TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nearly a month after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-ba6c2c1979fd58869cc5d4fb1aed501c">“security incident”</a>&nbsp;with all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, Kansas judicial officials are slowly renewing public access to court information. But for now, that access requires a trip to the state's capital city.

The state's judicial branch on Tuesday announced it has opened a public access&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/-PjIeh1js4IAl_12rNJ6Vm32hOEMmre6eY6k8DfzJ3g">service center</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. The center is staffed by judicial workers and includes 10 computer terminals. Appointments are required and the center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

<a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=S3pYjt6vRUisngMd8MjE-Jt6QpzZ2LRCpJE9-F9h9hRUQ0lBUDJSNTE1VjZVRVFPMjk0TEc5MlMwTSQlQCN0PWcu">Appointment requests</a>&nbsp;may be made online. The center is for searching case information only, and electronic payments cannot be made there, according to a news release from the state.

The release said efforts to bring the judicial branch systems back online will occur in phases and that no firm timeline has been established on when all functions will be fully restored.

The massive outage on Oct. 12 left attorneys unable to search online records and forced them to file motions the old fashioned way — on paper. The disruption has caused a huge slowdown of court operations across the state.

Since 2019, ransomware groups have targeted 18 state, city or municipal court systems, said analyst Allan Liska of the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. That includes one in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-ransomware-attack-32e4213465e4532616179c94a79ac706">Dallas</a>, where some jury trials had to be canceled this year.

But state-focused attacks have been much less frequent, and have not rivaled what happened in Kansas.

State officials have released few details about the investigation. They have not said if the incident was determined to be malicious, or if there was a demand for ransom. A message left Wednesday with Judicial Branch spokeswoman Lisa Taylor was not immediately returned.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Nearly a month after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-courts-cybersecurity-problem-network-offline-ba6c2c1979fd58869cc5d4fb1aed501c">“security incident”</a>&nbsp;with all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, Kansas judicial officials are slowly renewing public access to court information. But for now, that access requires a trip to the state's capital city.The state's judicial branch on Tuesday announced it has opened a public access&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/-PjIeh1js4IAl_12rNJ6Vm32hOEMmre6eY6k8DfzJ3g">service center</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka. The center is staffed by judicial workers and includes 10 computer terminals. Appointments are required and the center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.<a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=S3pYjt6vRUisngMd8MjE-Jt6QpzZ2LRCpJE9-F9h9hRUQ0lBUDJSNTE1VjZVRVFPMjk0TEc5MlMwTSQlQCN0PWcu">Appointment requests</a>&nbsp;may be made online. The center is for searching case information only, and electronic payments cannot be made there, according to a news release from the state.The release said efforts to bring the judicial branch systems back online will occur in phases and that no firm timeline has been established on when all functions will be fully restored.The massive outage on Oct. 12 left attorneys unable to search online records and forced them to file motions the old fashioned way — on paper. The disruption has caused a huge slowdown of court operations across the state.Since 2019, ransomware groups have targeted 18 state, city or municipal court systems, said analyst Allan Liska of the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. That includes one in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-ransomware-attack-32e4213465e4532616179c94a79ac706">Dallas</a>, where some jury trials had to be canceled this year.But state-focused attacks have been much less frequent, and have not rivaled what happened in Kansas.State officials have released few details about the investigation. They have not said if the incident was determined to be malicious, or if there was a demand for ransom. A message left Wednesday with Judicial Branch spokeswoman Lisa Taylor was not immediately returned.

Kansas begins restoring court information access after 'security incident'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted sexually assaulting patients at a Kansas hospital is going to prison.

On Thursday, Judge Bruce Brown sentenced 28-year-old Miguel Rodela to 33-years in prison and Lifetime Post release and Registration for his convictions of&nbsp;&nbsp;Rape, 2 counts of Attempted Rape and 2 counts of Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In September Rodela entered a guilty plea to rape, attempted rape and battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;Rodela, who was neither a patient nor a hospital employee, was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of June 15 after fighting with security guards.&nbsp;

A 76-year-old woman patient said she awoke around 1 a.m. that day to a man manipulating her catheter. She told police she assumed he was fixing it but noticing he was wearing no gloves or medical attire, she told him to find someone else to fix the catheter, according to the probable cause affidavit.

A nurse walked into the room, but when the man said he was a nursing student, the nurse left without questioning him. Soon after, the patient hit a call button to get the nurse to return and the man left. Security was summoned and the woman reported: “He violated me.”

A lawsuit against the hospital notes that Rodela was in the patient's room for more than 20 minutes.

Court records show a hospital security officer had just started checking surveillance video when he was alerted to another assault on the seventh floor. A nurse technician there found Rodela embracing an 82-year-old woman, his hands under the blankets. The patient said the man had kissed her on the mouth, according to the affidavit.

Soon after that, a security officer on the sixth floor spotted Rodela on top of a 47-year-old patient, lifting up her shirt. The patient had a traumatic brain injury that rendered her unable to speak and Rodela told a nurse he was her relative, although she was skeptical, according to the affidavit.

Under questioning, Rodela told police he had been drinking and having sexual fantasies about hospitalized patients. He said he entered the hospital through a door behind an employee, and that he came into contact with at least three patient. He said he rubbed and kissed them until they woke up, the affidavit said.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686922520098.png" alt="Rodela-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rodela-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted sexually assaulting patients at a Kansas hospital is going to prison.On Thursday, Judge Bruce Brown sentenced 28-year-old Miguel Rodela to 33-years in prison and Lifetime Post release and Registration for his convictions of&nbsp;&nbsp;Rape, 2 counts of Attempted Rape and 2 counts of Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In September Rodela entered a guilty plea to rape, attempted rape and battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Rodela, who was neither a patient nor a hospital employee, was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of June 15 after fighting with security guards.&nbsp;A 76-year-old woman patient said she awoke around 1 a.m. that day to a man manipulating her catheter. She told police she assumed he was fixing it but noticing he was wearing no gloves or medical attire, she told him to find someone else to fix the catheter, according to the probable cause affidavit.A nurse walked into the room, but when the man said he was a nursing student, the nurse left without questioning him. Soon after, the patient hit a call button to get the nurse to return and the man left. Security was summoned and the woman reported: “He violated me.”A lawsuit against the hospital notes that Rodela was in the patient's room for more than 20 minutes.Court records show a hospital security officer had just started checking surveillance video when he was alerted to another assault on the seventh floor. A nurse technician there found Rodela embracing an 82-year-old woman, his hands under the blankets. The patient said the man had kissed her on the mouth, according to the affidavit.Soon after that, a security officer on the sixth floor spotted Rodela on top of a 47-year-old patient, lifting up her shirt. The patient had a traumatic brain injury that rendered her unable to speak and Rodela told a nurse he was her relative, although she was skeptical, according to the affidavit.Under questioning, Rodela told police he had been drinking and having sexual fantasies about hospitalized patients. He said he entered the hospital through a door behind an employee, and that he came into contact with at least three patient. He said he rubbed and kissed them until they woke up, the affidavit said.-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Years in prison: Man sexually assaulted Kan. hospital patients

WASHINGTON —Before his Thursday trip to&nbsp;Belvidere, Illinois, to celebrate a labor deal with autoworkers, President Biden spoke to the media on Israel and another looming government shutdown.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?531777-1/president-biden-comments-reporters-joint-base-andrews">Click here to watch</a> the exchange or read the text released from the White House.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, why the delay in getting hostages out?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; We’re hopeful.&nbsp; Things are moving along.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask for a three-day pause to Netanyahu?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; You know I’ve been asking for a pause for — for a lot more than three days (inaudible).

