

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and ARNIE STAPLETON&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some of the people who attended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolphins-chiefs-score-playoffs-mahomes-e3a23736da0c791ff4ec2067fc5a9ff2">near-record cold Kansas City Chiefs playoff game</a>&nbsp;in January had to undergo amputations, a Missouri hospital said Friday.

Research Medical Center didn't provide exact numbers but said in a statement that some of the 12 people who had to undergo amputations after the cold snap had been at the game. The amputations involved mostly fingers and toes. And the hospital said more surgeries are expected over the next two to four weeks as “injuries evolve.”

The University of Kansas hospital said it also treated frostbite victims after the game but didn't report any amputations.

The temperature for the Dolphins-Chiefs wild-card playoff game was minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 Celsius), and wind gusts made for a windchill of minus 27 degrees F (minus 33 C). That shattered the record for the coldest game in Arrowhead Stadium history, which had been 1 degree F (minus 17 C), set in a 1983 game against Denver and matched in 2016 against Tennessee.

The wild-card game was played the same day the Buffalo Bills were supposed to host the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that game was pushed back a day because a snowstorm in New York made traveling to the game too dangerous.

The game in Kansas City went on as scheduled because the frigid weather didn’t present similar problems getting to Arrowhead Stadium.

While a blizzard dumped up to 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow in Buffalo that weekend, the snow wasn’t the problem in Kansas City, where the big concern was what the National Weather Service called “dangerously cold” windchills.

Frostbite can occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes, said Dr. Megan Garcia, the medical director of the Grossman Burn Center at Research, in answering one of the top questions she is asked. The timing can be even shorter if there is a windchill, she said.

Fans were allowed to bring heated blankets into the stadium and small pieces of cardboard to place under their feet on the cold concrete.

The coldest game in NFL history remains minus 13 Fahrenheit (minus 25 Celsius) for the 1967 NFL championship, when the Packers beat the Cowboys at Lambeau Field in a game that came to be known as the Ice Bowl. The windchill that day was 48 below zero (minus 44 Celsius).

The Chiefs didn’t immediately respond to email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705210705842.jpeg" alt="File photo- fan holds up a sign before an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>File photo- fan holds up a sign before an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and ARNIE STAPLETON&nbsp;KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some of the people who attended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dolphins-chiefs-score-playoffs-mahomes-e3a23736da0c791ff4ec2067fc5a9ff2">near-record cold Kansas City Chiefs playoff game</a>&nbsp;in January had to undergo amputations, a Missouri hospital said Friday.Research Medical Center didn't provide exact numbers but said in a statement that some of the 12 people who had to undergo amputations after the cold snap had been at the game. The amputations involved mostly fingers and toes. And the hospital said more surgeries are expected over the next two to four weeks as “injuries evolve.”The University of Kansas hospital said it also treated frostbite victims after the game but didn't report any amputations.The temperature for the Dolphins-Chiefs wild-card playoff game was minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 Celsius), and wind gusts made for a windchill of minus 27 degrees F (minus 33 C). That shattered the record for the coldest game in Arrowhead Stadium history, which had been 1 degree F (minus 17 C), set in a 1983 game against Denver and matched in 2016 against Tennessee.The wild-card game was played the same day the Buffalo Bills were supposed to host the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that game was pushed back a day because a snowstorm in New York made traveling to the game too dangerous.The game in Kansas City went on as scheduled because the frigid weather didn’t present similar problems getting to Arrowhead Stadium.While a blizzard dumped up to 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow in Buffalo that weekend, the snow wasn’t the problem in Kansas City, where the big concern was what the National Weather Service called “dangerously cold” windchills.Frostbite can occur on exposed skin within 30 minutes, said Dr. Megan Garcia, the medical director of the Grossman Burn Center at Research, in answering one of the top questions she is asked. The timing can be even shorter if there is a windchill, she said.Fans were allowed to bring heated blankets into the stadium and small pieces of cardboard to place under their feet on the cold concrete.The coldest game in NFL history remains minus 13 Fahrenheit (minus 25 Celsius) for the 1967 NFL championship, when the Packers beat the Cowboys at Lambeau Field in a game that came to be known as the Ice Bowl. The windchill that day was 48 below zero (minus 44 Celsius).The Chiefs didn’t immediately respond to email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Hospital: Some fans at frigid Chiefs playoff game underwent amputations

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)— The U.S. military confirmed early Saturday that humanitarian airdrops into the Gaza Strip carried out by other countries into the Gaza Strip killed civilians.

