Mark and Mandy Helstrom, who face criminal drug charges, say they accidentally recorded private conversations in courthouse

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

TOPEKA — Mark and Mandy Helstrom feared their lives were in danger when they discovered an audio recording of Wallace County law enforcement and court officials talking about ways to kill the couple.

The couple say they inadvertently recorded the private conversation with Mark Helstrom’s phone after he left it in a clerk’s office in the Wallace County Courthouse. They shared the recording with Kansas Reflector.

In one part of the conversation, District Judge Scott Showalter, court clerk Rosella Ryser and County Attorney Charles Moser say they should take the couple into Colorado for a visit to the “Yellowstone train station.” The innuendo — from the TV show “Yellowstone” — refers to killing an enemy.

Later in the same recording, Sheriff Marshall Unruh and Undersheriff Lance Finley talk about putting a bag over Mandy Helstrom’s head.

“I just live in fear all day, every day,” she said in an interview for this story.

The Helstroms live in Sharon Springs, in the far northwest corner of the state, and are defending themselves from criminal drug charges. Mark Helstrom describes himself in court filings as sovereign — but he says he is not associated with the “sovereign citizen” movement of extremist&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2010/april/sovereigncitizens_041310/domestic-terrorism-the-sovereign-citizen-movement">anti-government activism</a>.

Showalter recused himself from handling the couple’s cases after they discovered the audio recording and brought it to the court’s attention.

Ryser, Moser, Unruh and Finley didn’t respond to inquiries for this story. Showalter responded with a written statement.

“I acknowledge I made inappropriate remarks that were in poor taste, and I regret it,” Showalter said. “The remarks, made in a private conversation, were not intended as a threat to anyone. I recognize my error, recused myself from the cases at hand, and self-reported my actions to the Commission on Judicial Conduct. I apologize to the parties, my court colleagues, and anyone else affected by my remarks.”

Sheriff’s officers arrested the Helstroms in June after they found marijuana and oxycodone in their house. Moser charged them with possession of the drugs, as well as not having a drug tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moser also charged Mark Helstrom with interference with law enforcement.

Mandy Helstrom said she suffers from a medical condition that frequently causes her to vomit or feel nauseated. The couple said she intended to order a legal form of CBD to see if it would help, but the package arrived with marijuana. The U.S. Postal Service notified law enforcement, which raided their house.

Officers found the marijuana, as well as oxycodone. Mark Helstrom said a neighbor inadvertently left the prescribed painkillers in the house years ago and that the Helstroms had forgotten about them.

The Helstroms chose to represent themselves in court rather than rely on a court-appointed stand-by counsel, who happens to be a prosecutor from a neighboring county.

In court filings, Mark Helstrom declared himself to be sovereign and to have revoked his consent to be governed.

“I do not consent to your laws nor have I consented to this court’s jurisdiction, the only reason, I have appeared at-all, is because of the government’s violent tendencies which is placing my life in danger of being terminated,” Mark Helstrom wrote in an Oct. 16 motion to dismiss his case. “I am a peaceful man just trying to live my life without interference from the government, God gave this right to man and this country was founded upon this principle.”

In a Sept. 25 filing, Mark Helstrom demanded Moser drop the charges against him. Otherwise, he wrote, “I will have no other choice in this matter but to file criminal charges for slavery.”

Mark Helstrom said he began recording audio with his phone before the couple entered the courthouse for a Dec. 14 hearing.

Inside, he was instructed to leave his phone on the counter in the clerk’s office while he was in the courtroom. He said he forgot to turn the recording off.

A couple of days later, he said, his wife was looking through the phone and found the recording — and the private conversation among the judge, court clerk and prosecutor.

Showalter: “Charles, we’ve decided we need a train station somewhere about two miles into Colorado.”

Moser: “And it needs to be the Yellowstone train station.”

Ryser: Yes, exactly … and we all know what that means.”

At first, the Helstroms didn’t understand the reference to the TV show and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://yellowstone.fandom.com/wiki/The_Train_Station">the rural canyon where enemies are executed</a>.

“Then we found out what it was all about, and then it was like, ‘Wow. They’re talking about murdering me, is what they’re saying.’ That’s exactly what it means. You can’t take that any other way,” Mark Helstrom said.

At another point in the recording, Sheriff Unruh and Undersheriff Finley are heard talking about Mark Helstrom. Finley referenced a ball and chain at his desk, and Unruh said: “We’re gonna have to get him, ’cause he’s gonna file a report.”

Then Unruh and Finley turn their attention to Mandy Helstrom.

“God, I wish they would just put a bag over her head,” Finley said. “Like tie it off so she throws up.”

Finley adds: “That’s a medical. She needs to go to Greeley County so they can kill her.”

Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

The Helstroms filed a complaint against Unruh and Finley with the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.

CPOST identifies its mission as “providing the citizens of Kansas with qualified, trained, ethical, competent, and professional peace officers.” But in a Jan. 5 letter to the Helstroms, CPOST investigator Kevin Sexton said the agency doesn’t investigate alleged crimes. Their complaint was dismissed.

“The appropriate forum for any issues you may have with your complaints and concerns lie with the Wallace County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office,” Sexton wrote. “Please contact them for information on how to proceed with your concerns.”

The Helstroms say they don’t feel safe, even if the recorded comments were intended to be a joke.

“I was telling my wife, I said, ‘Well, if the cops came over here right now, and they said they had a warrant for your arrest, even though it may be real or not real, and they put the handcuffs on you and then drove you two miles out, took the cuffs off and blew your brains out, who’s gonna know?” Mark Helstrom said. “Nobody’s gonna know.”

