RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Thursday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by Brandon Lane&nbsp;Hanschu, 42, Manhattan, was westbound on Kansas 18 just east of Scenic Drive.

The SUV struck the remains of a dead deer, lost control and struck two pedestrians identified as 20-year-old Jhon Paulo&nbsp;Reid and 24-year-old Jarde Lachelle Hill both of Manhattan.

Reid was checking his vehicle on the left inside shoulder from a non injury accident that had occurred just prior.&nbsp; Hill was checking her vehicle on the left inside shoulder from a car vs deer non injury accident that had also occurred just prior. 

EMS transported Reid and Hill to Via Christi in Manhattan where Reid was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Hanschu was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694106256161.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the crash investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Thursday in Riley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by Brandon Lane&nbsp;Hanschu, 42, Manhattan, was westbound on Kansas 18 just east of Scenic Drive.The SUV struck the remains of a dead deer, lost control and struck two pedestrians identified as 20-year-old Jhon Paulo&nbsp;Reid and 24-year-old Jarde Lachelle Hill both of Manhattan.Reid was checking his vehicle on the left inside shoulder from a non injury accident that had occurred just prior.&nbsp; Hill was checking her vehicle on the left inside shoulder from a car vs deer non injury accident that had also occurred just prior. EMS transported Reid and Hill to Via Christi in Manhattan where Reid was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Hanschu was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Fatal crash: SUV strikes dead deer, pedestrians on Kan. highway

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.

Just after 4:30p.m. Sept. 2, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a police observed a vehicle traveling in the area of 8th Street and Washington Street in Great Bend with a driver 51-year-old&nbsp; Mark Miller who the officer recognized and knew to have a suspended drivers license, according to a media release.

The vehicle pulled in and parked behind a closed business in the 2500 block of 10th Street. A female passenger exited the vehicle, and began walking away as soon as the officer got behind the vehicle. K9 Menta was deployed for a free air sniff of the vehicle, and indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics.

The female passenger that left the vehicle, identified as 34-year-old Davina Demoret, age 34, was located and detained, as well as another passenger, identified as&nbsp; 56-year-old Lisa Whiting.

A search of the vehicle was conducted, and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a pair of brass knuckles were located. 

All three individuals were placed under arrest, and booked in lieu of $10,000 bonds at the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694094170063.jpeg" alt="Mark Miller-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Mark Miller-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.Just after 4:30p.m. Sept. 2, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a police observed a vehicle traveling in the area of 8th Street and Washington Street in Great Bend with a driver 51-year-old&nbsp; Mark Miller who the officer recognized and knew to have a suspended drivers license, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694094212838.jpeg" alt="Whiting-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Whiting-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The vehicle pulled in and parked behind a closed business in the 2500 block of 10th Street. A female passenger exited the vehicle, and began walking away as soon as the officer got behind the vehicle. K9 Menta was deployed for a free air sniff of the vehicle, and indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694094189686.jpeg" alt="Davina Demoret-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Davina Demoret-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The female passenger that left the vehicle, identified as 34-year-old Davina Demoret, age 34, was located and detained, as well as another passenger, identified as&nbsp; 56-year-old Lisa Whiting.A search of the vehicle was conducted, and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a pair of brass knuckles were located. All three individuals were placed under arrest, and booked in lieu of $10,000 bonds at the Barton County Jail.

Kansas deputy finds meth, brass knuckles during traffic stop

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three 15-year-olds died when the car one of them was driving slammed into a vacant brick home near St. Louis.

Police said the 2016 Hyundai Accent involved in the accident Wednesday morning was owned by the driver's mother, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/3-ladue-high-students-killed-after-crashing-car-into-vacant-university-city-home/article_b9cdb748-4cd7-11ee-a755-874a63ef1695.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report said the car was “traveling too fast for conditions” when it failed to make a curve and crashed into the home in University City, Missouri. The crash was reported around 6:30 a.m.

All three teens — classmates at the same high school — were pronounced dead at the scene. Police on Thursday identified them: Deion Robinson was the driver, with passengers Johnnie Ursery and Demetrius Ingram.

The legal driving age in Missouri is 16. Fifteen-year-olds can obtain a permit allowing them to drive, but only with a licensed adult in the vehicle.

University City police asked the highway patrol to handle the investigation. Patrol Cpl. Dallas Thompson said police had tried hours earlier to pull over a car similar to the one that struck the house, but lost sight of it. They were searching for the car prior to the accident.

St. Louis Alderman Sharon Tyus, who came to the house after the crash, said she and her husband bought it a few years ago and were renovating it with plans to rent it out.

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three 15-year-olds died when the car one of them was driving slammed into a vacant brick home near St. Louis.Police said the 2016 Hyundai Accent involved in the accident Wednesday morning was owned by the driver's mother, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/3-ladue-high-students-killed-after-crashing-car-into-vacant-university-city-home/article_b9cdb748-4cd7-11ee-a755-874a63ef1695.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report said the car was “traveling too fast for conditions” when it failed to make a curve and crashed into the home in University City, Missouri. The crash was reported around 6:30 a.m.All three teens — classmates at the same high school — were pronounced dead at the scene. Police on Thursday identified them: Deion Robinson was the driver, with passengers Johnnie Ursery and Demetrius Ingram.The legal driving age in Missouri is 16. Fifteen-year-olds can obtain a permit allowing them to drive, but only with a licensed adult in the vehicle.University City police asked the highway patrol to handle the investigation. Patrol Cpl. Dallas Thompson said police had tried hours earlier to pull over a car similar to the one that struck the house, but lost sight of it. They were searching for the car prior to the accident.St. Louis Alderman Sharon Tyus, who came to the house after the crash, said she and her husband bought it a few years ago and were renovating it with plans to rent it out.

Three teens die when car crashes into vacant Missouri home 

DETROIT (AP) — The head of the United Auto Workers warned Wednesday that the union plans to go on strike against any Detroit automaker that hasn't reached a new agreement by the time contracts expire next week.

“That’s the plan,” President Shawn Fain responded when asked if the union would strike any of the companies that haven’t reached a tentative deal by the time their national contracts end.

A strike against all three major automakers — General Motors, Stellantis and Ford — could cause damage not only to the industry as a whole but also to the Midwest economy. A prolonged strike could lead eventually to higher vehicle prices.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Fain left open the possibility of avoiding a strike. He acknowledged, more explicitly than he has before, that the union will have to give up some of its demands to reach agreements. Contracts with the three companies will all expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.

“There’s a lot of back and forth in bargaining," he said, "and naturally, when you go into bargaining, you don’t always get everything you demand. Our workers have high expectations. We made a lot of sacrifices going back to the economic recession.”

In the interview, Fain did report some progress in the negotiations, saying the union will meet Thursday with GM to hear the company’s response to the UAW’s economic demands. In addition, discussions are under way with Ford on wages and benefits. Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, has yet to make a counteroffer on wage and benefit demands, he said.

Stellantis declined to comment Wednesday.

The union’s demands include 46% across-the-board pay raises, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, restoration of traditional pensions for new hires, union representation of workers at new battery plants and a restoration of traditional pensions. Top-scale UAW assembly plant workers make about $32 an hour, plus annual profit sharing checks.

In his remarks to the AP, Fain argued that worker pay isn’t what has driven up vehicle prices. The average price of a new car has leaped to more than $48,000 on average, in part because of still-scarce supplies resulting from a global shortage of computer chips.

