WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday defied a congressional subpoena to appear privately for a deposition before Republican investigators who have been digging into his business dealings. He insisted he would only testify in public.

The Democratic president’s son slammed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-impeachment-congress-subpoena-37fe9652539c2c501d8b8bd8c3cc8901">the GOP-issued subpoena</a>&nbsp;for the closed-door testimony, arguing that information from those interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated.

“Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say,” Biden said outside the Capitol in a rare public statement. “What are they afraid of? I am here.”

GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has said Republicans expect “full cooperation” with the private deposition. Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, told reporters later Wednesday that they will begin looking at contempt of Congress proceedings in response to Hunter Biden's lack of cooperation.

"He just got into more trouble today,” Comer said.

For months, Republicans have pursued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;seeking to tie President Joe Biden to his son's business dealings. So far, GOP lawmakers have failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the elder Biden in any wrongdoing.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president was familiar with what his son would say. “I think that what you saw was from the heart, from his son,” she said. “They are proud of their son.”

Democrats have been united against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">the Republican impeachment push</a>, saying it's “an illegitimate exercise” merely meant to distract from GOP chaos and dysfunction.

“We are at a remarkable juncture for the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee. “Because this is an impeachment inquiry where no one has been able to define what criminal or constitutional offense they’re looking for.”

But questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden family’s international business, and lawmakers insist their evidence paints a troubling picture of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">“influence peddling” in their business dealings</a>, particularly with clients overseas.

“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen," Hunter Biden said.

The White House has chalked up the whole process as a “partisan smear campaign” that Republicans are pushing ahead with “despite the fact that members of their own party have admitted there is no evidence to support impeaching President Biden.”

While Republicans have maintained that their impeachment inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.

Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-charges-special-counsel-75b2aa05f247535677454ff2dfa7c71f">additional charges</a>&nbsp;last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.

Later Wednesday, the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">authorized the impeachment inquiry</a>. House Republicans hoped a vote to formalize their investigation would help their legal standing when enforcing subpoenas to Hunter Biden and other Biden family members.

“Mr. Biden’s counsel and the White House have both argued that the reason he couldn’t come for a deposition was because there wasn’t a formal vote for an impeachment inquiry,” Jordan told reporters. “Well, that’s going to happen in a few hours.”

He added, “And when that happens, we’ll see what their excuse is then.”

Democrats and the White House have defended the president and his administration’s cooperation with the investigation thus far, saying it has already made dozens of witnesses and a massive trove of documents available.

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records, dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating Hunter Biden.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday defied a congressional subpoena to appear privately for a deposition before Republican investigators who have been digging into his business dealings. He insisted he would only testify in public.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Hunter Biden news conference. <a href="https://t.co/MovQT3qMLJ">pic.twitter.com/MovQT3qMLJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1735054990631125216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Democratic president’s son slammed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-impeachment-congress-subpoena-37fe9652539c2c501d8b8bd8c3cc8901">the GOP-issued subpoena</a>&nbsp;for the closed-door testimony, arguing that information from those interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated.“Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say,” Biden said outside the Capitol in a rare public statement. “What are they afraid of? I am here.”GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has said Republicans expect “full cooperation” with the private deposition. Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, told reporters later Wednesday that they will begin looking at contempt of Congress proceedings in response to Hunter Biden's lack of cooperation."He just got into more trouble today,” Comer said.For months, Republicans have pursued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;seeking to tie President Joe Biden to his son's business dealings. So far, GOP lawmakers have failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the elder Biden in any wrongdoing.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president was familiar with what his son would say. “I think that what you saw was from the heart, from his son,” she said. “They are proud of their son.”Democrats have been united against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">the Republican impeachment push</a>, saying it's “an illegitimate exercise” merely meant to distract from GOP chaos and dysfunction.“We are at a remarkable juncture for the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee. “Because this is an impeachment inquiry where no one has been able to define what criminal or constitutional offense they’re looking for.”But questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden family’s international business, and lawmakers insist their evidence paints a troubling picture of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">“influence peddling” in their business dealings</a>, particularly with clients overseas.“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen," Hunter Biden said.The White House has chalked up the whole process as a “partisan smear campaign” that Republicans are pushing ahead with “despite the fact that members of their own party have admitted there is no evidence to support impeaching President Biden.”While Republicans have maintained that their impeachment inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden’s taxes and his gun use.Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-charges-special-counsel-75b2aa05f247535677454ff2dfa7c71f">additional charges</a>&nbsp;last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.Later Wednesday, the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">authorized the impeachment inquiry</a>. House Republicans hoped a vote to formalize their investigation would help their legal standing when enforcing subpoenas to Hunter Biden and other Biden family members.“Mr. Biden’s counsel and the White House have both argued that the reason he couldn’t come for a deposition was because there wasn’t a formal vote for an impeachment inquiry,” Jordan told reporters. “Well, that’s going to happen in a few hours.”He added, “And when that happens, we’ll see what their excuse is then.”Democrats and the White House have defended the president and his administration’s cooperation with the investigation thus far, saying it has already made dozens of witnesses and a massive trove of documents available.Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records, dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating Hunter Biden.

🎥 "I am here'; Hunter Biden’s defiant, unexpected appearance

MARION COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 11a.m. Wednesday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Hyundia Elantra driven by&nbsp;Jessica R.&nbsp;Henson, 43, Wamego, was was eastbound on U.S. Highway 56 at 250th Street.

The driver failed to stop and rear-ended a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by Trevor L.&nbsp; Stevens, 21, Emporia, who was stopped at a KDOT work zone waiting on the flagger.

Henson and a child passenger were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Yazel-Megli Funeral Home. The KHP released no additional details on the child. Juvenile records are protected data, according to the KHP.

Stevens was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702508158489.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the crash -photo courtesy KWCh" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the crash -photo courtesy KWCh</figcaption>
 </figure>MARION COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 11a.m. Wednesday in Marion County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Hyundia Elantra driven by&nbsp;Jessica R.&nbsp;Henson, 43, Wamego, was was eastbound on U.S. Highway 56 at 250th Street.The driver failed to stop and rear-ended a 2017 Freightliner semi driven by Trevor L.&nbsp; Stevens, 21, Emporia, who was stopped at a KDOT work zone waiting on the flagger.Henson and a child passenger were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Yazel-Megli Funeral Home. The KHP released no additional details on the child. Juvenile records are protected data, according to the KHP.Stevens was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

Kansas woman, child die in construction zone crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday authorized the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/impeachment">impeachment</a>&nbsp;inquiry into President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden,</a>&nbsp;with every Republican rallying behind the politically charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment process</a>&nbsp;that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.

Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House. Trump has pushed his GOP allies in Congress to move swiftly on impeaching Biden, part of his broader calls for&nbsp;<a>vengeance and retribution</a>&nbsp;against his political enemies.

The decision to hold a vote came as House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;and his leadership team faced growing pressure to show progress in what has become a nearly yearlong probe centered around the business dealings of Biden's family members. While their investigation has raised ethical questions, no evidence has emerged that Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president.

Ahead of the vote, Johnson called it “the next necessary step" and acknowledged there are “a lot of people who are frustrated this hasn’t moved faster.“

In a recent statement, the White House called the whole process a “baseless fishing expedition” that Republicans are pushing ahead with “despite the fact that members of their own party have admitted there is no evidence to support impeaching President Biden.”