<h2>Mark and Mandy Helstrom, who face criminal drug charges, say they accidentally recorded private conversations in courthouse</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Mark and Mandy Helstrom feared their lives were in danger when they discovered an audio recording of Wallace County law enforcement and court officials talking about ways to kill the couple.The couple say they inadvertently recorded the private conversation with Mark Helstrom’s phone after he left it in a clerk’s office in the Wallace County Courthouse. They shared the recording with Kansas Reflector.In one part of the conversation, District Judge Scott Showalter, court clerk Rosella Ryser and County Attorney Charles Moser say they should take the couple into Colorado for a visit to the “Yellowstone train station.” The innuendo — from the TV show “Yellowstone” — refers to killing an enemy.Later in the same recording, Sheriff Marshall Unruh and Undersheriff Lance Finley talk about putting a bag over Mandy Helstrom’s head.“I just live in fear all day, every day,” she said in an interview for this story.The Helstroms live in Sharon Springs, in the far northwest corner of the state, and are defending themselves from criminal drug charges. Mark Helstrom describes himself in court filings as sovereign — but he says he is not associated with the “sovereign citizen” movement of extremist&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2010/april/sovereigncitizens_041310/domestic-terrorism-the-sovereign-citizen-movement">anti-government activism</a>.Showalter recused himself from handling the couple’s cases after they discovered the audio recording and brought it to the court’s attention.Ryser, Moser, Unruh and Finley didn’t respond to inquiries for this story. Showalter responded with a written statement.“I acknowledge I made inappropriate remarks that were in poor taste, and I regret it,” Showalter said. “The remarks, made in a private conversation, were not intended as a threat to anyone. I recognize my error, recused myself from the cases at hand, and self-reported my actions to the Commission on Judicial Conduct. I apologize to the parties, my court colleagues, and anyone else affected by my remarks.”<h2>Drugs and consent</h2>Sheriff’s officers arrested the Helstroms in June after they found marijuana and oxycodone in their house. Moser charged them with possession of the drugs, as well as not having a drug tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moser also charged Mark Helstrom with interference with law enforcement.Mandy Helstrom said she suffers from a medical condition that frequently causes her to vomit or feel nauseated. The couple said she intended to order a legal form of CBD to see if it would help, but the package arrived with marijuana. The U.S. Postal Service notified law enforcement, which raided their house.Officers found the marijuana, as well as oxycodone. Mark Helstrom said a neighbor inadvertently left the prescribed painkillers in the house years ago and that the Helstroms had forgotten about them.The Helstroms chose to represent themselves in court rather than rely on a court-appointed stand-by counsel, who happens to be a prosecutor from a neighboring county.In court filings, Mark Helstrom declared himself to be sovereign and to have revoked his consent to be governed.“I do not consent to your laws nor have I consented to this court’s jurisdiction, the only reason, I have appeared at-all, is because of the government’s violent tendencies which is placing my life in danger of being terminated,” Mark Helstrom wrote in an Oct. 16 motion to dismiss his case. “I am a peaceful man just trying to live my life without interference from the government, God gave this right to man and this country was founded upon this principle.”In a Sept. 25 filing, Mark Helstrom demanded Moser drop the charges against him. Otherwise, he wrote, “I will have no other choice in this matter but to file criminal charges for slavery.”<h2>Death threats</h2><h2>Death threats</h2>Mark Helstrom said he began recording audio with his phone before the couple entered the courthouse for a Dec. 14 hearing.Inside, he was instructed to leave his phone on the counter in the clerk’s office while he was in the courtroom. He said he forgot to turn the recording off.A couple of days later, he said, his wife was looking through the phone and found the recording — and the private conversation among the judge, court clerk and prosecutor.A section goes as follows:Showalter: “Charles, we’ve decided we need a train station somewhere about two miles into Colorado.”Moser: “And it needs to be the Yellowstone train station.”Ryser: Yes, exactly … and we all know what that means.”At first, the Helstroms didn’t understand the reference to the TV show and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://yellowstone.fandom.com/wiki/The_Train_Station">the rural canyon where enemies are executed</a>.“Then we found out what it was all about, and then it was like, ‘Wow. They’re talking about murdering me, is what they’re saying.’ That’s exactly what it means. You can’t take that any other way,” Mark Helstrom said.At another point in the recording, Sheriff Unruh and Undersheriff Finley are heard talking about Mark Helstrom. Finley referenced a ball and chain at his desk, and Unruh said: “We’re gonna have to get him, ’cause he’s gonna file a report.”Then Unruh and Finley turn their attention to Mandy Helstrom.“God, I wish they would just put a bag over her head,” Finley said. “Like tie it off so she throws up.”Finley adds: “That’s a medical. She needs to go to Greeley County so they can kill her.”TOPEKA — Mark and Mandy Helstrom feared their lives were in danger when they discovered an audio recording of Wallace County law enforcement and court officials talking about ways to kill the couple.The couple say they inadvertently recorded the private conversation with Mark Helstrom’s phone after he left it in a clerk’s office in the Wallace County Courthouse. They shared the recording with Kansas Reflector.In one part of the conversation, District Judge Scott Showalter, court clerk Rosella Ryser and County Attorney Charles Moser say they should take the couple into Colorado for a visit to the “Yellowstone train station.” The innuendo — from the TV show “Yellowstone” — refers to killing an enemy.Later in the same recording, Sheriff Marshall Unruh and Undersheriff Lance Finley talk about putting a bag over Mandy Helstrom’s head.“I just live in fear all day, every day,” she said in an interview for this story.The Helstroms live in Sharon Springs, in the far northwest corner of the state, and are defending themselves from criminal drug charges. Mark Helstrom describes himself in court filings as sovereign — but he says he is not associated with the “sovereign citizen” movement of extremist&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2010/april/sovereigncitizens_041310/domestic-terrorism-the-sovereign-citizen-movement">anti-government activism</a>.Showalter recused himself from handling the couple’s cases after they discovered the audio recording and brought it to the court’s attention.Ryser, Moser, Unruh and Finley didn’t respond to inquiries for this story. Showalter responded with a written statement.“I acknowledge I made inappropriate remarks that were in poor taste, and I regret it,” Showalter said. “The remarks, made in a private conversation, were not intended as a threat to anyone. I recognize my error, recused myself from the cases at hand, and self-reported my actions to the Commission on Judicial Conduct. I apologize to the parties, my court colleagues, and anyone else affected by my remarks.”<h2>Drugs and consent</h2>Sheriff’s officers arrested the Helstroms in June after they found marijuana and oxycodone in their house. Moser charged them with possession of the drugs, as well as not having a drug tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia. Moser also charged Mark Helstrom with interference with law enforcement.Mandy Helstrom said she suffers from a medical condition that frequently causes her to vomit or feel nauseated. The couple said she intended to order a legal form of CBD to see if it would help, but the package arrived with marijuana. The U.S. Postal Service notified law enforcement, which raided their house.Officers found the marijuana, as well as oxycodone. Mark Helstrom said a neighbor inadvertently left the prescribed painkillers in the house years ago and that the Helstroms had forgotten about them.The Helstroms chose to represent themselves in court rather than rely on a court-appointed stand-by counsel, who happens to be a prosecutor from a neighboring county.In court filings, Mark Helstrom declared himself to be sovereign and to have revoked his consent to be governed.“I do not consent to your laws nor have I consented to this court’s jurisdiction, the only reason, I have appeared at-all, is because of the government’s violent tendencies which is placing my life in danger of being terminated,” Mark Helstrom wrote in an Oct. 16 motion to dismiss his case. “I am a peaceful man just trying to live my life without interference from the government, God gave this right to man and this country was founded upon this principle.”In a Sept. 25 filing, Mark Helstrom demanded Moser drop the charges against him. Otherwise, he wrote, “I will have no other choice in this matter but to file criminal charges for slavery.”<h2>Death threats</h2>Mark Helstrom said he began recording audio with his phone before the couple entered the courthouse for a Dec. 14 hearing.Inside, he was instructed to leave his phone on the counter in the clerk’s office while he was in the courtroom. He said he forgot to turn the recording off.A couple of days later, he said, his wife was looking through the phone and found the recording — and the private conversation among the judge, court clerk and prosecutor.A section goes as follows:Showalter: “Charles, we’ve decided we need a train station somewhere about two miles into Colorado.”Moser: “And it needs to be the Yellowstone train station.”Ryser: Yes, exactly … and we all know what that means.”Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.At first, the Helstroms didn’t understand the reference to the TV show and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://yellowstone.fandom.com/wiki/The_Train_Station">the rural canyon where enemies are executed</a>.“Then we found out what it was all about, and then it was like, ‘Wow. They’re talking about murdering me, is what they’re saying.’ That’s exactly what it means. You can’t take that any other way,” Mark Helstrom said.At another point in the recording, Sheriff Unruh and Undersheriff Finley are heard talking about Mark Helstrom. Finley referenced a ball and chain at his desk, and Unruh said: “We’re gonna have to get him, ’cause he’s gonna file a report.”Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Then Unruh and Finley turn their attention to Mandy Helstrom.“God, I wish they would just put a bag over her head,” Finley said. “Like tie it off so she throws up.”Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Finley adds: “That’s a medical. She needs to go to Greeley County so they can kill her.”Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.<h2>Professional standard</h2>The Helstroms filed a complaint against Unruh and Finley with the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.CPOST identifies its mission as “providing the citizens of Kansas with qualified, trained, ethical, competent, and professional peace officers.” But in a Jan. 5 letter to the Helstroms, CPOST investigator Kevin Sexton said the agency doesn’t investigate alleged crimes. Their complaint was dismissed.“The appropriate forum for any issues you may have with your complaints and concerns lie with the Wallace County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office,” Sexton wrote. “Please contact them for information on how to proceed with your concerns.”The Helstroms say they don’t feel safe, even if the recorded comments were intended to be a joke.“I was telling my wife, I said, ‘Well, if the cops came over here right now, and they said they had a warrant for your arrest, even though it may be real or not real, and they put the handcuffs on you and then drove you two miles out, took the cuffs off and blew your brains out, who’s gonna know?” Mark Helstrom said. “Nobody’s gonna know.”