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask him to pause for three days to get the hostages out for that length of time?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; I’ve ask- — asked for even a longer pause for some of them.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, we’re eight days from a shutdown — the shutdown — government shutdown.&nbsp; Just eight days.&nbsp; Can you give us an update on what you’re thinking on how to — to move past that?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; I wish the — the House would just get to work.&nbsp; I’m not being facetious.&nbsp; I mean, this is not a political statement.&nbsp; The idea we’re playing games with a shutdown at this moment is just bizarre.&nbsp; And I think that we ought to be able to combine Ukraine and Israel.&nbsp; We ought to be able — and I’m open to discussions on the border, and I’ve already made some proposals.&nbsp; But there’s just no need for any of this.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement, Mr. President, with Shawn Fein?

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement with Shawn Fein when you meet him?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Will I bring up the endorsement?

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The issue of an endorsement.&nbsp; He has a — the UAW hasn’t endorsed you yet.

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Oh, no.&nbsp; They’re going to be fine.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, were you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has not listened more to some of the things you have asked him to do?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; It’s taking a little longer than I hoped.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They’re taking a little bit longer?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you support the UAW’s efforts to unionize Tesla and Toyota, Mr. President?&nbsp;THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp;Thank you.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699563758150.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Before his Thursday trip to&nbsp;Belvidere, Illinois, to celebrate a labor deal with autoworkers, President Biden spoke to the media on Israel and another looming government shutdown.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?531777-1/president-biden-comments-reporters-joint-base-andrews">Click here to watch</a> the exchange or read the text released from the White House.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, why the delay in getting hostages out?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; We’re hopeful.&nbsp; Things are moving along.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask for a three-day pause to Netanyahu?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; You know I’ve been asking for a pause for — for a lot more than three days (inaudible).Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask him to pause for three days to get the hostages out for that length of time?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; I’ve ask- — asked for even a longer pause for some of them.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, we’re eight days from a shutdown — the shutdown — government shutdown.&nbsp; Just eight days.&nbsp; Can you give us an update on what you’re thinking on how to — to move past that?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; I wish the — the House would just get to work.&nbsp; I’m not being facetious.&nbsp; I mean, this is not a political statement.&nbsp; The idea we’re playing games with a shutdown at this moment is just bizarre.&nbsp; And I think that we ought to be able to combine Ukraine and Israel.&nbsp; We ought to be able — and I’m open to discussions on the border, and I’ve already made some proposals.&nbsp; But there’s just no need for any of this.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement, Mr. President, with Shawn Fein?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Pardon me?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement with Shawn Fein when you meet him?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Will I bring up the endorsement?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The issue of an endorsement.&nbsp; He has a — the UAW hasn’t endorsed you yet.THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Oh, no.&nbsp; They’re going to be fine.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, were you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has not listened more to some of the things you have asked him to do?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; It’s taking a little longer than I hoped.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They’re taking a little bit longer?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you support the UAW’s efforts to unionize Tesla and Toyota, Mr. President?&nbsp;THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp;Thank you.

🎥 Biden talks Israel and another looming government shutdown

LYON COUNTY —A Kansas zoo is celebrating the birth of rare triplets. The David Traylor Zoo in Emporia announced Wednesday the arrival of triplets among the cotton-top tamarins, according to a media release.

Born October 27, to mother Kasasa and father Hotlips, these precious infants, classified as critically endangered, mark a significant addition to the American) Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. 

The goal of the Species Survival Plan is to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse zoo population to keep the species stable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699453974117.png" alt="Photo courtesy David&nbsp; Traylor Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy David&nbsp; Traylor Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —A Kansas zoo is celebrating the birth of rare triplets. The David Traylor Zoo in Emporia announced Wednesday the arrival of triplets among the cotton-top tamarins, according to a media release.Born October 27, to mother Kasasa and father Hotlips, these precious infants, classified as critically endangered, mark a significant addition to the American) Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The goal of the Species Survival Plan is to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse zoo population to keep the species stable.

Critically endangered Cotton-Top Tamarins born at Kansas zoo

House Speaker accused of pressuring staff to buy expensive software, seeking reimbursement of campaign-paid expenses

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

The Missouri House Ethics Committee appears to be prepared to advance an investigation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/06/ethics-hearing-gop-caucus-could-determine-fate-of-embattled-missouri-house-speaker/">over House Speaker Dean Plocher’s</a>&nbsp;personnel actions and expense reimbursement requests.

The panel met behind closed doors for more than two hours on Wednesday. The discussion is confidential, but afterward Chair Hannah Kelly told assembled reporters that another hearing would be scheduled, suggesting that the committee is preparing the next step, to examine the substance of the allegations against Plocher.

Plocher is the subject of an inquiry into House personnel matters and a complaint about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article281251108.html">“unethical conduct”</a>&nbsp;in office.

When the committee was finished for the day, Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, declined to comment on the questions considered.&nbsp;

“We have a job to do here in this committee and due to the House rules, as has been previously mentioned, I cannot comment,” Kelly said. “I can assure you as chairman that due process will be followed and confidentiality is of the utmost importance, for the integrity of the committee as well as the House.”

Plocher has been under fire since September, when he was accused of threatening to fire nonpartisan legislative staff as part of a push to get the House to award a lucrative contract to a private company to manage constituent information.&nbsp;

Records obtained by The Independent through the Missouri Sunshine Law document allegations that Plocher connected the success of the contract to the 2024 campaign — in which he is running for lieutenant governor — and engaged in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct.”

On Oct. 17, Plocher fired his chief of staff Kenny Ross, giving no explanation for the change. Ross was hired a few hours later by Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden.

A few days later, The Independent reported that Plocher filed false expense reports with the legislature going back to 2018 seeking reimbursement for costs already paid for by his campaign.

Plocher has flatly denied any wrongdoing, chalking up the contract issue to a misunderstanding and the false expense reports to a “checkbook error.” He started paying back the illegal reimbursements, saying that he and his wife — who is also his campaign treasurer — caught the mistakes and self-reported them.&nbsp;

But though the false reports went back years, Plocher didn’t begin making repayments until two weeks after The Independent submitted a Sunshine request on Oct. 5 seeking his expense reports.

While the committee process will be time-consuming, Plocher’s ability to remain in office while waiting for the results is in doubt. House Republicans will caucus Thursday in Jefferson City and are likely to discuss whether he should remain in his office or step aside, several GOP members said.

State Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, on Sunday sent colleagues a letter calling for Plocher to resign as speaker, stating that “these events and the questions they raise look horrible.”

GOP members in the Capitol on Wednesday declined to say on the record whether they expect the caucus to vote on Plocher’s continued leadership. Speaking anonymously, one said he would wait for the committee to make a report while another said they were waiting until after the caucus to speak publicly.