The military’s Central Command, which oversees the Mideast, issued the statement on X, formerly Twitter.

It 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 U.S. military airdropped food Friday from a U.S. C-130, the equivalent of 11,500 meals donated by Jordan, into the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Palestinian officials said five people were killed and several others injured when airdrops malfunctioned and hit people and landed on homes.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military will deploy about 1,000 troops to transport and build a floating pier on the Gaza shore in order to get critically needed food and aid delivered to citizens there.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters on Friday that it will take weeks for this to come together, but that the U.S. is working as quickly as possible to get troops and equipment deployed and the pier constructed.

There will not be any U.S. forces on the ground in Israel, Ryder said, adding that details about who will be taking the supplies ashore from the causeway are still being worked out.

He said elements of the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade, along with assistance from Military Sealift Command, will take part in the mission.

The troops, he said, will build an offshore pier where large ships can offload food and supplies. Then smaller military vessels will transport that aid from the floating pier to a temporary causeway that will be driven into the ground at the shoreline.

He added that the U.S. is also talking with allies and others about the food distribution and other elements of the operation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709675027182.png" alt="Photo of a video of the March 5 air drop from U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo of a video of the March 5 air drop from U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)— The U.S. military confirmed early Saturday that humanitarian airdrops into the Gaza Strip carried out by other countries into the Gaza Strip killed civilians.The military’s Central Command, which oversees the Mideast, issued the statement on X, formerly Twitter.It 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 U.S. military airdropped food Friday from a U.S. C-130, the equivalent of 11,500 meals donated by Jordan, into the northern part of the Gaza Strip.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709945249525.png" alt="Preparing for the Friday airdrop -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Preparing for the Friday airdrop -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier, Palestinian officials said five people were killed and several others injured when airdrops malfunctioned and hit people and landed on homes.Meanwhile, the U.S. military will deploy about 1,000 troops to transport and build a floating pier on the Gaza shore in order to get critically needed food and aid delivered to citizens there.Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters on Friday that it will take weeks for this to come together, but that the U.S. is working as quickly as possible to get troops and equipment deployed and the pier constructed.There will not be any U.S. forces on the ground in Israel, Ryder said, adding that details about who will be taking the supplies ashore from the causeway are still being worked out.He said elements of the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade, along with assistance from Military Sealift Command, will take part in the mission.The troops, he said, will build an offshore pier where large ships can offload food and supplies. Then smaller military vessels will transport that aid from the floating pier to a temporary causeway that will be driven into the ground at the shoreline.He added that the U.S. is also talking with allies and others about the food distribution and other elements of the operation.

U S Military confirms civilians killed by airdrops of aid into Gaza 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four Missouri prison workers were fired after an investigation into the death of an inmate whose family is demanding to know what happened.

Othel Moore died Dec. 8 at the Jefferson City Correctional Center after a cellphone search, Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann said in an email Friday.

She said a cause of death hasn’t been determined. She declined to release additional details about the terminations, saying that the Cole County Sheriff’s Department is investigating. The Associated Press left messages for the county sheriff, prosecutor and medical examiner seeking comment.

The family's attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, said Moore, a 38-year old Black man, was pepper-sprayed, strapped in a restraint device and had blood coming out of his ears and nose. He blamed members of the prison’s Corrections Emergency Response Team, which handles disturbances and emergency situations. Stroth said several inmates heard Moore screaming that he couldn't breathe and alleged that he was left to die.

No litigation has been filed, but Stroth alleged that Moore’s death was part of a broader problem.

“The Missouri prison system has a pattern and practice of abusing Black inmates,” he said. “So it’s a big civil rights issue. And Othel Moore is just one of the most egregious cases.”

He said the family is calling for authorities to provide video, investigative reports and the names of the terminated officers.