“In the last four years, the price of vehicles went up 30%," he said. “Our wages went up 6%. There were billions of dollars in shareholder dividends. So our wages aren’t the problem.”

While saying a strike by up to 146,000 members against all three major automakers is a real possibility, Fain said the union doesn't want to strike and would prefer to to reach new contracts with them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693911296614.png" alt="Auto workers marched over Labor Day weekend-photo UAW" />
 <figcaption>Auto workers marched over Labor Day weekend-photo UAW</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — The head of the United Auto Workers warned Wednesday that the union plans to go on strike against any Detroit automaker that hasn't reached a new agreement by the time contracts expire next week.“That’s the plan,” President Shawn Fain responded when asked if the union would strike any of the companies that haven’t reached a tentative deal by the time their national contracts end.A strike against all three major automakers — General Motors, Stellantis and Ford — could cause damage not only to the industry as a whole but also to the Midwest economy. A prolonged strike could lead eventually to higher vehicle prices.In an interview with The Associated Press, Fain left open the possibility of avoiding a strike. He acknowledged, more explicitly than he has before, that the union will have to give up some of its demands to reach agreements. Contracts with the three companies will all expire at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14.“There’s a lot of back and forth in bargaining," he said, "and naturally, when you go into bargaining, you don’t always get everything you demand. Our workers have high expectations. We made a lot of sacrifices going back to the economic recession.”In the interview, Fain did report some progress in the negotiations, saying the union will meet Thursday with GM to hear the company’s response to the UAW’s economic demands. In addition, discussions are under way with Ford on wages and benefits. Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, has yet to make a counteroffer on wage and benefit demands, he said.Stellantis declined to comment Wednesday.The union’s demands include 46% across-the-board pay raises, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, restoration of traditional pensions for new hires, union representation of workers at new battery plants and a restoration of traditional pensions. Top-scale UAW assembly plant workers make about $32 an hour, plus annual profit sharing checks.In his remarks to the AP, Fain argued that worker pay isn’t what has driven up vehicle prices. The average price of a new car has leaped to more than $48,000 on average, in part because of still-scarce supplies resulting from a global shortage of computer chips.“In the last four years, the price of vehicles went up 30%," he said. “Our wages went up 6%. There were billions of dollars in shareholder dividends. So our wages aren’t the problem.”While saying a strike by up to 146,000 members against all three major automakers is a real possibility, Fain said the union doesn't want to strike and would prefer to to reach new contracts with them.

UAW chief: Union set to strike; contracts end next week

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — A grizzly bear that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-d1ecb3cb3539751422196fc0ce61bb27" target="_blank">fatally mauled a woman</a>&nbsp;on a forest trail west of Yellowstone National Park in July and also attacked a person in Idaho three years ago was killed after it broke into a house near West Yellowstone over the weekend, Montana wildlife officials said Wednesday.

Early Saturday, a homeowner reported that a bear with a cub had broken through a kitchen window and taken a container of dog food, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a statement.

Later that day agency workers captured the cub and shot the 10-year-old female grizzly with authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, because grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Through genetic analysis and other identifying factors, the bear was confirmed to have been involved in the July 22 fatal attack on Amie Adamson, 48, a former teacher from Kansas, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from West Yellowstone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-50ad4fa33b3db1a51ac5aa1b4fd03ebc" target="_blank">Efforts to trap the bear</a>&nbsp;at that time were unsuccessful.

The bear, which had been captured in 2017 for research purposes, was also involved in an attack in Idaho that injured a person near Henrys Lake State Park in 2020. The park is 16 miles (26 kilometers) by road from West Yellowstone.

Both encounters with people were believed to have been defensive responses by the bear, officials said.

The bear’s 46-pound (21-kilogram) male cub is being held at the state wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena while arrangements are made to transfer it to a zoo.

BILLINGS, Montana (AP) — Wildlife workers put out bear traps for a third night Monday as they try to capture a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-d1ecb3cb3539751422196fc0ce61bb27">grizzly bear that killed</a>&nbsp;a woman who was traveling alone on a forest trail near Yellowstone National Park.

Amie Adamson, 48, Derby, Kansas, died in Saturday's fatal mauling near the Montana-Idaho border, the Gallatin County Coroner's Office said. The victim was a marathon runner, and officials said she was likely running or walking at the time of the attack.

Officials ruled out a rare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-montana-wildlife-chico-a8c0b75ae1390130fce3834157ea1dc8">predatory attack</a>, which suggests Adamson instead died following a chance bear encounter as she traveled by herself in a wooded area frequented by grizzly and black bears.

She was killed a few hundred yards from a trailhead and a private campground and RV park, said Morgan Jacobsen with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The bear was traveling with one or more cubs, and there were no indications that it tried to eat the victim.

Authorities have not decided whether they would kill the adult bear if it’s captured or whether they would relocate it, Jacobsen said.

Adamson is a former English teacher who left the classroom in 2015 to backpack across much of the U.S. and later wrote a book, “Walking Out,” about her career and experiences.

The victim's mother described her as a hiker, marathon runner and “just a beautiful free spirit." KWCH-TV in Wichita reported.

“She lived for experiences,” Janet Adamson said, adding that her daughter did not care about material possessions and died “doing what she loved."

A hiker found her body around 8 a.m. Saturday. The cause of death was excessive blood loss caused by a bear mauling, the coroner’s office said.

Adamson was wearing running shoes and did not have bear spray, a deterrent that wildlife experts recommend people carry in areas frequented by bears, Jacobsen said.

She had been working nearby and often ran or walked on the trail in the early morning, according to officials and local residents.

“This person was likely out for a morning jog along the trail, and that's when this happened,” said Jacobsen.

Tracks of a grizzly bear and at least one cub were found at the scene of the attack, which occurred near the Buttermilk Trailhead 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of West Yellowstone, a busy summer tourist town and gateway to the national park.

The trail is used by hikers, horseback riders and people in off-road vehicles.

Rangers issued an emergency closure for areas of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. It did not include Yellowstone National Park.

Local resident Bill Youngwirth said people in the area were aware of the mauling and the forest closure, but they weren't panicked over the attack because the bear could have struck out defensively after being surprised when the victim came around a corner.

The attack happened about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from several vacation homes that Youngwirth rents adjacent to the forest.

“I tell everybody, ‘Better take bear spray and know how to use it,’" he said. “And the big thing is, don't go alone."

A trail camera captured an image of a grizzly bear with two cubs in the area on Saturday night. There have been no sightings since, Jacobsen said. Traps set for the bears on Saturday and Sunday nights came up empty, and attempts to locate the bears from an aircraft were unsuccessful.

As time goes by, he added, trapping becomes less effective as chances increase of catching a bear that wasn’t involved in the attack.

Laura Skinner, who co-owns West Yellowstone Rodeo and Creek Side Trail Rides, said the attack did not interrupt its horseback rides on private property or its nightly rodeos.

“We have bears all the time. The only precaution we’re taking is we’re checking trails. We send a rider out first to check to make sure there’s nothing there,” she said.

“I’m pretty sure with all the activity with them tracking it and trying to hunt it down, it’s probably nowhere near here,” she added.