House Democrats rose in opposition to the inquiry resolution Wednesday.

“This whole thing is an extreme political stunt. It has no credibility, no legitimacy, and no integrity. It is a sideshow," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said during a floor debate.

Some House Republicans, particularly those hailing from politically divided districts, had been hesitant in recent weeks to take any vote on Biden's impeachment, fearing a significant political cost. But GOP leaders have made the case in recent weeks that the resolution is only a step in the process, not a decision to impeach Biden. That message seems to have won over skeptics.

“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference Tuesday.

Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”

Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by leadership's recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.

A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., said this week that while there was no evidence to impeach the president, “that’s also not what the vote this week would be about.”

“We have had enough political impeachments in this country,” he said. “I don’t like the stonewalling the administration has done, but listen, if we don’t have the receipts, that should constrain what the House does long-term.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. "Let's see what they find out.”

House Democrats remained unified in their opposition to the impeachment process, saying it is a farce used by the GOP to take attention away from Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-election-fraud-documents-1d8d88542e6257ad957cf2fc03e190ae">legal woes</a>.

“You don’t initiate an impeachment process unless there’s real evidence of impeachable offenses,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who oversaw the two impeachments into Trump. “There is none here. None.”

Democrats and the White House have repeatedly defended the president and his administration's cooperation with the investigation thus far, saying it has already made a massive trove of documents available.

Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president's son, Hunter Biden.

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden's taxes and his gun use.

Democrats have conceded that while the president's son is not perfect, he is a private citizen who is already being held accountable by the justice system.

“I mean, there’s a lot of evidence that Hunter Biden did a lot of improper things. He’s been indicted, he’ll stand trial,” Nadler said. “There’s no evidence whatsoever that the president did anything improper.”

Hunter Biden arrived for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-investigation-impeachment-0226bb1041d7b5c10bc8c33e5d98b5e0">rare public statement</a>&nbsp;outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, saying he would not be appearing for his scheduled private deposition that morning. The president's son defended himself against years of GOP attacks and said his father has had no financial involvement in his business affairs.

His attorney has offered for Biden to testify publicly, citing concerns about Republicans manipulating any private testimony.

“Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say,” Biden said outside the Capitol. “What are they afraid of? I am here.”

GOP lawmakers said that since Hunter Biden did not appear, they will begin contempt of Congress proceedings against him. “He just got into more trouble today,” Rep. James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman, told reporters Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702488142386.png" alt="FILE - Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. The House is pushing toward a vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden formally. This comes as Republicans rally behind the charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 29, 2023. The House is pushing toward a vote to authorize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden formally. This comes as Republicans rally behind the charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday authorized the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/impeachment">impeachment</a>&nbsp;inquiry into President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden,</a>&nbsp;with every Republican rallying behind the politically charged process despite lingering concerns among some in the party that the investigation has yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.The 221-212 party-line vote put the entire House Republican conference on record in support of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment process</a>&nbsp;that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial.Authorizing the monthslong inquiry ensures that the impeachment investigation extends well into 2024, when Biden will be running for reelection and seems likely to be squaring off against former President Donald Trump — who was twice impeached during his time in the White House. Trump has pushed his GOP allies in Congress to move swiftly on impeaching Biden, part of his broader calls for&nbsp;<a>vengeance and retribution</a>&nbsp;against his political enemies.The decision to hold a vote came as House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;and his leadership team faced growing pressure to show progress in what has become a nearly yearlong probe centered around the business dealings of Biden's family members. While their investigation has raised ethical questions, no evidence has emerged that Biden acted corruptly or accepted bribes in his current role or previous office as vice president.Ahead of the vote, Johnson called it “the next necessary step" and acknowledged there are “a lot of people who are frustrated this hasn’t moved faster.“In a recent statement, the White House called the whole process a “baseless fishing expedition” that Republicans are pushing ahead with “despite the fact that members of their own party have admitted there is no evidence to support impeaching President Biden.”House Democrats rose in opposition to the inquiry resolution Wednesday.“This whole thing is an extreme political stunt. It has no credibility, no legitimacy, and no integrity. It is a sideshow," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said during a floor debate.Some House Republicans, particularly those hailing from politically divided districts, had been hesitant in recent weeks to take any vote on Biden's impeachment, fearing a significant political cost. But GOP leaders have made the case in recent weeks that the resolution is only a step in the process, not a decision to impeach Biden. That message seems to have won over skeptics.“As we have said numerous times before, voting in favor of an impeachment inquiry does not equal impeachment,” Rep. Tom Emmer, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at a news conference Tuesday.Emmer said Republicans “will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead, and if they uncover evidence of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, then and only then will the next steps towards impeachment proceedings be considered.”Most of the Republicans reluctant to back the impeachment push have also been swayed by leadership's recent argument that authorizing the inquiry will give them better legal standing as the White House has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for their requests for information.A letter last month from a top White House attorney to Republican committee leaders portrayed the GOP investigation as overzealous and illegitimate because the chamber had not yet authorized a formal impeachment inquiry by a vote of the full House. Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, also wrote that when Trump faced the prospect of impeachment by a Democratic-led House in 2019, Johnson had said at the time that any inquiry without a House vote would be a “sham.”Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., said this week that while there was no evidence to impeach the president, “that’s also not what the vote this week would be about.”“We have had enough political impeachments in this country,” he said. “I don’t like the stonewalling the administration has done, but listen, if we don’t have the receipts, that should constrain what the House does long-term.”Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who has long been opposed to moving forward with impeachment, said that the White House questioning the legitimacy of the inquiry without a formal vote helped gain his support. “I can defend an inquiry right now,” he told reporters this week. "Let's see what they find out.”House Democrats remained unified in their opposition to the impeachment process, saying it is a farce used by the GOP to take attention away from Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-election-fraud-documents-1d8d88542e6257ad957cf2fc03e190ae">legal woes</a>.“You don’t initiate an impeachment process unless there’s real evidence of impeachable offenses,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who oversaw the two impeachments into Trump. “There is none here. None.”Democrats and the White House have repeatedly defended the president and his administration's cooperation with the investigation thus far, saying it has already made a massive trove of documents available.Congressional investigators have obtained nearly 40,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records and dozens of hours of testimony from key witnesses, including several high-ranking Justice Department officials currently tasked with investigating the president's son, Hunter Biden.While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president himself, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, from which they accuse the president of personally benefiting. Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations of interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into the younger Biden's taxes and his gun use.Hunter Biden is currently facing criminal charges in two states from the special counsel investigation. He’s charged with firearm counts in Delaware, alleging he broke laws against drug users having guns in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction. Special counsel David Weiss filed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-tax-charges-special-counsel-75b2aa05f247535677454ff2dfa7c71f">additional charges</a>&nbsp;last week, alleging he failed to pay about $1.4 million in taxes over a three-year period.Democrats have conceded that while the president's son is not perfect, he is a private citizen who is already being held accountable by the justice system.“I mean, there’s a lot of evidence that Hunter Biden did a lot of improper things. He’s been indicted, he’ll stand trial,” Nadler said. “There’s no evidence whatsoever that the president did anything improper.”Hunter Biden arrived for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-investigation-impeachment-0226bb1041d7b5c10bc8c33e5d98b5e0">rare public statement</a>&nbsp;outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, saying he would not be appearing for his scheduled private deposition that morning. The president's son defended himself against years of GOP attacks and said his father has had no financial involvement in his business affairs.His attorney has offered for Biden to testify publicly, citing concerns about Republicans manipulating any private testimony.“Republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say,” Biden said outside the Capitol. “What are they afraid of? I am here.”GOP lawmakers said that since Hunter Biden did not appear, they will begin contempt of Congress proceedings against him. “He just got into more trouble today,” Rep. James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman, told reporters Wednesday.___

House approves impeachment inquiry into President Biden

LANSING, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The death of an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility has been ruled a homicide, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Just before 11p.m. Nov. 25, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) was notified by personnel at the Lansing Correctional facility that 29-year-old&nbsp;Darionce Terrell Charles-Lott had died after being found unresponsive in his cell.

