NEW YORK (AP) — As Americans fend off a late summer COVID-19 spike and prepare for a fresh vaccine rollout, Republicans are raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are next.

It's been a favorite topic among some of the GOP's top presidential contenders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that people are "lurching toward" COVID-19 restrictions and "there needs to be pushback." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott posted online that the "radical Left" seeks to bring back school closures and mandates. And former President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to stop the Biden administration from bringing back COVID-19 "mandates, lockdowns or restrictions of any kind."

"The radical Democrats are trying hard to restart COVID hysteria," Trump told supporters in Rapid City, South Dakota, during a recent campaign stop. "I wonder why. Is there an election coming up by any chance?"

While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals.

"No COVID-19 public health restrictions or mask requirements are being considered by the Murphy administration," said Christi Peace, spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

"There are no impending mass lockdowns or mask mandates for New Mexico," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Public Health.

It was largely the same message from Democratic governors' offices in several other states that responded to an inquiry about whether any COVID-19 mandates were under consideration. That included Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, made clear his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns as well as mask and vaccine mandates when he was campaigning for office last year: "This is an area where I think folks got it wrong," he said of school and business shutdowns. His office echoed the same sentiment in its response to the AP this week, saying, "The administration's view is that there is no need to impose restrictions."

In the two most populous Democratic-led states, California and New York, the state health departments recommend getting the updated vaccine, but have no requirements for the shot or mask wearing. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked during a news conference Wednesday about whether she would consider mask or vaccine mandates: "We are in a place where we're seeing low numbers; not requiring such actions today," she said.

Elisabeth Shephard, spokesperson for Oregon's Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, noted that the federal public health emergency for the virus outbreak ended in May.

"Currently, COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates are not being discussed and the governor has no plans to institute these measures," she said.

Still, the misleading narrative has proven a convenient scare tactic for Republicans in their efforts to woo voters who see Democrats as oppressive leaders targeting their freedoms.

The GOP presidential hopefuls hammering this message in the last week join a chorus of conservative lawmakers and far-right pundits who have spent the last month warning that tyrannical COVID-19 measures are looming.

In August, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed an anonymous "high-level manager in the TSA" and an unnamed "Border Patrol-connected" source told him that Transportation Security Administration workers would soon need to wear masks and that COVID-19 lockdowns would return in December.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the claims were "utterly false," but they still were amplified by influential Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who posted on X that she wrote to the TSA demanding answers.

Later last month, when a Black liberal arts college in Atlanta announced it had reinstated a temporary mask mandate in response to student infections, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, posted on X that "Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!"

The school, Morris Brown College, has since lifted the requirement but is keeping in place other policies, including contact tracing and temperature checks on campus.

Some of the outcry from conservatives has been in response to President Joe Biden's comments last month on COVID-19's recent uptick, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths nationwide — though a fraction of what the country saw in past surges.

"As a matter of fact, I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary — that works," Biden told reporters during a visit to South Lake Tahoe. "And tentatively — not decided finally yet — tentatively, it is recommended that, it will likely be recommended that everybody get it no matter whether they've gotten it before or not."

The CDC on Tuesday endorsed those new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and the vaccines will be available at pharmacies, health centers and some doctor offices as soon as this week.

Still, the Biden administration does not plan to implement any new vaccine or mask mandates, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the administration's thinking.

Reinstated mask requirements across the country have so far been limited to a handful of local schools and businesses. One example is a Maryland elementary school that required students who were exposed in a classroom's outbreak to wear masks at school for 10 days.

But these isolated measures have sparked outrage from conservatives who have used them to energize their supporters.

Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio last week unveiled the "Freedom to Breathe Act," a bill that would block the federal government from imposing mask mandates for domestic flights, public transit and schools. His call for unanimous passage of the bill failed, with Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts calling it a "red herring" meant to deflect from the GOP's prioritization of "gimmicks over people."

Greene, the Republican from Georgia, introduced a companion bill in the House. She has said she won't vote to avoid a government shutdown unless the government ends coronavirus mandates, which have already largely been reversed.

Misinformation experts say there's a strategy to Republicans' foreboding claims about impending mandates: They remind voters of the negative feelings they had early in the pandemic — and associate those with Democrats.

"Wearing a mask doesn't have to be connected to anxiety, fear, anger and other strong emotions, but for many people it is," said Lisa Fazio, a Vanderbilt University psychology professor who studies the spread of false claims. "No one wants to go back to those feelings, so Republicans are trying to tie those negative feelings and memories to their political opponents."

Meanwhile, some of the Republican-led states where state leaders are railing against COVID-19 measures have been the hardest hit by the recent surge. Data shows Mississippi had the highest COVID-19 death rate per 10,000 people in the last week of August.

Early that week, the state's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, pledged to block any widespread restrictions, posting online that the state would "live in self-determination, not top-down fear."

Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster and writers Joey Cappelletti, Mike Catalini, Jill Colvin, John Hanna, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Seung Min Kim, Steve LeBlanc, Morgan Lee, Marc Levy, Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Selsky contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NEW YORK (AP) — As Americans fend off a late summer COVID-19 spike and prepare for a fresh vaccine rollout, Republicans are raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are next.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Now seems like a good time to remind you Democrats pushed inconsistent mask mandates and school closures that have caused irreparable damage to our children.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1701582161168494680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It's been a favorite topic among some of the GOP's top presidential contenders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that people are "lurching toward" COVID-19 restrictions and "there needs to be pushback." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott posted online that the "radical Left" seeks to bring back school closures and mandates. And former President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to stop the Biden administration from bringing back COVID-19 "mandates, lockdowns or restrictions of any kind.""The radical Democrats are trying hard to restart COVID hysteria," Trump told supporters in Rapid City, South Dakota, during a recent campaign stop. "I wonder why. Is there an election coming up by any chance?"While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals."No COVID-19 public health restrictions or mask requirements are being considered by the Murphy administration," said Christi Peace, spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy."There are no impending mass lockdowns or mask mandates for New Mexico," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Public Health.It was largely the same message from Democratic governors' offices in several other states that responded to an inquiry about whether any COVID-19 mandates were under consideration. That included Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, made clear his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns as well as mask and vaccine mandates when he was campaigning for office last year: "This is an area where I think folks got it wrong," he said of school and business shutdowns. His office echoed the same sentiment in its response to the AP this week, saying, "The administration's view is that there is no need to impose restrictions."In the two most populous Democratic-led states, California and New York, the state health departments recommend getting the updated vaccine, but have no requirements for the shot or mask wearing. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked during a news conference Wednesday about whether she would consider mask or vaccine mandates: "We are in a place where we're seeing low numbers; not requiring such actions today," she said.Elisabeth Shephard, spokesperson for Oregon's Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, noted that the federal public health emergency for the virus outbreak ended in May."Currently, COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates are not being discussed and the governor has no plans to institute these measures," she said.Still, the misleading narrative has proven a convenient scare tactic for Republicans in their efforts to woo voters who see Democrats as oppressive leaders targeting their freedoms.The GOP presidential hopefuls hammering this message in the last week join a chorus of conservative lawmakers and far-right pundits who have spent the last month warning that tyrannical COVID-19 measures are looming.In August, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed an anonymous "high-level manager in the TSA" and an unnamed "Border Patrol-connected" source told him that Transportation Security Administration workers would soon need to wear masks and that COVID-19 lockdowns would return in December.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the claims were "utterly false," but they still were amplified by influential Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who posted on X that she wrote to the TSA demanding answers.Later last month, when a Black liberal arts college in Atlanta announced it had reinstated a temporary mask mandate in response to student infections, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, posted on X that "Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!"The school, Morris Brown College, has since lifted the requirement but is keeping in place other policies, including contact tracing and temperature checks on campus.Some of the outcry from conservatives has been in response to President Joe Biden's comments last month on COVID-19's recent uptick, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths nationwide — though a fraction of what the country saw in past surges."As a matter of fact, I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary — that works," Biden told reporters during a visit to South Lake Tahoe. "And tentatively — not decided finally yet — tentatively, it is recommended that, it will likely be recommended that everybody get it no matter whether they've gotten it before or not."The CDC on Tuesday endorsed those new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and the vaccines will be available at pharmacies, health centers and some doctor offices as soon as this week.Still, the Biden administration does not plan to implement any new vaccine or mask mandates, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the administration's thinking.Reinstated mask requirements across the country have so far been limited to a handful of local schools and businesses. One example is a Maryland elementary school that required students who were exposed in a classroom's outbreak to wear masks at school for 10 days.But these isolated measures have sparked outrage from conservatives who have used them to energize their supporters.Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio last week unveiled the "Freedom to Breathe Act," a bill that would block the federal government from imposing mask mandates for domestic flights, public transit and schools. His call for unanimous passage of the bill failed, with Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts calling it a "red herring" meant to deflect from the GOP's prioritization of "gimmicks over people."Greene, the Republican from Georgia, introduced a companion bill in the House. She has said she won't vote to avoid a government shutdown unless the government ends coronavirus mandates, which have already largely been reversed.Misinformation experts say there's a strategy to Republicans' foreboding claims about impending mandates: They remind voters of the negative feelings they had early in the pandemic — and associate those with Democrats."Wearing a mask doesn't have to be connected to anxiety, fear, anger and other strong emotions, but for many people it is," said Lisa Fazio, a Vanderbilt University psychology professor who studies the spread of false claims. "No one wants to go back to those feelings, so Republicans are trying to tie those negative feelings and memories to their political opponents."Meanwhile, some of the Republican-led states where state leaders are railing against COVID-19 measures have been the hardest hit by the recent surge. Data shows Mississippi had the highest COVID-19 death rate per 10,000 people in the last week of August.Early that week, the state's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, pledged to block any widespread restrictions, posting online that the state would "live in self-determination, not top-down fear."___Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster and writers Joey Cappelletti, Mike Catalini, Jill Colvin, John Hanna, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Seung Min Kim, Steve LeBlanc, Morgan Lee, Marc Levy, Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Selsky contributed to this report.___The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Republicans raise specter of widespread COVID mandates, despite no sign of their return

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son.

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

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.

President Joe Biden's son has also been under investigation for his business dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">The special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes as congressional Republicans pursue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, in large part over Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Republicans have obtained testimony about how Hunter Biden used the “Biden brand” to drum up work overseas, but they have not produced hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

The indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018. He’s accused of checking a box falsely saying he was not a user of or addicted to drugs and of illegally possessing the gun as a drug user.

A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of a plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor tax charges, 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 its unusual provisions.

Defense attorneys have argued that a part of the deal sparing Hunter Biden prosecution on the gun count if he stays out of trouble remains in place. It includes immunity provisions against other potential charges. Attorneys indicated they would fight additional charges filed against him, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Prosecutors, though, maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid. They telegraphed charges were coming earlier this month.

Republicans had denounced the plea agreement as a “sweetheart deal.” It would have allowed Hunter Biden to serve probation rather than jail time after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes in both 2017 and 2018.

His personal income during those two years totaled roughly $4 million, including business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEO of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, prosecutors have said.

Congressional Republicans have continued their own investigations into the Justice Department's handling of the case as well as nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>, seeking to connect his financial affairs directly to his father. They have failed to produce evidence that the president directly participated in his son’s work, though he sometimes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">dinner with his son's clients</a>&nbsp;or said hello to them on calls.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694714360672.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son.<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a> to read the indictmentBiden 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.President Joe Biden's son has also been under investigation for his business dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">The special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes as congressional Republicans pursue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, in large part over Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Republicans have obtained testimony about how Hunter Biden used the “Biden brand” to drum up work overseas, but they have not produced hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president.The indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018. He’s accused of checking a box falsely saying he was not a user of or addicted to drugs and of illegally possessing the gun as a drug user.A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of a plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor tax charges, 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 its unusual provisions.Defense attorneys have argued that a part of the deal sparing Hunter Biden prosecution on the gun count if he stays out of trouble remains in place. It includes immunity provisions against other potential charges. Attorneys indicated they would fight additional charges filed against him, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.Prosecutors, though, maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid. They telegraphed charges were coming earlier this month.Republicans had denounced the plea agreement as a “sweetheart deal.” It would have allowed Hunter Biden to serve probation rather than jail time after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes in both 2017 and 2018.His personal income during those two years totaled roughly $4 million, including business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEO of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, prosecutors have said.Congressional Republicans have continued their own investigations into the Justice Department's handling of the case as well as nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>, seeking to connect his financial affairs directly to his father. They have failed to produce evidence that the president directly participated in his son’s work, though he sometimes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">dinner with his son's clients</a>&nbsp;or said hello to them on calls.

Read: Hunter Biden indictment on federal firearms charges

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged forgery and ID theft have made an arrest.

On Monday night, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of SW Gage Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Captain Jerry Monasmith. 

During the investigation, officers located items from an ongoing forgery and identity theft investigations along with illegal narcotics.

As a result of the investigation, Stacie Espinosa, 41 years of age, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Identity Theft, Forgery, Theft, Making a false information, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent for distribution and Driving on a suspended driver's license.

She is no longer in custody, accordig to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694548077345.png" alt="Espinosa-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Espinosa-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged forgery and ID theft have made an arrest.On Monday night, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of SW Gage Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Captain Jerry Monasmith. During the investigation, officers located items from an ongoing forgery and identity theft investigations along with illegal narcotics.As a result of the investigation, Stacie Espinosa, 41 years of age, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Identity Theft, Forgery, Theft, Making a false information, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent for distribution and Driving on a suspended driver's license.She is no longer in custody, accordig to online jail records.