Recording captures judge, prosecutor, undersheriff talking about killing Kansas couple

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A spark from welding at a Kansas car dealership caused a fire on Monday.

At 5:45p.m., crews responded to the fire at Lubbers, 944 North Main Street in Cheney,&nbsp;according to Fire Chief Jerry Peitz.&nbsp;&nbsp;Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around. Crews worked quickly to keep the fire from reaching cars on the lot and had the fire contained at approximately 6:18p.m.

The welding on a forklift was being done in a back room where fluids, cleaners and other equipment are stored, according to Peitz.&nbsp;

Due to the amount of expensive diagnostic equipment and engines in the storage area, it is difficult for investigators to estimate a damage amount. There was also significant smoke damage in the bay area where techs work.

One dealership employee was treated for smoke inhalation, according to Peitz.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. A fire crew from Sedgwick County also responded to assist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707233806184.png" alt="Fire damage in Lubbers -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Fire damage in Lubbers -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A spark from welding at a Kansas car dealership caused a fire on Monday.At 5:45p.m., crews responded to the fire at Lubbers, 944 North Main Street in Cheney,&nbsp;according to Fire Chief Jerry Peitz.&nbsp;&nbsp;Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around. Crews worked quickly to keep the fire from reaching cars on the lot and had the fire contained at approximately 6:18p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707233773766.png" alt="Crews at the scene of the fire-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Crews at the scene of the fire-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>The welding on a forklift was being done in a back room where fluids, cleaners and other equipment are stored, according to Peitz.&nbsp;Due to the amount of expensive diagnostic equipment and engines in the storage area, it is difficult for investigators to estimate a damage amount. There was also significant smoke damage in the bay area where techs work.One dealership employee was treated for smoke inhalation, according to Peitz.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. A fire crew from Sedgwick County also responded to assist.

Thousands of dollars in damage after fire at Kansas car dealership

KANSAS CITY —A Nebraska man’s brief crime spree came to an end over the weekend thanks to a Sheriff’s Office canine and teamwork by numerous law enforcement agencies.

Just after 2p.m. February 4, an elderly woman home alone called the Clay County Sheriff’s office to report an unknown vehicle that had parked in her driveway near H Highway and Crockett road, southwest of Excelsior Springs., according to a media release. She said a man then got out of the vehicle and ran behind her house.

The vehicle left in the woman’s driveway turned out to be stolen from Nebraska. Deputies and Excelsior Springs Police moved into the area to locate the driver. Soon, dispatchers reported a caller had seen a man acting oddly walking on Cameron Road nearby. As deputies were moving to that area, they got another report of a truck was just stolen from farmers at Cameron Road and NE 136th Street. The victims were in their barn and saw their truck being driven away.

The KCPD helicopter joined in to try to locate the suspect vehicle. They saw it exit from 92 Highway to southbound Interstate 35 in Kearney. Kearney Police pursued the vehicle, and Sheriff’s deputies took over at the city limit. A Sheriff’s deputy and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper were able to successfully deploy Stop Sticks, deflating the suspect’s tires, and bring the truck safely to a stop by the exit to 152 Highway.

At that point, the suspect got out of the truck and ran. Deputies, including K9 Duke, ran after him. Duke apprehended the suspect in the median of the highway. After being treated for his dog bite at the hospital, the suspect was booked at the Clay County Detention Center, where he remains in custody on a $40,000 bond.

Timothy M. Miller, 38, of Omaha, Neb., has now been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707160985667.png" alt="The Clay County Sheriff's office asked, "Who runs faster?"" />
 <figcaption>The Clay County Sheriff's office asked, "Who runs faster?"</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Nebraska man’s brief crime spree came to an end over the weekend thanks to a Sheriff’s Office canine and teamwork by numerous law enforcement agencies.Just after 2p.m. February 4, an elderly woman home alone called the Clay County Sheriff’s office to report an unknown vehicle that had parked in her driveway near H Highway and Crockett road, southwest of Excelsior Springs., according to a media release. She said a man then got out of the vehicle and ran behind her house.The vehicle left in the woman’s driveway turned out to be stolen from Nebraska. Deputies and Excelsior Springs Police moved into the area to locate the driver. Soon, dispatchers reported a caller had seen a man acting oddly walking on Cameron Road nearby. As deputies were moving to that area, they got another report of a truck was just stolen from farmers at Cameron Road and NE 136th Street. The victims were in their barn and saw their truck being driven away.The KCPD helicopter joined in to try to locate the suspect vehicle. They saw it exit from 92 Highway to southbound Interstate 35 in Kearney. Kearney Police pursued the vehicle, and Sheriff’s deputies took over at the city limit. A Sheriff’s deputy and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper were able to successfully deploy Stop Sticks, deflating the suspect’s tires, and bring the truck safely to a stop by the exit to 152 Highway.At that point, the suspect got out of the truck and ran. Deputies, including K9 Duke, ran after him. Duke apprehended the suspect in the median of the highway. After being treated for his dog bite at the hospital, the suspect was booked at the Clay County Detention Center, where he remains in custody on a $40,000 bond.Timothy M. Miller, 38, of Omaha, Neb., has now been charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, according to the sheriff's office.

Suspect's KC-area crime spree ends after caught by sheriff's K9

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

TOPEKA — To flat tax or not to flat tax? That is the question for Kansas Sen. David Haley, a Kansas Democrat who says he cannot make up his mind on a sprawling 5.25% flat tax proposal estimated to cost $1.589 billion over three years.

A House leader says Haley is doing it for the attention.&nbsp;

While Republican leaders in the Kansas House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/29/kansas-gop-leaders-house-not-senate-possesses-votes-to-override-kellys-tax-veto/">estimate they have the two-thirds majority</a>&nbsp;needed to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the legislation, their compatriots in the Senate believe they are still one vote short. The bill is one of their top priorities for the session.

Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, and one of a small contingent of Senate Democrats who would be critical to sustaining Kelly’s veto, said Monday he has doubts about which way he will be voting.&nbsp;

“I want everyone here to know, David Haley is not predictable on such crucial measures. …” Haley said. “I’m just not a placeholder there that can be so easily predicted.”

Haley aired his hesitations by calling an “emergency” town hall meeting Saturday to discuss the flat tax proposal with constituents. During the Wyandotte County meeting, the majority of attendees spoke against the flat tax proposal and asked him to sustain the veto.

“Wyandotte countians were clear,” said&nbsp;Sister Therese Bangert, of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth. Bangert, who attended the Saturday gathering,&nbsp;estimated that most of those present spoke against the tax.&nbsp;

Haley said he wasn’t blinded by what he characterized as “very real tribal support for who is our governor.”

“Many of them wanted me to say that I’ve made a decision. And I’ve had to say I didn’t,” Haley said during a Monday interview with Kansas Reflector. “I try to be a little more thoughtful than just sheer partisanship on fiscal issues like this.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka,&nbsp; spoke strongly against the flat tax, calling the proposal unfair and bad policy. Miller said Haley’s hesitation stemmed from a desire for the spotlight.&nbsp;

“He likes the spotlight, and I think that’s what this is all about,” Miller said. “I don’t think his vote’s going to make the difference. I think he would like it to make a difference, he would like to be the person who makes it or breaks it, so he gets even more attention than he’s getting now. He likes the spotlight.”&nbsp;

The flat tax package is estimated to cost $1.589 billion over a three-year period.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/23/kansas-gop-leaders-tout-flat-tax-plan-that-would-save-charles-koch-875k-annually/">A study of the proposal&nbsp;</a>conducted by ITEP, a nonpartisan research organization that favors a progressive tax system, estimated that 44.5% of the income tax savings would go to the top 5% of wage earners. The top 20% would have gotten an average tax break of $828, while the bottom 80% of wage earners would get an average annual tax break of $89 under the flat tax.