Despite life-saving measures that were attempted at the facility’s clinic, Charles-Lott was pronounced deceased.

Charles-Lott had been serving a 172-month sentence for a conviction in Wyandotte County for one count of aggravated battery with intent for bodily harm. He was admitted to Lansing on Nov. 1, 2011 and was of only 18, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He also was written up for various disciplinary issues nearly 90 times, according to the KDOC.

&nbsp;An autopsy was conducted. While the final autopsy report is pending, preliminary autopsy results indicated Charles-Lott’s manner of death was homicide, and cause of death was strangulation.

A male suspect who is incarcerated at the facility has been identified. At this time, the suspect has not yet been arrested or charged for this crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701026109758.png" alt="Charles-Lott-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Charles-Lott-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>LANSING, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The death of an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility has been ruled a homicide, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Just before 11p.m. Nov. 25, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) was notified by personnel at the Lansing Correctional facility that 29-year-old&nbsp;Darionce Terrell Charles-Lott had died after being found unresponsive in his cell.Despite life-saving measures that were attempted at the facility’s clinic, Charles-Lott was pronounced deceased.Charles-Lott had been serving a 172-month sentence for a conviction in Wyandotte County for one count of aggravated battery with intent for bodily harm. He was admitted to Lansing on Nov. 1, 2011 and was of only 18, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He also was written up for various disciplinary issues nearly 90 times, according to the KDOC.&nbsp;An autopsy was conducted. While the final autopsy report is pending, preliminary autopsy results indicated Charles-Lott’s manner of death was homicide, and cause of death was strangulation.A male suspect who is incarcerated at the facility has been identified. At this time, the suspect has not yet been arrested or charged for this crime.

Kan. man, in prison since age 18, killed by another inmate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark rate next year.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell said that Fed officials are likely done raising interest rates because of how steadily inflation has cooled.

“Inflation has eased over the past year but remains over our longer run goal of 2%,” Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference after the Fed’s 19-member policy committee ended its latest meeting.

The three rate cuts that Fed officials now envision — which wouldn't likely begin until the second half of 2024 — suggest that they believe high borrowing rates will still be needed for much of next year to further slow inflation.

Traders on Wall Street welcomed the prospect of lower rates ahead. Stock prices surged and bond yields fell after the Fed's policymakers signaled that they envision three interest rate cuts in 2024.

The Fed kept its benchmark rate at about 5.4%, its highest level in 22 years, a rate that has led to much higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, business borrowing and many other forms of credit. Higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced home sales. Spending on appliances and other expensive goods that people often buy on credit has also declined.

So far, the Fed has achieved what few observers had thought possible a year ago: Inflation has tumbled without an accompanying surge in unemployment or a recession, which typically coincide with a central bank’s efforts to cool the economy and curb inflation. Though inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, it has declined faster than Fed officials had expected, allowing them to keep rates unchanged and wait to see if price increases continue to ease.

At the same time, the government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-e6c70e11671a5803eac13cb8a55f1f3a">latest report on consumer prices</a>&nbsp;showed that inflation in some areas, particularly health care, apartment rents, restaurant meals and other services, remains persistently high, one reason why Powell is reluctant to signal that policymakers are prepared to cut rates anytime soon.

On Wednesday, the Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed that its officials envision a “soft landing” for the economy, in which inflation would continue its decline toward the central bank’s 2% target without causing a steep downturn. The forecasts showed that the policymakers expect to cut their benchmark rate to 4.6% by the end of 2024 — three quarter-point reductions from its current level.

A sharp economic slowdown could prompt even faster rate reductions. So far, though, there is no sign that a downturn is imminent.

In its quarterly projections, the Fed's policymakers now expect “core” inflation, according to its preferred measure, to fall to just 2.4% by the end of 2024, down from a 2.6% forecast in September. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, is considered a better gauge to inflation’s future path.

The policymakers foresee unemployment rising to 4.1% next year, from its current 3.7%, which would still be a low level historically. They project that the economy will expand at a modest 1.4% next year and 1.8% in 2025.

Interest rate cuts by the Fed, whenever they happen, would reduce borrowing costs across the economy. Stock prices could rise, too, though share prices have already rallied in expectation of rate cuts, potentially limiting any further increases.

Powell, though, has recently downplayed the idea that rate reductions are nearing. He hasn’t yet even signaled that the Fed is conclusively done with its hikes.

One reason the Fed might be able to cut rates next year, even if the economy plows ahead, would be if inflation kept falling, as expected. A steady slowdown in price increases would have the effect of raising inflation-adjusted interest rates, thereby making borrowing costs higher than the Fed intends. Reducing rates, in this scenario, would simply keep inflation-adjusted borrowing costs from rising.

Recent economic data have modestly cooled financial markets’ expectations for early rate cuts. Last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-inflation-rates-hiring-federal-reserve-953387b195e6c58703b33ef94dad11b4">jobs report for November</a>&nbsp;showed that the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, near a half-century low, down from 3.9% as businesses engaged in solid hiring. Such a low unemployment rate could force companies to keep raising pay to find and retain workers, which would fuel inflationary pressures.