Kansas woman arrested after forgery, ID theft investigation

By RACHEL MIPRO,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Demonstrators picket outside Lawrence City Hall to ask for coal plant closure

LAWRENCE — Closing the city’s coal-based power plant will be the first step toward holding the state’s largest utility company accountable for keeping green energy goals, climate change activists said at a Tuesday demonstration.

The Sierra Club partnered with local organizations for the rally outside City Hall to show city officials how much local support there is for closing the Lawrence coal plant.

Demonstrators hope to have the city pass a resolution asking Evergy to keep its original promise to stop burning coal in the Lawrence plant by 2024, as well as have the city intervene in utility planning.

Sam and Zack Raugewitz, both teachers, attended the demonstration with their 15-month-old daughter.

“We want our daughter to have a future with a clean, safe environment,” Sam Raugewitz said. “We need to start moving toward cleaner energy sources.”

“The goal here is recognizing clean energy is good for the state economy,” Zack Raugewitz added. “It’s good for the people who live here.”

The two were surrounded by dozens of other Kansans who lined the streets outside City Hall for the rally.

Haskell Indian Nations University sophomore Georgia Blackwood clutched a sign that read “Evergy: Keep your promise, close the coal plant.”&nbsp;

“This really is a societal failure,” Blackwood said. “Corporations just have too much power within everything and they’re not checked.”

Evergy pledged two years ago to shut down Lawrence coal operations by the end of this year and invest in 350 megawatts of solar power.

However, the utility publicly reversed course in June, releasing an alternative plan that won’t add any solar power until 2026 and will keep the Lawrence coal plant open until 2028. In 2028, one unit will be fully shut down and the other one will remain available for natural gas operations in times of high demand.

In a news release on the decision, Evergy officials blamed the reversal on increasing demand for electricity and changes in U.S. electric grid requirements, among other factors. Officials said the utility would keep the same goal of reducing&nbsp;its carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels and reach net zero emissions by 2045.

“Evergy is committed to leading a responsible energy transition while keeping affordability and reliability at the forefront,” said Evergy president and CEO David Campbell&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-06-15-Evergy-updates-long-term-plan-for-meeting-customer-energy-needs">in the news release</a>.&nbsp;

Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora said the demonstration was really a catchall reaction to several of Evergy’s recent actions, including proposed rate increases.

“We’re dealing with the continued threat of climate change and the need for clean energy,” Pistora said. “We’re upset about the rates and Evergy’s proposal to take $218 million from Kansas ratepayers when we know our most polluting and our most costly form of energy is Wyoming coal fire.”

The investor-owned utility, which serves about 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, asked to raise rates in April, following a five-year moratorium on rate increases.

The proposed $218 million rate hikes would raise monthly bills by $14.24 in several regions of the state, and are in conflict with a recently released Kansas Corporation Commission&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/evergys-proposed-rate-increases-are-too-high-kansas-regulators-announce/">cost analysis</a>. KCC staff determined the utility actually should lower rates in the Kansas City area and only slightly increase rates for the rest of the state.

Manhattan resident Diane Barker said she paid almost $500 in Evergy bills one month last winter.

“That’s not sustainable,” Barker said.

Nancy Muma, chairwoman of the University of Kansas Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and a Sierra Club member, worked to circulate a petition asking city officials to urge the KCC to close the coal plant.

“I’m old — it’s OK. But future generations, we have got to do something for them,” Muma said. “We made the mess. It’s our responsibility to clean it up and to push for clean energy, something sustainable.”

“The whole idea of all these toxins, it’s something I know all too well,” Muma added.

At the time of the event, the petition had garnered about 400 signatures.

Pistora emphasized the cost of coal plants. He said shifting to green energy would be ultimately more affordable as well as better for the environment.

Pistora wants city officials to hold Evergy accountable for their green energy goals in the area.

“We’re not upset at you guys,” Pistora said, referring to city officials. “We just want you to do more.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694620930822.png" alt="Climate change activists stand outside Lawrence City Hall, asking cars to honk in support of closing the coal-fired power plant during a Sept. 13, 2023, rally. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Climate change activists stand outside Lawrence City Hall, asking cars to honk in support of closing the coal-fired power plant during a Sept. 13, 2023, rally. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Demonstrators picket outside Lawrence City Hall to ask for coal plant closure</h2>LAWRENCE — Closing the city’s coal-based power plant will be the first step toward holding the state’s largest utility company accountable for keeping green energy goals, climate change activists said at a Tuesday demonstration.The Sierra Club partnered with local organizations for the rally outside City Hall to show city officials how much local support there is for closing the Lawrence coal plant.Demonstrators hope to have the city pass a resolution asking Evergy to keep its original promise to stop burning coal in the Lawrence plant by 2024, as well as have the city intervene in utility planning.Sam and Zack Raugewitz, both teachers, attended the demonstration with their 15-month-old daughter.“We want our daughter to have a future with a clean, safe environment,” Sam Raugewitz said. “We need to start moving toward cleaner energy sources.”“The goal here is recognizing clean energy is good for the state economy,” Zack Raugewitz added. “It’s good for the people who live here.”The two were surrounded by dozens of other Kansans who lined the streets outside City Hall for the rally.Haskell Indian Nations University sophomore Georgia Blackwood clutched a sign that read “Evergy: Keep your promise, close the coal plant.”&nbsp;“This really is a societal failure,” Blackwood said. “Corporations just have too much power within everything and they’re not checked.”Evergy pledged two years ago to shut down Lawrence coal operations by the end of this year and invest in 350 megawatts of solar power.However, the utility publicly reversed course in June, releasing an alternative plan that won’t add any solar power until 2026 and will keep the Lawrence coal plant open until 2028. In 2028, one unit will be fully shut down and the other one will remain available for natural gas operations in times of high demand.In a news release on the decision, Evergy officials blamed the reversal on increasing demand for electricity and changes in U.S. electric grid requirements, among other factors. Officials said the utility would keep the same goal of reducing&nbsp;its carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels and reach net zero emissions by 2045.“Evergy is committed to leading a responsible energy transition while keeping affordability and reliability at the forefront,” said Evergy president and CEO David Campbell&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-06-15-Evergy-updates-long-term-plan-for-meeting-customer-energy-needs">in the news release</a>.&nbsp;Sierra Club lobbyist Zack Pistora said the demonstration was really a catchall reaction to several of Evergy’s recent actions, including proposed rate increases.“We’re dealing with the continued threat of climate change and the need for clean energy,” Pistora said. “We’re upset about the rates and Evergy’s proposal to take $218 million from Kansas ratepayers when we know our most polluting and our most costly form of energy is Wyoming coal fire.”The investor-owned utility, which serves about 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, asked to raise rates in April, following a five-year moratorium on rate increases.The proposed $218 million rate hikes would raise monthly bills by $14.24 in several regions of the state, and are in conflict with a recently released Kansas Corporation Commission&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/evergys-proposed-rate-increases-are-too-high-kansas-regulators-announce/">cost analysis</a>. KCC staff determined the utility actually should lower rates in the Kansas City area and only slightly increase rates for the rest of the state.Manhattan resident Diane Barker said she paid almost $500 in Evergy bills one month last winter.“That’s not sustainable,” Barker said.Nancy Muma, chairwoman of the University of Kansas Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and a Sierra Club member, worked to circulate a petition asking city officials to urge the KCC to close the coal plant.“I’m old — it’s OK. But future generations, we have got to do something for them,” Muma said. “We made the mess. It’s our responsibility to clean it up and to push for clean energy, something sustainable.”“The whole idea of all these toxins, it’s something I know all too well,” Muma added.At the time of the event, the petition had garnered about 400 signatures.Pistora emphasized the cost of coal plants. He said shifting to green energy would be ultimately more affordable as well as better for the environment.Pistora wants city officials to hold Evergy accountable for their green energy goals in the area.“We’re not upset at you guys,” Pistora said, referring to city officials. “We just want you to do more.”

