STAFFORD COUNTY—The Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor and work at the scene of an oil discharge in central Kansas.

On September 12, the Kansas Corporation Commission notified the Environmental Protection Agency of the oil discharge to Rattlesnake Creek in Stafford County, according to Ben Washburn, Public Affairs Officer for EPA Region 7.&nbsp;

On Friday, small amounts of oil were observed up to 4 miles downstream of the spill location, according to Washburn.

 The responsible party initially reported 90,000 gallons of brine, salt water generated during oil production, spilled from a disposal well line that transects Rattlesnake creek approximately 0.25 mile east of NE 90th Avenue.

The brine contained an estimated 600 to 700 gallons of oil. An EPA On-Scene Coordinator mobilized to the response on Tuesday evening.

The EPA On Scene Coordinator is working with state and local responders. They pervormed a&nbsp; reconnaissance of Rattlesnake Creek, and observed responsible party containment and recovery operations. 

There have been no observed impacts within the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. 

The responsible party placed boom along Rattlesnake Creek to prevent further oil migration. 

The disposal well line that was the source of the spill has been isolated and is no longer actively leaking, according to the EPA.

As of Wednesday, responsible party contractors had recovered approximately 160 barrels (6,720 gallons) of mostly brine to date. The responsible party contractors are continuing oil containment and recovery operations under EPA oversight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694634502823.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>STAFFORD COUNTY—The Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor and work at the scene of an oil discharge in central Kansas.On September 12, the Kansas Corporation Commission notified the Environmental Protection Agency of the oil discharge to Rattlesnake Creek in Stafford County, according to Ben Washburn, Public Affairs Officer for EPA Region 7.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694866053941.png" alt="On Friday, small amounts of oil were observed up to 4 miles downstream of the spill location-Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>On Friday, small amounts of oil were observed up to 4 miles downstream of the spill location-Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On Friday, small amounts of oil were observed up to 4 miles downstream of the spill location, according to Washburn. The responsible party initially reported 90,000 gallons of brine, salt water generated during oil production, spilled from a disposal well line that transects Rattlesnake creek approximately 0.25 mile east of NE 90th Avenue.The brine contained an estimated 600 to 700 gallons of oil. An EPA On-Scene Coordinator mobilized to the response on Tuesday evening.The EPA On Scene Coordinator is working with state and local responders. They pervormed a&nbsp; reconnaissance of Rattlesnake Creek, and observed responsible party containment and recovery operations. There have been no observed impacts within the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The responsible party placed boom along Rattlesnake Creek to prevent further oil migration. The disposal well line that was the source of the spill has been isolated and is no longer actively leaking, according to the EPA.As of Wednesday, responsible party contractors had recovered approximately 160 barrels (6,720 gallons) of mostly brine to date. The responsible party contractors are continuing oil containment and recovery operations under EPA oversight.

Work continues to clean oil spill in Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

By JENNIFER SHUTT,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — Amid rising tensions and an approaching hard deadline, the U.S. House and Senate ended their work week on Thursday without a deal to fund the federal government past the end of the month.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has been struggling to build consensus among the members of his Republican Conference, pledged that once the chamber returned from the weekend, lawmakers would roll up their sleeves.

“When we come back, we’re not going to leave. We’re going to get this done,” McCarthy said, noting members are returning home this weekend for the Rosh Hashana holiday. “Nobody wins in a government shutdown.”

The House returned to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday following a six-week summer recess. The Senate returned last week following a five-week break. The government funding deadline is Sept. 30.

McCarthy told reporters following a heated closed-door meeting for House Republicans on Thursday morning that he is “frustrated” with some lawmakers for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/amid-government-spending-fight-us-house-gop-punts-debating-major-defense-bill">blocking debate</a>&nbsp;on the annual Defense spending bill.

Some especially conservative House Republicans have been threatening to try to remove McCarthy as speaker through the motion to vacate, which any one lawmaker can bring up for a floor vote. Florida’s Matt Gaetz&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/09/12/u-s-house-speaker-mccarthy-tells-committees-to-launch-biden-impeachment-probe/">gave a floor speech</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, arguing that McCarthy was out of line with promises he made in private to hard-line Republicans in January.

McCarthy, according to multiple media reports,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kevin-mccarthy-motion-vacate_n_6503144ce4b034d7e741c25b">reportedly said</a>&nbsp;behind closed doors Thursday that if lawmakers want to remove him they should “file the f – – – – – – motion.” McCarthy’s office would not share any comments he made during the closed-door conference meeting in response to a question from States Newsroom.

McCarthy pledged after the meeting to try to put more of the dozen annual government funding bills on the floor next week, though if that doesn’t happen, he plans to tell appropriators to begin working out final bills with their Senate counterparts during the conference process.

McCarthy, who has repeatedly criticized past leaders for not passing all the bills on the floor, said that going to conference with the committee-passed bills “is better for the American public — then they can see what has gone through committee.”

The House and Senate Appropriations committees’ bills were publicly released earlier this summer with committee debate and votes live-streamed. The conference process takes place behind closed doors.

McCarthy didn’t lay out a plan to pass the short-term government funding bill that will be needed to prevent a partial government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. But he did express opposition to a funding lapse.

“I don’t think it’s productive to have a government shutdown during that time,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know who wins and I don’t know — watching the shutdowns before — how is that productive to get the objectives that you want to achieve for the American public.”

The House passed one of its dozen annual government funding bills on the floor this year before conservative hardliners blocked the process from moving forward.

Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack, chair of the Financial Services appropriations subcommittee, said Wednesday the chamber’s inability to pass its bills shows it’s “dysfunctional” and “conflicted.”

“Time is running out on us to be able to get our work done and not threaten a shutdown, or not have to go to a temporary CR, which is now pretty much guaranteed,” Womack said, referring to a continuing resolution.

Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester expressed frustration Thursday with the House’s lack of floor action on spending bills, saying that without more House-passed bills, the Senate cannot bring more of its bipartisan bills to the floor.

“You guys know the process, House needs to send something over,” he told reporters.

The Constitution requires spending bills to be a product of the House, so the Senate needs that chamber to send them so-called legislative vehicles. Once that happens, the Senate can swap in its version of the government funding bills.

Tester said he’s “very concerned” about a government shutdown and that lawmakers won’t be able to approve a supplemental spending bill for Ukraine, given the state of the House Republican Conference.

“These guys don’t give a s- – – about nothing,” Tester said.

Wisconsin’s Johnson blocks Senate action

Shortly after Tester’s remarks, his own chamber’s spending process came to a halt.

After senators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00228.htm">voted</a>&nbsp;91-7 to advance a three-bill spending package, Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson objected to scheduling votes on amendments from his fellow GOP senators.

Johnson told reporters afterward that he would prefer if the Senate debated one spending bill at a time, instead of three.

“We need to return some function to this place, so pretty simple objection,” Johnson said. “Let’s just proceed to this one bill. What’s wrong with that? Just go on to Military Construction and VA. Let’s proceed to that and pass it, then wait for the House to send its other bills. Makes a lot of sense.”

The spending package on the Senate floor includes the Agriculture, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD funding measures — funding the departments of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Veterans Affairs, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as military construction and water projects.

The so-called minibus is a somewhat common part of the annual appropriations process and can be used when the upper chamber has a limited number of legislative vehicles.

Maine’s Susan Collins, the top Republican on the spending panel, said she was “both surprised and disappointed” that Johnson objected to scheduling floor votes on amendments from several GOP senators.

If the Senate couldn’t debate and vote on amendments to the government funding bills, Collins said, that meant the chamber was “broken once again.”

“Members cannot have it both ways,” Collins said. “They cannot block floor consideration of appropriations bills that were unanimously reported by the committee and yet maintain that they don’t want an omnibus bill. It’s one or the other. Or a government shutdown.”

Collins said Johnson’s blockade was setting Congress up for either a 12-bill omnibus government funding package or a partial government shutdown.

“None of those outcomes serve the American people well,” Collins said.

The blocked Republican amendments, which Collins said were just the first of several batches, were offered by Kentucky’s Rand Paul, Ohio’s J.D. Vance, Iowa’s Joni Ernst, Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn and Utah’s Mike Lee.

