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

Just before 7:30a.m. Saturday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 11500 Block of Pawnee Circcle in Leawood, according to a media release.

First responders found heavy fire coming from the rear of the residence. Crews were able to bring the fire under control just before 9a.m and out just before 11a.m.

A preliminary damage estimate is $1 million to the structure and&nbsp; $500,000 to contents. Occupants were able to escape without injury. One firefighter sustained a minor injury.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of weekend Kansas house fire.Just before 7:30a.m. Saturday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 11500 Block of Pawnee Circcle in Leawood, according to a media release.First responders found heavy fire coming from the rear of the residence. Crews were able to bring the fire under control just before 9a.m and out just before 11a.m.A preliminary damage estimate is $1 million to the structure and&nbsp; $500,000 to contents. Occupants were able to escape without injury. One firefighter sustained a minor injury.

 $1 million in damage after fire at Kansas home

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration redesignation of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists went into effect over the weekend, according to the U.S. Department of State.

The move was announced by the White House 30 day ago and comes as the Houthis continue to launch attacks.&nbsp; Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza</a>. They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:

"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation."

"The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms."

"The designation was delayed 30 days, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people," according to Sullivan.

Meanwhile, between 3 and 8:00 p.m. (Sanaa time), Saturday U.S. forces successfully conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23.

CENTCOM identified the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned underwater vessel, and the unmanned surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698021282699.png" alt="File Sec. of State Antony Blinken and President Biden -photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File Sec. of State Antony Blinken and President Biden -photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The Biden administration redesignation of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists went into effect over the weekend, according to the U.S. Department of State.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708226450978.png" alt="The official designation was delayed 30 days for humanitarian reasons." />
 <figcaption>The official designation was delayed 30 days for humanitarian reasons.</figcaption>
 </figure>The move was announced by the White House 30 day ago and comes as the Houthis continue to launch attacks.&nbsp; Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza</a>. They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for trade among Asia, the Mideast and Europe.&nbsp;According to a statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:"These attacks fit the textbook definition of terrorism.&nbsp; They have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized global trade, and threatened freedom of navigation.""The United States and the international community have been united in our response and in condemning these attacks in the strongest terms.""The designation was delayed 30 days, to allow us to ensure robust humanitarian carve outs are in place so our action targets the Houthis and not the people of Yemen. We are rolling out unprecedented carve outs and licenses to help prevent adverse impacts on the Yemeni people," according to Sullivan.Meanwhile, between 3 and 8:00 p.m. (Sanaa time), Saturday U.S. forces successfully conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23.CENTCOM identified the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned underwater vessel, and the unmanned surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.&nbsp;

US designation of Houthis as terror group now in effect  

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex allegations.

Following an investigation, on Feb. 14, deputies and Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol arrested 44-year-old Jay Leonard Stewart of. Holton at a Topeka motel, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Steward was&nbsp;arrested on a Jackson County District Court warrant and booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under 14 years of age. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708012043826.png" alt="Stewart -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Stewart -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex allegations.Following an investigation, on Feb. 14, deputies and Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol arrested 44-year-old Jay Leonard Stewart of. Holton at a Topeka motel, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Steward was&nbsp;arrested on a Jackson County District Court warrant and booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under 14 years of age.

Deputies, Troopers make child sex crime arrest at Kansas motel

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations.

Just after 8p.m February 8, a sheriff's deputy conducted a routine traffic stop on US Highway 75 three miles south of Independence, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.

The deputy identified the driver as Erika Williams and the passenger as Codaniel Jones both of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Further investigation revealed that Williams did not possess a valid driver's license, while Jones was found to have an outstanding warrant for Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Threat in Montgomery County.

The Caney Police Department’s K9 unit, with Police Service Dog Ozzy detected the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. 

The search yielded over 13 grams of methamphetamine and several ecstasy pills.Both Williams and Jones were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. They face numerous requested charges, including possession and distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and related traffic violations, according to Wade.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708293202058.png" alt="Jones-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations.Just after 8p.m February 8, a sheriff's deputy conducted a routine traffic stop on US Highway 75 three miles south of Independence, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.The deputy identified the driver as Erika Williams and the passenger as Codaniel Jones both of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708293156222.png" alt="Williams-photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>Further investigation revealed that Williams did not possess a valid driver's license, while Jones was found to have an outstanding warrant for Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Threat in Montgomery County.The Caney Police Department’s K9 unit, with Police Service Dog Ozzy detected the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. The search yielded over 13 grams of methamphetamine and several ecstasy pills.Both Williams and Jones were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. They face numerous requested charges, including possession and distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and related traffic violations, according to Wade.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police K9 helps catch wanted Kansas burglary suspect

KANSAS CITY (AP) — How much choice is too much?

Apparently for Coca-Cola, it's about 400 different types of drinks.

That's why the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/coca-cola-laying-off-2-200-workers-as-it-pares-brands-e3364940775d662b92f78fb97c8af5da">beverage company recently decided to discontinue half of them</a>, shedding brands like Tab, Zico coconut water, Diet Coke Feisty Cherry and Odwalla juices but still leaving about 200 others to choose from.

It's a move that other businesses are making as well, reducing the variety of offerings from mayonnaise to cereals to cars and instead focusing on what they think will sell best.

Stew Leonard’s, a supermarket chain that operates stores in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, now has 24 cereal flavors or types, down from 49 in 2019. Edgewell Personal Care Co., the maker of Schick razors and Banana Boat suntan lotion, has trimmed certain varieties of its anti-bacteria wipes Wet Ones, among others. And Dollar General, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, used to stock six different kinds of mayonnaise on its shelves and is now looking to drop a couple of them.

“The consumer is not going to know the difference,” Todd J. Vasos, CEO of Dollar General, told analysts in December. “Actually, it’s going to make her life a little simpler when she goes to the shelf.”

Just a year ago, Kohl's store in Clifton, New Jersey had tables stacked high with sweaters and shirts in a rainbow of colors as well as dress racks crammed with a wide assortment of styles. Now, it boasts a more edited approach — tables have slim piles of knit shirts that focus on fewer colors, and many dress racks have been reduced to just three or four styles.

Under its new CEO Tom Kingsbury, Kohl's has been cutting back on the colors and variations of sweaters, jeans and other items, while sending their buyers into the New York market more frequently to bring in fresh trendy merchandise.

“We would go out, and we would buy a lot of goods and it would come in 12, 14 months later, and it didn’t perform very well,” Kingsbury told analysts in a call in November. “We're going to be using the marketplace, so that we can react to the business quickly, getting into trends.”

“It’s pretty organized,” said Kimberly Ribeiro, 30, who was at the Kohl's store on a recent Friday. “If it’s not so cluttered, then you don’t get overwhelmed.”

Even in the auto world, shoppers are finding fewer choices. Both General Motors and Ford have been touting how they are limiting the number of option combinations customers can get on their vehicles to reduce manufacturing and purchasing complexity.

That's a reversal from a few years ago when there was an explosion of choices, encouraged in part by online shopping that paid no mind to space constraints. But that didn't always lead to sales so companies started pruning selections a year or two before the pandemic.

During the pandemic, the pruning only accelerated, with companies focusing on necessities as they wrestled with supply chain clogs. But even after the pandemic, when goods began moving freely again, many businesses decided less was better and justified the limited selection by asserting shoppers don't want so much choice. It's also more profitable for companies because they're not carrying over as many leftovers that need to be discounted.