Kansans rally to pressure Evergy into keeping green energy promises

SHAWNEE&nbsp;– A lucky bow-angler from Parsons has officially broken a 40-year state record for spotted gar in Kansas. Michael Starr Jr. was fishing at Big Hill Reservoir in Labette County in late July when he successfully reeled in a 34.5-inch spotted gar weighing 7.98 pounds, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The previous Kansas state record for spotted gar was held by bow-angler Charles Harbert of Arma when he caught a 33.5-inch, 7.75-lb spotted gar from the Chetopa Dam in 1983.

About Spotted GarSpotted gar derive the name from trademark dark, round spots on the top and sides of its head. Most are less than 30 inches long, but like other gar species – it’s covered with a tough “armor” of thick, heavy scales. There are three native species of&nbsp;gar&nbsp;in Kansas. The&nbsp;spotted&nbsp;gar&nbsp;is the smallest and can be found in the southeastern part of the state.

How State Records at SetTrophy catches such as these end up as a Kansas State Record if:

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9TdGF0ZS1SZWNvcmQtRmlzaCIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA5MTMuODI1NTE2MjEifQ.Mm-7u6killleWF2qzIaxCsX80MLkGHH6E6F3GjICbDk/s/1303160919/br/225871081881-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to see a complete list of current Kansas state record fish.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694698973615.png" alt="34.5-inch spotted gar weighing 7.98 pounds-photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks" />
 <figcaption>34.5-inch spotted gar weighing 7.98 pounds-photo courtesy Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE&nbsp;– A lucky bow-angler from Parsons has officially broken a 40-year state record for spotted gar in Kansas. Michael Starr Jr. was fishing at Big Hill Reservoir in Labette County in late July when he successfully reeled in a 34.5-inch spotted gar weighing 7.98 pounds, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.The previous Kansas state record for spotted gar was held by bow-angler Charles Harbert of Arma when he caught a 33.5-inch, 7.75-lb spotted gar from the Chetopa Dam in 1983.About Spotted GarSpotted gar derive the name from trademark dark, round spots on the top and sides of its head. Most are less than 30 inches long, but like other gar species – it’s covered with a tough “armor” of thick, heavy scales. There are three native species of&nbsp;gar&nbsp;in Kansas. The&nbsp;spotted&nbsp;gar&nbsp;is the smallest and can be found in the southeastern part of the state.How State Records at SetTrophy catches such as these end up as a Kansas State Record if:<ul>
 <li>The fish is a species recognized on the current list of Kansas state record fish</li><li>The fish is caught by a licensed angler using legal means</li><li>The fish is identified by a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks district fisheries biologist or regional fisheries supervisor</li><li>The fish is weighed on a certified scale prior to being frozen</li><li>The fish is photographed, in color, and a state record application is filled out</li><li>The mandatory 30-day waiting period has passed.</li>
 </ul>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vRmlzaGluZy9TdGF0ZS1SZWNvcmQtRmlzaCIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA5MTMuODI1NTE2MjEifQ.Mm-7u6killleWF2qzIaxCsX80MLkGHH6E6F3GjICbDk/s/1303160919/br/225871081881-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to see a complete list of current Kansas state record fish.

Kansas bow-angler breaks 40-year-old state record

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday brushed off the House Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">impeachment inquiry</a>, saying the way he sees it, they launched the investigation against him because they want to shut down the federal government.

(click below to listen to White House statement on impeachment)

Biden, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Virginia, said that instead of being concerned about the probe, “I’m focused on the things the American people want me focused on.”

The president's remarks were the first since Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;announced the launch of a Biden impeachment inquiry while the Republican House leader is also struggling to shore up votes to fund the government and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-impeachment-congress-funding-048dee639bb0dcb6604f05ba2f0782a8">prevent a federal shutdown</a>.

“The best I can tell is they want to impeach me because they want to shut down the government,” Biden said.

He also made a reference to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a top ally of his chief rival heading into the 2024 election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump.</a>&nbsp;“The first day she was elected, the first thing she wanted to do was impeach Biden,” he said.

“Look, I’ve got a job," Biden told his audience. "I’ve got to deal with the issues that affect the American people every single, solitary day.”

McCarthy's sudden decision to direct an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and the family finances has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">2024 election year</a>.

McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Trump.

The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled McCarthy, whose job is being targeted by Trump’s right-flank allies. He has already signaled potential charges of abuse of power, corruption and obstruction for possible articles of impeachment.

“There’s a lot of accusations out there you just want the answers to,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.

The White House mobilized to fight what it called the “unprecedented, unfounded claims” against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">the president</a>&nbsp;regarding his son, Hunter, and family finances.

In the inquiry, House Republicans are trying to link Biden to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">business dealings of his son</a>&nbsp;and deflect attention away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">Trump's own legal peril</a>.

The White House has said that Joe Biden was not involved in his son's business affairs. And so far, Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who spoke often to his son as vice president and did stop by a business dinner with his son's associates.

In a 14-page memo to news media leaders, the White House urged them to hold Republicans “accountable for the fact that they are lurching toward impeachment over allegations that are not only unfounded but, in virtually all cases, have been actively disproven.”

Biden did not respond early in the day to shouted questions about impeachment during a White House event on cancer research.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it “a political stunt.”

The Republican front-runner for the White House in 2024, Trump is the only president to be twice impeached — acquitted both times — and he is the first to face criminal charges in four separate indictments, including for trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden.

The sooner the better to go after Biden, some GOP lawmakers feel.