Johnson’s move follows months of bipartisan work by the spending committee to advance bipartisan bills.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, said the stalemate could upend those efforts.

“Let’s be clear: the bills we are considering aren’t Democratic or Republican spending bills. They are bills both sides, Democrat and Republican, wrote after a lot of negotiation and compromise,” Murray said.

“This package that we have reflects input from senators from across the country and across the political spectrum working on behalf of the people who sent them here,” Murray added. “And that is exactly why all these bills in this package passed our committee unanimously.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, called on Republican leaders to reject the ultra conservative members of their party who are holding up spending bills in both chambers.

“Now all of a sudden, you have a group, a small group in the Senate, trying to mimic the Freedom Caucus in the House and holding up the (spending) bill,” Schumer said. “Our Republican leaders have to reject this MAGA Republicanism for the good of the country and for the good of their party.”

Samantha Dietel contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694805470214.png" alt="Members of the New Mexico delegation on Thursday afternoon in the House chamber. The government funding deadline is Sept. 30. -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Members of the New Mexico delegation on Thursday afternoon in the House chamber. The government funding deadline is Sept. 30. -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By JENNIFER SHUTT,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — Amid rising tensions and an approaching hard deadline, the U.S. House and Senate ended their work week on Thursday without a deal to fund the federal government past the end of the month.House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has been struggling to build consensus among the members of his Republican Conference, pledged that once the chamber returned from the weekend, lawmakers would roll up their sleeves.“When we come back, we’re not going to leave. We’re going to get this done,” McCarthy said, noting members are returning home this weekend for the Rosh Hashana holiday. “Nobody wins in a government shutdown.”The House returned to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday following a six-week summer recess. The Senate returned last week following a five-week break. The government funding deadline is Sept. 30.McCarthy told reporters following a heated closed-door meeting for House Republicans on Thursday morning that he is “frustrated” with some lawmakers for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/amid-government-spending-fight-us-house-gop-punts-debating-major-defense-bill">blocking debate</a>&nbsp;on the annual Defense spending bill.Some especially conservative House Republicans have been threatening to try to remove McCarthy as speaker through the motion to vacate, which any one lawmaker can bring up for a floor vote. Florida’s Matt Gaetz&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/09/12/u-s-house-speaker-mccarthy-tells-committees-to-launch-biden-impeachment-probe/">gave a floor speech</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, arguing that McCarthy was out of line with promises he made in private to hard-line Republicans in January.McCarthy, according to multiple media reports,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kevin-mccarthy-motion-vacate_n_6503144ce4b034d7e741c25b">reportedly said</a>&nbsp;behind closed doors Thursday that if lawmakers want to remove him they should “file the f – – – – – – motion.” McCarthy’s office would not share any comments he made during the closed-door conference meeting in response to a question from States Newsroom.McCarthy pledged after the meeting to try to put more of the dozen annual government funding bills on the floor next week, though if that doesn’t happen, he plans to tell appropriators to begin working out final bills with their Senate counterparts during the conference process.McCarthy, who has repeatedly criticized past leaders for not passing all the bills on the floor, said that going to conference with the committee-passed bills “is better for the American public — then they can see what has gone through committee.”The House and Senate Appropriations committees’ bills were publicly released earlier this summer with committee debate and votes live-streamed. The conference process takes place behind closed doors.McCarthy didn’t lay out a plan to pass the short-term government funding bill that will be needed to prevent a partial government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. But he did express opposition to a funding lapse.“I don’t think it’s productive to have a government shutdown during that time,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know who wins and I don’t know — watching the shutdowns before — how is that productive to get the objectives that you want to achieve for the American public.”<h2>‘Dysfunctional’ House</h2>The House passed one of its dozen annual government funding bills on the floor this year before conservative hardliners blocked the process from moving forward.Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack, chair of the Financial Services appropriations subcommittee, said Wednesday the chamber’s inability to pass its bills shows it’s “dysfunctional” and “conflicted.”“Time is running out on us to be able to get our work done and not threaten a shutdown, or not have to go to a temporary CR, which is now pretty much guaranteed,” Womack said, referring to a continuing resolution.Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester expressed frustration Thursday with the House’s lack of floor action on spending bills, saying that without more House-passed bills, the Senate cannot bring more of its bipartisan bills to the floor.“You guys know the process, House needs to send something over,” he told reporters.The Constitution requires spending bills to be a product of the House, so the Senate needs that chamber to send them so-called legislative vehicles. Once that happens, the Senate can swap in its version of the government funding bills.Tester said he’s “very concerned” about a government shutdown and that lawmakers won’t be able to approve a supplemental spending bill for Ukraine, given the state of the House Republican Conference.“These guys don’t give a s- – – about nothing,” Tester said.<h2>Wisconsin’s Johnson blocks Senate action</h2>Shortly after Tester’s remarks, his own chamber’s spending process came to a halt.After senators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00228.htm">voted</a>&nbsp;91-7 to advance a three-bill spending package, Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson objected to scheduling votes on amendments from his fellow GOP senators.Johnson told reporters afterward that he would prefer if the Senate debated one spending bill at a time, instead of three.“We need to return some function to this place, so pretty simple objection,” Johnson said. “Let’s just proceed to this one bill. What’s wrong with that? Just go on to Military Construction and VA. Let’s proceed to that and pass it, then wait for the House to send its other bills. Makes a lot of sense.”The spending package on the Senate floor includes the Agriculture, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD funding measures — funding the departments of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Veterans Affairs, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as military construction and water projects.The so-called minibus is a somewhat common part of the annual appropriations process and can be used when the upper chamber has a limited number of legislative vehicles.Maine’s Susan Collins, the top Republican on the spending panel, said she was “both surprised and disappointed” that Johnson objected to scheduling floor votes on amendments from several GOP senators.If the Senate couldn’t debate and vote on amendments to the government funding bills, Collins said, that meant the chamber was “broken once again.”“Members cannot have it both ways,” Collins said. “They cannot block floor consideration of appropriations bills that were unanimously reported by the committee and yet maintain that they don’t want an omnibus bill. It’s one or the other. Or a government shutdown.”Collins said Johnson’s blockade was setting Congress up for either a 12-bill omnibus government funding package or a partial government shutdown.“None of those outcomes serve the American people well,” Collins said.The blocked Republican amendments, which Collins said were just the first of several batches, were offered by Kentucky’s Rand Paul, Ohio’s J.D. Vance, Iowa’s Joni Ernst, Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn and Utah’s Mike Lee.<h2>Bipartisan work in Senate</h2>Johnson’s move follows months of bipartisan work by the spending committee to advance bipartisan bills.Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, said the stalemate could upend those efforts.“Let’s be clear: the bills we are considering aren’t Democratic or Republican spending bills. They are bills both sides, Democrat and Republican, wrote after a lot of negotiation and compromise,” Murray said.“This package that we have reflects input from senators from across the country and across the political spectrum working on behalf of the people who sent them here,” Murray added. “And that is exactly why all these bills in this package passed our committee unanimously.”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, called on Republican leaders to reject the ultra conservative members of their party who are holding up spending bills in both chambers.“Now all of a sudden, you have a group, a small group in the Senate, trying to mimic the Freedom Caucus in the House and holding up the (spending) bill,” Schumer said. “Our Republican leaders have to reject this MAGA Republicanism for the good of the country and for the good of their party.”Samantha Dietel contributed to this report.&nbsp;

With days until the money runs out, Congress grinds to halt on spending bills

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;Backen, Michael Backen, 46, Olathe, was westbound on Interstate 635 at 7th Street.&nbsp;

The motorcycle rear-ended a 2013 Toyota Camry driven by Milton Ruble, 52, Overland Park, who was&nbsp;slowing and yielding to a vehicle attempting to exit to 7th street.&nbsp;

Bracken was ejected and transported to KU Medical where he was pronounced deceased. Ruble was properly restrained. Bracken was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;Backen, Michael Backen, 46, Olathe, was westbound on Interstate 635 at 7th Street.&nbsp;The motorcycle rear-ended a 2013 Toyota Camry driven by Milton Ruble, 52, Overland Park, who was&nbsp;slowing and yielding to a vehicle attempting to exit to 7th street.&nbsp;Bracken was ejected and transported to KU Medical where he was pronounced deceased. Ruble was properly restrained. Bracken was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after motorcycle rear-ends a car

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man faces prison time for child sex crimes.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, a jury found 60-year-old Dana Erwin Person guilty on five counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

The crimes occurred between 2017 and 2020. He is scheduled for sentencing in November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694709335076.png" alt="Person photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Person photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man faces prison time for child sex crimes.&nbsp;On Wednesday, a jury found 60-year-old Dana Erwin Person guilty on five counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.The crimes occurred between 2017 and 2020. He is scheduled for sentencing in November.