Pojmann declined to release the names of the workers, who were terminated Feb. 22, saying that individually identifiable personnel records are closed to the public.

Moore, who grew up in St. Louis, was serving a 30-year sentence for second-degree domestic assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance and violence to an inmate or employee of Corrections Department, Pojmann said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709923728407.png" alt="Moore-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Moore-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four Missouri prison workers were fired after an investigation into the death of an inmate whose family is demanding to know what happened.Othel Moore died Dec. 8 at the Jefferson City Correctional Center after a cellphone search, Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann said in an email Friday.She said a cause of death hasn’t been determined. She declined to release additional details about the terminations, saying that the Cole County Sheriff’s Department is investigating. The Associated Press left messages for the county sheriff, prosecutor and medical examiner seeking comment.The family's attorney, Andrew M. Stroth, said Moore, a 38-year old Black man, was pepper-sprayed, strapped in a restraint device and had blood coming out of his ears and nose. He blamed members of the prison’s Corrections Emergency Response Team, which handles disturbances and emergency situations. Stroth said several inmates heard Moore screaming that he couldn't breathe and alleged that he was left to die.No litigation has been filed, but Stroth alleged that Moore’s death was part of a broader problem.“The Missouri prison system has a pattern and practice of abusing Black inmates,” he said. “So it’s a big civil rights issue. And Othel Moore is just one of the most egregious cases.”He said the family is calling for authorities to provide video, investigative reports and the names of the terminated officers.Pojmann declined to release the names of the workers, who were terminated Feb. 22, saying that individually identifiable personnel records are closed to the public.Moore, who grew up in St. Louis, was serving a 30-year sentence for second-degree domestic assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance and violence to an inmate or employee of Corrections Department, Pojmann said.

4 prison workers fired after investigation into the death of Mo. inmate

WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Senate on Friday approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies, a vote that gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year.

The measure contains six annual spending bills and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-deadline-congress-2533c1a6b6eb25cc63e78f089e27d3a0">has already passed the House.</a>&nbsp;It now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by a March 22 deadline.

“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY.

He said the bill's passage would allow for the hiring of more air traffic controllers and rail safety inspectors, give federal firefighters a raise and boost support for homeless veterans, among other things.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 75-22. The chamber labored to get to a final vote just hours before the midnight deadline for the first set of appropriations bills. Lawmakers sought votes on several amendments and wanted to have their say on the bill and other priorities during debate on the floor. It was unclear midday if senators would be able to avert a short shutdown, though eventual passage was never really in doubt.

The votes this week come more than five months into the current fiscal year after congressional leaders relied on a series of stopgap bills to keep federal agencies funded for a few more weeks or months at a time while they struggled to reach agreement on full-year spending.

Republicans were able to keep non-defense spending relatively flat compared to the previous year. Supporters say that's progress in an era when annual federal deficits exceeding $1 trillion have become the norm. But many Republican lawmakers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-house-republicans-spending-cuts-deff84c0e2ff7d3bd076b8c38e14cca4">seeking</a>&nbsp;much steeper cuts and more policy victories.

Democrats staved off most of the policy riders that Republicans sought to include in the package. For example, they beat back an effort to block new rules that expand access to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;pill mifepristone. They were also able to fully fund a nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children, providing about $7 billion for what is known as the WIC program. That's a $1 billion increase from the previous year.

Republicans were able to achieve some policy wins, however. One provision, for example, will prevent the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Another policy mandate prohibits the Justice Department from investigating parents who exercise free speech at local school board meetings.

“A lot of people don't understand this. They think there is no cooperation in Washington and the opposite is true. There is compromise every day on every spending bill," Paul said.

Even though lawmakers find themselves passing spending bills five months into the fiscal year, Republicans are framing the process as improved nonetheless because they broke the cycle of passing all the spending bills in one massive package that lawmakers have little time to study before being asked to vote on it or risk a government shutdown. Still, others said that breaking up funding into two chunks of legislation war hardly a breakthrough.