Grizzly bear populations in the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains grew significantly over the past several and the animals in recent years have been showing up in places they hadn't been seen for generations. Since 2010, grizzlies in and around Yellowstone have killed at least nine people. Attacks remain relatively rare in the region, which draws several million tourists each summer.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-news-environment-and-nature-bb6affb5e4b5e0a8ad177e334c7453a1">backcountry guide was killed near</a>&nbsp;West Yellowstone two years ago when he was mauled by a large grizzly bear that wildlife officials said was probably defending a nearby moose carcass. And a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/montana-billings-bears-livingston-7da5ab6a9c2f0f0df726cba561466284">hiker was killed</a>&nbsp;north of Yellowstone park last year in a suspected grizzly encounter in a remote area of the Absaroka Mountains south of Livingston, Montana.

Encounters with humans can prove deadly for bears, too: A five-year-old female grizzly in Glacier National Park was euthanized last week after officials said it got used to eating food from campgrounds and was becoming increasingly aggressive.

Grizzlies are protected under federal law outside of Alaska. Elected officials in the Yellowstone region are pushing to lift protections and allow grizzly hunting.

State officials last week warned visitors and residents of grizzly bear sightings throughout the state, “particularly in areas between the Northern Continental Divide and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystems.”

They implored those camping and visiting parks to carry bear spray, store their food while outside and tend to their garbage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690248696605.png" alt="Amie Adamson-photo courtesy Janet Adamson" />
 <figcaption>Amie Adamson-photo courtesy Janet Adamson</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — A grizzly bear that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-d1ecb3cb3539751422196fc0ce61bb27" target="_blank">fatally mauled a woman</a>&nbsp;on a forest trail west of Yellowstone National Park in July and also attacked a person in Idaho three years ago was killed after it broke into a house near West Yellowstone over the weekend, Montana wildlife officials said Wednesday.Early Saturday, a homeowner reported that a bear with a cub had broken through a kitchen window and taken a container of dog food, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a statement.Later that day agency workers captured the cub and shot the 10-year-old female grizzly with authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, because grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act.Through genetic analysis and other identifying factors, the bear was confirmed to have been involved in the July 22 fatal attack on Amie Adamson, 48, a former teacher from Kansas, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from West Yellowstone.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-50ad4fa33b3db1a51ac5aa1b4fd03ebc" target="_blank">Efforts to trap the bear</a>&nbsp;at that time were unsuccessful.The bear, which had been captured in 2017 for research purposes, was also involved in an attack in Idaho that injured a person near Henrys Lake State Park in 2020. The park is 16 miles (26 kilometers) by road from West Yellowstone.Both encounters with people were believed to have been defensive responses by the bear, officials said.The bear’s 46-pound (21-kilogram) male cub is being held at the state wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena while arrangements are made to transfer it to a zoo.-------------BILLINGS, Montana (AP) — Wildlife workers put out bear traps for a third night Monday as they try to capture a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grizzly-bear-attack-yellowstone-montana-d1ecb3cb3539751422196fc0ce61bb27">grizzly bear that killed</a>&nbsp;a woman who was traveling alone on a forest trail near Yellowstone National Park.Amie Adamson, 48, Derby, Kansas, died in Saturday's fatal mauling near the Montana-Idaho border, the Gallatin County Coroner's Office said. The victim was a marathon runner, and officials said she was likely running or walking at the time of the attack.Officials ruled out a rare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-montana-wildlife-chico-a8c0b75ae1390130fce3834157ea1dc8">predatory attack</a>, which suggests Adamson instead died following a chance bear encounter as she traveled by herself in a wooded area frequented by grizzly and black bears.She was killed a few hundred yards from a trailhead and a private campground and RV park, said Morgan Jacobsen with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The bear was traveling with one or more cubs, and there were no indications that it tried to eat the victim.Authorities have not decided whether they would kill the adult bear if it’s captured or whether they would relocate it, Jacobsen said.Adamson is a former English teacher who left the classroom in 2015 to backpack across much of the U.S. and later wrote a book, “Walking Out,” about her career and experiences.The victim's mother described her as a hiker, marathon runner and “just a beautiful free spirit." KWCH-TV in Wichita reported.“She lived for experiences,” Janet Adamson said, adding that her daughter did not care about material possessions and died “doing what she loved."A hiker found her body around 8 a.m. Saturday. The cause of death was excessive blood loss caused by a bear mauling, the coroner’s office said.Adamson was wearing running shoes and did not have bear spray, a deterrent that wildlife experts recommend people carry in areas frequented by bears, Jacobsen said.She had been working nearby and often ran or walked on the trail in the early morning, according to officials and local residents.“This person was likely out for a morning jog along the trail, and that's when this happened,” said Jacobsen.Tracks of a grizzly bear and at least one cub were found at the scene of the attack, which occurred near the Buttermilk Trailhead 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of West Yellowstone, a busy summer tourist town and gateway to the national park.The trail is used by hikers, horseback riders and people in off-road vehicles.Rangers issued an emergency closure for areas of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. It did not include Yellowstone National Park.Local resident Bill Youngwirth said people in the area were aware of the mauling and the forest closure, but they weren't panicked over the attack because the bear could have struck out defensively after being surprised when the victim came around a corner.The attack happened about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from several vacation homes that Youngwirth rents adjacent to the forest.“I tell everybody, ‘Better take bear spray and know how to use it,’" he said. “And the big thing is, don't go alone."A trail camera captured an image of a grizzly bear with two cubs in the area on Saturday night. There have been no sightings since, Jacobsen said. Traps set for the bears on Saturday and Sunday nights came up empty, and attempts to locate the bears from an aircraft were unsuccessful.As time goes by, he added, trapping becomes less effective as chances increase of catching a bear that wasn’t involved in the attack.Laura Skinner, who co-owns West Yellowstone Rodeo and Creek Side Trail Rides, said the attack did not interrupt its horseback rides on private property or its nightly rodeos.“We have bears all the time. The only precaution we’re taking is we’re checking trails. We send a rider out first to check to make sure there’s nothing there,” she said.“I’m pretty sure with all the activity with them tracking it and trying to hunt it down, it’s probably nowhere near here,” she added.Grizzly bear populations in the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains grew significantly over the past several and the animals in recent years have been showing up in places they hadn't been seen for generations. Since 2010, grizzlies in and around Yellowstone have killed at least nine people. Attacks remain relatively rare in the region, which draws several million tourists each summer.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-news-environment-and-nature-bb6affb5e4b5e0a8ad177e334c7453a1">backcountry guide was killed near</a>&nbsp;West Yellowstone two years ago when he was mauled by a large grizzly bear that wildlife officials said was probably defending a nearby moose carcass. And a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/montana-billings-bears-livingston-7da5ab6a9c2f0f0df726cba561466284">hiker was killed</a>&nbsp;north of Yellowstone park last year in a suspected grizzly encounter in a remote area of the Absaroka Mountains south of Livingston, Montana.Encounters with humans can prove deadly for bears, too: A five-year-old female grizzly in Glacier National Park was euthanized last week after officials said it got used to eating food from campgrounds and was becoming increasingly aggressive.Grizzlies are protected under federal law outside of Alaska. Elected officials in the Yellowstone region are pushing to lift protections and allow grizzly hunting.State officials last week warned visitors and residents of grizzly bear sightings throughout the state, “particularly in areas between the Northern Continental Divide and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystems.”They implored those camping and visiting parks to carry bear spray, store their food while outside and tend to their garbage.