Kansas man faces prison time after child sex crime conviction

NASA astronaut&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/loral-o-hara-nasa-astronaut">Loral O’Hara</a>, a University of Kansas alum and two cosmonauts safely arrived at the International Space Station Friday, Sept. 15, bringing its number of residents to 10 for the coming week, according to a media release from the space agency.

The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying O’Hara, as well as Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Roscosmos, docked to the station’s Rassvet module at 2:53&nbsp;p.m. EDT. Docking occurred about three hours after the crew’s 11:44 a.m. launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

O’Hara, Kononenko, and Chub will joined the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition69/index.html">Expedition 69</a>&nbsp;crew when hatches opened at 5:10 p.m. O’Hara, who is beginning a six-month stay aboard the orbital outpost, and Kononenko and Chub, who will both spend a year on the orbital outpost will work on science and research in technology development, Earth science, biology, and human research for the benefit of all. This marks the first spaceflight for O’Hara, the fifth for Kononenko, and the first for Chub.

Expedition 70 will begin Wednesday, Sept. 27, following the departure of record-breaking NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, and Dmitri Petelin. Rubio recently broke the record for longest single spaceflight by an American. Following a yearlong stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the trio will land in Kazakhstan on Sept. 27, at which point Rubio will have spent a total of 371 days in space—the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut.

MOSCOW (AP) — One American and two Russians made a quick trip Friday to the International Space aboard a Russian capsule.

NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and docked at the station three hours later. O’Hara will spend six months there while Kononenko and Chub will spend a year.

The trio was supposed to fly to the space station last spring, but their original capsule was needed as a replacement for another crew. That crew — also two Russians and an American — will ride it home later this month. Their stay was extended from six months to a year when their Soyuz capsule developed a coolant leak while parked at the station.

It's the first spaceflight for O’Hara and Chub, while mission commander Kononenko is on his fifth trip to the orbiting outpost.

They join seven station residents from U.S., Russia, Denmark and Japan.

By the end of his yearlong stay, Kononenko will set a new record for the longest time in space, more than a thousand days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694818334881.png" alt="NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara(bottom right )during a welcome onboard the space station Friday evening.&nbsp; O’Hara came to KU from her Sugar Land, Texas, home as a National Merit Scholar. While an undergraduate, she won an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and, supported by the School of Engineering and the Kansas Space Grant, she completed the intensive NASA Academy at Goddard Spaceflight Center. -image NASA YouTube" />
 <figcaption>NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara(bottom right )during a welcome onboard the space station Friday evening.&nbsp; O’Hara came to KU from her Sugar Land, Texas, home as a National Merit Scholar. While an undergraduate, she won an internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and, supported by the School of Engineering and the Kansas Space Grant, she completed the intensive NASA Academy at Goddard Spaceflight Center. -image NASA YouTube</figcaption>
 </figure>NASA astronaut&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/loral-o-hara-nasa-astronaut">Loral O’Hara</a>, a University of Kansas alum and two cosmonauts safely arrived at the International Space Station Friday, Sept. 15, bringing its number of residents to 10 for the coming week, according to a media release from the space agency.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694813092272.png" alt="Loral O'Hara as she entered the space station at 4:23p.m. CDT Friday-image courtesy NASA YouTube channel" />
 <figcaption>Loral O'Hara as she entered the space station at 4:23p.m. CDT Friday-image courtesy NASA YouTube channel</figcaption>
 </figure>The Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft carrying O’Hara, as well as Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub of Roscosmos, docked to the station’s Rassvet module at 2:53&nbsp;p.m. EDT. Docking occurred about three hours after the crew’s 11:44 a.m. launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Liftoff! <a href="https://twitter.com/lunarloral?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LunarLoral</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Astronauts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA_Astronauts</a> and two cosmonaut crewmates are on their way to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. They’ll dock about three hours from now. <a href="https://t.co/4JTtfcgQZC">pic.twitter.com/4JTtfcgQZC</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1702711394984923203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>O’Hara, Kononenko, and Chub will joined the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition69/index.html">Expedition 69</a>&nbsp;crew when hatches opened at 5:10 p.m. O’Hara, who is beginning a six-month stay aboard the orbital outpost, and Kononenko and Chub, who will both spend a year on the orbital outpost will work on science and research in technology development, Earth science, biology, and human research for the benefit of all. This marks the first spaceflight for O’Hara, the fifth for Kononenko, and the first for Chub.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694808290003.png" alt="Loral O'Hara-photo NASA" />
 <figcaption>Loral O'Hara-photo NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>Expedition 70 will begin Wednesday, Sept. 27, following the departure of record-breaking NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, and Dmitri Petelin. Rubio recently broke the record for longest single spaceflight by an American. Following a yearlong stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the trio will land in Kazakhstan on Sept. 27, at which point Rubio will have spent a total of 371 days in space—the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut.------------MOSCOW (AP) — One American and two Russians made a quick trip Friday to the International Space aboard a Russian capsule.NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and docked at the station three hours later. O’Hara will spend six months there while Kononenko and Chub will spend a year.The trio was supposed to fly to the space station last spring, but their original capsule was needed as a replacement for another crew. That crew — also two Russians and an American — will ride it home later this month. Their stay was extended from six months to a year when their Soyuz capsule developed a coolant leak while parked at the station.It's the first spaceflight for O’Hara and Chub, while mission commander Kononenko is on his fifth trip to the orbiting outpost.They join seven station residents from U.S., Russia, Denmark and Japan.By the end of his yearlong stay, Kononenko will set a new record for the longest time in space, more than a thousand days.

KU alum now NASA astronaut arrives at the space station

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will no longer change transgender people's birth certificates to reflect their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gender-identity">gender identities</a>, the state health department said Friday, citing a new law that prevents the state from legally recognizing those identities.

The decision from the state Department of Health and Environment makes Kansas one of a handful of states that won't change transgender people's birth certificates. It already was among the few states that don't change the gender marker on transgender people's driver's licenses.

Those decisions reverse policies that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's administration set when she took office in 2019. They came in response to court filings by conservative Republican state Attorney General Kris Kobach to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">the new state law.</a>&nbsp;Enacted by the GOP-controlled Legislature over Kelly's veto, it took effect July 1 and defines male and female based only on the sex assigned to a person at birth.

“As I’ve said before, the state should not discriminate or encroach into Kansans’ personal lives -– it’s wrong, it’s bad for business," Kelly said in a statement. “However, I am committed to following the law.”

The new Kansas law was based on a proposal from several national anti-trans groups and was part of a wave of measures rolling back transgender rights in Republican-controlled statehouses across the U.S. Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee also don't allow transgender residents to change their birth certificates, and Montana and Tennessee don't allow driver's licenses changes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687826476734.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will no longer change transgender people's birth certificates to reflect their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gender-identity">gender identities</a>, the state health department said Friday, citing a new law that prevents the state from legally recognizing those identities.The decision from the state Department of Health and Environment makes Kansas one of a handful of states that won't change transgender people's birth certificates. It already was among the few states that don't change the gender marker on transgender people's driver's licenses.Those decisions reverse policies that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's administration set when she took office in 2019. They came in response to court filings by conservative Republican state Attorney General Kris Kobach to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">the new state law.</a>&nbsp;Enacted by the GOP-controlled Legislature over Kelly's veto, it took effect July 1 and defines male and female based only on the sex assigned to a person at birth.“As I’ve said before, the state should not discriminate or encroach into Kansans’ personal lives -– it’s wrong, it’s bad for business," Kelly said in a statement. “However, I am committed to following the law.”The new Kansas law was based on a proposal from several national anti-trans groups and was part of a wave of measures rolling back transgender rights in Republican-controlled statehouses across the U.S. Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee also don't allow transgender residents to change their birth certificates, and Montana and Tennessee don't allow driver's licenses changes.