While there is no official confirmation that the committee is investigating Plocher, several actions by other House members – and Plocher himself – leave little doubt that it is about the speaker. House Assistant Minority Leader Richard Brown of Kansas City, vice chair of the ethics committee, recused himself from the proceedings to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/democrat-removed-from-missouri-house-ethics-inquiry-into-dean-plocher-to-avoid-conflict/">avoid a conflict of interest</a>. Brown is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, the same office Plocher is seeking.

Brown was replaced temporarily by committee by Rep. David Tyson Smith of Columbia and Rep. Robert Sauls, D-Independence, took Brown’s place as ranking minority member and vice chair of the committee.

Plocher, who is required to pass complaints about any House member to the committee within 14 days of it being filed, instead recused himself and sent it to House Speaker Pro Tem Mike Henderson for action.

When the committee was finished for the day, Kelly declined to comment on the questions considered. But the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1697H.02P.pdf">committee’s rules</a>, outlined in a resolution approved by the House in February, point to what is next.

When a complaint is received, the first step is for the committee to determine whether the complaint was filed in the proper form. Once the committee is satisfied that it is, a vote is held on whether to proceed to a “primary hearing” where the subject of the complaint is given a chance to answer the charges.

The committee must allow 21 days for the answer to be received in writing. The answer can be an objection to the jurisdiction of the committee to conduct an investigation.

“The complainant and alleged victim shall also be notified, in writing, of the action of the Committee,” the rules state.

At the conclusion of the primary hearing, the committee has the choice of dismissing the complaint, proceeding to a formal hearing, behind closed doors, or allowing the member to accept a sanction for misconduct.&nbsp;

If the investigation proceeds to a formal hearing, the committee’s investigation is guided by the rules and the committee has 45 days after it finishes taking testimony to deliver a report to the House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699555288811.png" alt=" House Ethics Committee Chair Hannah Kelly, left, and Vice Chair Robert Sauls speak to reporters Wednesday after a hearing into a complaint against Speaker Dean Plocher. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> House Ethics Committee Chair Hannah Kelly, left, and Vice Chair Robert Sauls speak to reporters Wednesday after a hearing into a complaint against Speaker Dean Plocher. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House Speaker accused of pressuring staff to buy expensive software, seeking reimbursement of campaign-paid expenses</h2>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri House Ethics Committee appears to be prepared to advance an investigation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/06/ethics-hearing-gop-caucus-could-determine-fate-of-embattled-missouri-house-speaker/">over House Speaker Dean Plocher’s</a>&nbsp;personnel actions and expense reimbursement requests.The panel met behind closed doors for more than two hours on Wednesday. The discussion is confidential, but afterward Chair Hannah Kelly told assembled reporters that another hearing would be scheduled, suggesting that the committee is preparing the next step, to examine the substance of the allegations against Plocher.Plocher is the subject of an inquiry into House personnel matters and a complaint about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article281251108.html">“unethical conduct”</a>&nbsp;in office.When the committee was finished for the day, Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, declined to comment on the questions considered.&nbsp;“We have a job to do here in this committee and due to the House rules, as has been previously mentioned, I cannot comment,” Kelly said. “I can assure you as chairman that due process will be followed and confidentiality is of the utmost importance, for the integrity of the committee as well as the House.”Plocher has been under fire since September, when he was accused of threatening to fire nonpartisan legislative staff as part of a push to get the House to award a lucrative contract to a private company to manage constituent information.&nbsp;Records obtained by The Independent through the Missouri Sunshine Law document allegations that Plocher connected the success of the contract to the 2024 campaign — in which he is running for lieutenant governor — and engaged in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct.”On Oct. 17, Plocher fired his chief of staff Kenny Ross, giving no explanation for the change. Ross was hired a few hours later by Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden.A few days later, The Independent reported that Plocher filed false expense reports with the legislature going back to 2018 seeking reimbursement for costs already paid for by his campaign.Plocher has flatly denied any wrongdoing, chalking up the contract issue to a misunderstanding and the false expense reports to a “checkbook error.” He started paying back the illegal reimbursements, saying that he and his wife — who is also his campaign treasurer — caught the mistakes and self-reported them.&nbsp;But though the false reports went back years, Plocher didn’t begin making repayments until two weeks after The Independent submitted a Sunshine request on Oct. 5 seeking his expense reports.While the committee process will be time-consuming, Plocher’s ability to remain in office while waiting for the results is in doubt. House Republicans will caucus Thursday in Jefferson City and are likely to discuss whether he should remain in his office or step aside, several GOP members said.State Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, on Sunday sent colleagues a letter calling for Plocher to resign as speaker, stating that “these events and the questions they raise look horrible.”GOP members in the Capitol on Wednesday declined to say on the record whether they expect the caucus to vote on Plocher’s continued leadership. Speaking anonymously, one said he would wait for the committee to make a report while another said they were waiting until after the caucus to speak publicly.While there is no official confirmation that the committee is investigating Plocher, several actions by other House members – and Plocher himself – leave little doubt that it is about the speaker. House Assistant Minority Leader Richard Brown of Kansas City, vice chair of the ethics committee, recused himself from the proceedings to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/democrat-removed-from-missouri-house-ethics-inquiry-into-dean-plocher-to-avoid-conflict/">avoid a conflict of interest</a>. Brown is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, the same office Plocher is seeking.Brown was replaced temporarily by committee by Rep. David Tyson Smith of Columbia and Rep. Robert Sauls, D-Independence, took Brown’s place as ranking minority member and vice chair of the committee.Plocher, who is required to pass complaints about any House member to the committee within 14 days of it being filed, instead recused himself and sent it to House Speaker Pro Tem Mike Henderson for action.When the committee was finished for the day, Kelly declined to comment on the questions considered. But the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1697H.02P.pdf">committee’s rules</a>, outlined in a resolution approved by the House in February, point to what is next.When a complaint is received, the first step is for the committee to determine whether the complaint was filed in the proper form. Once the committee is satisfied that it is, a vote is held on whether to proceed to a “primary hearing” where the subject of the complaint is given a chance to answer the charges.The committee must allow 21 days for the answer to be received in writing. The answer can be an objection to the jurisdiction of the committee to conduct an investigation.“The complainant and alleged victim shall also be notified, in writing, of the action of the Committee,” the rules state.At the conclusion of the primary hearing, the committee has the choice of dismissing the complaint, proceeding to a formal hearing, behind closed doors, or allowing the member to accept a sanction for misconduct.&nbsp;If the investigation proceeds to a formal hearing, the committee’s investigation is guided by the rules and the committee has 45 days after it finishes taking testimony to deliver a report to the House.

Missouri House ethics panel to hold further hearings in Plocher investigation

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER&nbsp;Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 306 officials are investigating an alleged school threat.

Just before 12:30a.m. Thursday, the Southeast of Saline High School students alerted the school resource officer about some alarming Snapchat messages from another possible student.

According to Saline County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Sean Kochanowski, the messages included threats of violence through the use of firearms planned for Thursday, Nov. 9.