And consumer prices were mostly unchanged last month, the government said Tuesday, suggesting that while inflation is likely headed back to the Fed’s 2% target, it might take longer than optimists expect. The central bank, as a result, could opt to keep rates at their current level to try to ensure that prices resume their downward path.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark rate next year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;Today we decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged and to continue to reduce our securities holdings. Given how far we have come, along with the uncertainties and risks that we face, the Committee is proceeding carefully.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZiOCKcrT9b">pic.twitter.com/ZiOCKcrT9b</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1735024654199210398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell said that Fed officials are likely done raising interest rates because of how steadily inflation has cooled.“Inflation has eased over the past year but remains over our longer run goal of 2%,” Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference after the Fed’s 19-member policy committee ended its latest meeting.The three rate cuts that Fed officials now envision — which wouldn't likely begin until the second half of 2024 — suggest that they believe high borrowing rates will still be needed for much of next year to further slow inflation.Traders on Wall Street welcomed the prospect of lower rates ahead. Stock prices surged and bond yields fell after the Fed's policymakers signaled that they envision three interest rate cuts in 2024.The Fed kept its benchmark rate at about 5.4%, its highest level in 22 years, a rate that has led to much higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, business borrowing and many other forms of credit. Higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced home sales. Spending on appliances and other expensive goods that people often buy on credit has also declined.So far, the Fed has achieved what few observers had thought possible a year ago: Inflation has tumbled without an accompanying surge in unemployment or a recession, which typically coincide with a central bank’s efforts to cool the economy and curb inflation. Though inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, it has declined faster than Fed officials had expected, allowing them to keep rates unchanged and wait to see if price increases continue to ease.At the same time, the government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-e6c70e11671a5803eac13cb8a55f1f3a">latest report on consumer prices</a>&nbsp;showed that inflation in some areas, particularly health care, apartment rents, restaurant meals and other services, remains persistently high, one reason why Powell is reluctant to signal that policymakers are prepared to cut rates anytime soon.On Wednesday, the Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed that its officials envision a “soft landing” for the economy, in which inflation would continue its decline toward the central bank’s 2% target without causing a steep downturn. The forecasts showed that the policymakers expect to cut their benchmark rate to 4.6% by the end of 2024 — three quarter-point reductions from its current level.A sharp economic slowdown could prompt even faster rate reductions. So far, though, there is no sign that a downturn is imminent.In its quarterly projections, the Fed's policymakers now expect “core” inflation, according to its preferred measure, to fall to just 2.4% by the end of 2024, down from a 2.6% forecast in September. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, is considered a better gauge to inflation’s future path.The policymakers foresee unemployment rising to 4.1% next year, from its current 3.7%, which would still be a low level historically. They project that the economy will expand at a modest 1.4% next year and 1.8% in 2025.Interest rate cuts by the Fed, whenever they happen, would reduce borrowing costs across the economy. Stock prices could rise, too, though share prices have already rallied in expectation of rate cuts, potentially limiting any further increases.Powell, though, has recently downplayed the idea that rate reductions are nearing. He hasn’t yet even signaled that the Fed is conclusively done with its hikes.One reason the Fed might be able to cut rates next year, even if the economy plows ahead, would be if inflation kept falling, as expected. A steady slowdown in price increases would have the effect of raising inflation-adjusted interest rates, thereby making borrowing costs higher than the Fed intends. Reducing rates, in this scenario, would simply keep inflation-adjusted borrowing costs from rising.Recent economic data have modestly cooled financial markets’ expectations for early rate cuts. Last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-inflation-rates-hiring-federal-reserve-953387b195e6c58703b33ef94dad11b4">jobs report for November</a>&nbsp;showed that the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, near a half-century low, down from 3.9% as businesses engaged in solid hiring. Such a low unemployment rate could force companies to keep raising pay to find and retain workers, which would fuel inflationary pressures.And consumer prices were mostly unchanged last month, the government said Tuesday, suggesting that while inflation is likely headed back to the Fed’s 2% target, it might take longer than optimists expect. The central bank, as a result, could opt to keep rates at their current level to try to ensure that prices resume their downward path.

🎥 Christmas gift for borrowers: Fed keeps interest rate unchanged

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates(AP) — Two missiles fired from territory held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">missed a commercial tanker</a>&nbsp;near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, a U.S. official said.

An American warship also shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. No one was hurt in the attack, the official said.

The ship that was targeted, the oil and chemical tanker Marshall Islands-flagged Ardmore Encounter, was traveling north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The vessel had been coming from India and had an armed security crew aboard it, according to data transmitted by the ship.

The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the attack.

Meanwhle, at least nine Israeli soldiers were killed during an ambush, marking one of the deadliest single attacks that Palestinian militants have carried out since the ground invasion of Gaza began, the military said Wednesday. The attack in a dense urban neighborhood came after repeated recent claims by the Israeli military that it had broken Hamas’ command structure in northern Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later vowed to press ahead with Israel’s Gaza offensive “until the end,” rejecting international pressure for a cease-fire.

The day before, Israel drew international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of thousands of civilians. The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-assembly-israel-palestinians-hamas-vote-resolution-bffc37b2ecc444d906492008cde0aaf6?user_email=d668b2da8311dd4406fee480bc9f3b2558d1e3aa222a38b97feb09c5da7261c1&amp;utm_medium=Afternoon_Wire&amp;utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_campaign=AfternoonWire_Dec12_2023&amp;utm_term=Afternoon%20Wire">demand a humanitarian cease-fire</a>, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but the assembly’s message in favor of ending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-12-12-2023-1824ba907c86f7202d4a3ac532ae8d4d">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;serves as an important barometer of world opinion.

Just hours before the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-oct-7-44c4229d4c1270d9cfa484b664a22071">warned that Israel was losing international support</a>&nbsp;because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in the deaths of over 18,400 Palestinians, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory</a>, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 113 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages</a>.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates(AP) — Two missiles fired from territory held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">missed a commercial tanker</a>&nbsp;near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, a U.S. official said.An American warship also shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. No one was hurt in the attack, the official said.The ship that was targeted, the oil and chemical tanker Marshall Islands-flagged Ardmore Encounter, was traveling north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The vessel had been coming from India and had an armed security crew aboard it, according to data transmitted by the ship.The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the attack.Meanwhle, at least nine Israeli soldiers were killed during an ambush, marking one of the deadliest single attacks that Palestinian militants have carried out since the ground invasion of Gaza began, the military said Wednesday. The attack in a dense urban neighborhood came after repeated recent claims by the Israeli military that it had broken Hamas’ command structure in northern Gaza.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later vowed to press ahead with Israel’s Gaza offensive “until the end,” rejecting international pressure for a cease-fire.The day before, Israel drew international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of thousands of civilians. The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-assembly-israel-palestinians-hamas-vote-resolution-bffc37b2ecc444d906492008cde0aaf6?user_email=d668b2da8311dd4406fee480bc9f3b2558d1e3aa222a38b97feb09c5da7261c1&amp;utm_medium=Afternoon_Wire&amp;utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_campaign=AfternoonWire_Dec12_2023&amp;utm_term=Afternoon%20Wire">demand a humanitarian cease-fire</a>, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but the assembly’s message in favor of ending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-12-12-2023-1824ba907c86f7202d4a3ac532ae8d4d">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;serves as an important barometer of world opinion.Just hours before the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-oct-7-44c4229d4c1270d9cfa484b664a22071">warned that Israel was losing international support</a>&nbsp;because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in the deaths of over 18,400 Palestinians, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory</a>, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 113 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-attack-military-war-a8f63b07641212f0de61861844e5e71e">raided southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hostages-gaza-b6ffc286ca7d4b48caaada43e9c6e411">about 240 hostages</a>.

US Warship shot down another drone in the Red Sea

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;agreed on Wednesday to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, its first abortion case since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">it overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year.

The justices will hear appeals from the Biden administration and the maker of the drug mifepristone asking the high court to reverse&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-restrictions-appeals-court-402be732d162af449c40ed1315cfb851">an appellate ruling</a>&nbsp;that would cut off access to the drug through the mail and impose other restrictions, even in states where abortion remains legal. The restrictions include shortening from the current 10 weeks to seven weeks the time during which mifepristone can be used in pregnancy.

The nine justices rejected a separate appeal from abortion opponents who challenged the Food and Drug Administration's initial approval of mifepristone as safe and effective in 2000.

The case will be argued in the spring, with a decision likely by late June, in the middle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-presidential-candidates-gop-2024-32f0b379ef6610aec0219e9c197bbbde">the 2024 presidential and congressional campaigns</a>.

Mifepristone, made by New York-based Danco Laboratories, is one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which account for more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than 5 million people have used it since 2000.

The Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022. That ruling has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">bans on abortion</a>&nbsp;at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states, with some exceptions, and once cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks, in two others.