Overall, new items accounted for about 2% of products in stores in 2023 across categories such as beauty, footwear, technology and toys, down from 5% of items in 2019, says market-research firm Circana.

Eric O’Toole, president of Edgewell’s North America division, noted the pandemic presented “a really valuable stimulus” for reassessing assortment.

“We avoid jumping on fads, as the supply chain and retailer costs required to support getting to shelf typically don’t generate a return in the end," O'Toole said. "A tighter, more curated portfolio supports healthy profit management. ”

Many think they're also doing shoppers a favor, with studies showing that fewer choices, not lots of variety, actually encourage shoppers to buy more.

In 2000, psychologists Sheena Lyengar and Mark Lepper published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCOlPLXb9s">study</a>&nbsp;that showed limited selection is better for the shopper. In their experiment, Lyengar and Lepper found consumers were 10 times more likely to purchase jam on display when the number of jams available was cut down from 24 to 6 even though they were more likely to stop at the display offering more selection. Subsequent studies have confirmed this phenomenon.

“Retailers are recognizing that they have to be respectful of shoppers' time,” said Paco Underhill whose company, Envirosell, studies consumer behavior.

Still, retailers can't just slash products willy-nilly, said David Berliner, who leads the business restructuring and turnaround practice at BDO.

“You want to make these cuts so they’re not even aware of it, and you want the store to still look full," Berliner said. “If you do it too much, you might scare some away."

Berliner also believes reducing variety may also hurt smaller brands who relied on retailers to offer different products — and will send shoppers like Bob Friedland to other competitors.

The 48-year-old communications consultant from Little Falls, New Jersey said that for years, his go-to barbecue sauce has been Open Pit. But Friedland noticed that over the past few years, his local grocers hadn't been carrying it, and he's since turned to Amazon to buy it. That means those local stores not only lost out on Open Pit sales to Friedland. but all the other purchases he used to make while shopping for his favorite barbecue sauce.

“I really don’t love the idea of a retailer telling me what I should and should not be interested in,” Friedland said. “I like variety. I like specific brands.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — How much choice is too much?Apparently for Coca-Cola, it's about 400 different types of drinks.That's why the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/coca-cola-laying-off-2-200-workers-as-it-pares-brands-e3364940775d662b92f78fb97c8af5da">beverage company recently decided to discontinue half of them</a>, shedding brands like Tab, Zico coconut water, Diet Coke Feisty Cherry and Odwalla juices but still leaving about 200 others to choose from.It's a move that other businesses are making as well, reducing the variety of offerings from mayonnaise to cereals to cars and instead focusing on what they think will sell best.Stew Leonard’s, a supermarket chain that operates stores in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, now has 24 cereal flavors or types, down from 49 in 2019. Edgewell Personal Care Co., the maker of Schick razors and Banana Boat suntan lotion, has trimmed certain varieties of its anti-bacteria wipes Wet Ones, among others. And Dollar General, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, used to stock six different kinds of mayonnaise on its shelves and is now looking to drop a couple of them.“The consumer is not going to know the difference,” Todd J. Vasos, CEO of Dollar General, told analysts in December. “Actually, it’s going to make her life a little simpler when she goes to the shelf.”Just a year ago, Kohl's store in Clifton, New Jersey had tables stacked high with sweaters and shirts in a rainbow of colors as well as dress racks crammed with a wide assortment of styles. Now, it boasts a more edited approach — tables have slim piles of knit shirts that focus on fewer colors, and many dress racks have been reduced to just three or four styles.Under its new CEO Tom Kingsbury, Kohl's has been cutting back on the colors and variations of sweaters, jeans and other items, while sending their buyers into the New York market more frequently to bring in fresh trendy merchandise.“We would go out, and we would buy a lot of goods and it would come in 12, 14 months later, and it didn’t perform very well,” Kingsbury told analysts in a call in November. “We're going to be using the marketplace, so that we can react to the business quickly, getting into trends.”Some customers like the changes so far.“It’s pretty organized,” said Kimberly Ribeiro, 30, who was at the Kohl's store on a recent Friday. “If it’s not so cluttered, then you don’t get overwhelmed.”Even in the auto world, shoppers are finding fewer choices. Both General Motors and Ford have been touting how they are limiting the number of option combinations customers can get on their vehicles to reduce manufacturing and purchasing complexity.That's a reversal from a few years ago when there was an explosion of choices, encouraged in part by online shopping that paid no mind to space constraints. But that didn't always lead to sales so companies started pruning selections a year or two before the pandemic.During the pandemic, the pruning only accelerated, with companies focusing on necessities as they wrestled with supply chain clogs. But even after the pandemic, when goods began moving freely again, many businesses decided less was better and justified the limited selection by asserting shoppers don't want so much choice. It's also more profitable for companies because they're not carrying over as many leftovers that need to be discounted.Overall, new items accounted for about 2% of products in stores in 2023 across categories such as beauty, footwear, technology and toys, down from 5% of items in 2019, says market-research firm Circana.Eric O’Toole, president of Edgewell’s North America division, noted the pandemic presented “a really valuable stimulus” for reassessing assortment.“We avoid jumping on fads, as the supply chain and retailer costs required to support getting to shelf typically don’t generate a return in the end," O'Toole said. "A tighter, more curated portfolio supports healthy profit management. ”Many think they're also doing shoppers a favor, with studies showing that fewer choices, not lots of variety, actually encourage shoppers to buy more.In 2000, psychologists Sheena Lyengar and Mark Lepper published a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCOlPLXb9s">study</a>&nbsp;that showed limited selection is better for the shopper. In their experiment, Lyengar and Lepper found consumers were 10 times more likely to purchase jam on display when the number of jams available was cut down from 24 to 6 even though they were more likely to stop at the display offering more selection. Subsequent studies have confirmed this phenomenon.“Retailers are recognizing that they have to be respectful of shoppers' time,” said Paco Underhill whose company, Envirosell, studies consumer behavior.Still, retailers can't just slash products willy-nilly, said David Berliner, who leads the business restructuring and turnaround practice at BDO.“You want to make these cuts so they’re not even aware of it, and you want the store to still look full," Berliner said. “If you do it too much, you might scare some away."Berliner also believes reducing variety may also hurt smaller brands who relied on retailers to offer different products — and will send shoppers like Bob Friedland to other competitors.The 48-year-old communications consultant from Little Falls, New Jersey said that for years, his go-to barbecue sauce has been Open Pit. But Friedland noticed that over the past few years, his local grocers hadn't been carrying it, and he's since turned to Amazon to buy it. That means those local stores not only lost out on Open Pit sales to Friedland. but all the other purchases he used to make while shopping for his favorite barbecue sauce.“I really don’t love the idea of a retailer telling me what I should and should not be interested in,” Friedland said. “I like variety. I like specific brands.”

Less is more? Consumers have fewer choices as brands prune their offerings

Companion bill pulls plug on privately owned electronic devices during school hours

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

TOPEKA — The Kansas House endorsed a $60 fine for motorists under 18 caught using a cellular telephone while driving through a school zone during periods of high pedestrian traffic and a House committee worked on a separate bill banning student use of privately owned electronic devices throughout regular school hours.

Both measures were testament to the scourge of distraction from personal cellphones, computers, tablets and texting devices tied to traffic accidents and lost focus on academics.

A bipartisan 86-30 majority voted Thursday to send House Bill 2499 to the Kansas Senate. The measure sponsored by AAA Kansas contained the 18-or-younger cellphone prohibition for drivers in school zones. It also included an all-ages ban on cellphone use when driving through road construction zones with workers present.