“I hope we can get it through as quickly as possible," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the Oversight Committee leading the impeachment inquiry.

Comer and the other House chairmen involved in the impeachment inquiry headed across the Capitol later Wednesday and spent nearly an hour walking Senate Republicans through the evidence they said they had gathered in the past eight months.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has warned the House off impeachment. And GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/massachusetts-utah-general-news-e80ae66f9572ddcdcc63a666913be886">announcing he would not seek reelection in 2024</a>, told reporters Wednesday afternoon, “I haven’t heard any allegation of something that would rise to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor.”

But John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said the briefing by House members left him feeling “there’s enough smoke there that there are legitimate questions.”

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and other senators said they urged the House chairmen to solidify the process by holding a House vote to move forward with the inquiry.

“I think they’d be better off having a vote. It does give it more legitimacy,” Graham of South Carolina said.

With no vote to launch the inquiry, the impeachment probe is being done without formal House-passed ground rules. That allows Republicans to conduct the investigation in ways the Democrats say are not always transparent, releasing only partial information to the public.

On another front, McCarthy's decision to launch the impeachment inquiry appears to have done little to appease conservative lawmakers he needs to win over for his more immediate task: persuading the GOP majority to pass the federal spending bills needed to avoid a government shutdown in just over two weeks.

Hard-right Republicans still want McCarthy to slash federal spending below the levels he and Biden agreed to as part of a budget deal earlier this year. And that stand risks a federal shutdown if they don't fund the government by Sept. 30, when current money runs out.

Democrats are expected to oppose those Republican efforts as well as fight Biden's impeachment.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led the first impeachment of Trump, said McCarthy's failure to bring the inquiry before the full House for a vote was “an acknowledgement that he lacks the support in his conference to move forward.”

“He is beholden to the more extreme elements,” Schiff said as lawmakers returned to Washington late Tuesday. "It is yet another indication of the weakness in the speakership and the degree by which he is manipulated by Donald Trump.”

Yet moderate Republicans representing districts that Biden won in 2020 over Trump and who are most at risk in next year's election generally were supportive of McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment probe.

“I would have voted for it,” Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., said about the impeachment inquiry.

Garcia said, “There’s smoke there so we have a requirement to go investigate that and see if there’s fire there.”

Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, another one of the Republicans from districts Biden won, said he wasn’t worried about any backlash back home. "I think my constituents deserve some answers,” he said.

The freshmen lawmaker and other potential holdouts like Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., were offered private briefings from leadership this week in order to assuage any concerns.

On the government-funding issue, McCarthy does not appear to have a viable plan to keep the government open, several lawmakers said.

The chamber came to a standstill Wednesday. A massive House Republican bill to fund the Defense Department and related military affairs was scheduled for a vote, but it was shelved amid the clash over spending levels.

Conservative Republicans are demanding that McCarthy commit to a total spending amount for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, a request he is not likely to be able to fulfill.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday brushed off the House Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">impeachment inquiry</a>, saying the way he sees it, they launched the investigation against him because they want to shut down the federal government.(click below to listen to White House statement on impeachment)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1027568138602560%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=3423" 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>Biden, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Virginia, said that instead of being concerned about the probe, “I’m focused on the things the American people want me focused on.”The president's remarks were the first since Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;announced the launch of a Biden impeachment inquiry while the Republican House leader is also struggling to shore up votes to fund the government and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-impeachment-congress-funding-048dee639bb0dcb6604f05ba2f0782a8">prevent a federal shutdown</a>.“The best I can tell is they want to impeach me because they want to shut down the government,” Biden said.He also made a reference to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a top ally of his chief rival heading into the 2024 election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump.</a>&nbsp;“The first day she was elected, the first thing she wanted to do was impeach Biden,” he said.“Look, I’ve got a job," Biden told his audience. "I’ve got to deal with the issues that affect the American people every single, solitary day.”McCarthy's sudden decision to direct an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and the family finances has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">2024 election year</a>.McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Trump.The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled McCarthy, whose job is being targeted by Trump’s right-flank allies. He has already signaled potential charges of abuse of power, corruption and obstruction for possible articles of impeachment.“There’s a lot of accusations out there you just want the answers to,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.The White House mobilized to fight what it called the “unprecedented, unfounded claims” against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">the president</a>&nbsp;regarding his son, Hunter, and family finances.In the inquiry, House Republicans are trying to link Biden to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">business dealings of his son</a>&nbsp;and deflect attention away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">Trump's own legal peril</a>.The White House has said that Joe Biden was not involved in his son's business affairs. And so far, Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who spoke often to his son as vice president and did stop by a business dinner with his son's associates.In a 14-page memo to news media leaders, the White House urged them to hold Republicans “accountable for the fact that they are lurching toward impeachment over allegations that are not only unfounded but, in virtually all cases, have been actively disproven.”Biden did not respond early in the day to shouted questions about impeachment during a White House event on cancer research.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it “a political stunt.”The Republican front-runner for the White House in 2024, Trump is the only president to be twice impeached — acquitted both times — and he is the first to face criminal charges in four separate indictments, including for trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden.The sooner the better to go after Biden, some GOP lawmakers feel.“I hope we can get it through as quickly as possible," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the Oversight Committee leading the impeachment inquiry.Comer and the other House chairmen involved in the impeachment inquiry headed across the Capitol later Wednesday and spent nearly an hour walking Senate Republicans through the evidence they said they had gathered in the past eight months.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has warned the House off impeachment. And GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/massachusetts-utah-general-news-e80ae66f9572ddcdcc63a666913be886">announcing he would not seek reelection in 2024</a>, told reporters Wednesday afternoon, “I haven’t heard any allegation of something that would rise to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor.”But John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said the briefing by House members left him feeling “there’s enough smoke there that there are legitimate questions.”Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and other senators said they urged the House chairmen to solidify the process by holding a House vote to move forward with the inquiry.“I think they’d be better off having a vote. It does give it more legitimacy,” Graham of South Carolina said.With no vote to launch the inquiry, the impeachment probe is being done without formal House-passed ground rules. That allows Republicans to conduct the investigation in ways the Democrats say are not always transparent, releasing only partial information to the public.On another front, McCarthy's decision to launch the impeachment inquiry appears to have done little to appease conservative lawmakers he needs to win over for his more immediate task: persuading the GOP majority to pass the federal spending bills needed to avoid a government shutdown in just over two weeks.Hard-right Republicans still want McCarthy to slash federal spending below the levels he and Biden agreed to as part of a budget deal earlier this year. And that stand risks a federal shutdown if they don't fund the government by Sept. 30, when current money runs out.Democrats are expected to oppose those Republican efforts as well as fight Biden's impeachment.Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led the first impeachment of Trump, said McCarthy's failure to bring the inquiry before the full House for a vote was “an acknowledgement that he lacks the support in his conference to move forward.”“He is beholden to the more extreme elements,” Schiff said as lawmakers returned to Washington late Tuesday. "It is yet another indication of the weakness in the speakership and the degree by which he is manipulated by Donald Trump.”Yet moderate Republicans representing districts that Biden won in 2020 over Trump and who are most at risk in next year's election generally were supportive of McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment probe.“I would have voted for it,” Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., said about the impeachment inquiry.Garcia said, “There’s smoke there so we have a requirement to go investigate that and see if there’s fire there.”Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, another one of the Republicans from districts Biden won, said he wasn’t worried about any backlash back home. "I think my constituents deserve some answers,” he said.The freshmen lawmaker and other potential holdouts like Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., were offered private briefings from leadership this week in order to assuage any concerns.On the government-funding issue, McCarthy does not appear to have a viable plan to keep the government open, several lawmakers said.The chamber came to a standstill Wednesday. A massive House Republican bill to fund the Defense Department and related military affairs was scheduled for a vote, but it was shelved amid the clash over spending levels.Conservative Republicans are demanding that McCarthy commit to a total spending amount for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, a request he is not likely to be able to fulfill.__