Abortion opponents filed their challenge to mifepristone the following November and initially won a sweeping ruling six months later revoking the drug’s approval entirely. The appeals court left intact the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone. But it would reverse changes regulators made in 2016 and 2021 that eased some conditions for administering the drug.

The justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-pill-mifepristone-access-f781488016640bf571faf36096339ea4">blocked that ruling</a>&nbsp;from taking effect while the case played out, though Justices Samuel Alito, the author of last year’s decision overturning Roe, and Clarence Thomas said they would have allowed some restrictions to take effect while the case proceeded.

Women seeking to end their pregnancies in the first 10 weeks without more invasive surgical abortion can take mifepristone, along with misoprostol. The FDA has eased the terms of mifepristone’s use over the years, including allowing it to be sent through the mail in states that allow access.

In its appeal, the Democratic administration said the appeals court ignored the FDA’s scientific judgment about mifepristone’s safety and effectiveness since its approval in 2000.

Lawyers for the anti-abortion medical groups and individual physicians who have challenged the use of mifepristone had urged the Supreme Court to turn away the appeals.

“The modest decision below merely restores the common-sense safeguards under which millions of women have taken chemical abortion drugs,” wrote lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which describes itself as a Christian law firm. The lead attorney on the Supreme Court filing is Erin Hawley, wife of Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, an appointee of President Donald Trump in Texas, initially revoked FDA approval of mifepristone.

Responding to a quick appeal, two more Trump appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">the FDA’s original approval would stand for now</a>. But Judges Andrew Oldham and Kurt Engelhardt said most of the rest of Kacsmaryk’s ruling could take effect while the case winds through federal courts.

Besides reducing the time during which the drug can be taken and halting distribution through the mail, patients who are seeking medication abortions would have had to make three in-person visits with a doctor. Women also might have been required to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary.

Health care providers have said that if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain, they would switch to using only misoprostol, which is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="Mifepristone, made by New York-based Danco Laboratories, is one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which account for more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than 5 million people have used it since 2000.-photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Mifepristone, made by New York-based Danco Laboratories, is one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which account for more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than 5 million people have used it since 2000.-photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;agreed on Wednesday to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, its first abortion case since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">it overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702480129262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The justices will hear appeals from the Biden administration and the maker of the drug mifepristone asking the high court to reverse&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-restrictions-appeals-court-402be732d162af449c40ed1315cfb851">an appellate ruling</a>&nbsp;that would cut off access to the drug through the mail and impose other restrictions, even in states where abortion remains legal. The restrictions include shortening from the current 10 weeks to seven weeks the time during which mifepristone can be used in pregnancy.The nine justices rejected a separate appeal from abortion opponents who challenged the Food and Drug Administration's initial approval of mifepristone as safe and effective in 2000.The case will be argued in the spring, with a decision likely by late June, in the middle of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-presidential-candidates-gop-2024-32f0b379ef6610aec0219e9c197bbbde">the 2024 presidential and congressional campaigns</a>.Mifepristone, made by New York-based Danco Laboratories, is one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which account for more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than 5 million people have used it since 2000.The Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022. That ruling has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">bans on abortion</a>&nbsp;at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states, with some exceptions, and once cardiac activity can be detected, which is around six weeks, in two others.Abortion opponents filed their challenge to mifepristone the following November and initially won a sweeping ruling six months later revoking the drug’s approval entirely. The appeals court left intact the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone. But it would reverse changes regulators made in 2016 and 2021 that eased some conditions for administering the drug.The justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-pill-mifepristone-access-f781488016640bf571faf36096339ea4">blocked that ruling</a>&nbsp;from taking effect while the case played out, though Justices Samuel Alito, the author of last year’s decision overturning Roe, and Clarence Thomas said they would have allowed some restrictions to take effect while the case proceeded.Women seeking to end their pregnancies in the first 10 weeks without more invasive surgical abortion can take mifepristone, along with misoprostol. The FDA has eased the terms of mifepristone’s use over the years, including allowing it to be sent through the mail in states that allow access.In its appeal, the Democratic administration said the appeals court ignored the FDA’s scientific judgment about mifepristone’s safety and effectiveness since its approval in 2000.Lawyers for the anti-abortion medical groups and individual physicians who have challenged the use of mifepristone had urged the Supreme Court to turn away the appeals.“The modest decision below merely restores the common-sense safeguards under which millions of women have taken chemical abortion drugs,” wrote lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which describes itself as a Christian law firm. The lead attorney on the Supreme Court filing is Erin Hawley, wife of Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, an appointee of President Donald Trump in Texas, initially revoked FDA approval of mifepristone.Responding to a quick appeal, two more Trump appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">the FDA’s original approval would stand for now</a>. But Judges Andrew Oldham and Kurt Engelhardt said most of the rest of Kacsmaryk’s ruling could take effect while the case winds through federal courts.Besides reducing the time during which the drug can be taken and halting distribution through the mail, patients who are seeking medication abortions would have had to make three in-person visits with a doctor. Women also might have been required to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary.Health care providers have said that if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain, they would switch to using only misoprostol, which is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

Supreme Court agrees to decide access to key abortion medication

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Missouri's second-largest county will pay a $1.2 million settlement to the parents of a 21-year-old man with mental health concerns who, according to a lawsuit, screamed “I can't breathe” as he was subdued by jail staff before dying in a restraint chair.

The Jackson County Legislature in Kansas City on Monday approved the settlement in the 2021 death of Marquis Wagner.

 John Picerno, the attorney for Wagner's parents, said jail surveillance captured the events leading up to Wagner's death. That video has not been made public.

The lawsuit named three jail guards and two companies that the county contracts with for health care. The settlement is only with Jackson County. The case involving the two companies is scheduled for trial in September.

Wagner was arrested Dec. 9, 2021, and accused of shooting through the door of his Kansas City apartment because he thought someone was breaking in. Police determined no one was trying to get into the apartment. Wagner told officers at the time that he had not slept for several days and was seeing demons. He also was in the process of detoxing from alcohol, the lawsuit stated.

Wagner was booked to the Jackson County Detention Center intake lobby around 11 a.m. Dec. 10. The lawsuit filed a year ago said he was not given a mental health evaluation despite evidence of mental health distress.

Instead, according to the lawsuit, Wagner was left alone in a cell without food or water for eight hours. During that time he exhibited strange behavior such as speaking to nonexistent people and eating toilet paper from the floor, the lawsuit said.

That evening, several jail staff members entered the cell and subdued Wagner. “He screamed ‘I can’t breathe,’ and he ‘felt like he was on fire’ and that ‘he was going to die,’” the lawsuit stated.

Wagner was handcuffed and put into a “suicide smock,” clothing aimed at keeping the inmate from harming himself. He was then strapped to a restraint chair, where he again expressed that he was having trouble breathing, the lawsuit stated.

Wagner was taken to a nurse's station, but no one examined him before he was taken back to a holding cell, the lawsuit said. The surveillance video indicated that he appeared to lose consciousness about 30 minutes later, but no one checked on him and he was transported to another cell while apparently unconscious, according to the lawsuit.

Eventually, it was determined that Wagner wasn't breathing. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said in a statement that the “safety, security and wellness of all remain a priority” at the jail, but declined further comment, citing the ongoing litigation, a spokesperson said.