 Kan. will no longer change trans people's birth certificates to reflect gender ID

SUMNER COUNTY —Crews worked through the night at the site of a train derailment in rural Sumner County.

The railroad started moving train traffic through the area just before 7a.m. Friday, according to BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent, &nbsp;The total number of cars derailed has been revised to 16.&nbsp;

There were no injuries reported and no danger to the public. The cause is under investigation.&nbsp;

SUMNER COUNTY —Crews are busy working to open the rail line after a train derailment in rural Sumner County.

According to BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent, 17 cars carrying automobiles derailed seven miles west of Wellington, Kansas, just after 3:30p.m. Thursday.

There were no injuries reported and there is no danger to the public. The cause is under investigation. BNSF personnel are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the incident. It could take 24-36 hours.

A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.

SUMNER COUNTY—Authorities are on the scene of train derailment in rural Sumner County.

Just before 3:30p.m. Thursday 16 cars of a westbound BNSF freight train derailed just east of Wellington, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.

There were no hazardous materials and no injuries reported. Crews hope to have the main line open in the next 24-36 hours, according to Lt. Friday. A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as them become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694786368704.png" alt="BNSF personnel worked through the night to clear the incident. photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>BNSF personnel worked through the night to clear the incident. photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY —Crews worked through the night at the site of a train derailment in rural Sumner County.The railroad started moving train traffic through the area just before 7a.m. Friday, according to BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent, &nbsp;The total number of cars derailed has been revised to 16.&nbsp;There were no injuries reported and no danger to the public. The cause is under investigation.&nbsp;----------SUMNER COUNTY —Crews are busy working to open the rail line after a train derailment in rural Sumner County.According to BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent, 17 cars carrying automobiles derailed seven miles west of Wellington, Kansas, just after 3:30p.m. Thursday.There were no injuries reported and there is no danger to the public. The cause is under investigation. BNSF personnel are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the incident. It could take 24-36 hours.A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.----------SUMNER COUNTY—Authorities are on the scene of train derailment in rural Sumner County.Just before 3:30p.m. Thursday 16 cars of a westbound BNSF freight train derailed just east of Wellington, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.There were no hazardous materials and no injuries reported. Crews hope to have the main line open in the next 24-36 hours, according to Lt. Friday. A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances.&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as them become available.

BNSF: Rail line reopens after 16-car derailment in Kansas

PRATT&nbsp;– Beginning this fall, Kansas will have&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.JlaZjlK4gFUMf1kSeMNjAlTr9wgj9pegEBhe-LER_o0/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">no fall turkey hunting season</a>&nbsp;due to declining populations at state and regional levels. The difficult decision was arrived at by members of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission after hearing compelling recommendations from staff over the course of four public meetings.

“We’ve documented consistent declines in turkey populations over the last 15 years largely due to reduced production levels,” said Kent Fricke, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks small game biologist. “These trends are not unique to Kansas. States across the Midwest and Southeast have experienced similar patterns in turkey populations.”

Though far fewer turkey hunters participate in the fall season than in the spring in Kansas, wildlife biologists said it remained an important component of overall harvest.

“The estimated statewide fall harvest of turkey was less than 500 birds in 2022,” said Fricke. “While this is a small proportion of the statewide population, fall harvest is an additive source of mortality for turkeys, especially when hens are harvested.”

Over the past several years, Commissioners have approved other preventative recommendations to reduce the impact of the fall season on turkey populations. In 2017, Commissioners voted to reduce the statewide bag limit from four birds to one bird. In 2019, fall turkey season dates were reduced from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31 (123 days) to Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 (41 days).

But not all is lost. Staff continue working diligently to obtain as much data as possible in hopes of one day reversing declining population trends. One such example is a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.6o9JcoR4Qngcg2RBaCZVjA6LWlNYxSohH0bezKOBsA8/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">new research project set to begin in Kansas in January 2024</a>&nbsp;to examine wild turkey populations and ecology to inform state harvest and habitat management (more&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.NKHr08bPi4F16Td02-54_-kIzc23pD_MQBHUVDffpg4/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>).

To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.OCMjgO_JkQpVC6wlp-LsJe8AidyXHiD3zcVHcdk_yGk/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">turkey hunting</a>&nbsp;in Kansas – including&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvNy03LTIzLUthbnNhcy1XaWxkbGlmZS1hbmQtUGFya3MtQ29tbWlzc2lvbi1BcHByb3Zlcy1Mb3R0ZXJ5LURyYXctZm9yLU5vbi1yZXNpZGVudC1UdXJrZXktUGVybWl0cy9LYW5zYXMtV2lsZGxpZmUtYW5kLVBhcmtzLUNvbW1pc3Npb24tQXBwcm92ZXMtTG90dGVyeS1EcmF3LWZvci1Ob24tcmVzaWRlbnQtVHVya2V5LVBlcm1pdHMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwOTE1LjgyNjQzMjMxIn0.L8tU9Hl8aO3hLlxSx1v6n7cxxfsYhH-AajqEr5k3dcs/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">Kansas’ all-new lottery draw for non-resident turkey permits</a>&nbsp;and other regulation changes aimed at population conservation – visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting then select “Turkey.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575681380900.jpeg" alt="Photo KDW&amp;P" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDW&amp;P</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT&nbsp;– Beginning this fall, Kansas will have&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.JlaZjlK4gFUMf1kSeMNjAlTr9wgj9pegEBhe-LER_o0/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">no fall turkey hunting season</a>&nbsp;due to declining populations at state and regional levels. The difficult decision was arrived at by members of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission after hearing compelling recommendations from staff over the course of four public meetings.“We’ve documented consistent declines in turkey populations over the last 15 years largely due to reduced production levels,” said Kent Fricke, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks small game biologist. “These trends are not unique to Kansas. States across the Midwest and Southeast have experienced similar patterns in turkey populations.”Though far fewer turkey hunters participate in the fall season than in the spring in Kansas, wildlife biologists said it remained an important component of overall harvest.“The estimated statewide fall harvest of turkey was less than 500 birds in 2022,” said Fricke. “While this is a small proportion of the statewide population, fall harvest is an additive source of mortality for turkeys, especially when hens are harvested.”Over the past several years, Commissioners have approved other preventative recommendations to reduce the impact of the fall season on turkey populations. In 2017, Commissioners voted to reduce the statewide bag limit from four birds to one bird. In 2019, fall turkey season dates were reduced from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31 (123 days) to Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 (41 days).But not all is lost. Staff continue working diligently to obtain as much data as possible in hopes of one day reversing declining population trends. One such example is a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.6o9JcoR4Qngcg2RBaCZVjA6LWlNYxSohH0bezKOBsA8/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">new research project set to begin in Kansas in January 2024</a>&nbsp;to examine wild turkey populations and ecology to inform state harvest and habitat management (more&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.NKHr08bPi4F16Td02-54_-kIzc23pD_MQBHUVDffpg4/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>).To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.OCMjgO_JkQpVC6wlp-LsJe8AidyXHiD3zcVHcdk_yGk/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">turkey hunting</a>&nbsp;in Kansas – including&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvNy03LTIzLUthbnNhcy1XaWxkbGlmZS1hbmQtUGFya3MtQ29tbWlzc2lvbi1BcHByb3Zlcy1Mb3R0ZXJ5LURyYXctZm9yLU5vbi1yZXNpZGVudC1UdXJrZXktUGVybWl0cy9LYW5zYXMtV2lsZGxpZmUtYW5kLVBhcmtzLUNvbW1pc3Npb24tQXBwcm92ZXMtTG90dGVyeS1EcmF3LWZvci1Ob24tcmVzaWRlbnQtVHVya2V5LVBlcm1pdHMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwOTE1LjgyNjQzMjMxIn0.L8tU9Hl8aO3hLlxSx1v6n7cxxfsYhH-AajqEr5k3dcs/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">Kansas’ all-new lottery draw for non-resident turkey permits</a>&nbsp;and other regulation changes aimed at population conservation – visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting then select “Turkey.”