🎥Biden addresses impeachment inquiry for the first time 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting in Wichita are asking the public for help to locate a suspect identified as Luis Jackson, according to a Crime Stoppers report.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 block of West Memory Lane in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders&nbsp; located&nbsp;19-year-old Zyles James of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body.

Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. James was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

During the initial response, officers located another victim with a graze wound to the arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated and released.

If you see Jackson or know his location, call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694602061567.png" alt="Jackson -photo Crime Stoppers" />
 <figcaption>Jackson -photo Crime Stoppers</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal weekend shooting in Wichita are asking the public for help to locate a suspect identified as Luis Jackson, according to a Crime Stoppers report.Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 block of West Memory Lane in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders&nbsp; located&nbsp;19-year-old Zyles James of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body.Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. James was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.During the initial response, officers located another victim with a graze wound to the arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated and released.If you see Jackson or know his location, call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Police: Search continues for Kansas murder suspect

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Johnson County.

Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, fire crews from Overland Park and Consolidated Fire District #2 were called to a house fire in the 5300 Block of Foster Street in Overland Park, according to a media release.

Firet arriving units found fire and heavy smoke coming from the garage of the single story, single family home.

Fire crews attacked the fire in the garage and searched to confirm everyone was safely out of the home. After knocking down the garage fire, crews encountered small volumes of fire on the interior and in the attic. Both fires were quickly extinguished.

Fire damage to the home is significant with smoke damage throughout.&nbsp; Two adults and three children were displaced. The Red Cross is assisting them with lodging.&nbsp; There were no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694656248622.png" alt="Photos Overland Park Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photos Overland Park Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in Johnson County.Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, fire crews from Overland Park and Consolidated Fire District #2 were called to a house fire in the 5300 Block of Foster Street in Overland Park, according to a media release.Firet arriving units found fire and heavy smoke coming from the garage of the single story, single family home.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694657340945.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Fire crews attacked the fire in the garage and searched to confirm everyone was safely out of the home. After knocking down the garage fire, crews encountered small volumes of fire on the interior and in the attic. Both fires were quickly extinguished.Fire damage to the home is significant with smoke damage throughout.&nbsp; Two adults and three children were displaced. The Red Cross is assisting them with lodging.&nbsp; There were no injuries.

5 escape fire that significantly damaged Kansas home

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday declared illegal a revised version of a federal policy that prevents the deportation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-united-states-immigration-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-91c885ea7c2b59dd327d0cdbe76b7cdb">hundreds of thousands of immigrants</a>&nbsp;brought to the U.S. as children.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen agreed with Texas and eight other states suing to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. The judge’s ruling was ultimately expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, sending the program’s fate before the high court for a third time.

Hanen barred the government from approving any new applications, but left the program intact for existing recipients during the expected appeals process. Hanen said his order does not require the federal government to take any actions against DACA recipients.

The states have argued the Obama administration didn’t have the authority to first create the program in 2012 because it circumvented Congress.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-f01fc0f485a8983b5f072e7af324c43f">In 2021, Hanen had declared</a>&nbsp;the program illegal, ruling it had not been subject to public notice and comment periods required under the federal Administrative Procedures Act.

The Biden administration tried to satisfy Hanen’s concerns with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-states-george-w-bush-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-d54fc8e80d19406c6642e9c2c3d1ff10">a new version of DACA</a>&nbsp;that took effect in October 2022 and was subject to public comments as part of a formal rule-making process.

But Hanen, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush in 2002, ruled the updated version of DACA was still illegal. He had previously said DACA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11326880d55b41e7965f386b3d3886ec">was unconstitutional</a>&nbsp;and it would be up to Congress to enact legislation shielding people under the program, often known as “Dreamers.”

Hanen also had previously ruled the states had standing to file their lawsuit because they had been harmed by the program.

The states have claimed they incur hundreds of millions of dollars in health care, education and other costs when immigrants are allowed to remain in the country illegally. The states that sued are Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kansas and Mississippi.

Those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daca-lawsuit-court-hearing-dreamers-5f77f76eaa9b96dbb7d8123103f240de">defending the program</a>&nbsp;— the federal government, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the state of New Jersey — had argued the states failed to present evidence that any of the costs they allege they have incurred have been tied to DACA recipients. They also argued Congress has given the Department of Homeland Security the legal authority to set immigration enforcement policies.

Despite previously declaring the DACA program illegal, Hanen had left the Obama-era program intact for those already benefiting from it. But he had ruled there could be no new applicants while appeals were pending.

There were 578,680 people enrolled in DACA at the end of March, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The program has faced a roller coaster of court challenges over the years.

In 2016, the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 over an expanded DACA and a version of the program for parents of DACA recipients. In 2020, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-courts-immigration-4901a69e2fb198705ab4f5370b28810a">high court ruled 5-4</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration improperly ended DACA, allowing it to stay in place.

In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-united-states-immigration-government-and-politics-b05499ef2d0d999c045079204d42be84">5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans upheld Hanen’s earlier ruling declaring DACA illegal, but sent the case back to him to review&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-states-george-w-bush-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-d54fc8e80d19406c6642e9c2c3d1ff10">changes made to the program by the Biden administration</a>.