Picerno also represented the family of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e47ea589176455f921fd269be747ee0">Richard Degraffenreid</a>, who died in 2017 after being placed in the jail's restraint chair. The county paid a $150,000 settlement in that case. A medical examiner ruled DeGraffenreid’s death an accident attributed to drug intoxication from cocaine and methamphetamine.

Jackson County, with about 717,000 residents, is second only in population to St. Louis County, with about 998,000 residents, among Missouri counties.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Missouri's second-largest county will pay a $1.2 million settlement to the parents of a 21-year-old man with mental health concerns who, according to a lawsuit, screamed “I can't breathe” as he was subdued by jail staff before dying in a restraint chair.The Jackson County Legislature in Kansas City on Monday approved the settlement in the 2021 death of Marquis Wagner. John Picerno, the attorney for Wagner's parents, said jail surveillance captured the events leading up to Wagner's death. That video has not been made public.The lawsuit named three jail guards and two companies that the county contracts with for health care. The settlement is only with Jackson County. The case involving the two companies is scheduled for trial in September.Wagner was arrested Dec. 9, 2021, and accused of shooting through the door of his Kansas City apartment because he thought someone was breaking in. Police determined no one was trying to get into the apartment. Wagner told officers at the time that he had not slept for several days and was seeing demons. He also was in the process of detoxing from alcohol, the lawsuit stated.Wagner was booked to the Jackson County Detention Center intake lobby around 11 a.m. Dec. 10. The lawsuit filed a year ago said he was not given a mental health evaluation despite evidence of mental health distress.Instead, according to the lawsuit, Wagner was left alone in a cell without food or water for eight hours. During that time he exhibited strange behavior such as speaking to nonexistent people and eating toilet paper from the floor, the lawsuit said.That evening, several jail staff members entered the cell and subdued Wagner. “He screamed ‘I can’t breathe,’ and he ‘felt like he was on fire’ and that ‘he was going to die,’” the lawsuit stated.Wagner was handcuffed and put into a “suicide smock,” clothing aimed at keeping the inmate from harming himself. He was then strapped to a restraint chair, where he again expressed that he was having trouble breathing, the lawsuit stated.Wagner was taken to a nurse's station, but no one examined him before he was taken back to a holding cell, the lawsuit said. The surveillance video indicated that he appeared to lose consciousness about 30 minutes later, but no one checked on him and he was transported to another cell while apparently unconscious, according to the lawsuit.Eventually, it was determined that Wagner wasn't breathing. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said in a statement that the “safety, security and wellness of all remain a priority” at the jail, but declined further comment, citing the ongoing litigation, a spokesperson said.Picerno also represented the family of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9e47ea589176455f921fd269be747ee0">Richard Degraffenreid</a>, who died in 2017 after being placed in the jail's restraint chair. The county paid a $150,000 settlement in that case. A medical examiner ruled DeGraffenreid’s death an accident attributed to drug intoxication from cocaine and methamphetamine.Jackson County, with about 717,000 residents, is second only in population to St. Louis County, with about 998,000 residents, among Missouri counties.

Mo. county to pay $1.2 million to settle lawsuit over inmate restraint chair death

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S., more than 2 million, to update software and fix a defective system that’s supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-crash-investigation-self-driving-3c6ec0bf9c1c204d546769386f94bcb7">when using Autopilot</a>.

Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the update will increase warnings and alerts to drivers and even limit the areas where basic versions of Autopilot can operate.

The recall comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-8fc617fc492847d15bf253558ed1f925">a two-year investigation</a>&nbsp;by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-virginia-crash-autopilot-investigation-b34f24ebb7db674f87f2bd80af7b72e6">Some were deadly.</a>

The agency says its investigation found Autopilot's method of making sure that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and can lead to “foreseeable misuse of the system.”

The added controls and alerts will “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility,” the documents said.

But safety experts said while the recall is a good step, it still makes the driver responsible and doesn't fix the underlying problem that Tesla's automated systems have trouble spotting and stopping for obstacles in their path.

The recall covers models Y, S, 3 and X produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7 of this year. The update was to be sent to certain affected vehicles on Tuesday, with the rest getting it later.

Autopilot includes features called Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with Autosteer intended for use on limited access freeways when it’s not operating with a more sophisticated feature called Autosteer on City Streets.

The software update will limit where Autosteer can be used. “If the driver attempts to engage Autosteer when conditions are not met for engagement, the feature will alert the driver it is unavailable through visual and audible alerts, and Autosteer will not engage,” the recall documents said.

Depending on a Tesla’s hardware, the added controls include “increasing prominence” of visual alerts, simplifying how Autosteer is turned on and off, and additional checks on whether Autosteer is being used outside of controlled access roads and when approaching traffic control devices. A driver could be suspended from using Autosteer if they repeatedly fail "to demonstrate continuous and sustained driving responsibility,” the documents say.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V838-8276.PDF">recall documents</a>, agency investigators met with Tesla starting in October to explain “tentative conclusions” about the fixing the monitoring system. Tesla did not concur with NHTSA's analysis but agreed to the recall on Dec. 5 in an effort to resolve the investigation.

Auto safety advocates for years have been calling for stronger regulation of the driver monitoring system, which mainly detects whether a driver's hands are on the steering wheel. They have called for cameras to make sure a driver is paying attention, which are used by other automakers with similar systems.

Philip Koopman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, called the software update a compromise that doesn't address a lack of night vision cameras to watch drivers' eyes, as well as Teslas failing to spot and stop for obstacles.

“The compromise is disappointing because it does not fix the problem that the older cars do not have adequate hardware for driver monitoring,” Koopman said.

Koopman and Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, contend that crashing into emergency vehicles is a safety defect that isn't addressed. “It’s not digging at the root of what the investigation is looking at,” Brooks said. “It's not answering the question of why are Teslas on Autopilot not detecting and responding to emergency activity?”

Koopman said NHTSA apparently decided that the software change was the most it could get from the company, “and the benefits of doing this now outweigh the costs of spending another year wrangling with Tesla.”

In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the investigation remains open “as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety.”

Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, but is a driver-assist system and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-buttigieg-investigation-crash-musk-1455d194b18fe17609554dd68864654c">cannot drive itself despite its name</a>. Independent tests have found that the monitoring system is easy to fool, so much that drivers have been caught while driving drunk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-california-arrests-business-technology-388ae97b2c5c8a7ca7ae816323e7b829">or even sitting in the back seat</a>.

In its defect report filed with the safety agency, Tesla said Autopilot's controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”

A message was left early Wednesday seeking further comment from the Austin, Texas, company.

Tesla says on its website that Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system are meant to help drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self Driving is being tested by Tesla owners on public roads.

In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.

NHTSA has dispatched investigators to 35 Tesla crashes since 2016 in which the agency suspects the vehicles were running on an automated system. At least 17 people have been killed.

The investigations are part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-8fc617fc492847d15bf253558ed1f925">a larger probe by the NHTSA</a>&nbsp;into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into emergency vehicles. NHTSA has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-tesla-electric-vehicle-steering-wheel-c69867f4eb15bc582d956c309aeba95b">become more aggressive</a>&nbsp;in pursuing safety problems with Teslas, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-recalls-full-self-driving-cars-875b54d4b71e97d43a17e968d7b856ae">recall of Full Self Driving software</a>.