Bear blamed for fatal mauling of Kan. woman killed after breaking into a house

FINNEY COUNTY—Four years after the murder of a southwest Kansas man police have made an arrest.

In September 2019, Ernie Ortiz was found shot outside of his family restaurant and later died at the hospital. It is believed Ortiz was shot during a robbery after he closed the business for the night.

On Wednesday, police arrested a woman in connection with the&nbsp;homicide.&nbsp; Samantha Jo Smith, 32, faces multiple charges for her involvement in the shooting death of Ortiz.

In September 2019, Officers of the Garden City Police Department responded to the area of Buffalo Jones Avenue and Bancroft Street for a reported person down. 

When they arrived, Officers found Ortiz lying in the parking lot of the El Conquistador Restaurant with gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Ortiz was transported to St. Catherine Hospital and later died.

In June 2023, the Garden City Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery against Smith in connection with the case. 

Police in Garden City worked with U.S. Marshals to locate Smith as she had moved out of Kansas. On September 6, the U.S. Marshals located and arrested Smith in Myrtle Beach, S.C.&nbsp;

In January, Crime Stoppers in southwest Kansas offered a&nbsp;$21,500 reward for information in the&nbsp;shooting death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694046768318.png" alt="Smith-photo Horry County, South Carolina Jail" />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Horry County, South Carolina Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Four years after the murder of a southwest Kansas man police have made an arrest.In September 2019, Ernie Ortiz was found shot outside of his family restaurant and later died at the hospital. It is believed Ortiz was shot during a robbery after he closed the business for the night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673628423977.png" alt="Ernie Ortiz died during a robbery in Sept. of 2019- photo Garden City Police" />
 <figcaption>Ernie Ortiz died during a robbery in Sept. of 2019- photo Garden City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, police arrested a woman in connection with the&nbsp;homicide.&nbsp; Samantha Jo Smith, 32, faces multiple charges for her involvement in the shooting death of Ortiz.In September 2019, Officers of the Garden City Police Department responded to the area of Buffalo Jones Avenue and Bancroft Street for a reported person down. When they arrived, Officers found Ortiz lying in the parking lot of the El Conquistador Restaurant with gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Ortiz was transported to St. Catherine Hospital and later died.In June 2023, the Garden City Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery against Smith in connection with the case. Police in Garden City worked with U.S. Marshals to locate Smith as she had moved out of Kansas. On September 6, the U.S. Marshals located and arrested Smith in Myrtle Beach, S.C.&nbsp;In January, Crime Stoppers in southwest Kansas offered a&nbsp;$21,500 reward for information in the&nbsp;shooting death.

Suspect captured 4-years after murder of Kan. restaurant owner

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian missile tore through an outdoor market in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding dozens, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the country with more than $1 billion in new American funding for Ukraine, including military and humanitarian aid.

Blinken’s fourth visit to the country was overshadowed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-blinken-counteroffensive-6c1545768d77d927a5cda148fc197e3c">strike in the city of Kostiantynivka</a>, near the front line in the Donetsk region, that turned the marketplace into an inferno. It was one of the deadliest bombardments of civilians in the 18-month-old war. In addition to the dead, at least 32 people were wounded.

“Those who know this place are well aware that it is a civilian area,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a news conference with the Danish prime minister in Kyiv. “There aren’t any military units nearby. The strike was deliberate.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said such brutal Russian attacks underscore "the importance of continuing to support the people of Ukraine.”

Blinken’s visit was aimed at assessing Ukraine’s 3-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;and signaling continued U.S. support as some Western allies express worries about Kyiv’s slow progress against invading Russian forces.

“We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent,” Blinken said. “We’re also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy.”

About $175 million of the total is in the form of weaponry to be provided from Pentagon stockpiles and another $100 million is in the form of grants to allow the Ukrainians to purchase additional arms and equipment, according to the State Department.

Noting progress in the counteroffensive, Blinken said the new aid "will help sustain it and build further momentum.” He said the new military assistance would be bolstered by the arrival of U.S. Abrams tanks in the fall and the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets to complement training in Europe.

In addition to the military assistance, Blinken announced nearly $805 million in non-arms-related aid for Ukraine, including $300 million for law enforcement, $206 million in humanitarian aid, $203 million to combat corruption and $90.5 million for removing mines, the State Department said.

The package also includes a previously announced $5.4 million transfer to Ukraine of frozen Russian oligarch assets.

The aid announced by Blinken comes from money previously approved by Congress. President Joe Biden has requested another $21 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine for the final months of 2023, but it’s not clear how much — if any — will be approved.

Many Republican lawmakers are wary of providing more aid, and the party’s presidential front-runner, former President Donald Trump, has criticized U.S. financial support. Opinion polls also have shown a decline in support for the war by the American public.

Biden and the Pentagon have said repeatedly they will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. As of Aug. 29, there was approximately $5.75 billion left in the already approved funding for weapons and equipment taken from existing Pentagon stocks.

Blinken was to discuss other issues, including support for Ukraine’s economy, building on his June announcement of $1.3 billion to help Kyiv rebuild, with a focus on modernizing its energy network, which was bombarded by Russia last winter.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said U.S. assistance to Ukraine “can’t influence the course of the special military operation” — Moscow’s euphemism for the war.

Blinken arrived in Kyiv for an overnight visit hours after Russia launched a missile attack on the city.

On the train to Kyiv, Blinken met with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who was also on an official visit, and thanked her for Denmark’s leadership in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and for promising to donate the fighter jets to Ukraine, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Washington officials said there will be discussions of alternative export routes for Ukrainian grain following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-turkey-putin-erdogan-sochi-ac41cb453a6d6c597d543873850414eb">Russia’s exit</a>&nbsp;from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-odesa-grain-port-cathedral-055bd34b40ba271e89084fda83c34fb0">frequent attacks</a>&nbsp;on port facilities in the Odesa region.

Those alternatives may include new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-global-trade-romania-blockades-020ec081ae0dd77e66874364766635d5">overland routes</a>&nbsp;or ships hugging coastlines to keep out of international waters where they could be targeted by Russia’s navy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also mentioned the potential to develop the Danube River corridor for grain exports.

After arriving in Kyiv, Blinken laid a wreath at the city’s Berkovetske cemetery to commemorate Ukrainian troops killed defending the country.

In a meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine is grateful the U.S. money is coming in the form of grants, not loans that would drive it into debt.

In other developments, Russia fired cruise missiles overnight at Kyiv in its first aerial attack on the capital since Aug. 30, according to Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv’s regional military administration. Debris from a downed missile caused a fire and damage but no casualties.

One person was killed in the Odesa region in a Russian missile and drone attack on the port of Izmail that damaged grain elevators, administrative buildings and agricultural enterprises, authorities said.

The trip was Blinken’s fourth to Ukraine since the war began, including one brief excursion over the Polish-Ukrainian border in March 2022, just a month after the Russian invasion. But it will be the first time America’s top diplomat spends the night in Kyiv since January 2022, before the invasion, in what U.S. officials called another sign of American support.

Blinken’s visit comes after some of Ukraine’s allies have privately expressed concern that Ukrainian troops may fail to reach their objectives.