Kansas cancels fall turkey hunting season

FINNEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Volvo XC60 driven by Haley Ann Hollis, 24, Dodge City was westbound on U.S. 50 just east of U.S. 83 in the outside lane.

The driver side mirror of the car struck Drew Walker, 31,&nbsp;Splendora, Texas, who was outside his pilot car standing in the middle of the roadway with his stop sign, wearing his safety vest and hard hat.&nbsp;

EMS transported Walker to St. Catherine's Hospital. Hollis was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694796442264.png" alt="KDOT" />
 <figcaption>KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Finney County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Volvo XC60 driven by Haley Ann Hollis, 24, Dodge City was westbound on U.S. 50 just east of U.S. 83 in the outside lane.The driver side mirror of the car struck Drew Walker, 31,&nbsp;Splendora, Texas, who was outside his pilot car standing in the middle of the roadway with his stop sign, wearing his safety vest and hard hat.&nbsp;EMS transported Walker to St. Catherine's Hospital. Hollis was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Car strikes pilot car driver holding his sign on Kan. highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday dispatched two of his top aides to Detroit to help resolve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-uaw-workers-strike-gm-ford-stellantis-7ce3ca9d94b911250d07556b7af376c7">the strike by unionized autoworkers</a>, expressing sympathy for the union by suggesting that the Big 3 automakers should share their “record profits.”

(click below to watch the President's statement)

“No one wants to strike,” the Democratic president said in brief remarks at the White House. “But I respect workers’ right to use their options under the collective bargaining system and I understand the workers’ frustration.”

The United Auto Workers announced a targeted strike at three factories after talks broke down with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Biden said he is sending acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and senior aide Gene Sperling to Detroit to help reach a “win-win” contract for the companies and their employees.

Biden said he called during the first day of negotiations and encouraged both sides to stay at the table as long as possible.

“The companies have made some significant offers,” Biden said. “But I believe they should go further to ensure record corporate profits mean record contracts for the UAW.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday dispatched two of his top aides to Detroit to help resolve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-uaw-workers-strike-gm-ford-stellantis-7ce3ca9d94b911250d07556b7af376c7">the strike by unionized autoworkers</a>, expressing sympathy for the union by suggesting that the Big 3 automakers should share their “record profits.”(click below to watch the President's statement)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F245691487965896%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=10" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“No one wants to strike,” the Democratic president said in brief remarks at the White House. “But I respect workers’ right to use their options under the collective bargaining system and I understand the workers’ frustration.”The United Auto Workers announced a targeted strike at three factories after talks broke down with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Biden said he is sending acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and senior aide Gene Sperling to Detroit to help reach a “win-win” contract for the companies and their employees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694787879838.png" alt="UAW photo" />
 <figcaption>UAW photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden said he called during the first day of negotiations and encouraged both sides to stay at the table as long as possible.“The companies have made some significant offers,” Biden said. “But I believe they should go further to ensure record corporate profits mean record contracts for the UAW.”

🎥Biden signals support for auto workers, sends aides to Detroit

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 458 officials&nbsp; are investigating&nbsp; after a student brought a firearm to Basehor-Linwood Middle School,&nbsp; 15900 Conley Road, Basehor, on Wednesday.

A student reported that another student had a weapon in a backpack, according to USD 458. The weapon was discovered during school hours and the district notified the Basehor Police.

USD 458 said the district's recovery procedure worked as it was designed and school staff immediately recovered the weapon.

“We can assure you that all students and staff remained safe throughout and after the recovery process."

“The presence of weapons in our school is not tolerated,&nbsp;according to a message to parents and guardians.&nbsp; "The student who brought the weapon will be disciplined, according to the student handbook."&nbsp; The School Resource Officer is in charge of investigation.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 458 officials&nbsp; are investigating&nbsp; after a student brought a firearm to Basehor-Linwood Middle School,&nbsp; 15900 Conley Road, Basehor, on Wednesday.A student reported that another student had a weapon in a backpack, according to USD 458. The weapon was discovered during school hours and the district notified the Basehor Police.USD 458 said the district's recovery procedure worked as it was designed and school staff immediately recovered the weapon.“We can assure you that all students and staff remained safe throughout and after the recovery process."“The presence of weapons in our school is not tolerated,&nbsp;according to a message to parents and guardians.&nbsp; "The student who brought the weapon will be disciplined, according to the student handbook."&nbsp; The School Resource Officer is in charge of investigation.&nbsp;

Student brought firearm in backpack to Kansas middle school

LONDON (AP) — European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-europe-digital-services-act-6b0b901a7900b713d74aa5850d8e824d">failing to protect children's privacy</a>, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe's strict data privacy rules.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-mental-health-1925956c0f4baa672aa75bd490d24e3a">The investigation</a>&nbsp;found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they're not allowed.

Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn't strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.

TikTok said in a statement that it disagrees with the decision, “particularly the level of the fine imposed.”

The company pointed out that the regulator's criticisms focused on features and settings dating back three years. TikTok said it had made changes well before the investigation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-europe-data-privacy-ireland-a01b6717a95ce2d36021bda80994f151">began in September 2021</a>, including making all accounts for teens under 16 private by default and disabling direct messaging for 13- to 15-year-olds.

“Most of the decision’s criticisms are no longer relevant as a result of measures we introduced at the start of 2021 — several months before the investigation began,” TikTok's head of privacy for Europe, Elaine Fox, wrote in a blog post.

The Irish regulator has been criticized for not moving fast enough in its investigations into Big Tech companies since EU privacy laws took effect in 2018. For TikTok, German and Italian regulators disagreed with parts of a draft decision issued a year ago, delaying it further.

To avoid new bottlenecks, the Brussels headquarters of the 27-nation bloc has been given the job of enforcing new regulations to foster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-tiktok-meta-44850c92a3d9480cc067474490140d88">digital competition</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-services-act-social-media-regulation-europe-26d76cc4785df1153669258766cc6387">clean up social media content</a>&nbsp;— rules aimed at maintaining its position as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">global leader in tech regulation</a>.

In response to initial German objections, Europe’s top panel of data regulators said TikTok nudged teen users with pop-up notices that failed to lay out their choices in a neutral and objective way.

“Social media companies have a responsibility to avoid presenting choices to users, especially children, in an unfair manner — particularly if that presentation can nudge people into making decisions that violate their privacy interests," said Anu Talus, chair of the European Data Protection Board.

The Irish watchdog, meanwhile, also had examined TikTok’s measures to verify whether users are at least 13 but found they didn’t break any rules.

The regulator is still carrying out a second investigation into whether TikTok complied with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation when it transferred users’ personal information to China, where its owner, ByteDance, is based.

TikTok has faced accusations it poses a security risk over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-security-risk-cc36f36801d84fc0652112fa461ef140">fears that users' sensitive information could end up in China</a>. It has embarked on a project to localize European user data to address those concerns:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-china-europe-4d0dd2f7eb39bfdcbb5e7a85cc26e8da">opening a data center in Dublin</a>&nbsp;this month, which will be the first of three on the continent.