The first package now making its way to Biden's desk covers the departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior and Transportation, among others.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Senate on Friday approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies, a vote that gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year.The measure contains six annual spending bills and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-funding-deadline-congress-2533c1a6b6eb25cc63e78f089e27d3a0">has already passed the House.</a>&nbsp;It now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by a March 22 deadline.“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY.He said the bill's passage would allow for the hiring of more air traffic controllers and rail safety inspectors, give federal firefighters a raise and boost support for homeless veterans, among other things.The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 75-22. The chamber labored to get to a final vote just hours before the midnight deadline for the first set of appropriations bills. Lawmakers sought votes on several amendments and wanted to have their say on the bill and other priorities during debate on the floor. It was unclear midday if senators would be able to avert a short shutdown, though eventual passage was never really in doubt.“I would urge my colleagues to stop playing with fire here,” said Sen. Susan Collins, the top-ranking Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It would be irresponsible for us not to clear these bills and do the fundamental job that we have of funding government. What is more important?”The votes this week come more than five months into the current fiscal year after congressional leaders relied on a series of stopgap bills to keep federal agencies funded for a few more weeks or months at a time while they struggled to reach agreement on full-year spending.In the end, total discretionary spending set by Congress is expected to come in at about $1.66 trillion for the full budget year ending Sept. 30.Republicans were able to keep non-defense spending relatively flat compared to the previous year. Supporters say that's progress in an era when annual federal deficits exceeding $1 trillion have become the norm. But many Republican lawmakers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-house-republicans-spending-cuts-deff84c0e2ff7d3bd076b8c38e14cca4">seeking</a>&nbsp;much steeper cuts and more policy victories.The House Freedom Caucus, which contains dozens of the GOP’s most conservative members, urged Republicans to vote against the first spending package and the second one still being negotiated.Democrats staved off most of the policy riders that Republicans sought to include in the package. For example, they beat back an effort to block new rules that expand access to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;pill mifepristone. They were also able to fully fund a nutrition program for low-income women, infants and children, providing about $7 billion for what is known as the WIC program. That's a $1 billion increase from the previous year.Republicans were able to achieve some policy wins, however. One provision, for example, will prevent the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Another policy mandate prohibits the Justice Department from investigating parents who exercise free speech at local school board meetings.Another provision strengthens&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/veterans-guns-congress-spending-bill-93919a8f43357152a90b5de9f61c08c1">gun rights for certain veterans</a>, though opponents of the move said it could make it easier for those with very serious mental health conditions like dementia to obtain a firearm.”This isn't the package I would have written on my own," said Sen. Patty Murray, the Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “But I am proud that we have protected absolutely vital funding that the American people rely on in their daily lives.”Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said one problem he sees with the bill is that there was too much compromise, and that led to too much spending.“A lot of people don't understand this. They think there is no cooperation in Washington and the opposite is true. There is compromise every day on every spending bill," Paul said.“It's compromise between big-government Democrats and big-government Republicans,” he added.Still, with a divided Congress and a Democratic-led White House, any bill that doesn't have buy-in from members of both political parties stands no chance of passage.The bill also includes more than 6,600 projects requested by individual lawmakers with a price tag of about $12.7 billion. The projects attracted criticism from some Republican members, though members from both parties broadly participated in requesting them on behalf of their states and congressional districts. Paul called the spending "sort of the grease that eases in billions and trillions of other dollars, because you get people to buy into the total package by giving them a little bit of pork for their town, a little bit of pork for their donors.”But an effort by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, to strip out the projects mustered only 32 votes with 64 against. Murray said Scott's effort would overrule “all the hard work, all the input we asked everyone to provide us about projects that would help their constituents."Even though lawmakers find themselves passing spending bills five months into the fiscal year, Republicans are framing the process as improved nonetheless because they broke the cycle of passing all the spending bills in one massive package that lawmakers have little time to study before being asked to vote on it or risk a government shutdown. Still, others said that breaking up funding into two chunks of legislation war hardly a breakthrough.The first package now making its way to Biden's desk covers the departments of Justice, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior and Transportation, among others.

Senate passes first government funding package hours before shutdown 

JERUSALEM—U.S. forces continue to face attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Between 3:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. Thursday, U.S. warships conducted self-defense strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

Additionally, during this timeframe CENTCOM forces shot down three UAVs launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden.