President Joe Biden and advocacy groups have called on Congress to pass permanent protections for “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-united-states-immigration-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-91c885ea7c2b59dd327d0cdbe76b7cdb">dreamers</a>.” Congress has failed multiple times to pass proposals called the DREAM Act to protect DACA recipients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592490581956.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday declared illegal a revised version of a federal policy that prevents the deportation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-united-states-immigration-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-91c885ea7c2b59dd327d0cdbe76b7cdb">hundreds of thousands of immigrants</a>&nbsp;brought to the U.S. as children.U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen agreed with Texas and eight other states suing to stop the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. The judge’s ruling was ultimately expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, sending the program’s fate before the high court for a third time.Hanen barred the government from approving any new applications, but left the program intact for existing recipients during the expected appeals process. Hanen said his order does not require the federal government to take any actions against DACA recipients.The states have argued the Obama administration didn’t have the authority to first create the program in 2012 because it circumvented Congress.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-immigration-f01fc0f485a8983b5f072e7af324c43f">In 2021, Hanen had declared</a>&nbsp;the program illegal, ruling it had not been subject to public notice and comment periods required under the federal Administrative Procedures Act.The Biden administration tried to satisfy Hanen’s concerns with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-states-george-w-bush-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-d54fc8e80d19406c6642e9c2c3d1ff10">a new version of DACA</a>&nbsp;that took effect in October 2022 and was subject to public comments as part of a formal rule-making process.But Hanen, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush in 2002, ruled the updated version of DACA was still illegal. He had previously said DACA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/11326880d55b41e7965f386b3d3886ec">was unconstitutional</a>&nbsp;and it would be up to Congress to enact legislation shielding people under the program, often known as “Dreamers.”Hanen also had previously ruled the states had standing to file their lawsuit because they had been harmed by the program.The states have claimed they incur hundreds of millions of dollars in health care, education and other costs when immigrants are allowed to remain in the country illegally. The states that sued are Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kansas and Mississippi.Those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daca-lawsuit-court-hearing-dreamers-5f77f76eaa9b96dbb7d8123103f240de">defending the program</a>&nbsp;— the federal government, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the state of New Jersey — had argued the states failed to present evidence that any of the costs they allege they have incurred have been tied to DACA recipients. They also argued Congress has given the Department of Homeland Security the legal authority to set immigration enforcement policies.Despite previously declaring the DACA program illegal, Hanen had left the Obama-era program intact for those already benefiting from it. But he had ruled there could be no new applicants while appeals were pending.There were 578,680 people enrolled in DACA at the end of March, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.The program has faced a roller coaster of court challenges over the years.In 2016, the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 over an expanded DACA and a version of the program for parents of DACA recipients. In 2020, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-courts-immigration-4901a69e2fb198705ab4f5370b28810a">high court ruled 5-4</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration improperly ended DACA, allowing it to stay in place.In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-united-states-immigration-government-and-politics-b05499ef2d0d999c045079204d42be84">5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans upheld Hanen’s earlier ruling declaring DACA illegal, but sent the case back to him to review&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-united-states-george-w-bush-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-d54fc8e80d19406c6642e9c2c3d1ff10">changes made to the program by the Biden administration</a>.President Joe Biden and advocacy groups have called on Congress to pass permanent protections for “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-united-states-immigration-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-program-91c885ea7c2b59dd327d0cdbe76b7cdb">dreamers</a>.” Congress has failed multiple times to pass proposals called the DREAM Act to protect DACA recipients.

Federal judge again says Biden immigration program illegal

COFFEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Coffey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford Expedition driven by Angelo V.&nbsp;Turner, 51, Eureka, was southbound on U.S. 75 just south of Interstate 35.&nbsp;

The SUV struck the #5 axel of a 2009 Kenworth semi driven by Johnnie L.&nbsp;Snodgrass, 67, Mound City, who was coming out of the truck stop and attempting to go Northbound on U.S. 75.

Turner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Snograss was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

COFFEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Coffey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford Expedition driven by Angelo V.&nbsp;Turner, 51, Eureka, was southbound on U.S. 75 just south of Interstate 35.&nbsp;The SUV struck the #5 axel of a 2009 Kenworth semi driven by Johnnie L.&nbsp;Snodgrass, 67, Mound City, who was coming out of the truck stop and attempting to go Northbound on U.S. 75.Turner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Snograss was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV, semi crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday failed to override any of the governor's budget vetoes, conceding to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-missouri-school-funding-infrastructure-0ecaff4bedfa58a61991473df94dafa4">pared-back budget</a>&nbsp;that is $555 million slimmer than they passed.

The GOP-led Legislature did not attempt to override Republican Gov. Mike Parson on most of his budget cuts during its abbreviated annual September session focused on vetoes.

But House lawmakers made several fruitless efforts to spare extra funding for law enforcement, seniors and mental health services. Senators gaveled in briefly Wednesday and made no effort to override Parson, upending the House's work.

On Tuesday, Parson said lawmakers put “quite a few things in the budget — more than normal” — and that he made numerous line-item vetoes to try to focus the spending on things that would have statewide impacts.

“But I have to look at things beyond one House district or one Senate district,” Parson said. “At some point, everything can’t be a priority, and we have to make a decision.”

Parson in June pointed out that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-interstate-70-i70-missouri-teacher-pay-21981d1cd33092cd03c61f6c1e09a9fc">lawmakers</a>&nbsp;went $1.7 billion over his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-st-louis-columbia-kansas-city-29d87e49bedb4c134ecc02fb43b39ff9">budget proposal</a>, although Missouri this year had a historic budget surplus.

House lawmakers voted to override Parson's veto of 20% raises for Highway Patrol workers, compared to 8.7% pay hikes that Parson approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-jefferson-city-087bab70d60100959f80369953949013">for all state workers</a>.

Parson allowed enough money through to give Highway Patrol workers targeted raises of around 11%, the Senate Appropriations Committee leader said on the floor Wednesday.

At least one House member said he voted “present” on many of the veto overrides that he supports because he did not expect action in the Senate.

“We’re going to pass things out of here, and it’s going to go over the Senate and nothing’s going to happen,” Republican Rep. Jim Murphy said. ”I just don’t like futility."

House Republicans on Tuesday also voted to nominate Majority Floor Leader Rep. Jon Patterson to be the next House speaker. Current Speaker Dean Plocher cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