Data privacy regulators in Britain, which left the EU in January 2020, fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.7 million) in April for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-britain-fine-china-2a94fcb6b74619ea7d04fdfc2ffe4e33">misusing children’s data</a>&nbsp;and violating other protections for young users’ personal information.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-social-media-ireland-c2bc634f7df239b53d496f1f682711ab">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-european-union-ireland-dublin-3e81b563498cf4365738ca606634ef4b">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;and their owner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-data-privacy-fine-europe-9aa912200226c3d53aa293dca8968f84">Meta</a>&nbsp;are among other tech giants that have been hit with big fines by the Irish regulator over the past year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679065552021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-europe-digital-services-act-6b0b901a7900b713d74aa5850d8e824d">failing to protect children's privacy</a>, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe's strict data privacy rules.Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-mental-health-1925956c0f4baa672aa75bd490d24e3a">The investigation</a>&nbsp;found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they're not allowed.Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn't strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.TikTok said in a statement that it disagrees with the decision, “particularly the level of the fine imposed.”The company pointed out that the regulator's criticisms focused on features and settings dating back three years. TikTok said it had made changes well before the investigation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-europe-data-privacy-ireland-a01b6717a95ce2d36021bda80994f151">began in September 2021</a>, including making all accounts for teens under 16 private by default and disabling direct messaging for 13- to 15-year-olds.“Most of the decision’s criticisms are no longer relevant as a result of measures we introduced at the start of 2021 — several months before the investigation began,” TikTok's head of privacy for Europe, Elaine Fox, wrote in a blog post.The Irish regulator has been criticized for not moving fast enough in its investigations into Big Tech companies since EU privacy laws took effect in 2018. For TikTok, German and Italian regulators disagreed with parts of a draft decision issued a year ago, delaying it further.To avoid new bottlenecks, the Brussels headquarters of the 27-nation bloc has been given the job of enforcing new regulations to foster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-tiktok-meta-44850c92a3d9480cc067474490140d88">digital competition</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-services-act-social-media-regulation-europe-26d76cc4785df1153669258766cc6387">clean up social media content</a>&nbsp;— rules aimed at maintaining its position as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">global leader in tech regulation</a>.In response to initial German objections, Europe’s top panel of data regulators said TikTok nudged teen users with pop-up notices that failed to lay out their choices in a neutral and objective way.“Social media companies have a responsibility to avoid presenting choices to users, especially children, in an unfair manner — particularly if that presentation can nudge people into making decisions that violate their privacy interests," said Anu Talus, chair of the European Data Protection Board.The Irish watchdog, meanwhile, also had examined TikTok’s measures to verify whether users are at least 13 but found they didn’t break any rules.The regulator is still carrying out a second investigation into whether TikTok complied with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation when it transferred users’ personal information to China, where its owner, ByteDance, is based.TikTok has faced accusations it poses a security risk over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-security-risk-cc36f36801d84fc0652112fa461ef140">fears that users' sensitive information could end up in China</a>. It has embarked on a project to localize European user data to address those concerns:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-china-europe-4d0dd2f7eb39bfdcbb5e7a85cc26e8da">opening a data center in Dublin</a>&nbsp;this month, which will be the first of three on the continent.Data privacy regulators in Britain, which left the EU in January 2020, fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.7 million) in April for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-britain-fine-china-2a94fcb6b74619ea7d04fdfc2ffe4e33">misusing children’s data</a>&nbsp;and violating other protections for young users’ personal information.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-social-media-ireland-c2bc634f7df239b53d496f1f682711ab">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-european-union-ireland-dublin-3e81b563498cf4365738ca606634ef4b">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;and their owner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-data-privacy-fine-europe-9aa912200226c3d53aa293dca8968f84">Meta</a>&nbsp;are among other tech giants that have been hit with big fines by the Irish regulator over the past year.

TikTok hit with $368 million fine for violating children's privacy

JACKSON COUNTY —A man with over a dozen felony convictions is the subject of a search in connection with another burglary.

On Sept. 13, sheriff's deputies and detectives responded to a report of a residential burglary near 182nd and U.S. Highway 75 in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Law enforcement have identified a suspect in the case as 52-year-old Gary Wayne Emery Jr. of Meriden. He is described as white male, 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, brown eyes and bald. 

Emery may be driving a dark blue Nissan Murano or a 2018 black Ford Fusion. If anyone has information to the location of Emery, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251.  A reward is being offered in information leading for the capture of Emery.

Just after 6:30p.m. September 4, a sheriff's deputy was dispatched to a past attempted burglary to a residence in the 2000 block of NE 46th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The deputy gathered information and evidence at the crime scene.

Several additional reports of similar incidents in northern Shawnee County were also reported. During the investigation, detectives were able to gather information regarding a suspect.

On&nbsp; September 11, detectives with the Shawnee County Criminal Investigations Division arrested Emery on requested charges of attempted burglary and criminal damage to property.&nbsp; 

Emery has over twenty felony convictions including 15 for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has additional convictions for theft, forgery, aggravated assault and for drugs.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694548526721.png" alt="Emery has over twenty felony convictions including 15 for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.- He was arrested for attempted burglary last week in Topeka and released -photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Emery has over twenty felony convictions including 15 for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.- He was arrested for attempted burglary last week in Topeka and released -photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A man with over a dozen felony convictions is the subject of a search in connection with another burglary.On Sept. 13, sheriff's deputies and detectives responded to a report of a residential burglary near 182nd and U.S. Highway 75 in Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Law enforcement have identified a suspect in the case as 52-year-old Gary Wayne Emery Jr. of Meriden. He is described as white male, 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, brown eyes and bald. Emery may be driving a dark blue Nissan Murano or a 2018 black Ford Fusion. If anyone has information to the location of Emery, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251. A reward is being offered in information leading for the capture of Emery.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694740467028.png" alt="Photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 6:30p.m. September 4, a sheriff's deputy was dispatched to a past attempted burglary to a residence in the 2000 block of NE 46th Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.The deputy gathered information and evidence at the crime scene.Several additional reports of similar incidents in northern Shawnee County were also reported. During the investigation, detectives were able to gather information regarding a suspect.On&nbsp; September 11, detectives with the Shawnee County Criminal Investigations Division arrested Emery on requested charges of attempted burglary and criminal damage to property.&nbsp; Emery has over twenty felony convictions including 15 for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He has additional convictions for theft, forgery, aggravated assault and for drugs.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody.

Kan. man with 15 burglary convictions wanted for new crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president's son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms.&nbsp; &nbsp;During a campaign stop Thursday, President Biden dodged questions about the indictment.

(click below to watch President Biden during his campaign event in Maryland)

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to read the indictment of Hunter Biden.

Hunter Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">a special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes weeks after the collapse of a plea deal that would have averted a criminal trial and distracting headlines for President Joe Biden.

The court fight doesn't seem likely to end soon. Hunter Biden's defense attorney argues he didn't violate the law and remains protected by an immunity provision that was part of the plea deal. The charges, meanwhile, are rarely filed as stand-alone counts and a federal appeals court recently found the measure he was charged under unconstitutional.

He's also been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-doj-2024-election-39a0268a3e2d4a0df1bed285d769b74a">under investigation for his business dealings</a>, and the special counsel has indicated that tax charges could be filed at some point in Washington or in California, where he lives.

The legal arguing comes as a political fight also plays out. The House has formally opened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, seeking to tie the elder Biden to his son’s businesses and divert attention away from former President Donald Trump’s own legal woes. Trump's include federal indictments over the handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence so far of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who as vice president spoke often to his son and stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">by a business dinner</a>&nbsp;with his son’s associates. The White House maintains Joe Biden was not involved in his son’s business affairs.

Republicans had slammed the plea agreement that spared Hunter Biden jail time as a “sweetheart deal.” Rep. James Comer, the lead Republican pursing the impeachment inquiry, called the gun charges “a very small start” and pushed for investigation of whether the president was involved in his son’s business dealings. Trump also pointed to the lack of connection to Joe Biden in the gun charge plea agreement.

Federal prosecutors investigating Hunter Biden have not indicated Joe Biden is connected over the course of their yearslong probe. The lead prosecutor, Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was elevated to special counsel last month, giving him broad authority to investigate and report out his findings.

The three-count indictment he filed Thursday alleges Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop.

He's charged with two counts of making false statements, first for checking a box falsely saying he was not addicted to drugs and second for giving it to the shop for their federally required records. A third count alleges he possessed the gun for about 11 days despite knowing he was a drug user.

The counts are punishable by up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though “actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum sentence,” a Justice Department statement from Weiss said.