Kochanowski said some of the language used in the messages included threats to "shoot people up" at the school, alarming parents and students.

This morning, sheriff's office deputies stood guard outside Southeast of Saline High School, with Kochanowski vigilant at the entrance.

"I was out there — I know there was a highway patrol, and there were, I think, two other sheriff deputies in the parking lot," Kochanowski said. "There's another officer that's going to be at the school for a while today. Just providing extra security to make sure we have people in the building do everything we can to keep everybody safe."

Ell-Saline High School was notified of the violent threats, and faculty informed parents and students about the possible danger. Kochanowski said the Saline County Sheriff's Office also sent some deputies there.

Kochanowski said the sheriff's office is actively investigating the incident, but the office suspects the perpetrator is of high school age.

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER&nbsp;Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 306 officials are investigating an alleged school threat.Just before 12:30a.m. Thursday, the Southeast of Saline High School students alerted the school resource officer about some alarming Snapchat messages from another possible student.According to Saline County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Sean Kochanowski, the messages included threats of violence through the use of firearms planned for Thursday, Nov. 9.Kochanowski said some of the language used in the messages included threats to "shoot people up" at the school, alarming parents and students.This morning, sheriff's office deputies stood guard outside Southeast of Saline High School, with Kochanowski vigilant at the entrance."I was out there — I know there was a highway patrol, and there were, I think, two other sheriff deputies in the parking lot," Kochanowski said. "There's another officer that's going to be at the school for a while today. Just providing extra security to make sure we have people in the building do everything we can to keep everybody safe."Ell-Saline High School was notified of the violent threats, and faculty informed parents and students about the possible danger. Kochanowski said the Saline County Sheriff's Office also sent some deputies there.Kochanowski said the sheriff's office is actively investigating the incident, but the office suspects the perpetrator is of high school age.

Sheriff investigating alleged social media threat at Kan. high school

SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an acident just before noon Wednesday in Sedgwick County.

A 1992 Yamaha FZR600R motorcycle ridden by Tayvon Starr 19, Wichita was eastbound in the 4600 Block of East MacArthur in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The motorcycle struck a 2010 Hummer H3 driven by Matthew Woods, 35, Wichita, who was turning into the Spirit Aerosystems parking lot.

Starr was pronounced deceased on scene. Wood and the other occupants of the Hummer were not injured and were wearing seatbelts. 

Starr was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to Gibbs. There is no signs of intoxication by any drivers at this time. The incident is still under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699550946604.png" alt="The accident remains under investigation-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>The accident remains under investigation-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an acident just before noon Wednesday in Sedgwick County.A 1992 Yamaha FZR600R motorcycle ridden by Tayvon Starr 19, Wichita was eastbound in the 4600 Block of East MacArthur in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.The motorcycle struck a 2010 Hummer H3 driven by Matthew Woods, 35, Wichita, who was turning into the Spirit Aerosystems parking lot.Starr was pronounced deceased on scene. Wood and the other occupants of the Hummer were not injured and were wearing seatbelts. Starr was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to Gibbs. There is no signs of intoxication by any drivers at this time. The incident is still under investigation.

Kansas man dies after motorcycle, SUV crash

NEW YORK (AP) — A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's drug, named Zepbound. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing.

Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Both are weekly injections.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management">The FDA approved Lilly's drug</a>&nbsp;for people who are considered obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or those who are overweight with a related health condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The drug should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise, the FDA said.

In the U.S., at least 100 million adults and about 15 million children are considered obese.

The drugs tirzepatide in Zepbound and Mounjaro and semaglutide in Wegovy and Ozempic work by mimicking hormones that kick in after people eat to regulate appetite and the feeling of fullness. Both imitate a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1. Tirzepatide targets a second hormone, called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP.

FDA’s approval was based on two large studies: More than 2,500 participants got different strengths of Zepbound and nearly 1,000 people got dummy shots over 16 months. Participants without diabetes who received the highest dose lost about 18% of their weight, or about 41 pounds (19 kilograms), compared to placebo. Those with diabetes, who have a harder time losing weight, cut about 12%, or nearly 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the FDA said.

In another recent study, the drug helped people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-obesity-weight-loss-tirzepatide-ac4151fdfcd6ac17f502d1a14af4fff5">lose up to a quarter of their weight</a>, or 60 pounds (27 kilograms), when combined with intensive diet and exercise.

Overall, Zepbound appears to spur greater weight loss than Wegovy. Approved for weight loss in 2021, Wegovy helped people lose about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-obesity-lifestyle-business-health-c6f992d717c6461ef20f40e6d4ee9d25">15% of their weight</a>&nbsp;or 34 pounds (15 kilograms), according to study results.

“This would be the most highly efficacious drug ever approved for the treatment of obesity," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Touted by celebrities and on social media, semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs have already been in such demand that their manufacturers have struggled to keep up. Both have been listed on the FDA’s drug shortage site for months. All strengths of tirzepatide are currently listed as available, but a company spokesperson said that could vary by location and demand.

Side effects of the new weight-loss drug include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. In the most recent published trial, about 10% of people taking tirzepatide dropped out of the study because of such problems, compared to about 2% of people taking dummy shots.

While experts lauded approval of Zepbound, they worried that it wouldn't necessarily mean greater access to the drug, which has been prescribed “off-label” to help people pare pounds.

“Most patients won't be able to afford Zepbound without insurance coverage and many health plans exclude obesity care,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at New York's Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of company focused on obesity treatment.

Eli Lilly and Co. said the list price will be about $1,000 a month, the same as Mounjaro. The drug is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, the company said. Dosing strengths are the same for Zepbound and Mounjaro.

Kelly Burns, 50, of St. Petersburg, Florida, lost nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) using tirzepatide after joining a study of the drug to treat obesity in 2021. When testing ended and she no longer had access to the medication, she struggled, but eventually lost another 50 pounds (23 kilograms).

“My whole life is completely different,” she said. Her health measurements improved and her confidence soared. Now that is is approved for weight loss, Burns plans to ask her insurance company about coverage.