Other elements in the package are more broadly popular, such as eliminating the state sales tax on groceries April 1, instead of the current deadline of Jan. 1, 2025.

The Republican-dominated Legislature<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/17/republican-leadership-in-kansas-legislature-places-income-sales-tax-reform-on-fast-track/">&nbsp;fast tracked</a>&nbsp;the plan early in the legislative session, sending the bill to Kelly’s desk, where she shot down the bill, characterizing it as a “reckless” plan and similar to former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax “experiment.”.

Last year, Kelly vetoed a similar flat tax plan that included a 5.15% flat tax.&nbsp;In the Senate’s veto override attempt, 26 Republicans voted in favor of the flat tax, while two Republicans broke party lines to vote with Democrats against the tax.&nbsp;

Top Republican legislators Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both strong flat tax advocates, have condemned Kelly’s veto. A veto override attempt is expected this week. In the House, 84 votes are needed to override Kelly’s veto, and 27 votes are needed in the Senate to complete the veto override.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said she and other Senate Democrats would work to sustain the veto and rally others in the chamber to her cause.&nbsp;

“It’s bad policy, it’s going to jeopardize us in the future, and we need to say no and then we can have an honest conversation about something that actually would have relief for working Kansans,” Sykes said.&nbsp;

She cautioned Haley against the move.&nbsp;

“It would be a very bad vote for him, not to sustain the veto for his district, so I’m hoping he sees that,” Sykes said. “From what I’ve heard, that was the strong message from his constituents on Saturday to sustain the governor’s veto.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707227041548.png" alt=" During an “emergency” Feb. 3 town hall, Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, said he had reservations about the flat tax vote. (Matthew Kleinmann)" />
 <figcaption> During an “emergency” Feb. 3 town hall, Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, said he had reservations about the flat tax vote. (Matthew Kleinmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — To flat tax or not to flat tax? That is the question for Kansas Sen. David Haley, a Kansas Democrat who says he cannot make up his mind on a sprawling 5.25% flat tax proposal estimated to cost $1.589 billion over three years.A House leader says Haley is doing it for the attention.&nbsp;While Republican leaders in the Kansas House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/29/kansas-gop-leaders-house-not-senate-possesses-votes-to-override-kellys-tax-veto/">estimate they have the two-thirds majority</a>&nbsp;needed to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the legislation, their compatriots in the Senate believe they are still one vote short. The bill is one of their top priorities for the session.Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, and one of a small contingent of Senate Democrats who would be critical to sustaining Kelly’s veto, said Monday he has doubts about which way he will be voting.&nbsp;“I want everyone here to know, David Haley is not predictable on such crucial measures. …” Haley said. “I’m just not a placeholder there that can be so easily predicted.”Haley aired his hesitations by calling an “emergency” town hall meeting Saturday to discuss the flat tax proposal with constituents. During the Wyandotte County meeting, the majority of attendees spoke against the flat tax proposal and asked him to sustain the veto.“Wyandotte countians were clear,” said&nbsp;Sister Therese Bangert, of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth. Bangert, who attended the Saturday gathering,&nbsp;estimated that most of those present spoke against the tax.&nbsp;Haley said he wasn’t blinded by what he characterized as “very real tribal support for who is our governor.”“Many of them wanted me to say that I’ve made a decision. And I’ve had to say I didn’t,” Haley said during a Monday interview with Kansas Reflector. “I try to be a little more thoughtful than just sheer partisanship on fiscal issues like this.”House Minority Leader Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka,&nbsp; spoke strongly against the flat tax, calling the proposal unfair and bad policy. Miller said Haley’s hesitation stemmed from a desire for the spotlight.&nbsp;“He likes the spotlight, and I think that’s what this is all about,” Miller said. “I don’t think his vote’s going to make the difference. I think he would like it to make a difference, he would like to be the person who makes it or breaks it, so he gets even more attention than he’s getting now. He likes the spotlight.”&nbsp;The flat tax package is estimated to cost $1.589 billion over a three-year period.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/23/kansas-gop-leaders-tout-flat-tax-plan-that-would-save-charles-koch-875k-annually/">A study of the proposal&nbsp;</a>conducted by ITEP, a nonpartisan research organization that favors a progressive tax system, estimated that 44.5% of the income tax savings would go to the top 5% of wage earners. The top 20% would have gotten an average tax break of $828, while the bottom 80% of wage earners would get an average annual tax break of $89 under the flat tax.Other elements in the package are more broadly popular, such as eliminating the state sales tax on groceries April 1, instead of the current deadline of Jan. 1, 2025.The Republican-dominated Legislature<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/17/republican-leadership-in-kansas-legislature-places-income-sales-tax-reform-on-fast-track/">&nbsp;fast tracked</a>&nbsp;the plan early in the legislative session, sending the bill to Kelly’s desk, where she shot down the bill, characterizing it as a “reckless” plan and similar to former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax “experiment.”.Last year, Kelly vetoed a similar flat tax plan that included a 5.15% flat tax.&nbsp;In the Senate’s veto override attempt, 26 Republicans voted in favor of the flat tax, while two Republicans broke party lines to vote with Democrats against the tax.&nbsp;Top Republican legislators Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both strong flat tax advocates, have condemned Kelly’s veto. A veto override attempt is expected this week. In the House, 84 votes are needed to override Kelly’s veto, and 27 votes are needed in the Senate to complete the veto override.&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said she and other Senate Democrats would work to sustain the veto and rally others in the chamber to her cause.&nbsp;“It’s bad policy, it’s going to jeopardize us in the future, and we need to say no and then we can have an honest conversation about something that actually would have relief for working Kansans,” Sykes said.&nbsp;She cautioned Haley against the move.&nbsp;“It would be a very bad vote for him, not to sustain the veto for his district, so I’m hoping he sees that,” Sykes said. “From what I’ve heard, that was the strong message from his constituents on Saturday to sustain the governor’s veto.”&nbsp;

Kansas Democratic senator: I’m ‘not predictable’ on flat tax override vote

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Toby Keith, a sometimes polarizing figure in country music who crafted an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger, has died. He was 62.

The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toby-keith-cancer-return-to-stage-2288efe6edabee0f57208b6dc6700363">was battling stomach cancer</a>, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer's website. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” the statement said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-country-music-7f96982e300407c47899a904423d070f">was diagnosed in 2022</a>.

The 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, writing songs that fans loved to hear. Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.

He was known for his overt patriotism on post 9/11 songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” and boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.” He had a powerful booming voice, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and range that carried love songs as well as drinking songs.

Among his 20 No. 1 Billboard hits were “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willie-nelson-book-songwriting-7e20e3adf314637c2f36dd5d88265392">Willie Nelson</a>.

Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.

“I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don’t overanalyze things,” Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.”

Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.

“The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith told the AP in 1996. “I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.”

But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. “It about broke us,” he said. “So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.”

He spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League. But he found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.

“All through this whole thing the only constant thing we had was music,” he said. “But it’s hard to sit back and say, ‘I’m going to go make my fortune singing music, or writing music. I had no contacts.”‘

Eventually his path took him to Nashville, where he attracted the interest of Mercury Records head Harold Shedd, who was best known as a producer for the hit group Alabama. Shedd brought him to Mercury, where he released his platinum debut record “Toby Keith,” in 1993.

“Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.