A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of the plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay taxes on about $4 million of income in 2017 and 2018.

Under the terms, he would not have pleaded guilty to the gun charge, and prosecutors would have agreed to dismiss it if he stayed out of trouble for two years. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about it.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that part of the deal, which includes immunity provisions against other potential charges, remains in place. He said in a statement that Hunter Biden “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days” presented no threat to public safety and slammed “'MAGA Republicans’ improper and partisan interference in this process,” a reference to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Lowell took over after Hunter Biden's previous lawyer in the case, Christopher Clark, withdrew, saying he might be called to testify about the immunity provisions.

Prosecutors maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid.

Charges related to gun possession by drug users are rare, especially when not in connection with other crimes. Of all the people sentenced for illegal gun possession in 2021, about 5% were charged due to drug use, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data.

Most such cases are brought against people accused of some other crime as well, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor and expert in gun policy at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. “It’s relatively rare to prosecute someone for being a substance abuser in possession of firearms, absent other criminal activity, or unusual circumstances,” he said.

A federal appeals court recently found the longstanding purchase ban didn’t stand up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">new standards for gun laws</a>&nbsp;set by the Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit found the nation's “history and traditions” don't support “disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug use.”

Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have continued their own investigations into nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>&nbsp;as well as the Justice Department’s handling of the case.

Two FBI agents who worked on the Hunter Biden case testified separately behind closed doors this week to lawmakers about allegations of political interference in the case. Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI and an unidentified agent who served as his No. 2, told Congress that Weiss had full authority of the yearslong investigation, rebutting IRS whistleblower testimony that the Justice Department slow-walked the probe.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president's son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms.&nbsp; &nbsp;During a campaign stop Thursday, President Biden dodged questions about the indictment.(click below to watch President Biden during his campaign event in Maryland)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F6921164927902658%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1889" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to read the indictment of Hunter Biden.Hunter Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">a special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes weeks after the collapse of a plea deal that would have averted a criminal trial and distracting headlines for President Joe Biden.The court fight doesn't seem likely to end soon. Hunter Biden's defense attorney argues he didn't violate the law and remains protected by an immunity provision that was part of the plea deal. The charges, meanwhile, are rarely filed as stand-alone counts and a federal appeals court recently found the measure he was charged under unconstitutional.He's also been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-doj-2024-election-39a0268a3e2d4a0df1bed285d769b74a">under investigation for his business dealings</a>, and the special counsel has indicated that tax charges could be filed at some point in Washington or in California, where he lives.The legal arguing comes as a political fight also plays out. The House has formally opened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, seeking to tie the elder Biden to his son’s businesses and divert attention away from former President Donald Trump’s own legal woes. Trump's include federal indictments over the handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence so far of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who as vice president spoke often to his son and stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">by a business dinner</a>&nbsp;with his son’s associates. The White House maintains Joe Biden was not involved in his son’s business affairs.Republicans had slammed the plea agreement that spared Hunter Biden jail time as a “sweetheart deal.” Rep. James Comer, the lead Republican pursing the impeachment inquiry, called the gun charges “a very small start” and pushed for investigation of whether the president was involved in his son’s business dealings. Trump also pointed to the lack of connection to Joe Biden in the gun charge plea agreement.Federal prosecutors investigating Hunter Biden have not indicated Joe Biden is connected over the course of their yearslong probe. The lead prosecutor, Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was elevated to special counsel last month, giving him broad authority to investigate and report out his findings.The three-count indictment he filed Thursday alleges Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop.He's charged with two counts of making false statements, first for checking a box falsely saying he was not addicted to drugs and second for giving it to the shop for their federally required records. A third count alleges he possessed the gun for about 11 days despite knowing he was a drug user.The counts are punishable by up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though “actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum sentence,” a Justice Department statement from Weiss said.A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of the plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay taxes on about $4 million of income in 2017 and 2018.Under the terms, he would not have pleaded guilty to the gun charge, and prosecutors would have agreed to dismiss it if he stayed out of trouble for two years. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about it.Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that part of the deal, which includes immunity provisions against other potential charges, remains in place. He said in a statement that Hunter Biden “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days” presented no threat to public safety and slammed “'MAGA Republicans’ improper and partisan interference in this process,” a reference to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.Lowell took over after Hunter Biden's previous lawyer in the case, Christopher Clark, withdrew, saying he might be called to testify about the immunity provisions.Prosecutors maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid.Charges related to gun possession by drug users are rare, especially when not in connection with other crimes. Of all the people sentenced for illegal gun possession in 2021, about 5% were charged due to drug use, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data.Most such cases are brought against people accused of some other crime as well, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor and expert in gun policy at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. “It’s relatively rare to prosecute someone for being a substance abuser in possession of firearms, absent other criminal activity, or unusual circumstances,” he said.A federal appeals court recently found the longstanding purchase ban didn’t stand up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">new standards for gun laws</a>&nbsp;set by the Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit found the nation's “history and traditions” don't support “disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug use.”Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have continued their own investigations into nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>&nbsp;as well as the Justice Department’s handling of the case.Two FBI agents who worked on the Hunter Biden case testified separately behind closed doors this week to lawmakers about allegations of political interference in the case. Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI and an unidentified agent who served as his No. 2, told Congress that Weiss had full authority of the yearslong investigation, rebutting IRS whistleblower testimony that the Justice Department slow-walked the probe.

🎥 Biden dodges questions on son's indictment: 'I'll get in trouble'

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the crash of an ultralight aircraft that led to the pilot suffering severe burns.

Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, the Clay County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about the crash, according to a media release.

The aircraft had taken off from Liberty Landing Airport, 20424 E. Old 210 Highway, a small airstrip between Liberty and Missouri City adjacent to the Missouri River.

 The pilot was able to get out of the burning aircraft and walk back to the airport, where a bystander called 911. An ambulance transported him to the hospital where he was treated for severe burns.&nbsp;

It took deputies and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department's helicopter&nbsp;more than an hour to locate the wrecked ultralight in a nearby&nbsp;cornfield. 

Smoke was still coming from the aircraft. Firefighters from the Fishing River Fire District and Liberty Fire Department put the fire out.&nbsp;Adjacent railroad tracks were shut down during the investigation&nbsp;and may have sustained damage from the crash. The sheriff's department turned the investigation over to the FAA. Their investigators&nbsp; are to arrive Friday.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the crash of an ultralight aircraft that led to the pilot suffering severe burns.Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, the Clay County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about the crash, according to a media release.The aircraft had taken off from Liberty Landing Airport, 20424 E. Old 210 Highway, a small airstrip between Liberty and Missouri City adjacent to the Missouri River. The pilot was able to get out of the burning aircraft and walk back to the airport, where a bystander called 911. An ambulance transported him to the hospital where he was treated for severe burns.&nbsp;It took deputies and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department's helicopter&nbsp;more than an hour to locate the wrecked ultralight in a nearby&nbsp;cornfield. Smoke was still coming from the aircraft. Firefighters from the Fishing River Fire District and Liberty Fire Department put the fire out.&nbsp;Adjacent railroad tracks were shut down during the investigation&nbsp;and may have sustained damage from the crash. The sheriff's department turned the investigation over to the FAA. Their investigators&nbsp; are to arrive Friday.

Pilot critically burned after small plane crash near Kansas City

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694786368704.png" alt="-BNSF personnel are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the incident. It could take 24-36 hours. -photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>-BNSF personnel are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the incident. It could take 24-36 hours. -photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY —Crews are busy working to open the rail line after a train derailment in rural Sumner County.According to BNSF spokesperson Lena Kent, 17 cars carrying automobiles derailed seven miles west of Wellington, Kansas, just after 3:30p.m. Thursday.There were no injuries reported and there is no danger to the public. The cause is under investigation. BNSF personnel are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the incident. It could take 24-36 hours.A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.----------SUMNER COUNTY—Authorities are on the scene of train derailment in rural Sumner County.Just before 3:30p.m. Thursday 16 cars of a westbound BNSF freight train derailed just east of Wellington, according to Sumner County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Friday.There were no hazardous materials and no injuries reported. Crews hope to have the main line open in the next 24-36 hours, according to Lt. Friday. A portion of Sumner Road is blocked which impacts a couple of homes and field entrances.&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as them become available.