“It would be ridiculous not to," she said, adding: “I want to stay this way as long as I possibly can."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699529461783.png" alt="Zepbound photo Eli Lilly" />
 <figcaption>Zepbound photo Eli Lilly</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's drug, named Zepbound. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing.Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Both are weekly injections.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management">The FDA approved Lilly's drug</a>&nbsp;for people who are considered obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or those who are overweight with a related health condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The drug should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise, the FDA said.In the U.S., at least 100 million adults and about 15 million children are considered obese.The drugs tirzepatide in Zepbound and Mounjaro and semaglutide in Wegovy and Ozempic work by mimicking hormones that kick in after people eat to regulate appetite and the feeling of fullness. Both imitate a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1. Tirzepatide targets a second hormone, called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP.FDA’s approval was based on two large studies: More than 2,500 participants got different strengths of Zepbound and nearly 1,000 people got dummy shots over 16 months. Participants without diabetes who received the highest dose lost about 18% of their weight, or about 41 pounds (19 kilograms), compared to placebo. Those with diabetes, who have a harder time losing weight, cut about 12%, or nearly 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the FDA said.In another recent study, the drug helped people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-obesity-weight-loss-tirzepatide-ac4151fdfcd6ac17f502d1a14af4fff5">lose up to a quarter of their weight</a>, or 60 pounds (27 kilograms), when combined with intensive diet and exercise.Overall, Zepbound appears to spur greater weight loss than Wegovy. Approved for weight loss in 2021, Wegovy helped people lose about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-obesity-lifestyle-business-health-c6f992d717c6461ef20f40e6d4ee9d25">15% of their weight</a>&nbsp;or 34 pounds (15 kilograms), according to study results.“This would be the most highly efficacious drug ever approved for the treatment of obesity," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.Touted by celebrities and on social media, semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs have already been in such demand that their manufacturers have struggled to keep up. Both have been listed on the FDA’s drug shortage site for months. All strengths of tirzepatide are currently listed as available, but a company spokesperson said that could vary by location and demand.Side effects of the new weight-loss drug include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. In the most recent published trial, about 10% of people taking tirzepatide dropped out of the study because of such problems, compared to about 2% of people taking dummy shots.While experts lauded approval of Zepbound, they worried that it wouldn't necessarily mean greater access to the drug, which has been prescribed “off-label” to help people pare pounds.“Most patients won't be able to afford Zepbound without insurance coverage and many health plans exclude obesity care,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at New York's Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of company focused on obesity treatment.Eli Lilly and Co. said the list price will be about $1,000 a month, the same as Mounjaro. The drug is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, the company said. Dosing strengths are the same for Zepbound and Mounjaro.Kelly Burns, 50, of St. Petersburg, Florida, lost nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) using tirzepatide after joining a study of the drug to treat obesity in 2021. When testing ended and she no longer had access to the medication, she struggled, but eventually lost another 50 pounds (23 kilograms).“My whole life is completely different,” she said. Her health measurements improved and her confidence soared. Now that is is approved for weight loss, Burns plans to ask her insurance company about coverage.“It would be ridiculous not to," she said, adding: “I want to stay this way as long as I possibly can."

FDA OKs powerful new tool for weight loss

WABAUNSEE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another report of cattle theft in Kansas.

A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of those who stole more than a dozen calves and a cow from a rancher near Wamego, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff.

The livestock was stolen from Dan Oeding approximately 5 miles southeast of Wamego on Oct. 10. Livestock missing include&nbsp;Black Angus or Wagyu calves, one red calf and one Black Angus cow.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Wabaunsee County Sheriff at 785-765-3323.

In August, Reno County Sheriff's Office said Circle H Cattle Company reported fifteen 400 to 500 pound calves stolen from the area of US 50 and Sterling Road, according to a social media report. The cattle went missing sometime between July 29, and August 6.

In mid-July, the Kansas Livestock Associated reported 17-head of 200-350 pound calves were stolen ten miles northeast of Atwood, according to a media release from the Rawlins County sheriff's office. The calves&nbsp; carried fresh brands of V arrow high on the right hip.

In April, the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's assistance in a case involving eighty 80 head of cattle missing from South of Hoxie, Kansas.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another report of cattle theft in Kansas.A reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of those who stole more than a dozen calves and a cow from a rancher near Wamego, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff.The livestock was stolen from Dan Oeding approximately 5 miles southeast of Wamego on Oct. 10. Livestock missing include&nbsp;Black Angus or Wagyu calves, one red calf and one Black Angus cow.Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Wabaunsee County Sheriff at 785-765-3323.In August, Reno County Sheriff's Office said Circle H Cattle Company reported fifteen 400 to 500 pound calves stolen from the area of US 50 and Sterling Road, according to a social media report. The cattle went missing sometime between July 29, and August 6.In mid-July, the Kansas Livestock Associated reported 17-head of 200-350 pound calves were stolen ten miles northeast of Atwood, according to a media release from the Rawlins County sheriff's office. The calves&nbsp; carried fresh brands of V arrow high on the right hip.In April, the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's assistance in a case involving eighty 80 head of cattle missing from South of Hoxie, Kansas.

More cattle thefts reported in Kansas

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City have identified the victim as 22-year-old Timothy&nbsp;Postley.

Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to 900 E Armour iin Kansas City on a reported sound of gun shots, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle leaving the scene which was&nbsp; transporting the victim to an area hospital.&nbsp; Officers made contact with Postley at the hospital who appeared to be suffering from apparent gun shot wounds.

He died from his injuries, according to Carlisle.

Police are working to determine circumstances leading up to the homicide. Police have not reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City have identified the victim as 22-year-old Timothy&nbsp;Postley.Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to 900 E Armour iin Kansas City on a reported sound of gun shots, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle leaving the scene which was&nbsp; transporting the victim to an area hospital.&nbsp; Officers made contact with Postley at the hospital who appeared to be suffering from apparent gun shot wounds.He died from his injuries, according to Carlisle.Police are working to determine circumstances leading up to the homicide. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police ID shooting victim who died after rushed to KC hospital

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they face an increasingly urgent task to emerge as a clear alternative to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, five Republican presidential candidates gathered Wednesday for the party's latest debate.

Trump, the overwhelming front-runner in the race,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-republican-debate-florida-cubans-hispanics-4bf3422ae0803cbe13f97238270cb510">skipped the event</a>, as he has the first two, citing his polling advantage. There was no shortage of noteworthy confrontations on stage, as the participants debated the Israel-Hamas war, the future of abortion rights and Trump himself.

But with the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses approaching, it seemed unlikely that the debate fundamentally changed the presidential nomination fight.

Wednesday marked the first time the presidential candidates gathered on a debate stage since war broke out between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>, resulting in a sharper foreign policy conversation compared to previous forums.

The contenders were unified in offering robust support for Israel and bemoaned antisemitism, especially on liberal college campuses. But they said virtually nothing about protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The GOP's familiar foreign policy split, however, resurfaced when the exchanges veered into the war in Ukraine, the possibility of China confronting Taiwan and how to handle Venezuela's oil market.

Former United Nations Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;and former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;all sounded traditional GOP notes, backing military aid to Ukraine, calling for vastly increased investment in the military and linking all the global conflicts.

Biotech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vivek-ramaswamy">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>&nbsp;tried to set himself apart, claiming the rest of the stage was part of a bipartisan foreign policy establishment that blundered into repeated disasters in foreign wars. A longtime critic of aid to Ukraine, he followed up his condemnation of antisemitism by calling that country’s Jewish president “a Nazi.”

Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;seemed like he was straddling the divide. At one point, he dodged a question about Ukraine and China by talking about boosting security on the southern border and suggesting he’d deport immigrants from the Middle East.

The candidates all talked tough. But the party divide over the Ukraine war ran subtly through the night and it’s not clear they’d each act the same should they actually make it to the Oval Office.

All of the candidates are trying to overtake Trump, who is the dominant front-runner in the primary. But for the most part, they've spent the primary campaign avoiding any opportunity to take on the former president.

That became harder during the first debate hosted by a network that wasn't affiliated with the Trump-friendly Fox News. Moderators from NBC News opened by pressing the contenders to articulate why they — and not Trump — should become the Republican nominee.