In May, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said Tesla&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-buttigieg-investigation-crash-musk-1455d194b18fe17609554dd68864654c">shouldn’t be calling the system Autopilot</a>&nbsp;because it can’t drive itself.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689862965931.jpeg" alt="photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S., more than 2 million, to update software and fix a defective system that’s supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-crash-investigation-self-driving-3c6ec0bf9c1c204d546769386f94bcb7">when using Autopilot</a>.Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the update will increase warnings and alerts to drivers and even limit the areas where basic versions of Autopilot can operate.The recall comes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-8fc617fc492847d15bf253558ed1f925">a two-year investigation</a>&nbsp;by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-virginia-crash-autopilot-investigation-b34f24ebb7db674f87f2bd80af7b72e6">Some were deadly.</a>The agency says its investigation found Autopilot's method of making sure that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and can lead to “foreseeable misuse of the system.”The added controls and alerts will “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility,” the documents said.But safety experts said while the recall is a good step, it still makes the driver responsible and doesn't fix the underlying problem that Tesla's automated systems have trouble spotting and stopping for obstacles in their path.The recall covers models Y, S, 3 and X produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7 of this year. The update was to be sent to certain affected vehicles on Tuesday, with the rest getting it later.Autopilot includes features called Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with Autosteer intended for use on limited access freeways when it’s not operating with a more sophisticated feature called Autosteer on City Streets.The software update will limit where Autosteer can be used. “If the driver attempts to engage Autosteer when conditions are not met for engagement, the feature will alert the driver it is unavailable through visual and audible alerts, and Autosteer will not engage,” the recall documents said.Depending on a Tesla’s hardware, the added controls include “increasing prominence” of visual alerts, simplifying how Autosteer is turned on and off, and additional checks on whether Autosteer is being used outside of controlled access roads and when approaching traffic control devices. A driver could be suspended from using Autosteer if they repeatedly fail "to demonstrate continuous and sustained driving responsibility,” the documents say.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V838-8276.PDF">recall documents</a>, agency investigators met with Tesla starting in October to explain “tentative conclusions” about the fixing the monitoring system. Tesla did not concur with NHTSA's analysis but agreed to the recall on Dec. 5 in an effort to resolve the investigation.Auto safety advocates for years have been calling for stronger regulation of the driver monitoring system, which mainly detects whether a driver's hands are on the steering wheel. They have called for cameras to make sure a driver is paying attention, which are used by other automakers with similar systems.Philip Koopman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, called the software update a compromise that doesn't address a lack of night vision cameras to watch drivers' eyes, as well as Teslas failing to spot and stop for obstacles.“The compromise is disappointing because it does not fix the problem that the older cars do not have adequate hardware for driver monitoring,” Koopman said.Koopman and Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, contend that crashing into emergency vehicles is a safety defect that isn't addressed. “It’s not digging at the root of what the investigation is looking at,” Brooks said. “It's not answering the question of why are Teslas on Autopilot not detecting and responding to emergency activity?”Koopman said NHTSA apparently decided that the software change was the most it could get from the company, “and the benefits of doing this now outweigh the costs of spending another year wrangling with Tesla.”In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the investigation remains open “as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety.”Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, but is a driver-assist system and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-buttigieg-investigation-crash-musk-1455d194b18fe17609554dd68864654c">cannot drive itself despite its name</a>. Independent tests have found that the monitoring system is easy to fool, so much that drivers have been caught while driving drunk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-california-arrests-business-technology-388ae97b2c5c8a7ca7ae816323e7b829">or even sitting in the back seat</a>.In its defect report filed with the safety agency, Tesla said Autopilot's controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”A message was left early Wednesday seeking further comment from the Austin, Texas, company.Tesla says on its website that Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system are meant to help drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self Driving is being tested by Tesla owners on public roads.In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.NHTSA has dispatched investigators to 35 Tesla crashes since 2016 in which the agency suspects the vehicles were running on an automated system. At least 17 people have been killed.The investigations are part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-8fc617fc492847d15bf253558ed1f925">a larger probe by the NHTSA</a>&nbsp;into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into emergency vehicles. NHTSA has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-tesla-electric-vehicle-steering-wheel-c69867f4eb15bc582d956c309aeba95b">become more aggressive</a>&nbsp;in pursuing safety problems with Teslas, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-recalls-full-self-driving-cars-875b54d4b71e97d43a17e968d7b856ae">recall of Full Self Driving software</a>.In May, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said Tesla&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-autopilot-buttigieg-investigation-crash-musk-1455d194b18fe17609554dd68864654c">shouldn’t be calling the system Autopilot</a>&nbsp;because it can’t drive itself.

Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles sold in United States

OKLAHOMA CITY —Authorities investigating a deadly small plane crash have identified the victims as Barrett Ellis and his wife Megan Ellis, according to the Sooner Nation Collective and the University of Oklahoma Foundation.

Just before 10:30a.m. Sunday, the Oklahoma City Fire Department was dispatched to an aircraft crash at Wiley Post Airport involving one single engine prop plane with two on-board, according to a media release. Firefighters arrived to find Barrett Ellis attempting to rescue his wife from the fully engulfed aircraft wreckage.

Firefighters extinguished the aircraft and began treating him.&nbsp; Megan Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; First responders treated Barrett Ellis on-scene and transported him to an area hospital in critical condition where he later died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702305105860.png" alt="photo Oklahoma City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>photo Oklahoma City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY —Authorities investigating a deadly small plane crash have identified the victims as Barrett Ellis and his wife Megan Ellis, according to the Sooner Nation Collective and the University of Oklahoma Foundation.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUnivofOklahomaFoundation%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02VEf3TqqidYLcj2LQjpv5CExPma5hVYxoXwN2qvqrRDaJcAZXXRNVexZHx5UBb1mel&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="737" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Just before 10:30a.m. Sunday, the Oklahoma City Fire Department was dispatched to an aircraft crash at Wiley Post Airport involving one single engine prop plane with two on-board, according to a media release. Firefighters arrived to find Barrett Ellis attempting to rescue his wife from the fully engulfed aircraft wreckage.Firefighters extinguished the aircraft and began treating him.&nbsp; Megan Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; First responders treated Barrett Ellis on-scene and transported him to an area hospital in critical condition where he later died.

Officials ID victims in deadly Oklahoma small plane crash

TOPEKA —It's time to vote for your favorite license plate among five designs created by Mammoth Creative Co., a Kansas-based marketing firm, in partnership with Kansas Tourism for the next official State of Kansas standard issue license plate.

<a href="https://appengine.egov.com/apps/ks/plates">Click here to vote</a>&nbsp;on your choice of design.

Voting will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 15.

The proposed designs were chosen in part because they align with Kansas Tourism design standards, with law enforcement needs, and with the following guidelines, according to a media release from the governor's office.

Kansans can vote on their favorite design as many times as they’d like between 9 a.m. CT on Monday, December 11, 2023, and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, December 15, 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702310334406.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —It's time to vote for your favorite license plate among five designs created by Mammoth Creative Co., a Kansas-based marketing firm, in partnership with Kansas Tourism for the next official State of Kansas standard issue license plate.<a href="https://appengine.egov.com/apps/ks/plates">Click here to vote</a>&nbsp;on your choice of design.Voting will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 15.The proposed designs were chosen in part because they align with Kansas Tourism design standards, with law enforcement needs, and with the following guidelines, according to a media release from the governor's office.<ul>
 <li>License plate numbers will be seven (7) digits.</li><li>Any phrase, motto, or slogan must be placed at the bottom of the license plate.</li><li>Any graphic must be placed on either side of the license plate number.</li><li>Graphics must not resemble letters, numbers, or special characters in a way that would interfere with the ability to read the license plate number.</li><li>Background design must not interfere with the ability to read the license plate number.</li><li>The license plate must have a light background behind the license plate number, and the license plate number must be black.</li>
 </ul>Kansans can vote on their favorite design as many times as they’d like between 9 a.m. CT on Monday, December 11, 2023, and 5 p.m. CT on Friday, December 15, 2023.