It would be considered evidence of a violation under the bill if an under-18 individual was observed holding a cellphone in a school zone. Law enforcement would be authorized to issue warnings until July 1, 2025, and $60 tickets after that date.

Exceptions woven into the House-passed legislation meant the limits wouldn’t apply to law enforcement or emergency personnel while on the job, a motorist stopped in a safe spot as well as a person using a hands-free device or a device permanently affixed to the vehicle. There would be no violation if a motorist used a cellphone to report illegal activity, prevent imminent injury to a person or damage to property, make a call for emergency medical assistance or relay information to a transit dispatcher.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, and House Minority Leader Vic Miller, the Topeka Democrat, agreed on necessity of a fresh enforcement tool capable of addressing distracted driving tied to cellphones.

“If you’re holding it, they got you,” Miller said about the trigger mechanism. “This is absolutely something we are behind the times on.”

Hawkins, who had shoulder surgery after someone slammed into his truck at about 100 mph on the turnpike in August, said he would have endorsed tougher sanctions for distracted driving.

“This is a reasonable bill,” Hawkins said. “I actually would support a measure that is a whole lot stronger than this.”

Republican Rep. Ken Corbet of Topeka offered an amendment — it was rejected — to lower the fine to $10. He argued the fine could be $1,000 and people would still misuse cellphones and crash.

“The House wants to send a message about what is wrong. You can still do that,” Corbet said. “You’re not going to change peoples’ behavior. Stuff just happens.”

Rep. Leo Delperdang, R-Wichita, said Corbet was dead wrong. He said the fine should be $120 and the age mandate ought to be raised to 21.

The House Education Committee conducted a public hearing on the other bill requiring Kansas school districts to adopt policies banning use of privately owned electronic communication devices during normal hours of the school day, including time in the classroom and when passing in halls.

The text of House bill 2641, sponsored by GOP Rep. Scott Hill of Abilene, would compel over 280 school districts to set disciplinary standards for students violating rules. Exceptions would be made for educational purposes authorized by a teacher or administrator and to accommodate medical needs, special education commitments and emergency incidents.

No students testified about the bill and champions of local school board control were critical of top-down government, but a small group of counselors and parents left no doubt they believed intervention was necessary to help students addicted to cellphones or social media.

Kim Whitman, an Overland Park parent of teenagers at Shawnee Mission South High School, said she co-founded the Phone-Free Schools Movement dedicated to helping youth excel academically and develop socially without hand-held distractions and pressures.

“I am extremely concerned about our kids today. Are you?” she said. “We all see them staring down at their phones at family dinners, in restaurants, while walking down the street, even when they are hanging out with a group of friends. So, what do you think they are doing at school? You got it. Staring at their phones. In class. During passing periods. At lunch. In the restroom. They cannot resist the undeniable pull of their phones.”

Blue Valley School District middle school counselors Trish Madsen and Lori Cook said they backed a statewide mandate directing districts to abide by all-day, phone-free policies.&nbsp;They said a multitude of studies linked social media saturation among young adults to anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.

“Implementing phone-free policies in schools presents an opportunity to mitigate negative issues, such as heightened levels of anxiety and stress, and create an environment conducive to learning and development,” said Stockton High School principal Lindsay Cravens and counselor Mandi Dobson.

Ann Mah, a Topeka member of the Kansas State Board of Education, said the board had no formal position on the bill banning privately owned electronic communication devices during school hours. However, she said, KSBE objected to the Legislature making policy decisions best left to locally elected school boards.

“Some local boards have already put such policies in place, and we believe the Legislature has no authority to override those policies,” Mah said. “The use of electronic communication devices in schools is something that is not a one-size-fits-all issue and does not have a one-size-fits-all answer.”

Judith Deedy of Game On for Kansas Schools said a legislatively mandated ban on personal electronic devices during free time or between class periods was an overreach.

Kansas Association of School Boards lobbyist Shannon Kimball said the House’s cellphone edict went too far.

“As clearly expressed by our members, these are exactly the kind of policy decisions that local boards of education are constitutionally charged with making,” Kimball said. “The Legislature does not need to act in this area, nor should it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708266344072.png" alt=" Rep. Scott Hill, R-Abilene, introduced a bill requiring all local school districts in Kansas forbid use of all privately owned cellphones and other communication devices during regular school hours. A separate bill passed by the House set a $60 fine for under-18 drivers who use a cellphone in a school zone. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Scott Hill, R-Abilene, introduced a bill requiring all local school districts in Kansas forbid use of all privately owned cellphones and other communication devices during regular school hours. A separate bill passed by the House set a $60 fine for under-18 drivers who use a cellphone in a school zone. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Companion bill pulls plug on privately owned electronic devices during school hours</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House endorsed a $60 fine for motorists under 18 caught using a cellular telephone while driving through a school zone during periods of high pedestrian traffic and a House committee worked on a separate bill banning student use of privately owned electronic devices throughout regular school hours.Both measures were testament to the scourge of distraction from personal cellphones, computers, tablets and texting devices tied to traffic accidents and lost focus on academics.A bipartisan 86-30 majority voted Thursday to send House Bill 2499 to the Kansas Senate. The measure sponsored by AAA Kansas contained the 18-or-younger cellphone prohibition for drivers in school zones. It also included an all-ages ban on cellphone use when driving through road construction zones with workers present.It would be considered evidence of a violation under the bill if an under-18 individual was observed holding a cellphone in a school zone. Law enforcement would be authorized to issue warnings until July 1, 2025, and $60 tickets after that date.Exceptions woven into the House-passed legislation meant the limits wouldn’t apply to law enforcement or emergency personnel while on the job, a motorist stopped in a safe spot as well as a person using a hands-free device or a device permanently affixed to the vehicle. There would be no violation if a motorist used a cellphone to report illegal activity, prevent imminent injury to a person or damage to property, make a call for emergency medical assistance or relay information to a transit dispatcher.<h2>Miller, Hawkins union</h2>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, and House Minority Leader Vic Miller, the Topeka Democrat, agreed on necessity of a fresh enforcement tool capable of addressing distracted driving tied to cellphones.“If you’re holding it, they got you,” Miller said about the trigger mechanism. “This is absolutely something we are behind the times on.”Hawkins, who had shoulder surgery after someone slammed into his truck at about 100 mph on the turnpike in August, said he would have endorsed tougher sanctions for distracted driving.“This is a reasonable bill,” Hawkins said. “I actually would support a measure that is a whole lot stronger than this.”Republican Rep. Ken Corbet of Topeka offered an amendment — it was rejected — to lower the fine to $10. He argued the fine could be $1,000 and people would still misuse cellphones and crash.“The House wants to send a message about what is wrong. You can still do that,” Corbet said. “You’re not going to change peoples’ behavior. Stuff just happens.”Rep. Leo Delperdang, R-Wichita, said Corbet was dead wrong. He said the fine should be $120 and the age mandate ought to be raised to 21.<h2>Cellphone ban</h2>The House Education Committee conducted a public hearing on the other bill requiring Kansas school districts to adopt policies banning use of privately owned electronic communication devices during normal hours of the school day, including time in the classroom and when passing in halls.The text of House bill 2641, sponsored by GOP Rep. Scott Hill of Abilene, would compel over 280 school districts to set disciplinary standards for students violating rules. Exceptions would be made for educational purposes authorized by a teacher or administrator and to accommodate medical needs, special education commitments and emergency incidents.No students testified about the bill and champions of local school board control were critical of top-down government, but a small group of counselors and parents left no doubt they believed intervention was necessary to help students addicted to cellphones or social media.Kim Whitman, an Overland Park parent of teenagers at Shawnee Mission South High School, said she co-founded the Phone-Free Schools Movement dedicated to helping youth excel academically and develop socially without hand-held distractions and pressures.“I am extremely concerned about our kids today. Are you?” she said. “We all see them staring down at their phones at family dinners, in restaurants, while walking down the street, even when they are hanging out with a group of friends. So, what do you think they are doing at school? You got it. Staring at their phones. In class. During passing periods. At lunch. In the restroom. They cannot resist the undeniable pull of their phones.”Blue Valley School District middle school counselors Trish Madsen and Lori Cook said they backed a statewide mandate directing districts to abide by all-day, phone-free policies.&nbsp;They said a multitude of studies linked social media saturation among young adults to anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.“Implementing phone-free policies in schools presents an opportunity to mitigate negative issues, such as heightened levels of anxiety and stress, and create an environment conducive to learning and development,” said Stockton High School principal Lindsay Cravens and counselor Mandi Dobson.<h2>Legislature’s lane</h2>Ann Mah, a Topeka member of the Kansas State Board of Education, said the board had no formal position on the bill banning privately owned electronic communication devices during school hours. However, she said, KSBE objected to the Legislature making policy decisions best left to locally elected school boards.“Some local boards have already put such policies in place, and we believe the Legislature has no authority to override those policies,” Mah said. “The use of electronic communication devices in schools is something that is not a one-size-fits-all issue and does not have a one-size-fits-all answer.”Judith Deedy of Game On for Kansas Schools said a legislatively mandated ban on personal electronic devices during free time or between class periods was an overreach.Kansas Association of School Boards lobbyist Shannon Kimball said the House’s cellphone edict went too far.“As clearly expressed by our members, these are exactly the kind of policy decisions that local boards of education are constitutionally charged with making,” Kimball said. “The Legislature does not need to act in this area, nor should it.”