While the U.S. has been concerned by some day-to-day battlefield setbacks, American officials said, they are still generally encouraged by Ukraine’s handling of the military situation, particularly its air defense capabilities in knocking down Russian drones aimed at Kyiv.

Western analysts and military officials caution that the counteroffensive’s success is far from certain and that it could take years to rid Ukraine of entrenched, powerfully armed and skilled Russian troops.

Both sides will have to assess their supply shortages, with more battles of attrition likely over the winter. A long war could stretch deep into next year and beyond, according to experts.

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Lolita Baldor and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694033844262.png" alt="&nbsp;U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the country with more than $1 billion in new American funding for Ukraine- photo U.S. Dept. of State" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the country with more than $1 billion in new American funding for Ukraine- photo U.S. Dept. of State</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian missile tore through an outdoor market in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing 17 people and wounding dozens, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the country with more than $1 billion in new American funding for Ukraine, including military and humanitarian aid.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he and U.S. officials thought Ukraine&#39;s progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces to be &quot;very, very encouraging.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xKcZu9aiDT">https://t.co/xKcZu9aiDT</a> <a href="https://t.co/NrkgTNY99o">pic.twitter.com/NrkgTNY99o</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1699458407311306838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Blinken’s fourth visit to the country was overshadowed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-blinken-counteroffensive-6c1545768d77d927a5cda148fc197e3c">strike in the city of Kostiantynivka</a>, near the front line in the Donetsk region, that turned the marketplace into an inferno. It was one of the deadliest bombardments of civilians in the 18-month-old war. In addition to the dead, at least 32 people were wounded.“Those who know this place are well aware that it is a civilian area,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a news conference with the Danish prime minister in Kyiv. “There aren’t any military units nearby. The strike was deliberate.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said such brutal Russian attacks underscore "the importance of continuing to support the people of Ukraine.”Blinken’s visit was aimed at assessing Ukraine’s 3-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;and signaling continued U.S. support as some Western allies express worries about Kyiv’s slow progress against invading Russian forces.“We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent,” Blinken said. “We’re also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy.”About $175 million of the total is in the form of weaponry to be provided from Pentagon stockpiles and another $100 million is in the form of grants to allow the Ukrainians to purchase additional arms and equipment, according to the State Department.Noting progress in the counteroffensive, Blinken said the new aid "will help sustain it and build further momentum.” He said the new military assistance would be bolstered by the arrival of U.S. Abrams tanks in the fall and the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets to complement training in Europe.In addition to the military assistance, Blinken announced nearly $805 million in non-arms-related aid for Ukraine, including $300 million for law enforcement, $206 million in humanitarian aid, $203 million to combat corruption and $90.5 million for removing mines, the State Department said.The package also includes a previously announced $5.4 million transfer to Ukraine of frozen Russian oligarch assets.The aid announced by Blinken comes from money previously approved by Congress. President Joe Biden has requested another $21 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine for the final months of 2023, but it’s not clear how much — if any — will be approved.Many Republican lawmakers are wary of providing more aid, and the party’s presidential front-runner, former President Donald Trump, has criticized U.S. financial support. Opinion polls also have shown a decline in support for the war by the American public.Biden and the Pentagon have said repeatedly they will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. As of Aug. 29, there was approximately $5.75 billion left in the already approved funding for weapons and equipment taken from existing Pentagon stocks.Blinken was to discuss other issues, including support for Ukraine’s economy, building on his June announcement of $1.3 billion to help Kyiv rebuild, with a focus on modernizing its energy network, which was bombarded by Russia last winter.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said U.S. assistance to Ukraine “can’t influence the course of the special military operation” — Moscow’s euphemism for the war.Blinken arrived in Kyiv for an overnight visit hours after Russia launched a missile attack on the city.On the train to Kyiv, Blinken met with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who was also on an official visit, and thanked her for Denmark’s leadership in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and for promising to donate the fighter jets to Ukraine, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.Washington officials said there will be discussions of alternative export routes for Ukrainian grain following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-turkey-putin-erdogan-sochi-ac41cb453a6d6c597d543873850414eb">Russia’s exit</a>&nbsp;from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-odesa-grain-port-cathedral-055bd34b40ba271e89084fda83c34fb0">frequent attacks</a>&nbsp;on port facilities in the Odesa region.Those alternatives may include new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-global-trade-romania-blockades-020ec081ae0dd77e66874364766635d5">overland routes</a>&nbsp;or ships hugging coastlines to keep out of international waters where they could be targeted by Russia’s navy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also mentioned the potential to develop the Danube River corridor for grain exports.After arriving in Kyiv, Blinken laid a wreath at the city’s Berkovetske cemetery to commemorate Ukrainian troops killed defending the country.In a meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine is grateful the U.S. money is coming in the form of grants, not loans that would drive it into debt.In other developments, Russia fired cruise missiles overnight at Kyiv in its first aerial attack on the capital since Aug. 30, according to Serhii Popko, the head of Kyiv’s regional military administration. Debris from a downed missile caused a fire and damage but no casualties.One person was killed in the Odesa region in a Russian missile and drone attack on the port of Izmail that damaged grain elevators, administrative buildings and agricultural enterprises, authorities said.The trip was Blinken’s fourth to Ukraine since the war began, including one brief excursion over the Polish-Ukrainian border in March 2022, just a month after the Russian invasion. But it will be the first time America’s top diplomat spends the night in Kyiv since January 2022, before the invasion, in what U.S. officials called another sign of American support.Blinken’s visit comes after some of Ukraine’s allies have privately expressed concern that Ukrainian troops may fail to reach their objectives.While the U.S. has been concerned by some day-to-day battlefield setbacks, American officials said, they are still generally encouraged by Ukraine’s handling of the military situation, particularly its air defense capabilities in knocking down Russian drones aimed at Kyiv.Western analysts and military officials caution that the counteroffensive’s success is far from certain and that it could take years to rid Ukraine of entrenched, powerfully armed and skilled Russian troops.Both sides will have to assess their supply shortages, with more battles of attrition likely over the winter. A long war could stretch deep into next year and beyond, according to experts.___Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Lolita Baldor and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥 U.S. giving another $1 billion in new funding to Ukraine 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack.

&nbsp;Just after 9p.m. August 22, police were dispatched to a cutting at the Gabriel Tower apartment complex in the 1600 Block of Jackson in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

First responders located a victim later identified as&nbsp;60-year-old Lambert Smalls in a parking lot with apparent bodily trauma. Smalls was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Wednesday, police reported he died.

A suspect has been taken into custody.  Circumstances leading to the assault appeared to be a disturbance between Smalls and the suspect.&nbsp;

The Medical Examiner ruled this incident a homicide. This is the 138th homicide in KCMO this year.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the name of the suspect or possible charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694047342566.png" alt="Police found the victim in the parking lot of the Gabriel Tower apartment complex-photo Sheriff&nbsp;Darryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police found the victim in the parking lot of the Gabriel Tower apartment complex-photo Sheriff&nbsp;Darryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack.&nbsp;Just after 9p.m. August 22, police were dispatched to a cutting at the Gabriel Tower apartment complex in the 1600 Block of Jackson in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.First responders located a victim later identified as&nbsp;60-year-old Lambert Smalls in a parking lot with apparent bodily trauma. Smalls was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Wednesday, police reported he died.A suspect has been taken into custody. Circumstances leading to the assault appeared to be a disturbance between Smalls and the suspect.&nbsp;The Medical Examiner ruled this incident a homicide. This is the 138th homicide in KCMO this year.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the name of the suspect or possible charges.