There was hardly a robust takedown of Trump, who remains popular among the GOP base and hosted a rival event Wednesday. But DeSantis was the most forceful.

“Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016,” he said, declaring that Trump owed it to Republican primary voters to show up and explain his record.

But even DeSantis’ strong words spanned less than 30 seconds. And he stopped short of questioning Trump’s “balls” for skipping the debate, as he had in recent days.

The other candidates were less aggressive.

Asked why he’s a better nominee than Trump, Ramaswamy went so far as to blame Republican National Committee Chair&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronna-romney-mcdaniel">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;— not Trump — for the GOP’s repeated losses in national elections since Trump won the presidency in 2016.

When she was asked about Trump, Haley made a passing reference of the national debt that piled up under his watch. Scott said the GOP needs to win over independent voters. Christie devoted one sentence to highlighting Trump’s legal troubles.

The lack of pointed attacks against Trump may underscore the difficulty of attacking someone who’s not onstage. But his rivals didn’t try hard either. Wednesday’s debate is the latest example for why Trump may have been smart to skip the debates altogether.

There were five candidates on the debate stage, but the vendetta between two of them stood out — Haley and Ramaswamy.

The two children of Indian immigrants have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-ramaswamy-indian-americans-republicans-2024-election-916a01928d35d083ec6c10bc11b41a5f">collided during previous debates</a>. But the tension intensified Wednesday night with Ramaswamy gleefully playing the role of aggressor. He took several initial digs at Haley — at one point he called her and DeSantis “Cheney in 3-inch heels,” a reference to controversial former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, a congresswoman excommunicated from the GOP for her criticism of Trump.

But it was halfway through the debate, after Haley said she’d respond to Ramaswamy’s digs rather than answer a question about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-ramaswamy-tiktok-republicans-china-2024-d2534384ff5b303d391fadba8e5b8824">banning Tik-Tok</a>, that Ramaswamy made his most shocking attack.

Noting Haley hadn’t answered the question, Ramaswamy said, “Her own daughter was using the app for a long time, so you might want to take care of your daughter first.”

Haley responded by forcefully telling Ramaswamy to “leave my daughter out of your voice.” She later said, “You're just scum.”

Ramaswamy has dominated all three of the debates with his pugnacious style. It hasn’t necessarily helped him politically — his biting attacks seem to turn off voters — but it drowns out all the other candidates. He’s also clearly gotten under the skin of his rivals, who spend precious time going after him.

Ramaswamy has even less of a path to victory than the rest of the very distant field, and each debate he dominates is another lost opportunity for anyone to change the trajectory of the GOP primary.

Republicans have had no answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In election after election, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2024-elections-republicans-ohio-virginia-90255a62d83ad9f1d86b407c9455bb0a">several this week</a>, Democrats have used the issue to their advantage.

On Wednesday night, Haley, the only woman onstage, tried to give her party a path forward for navigating the delicate political issue.

Haley’s approach was decidedly softer and more personal than what the men onstage offered.

“I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said, suggesting that she respected the decisions of states to protect abortion rights even if she didn’t agree with them.

And she made clear that the next Republican president would not be in position to institute a national ban on abortion without 60 votes in the Senate, which isn’t anywhere close to the horizon. Instead, she suggested Republicans in Washington work for what could be achievable: a ban on late-term abortions, policies that encourage adoption and increased accessibility of contraception.

“Let’s focus on how to save as many babies as we can and support as many moms as we can and stop the judgment. We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore,” Haley said, drawing applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile, the men onstage offered more of the same message that failed to resonate with voters across Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier in the week.

DeSantis attacked Democrats for supporting abortions without any time restrictions. Echoing the criticism, Scott said it was “unethical and immoral” to allow abortions up to the day of birth.

Haley’s message might be popular among some suburban women, a group the GOP has struggled with during recent elections, but it’s decidedly out of step with many activists that make up the Republican base. Still, her answer Wednesday night is a reminder why some Democratic officials fear her as a possible Biden opponent more than any of the other candidates.

After two more hours of likely also-rans arguing over mostly small differences, it seems clear that the Republican presidential contest is mainly a race to finish a distant second.

No one is even close to Trump and no one is trying to catch him. Instead, the candidates seem to be fighting over who can be the best alternative to him in the event the unthinkable happens to sideline the four-times-indicted, constitutionally challenged, 77-year-old front-runner.

Even Christie, whose entire campaign was predicated on him being the only Republican brave enough to attack the former president, stayed quiet on Trump unless asked about him by the moderators.

By now it’s clear that no one sees a path to actual victory in the primary. Instead, everyone is acting like their best bet is that the alternative universe of the debates, where Trump is not even on the stage, somehow becomes reality for Republican voters.