Kansas House writes ticket for under-18 drivers nabbed using a cellphone in school zones

SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Wichita, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

A 2023 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Ryan C&nbsp;Deville, 29, Wichita, was eastbound at 1332 MacArthur just west of Seneca Street in the left lane.

The SUV struck a pedestrian identified as 51-year-old Jeffrey M. Moss of Wichita who was walking northbound across MacArthur and was struck within the left lane. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the&nbsp;Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Center.&nbsp;

Deville was not injured and properly restrained. The KHP released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708229352828.png" alt="Near the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Near the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Wichita, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.A 2023 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Ryan C&nbsp;Deville, 29, Wichita, was eastbound at 1332 MacArthur just west of Seneca Street in the left lane.The SUV struck a pedestrian identified as 51-year-old Jeffrey M. Moss of Wichita who was walking northbound across MacArthur and was struck within the left lane. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the&nbsp;Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Center.&nbsp;Deville was not injured and properly restrained. The KHP released no additional details.

KHP IDs man who died after struck by police SUV

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;made a highly unusual stop Saturday, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at “Sneaker Con,” a gathering that bills itself as the “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth.”

Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Center as he introduced what he called the first official <a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">Trump footwear.</a>

The shoes, shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as “Never Surrender High-Tops” for $399 on a new <a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">website </a>that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and “Victory47” cologne and perfume for $99 a bottle. He’d be the 47th president if elected again.

<a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">The website says</a> it has no connection to Trump’s campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts.

The unannounced launch came a day after a judge in New York&nbsp;ordered Trump and his company to pay a whopping $355 million in penalties, finding that the former president lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements.

<a href="https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/452564_2022_PEOPLE_OF_THE_STATE_OF_v_PEOPLE_OF_THE_STATE_OF_DECISION_AFTER_TRIAL_1688-1.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Judge's ruling

That penalty came after Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888" target="_blank">ordered to pay an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-carroll-fines-82d423b8e7a7f9a32470729c5f4410e5" target="_blank">Trump’s legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars</a>&nbsp;— an amount it is unclear he can afford to pay.

Trump’s appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of “USA!” from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear. The dueling chants made it difficult, at times, to hear Trump speak.

Some had been given signs that read “SNEAKERHEADS LOVE TRUMP.”

“There’s a lot of emotion in this room,” Trump said of the reaction, after holding up and showing off a pair of gold shoes, then placing one on each side of his podium.

“This is something that I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think it’s going to be a big success,” he said.

As he spoke, the smell of weed occasionally wafted through the room.

Some of those who attended said they were unaware Trump would be there, and continued to shop as a crowd gathered around the stage. Many in the audience said they were not from the city and instead hailed from nearby states and Washington, D.C.

The attendees skewed younger and more diverse than Trump’s usual rally crowds. Trump’s campaign is hoping he will be able to win over more young and minority voters, particularly young Black men, in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden in November.

This isn’t the first money-making venture Trump has announced since launching his third campaign for the White House in 2022. Trump last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-financial-disclosure-filing-social-media-de11cc60d72365b01cc58f790c6005a8" target="_blank">reported making between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards</a>&nbsp;that portrayed him, through photo editing, in a series of cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero. He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-book-letters-oprah-bolsonaro-17e857db2d7c5f620ce5860f56d93fa0" target="_blank">letters written to him</a>&nbsp;through the years.

Before he ran for office, Trump hawked everything from steaks to vodka to a venture he called “Trump University.”

The new sneaker website says it is run by CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure. The website states the new venture “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”

Still, it describes the sneakers as a limited-edition, numbered “true collector’s item” that is “Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump.”

“The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form,” the description reads. “Lace-up and step out ready to conquer.”

A Trump spokesman did not respond to questions about the event, including whether Trump was paid to attend.

Among those in the crowd were Jonathen Santiago, 21, and Danea Mitchell, 20, Trump supporters who drove from Monroe County in the northeastern part of the state for the sneaker event. They said they were excited to see the former president and praised how he interacted with the crowd. They also had kind words for the sneakers.

“The red bottoms were a really nice touch,” Mitchell said.

She shrugged when asked about Trump’s legal troubles. “I think it’ll be an interesting four years if he’s found guilty, but I have no doubt he’ll be president,” she said.

Also in attendance was a group of “cheer moms” from New Jersey who said they were in town for a cheerleading event and decided to stop by for a chance to see Trump.

Karla Burke, 48, said she heard some people booing and making noise, but that most people around her had been supporters. “At the front was a different vibe,” she said.

As for Friday’s penalty in Trump’s civil fraud trial, Burke said it doesn’t change her support. “I think it was unfair,” she said. “They’re just going after him so he’s not the Republican candidate.”

Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler slammed the appearance, saying: “Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest he’ll get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life.”