But label’s focus on global star Shania Twain overshadowed the rest of the roster and Keith felt that the executives were trying to push him in a pop direction.

“They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “Everybody was trying to mold me into something I was not.”

After a series of albums that produced hits like “Who’s That Man,” and cover of Sting’s “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying,” Keith moved to DreamWorks Records in 1999.

That’s when his multi-week “How Do You Like Me Now?!” took off and became his first song to crossover to Top 40 charts. In 2001, he won the male vocalist of the year and album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, exclaiming from the stage: “I’ve waited a long time for this. Nine years!”

Songs like “I Wanna Talk About Me,” a spoken-word song written by Bobby Braddock about a man frustrated by a talkative partner, got him attention for its similarity to the cadence of rap, which Keith dismissed. “They’re going to call it a rap song, (although) there ain’t nobody doing rap who would call it rap,” he told “Billboard” magazine in 2001.

Keith often wore his politics on his sleeve, especially after the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in 2001, and early on he said was a conservative Democrat, but later claimed he was an independent. He’s played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter giving him a National Medal of the Arts in 2021. His songs and his blunt opinions sometimes caused him controversy, which he seemed to court.

His 2002 song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” included a threat— “We’ll put a boot in your ass — It’s the American way” — to anyone who dared to mess with America.

That song got pulled from a patriotic ABC Fourth of July special after producers deemed it too angry for the show. Singer-songwriter Steve Earle called Keith’s song “pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.”

Then there was the feud between Keith and The Chicks (formerly called the Dixie Chicks), who became a target of Keith’s ire when singer Natalie Maines told a crowd that they were ashamed of then President George W. Bush. Maines had also previously called Keith’s song “ignorant.”

Keith, who had previously claimed that he supported any artist’s freedom to voice their opinion about politics, used a doctored photo of Maines with an image of Saddam Hussein at his concerts, further ramping up angry fans.

Maines responded by wearing a shirt with the letters “FUTK” onstage at the 2003 ACM Awards, which many people believed was a vulgar message to Keith.

He also publicly called out actor Ethan Hawke, who had written a story in “Rolling Stone” that described an argument between Kris Kristofferson and an unnamed country star that sounded a lot like Keith. During a backstage press conference during an awards show, Keith was furious at Hawke (and reporters for repeating the story) for what he called a “fictitious (expletive) lie.”

Keith, who has acknowledged that he holds onto grudges, walked out of the ACM Awards in 2003 early because he had gotten snubbed in earlier categories, causing him to miss out when he was announced as entertainer of the year. Vince Gill accepted on his behalf. He came back the next year and won the top prize for a second year in a row, along with top male vocalist and album of the year for “Shock ’n Y’all.”

His pro-military stance wasn’t just fodder for songs, however. He went on 11 USO tours to visit and play for troops serving overseas. He also helped to raised millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families who are battling cancer.

After Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks, Keith started anew again, starting his own record label, Show Dog, in 2005 with record executive Scott Borchetta, who launched his own label Big Machine at the same time.

“Probably 75% of the people in this town think I’ll fail, and the other 25% hope I fail,” he said that year.

Later the label became Show Dog-Universal Music and had Keith, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Clay Walker and Phil Vassar on its roster.

His later hits included “Love Me If You Can,” “She Never Cried In Front of Me,” and “Red Solo Cup.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was honored by the performance rights organization BMI in November 2022 with the BMI Icon award, a few months after announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis.

“I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707216570029.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Toby Keith, a sometimes polarizing figure in country music who crafted an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger, has died. He was 62.The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toby-keith-cancer-return-to-stage-2288efe6edabee0f57208b6dc6700363">was battling stomach cancer</a>, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer's website. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” the statement said. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-country-music-7f96982e300407c47899a904423d070f">was diagnosed in 2022</a>.The 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, writing songs that fans loved to hear. Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.He was known for his overt patriotism on post 9/11 songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” and boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.” He had a powerful booming voice, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and range that carried love songs as well as drinking songs.Among his 20 No. 1 Billboard hits were “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/willie-nelson-book-songwriting-7e20e3adf314637c2f36dd5d88265392">Willie Nelson</a>.Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.“I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don’t overanalyze things,” Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.”Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.“The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith told the AP in 1996. “I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.”But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. “It about broke us,” he said. “So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.”He spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League. But he found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.“All through this whole thing the only constant thing we had was music,” he said. “But it’s hard to sit back and say, ‘I’m going to go make my fortune singing music, or writing music. I had no contacts.”‘Eventually his path took him to Nashville, where he attracted the interest of Mercury Records head Harold Shedd, who was best known as a producer for the hit group Alabama. Shedd brought him to Mercury, where he released his platinum debut record “Toby Keith,” in 1993.“Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.But label’s focus on global star Shania Twain overshadowed the rest of the roster and Keith felt that the executives were trying to push him in a pop direction.“They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “Everybody was trying to mold me into something I was not.”After a series of albums that produced hits like “Who’s That Man,” and cover of Sting’s “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying,” Keith moved to DreamWorks Records in 1999.That’s when his multi-week “How Do You Like Me Now?!” took off and became his first song to crossover to Top 40 charts. In 2001, he won the male vocalist of the year and album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, exclaiming from the stage: “I’ve waited a long time for this. Nine years!”Songs like “I Wanna Talk About Me,” a spoken-word song written by Bobby Braddock about a man frustrated by a talkative partner, got him attention for its similarity to the cadence of rap, which Keith dismissed. “They’re going to call it a rap song, (although) there ain’t nobody doing rap who would call it rap,” he told “Billboard” magazine in 2001.Keith often wore his politics on his sleeve, especially after the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in 2001, and early on he said was a conservative Democrat, but later claimed he was an independent. He’s played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter giving him a National Medal of the Arts in 2021. His songs and his blunt opinions sometimes caused him controversy, which he seemed to court.His 2002 song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” included a threat— “We’ll put a boot in your ass — It’s the American way” — to anyone who dared to mess with America.That song got pulled from a patriotic ABC Fourth of July special after producers deemed it too angry for the show. Singer-songwriter Steve Earle called Keith’s song “pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.”Then there was the feud between Keith and The Chicks (formerly called the Dixie Chicks), who became a target of Keith’s ire when singer Natalie Maines told a crowd that they were ashamed of then President George W. Bush. Maines had also previously called Keith’s song “ignorant.”Keith, who had previously claimed that he supported any artist’s freedom to voice their opinion about politics, used a doctored photo of Maines with an image of Saddam Hussein at his concerts, further ramping up angry fans.Maines responded by wearing a shirt with the letters “FUTK” onstage at the 2003 ACM Awards, which many people believed was a vulgar message to Keith.He also publicly called out actor Ethan Hawke, who had written a story in “Rolling Stone” that described an argument between Kris Kristofferson and an unnamed country star that sounded a lot like Keith. During a backstage press conference during an awards show, Keith was furious at Hawke (and reporters for repeating the story) for what he called a “fictitious (expletive) lie.”Keith, who has acknowledged that he holds onto grudges, walked out of the ACM Awards in 2003 early because he had gotten snubbed in earlier categories, causing him to miss out when he was announced as entertainer of the year. Vince Gill accepted on his behalf. He came back the next year and won the top prize for a second year in a row, along with top male vocalist and album of the year for “Shock ’n Y’all.”His pro-military stance wasn’t just fodder for songs, however. He went on 11 USO tours to visit and play for troops serving overseas. He also helped to raised millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families who are battling cancer.After Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks, Keith started anew again, starting his own record label, Show Dog, in 2005 with record executive Scott Borchetta, who launched his own label Big Machine at the same time.“Probably 75% of the people in this town think I’ll fail, and the other 25% hope I fail,” he said that year.Later the label became Show Dog-Universal Music and had Keith, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Clay Walker and Phil Vassar on its roster.His later hits included “Love Me If You Can,” “She Never Cried In Front of Me,” and “Red Solo Cup.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.He was honored by the performance rights organization BMI in November 2022 with the BMI Icon award, a few months after announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis.“I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.