That’s the only way these debates likely matter anymore. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the Trump era, it’s that you can never tell what will happen next.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699496384832.png" alt="Photo courtesy&nbsp; Haley campaign for President" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy&nbsp; Haley campaign for President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As they face an increasingly urgent task to emerge as a clear alternative to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, five Republican presidential candidates gathered Wednesday for the party's latest debate.Trump, the overwhelming front-runner in the race,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-republican-debate-florida-cubans-hispanics-4bf3422ae0803cbe13f97238270cb510">skipped the event</a>, as he has the first two, citing his polling advantage. There was no shortage of noteworthy confrontations on stage, as the participants debated the Israel-Hamas war, the future of abortion rights and Trump himself.But with the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses approaching, it seemed unlikely that the debate fundamentally changed the presidential nomination fight.Here are some debate takeaways:The foreign policy debateWednesday marked the first time the presidential candidates gathered on a debate stage since war broke out between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>, resulting in a sharper foreign policy conversation compared to previous forums.The contenders were unified in offering robust support for Israel and bemoaned antisemitism, especially on liberal college campuses. But they said virtually nothing about protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza.The GOP's familiar foreign policy split, however, resurfaced when the exchanges veered into the war in Ukraine, the possibility of China confronting Taiwan and how to handle Venezuela's oil market.Former United Nations Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;and former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;all sounded traditional GOP notes, backing military aid to Ukraine, calling for vastly increased investment in the military and linking all the global conflicts.Biotech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vivek-ramaswamy">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>&nbsp;tried to set himself apart, claiming the rest of the stage was part of a bipartisan foreign policy establishment that blundered into repeated disasters in foreign wars. A longtime critic of aid to Ukraine, he followed up his condemnation of antisemitism by calling that country’s Jewish president “a Nazi.”Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;seemed like he was straddling the divide. At one point, he dodged a question about Ukraine and China by talking about boosting security on the southern border and suggesting he’d deport immigrants from the Middle East.The candidates all talked tough. But the party divide over the Ukraine war ran subtly through the night and it’s not clear they’d each act the same should they actually make it to the Oval Office.Taking on TrumpAll of the candidates are trying to overtake Trump, who is the dominant front-runner in the primary. But for the most part, they've spent the primary campaign avoiding any opportunity to take on the former president.That became harder during the first debate hosted by a network that wasn't affiliated with the Trump-friendly Fox News. Moderators from NBC News opened by pressing the contenders to articulate why they — and not Trump — should become the Republican nominee.There was hardly a robust takedown of Trump, who remains popular among the GOP base and hosted a rival event Wednesday. But DeSantis was the most forceful.“Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016,” he said, declaring that Trump owed it to Republican primary voters to show up and explain his record.But even DeSantis’ strong words spanned less than 30 seconds. And he stopped short of questioning Trump’s “balls” for skipping the debate, as he had in recent days.The other candidates were less aggressive.Asked why he’s a better nominee than Trump, Ramaswamy went so far as to blame Republican National Committee Chair&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronna-romney-mcdaniel">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;— not Trump — for the GOP’s repeated losses in national elections since Trump won the presidency in 2016.When she was asked about Trump, Haley made a passing reference of the national debt that piled up under his watch. Scott said the GOP needs to win over independent voters. Christie devoted one sentence to highlighting Trump’s legal troubles.The lack of pointed attacks against Trump may underscore the difficulty of attacking someone who’s not onstage. But his rivals didn’t try hard either. Wednesday’s debate is the latest example for why Trump may have been smart to skip the debates altogether.The Ramaswamy and Haley feudThere were five candidates on the debate stage, but the vendetta between two of them stood out — Haley and Ramaswamy.The two children of Indian immigrants have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-ramaswamy-indian-americans-republicans-2024-election-916a01928d35d083ec6c10bc11b41a5f">collided during previous debates</a>. But the tension intensified Wednesday night with Ramaswamy gleefully playing the role of aggressor. He took several initial digs at Haley — at one point he called her and DeSantis “Cheney in 3-inch heels,” a reference to controversial former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, a congresswoman excommunicated from the GOP for her criticism of Trump.But it was halfway through the debate, after Haley said she’d respond to Ramaswamy’s digs rather than answer a question about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-ramaswamy-tiktok-republicans-china-2024-d2534384ff5b303d391fadba8e5b8824">banning Tik-Tok</a>, that Ramaswamy made his most shocking attack.Noting Haley hadn’t answered the question, Ramaswamy said, “Her own daughter was using the app for a long time, so you might want to take care of your daughter first.”Haley responded by forcefully telling Ramaswamy to “leave my daughter out of your voice.” She later said, “You're just scum.”Ramaswamy has dominated all three of the debates with his pugnacious style. It hasn’t necessarily helped him politically — his biting attacks seem to turn off voters — but it drowns out all the other candidates. He’s also clearly gotten under the skin of his rivals, who spend precious time going after him.Ramaswamy has even less of a path to victory than the rest of the very distant field, and each debate he dominates is another lost opportunity for anyone to change the trajectory of the GOP primary.A path forward on abortionRepublicans have had no answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In election after election, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2024-elections-republicans-ohio-virginia-90255a62d83ad9f1d86b407c9455bb0a">several this week</a>, Democrats have used the issue to their advantage.On Wednesday night, Haley, the only woman onstage, tried to give her party a path forward for navigating the delicate political issue.Haley’s approach was decidedly softer and more personal than what the men onstage offered.“I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said, suggesting that she respected the decisions of states to protect abortion rights even if she didn’t agree with them.And she made clear that the next Republican president would not be in position to institute a national ban on abortion without 60 votes in the Senate, which isn’t anywhere close to the horizon. Instead, she suggested Republicans in Washington work for what could be achievable: a ban on late-term abortions, policies that encourage adoption and increased accessibility of contraception.“Let’s focus on how to save as many babies as we can and support as many moms as we can and stop the judgment. We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore,” Haley said, drawing applause from the crowd.Meanwhile, the men onstage offered more of the same message that failed to resonate with voters across Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier in the week.DeSantis attacked Democrats for supporting abortions without any time restrictions. Echoing the criticism, Scott said it was “unethical and immoral” to allow abortions up to the day of birth.Haley’s message might be popular among some suburban women, a group the GOP has struggled with during recent elections, but it’s decidedly out of step with many activists that make up the Republican base. Still, her answer Wednesday night is a reminder why some Democratic officials fear her as a possible Biden opponent more than any of the other candidates.The race for secondAfter two more hours of likely also-rans arguing over mostly small differences, it seems clear that the Republican presidential contest is mainly a race to finish a distant second.No one is even close to Trump and no one is trying to catch him. Instead, the candidates seem to be fighting over who can be the best alternative to him in the event the unthinkable happens to sideline the four-times-indicted, constitutionally challenged, 77-year-old front-runner.Even Christie, whose entire campaign was predicated on him being the only Republican brave enough to attack the former president, stayed quiet on Trump unless asked about him by the moderators.By now it’s clear that no one sees a path to actual victory in the primary. Instead, everyone is acting like their best bet is that the alternative universe of the debates, where Trump is not even on the stage, somehow becomes reality for Republican voters.That’s the only way these debates likely matter anymore. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the Trump era, it’s that you can never tell what will happen next.

GOP candidates hit Trump and back Israel: Highlights from the debate

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting continue asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

On October 11, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

 First responders found 18-year-old s Ra’Juan Spicer,suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.&nbsp;

Police are attempting to locate Reginald Rucker-Plakio, 17, of Topeka, in reference to the homicide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699048664862.png" alt="Rucker-Plakio-photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Rucker-Plakio-photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting continue asking the public for help to locate a suspect.On October 11, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks. First responders found 18-year-old s Ra’Juan Spicer,suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.&nbsp;Police are attempting to locate Reginald Rucker-Plakio, 17, of Topeka, in reference to the homicide.

Homicide: Search continues for 17-year-old Kansas suspect

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Kansas house fire.

Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a house fire at 150th and Arapahoe Drive in Olathe, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Firefighters had the fire under control within 16 minutes of arriving on-scene. Damage to the home is significant. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699489485709.png" alt="Photo courtesy Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Kansas house fire.Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a house fire at 150th and Arapahoe Drive in Olathe, according to a media release.&nbsp;Firefighters had the fire under control within 16 minutes of arriving on-scene. Damage to the home is significant. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp;

Cause of Kansas house fire under investigation

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

A Buick LeSabre was southbound on 71 Highway at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Captain Corey Carlisle.

 Just south of Meyer Street, the Buick traveled off the roadway to the left, traveling through the grassy median and struck a large tree head on. 

The Buick was immediately engulfed in fire which destroyed the entire vehicle. The driver and sole occupant of the Buick was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Southbound 71 Highway was completely closed to all traffic at 63rd Street for approximately three hours.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim. The accident remains under investigation.

 This is 84th fatality crash in KCMO this year compared to 78 at this time last year, according to Carlisle.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.A Buick LeSabre was southbound on 71 Highway at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Captain Corey Carlisle. Just south of Meyer Street, the Buick traveled off the roadway to the left, traveling through the grassy median and struck a large tree head on. The Buick was immediately engulfed in fire which destroyed the entire vehicle. The driver and sole occupant of the Buick was pronounced deceased at the scene. Southbound 71 Highway was completely closed to all traffic at 63rd Street for approximately three hours.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim. The accident remains under investigation. This is 84th fatality crash in KCMO this year compared to 78 at this time last year, according to Carlisle.

Police: One dead in KC-area crash and fire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood's actors nor its writers will be on strike.