Trump flew from Philadelphia to Michigan, where he held a rally in the suburbs of Detroit and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-2024-campaign-fraud-ruling-f264eac7cbba97c4e83919642d42bc97" target="_blank">railed against Friday’s judgment</a>, which he has vowed to appeal. Both Pennsylvania and Michigan are expected to be critical battleground states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708263577122.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As he closes in on the Republican presidential nomination,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;made a highly unusual stop Saturday, hawking new Trump-branded sneakers at “Sneaker Con,” a gathering that bills itself as the “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth.”Trump was met with loud boos as well as cheers at the Philadelphia Convention Center as he introduced what he called the first official <a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">Trump footwear.</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump takes the stage at <a href="https://twitter.com/SneakerCon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SneakerCon</a> with GOLD sneakers in hand!! <a href="https://t.co/XUrrmpmxio">pic.twitter.com/XUrrmpmxio</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margommartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margommartin/status/1758958014080438720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shoes, shiny gold high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold as “Never Surrender High-Tops” for $399 on a new <a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">website </a>that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and “Victory47” cologne and perfume for $99 a bottle. He’d be the 47th president if elected again.<a href="https://gettrumpsneakers.com/">The website says</a> it has no connection to Trump’s campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SOLD OUT. The Never Surrender High-Tops are Officially Sold Out. Thank You!<a href="https://t.co/RkMRexkS7w">https://t.co/RkMRexkS7w</a> <a href="https://t.co/vNixKu61R8">pic.twitter.com/vNixKu61R8</a>&mdash; GetTrumpSneakers (@TrumpSneakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpSneakers/status/1758986524702429189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The unannounced launch came a day after a judge in New York&nbsp;ordered Trump and his company to pay a whopping $355 million in penalties, finding that the former president lied about his wealth for years, scheming to dupe banks, insurers and others by inflating his wealth on financial statements.<a href="https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/452564_2022_PEOPLE_OF_THE_STATE_OF_v_PEOPLE_OF_THE_STATE_OF_DECISION_AFTER_TRIAL_1688-1.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Judge's rulingThat penalty came after Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888" target="_blank">ordered to pay an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;to the writer E. Jean Carroll for damaging her reputation after she accused him of sexual assault. With interest payments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-carroll-fines-82d423b8e7a7f9a32470729c5f4410e5" target="_blank">Trump’s legal debts might now exceed a half-billion dollars</a>&nbsp;— an amount it is unclear he can afford to pay.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708263707417.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Donald Trump for President Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s appearance was met with clashing boos from his detractors and chants of “USA!” from supporters who arrived at the sneaker event decked out in Trump gear. The dueling chants made it difficult, at times, to hear Trump speak.Some had been given signs that read “SNEAKERHEADS LOVE TRUMP.”“There’s a lot of emotion in this room,” Trump said of the reaction, after holding up and showing off a pair of gold shoes, then placing one on each side of his podium.“This is something that I’ve been talking about for 12 years, 13 years. And I think it’s going to be a big success,” he said.As he spoke, the smell of weed occasionally wafted through the room.Some of those who attended said they were unaware Trump would be there, and continued to shop as a crowd gathered around the stage. Many in the audience said they were not from the city and instead hailed from nearby states and Washington, D.C.The attendees skewed younger and more diverse than Trump’s usual rally crowds. Trump’s campaign is hoping he will be able to win over more young and minority voters, particularly young Black men, in a likely rematch against President Joe Biden in November.This isn’t the first money-making venture Trump has announced since launching his third campaign for the White House in 2022. Trump last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-financial-disclosure-filing-social-media-de11cc60d72365b01cc58f790c6005a8" target="_blank">reported making between $100,000 and $1 million from a series of digital trading cards</a>&nbsp;that portrayed him, through photo editing, in a series of cartoon-like images, including as an astronaut, a cowboy and a superhero. He has also released books featuring photos of his time in office and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-book-letters-oprah-bolsonaro-17e857db2d7c5f620ce5860f56d93fa0" target="_blank">letters written to him</a>&nbsp;through the years.Before he ran for office, Trump hawked everything from steaks to vodka to a venture he called “Trump University.”The new sneaker website says it is run by CIC Ventures LLC, a company that Trump reported owning in his 2023 financial disclosure. The website states the new venture “is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign.”Still, it describes the sneakers as a limited-edition, numbered “true collector’s item” that is “Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump.”“The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form,” the description reads. “Lace-up and step out ready to conquer.”A Trump spokesman did not respond to questions about the event, including whether Trump was paid to attend.Among those in the crowd were Jonathen Santiago, 21, and Danea Mitchell, 20, Trump supporters who drove from Monroe County in the northeastern part of the state for the sneaker event. They said they were excited to see the former president and praised how he interacted with the crowd. They also had kind words for the sneakers.“The red bottoms were a really nice touch,” Mitchell said.She shrugged when asked about Trump’s legal troubles. “I think it’ll be an interesting four years if he’s found guilty, but I have no doubt he’ll be president,” she said.Also in attendance was a group of “cheer moms” from New Jersey who said they were in town for a cheerleading event and decided to stop by for a chance to see Trump.Karla Burke, 48, said she heard some people booing and making noise, but that most people around her had been supporters. “At the front was a different vibe,” she said.As for Friday’s penalty in Trump’s civil fraud trial, Burke said it doesn’t change her support. “I think it was unfair,” she said. “They’re just going after him so he’s not the Republican candidate.”Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler slammed the appearance, saying: “Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg Off-Whites is the closest he’ll get to any Air Force Ones ever again for the rest of his life.”Trump flew from Philadelphia to Michigan, where he held a rally in the suburbs of Detroit and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-2024-campaign-fraud-ruling-f264eac7cbba97c4e83919642d42bc97" target="_blank">railed against Friday’s judgment</a>, which he has vowed to appeal. Both Pennsylvania and Michigan are expected to be critical battleground states.<h2>___</h2>

Trump hawks $399 shoes after a $355M ruling against him

JERUSALEM (AP) — The families of two Palestinian-American teenagers killed in separate but eerily similar incidents in the West Bank say investigators from the American Embassy have visited their homes to look into the shootings.

Launching American probes into the killings of Mohammad Khdour and Tawfic Abdel Jabbar reflects what appears to be a lack of confidence in the Israeli justice system to properly investigate the cases. Rights groups have long said that Israeli investigations into killings of Palestinians rarely lead to prosecutions, and the State Department has previously called for an “expeditious" and "thorough” Israeli investigation into Abdel Jabbar's killing.

Both shootings happened as the Biden administration signals a desire to crack down on settler violence in the volatile territory.

Khdour, who was born in Hollywood, Florida, was shot last Saturday while driving with a cousin on a hillside in Biddu, the town just outside of Jerusalem where Khdour had lived since the age of 2, relatives said.

Seeking some fresh air after studying, Khdour joined the cousin on a drive to the forested hillside where villagers often barbecued, his brother Hamed Khdour said.

In videos and photos taken before the shooting and seen by The Associated Press, the boys joked around, taking photos of each other for social media and eating chocolate-covered waffles.

The boys were returning to the village, Hamed said, when they heard gunfire. At least one shot came through the car window, hitting Mohammad squarely in the head.

Hamed said his cousin told the family that the shots came from a white Mitsubishi with an Israeli license plate parked on a road below the hill, a vehicle that villagers said they had seen before. Hamed said the car was across the security fence separating Biddu from Israeli territory. The cousin then managed to escape and run back to the village.

A video taken directly after the incident and seen by The Associated Press showed a group of men pulling a body out of the car, littered with shattered glass and stained with blood. Hamed said Mohammad was pronounced dead at a Ramallah hospital late Saturday night.

Ahmad Khdour, Mohammad's father, said he did not know if Israel had begun investigating the case and had heard nothing from Israeli officials.

The Israeli military referred questions to the Shin Bet internal security service, which did not respond to requests for comment.

But U.S. Embassy officials visited the home and the scene of the shooting Thursday, taking pictures of the car Khdour was driving and the scene around it, Mohammad's father said. He said the officials told the family they are preparing a report on the incident.

The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it was “devastated” by the killing and called for “a quick, thorough, and transparent investigation, including full accountability.”