Country music superstar Toby Keith has died at 62

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than three quarters of a million vehicles in the U.S. because a faulty sensor may cause the front passenger air bags to inflate when they're not supposed to.

The recall covers certain Honda Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V and Odyssey models from the 2020 through 2022 model years, as well as the 2020 Fit and Civic Coupe. Also included are the 2021 and 2022 Civic hatchback, the 2021 Civic Type R and Insight, and the 2020 and 2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline and Accord Hybrid.

Affected models from the Acura luxury brand include the 2020 and 2022 MDX, the 2020 through 2022 RDX and the 2020 and 2021 TLX.

<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V064-1235.pdf">Documents posted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, and fail to turn off the air bag as intended. The sensors are required to disable the air bags if children or small adults are in the seats. If that doesn't happen, it increases the risk of injury.

Dealers will replace the seat sensors at no cost to owners. Owners will be notified starting March 18.

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than three quarters of a million vehicles in the U.S. because a faulty sensor may cause the front passenger air bags to inflate when they're not supposed to.The recall covers certain Honda Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V and Odyssey models from the 2020 through 2022 model years, as well as the 2020 Fit and Civic Coupe. Also included are the 2021 and 2022 Civic hatchback, the 2021 Civic Type R and Insight, and the 2020 and 2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline and Accord Hybrid.Affected models from the Acura luxury brand include the 2020 and 2022 MDX, the 2020 through 2022 RDX and the 2020 and 2021 TLX.<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V064-1235.pdf">Documents posted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, and fail to turn off the air bag as intended. The sensors are required to disable the air bags if children or small adults are in the seats. If that doesn't happen, it increases the risk of injury.Dealers will replace the seat sensors at no cost to owners. Owners will be notified starting March 18.

Honda recalling vehicles to fix faulty passenger seat air bag sensor

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two sheriff’s deputies are out of the hospital and recovering after a suspected fentanyl exposure during a custodial arrest made Monday morning, according to a social media report from the Wabaunsee County sheriff's office.&nbsp;

The sheriff's office reported, "we use all precautions roadside. It's almost impossible to defend against a bag of&nbsp;unknown substance intentionally thrown into the wind in vicinity of emergency service personnel."

"Fentanyl and opioids are indiscriminate killers. This is the reality of modern law enforcement."&nbsp; The sheriff's office also sent a big thank you to the "wonderful ER Staff at Wamego Hospital."&nbsp;

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two sheriff’s deputies are out of the hospital and recovering after a suspected fentanyl exposure during a custodial arrest made Monday morning, according to a social media report from the Wabaunsee County sheriff's office.&nbsp;The sheriff's office reported, "we use all precautions roadside. It's almost impossible to defend against a bag of&nbsp;unknown substance intentionally thrown into the wind in vicinity of emergency service personnel.""Fentanyl and opioids are indiscriminate killers. This is the reality of modern law enforcement."&nbsp; The sheriff's office also sent a big thank you to the "wonderful ER Staff at Wamego Hospital."&nbsp;

2 Kan. deputies recovering after suspected fentanyl exposure

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A ship traveling through the southern Red Sea was attacked by a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen Houthi rebel</a>&nbsp;drone early on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest assault in their campaign targeting vessels over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The attack happened west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, and the projectile caused “slight damage” to the vessel's windows on the bridge, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. A small vessel had been nearby the ship before the attack, it added.

The private security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. No one was hurt onboard the vessel, which suffered “minor damage,” the firm said.

Later, a military spokesman of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed in a statement that the rebel forces attacked two separate vessels, one American and one British, in the Red Sea. He provided no evidence to support the claim.

One of the ships the Houthis claimed attacking, the Morning Tide, matched details provided by Ambrey. Tracking data showed it to be in the Red Sea near the reported attack.

The Morning Tide’s owner, British firm Furadino Shipping, told The Associated Press no one was hurt in the attack and the ship was continuing onward to Singapore.

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 against Hamas</a>. But 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.

In recent weeks, the United States and the United Kingdom, backed by other allies, have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites for its attacks.

The U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. An air assault Friday in Iraq and Syria targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.

The U.S. military's Central Command separately acknowledged an attack Monday on the Houthis, in which they attacked what they described as two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives.

American forces “determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the military said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707179984034.png" alt="Image from video of launches from US. Warships supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets over the weekend-U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Image from video of launches from US. Warships supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets over the weekend-U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A ship traveling through the southern Red Sea was attacked by a suspected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen Houthi rebel</a>&nbsp;drone early on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest assault in their campaign targeting vessels over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The attack happened west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, and the projectile caused “slight damage” to the vessel's windows on the bridge, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. A small vessel had been nearby the ship before the attack, it added.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms there have been drone attacks since the U.S. began airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in the region for the deaths of three U.S. service members killed in another attack at a U.S. base in Jordan. <a href="https://t.co/AeIWxmKI7Q">pic.twitter.com/AeIWxmKI7Q</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1754599370610139192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The private security firm Ambrey identified the vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. No one was hurt onboard the vessel, which suffered “minor damage,” the firm said.Later, a military spokesman of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed in a statement that the rebel forces attacked two separate vessels, one American and one British, in the Red Sea. He provided no evidence to support the claim.One of the ships the Houthis claimed attacking, the Morning Tide, matched details provided by Ambrey. Tracking data showed it to be in the Red Sea near the reported attack.The Morning Tide’s owner, British firm Furadino Shipping, told The Associated Press no one was hurt in the attack and the ship was continuing onward to Singapore.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 against Hamas</a>. But 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.In recent weeks, the United States and the United Kingdom, backed by other allies, have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites for its attacks.The U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. An air assault Friday in Iraq and Syria targeted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-hezbollah-houthis-iran-militant-groups-745bfc36e23997ee3f0bc499a9f5c16d">other Iranian-backed militias</a>&nbsp;and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">drone strike that killed three U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;in Jordan.The U.S. military's Central Command separately acknowledged an attack Monday on the Houthis, in which they attacked what they described as two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives.American forces “determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” the military said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.”------------

🎥Tensions high: Rebels target more ships in the Red Sea 

MANHATTAN — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will visit Kansas State University to be the featured speaker for the<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/landon/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Landon Lecture Series</a>, according to a media release from the university.

The lecture will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union to help celebrate the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/about/history-traditions/" target="_blank">161st anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the founding of the first land-grant university in the nation.

Kelly’s lecture will center around the health of the state of Kansas, its residents and its politics. This lecture is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Doors will open at 11 a.m.

"As the first university in Kansas to embrace the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2023-11/K-State-adopts-Okanagan-Charter112923.html" target="_blank">health promoting university charter</a>, K-State is deeply committed to the health and well-being of not just its students, faculty and staff but all communities across the state," said Marshall Stewart, chair of the Landon Lecture Series, university senior vice president and chief of staff. "Having Gov. Kelly deliver this lecture will provide us with insights into ways we can create a culture that contributes to bettering our people, our places and our planet."

With a four-term tenure as a state senator and currently serving as the 48th governor of Kansas, Kelly has dedicated her career to advocating for children and families. As governor, she has collaborated with both political parties to achieve a balanced state budget, secure funding for schools, address the state’s infrastructure needs, reform the child welfare system and achieve record-breaking business investment and job creation. Kelly concluded her first term with the largest budget surplus in state history while reducing taxes for working families.