Crews continue work to clear rural Kansas train derailment 

DETROIT (AP) — About 13,000 U.S. auto workers stopped making vehicles and went on strike Friday after their leaders couldn’t bridge a giant gap between union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-gm-stellantis-78ff5706878c1308cb45d63c8db7e99b">Members of the United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;union began picketing at a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Ford factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit; and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.&nbsp; &nbsp;The GM plant in Kansas City, Kansas and the Ford Plant in Claycomo are not included in the initial UAW strike.

It was the first time in the union’s 88-year history that it walked out on all three companies simultaneously as four-year contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

The strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/automakers-cars-strike-pay-uaw-union-detroit-349a6e7281f1b07710cfcad511dcaa05">will likely chart the future of the union and of America’s homegrown auto industry</a>&nbsp;at a time when U.S. labor is flexing its might and the companies face a historic transition from building internal combustion automobiles to making electric vehicles.

If they last a long time, dealers could run short of vehicles and prices could rise, impacting a U.S. economy already under strain from elevated inflation. The walkout could even be a factor in next year’s presidential election by testing Joe Biden’s proud claim to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-uaw-strike-unions-trump-2024-826a9a74a73497a62943d26c31d455c3">most union-friendly president in American history.</a>

“Workers all over the world are watching this,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 unions with 12.5 million members.

The strike is far different from those during previous UAW negotiations. Instead of going after one company, the union, led by its pugnacious new president, Shawn Fain, is striking at all three. But not all of the 146,000 UAW members at company plants are walking picket lines, at least not yet.

Instead, the UAW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">targeted a handful of factories</a>&nbsp;to prod company negotiators to raise their offers, which were far lower than union demands of 36% wage increases over four years. GM and Ford offered 20% and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, offered 17.5%.

DETROIT (AP) — About 13,000 U.S. auto workers stopped making vehicles and went on strike Friday after their leaders couldn’t bridge a giant gap between union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fuaw.union%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0sG3BhA2uyPCANjMeAvqntMKFz9PVcjwZSszqCaCsDs86sp8owAWBKeBn73SiKShdl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="997" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-gm-stellantis-78ff5706878c1308cb45d63c8db7e99b">Members of the United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;union began picketing at a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Ford factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit; and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.&nbsp; &nbsp;The GM plant in Kansas City, Kansas and the Ford Plant in Claycomo are not included in the initial UAW strike.It was the first time in the union’s 88-year history that it walked out on all three companies simultaneously as four-year contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UAW President Shawn Fain Livestream Update 9/14/23 <a href="https://t.co/woPPh2bVSQ">https://t.co/woPPh2bVSQ</a>&mdash; UAW (@UAW) <a href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1702502512325214604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/automakers-cars-strike-pay-uaw-union-detroit-349a6e7281f1b07710cfcad511dcaa05">will likely chart the future of the union and of America’s homegrown auto industry</a>&nbsp;at a time when U.S. labor is flexing its might and the companies face a historic transition from building internal combustion automobiles to making electric vehicles.If they last a long time, dealers could run short of vehicles and prices could rise, impacting a U.S. economy already under strain from elevated inflation. The walkout could even be a factor in next year’s presidential election by testing Joe Biden’s proud claim to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-uaw-strike-unions-trump-2024-826a9a74a73497a62943d26c31d455c3">most union-friendly president in American history.</a>“Workers all over the world are watching this,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 unions with 12.5 million members.The strike is far different from those during previous UAW negotiations. Instead of going after one company, the union, led by its pugnacious new president, Shawn Fain, is striking at all three. But not all of the 146,000 UAW members at company plants are walking picket lines, at least not yet.Instead, the UAW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">targeted a handful of factories</a>&nbsp;to prod company negotiators to raise their offers, which were far lower than union demands of 36% wage increases over four years. GM and Ford offered 20% and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, offered 17.5%.Outside the Ford plant in suburban Detroit, Britney Johnson, 35, who has worked for the company about 3 1/2 years and has yet to reach top union wages, said she’d like higher pay, the return of pensions, and cost of living increases. “I like the job. It’s just that we deserve more,” she said.She joined about 400 workers on the picket line outside the plant.At the Toledo Jeep plant, assembly line worker Candace Bowles, 52, said it felt “strange” to walk off the job. “I didn’t want to have to do it, but got to do it,” said Bowles.As the deadline approached, she cleaned up her workstation and walked out when the midnight bell rang. “I’m really happy that everyone stood together,” she said.The limited strikes will help to preserve the union’s $825 million strike fund, which would run dry in about 11 weeks if all workers walked out. But Fain said more plants could be added if the companies don't make better offers.Even Fain has called the union’s demands audacious, but he maintains the automakers are raking in billions and can afford them. He scoffed at company statements that costly settlements would force them to raise vehicle prices, saying labor accounts for only 4% to 5% of vehicle costs.“They could double our raises and not raise car prices and still make millions of dollars in profits,” Fain said. “We’re not the problem. Corporate greed is the problem.”The strikes capped a day of both sides griping that the other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">had not budged enough from their initial positions</a>.In addition to general wage increases, the union is seeking restoration of cost-of-living pay raises, an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires who now receive only 401(k)-style retirement plans, pension increases for retirees and other items.Starting in 2007, workers gave up cost-of-living raises and defined benefit pensions for new hires. Wage tiers were created as the UAW tried to help the companies avoid financial trouble ahead of and during the Great Recession. Even so, only Ford avoided government-funded bankruptcy protection.Many say it’s time to get the concessions back because the companies are making huge profits and CEOs are raking in millions. They also want to make sure the union represents workers at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-battery-plant-ohio-pay-raises-12504b243c13a097a38879b2861a51ae">joint-venture electric vehicle battery factories</a>&nbsp;that the companies are building so workers have jobs making vehicles of the future.Top-scale assembly plant workers make about $32 per hour, plus large annual profit-sharing checks. Ford said average annual pay including overtime and bonuses was $78,000 last year.The Ford plant that's on strike employs about 3,300 workers, and it makes Bronco SUVs and Ranger midsize pickup trucks. The Toledo Jeep complex has about 5,800 workers and manufactures the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup. GM’s Wentzville plant has about 3,600 workers and makes the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickups, as well as the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express full-size vans.The union didn’t go after the companies’ big cash cows, which are full-size pickup trucks and big SUVs, and went more for plants that make vehicles with lower profit margins, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.“They want to give the companies some space without putting them up against the wall,” Masters said. “They’re not putting them right into the corner. You put an animal in the corner and it’s dangerous.”Automakers say they’re facing unprecedented demands as they develop and build new electric vehicles while at the same time making gas-powered cars, SUVs and trucks to pay the bills. They’re worried labor costs will rise so much that they’ll have to price their cars above those sold by foreign automakers with U.S. factories.GM CEO Mary Barra told workers in a letter Thursday that the company is offering historic wage increases and new vehicle commitments at U.S. factories. GM’s offer, she wrote, “addresses what you’ve told us is most important to you, in spite of the heated rhetoric from UAW leadership.”On CNBC Thursday, Ford CEO Jim Farley said if Ford had agreed to the union’s demands, it would have lost $15 billion during the last decade and gone bankrupt.Under the UAW strategy, workers who go on strike would live on $500 per week in strike pay from the union, while others would stay on the job at full pay. It’s unlikely the companies would lock the remaining workers out of their factories because they want to keep building vehicles.It’s tough to say just how long it will take for the strikes to cut inventories at dealers and start hurting the companies’ bottom lines.Jeff Schuster, head of automotive for the Global Data research firm, said Stellantis has the most inventory and could hold out longer. The company has enough vehicles at or en route to dealers to last for 75 days. Ford has a 62-day supply and GM has 51.Still, Schuster predicted the strikes could last longer than previous work stoppages such as a 40-day strike against GM in 2019.“This one feels like there’s a lot more at risk here on both sides,” he said.