Khdour lived in Biddu with his mother and four brothers. He hoped to go back to the U.S. to study law once he finished his final year of high school, Hamed said.

“Mohammad was a simple kid, like any other kid. He had dreams. He loved cars,” said Hamed. “He never fought with anyone. Everyone liked him.”

The shooting came nearly a month after the killing of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, also a 17-year-old Palestinian-American shot while driving down a dirt road close to his village in the northern West Bank.

The sole passenger in the vehicle&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-teen-shooting-death-west-bank-violence-1783ff3a7fa5f65f5b792372fd093445">said the shooting was unprovoked</a>, describing apparent Israeli fire hitting the back of the vehicle before it overturned several times. The incident prompted an expression of concern from the White House and an uncommonly quick pledge from the Israeli police to investigate.

But Israeli police have still not released any new findings in the case.

A video shared with the AP by Abdel Jabbar’s father raised new questions of the police’s original theory, which never mentioned that the teen had been shot while driving.

Instead, the police said that a civilian, an off-duty police officer and a soldier had targeted people “purportedly engaged in rock-throwing activities” along a main West Bank thoroughfare.

The video, which the father said was taken moments after the shooting, shows two Israeli soldiers standing about 20 meters (yards) from the vehicle, guns cocked — indicating that soldiers were in the vicinity that day.

Abdel Jabbar's father said that Israeli investigators took the vehicle into custody for under a week before returning it.

He said that last week U.S. Embassy investigators collected medical and legal reports issued by the Ramallah prosecutor's office and the hospital that treated Abdel Jabbar.

The reports indicated that the cause of Tawfic's death was a gunshot wound to the right side of the head.

Tawfic was from Gretna, Louisiana, and had been in the West Bank for under a year. Like Khdour, he was planning to return to the U.S. for college.

In an unrelated incident, Israel arrested a 46-year-old Palestinian-American woman, also from Gretna, last week for alleged incitement in posts on social media. The woman's family says they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-west-bank-us-louisiana-ec8eb1c057217f40483e66e69fef7499">have not seen or heard from her</a>&nbsp;since.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said a week ago that he was “confident” that Ambassador Jack Lew was looking into Samaher Esmail's case, as well as circumstances around the detention of two Palestinian-Americans in Gaza that Israel says are affiliated with Hamas.

“Obviously, this is the kind of thing we take very seriously, so we’ll be talking to our Israeli counterparts and trying to get information, more context here about what happened,” he said.

The deaths come as violence surges across the occupied territory. Since the shock attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 from Gaza into southern Israel, Israel has held the West Bank in a tight grip.

Biden’s administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-middle-east-criticism-ea5685fc1ed577d3bf1b5a3aa4acf0db">provided military and diplomatic support</a>&nbsp;for Israel’s war against Hamas. Still, the administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-bank-palestinians-israel-military-raid-3deed25c4c14a5e3048778cbc79523c5">condemned rising violence by Israeli settlers</a>&nbsp;against Palestinians in the West Bank, most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-west-bank-israeli-settlers-palestinians-80f9e6be6f6a7bb75dc86360ac2fa6ce">releasing sanctions targeting four settlers</a>.

Since Oct. 7, 395 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli fire, according to Palestinian health officials. Most have been killed in clashes during near nightly Israeli army raids aimed at suspected militants.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The families of two Palestinian-American teenagers killed in separate but eerily similar incidents in the West Bank say investigators from the American Embassy have visited their homes to look into the shootings.Launching American probes into the killings of Mohammad Khdour and Tawfic Abdel Jabbar reflects what appears to be a lack of confidence in the Israeli justice system to properly investigate the cases. Rights groups have long said that Israeli investigations into killings of Palestinians rarely lead to prosecutions, and the State Department has previously called for an “expeditious" and "thorough” Israeli investigation into Abdel Jabbar's killing.Both shootings happened as the Biden administration signals a desire to crack down on settler violence in the volatile territory.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are devastated by the killing of 17-year-old U.S. citizen Mohammad Ahmad Khdour. The United States has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens. We urgently call for a quick, thorough, and transparent investigation, including full accountability. <a href="https://t.co/RqIXdWG3sj">pic.twitter.com/RqIXdWG3sj</a>&mdash; U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (@USPalAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/USPalAffairs/status/1757841809235984635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Khdour, who was born in Hollywood, Florida, was shot last Saturday while driving with a cousin on a hillside in Biddu, the town just outside of Jerusalem where Khdour had lived since the age of 2, relatives said.Seeking some fresh air after studying, Khdour joined the cousin on a drive to the forested hillside where villagers often barbecued, his brother Hamed Khdour said.In videos and photos taken before the shooting and seen by The Associated Press, the boys joked around, taking photos of each other for social media and eating chocolate-covered waffles.The boys were returning to the village, Hamed said, when they heard gunfire. At least one shot came through the car window, hitting Mohammad squarely in the head.Hamed said his cousin told the family that the shots came from a white Mitsubishi with an Israeli license plate parked on a road below the hill, a vehicle that villagers said they had seen before. Hamed said the car was across the security fence separating Biddu from Israeli territory. The cousin then managed to escape and run back to the village.A video taken directly after the incident and seen by The Associated Press showed a group of men pulling a body out of the car, littered with shattered glass and stained with blood. Hamed said Mohammad was pronounced dead at a Ramallah hospital late Saturday night.Ahmad Khdour, Mohammad's father, said he did not know if Israel had begun investigating the case and had heard nothing from Israeli officials.The Israeli military referred questions to the Shin Bet internal security service, which did not respond to requests for comment.But U.S. Embassy officials visited the home and the scene of the shooting Thursday, taking pictures of the car Khdour was driving and the scene around it, Mohammad's father said. He said the officials told the family they are preparing a report on the incident.The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it was “devastated” by the killing and called for “a quick, thorough, and transparent investigation, including full accountability.”Khdour lived in Biddu with his mother and four brothers. He hoped to go back to the U.S. to study law once he finished his final year of high school, Hamed said.“Mohammad was a simple kid, like any other kid. He had dreams. He loved cars,” said Hamed. “He never fought with anyone. Everyone liked him.”The shooting came nearly a month after the killing of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, also a 17-year-old Palestinian-American shot while driving down a dirt road close to his village in the northern West Bank.The sole passenger in the vehicle&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-teen-shooting-death-west-bank-violence-1783ff3a7fa5f65f5b792372fd093445">said the shooting was unprovoked</a>, describing apparent Israeli fire hitting the back of the vehicle before it overturned several times. The incident prompted an expression of concern from the White House and an uncommonly quick pledge from the Israeli police to investigate.But Israeli police have still not released any new findings in the case.A video shared with the AP by Abdel Jabbar’s father raised new questions of the police’s original theory, which never mentioned that the teen had been shot while driving.Instead, the police said that a civilian, an off-duty police officer and a soldier had targeted people “purportedly engaged in rock-throwing activities” along a main West Bank thoroughfare.The video, which the father said was taken moments after the shooting, shows two Israeli soldiers standing about 20 meters (yards) from the vehicle, guns cocked — indicating that soldiers were in the vicinity that day.Abdel Jabbar's father said that Israeli investigators took the vehicle into custody for under a week before returning it.He said that last week U.S. Embassy investigators collected medical and legal reports issued by the Ramallah prosecutor's office and the hospital that treated Abdel Jabbar.The reports indicated that the cause of Tawfic's death was a gunshot wound to the right side of the head.Tawfic was from Gretna, Louisiana, and had been in the West Bank for under a year. Like Khdour, he was planning to return to the U.S. for college.In an unrelated incident, Israel arrested a 46-year-old Palestinian-American woman, also from Gretna, last week for alleged incitement in posts on social media. The woman's family says they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-west-bank-us-louisiana-ec8eb1c057217f40483e66e69fef7499">have not seen or heard from her</a>&nbsp;since.National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said a week ago that he was “confident” that Ambassador Jack Lew was looking into Samaher Esmail's case, as well as circumstances around the detention of two Palestinian-Americans in Gaza that Israel says are affiliated with Hamas.“Obviously, this is the kind of thing we take very seriously, so we’ll be talking to our Israeli counterparts and trying to get information, more context here about what happened,” he said.The deaths come as violence surges across the occupied territory. Since the shock attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 from Gaza into southern Israel, Israel has held the West Bank in a tight grip.Biden’s administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-middle-east-criticism-ea5685fc1ed577d3bf1b5a3aa4acf0db">provided military and diplomatic support</a>&nbsp;for Israel’s war against Hamas. Still, the administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-bank-palestinians-israel-military-raid-3deed25c4c14a5e3048778cbc79523c5">condemned rising violence by Israeli settlers</a>&nbsp;against Palestinians in the West Bank, most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-west-bank-israeli-settlers-palestinians-80f9e6be6f6a7bb75dc86360ac2fa6ce">releasing sanctions targeting four settlers</a>.Since Oct. 7, 395 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli fire, according to Palestinian health officials. Most have been killed in clashes during near nightly Israeli army raids aimed at suspected militants.