The long-awaited clearing in the industry's stormiest season in decades comes as a deal was reached late Wednesday to end what was, at nearly four months, the longest strike ever for film and television actors.

The three-year contract must be approved by the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and its members in the coming days. But union leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, putting all of the parts of production back into action for the first time since spring.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's executive director and chief negotiator, said the gains made in the deal justified the struggle.

“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of. I’m certainly very proud of it," Crabtree-Ireland told The Associated Press in an interview. "We said we would only accept a fair, equitable and respectful deal, and that’s precisely what this deal is. So I think our members, as we are able to release more of the details of it, will look at them and say, now this is something that was worth being on strike for.”

More than 60,000 SAG-AFTRA members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. The studios and writers reached a deal that brought their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.

The union valued the deal at over a billion dollars. Crabtree-Ireland said the deal includes boosts to minimum payments to actors, a greater share of streaming revenue going to performers, a bolstering of benefit plans and protections against the unfettered use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;in recreating performances. Details of the terms will not be released until after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.

The AI protections were a sticking point in the negotiations that had moved methodically, with both long breaks for both sides to huddle, since they restarted on Oct. 24.

“It is something that has evolved even while we’ve been in this negotiation process,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “The capabilities of generative AI tools have expanded dramatically. So we have really been focused on making sure that the guardrails that we negotiated for were future-proof or at least future-resistant.”

The other side in the negotiations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “agreement represents a new paradigm. It gives SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union.” The AMPTP said it "looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories.”

Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699493412106.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood's actors nor its writers will be on strike.The long-awaited clearing in the industry's stormiest season in decades comes as a deal was reached late Wednesday to end what was, at nearly four months, the longest strike ever for film and television actors.The three-year contract must be approved by the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and its members in the coming days. But union leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, putting all of the parts of production back into action for the first time since spring.Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's executive director and chief negotiator, said the gains made in the deal justified the struggle.“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of. I’m certainly very proud of it," Crabtree-Ireland told The Associated Press in an interview. "We said we would only accept a fair, equitable and respectful deal, and that’s precisely what this deal is. So I think our members, as we are able to release more of the details of it, will look at them and say, now this is something that was worth being on strike for.”More than 60,000 SAG-AFTRA members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. The studios and writers reached a deal that brought their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.The union valued the deal at over a billion dollars. Crabtree-Ireland said the deal includes boosts to minimum payments to actors, a greater share of streaming revenue going to performers, a bolstering of benefit plans and protections against the unfettered use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;in recreating performances. Details of the terms will not be released until after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.The AI protections were a sticking point in the negotiations that had moved methodically, with both long breaks for both sides to huddle, since they restarted on Oct. 24.“It is something that has evolved even while we’ve been in this negotiation process,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “The capabilities of generative AI tools have expanded dramatically. So we have really been focused on making sure that the guardrails that we negotiated for were future-proof or at least future-resistant.”The other side in the negotiations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “agreement represents a new paradigm. It gives SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union.” The AMPTP said it "looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories.”Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations.The Writers Guild of America applauded Wednesday's deal. “We’re thrilled to see SAG-AFTRA members win a contract that creates new protections for performers and gives them a greater share of the immense value they create,” the union said in a statement. "When workers are united, they win!”Although the writers strike had immediate, visible effects for viewers, including the months-long suspension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-late-night-shows-return-negotiations-1ddcaa8c4684375f8e56d2cd2abd62ea">late-night talk shows</a>&nbsp;and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saturday-night-live-returns-a3c0feb411b8f673797fb1d4fdc2546b">Saturday Night Live</a>,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.Actors should quickly return to movie sets where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-delayed-shows-movies-writers-42b99032bb638930df097f675b363898">productions were paused</a>, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike allows actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.“The SAG strike is over!! I can finally say it: watch my documentary Saturday night at 8 on HBO/MAX!” actor-director&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks">Albert Brooks said on social media</a>&nbsp;moments after the strike ended. “Couldn’t say a word until now!!”The only major awards show directly effected by the strike was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmys</a>, which was moved from September to January. Now, the usual fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oscars">Oscar</a>&nbsp;campaigns will mobilize.But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in three years.Union leaders treated the strike like a watershed moment from the start, coming as it did amid wider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-mack-union-ford-gm-stellantis-volvo-e55c1b1efc5b0d0a6e01b4f57d7da08a">labor fights</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kaiser-health-care-workers-strike-b8b40ce8c082c0b8c4f1c0fb7ec38741">other industries</a>.“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told AP</a>&nbsp;in August.The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who were left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.“The idea that I get to discover if I still remember how to act is very exciting,” said actor Ely Henry, who has spent the past months leading pickets outside Paramount Pictures as a strike captain. “I’m just grateful for the fact that so many people are going to get back to work.”-------------------LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s actors union reached a tentative deal with studios Wednesday to end its strike, bringing a close to months of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">labor strife</a>&nbsp;that ground the entertainment industry to a historic halt.The three-year contract agreement must be approved by votes from the union’s board and its members in the coming days, but the leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.More than 60,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. Studios chose to negotiate with the writers first, striking a deal that their leadership marked as a major win and bringing their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.The terms of the agreement were not immediately released. SAG-AFTRA said details would be made public after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-writers-strike-explained-05a2e9439eee5146474b1b538ff9ada6">Issues on the table</a>&nbsp;included both short-term compensation and future royalty payments for film and TV performances, along with control over actors’ images and likenesses regenerated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699493495908.png" alt="Photo courtesy SAG-AFTRA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy SAG-AFTRA</figcaption>
 </figure>Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations, which like all Hollywood union talks were led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>.Although the writers strike had immediate, visible effects for viewers, including the months-long suspension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-late-night-shows-return-negotiations-1ddcaa8c4684375f8e56d2cd2abd62ea">late-night talk shows</a>&nbsp;and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saturday-night-live-returns-a3c0feb411b8f673797fb1d4fdc2546b">Saturday Night Live</a>,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.Actors should quickly return to movie sets where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-delayed-shows-movies-writers-42b99032bb638930df097f675b363898">productions were paused</a>, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike allows actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.“The SAG strike is over!! I can finally say it: watch my documentary Saturday night at 8 on HBO/MAX!” actor-director&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks">Albert Brooks said on social media</a>&nbsp;moments after the strike ended. “Couldn’t say a word until now!!”The only major awards show directly effected by the strike was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmys</a>, which was moved from September to January. Now, the usual fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oscars">Oscar</a>&nbsp;campaigns will mobilize.But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in just a few years.Union leaders treated the strike like a watershed moment from the start, coming as it did amid wider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-mack-union-ford-gm-stellantis-volvo-e55c1b1efc5b0d0a6e01b4f57d7da08a">labor fights</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kaiser-health-care-workers-strike-b8b40ce8c082c0b8c4f1c0fb7ec38741">other industries</a>.“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in an August interview.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Duncan Crabtree-Ireland</a>, the executive director and chief negotiator who led the team that struck the deal for the guild, told the AP in August that he was “honored to be part of making sure that our members get a fair contract that’s going to protect them going into the future and make sure that the 14-year-olds I talked to on the Disney picket line still have the ability to be an actor when they turn 18.”The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who have left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.