Homicide: KC stabbing victim dies two weeks after attack

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on alleged child sex crimes.

On Sept. 3, police arrested 49-year-old Alejandro Beltranena. of Guatemala, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, kidnapping, indecent solicitation of a child, and lewd and lascivious behavior, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Since a minor was involved, police released few details on the crime or arrest. Beltranena remains jailed on a $1,500,000, according to the district attorney's office. He is scheduled back in court September 18.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693961857339.png" alt="Beltranena-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Beltranena-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on alleged child sex crimes.On Sept. 3, police arrested 49-year-old Alejandro Beltranena. of Guatemala, is charged with aggravated criminal sodomy, kidnapping, indecent solicitation of a child, and lewd and lascivious behavior, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Since a minor was involved, police released few details on the crime or arrest. Beltranena remains jailed on a $1,500,000, according to the district attorney's office. He is scheduled back in court September 18.

Man from Guatemala charged with sex crimes in Kansas

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

WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education.

With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in October, and the Supreme Court’s summer decision to strike down the White House’s one-time debt relief program, the Department of Education has rolled out several repayment and loan forgiveness programs. One of those initiatives is the Saving on A Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan that for some borrowers could result in no monthly payments.

“Our top priority is to support borrowers as they prepare to return to repayment with the tools and resources that they need,” Jason Miller, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, said on a call with reporters Tuesday.

<a target="_blank" href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/08/22/heres-what-to-know-about-new-federal-policies-for-repaying-student-loans/">The new income-driven repayment plan</a>&nbsp;calculates payments based on a borrower’s income and family size and forgives balances after a set number of years. The Department of Education has estimated that most borrowers will save about $1,000 per year under the new plan.

Borrowers who are currently in the Revised Pay as You Earn plan, will automatically be enrolled in the SAVE program.

Democrats, such as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, are expecting legal challenges.

“While there will be those that will challenge this in court, the administration has carefully crossed the legal t’s and dotted the legal i’s,” Schumer said in a statement following the opening of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/idr/">applications</a>&nbsp;for the SAVE program on Aug. 22.

So far, the states with the highest number of borrowers enrolled in the program are Texas, with 345,800, California with 331,600, Florida with 291,100, New York with 212,800 and Pennsylvania with 170,200.

There are 82,300 borrowers enrolled in Missouri.

James Kvaal, the undersecretary of Education, said no borrowers will owe payments if they make $15 an hour while supporting a family, and that borrowers will not see their balances grow due to unpaid interest “as long as they keep up with their payments.”

“We’re not just lowering payments for today’s borrowers, we’re helping entire families and communities, and we’re making paying for college more affordable for millions of future students,” Kvaal said.

Borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans at any point will be able to enroll into the SAVE program through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/default-fresh-start">Fresh Start program</a>, which is a one-time program for those who have defaulted on federal student loan repayment.

Even though the pause on federal student loans is set to end in October, borrowers will still have a year of leniency to begin repayments, but interest will accrue starting this month. The program starts Oct. 1 and will extend until Sept. 30 of next year.

By ARIANA FIGUEROA&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Folks, join the 4 million Americans who have already signed up for the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever created, our Administration&#39;s SAVE Plan. Don&#39;t wait – head to <a href="https://t.co/RlyR0iT5yU">https://t.co/RlyR0iT5yU</a>. <a href="https://t.co/dcMJ39NSy1">pic.twitter.com/dcMJ39NSy1</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1699460012161040878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in October, and the Supreme Court’s summer decision to strike down the White House’s one-time debt relief program, the Department of Education has rolled out several repayment and loan forgiveness programs. One of those initiatives is the Saving on A Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan that for some borrowers could result in no monthly payments.“Our top priority is to support borrowers as they prepare to return to repayment with the tools and resources that they need,” Jason Miller, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, said on a call with reporters Tuesday.<a target="_blank" href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/08/22/heres-what-to-know-about-new-federal-policies-for-repaying-student-loans/">The new income-driven repayment plan</a>&nbsp;calculates payments based on a borrower’s income and family size and forgives balances after a set number of years. The Department of Education has estimated that most borrowers will save about $1,000 per year under the new plan.Borrowers who are currently in the Revised Pay as You Earn plan, will automatically be enrolled in the SAVE program.Democrats, such as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, are expecting legal challenges.“While there will be those that will challenge this in court, the administration has carefully crossed the legal t’s and dotted the legal i’s,” Schumer said in a statement following the opening of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/idr/">applications</a>&nbsp;for the SAVE program on Aug. 22.So far, the states with the highest number of borrowers enrolled in the program are Texas, with 345,800, California with 331,600, Florida with 291,100, New York with 212,800 and Pennsylvania with 170,200.There are 82,300 borrowers enrolled in Missouri.James Kvaal, the undersecretary of Education, said no borrowers will owe payments if they make $15 an hour while supporting a family, and that borrowers will not see their balances grow due to unpaid interest “as long as they keep up with their payments.”“We’re not just lowering payments for today’s borrowers, we’re helping entire families and communities, and we’re making paying for college more affordable for millions of future students,” Kvaal said.Borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans at any point will be able to enroll into the SAVE program through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/default-fresh-start">Fresh Start program</a>, which is a one-time program for those who have defaulted on federal student loan repayment.Even though the pause on federal student loans is set to end in October, borrowers will still have a year of leniency to begin repayments, but interest will accrue starting this month. The program starts Oct. 1 and will extend until Sept. 30 of next year.

Millions enrolled in new student loan repayment program

BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.

On Thursday, police in El Dorado conducted an investigation reported by way of a cyber tip, received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), alleging the sexual exploitation of children through the use of electronic devices, according to a media release.

This investigation led to the arrest of 45-year-old Glen Shack in El Dorado and charges have been filed through the Butler County District Court for three counts of aggravated internet trading in child pornography.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694030935139.png" alt="Shack remains jailed in Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Shack remains jailed in Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.On Thursday, police in El Dorado conducted an investigation reported by way of a cyber tip, received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), alleging the sexual exploitation of children through the use of electronic devices, according to a media release.This investigation led to the arrest of 45-year-old Glen Shack in El Dorado and charges have been filed through the Butler County District Court for three counts of aggravated internet trading in child pornography.

Cyber tip led to arrest of Kansas man for child porn trading

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ceilidhkern/">CEILIDH KERN</a>&nbsp;

The University of Missouri rolled out its first all-electric, autonomous tractor Tuesday, calling it a “revolutionary piece of technology” that could pioneer new agricultural practices and make farming more efficient and sustainable.

The Monarch MK-V tractor, bought with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the Midwest’s first fully autonomous tractor, according to Christopher Daubert, dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. The tractor will be used for research by CAFNR, the MU College of Engineering, and MU Extension.

The MK-V runs solely on electricity and is equipped with cameras and sensors that allow it to be driven remotely. Its artificial intelligence capabilities are designed to collect data and analyze crop health, allowing the machine to align with future agricultural innovation.

Kent Shannon, a CAFNR professor specializing in agricultural systems and technology, piloted the tractor for Tuesday’s demonstration. He said the MK-V was well-suited for smaller-scale farms, including his own.