US investigators visit homes of Palestinian-American teens killed in the West Bank

DOUGLAS COUNTY — A&nbsp; jury this month found Austin W. Kidder, 32, of Olathe, guilty of aggravated domestic battery in the strangling of a Lawrence woman, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

“Thank you to the survivor for reporting this crime and seeking justice,” District Attorney Valdez said. “Ensuring the safety of one another in our community is our shared responsibility and I am grateful to our community for meeting this challenge.”

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on or about August 16, 2022, when Kidder strangled the then 33-year-old Lawrence woman, who had been in a dating relationship with Kidder. At his trial, Kidder also was convicted of criminal damage to property, a class B non-person misdemeanor, for damaging the woman’s mobile phone.

Kidder’s sentencing is scheduled for March 29.

For his aggravated domestic battery conviction, Kidder faces between 11 and 34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. For the criminal damage to property conviction, Kidder faces up to six months in the county jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707507622347.png" alt="Kidder-photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Kidder-photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY — A&nbsp; jury this month found Austin W. Kidder, 32, of Olathe, guilty of aggravated domestic battery in the strangling of a Lawrence woman, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.“Thank you to the survivor for reporting this crime and seeking justice,” District Attorney Valdez said. “Ensuring the safety of one another in our community is our shared responsibility and I am grateful to our community for meeting this challenge.”Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on or about August 16, 2022, when Kidder strangled the then 33-year-old Lawrence woman, who had been in a dating relationship with Kidder. At his trial, Kidder also was convicted of criminal damage to property, a class B non-person misdemeanor, for damaging the woman’s mobile phone.Kidder’s sentencing is scheduled for March 29.For his aggravated domestic battery conviction, Kidder faces between 11 and 34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. For the criminal damage to property conviction, Kidder faces up to six months in the county jail.

Kansas man guilty in violent attack on girlfriend

By NATE KING Salina Post

Salina Police Officers responded to an arson-related dispute at a local motel earlier this week after receiving a call from a man whose pants were set on fire.&nbsp;

At 10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 15, police responded to 453 South Broadway Blvd. and spoke with a 48-year-old male victim, from Salina. Officers learned that a 38-year-old Salina woman, identified as Kelsey Hathaway, set fire to the victim's jeans shortly before officers arrived.

"She [Hathaway] was sitting on the floor next to him and she lit his pants on fire," Feldman said. "We think she used a lighter and his pants were on fire for about 30 seconds." The male victim was not injured as a result of the fire and did not require medical treatment.&nbsp;

Feldman said Hathaway was taken into custody, and transported to Salina Regional Health Center to be checked out.&nbsp;

"While at the hospital, Hathaway got upset at a 23-year-old nurse and spit on the nurse hitting her in the face and upper body," Feldman said.&nbsp;

Feldman said both parties told officers that they had been drinking alcohol before the incident occurred.&nbsp; Hathaway was jailed on requested charges include aggravated arson and battery.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708089645466.jpeg" alt="Hathaway-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hathaway-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostSalina Police Officers responded to an arson-related dispute at a local motel earlier this week after receiving a call from a man whose pants were set on fire.&nbsp;At 10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 15, police responded to 453 South Broadway Blvd. and spoke with a 48-year-old male victim, from Salina. Officers learned that a 38-year-old Salina woman, identified as Kelsey Hathaway, set fire to the victim's jeans shortly before officers arrived."She [Hathaway] was sitting on the floor next to him and she lit his pants on fire," Feldman said. "We think she used a lighter and his pants were on fire for about 30 seconds." The male victim was not injured as a result of the fire and did not require medical treatment.&nbsp;Feldman said Hathaway was taken into custody, and transported to Salina Regional Health Center to be checked out.&nbsp;"While at the hospital, Hathaway got upset at a 23-year-old nurse and spit on the nurse hitting her in the face and upper body," Feldman said.&nbsp;Feldman said both parties told officers that they had been drinking alcohol before the incident occurred.&nbsp; Hathaway was jailed on requested charges include aggravated arson and battery.&nbsp;

Kan. woman accused of lighting man's pants on fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a DUI crash that killed his 9-year-old son.

On Feb. 13, a judge sentenced 29-year-old Devin Saucedo to 24&nbsp;months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $9,679.86 to the Kansas Department of Transportation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In March of 2022,&nbsp; police responded to report of a three-car&nbsp; injury accident on eastbound Kellogg at Seneca, according to officer Trevor Macy.

Investigators learned a 2007&nbsp; Ford Focus driven by Saucedo was eastbound on Kellogg and side swiped a 2017 Ford F-150, causing the truck to collide with a 2004 Dodge Ram.

Saucedo lost control of the car. It struck a bridge abutment and his 9-year-old son Armani&nbsp; Saucedo was ejected. The boy was pronounced dead at the the scene, according to Macy. EMS transported his father to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Saucedo previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708201763971.png" alt="Saucedo-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Saucedo-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a DUI crash that killed his 9-year-old son.On Feb. 13, a judge sentenced 29-year-old Devin Saucedo to 24&nbsp;months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $9,679.86 to the Kansas Department of Transportation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In March of 2022,&nbsp; police responded to report of a three-car&nbsp; injury accident on eastbound Kellogg at Seneca, according to officer Trevor Macy.Investigators learned a 2007&nbsp; Ford Focus driven by Saucedo was eastbound on Kellogg and side swiped a 2017 Ford F-150, causing the truck to collide with a 2004 Dodge Ram.Saucedo lost control of the car. It struck a bridge abutment and his 9-year-old son Armani&nbsp; Saucedo was ejected. The boy was pronounced dead at the the scene, according to Macy. EMS transported his father to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Saucedo previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, according to the district attorney's office.-----------

Prison time for Kan. man in crash that killed his 9-year-old son

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>

Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” abortion seekers.

A Kansas House committee heard Wednesday from anti-abortion groups — who argued collecting data on abortion patients would allow policymakers establish programs for those who are pregnant — and abortion-rights groups that questioned the motives behind the bill.