In her second term as governor, Kelly continues her efforts to make Kansas the premier place in the country to raise a family. Her focus includes expanding accessible healthcare, supporting early childhood development and ensuring prosperity reaches every corner of the state.

MANHATTAN — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will visit Kansas State University to be the featured speaker for the<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/landon/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Landon Lecture Series</a>, according to a media release from the university.The lecture will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union to help celebrate the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/about/history-traditions/" target="_blank">161st anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the founding of the first land-grant university in the nation.Kelly’s lecture will center around the health of the state of Kansas, its residents and its politics. This lecture is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Doors will open at 11 a.m."As the first university in Kansas to embrace the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2023-11/K-State-adopts-Okanagan-Charter112923.html" target="_blank">health promoting university charter</a>, K-State is deeply committed to the health and well-being of not just its students, faculty and staff but all communities across the state," said Marshall Stewart, chair of the Landon Lecture Series, university senior vice president and chief of staff. "Having Gov. Kelly deliver this lecture will provide us with insights into ways we can create a culture that contributes to bettering our people, our places and our planet."With a four-term tenure as a state senator and currently serving as the 48th governor of Kansas, Kelly has dedicated her career to advocating for children and families. As governor, she has collaborated with both political parties to achieve a balanced state budget, secure funding for schools, address the state’s infrastructure needs, reform the child welfare system and achieve record-breaking business investment and job creation. Kelly concluded her first term with the largest budget surplus in state history while reducing taxes for working families.In her second term as governor, Kelly continues her efforts to make Kansas the premier place in the country to raise a family. Her focus includes expanding accessible healthcare, supporting early childhood development and ensuring prosperity reaches every corner of the state.

Gov. Laura Kelly to deliver Landon Lecture on Feb. 16

KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp;Kansas City woman was charged in connection with the Jan. 3, 2024, fatal attack involving a sharp-edged weapon inside the vehicle of the victim, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Janee Davis, 34, faces Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action charges

According to court records,&nbsp; On Jan. 3, Kansas City police officers were dispatched&nbsp; to a residence on Agnes and found the victim in the front yard. 

He had sustained an sharp weapon injury to his chest. He was &nbsp;pronounced deceased. Investigators determined that the victim was likely attacked while sitting inside his vehicle parked on the street. A blood trail from his body in the yard led to his vehicle. Police were alerted to a statement from a witness identifying the defendant as the victim's killer. The defendant was questioned by police and she told them the victim flagged her down at 35th and Prospect on Jan. 3, 2024. At the crime scene on Agnes, the defendant told police she stabbed the victim after he hit her with his open hand.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706838751662.png" alt="Davis-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Davis-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp;Kansas City woman was charged in connection with the Jan. 3, 2024, fatal attack involving a sharp-edged weapon inside the vehicle of the victim, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Janee Davis, 34, faces Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action chargesAccording to court records,&nbsp; On Jan. 3, Kansas City police officers were dispatched&nbsp; to a residence on Agnes and found the victim in the front yard. He had sustained an sharp weapon injury to his chest. He was &nbsp;pronounced deceased. Investigators determined that the victim was likely attacked while sitting inside his vehicle parked on the street. A blood trail from his body in the yard led to his vehicle. Police were alerted to a statement from a witness identifying the defendant as the victim's killer. The defendant was questioned by police and she told them the victim flagged her down at 35th and Prospect on Jan. 3, 2024. At the crime scene on Agnes, the defendant told police she stabbed the victim after he hit her with his open hand.

Stabbing: Woman charged in KC's first homicide of 2024

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after an investigation.

In January, police began investigating multiple cases&nbsp;involving narcotics, firearms, forgery, shoplifting, theft and identity theft, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

On February 2,&nbsp; police took 27-yearold Deshawn Hammond and 33-year old Kayla Stokes both of Wichita, into custody. They are being held in the Lyon County Detention Center on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft and Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Stokes was booked on an additional requested charge of Forgery according to Hayes.

The investigation continued into Feb. 3, and led to the execution of a search warrant at 724 Wilson Street in Emporia.. The Emporia Police Department utilized their Special Response Team to execute the warrant.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Hwy Patrol also assisted. One person in the residence surrendered and cooperated. A second person in the residence, Alexander Rose, 34 of Wichita, barricaded himself and surrendered an hour later when a police K9 was to be deployed. Rose was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant through the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706972151296.png" alt="Hammond-photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Hammond-photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after an investigation.In January, police began investigating multiple cases&nbsp;involving narcotics, firearms, forgery, shoplifting, theft and identity theft, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706972090504.png" alt="Stokes-photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Stokes-photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On February 2,&nbsp; police took 27-yearold Deshawn Hammond and 33-year old Kayla Stokes both of Wichita, into custody. They are being held in the Lyon County Detention Center on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft and Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Stokes was booked on an additional requested charge of Forgery according to Hayes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1706972260185.png" alt="Rose-photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Rose-photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation continued into Feb. 3, and led to the execution of a search warrant at 724 Wilson Street in Emporia.. The Emporia Police Department utilized their Special Response Team to execute the warrant.The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Hwy Patrol also assisted. One person in the residence surrendered and cooperated. A second person in the residence, Alexander Rose, 34 of Wichita, barricaded himself and surrendered an hour later when a police K9 was to be deployed. Rose was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant through the Kansas Department of Corrections.

3 Kan. suspects accused after theft, forgery and drug investigation

JACKSON COUNTY—Two people including a firefighter were hospitalized after a house fire early Monday in Jackson County.

Just after 6:30a.m. Monday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a house fire at 104 Highland Avenue in the City of Hoyt, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Fire crews from Hoyt, Mayetta, Prairie Band Pottawatomie Nation and Soldier Township arrived on scene and battled the blaze.

EMS transported the only occupant of the residence to a local hospital and they were later transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center Burn Unit.

A Hoyt firefighter was transported by Jackson County EMS to a Topeka hospital due to a medical condition.&nbsp; 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707149410428.png" alt="photos Sheriff Tim Morse" />
 <figcaption>photos Sheriff Tim Morse</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Two people including a firefighter were hospitalized after a house fire early Monday in Jackson County.Just after 6:30a.m. Monday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a house fire at 104 Highland Avenue in the City of Hoyt, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Fire crews from Hoyt, Mayetta, Prairie Band Pottawatomie Nation and Soldier Township arrived on scene and battled the blaze.EMS transported the only occupant of the residence to a local hospital and they were later transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center Burn Unit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707149860658.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A Hoyt firefighter was transported by Jackson County EMS to a Topeka hospital due to a medical condition.&nbsp; The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause.

Two hospitalized after rural Kansas house fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of shootings in Wichita that have left four teens dead in separate incidents.

The latest teen homicide occurred Friday. Just before 9 p.m., police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the vicinity of 11700 E. Waterman in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

At the same time, a local hospital reported a walk-in shooting victim. Officers arrived at the hospital and located 17-year-old&nbsp; Julio Ruiz, of Wichita. who had sustained gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital. On Saturday, police reported they arrested a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder for the death of Ruiz.

Just after 11:45p.m. January 26, the Wichita Police Department responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims. Emoni Shears, 14, and Jhiquez Roberts, 19, both of Wichita were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Police have arrested 18-year-old Hayden Rydell Williams, a 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy all from Wichita and a 15-year-old boy from Garden City in connection with the double homicide, according to&nbsp; Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

On January 28, police arrived at an apartment at 8405 W. Central in Wichita, to check on 14-year-old Claude Hodges after his father called concerned for his welfare.