“It provides some opportunities that a traditional tractor wouldn’t,” he said. “I can see me using this on a beef cattle farm at home.”

The tractor does come with a high price tag: A standard model starts at about $89,000, more than twice the price of a traditional tractor of the same size, Shannon said.

Even so, he emphasized that the total value of the tractor has yet to be fully understood, meaning that the price might actually be affordable given the advanced capabilities it offers.

“If I went to the local dealership, yeah, I’d find something a lot cheaper than this,” he said. “But if you think about agriculture as a whole, it’s not exorbitant.”

“You might even think it was more than $90,000 for a tractor like this,” he added. “You’ve got to think of all of the technologies on it — there’s no other tractor of this stature that has both electric and autonomy capability.”

Sazzad Rifat, a PhD student at MU studying biosystems engineering, said he looks forward to learning about the tractor’s autonomous driving features and its ability to maneuver around obstacles.

To better understand the MK-V’s technologies, university researchers are interested in exploring its ability to support farmers with disabilities.

Findings from this research, as well as information about the MK-V, will be shared with farmers through MU Extension’s AgrAbility program, which helps farmers with disabilities overcome challenges.

For Missouri’s small-scale farms, this tractor’s technological capability could be revolutionary, said Dan Downing, a water quality expert with MU Extension in a news release.

A more sophisticated hydraulic system and engine reduce emissions that may interfere with farm conditions, Downing said. The tractor also scores very well environmentally on air and water quality measurements.

Because of the nascency of this new technology, no state subsidies are yet available to help farmers pay for it, according to Teng Lim, a professor at MU Extension. There is, however, a “good chance” of future state support, he said.

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/mu-unveils-the-first-fully-electric-autonomous-tractor-in-the-midwest/article_6d1f4dea-4c27-11ee-b22d-e3a740636d5f.html#tncms-source=Featured">the Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694017307494.png" alt="William Lee, left, and Kent Shannon look at the tractor before the demonstration on Monday at Sanborn Field in Columbia (Kate Cassady/Missourian)." />
 <figcaption>William Lee, left, and Kent Shannon look at the tractor before the demonstration on Monday at Sanborn Field in Columbia (Kate Cassady/Missourian).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ceilidhkern/">CEILIDH KERN</a>&nbsp;The University of Missouri rolled out its first all-electric, autonomous tractor Tuesday, calling it a “revolutionary piece of technology” that could pioneer new agricultural practices and make farming more efficient and sustainable.The Monarch MK-V tractor, bought with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is the Midwest’s first fully autonomous tractor, according to Christopher Daubert, dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. The tractor will be used for research by CAFNR, the MU College of Engineering, and MU Extension.The MK-V runs solely on electricity and is equipped with cameras and sensors that allow it to be driven remotely. Its artificial intelligence capabilities are designed to collect data and analyze crop health, allowing the machine to align with future agricultural innovation.Kent Shannon, a CAFNR professor specializing in agricultural systems and technology, piloted the tractor for Tuesday’s demonstration. He said the MK-V was well-suited for smaller-scale farms, including his own.“It provides some opportunities that a traditional tractor wouldn’t,” he said. “I can see me using this on a beef cattle farm at home.”The tractor does come with a high price tag: A standard model starts at about $89,000, more than twice the price of a traditional tractor of the same size, Shannon said.Even so, he emphasized that the total value of the tractor has yet to be fully understood, meaning that the price might actually be affordable given the advanced capabilities it offers.“If I went to the local dealership, yeah, I’d find something a lot cheaper than this,” he said. “But if you think about agriculture as a whole, it’s not exorbitant.”“You might even think it was more than $90,000 for a tractor like this,” he added. “You’ve got to think of all of the technologies on it — there’s no other tractor of this stature that has both electric and autonomy capability.”Sazzad Rifat, a PhD student at MU studying biosystems engineering, said he looks forward to learning about the tractor’s autonomous driving features and its ability to maneuver around obstacles.To better understand the MK-V’s technologies, university researchers are interested in exploring its ability to support farmers with disabilities.Findings from this research, as well as information about the MK-V, will be shared with farmers through MU Extension’s AgrAbility program, which helps farmers with disabilities overcome challenges.For Missouri’s small-scale farms, this tractor’s technological capability could be revolutionary, said Dan Downing, a water quality expert with MU Extension in a news release.A more sophisticated hydraulic system and engine reduce emissions that may interfere with farm conditions, Downing said. The tractor also scores very well environmentally on air and water quality measurements.Because of the nascency of this new technology, no state subsidies are yet available to help farmers pay for it, according to Teng Lim, a professor at MU Extension. There is, however, a “good chance” of future state support, he said.This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/mu-unveils-the-first-fully-electric-autonomous-tractor-in-the-midwest/article_6d1f4dea-4c27-11ee-b22d-e3a740636d5f.html#tncms-source=Featured">the Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

First fully electric, autonomous tractor in the Midwest unveiled

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government is taking a big step toward forcing a defiant Tennessee company to recall 52 million air bag inflators that could explode, hurl shrapnel and injure or kill people.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday said it has made an initial decision that the inflators made by ARC Automotive Inc., and under license by another company, are defective. The agency scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 5, a required step before seeking a court-ordered recall.

In May the agency asked ARC to recall the inflators, which it says are responsible for at least seven injuries and two deaths in the U.S. and Canada since 2009. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-bag-inflators-recall-tennessee-nhtsa-c10c943d69230763b68b6aa93e68eaf0">ARC has refused to issue a full-scale recall, setting the stage for the possible court fight.</a>

Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from ARC. The company maintains that no safety defect exists, that NHTSA’s demand is based on a hypothesis rather than technical conclusions, and that the agency has no authority to order a parts manufacturer to announce recalls.

NHTSA is trying to force ARC to recall inflators in driver and passenger front air bags from at least a dozen automakers. Neither ARC nor the auto industry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-bag-deflators-explode-crash-arc-nhtsa-8393a55574147c712d11d62f50ff249f">has released a full list of vehicle models with the kind of air bag inflators that have exploded.</a>&nbsp;But at least 33 million of the 284 million vehicles on U.S. roads are believed to contain them.

Owners of vehicles made by at least a dozen automakers — Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Hyundai and Kia — are left to wonder anxiously whether their vehicles contain driver or front passenger inflators made by ARC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576782225717.png" alt="Image National Highway Traffic Safety Admin" />
 <figcaption>Image National Highway Traffic Safety Admin</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government is taking a big step toward forcing a defiant Tennessee company to recall 52 million air bag inflators that could explode, hurl shrapnel and injure or kill people.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday said it has made an initial decision that the inflators made by ARC Automotive Inc., and under license by another company, are defective. The agency scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 5, a required step before seeking a court-ordered recall.In May the agency asked ARC to recall the inflators, which it says are responsible for at least seven injuries and two deaths in the U.S. and Canada since 2009. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-bag-inflators-recall-tennessee-nhtsa-c10c943d69230763b68b6aa93e68eaf0">ARC has refused to issue a full-scale recall, setting the stage for the possible court fight.</a>Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from ARC. The company maintains that no safety defect exists, that NHTSA’s demand is based on a hypothesis rather than technical conclusions, and that the agency has no authority to order a parts manufacturer to announce recalls.NHTSA is trying to force ARC to recall inflators in driver and passenger front air bags from at least a dozen automakers. Neither ARC nor the auto industry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-bag-deflators-explode-crash-arc-nhtsa-8393a55574147c712d11d62f50ff249f">has released a full list of vehicle models with the kind of air bag inflators that have exploded.</a>&nbsp;But at least 33 million of the 284 million vehicles on U.S. roads are believed to contain them.Owners of vehicles made by at least a dozen automakers — Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Hyundai and Kia — are left to wonder anxiously whether their vehicles contain driver or front passenger inflators made by ARC.