“If true choice is to truly exist, every woman should have the opportunity to examine all of her options,” said Mackenzie Haddix, spokeswoman for Kansans For Life, adding that “there’s real information that helps us gain a better understanding of why women are choosing abortion.”

The legislation, requested by Kansans for Life, would require providers have patients rank their top reasons for seeking an abortion, such as financial difficulty, a threat to their health posed by pregnancy, or the pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.

Providers would also have to collect demographic information, including age, race, marital status, state or country of residence, highest level of education, educational attainment, and whether the patient has reported domestic violence, has a safe place to live or received financial assistance from an organization that supports individuals during pregnancy. Even if a patient declined to answer why they sought the abortion, the provider would be required to record that and their demographic information.

The bill requires that the data be confidential and would apply even to minors.

“Kansans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want politicians in their exam rooms,” said Taylor Morton of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, referencing Kansas voters’ overwhelming rejection in August 2022 of an amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution.

All the legislation would do, she said, is undermine the relationship between patients and health care providers. She said there’s “no reason for the state to demand and collect this deeply personal information from patients.”

“Patients seeking literally any other form of necessary health care are not and would never be subjected to such intrusive and personal questioning,” she said, “nor are pregnant people subjected to such questioning when they decide to carry a pregnancy to term.”

The legislation was met with skepticism from several lawmakers on the House Committee on Health and Human Services, including Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Olathe, who told a proponent of the legislation from the Alliance Defending Freedom that, based on the name of her organization, she would “think that you would be opposed to forcing women to disclose information that’s private.”

The proponent, Erica Steinmiller-Perdomo, said the legislation “is rationally related to promoting Kansas’ state interests in public health and welfare” and that the organization supports “policies that promote maternal health and safety.”

McDonald took issue with Steinmiller-Perdomo’s comments, arguing she implied that abortion is unsafe.

“Abortion is a routine, safe medical procedure, and when you keep bringing up maternal health, I think that’s a little disingenuous,” McDonald said.

Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, questioned how patients’ privacy could be protected if they reported being a victim of domestic violence or rape in a publicly released report. If a child seeks an abortion following a rape, she asked, and there aren’t many such incidents reported each year, could someone connect the dots and identify them?

“If someone is the victim of that terrible crime as a child, they should be able to go on, week therapy and heal and live a full, adult life without having their privacy invaded because they were the victim of a crime,” Clayton said.

Haddix couldn’t answer the question and asked to follow up with Clayton.

Amber Sellers, director of advocacy for Trust Women Foundation, argued the legislation would be unnecessarily burdensome.

Sellers said the right to an abortion required no more justification than the right to free speech.

“These questions are confusing, and they’re stigmatizing,” Sellers said. “They lack relevance, and they’re medically unnecessary. They’re deeply invasive.”

The committee’s chair, Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, argued collecting the information was important because a patient may seek an abortion “because she doesn’t know she has any other alternatives.”

Some patients “don’t think twice about that life,” Landwehr said. Others may be upset to learn later that there may have been another option.

Sellers said the lawmakers and advocates can’t speak to what brings someone in for an abortion “and we can’t make assumptions on what they do or don’t know.”

“I was one of those women,” Landwehr said, “and had I walked into that clinic and been given the information that there were alternatives, I would not have had my abortion. So I can speak to that.”

Landwehr said, if possible, she would ban abortion in any case except where the mother’s life is threatened or a pregnancy results from rape or incest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708028921290.png" alt=" Artwork featuring a uterus appears outside of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office in Overland Park. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Artwork featuring a uterus appears outside of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office in Overland Park. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” abortion seekers.A Kansas House committee heard Wednesday from anti-abortion groups — who argued collecting data on abortion patients would allow policymakers establish programs for those who are pregnant — and abortion-rights groups that questioned the motives behind the bill.“If true choice is to truly exist, every woman should have the opportunity to examine all of her options,” said Mackenzie Haddix, spokeswoman for Kansans For Life, adding that “there’s real information that helps us gain a better understanding of why women are choosing abortion.”The legislation, requested by Kansans for Life, would require providers have patients rank their top reasons for seeking an abortion, such as financial difficulty, a threat to their health posed by pregnancy, or the pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.Providers would also have to collect demographic information, including age, race, marital status, state or country of residence, highest level of education, educational attainment, and whether the patient has reported domestic violence, has a safe place to live or received financial assistance from an organization that supports individuals during pregnancy. Even if a patient declined to answer why they sought the abortion, the provider would be required to record that and their demographic information.The bill requires that the data be confidential and would apply even to minors.“Kansans have made it abundantly clear that they do not want politicians in their exam rooms,” said Taylor Morton of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, referencing Kansas voters’ overwhelming rejection in August 2022 of an amendment that would have removed the right to an abortion from the Kansas Constitution.All the legislation would do, she said, is undermine the relationship between patients and health care providers. She said there’s “no reason for the state to demand and collect this deeply personal information from patients.”“Patients seeking literally any other form of necessary health care are not and would never be subjected to such intrusive and personal questioning,” she said, “nor are pregnant people subjected to such questioning when they decide to carry a pregnancy to term.”The legislation was met with skepticism from several lawmakers on the House Committee on Health and Human Services, including Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Olathe, who told a proponent of the legislation from the Alliance Defending Freedom that, based on the name of her organization, she would “think that you would be opposed to forcing women to disclose information that’s private.”The proponent, Erica Steinmiller-Perdomo, said the legislation “is rationally related to promoting Kansas’ state interests in public health and welfare” and that the organization supports “policies that promote maternal health and safety.”McDonald took issue with Steinmiller-Perdomo’s comments, arguing she implied that abortion is unsafe.“Abortion is a routine, safe medical procedure, and when you keep bringing up maternal health, I think that’s a little disingenuous,” McDonald said.Rep. Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, questioned how patients’ privacy could be protected if they reported being a victim of domestic violence or rape in a publicly released report. If a child seeks an abortion following a rape, she asked, and there aren’t many such incidents reported each year, could someone connect the dots and identify them?“If someone is the victim of that terrible crime as a child, they should be able to go on, week therapy and heal and live a full, adult life without having their privacy invaded because they were the victim of a crime,” Clayton said.Haddix couldn’t answer the question and asked to follow up with Clayton.Amber Sellers, director of advocacy for Trust Women Foundation, argued the legislation would be unnecessarily burdensome.Sellers said the right to an abortion required no more justification than the right to free speech.“These questions are confusing, and they’re stigmatizing,” Sellers said. “They lack relevance, and they’re medically unnecessary. They’re deeply invasive.”The committee’s chair, Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, argued collecting the information was important because a patient may seek an abortion “because she doesn’t know she has any other alternatives.”Some patients “don’t think twice about that life,” Landwehr said. Others may be upset to learn later that there may have been another option.Sellers said the lawmakers and advocates can’t speak to what brings someone in for an abortion “and we can’t make assumptions on what they do or don’t know.”“I was one of those women,” Landwehr said, “and had I walked into that clinic and been given the information that there were alternatives, I would not have had my abortion. So I can speak to that.”Landwehr said, if possible, she would ban abortion in any case except where the mother’s life is threatened or a pregnancy results from rape or incest.Sellers countered that policymakers can’t speak to the motivations or knowledge of every abortion patient. She said care had changed considerably in the decades since Landwehr’s abortion. Providers now offer “holistic” and “comprehensive care.”“We don’t know the thoughts of everyone,” Sellers said, “and we can’t make those assumptions for everyone.”