Time running out to vote on new Kansas license plate design

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in a Kansas City-area explosion and fire.

Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp; responded to a fire in the 13000 Block East 99 Street near S. Noland Road, according to a media release from Lee's Summit Fire Department.

Several callers reported an explosion and black smoke coming from a building and a man on fire.

First responders observed black smoke visible from a large metal barn that stores underground utility equipment and houses several horses and other livestock. Employees near the building at the time of the explosion were assisting the man who had been on fire and removed the livestock. &nbsp;

KCFD firefighters entered the building and extinguished a fire involving a pickup truck and a diesel fuel transfer tank for a pickup truck. The patient was treated and transported to a metro area trauma center.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The fire was contained to a pickup truck, fuel tank, and other nearby equipment. The area and structure around the fire received heat and smoke damage.

The investigation determined that the fire and explosion occurred when the employee was welding on an approximately 100-gallon diesel fuel transfer tank from a different truck to repair a leak.

&nbsp;After the smoke cleared from the building and no other hazards were present, the livestock could return to the building. There were no other injuries reported to people or livestock.

&nbsp;The building is located at the border with Kansas City, MO, and units from the Kansas City Fire Department and Raytown Fire Protection District also responded.&nbsp; Officials released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in a Kansas City-area explosion and fire.Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp; responded to a fire in the 13000 Block East 99 Street near S. Noland Road, according to a media release from Lee's Summit Fire Department.Several callers reported an explosion and black smoke coming from a building and a man on fire.First responders observed black smoke visible from a large metal barn that stores underground utility equipment and houses several horses and other livestock. Employees near the building at the time of the explosion were assisting the man who had been on fire and removed the livestock. &nbsp;KCFD firefighters entered the building and extinguished a fire involving a pickup truck and a diesel fuel transfer tank for a pickup truck. The patient was treated and transported to a metro area trauma center.&nbsp;&nbsp;The fire was contained to a pickup truck, fuel tank, and other nearby equipment. The area and structure around the fire received heat and smoke damage.The investigation determined that the fire and explosion occurred when the employee was welding on an approximately 100-gallon diesel fuel transfer tank from a different truck to repair a leak.&nbsp;After the smoke cleared from the building and no other hazards were present, the livestock could return to the building. There were no other injuries reported to people or livestock.&nbsp;The building is located at the border with Kansas City, MO, and units from the Kansas City Fire Department and Raytown Fire Protection District also responded.&nbsp; Officials released no additional details.

KC-area man welding fuel tank critically injured after explosion, fire

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly weekend shooting and have identified the victim as 47-year-old Leopoldo Garcia Pando of Kansas City, Kansas.

Shortly after midnight Satuday, police responded&nbsp; to a shooting in the 6500 Block of Kaw Drive, according to a media releas.

First responders found Pando with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

&nbsp;This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.This is the 23rd homicide of 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas compared to 35 in 2022.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly weekend shooting and have identified the victim as 47-year-old Leopoldo Garcia Pando of Kansas City, Kansas.Shortly after midnight Satuday, police responded&nbsp; to a shooting in the 6500 Block of Kaw Drive, according to a media releas.First responders found Pando with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.This is the 23rd homicide of 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas compared to 35 in 2022.

Homicide: Police ID victim in Kansas shooting 

WASHINGTON —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Americans his country is fighting for “our freedom and yours” as he made an impassioned for Congress to approve more assistance to fight Russia’s invasion. But prospects for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine are seriously delayed, if not in grave doubt, despite his whirlwind diplomacy in Washington on Tuesday.

President Joe Biden pledged that the U.S. will continue to stand with Ukraine following his meeting today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

Biden praised Ukraine's defenders who have pushed back against Russia's full-scale assault for nearly two years, adding that the "American people can and should be incredibly proud of the part they played in supporting Ukraine's success."

"Mr. President, I will not walk away from Ukraine, and neither will the American people," Biden said.&nbsp;

The two leaders met amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over Biden's supplemental funding request to continue critical military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

He said he would continue to provide U.S. military assistance for as long as Congressionally approved funds are available. &nbsp;&nbsp;

During his address, Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3615582/biden-administration-announces-new-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced his approval on the latest round of military assistance</a>, valued at $200 million, which includes critically needed air defense interceptors, artillery and ammunition. &nbsp;

"Without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," he said.

"Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he continued. "We must prove him wrong." &nbsp;

While in Washington, Zelenskyy met with defense officials and lawmakers to extend his gratitude for the United States' support and underscore the urgent need for that support to continue.

In introductory remarks yesterday ahead of Zelenskyy's address at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the United States' "unshakable" commitment to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.

"Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security, and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said. "That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders."

He added that the U.S.-led coalition of allies and partners have also contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Those contributions include capabilities that "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield," Austin said, and have helped Ukraine recoup more than half of the territory seized by Russia since February 2022.

He said the U.S. and its allies and partners remain "determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains, and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead."--

-Joseph Clark, Department of Defense contributed to the report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702416493983.png" alt="President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday-photo courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Americans his country is fighting for “our freedom and yours” as he made an impassioned for Congress to approve more assistance to fight Russia’s invasion. But prospects for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine are seriously delayed, if not in grave doubt, despite his whirlwind diplomacy in Washington on Tuesday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1726010394564145%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=343" 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>President Joe Biden pledged that the U.S. will continue to stand with Ukraine following his meeting today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.Biden praised Ukraine's defenders who have pushed back against Russia's full-scale assault for nearly two years, adding that the "American people can and should be incredibly proud of the part they played in supporting Ukraine's success.""Mr. President, I will not walk away from Ukraine, and neither will the American people," Biden said.&nbsp;The two leaders met amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over Biden's supplemental funding request to continue critical military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.He said he would continue to provide U.S. military assistance for as long as Congressionally approved funds are available. &nbsp;&nbsp;During his address, Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3615582/biden-administration-announces-new-security-assistance-for-ukraine/">announced his approval on the latest round of military assistance</a>, valued at $200 million, which includes critically needed air defense interceptors, artillery and ammunition. &nbsp;"Without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," he said."Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he continued. "We must prove him wrong." &nbsp;While in Washington, Zelenskyy met with defense officials and lawmakers to extend his gratitude for the United States' support and underscore the urgent need for that support to continue.In introductory remarks yesterday ahead of Zelenskyy's address at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the United States' "unshakable" commitment to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression."Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security, and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said. "That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders."He added that the U.S.-led coalition of allies and partners have also contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Those contributions include capabilities that "are making a crucial difference on the battlefield," Austin said, and have helped Ukraine recoup more than half of the territory seized by Russia since February 2022.He said the U.S. and its allies and partners remain "determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains, and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead."---Joseph Clark, Department of Defense contributed to the report.