After a lengthy standoff involving the boy's mother identified as&nbsp;43-year-old Kylee R. Hodges,  SWAT Team officers fired shots wounding her. When officers reentered the apartment, they discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; His mother is suspected in her son's death. She continues to recover from her injuries and is not in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706389022620.png" alt="Police on the scene of the January 26 homicide investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the January 26 homicide investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of shootings in Wichita that have left four teens dead in separate incidents.The latest teen homicide occurred Friday. Just before 9 p.m., police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the vicinity of 11700 E. Waterman in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.At the same time, a local hospital reported a walk-in shooting victim. Officers arrived at the hospital and located 17-year-old&nbsp; Julio Ruiz, of Wichita. who had sustained gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital. On Saturday, police reported they arrested a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder for the death of Ruiz.Just after 11:45p.m. January 26, the Wichita Police Department responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims. Emoni Shears, 14, and Jhiquez Roberts, 19, both of Wichita were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.Police have arrested 18-year-old Hayden Rydell Williams, a 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy all from Wichita and a 15-year-old boy from Garden City in connection with the double homicide, according to&nbsp; Police Lt. Aaron Moses.On January 28, police arrived at an apartment at 8405 W. Central in Wichita, to check on 14-year-old Claude Hodges after his father called concerned for his welfare.After a lengthy standoff involving the boy's mother identified as&nbsp;43-year-old Kylee R. Hodges, SWAT Team officers fired shots wounding her. When officers reentered the apartment, they discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; His mother is suspected in her son's death. She continues to recover from her injuries and is not in custody, according to online jail records.

4 teen homicide victims in Wichita in first weeks of 2024

CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.

<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled items

Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.

The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707136988885.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO—The Quaker Oats Company&nbsp; announced an&nbsp;expansion of the December 15, 2023,&nbsp;recall to include an additional granola bar to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the FDA.<a href="https://www.quakerrecallusa.com/_files/ugd/b51df1_66f22cbdfc5140b0a3287b82a2bf30c7.pdf">Click here to see the full list</a> of 100 recalled itemsQuaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars were added to the recalled product list in the United States, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-product-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank">the FDA.</a>&nbsp;This granola bar product was discontinued in September 2023 with the “Best Before” dates listed as Feb. 10 or 11, 2024.The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Quaker Oats Company earlier this week announced that this granola bar was added to the list of recalled items due to possible salmonella contamination.Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received at least 24 reports of adverse events related to the products initially recalled, but no illnesses have been confirmed to be linked to the foods, an agency spokesperson said. Adverse events can include medical problems, but also complaints about off taste or color of a product, defective packaging or other non-medical issues, the official said. FDA will continue to investigate the reports.

Quaker Oats salmonella: 3rd recall in two months 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, but it quickly ran into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">wall of opposition from top House Republicans</a>, including Speaker Mike Johnson

<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full text of the bill

On Monday morning, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall expressed his opinion on the long-awaited legislation, "President Biden already has the tools needed to shut the border down. I don’t see anything in this bill that compels the Biden Administration to change course and address the worst border crisis in history which remains our greatest most immediate threat to our national security."

"Throughout this process, I said I was listening and hoping for a solution, but to my disappointment, this bill misses the mark."

"It will not secure the border. It does not go far enough on asylum, and perhaps makes Biden’s parole abuse even worse, by supercharging NGOs with BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to fly illegal migrants to an airport near you. As the lead Democrat negotiator bragged last night: This bill doesn’t close the border.”

The proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but within hours of the text being released Johnson said on social media that it would be “dead on arrival” if it reaches the House.

With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.

Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support a package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world.

They will also be weighing whether to continue pressing on one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.

Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”

And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” the Democratic president said.

The proposal would overhaul the asylum system with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.

Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”

McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”

“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, but it quickly ran into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879">wall of opposition from top House Republicans</a>, including Speaker Mike Johnson<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full text of the bill<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Senate border deal is chock full of giveaways for illegals and is a slap in the face to the American people. <a href="https://t.co/DzHvtK6gGQ">pic.twitter.com/DzHvtK6gGQ</a>&mdash; Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHawleyPress/status/1754531779652866468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Monday morning, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall expressed his opinion on the long-awaited legislation, "President Biden already has the tools needed to shut the border down. I don’t see anything in this bill that compels the Biden Administration to change course and address the worst border crisis in history which remains our greatest most immediate threat to our national security.""Throughout this process, I said I was listening and hoping for a solution, but to my disappointment, this bill misses the mark.""It will not secure the border. It does not go far enough on asylum, and perhaps makes Biden’s parole abuse even worse, by supercharging NGOs with BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to fly illegal migrants to an airport near you. As the lead Democrat negotiator bragged last night: This bill doesn’t close the border.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There you have it: Dead on arrival in the House. This bill is a disaster. Yet Schumer is trying to jam the Senate. Biden can secure the border right now but he won’t. Here’s the upshot: 41 Senators can STAND UP and end this nonsense next week. <a href="https://t.co/6g9q9R6aIv">https://t.co/6g9q9R6aIv</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1754337426619642234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The proposal could be the best chance for President Joe Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">resupply Ukraine with wartime aid</a>&nbsp;— a major foreign policy goal that is shared with both the Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and top Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell. The Senate was expected this week to hold a key test vote on the legislation, but within hours of the text being released Johnson said on social media that it would be “dead on arrival” if it reaches the House.With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">U.S. has halted shipments</a>&nbsp;of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia’s invasion.Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraine’s fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support a package designed to assert American strength — and commitment — around the world.They will also be weighing whether to continue pressing on one of the most fraught issues in American politics — border and immigration legislation.Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal “allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and it’s time to fix it. “It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation,” the Democratic president said.The proposal would overhaul the asylum system with faster and tougher enforcement, as well as give presidents new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with the number of people applying for asylum. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a “monumental step” toward strengthening national security at home and abroad.Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin “could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe.”McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be “prepared to act.”“America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world,” McConnell said. “The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them.”In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-border-security-congress-0c35bad8790ccbbeed1bc14057457648">McConnell had insisted last year</a>&nbsp;that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-trump-biden-2d2f804057a77bfaa41e64ab601f9b0e">Donald Trump and his allies</a>&nbsp;have criticized the proposed measures as insufficient.Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on social media, “I’ve seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created.”Republicans have been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities and argue that presidents already have enough authority to curb illegal border crossings — a stance that would ensure immigration remains a major issue in the presidential election. Yet at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation.That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes.Johnson indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel — a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal.It is also unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnell’s ranks arguing that it isn’t strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it.“The ‘border deal’ is an easy NO. It reads like a parody of an actual border security bill,” Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, posted on social media.The bipartisan proposal is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-biden-cf4aa608de350a480fabd8e6a3e062ff">gaining control of an asylum system</a>&nbsp;that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, who negotiated the bill for Republicans, told reporters that GOP critics were missing parts of the bill that would give Republicans wins on issues they have talked about for years.He said it provides border-wall money, expands deportation flights, increases the number of border officers and creates a faster process for deportation. Republican critics, he said, should look at “how it clears up a lot of the long-term issues and loopholes that have existed in the asylum law and it gives us an emergency authority that stops the chaos right now on the border.”Migrants who seek asylum, which provides protection for people facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and faster process to having their claim evaluated. The standard in initial interviews would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border.Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings.“America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers,” Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters on a phone call. “But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years.”If the number of illegal border crossings reaches above 5,000 daily for a five-day average,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-election-2182fec11fa008ec96c4202e5656d19e">an expulsion authority</a>&nbsp;would automatically kick in so that migrants who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry.Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.The bill would allot $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and hundreds of Border Patrol agents, as well as funding local governments that have seen influxes of migrants.Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat of California, said in a statement that the proposal would cause “more chaos at the border, not less.”Immigration advocates were highly critical of new limits on asylum, with some urging that the bill be rejected in its current form.The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems.Schumer said he would schedule a key test vote on the legislation Wednesday.