The full House must elect a speaker in January 2025. But because Republicans control the chamber, the GOP nominee is expected to win easily.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday failed to override any of the governor's budget vetoes, conceding to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-missouri-school-funding-infrastructure-0ecaff4bedfa58a61991473df94dafa4">pared-back budget</a>&nbsp;that is $555 million slimmer than they passed.The GOP-led Legislature did not attempt to override Republican Gov. Mike Parson on most of his budget cuts during its abbreviated annual September session focused on vetoes.But House lawmakers made several fruitless efforts to spare extra funding for law enforcement, seniors and mental health services. Senators gaveled in briefly Wednesday and made no effort to override Parson, upending the House's work.On Tuesday, Parson said lawmakers put “quite a few things in the budget — more than normal” — and that he made numerous line-item vetoes to try to focus the spending on things that would have statewide impacts.“But I have to look at things beyond one House district or one Senate district,” Parson said. “At some point, everything can’t be a priority, and we have to make a decision.”Parson in June pointed out that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-interstate-70-i70-missouri-teacher-pay-21981d1cd33092cd03c61f6c1e09a9fc">lawmakers</a>&nbsp;went $1.7 billion over his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-st-louis-columbia-kansas-city-29d87e49bedb4c134ecc02fb43b39ff9">budget proposal</a>, although Missouri this year had a historic budget surplus.House lawmakers voted to override Parson's veto of 20% raises for Highway Patrol workers, compared to 8.7% pay hikes that Parson approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-state-government-jefferson-city-087bab70d60100959f80369953949013">for all state workers</a>.Parson allowed enough money through to give Highway Patrol workers targeted raises of around 11%, the Senate Appropriations Committee leader said on the floor Wednesday.At least one House member said he voted “present” on many of the veto overrides that he supports because he did not expect action in the Senate.“We’re going to pass things out of here, and it’s going to go over the Senate and nothing’s going to happen,” Republican Rep. Jim Murphy said. ”I just don’t like futility."House Republicans on Tuesday also voted to nominate Majority Floor Leader Rep. Jon Patterson to be the next House speaker. Current Speaker Dean Plocher cannot run for re-election because of term limits.The full House must elect a speaker in January 2025. But because Republicans control the chamber, the GOP nominee is expected to win easily.

Mo. lawmakers fail to override Parson's vetoes, accept pared-back state budget

A judge on Tuesday sentenced 43-year-old Michael Hendricks and 33-year-old Maggie Ybarra to life sentences plus decades more for the gruesome murder of 32-year-old Kensie Aubry, whose body was recovered from a Grain Valley, Missouri, property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Hendricks was sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole plus 44.5 years more in prison, while Ybarra was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 56.5 years, following an emotional sentencing hearing.&nbsp;

Ybarra was sentenced Tuesday for Murder 2nd Degree (Life in Prison), Harassment 1st Degree (four years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), the misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree (6 months), Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution (1 year), three counts of Tamper With A Victim in a Felony Prosecution (seven years each).

Hendricks was sentenced to Murder 1st Degree (Life in Prison without Possibility of Parole); Harassment 1st Degree (4 years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), Child Molestation 3rd Degree (10 years); Sexual Misconduct (6 months)

In Aug. 2021, a Jackson County grand jury indicted Hendricks and Ybarra on multiple charges. A Jackson County jury found them guilty in July.

The teenage girl, who was in foster care, told police that Hendricks confessed to choking Aubry and putting her body in a freezer. The girl said Hendricks showed her photos of a naked and bound woman and the chainsaw he allegedly used to chop up her body.

Ybarra was arrested in late April and jailed on sexual abuse charges related to the teenage girl, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article252836573.html">reported</a>. Police alleged that Ybarra called Hendricks from jail and asked him to throw away evidence at her house.

&nbsp;According to charging documents, Ybarra attempted to get other people to buy gifts for the teenage girl and pressure her to take back what she told police.

Police said Ybarra met Hendricks after he paid her for sex sometime last year. Ybarra has described Hendricks as both her boss and her boyfriend to police. Hendricks' wife filed for divorce within days of his arrest.

Prosecutor Baker issued this statement following the sentencing: My office spent countless hours to assure justice in this case of frankly unspeakable human behavior. We sought the max under the law. I am proud of this trial team that brought these defendants to today's fitting outcome. I must again point to the bravery of the young victim who led law enforcement to these defendants. I must also praise law enforcement, notably the Grandview Police Department, for believing and acting on the word of this young victim. Justice could not have been served without her bravery and her sense of right and wrong. She ultimately delivered this just ruling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689361413675.png" alt="Hendricks-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hendricks-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A judge on Tuesday sentenced 43-year-old Michael Hendricks and 33-year-old Maggie Ybarra to life sentences plus decades more for the gruesome murder of 32-year-old Kensie Aubry, whose body was recovered from a Grain Valley, Missouri, property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Hendricks was sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole plus 44.5 years more in prison, while Ybarra was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 56.5 years, following an emotional sentencing hearing.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689361482049.png" alt="Ybarra-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ybarra-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ybarra was sentenced Tuesday for Murder 2nd Degree (Life in Prison), Harassment 1st Degree (four years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), the misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct 1st Degree (6 months), Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution (1 year), three counts of Tamper With A Victim in a Felony Prosecution (seven years each).Hendricks was sentenced to Murder 1st Degree (Life in Prison without Possibility of Parole); Harassment 1st Degree (4 years), Enticement of a Child (30 years), Child Molestation 3rd Degree (10 years); Sexual Misconduct (6 months)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626354604788.png" alt="Police found Aubry's body buried on Hendricks' Grain Valley property-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police found Aubry's body buried on Hendricks' Grain Valley property-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>In Aug. 2021, a Jackson County grand jury indicted Hendricks and Ybarra on multiple charges. A Jackson County jury found them guilty in July.The teenage girl, who was in foster care, told police that Hendricks confessed to choking Aubry and putting her body in a freezer. The girl said Hendricks showed her photos of a naked and bound woman and the chainsaw he allegedly used to chop up her body.Ybarra was arrested in late April and jailed on sexual abuse charges related to the teenage girl, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article252836573.html">reported</a>. Police alleged that Ybarra called Hendricks from jail and asked him to throw away evidence at her house.&nbsp;According to charging documents, Ybarra attempted to get other people to buy gifts for the teenage girl and pressure her to take back what she told police.Police said Ybarra met Hendricks after he paid her for sex sometime last year. Ybarra has described Hendricks as both her boss and her boyfriend to police. Hendricks' wife filed for divorce within days of his arrest.Prosecutor Baker issued this statement following the sentencing: My office spent countless hours to assure justice in this case of frankly unspeakable human behavior. We sought the max under the law. I am proud of this trial team that brought these defendants to today's fitting outcome. I must again point to the bravery of the young victim who led law enforcement to these defendants. I must also praise law enforcement, notably the Grandview Police Department, for believing and acting on the word of this young victim. Justice could not have been served without her bravery and her sense of right and wrong. She ultimately delivered this just ruling.

KC-area couple sentenced for killing, dismembering woman

STAFFORD COUNTY —The Environmental Protection Agency is 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.

 The responsible party 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.

<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 is 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. The responsible party 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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694639814011.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>The brine contained an estimated 600 to 700 gallons of oil. An EPA On-Scene Coordinator mobilized to the response on Tuesday evening. Upon arrival, the EPA On Scene Coordinator met with state and local responders, performed a reconnaissance of Rattlesnake Creek, and observed responsible party containment and recovery operations. The On Scene Coordinator observed areas of sheening and small pockets of oil up to 2.1 miles from the source of the spill, but there have been no observed impacts within the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The responsible party has 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.Responsible party contractors have 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.