US to force recall of 52 million air bag inflators that can explode

DICKINSON COUNTY –The Kansas Bureau of Investigation cancelled a Silver Alert for a missing Abilene man.

The Abilene Police Department reported that 72-year-old Alan Carroll was located in fair condition in Colorado, according to a media release. He will soon be reunited with his family.&nbsp;

DICKINSON COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Abilene man, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The agency is asking for the public's assistance to help locate 72-year-old Alan Duane Carroll. His last known location was westbound from Great Bend. 

Carroll was driving a 2004 Lexus GX with Kansas tag 863DMM.

Carroll is 6 feet tall, 205 pounds and has gray hair. He was last seen wearing a red polo shirt and jeans. 

If you see him, please contact the Abilene Police Department at (785) 263-1212.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693908496580.png" alt="Carroll-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Carroll-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY –The Kansas Bureau of Investigation cancelled a Silver Alert for a missing Abilene man.The Abilene Police Department reported that 72-year-old Alan Carroll was located in fair condition in Colorado, according to a media release. He will soon be reunited with his family.&nbsp;-----------------DICKINSON COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Abilene man, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.The agency is asking for the public's assistance to help locate 72-year-old Alan Duane Carroll. His last known location was westbound from Great Bend. Carroll was driving a 2004 Lexus GX with Kansas tag 863DMM.Carroll is 6 feet tall, 205 pounds and has gray hair. He was last seen wearing a red polo shirt and jeans. If you see him, please contact the Abilene Police Department at (785) 263-1212.

KBI: Silver Alert canceled, Kan. man found in fair condition

MCPHERSON COUNTY —The victim found at Maxwell State Lake on Saturday has been identified as 61-year-old Randy B. Gepner of McPherson, according to the McPherson County Sheriff's office.

Preliminary investigations indicate Gepner was involved in a single vehicle accident that resulted in his vehicle entering the water. Gepner was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Initial cause of death has been listed as drowning, according to the sheriff's office.

MCPHERSON COUNTY— According to a social media post from the McPherson County Sheriff's office, Saturday morning, the Sheriff's Office responded to Maxwell State Lake for a report of a found body. The body is an adult white male and is a victim of apparent drowning.

Deputies are working to confirm the identity of the victim and notifying next of kin. Canton PD/Fire/EMS and Kansas Department of Wildlife &amp; Parks are assisting in the investigation.

The sheriff released no additional details.

MCPHERSON COUNTY —The victim found at Maxwell State Lake on Saturday has been identified as 61-year-old Randy B. Gepner of McPherson, according to the McPherson County Sheriff's office.Preliminary investigations indicate Gepner was involved in a single vehicle accident that resulted in his vehicle entering the water. Gepner was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.Initial cause of death has been listed as drowning, according to the sheriff's office.-------------MCPHERSON COUNTY— According to a social media post from the McPherson County Sheriff's office, Saturday morning, the Sheriff's Office responded to Maxwell State Lake for a report of a found body. The body is an adult white male and is a victim of apparent drowning.Deputies are working to confirm the identity of the victim and notifying next of kin. Canton PD/Fire/EMS and Kansas Department of Wildlife &amp; Parks are assisting in the investigation.The sheriff released no additional details.

Sheriff: Man who drowned at Kan. state lake was in a vehicle crash

An innovative approach hopes to improve health care in rural
communities.

UMKC plans to open its new medical school in St. Joseph in
2025. The aim of the school to be built across the street from the Mosaic Life
Care campus is to increase the number of physicians and other medical personnel
serving rural areas. UMKC has operated a medical program on the Mosaic campus
the past three years with the new medical school extending and expanding the
university’s offerings.

Mosaic CEO Mike Poore says the UMKC students already being
trained at Mosaic work alongside physicians serving rural communities.

“St. Joe is their anchor in this area, but they also have
rotations that go through our Albany and Maryville campuses,” Poore tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And, again, exposing them to different types of medicine,
rural medicine, is very important, because recruiting physicians to rural
medicine is immensely difficult these days.”

Poore and others say the biggest need of rural communities is
access to primary care physicians. Poore adds there is a dire need for OB/GYN
practitioners in rural areas.

The UMKC School of Medicine plans to train 80 students at a
time with the goal of graduating 20 students a year from its St. Joseph campus.

Former state senator and current Truman Medical Center CEO
Charlie Shields says rural America needs the basics:&nbsp; general practitioners. Shields has confidence
the partnership between UMKC and Mosaic Life Care will help meet the need.

“So I think, really, the community, but like I say all of
northwest Missouri and I should add northeast Kansas are really in a good
position right now,” according to Shields. “Adding this medical school and
eventually getting the residency program will benefit the entire region.”

UMKC School of Medicine Dean Dr. Mary Anne Jackson says the
new building and the programs held there should make great strides in filling
gaps in rural health care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694022270367.jpeg" alt="UMKC Dean Dr. Mary Anne Jackson speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>UMKC Dean Dr. Mary Anne Jackson speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn innovative approach hopes to improve health care in rural
communities.UMKC plans to open its new medical school in St. Joseph in
2025. The aim of the school to be built across the street from the Mosaic Life
Care campus is to increase the number of physicians and other medical personnel
serving rural areas. UMKC has operated a medical program on the Mosaic campus
the past three years with the new medical school extending and expanding the
university’s offerings.Mosaic CEO Mike Poore says the UMKC students already being
trained at Mosaic work alongside physicians serving rural communities.“St. Joe is their anchor in this area, but they also have
rotations that go through our Albany and Maryville campuses,” Poore tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And, again, exposing them to different types of medicine,
rural medicine, is very important, because recruiting physicians to rural
medicine is immensely difficult these days.”Poore and others say the biggest need of rural communities is
access to primary care physicians. Poore adds there is a dire need for OB/GYN
practitioners in rural areas.The UMKC School of Medicine plans to train 80 students at a
time with the goal of graduating 20 students a year from its St. Joseph campus.Former state senator and current Truman Medical Center CEO
Charlie Shields says rural America needs the basics:&nbsp; general practitioners. Shields has confidence
the partnership between UMKC and Mosaic Life Care will help meet the need.“So I think, really, the community, but like I say all of
northwest Missouri and I should add northeast Kansas are really in a good
position right now,” according to Shields. “Adding this medical school and
eventually getting the residency program will benefit the entire region.”UMKC School of Medicine Dean Dr. Mary Anne Jackson says the
new building and the programs held there should make great strides in filling
gaps in rural health care.“So we think we have the secret sauce to make this work and I
just can’t wait until we get our first graduates, have them enter residency
programs and then see how they succeed as clinicians, as educators, and leaders,”
Jackson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Jackson says past efforts have failed to fill the need. She
believes this new approach will produce different results.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/UMKC-hopes-to-meet-rural-healthcare-needs-e290duq" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>