These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.

Meanwhile, efforts ramped up on Friday to deliver more desperately needed aid to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-03-08-2024-196b1e1bdef8ce28449799759c797d39">war-ravaged Gaza, with the United States and Europe focused on opening a sea route</a>, underscoring the West's growing frustration with Israel’s conduct in the war.

A top European Union official said a charity ship will head to Gaza as a pilot operation for a new humanitarian sea corridor. Ursula von der Leyen spoke in Cyprus, where she came to inspect preparations to send more aid to Gaza by sea.

Just hours earlier, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military will set up a temporary pier on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. He unveiled the plan during his State of the Union address to Congress after last week approving the U.S. military&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-meloni-white-house-ukraine-112dacd932a45f42621a25b304ae5d99">airdropping aid into Gaza</a>.

The plans follow an announcement Thursday by Hamas that negotiations over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostages-endgame-0b4720545d294b4eb25eb97055c238eb">a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">will resume next week</a>, dimming hopes that mediators could broker a truce before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin at sundown Sunday.

After more than five months of war, much of Gaza is in ruins, and international pressure is growing for Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-05-2024-a13c5fa6e23fedbda42e3028a96ca14e">would halt the fighting and release the remaining Israeli hostages</a>&nbsp;held by Hamas.

Israel’s near-total blockade of Gaza and the fighting have made it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-humanitarian-aid-gaza-1ce556a8a839803c8a1624b1b69b0a13">nearly impossible to deliver aid</a>&nbsp;in most of Gaza, aid groups say. Many of the estimated 300,000 people still living in northern Gaza have been reduced to eating animal fodder to survive.

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Over 100 hostages were released during a temporary cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The number of Palestinians killed has climbed above 30,800. That's according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures but says women and children make up around two-thirds of all casualties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM—U.S. forces continue to face attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Between 3:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. Thursday, U.S. warships conducted self-defense strikes against four mobile Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) and one Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.Additionally, during this timeframe CENTCOM forces shot down three UAVs launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden.These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.Meanwhile, efforts ramped up on Friday to deliver more desperately needed aid to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-03-08-2024-196b1e1bdef8ce28449799759c797d39">war-ravaged Gaza, with the United States and Europe focused on opening a sea route</a>, underscoring the West's growing frustration with Israel’s conduct in the war.A top European Union official said a charity ship will head to Gaza as a pilot operation for a new humanitarian sea corridor. Ursula von der Leyen spoke in Cyprus, where she came to inspect preparations to send more aid to Gaza by sea.Just hours earlier, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. military will set up a temporary pier on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast. He unveiled the plan during his State of the Union address to Congress after last week approving the U.S. military&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-meloni-white-house-ukraine-112dacd932a45f42621a25b304ae5d99">airdropping aid into Gaza</a>.The plans follow an announcement Thursday by Hamas that negotiations over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostages-endgame-0b4720545d294b4eb25eb97055c238eb">a cease-fire</a>&nbsp;in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">will resume next week</a>, dimming hopes that mediators could broker a truce before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin at sundown Sunday.After more than five months of war, much of Gaza is in ruins, and international pressure is growing for Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-05-2024-a13c5fa6e23fedbda42e3028a96ca14e">would halt the fighting and release the remaining Israeli hostages</a>&nbsp;held by Hamas.Israel’s near-total blockade of Gaza and the fighting have made it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-humanitarian-aid-gaza-1ce556a8a839803c8a1624b1b69b0a13">nearly impossible to deliver aid</a>&nbsp;in most of Gaza, aid groups say. Many of the estimated 300,000 people still living in northern Gaza have been reduced to eating animal fodder to survive.Israel launched its offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Over 100 hostages were released during a temporary cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.The number of Palestinians killed has climbed above 30,800. That's according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures but says women and children make up around two-thirds of all casualties.

U.S. warships strike against 4 mobile anti-ship cruise missiles

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.

Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers. 

Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.

Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.

At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply. 

While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.

Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.

No officers were injured during this incident.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709935073364.png" alt="Police body camera images released by Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Police body camera images released by Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers. Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709779578724.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply. While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709935262312.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.No officers were injured during this incident.Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.