JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gunfight that sent two Kansas teens to the hospital.

Just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 8800 block of W. 102 Place in Overland. Park, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.

First responders contacted a boy in the parking lot with a gun shot wound, a non-life threating injury. 

 Witnesses advised a light color SUV occupied by three individuals had fled the scene. Minutes later the police found the SUV involved at W.119th near Blue Valley Parkway. 

 Inside the SUV a boy had also suffered a non-life threatening injury.  Both individuals injured were transported to an area hospital.  The other occupants inside the SUV were not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689123851472.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gunfight that sent two Kansas teens to the hospital.Just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 8800 block of W. 102 Place in Overland. Park, according to Public Information Officer John Lacy.First responders contacted a boy in the parking lot with a gun shot wound, a non-life threating injury. Witnesses advised a light color SUV occupied by three individuals had fled the scene. Minutes later the police found the SUV involved at W.119th near Blue Valley Parkway. Inside the SUV a boy had also suffered a non-life threatening injury. Both individuals injured were transported to an area hospital. The other occupants inside the SUV were not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

2 Kansas teens hospitalized after gunfight

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a fire Tuesday in Kansas City.

Just after 3p.m. crews responded to a fire at a home in the 5500 Block of Hardesty Avenue, according to a media release.

A man outside the house said his grandmother had gone back inside to get her dog, according to a fire department news release.

Firefighters found the woman and were able to lift her through a window. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation determined the cause of the fire was electrical. The woman's name has not been released.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a fire Tuesday in Kansas City.Just after 3p.m. crews responded to a fire at a home in the 5500 Block of Hardesty Avenue, according to a media release.A man outside the house said his grandmother had gone back inside to get her dog, according to a fire department news release.Firefighters found the woman and were able to lift her through a window. She was pronounced dead at the scene.A preliminary investigation determined the cause of the fire was electrical. The woman's name has not been released.

Woman attempting to save her dog dies in KC house fire 

MCDONALD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Tuesday in McDonald County.

The Missouri State Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2008 Harley Davidson driven by Clifford S. Garrett, 70, Grove, Oklahoma, was westbound on MO 90 five miles east of Jane.

The motorcycle overturned into a ditch. Garrett was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county coroner's office.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

MCDONALD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Tuesday in McDonald County. The Missouri State Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2008 Harley Davidson driven by Clifford S. Garrett, 70, Grove, Oklahoma, was westbound on MO 90 five miles east of Jane.The motorcycle overturned into a ditch. Garrett was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county coroner's office.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Man dies after motorcycle crash on Missouri highway

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran – ranking member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation&nbsp; wrote the following op-ed for&nbsp;<a href="https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/opinion-faa-safety-starts-top" target="_blank">Aviation Week</a>&nbsp;urging President Biden to put forward an experienced nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).&nbsp;

The full op-ed is reprinted below.

Every flight in the U.S., whether of a FedEx cargo aircraft or an American Airlines passenger airliner, requires a network of experts to load, taxi, take off, navigate and land safely. Every link in the chain must perform its duty skillfully for safe and efficient air travel. America has excelled at this process for a century, resulting in the U.S. aviation industry comprising 5% of the country’s GDP and sustaining more than 2 million jobs. Aviation is a valuable sector of our economy, and the entire industry rests on the authority of the FAA to set the rules and policies that govern the skies. The FAA is responsible for the safety of travelers and is vital to our nation’s economy, which is why it is deeply concerning that the agency has not had a permanent, Senate-approved leader—the FAA administrator—for more than 450 days. This vacancy is having a ripple effect not just in aviation but across multiple sectors and industries. The FAA stands at an important juncture as it navigates an evolving environment. Demand for air travel has returned at an unprecedented pace following the COVID-19 pandemic, and new and evolving aircraft are rapidly being introduced into our National Airspace System. Severe and sometimes chaotic and dangerous disruptions continue to face Americans attempting to fly during holidays. A record number of air travelers and consumers dealt with thousands of canceled flights and tens of thousands of flight delays nationwide over this Fourth of July long weekend. We have also seen near collisions on the runway and emergency landings. To meet these current challenges, the FAA requires modernization and good leadership throughout the agency. The current FAA Reauthorization Act is set to expire this fall. I have worked with my colleagues to write the legislation to reauthorize the FAA while also using my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development and related agencies to provide the FAA with the right resources. We must conduct proper oversight of the FAA and provide the agency with the tools it needs to evolve and excel. However, even with new resources and modernized authorities, these are just words on paper without an FAA administrator. The agency is too critical to be guided by interim leaders. We need a confirmed administrator. The U.S. has long been a leader in aerospace by leaning into challenges and opportunities. Innovation, fostered with appropriate safety oversight by the government, can help cement the U.S. as a competitor on the global scale. While Congress can help ensure resources, craft authorizing language and provide the FAA with most of the tools it needs to succeed, the agency must have a leader with a steady hand at the helm. The White House must act to nominate an individual with extensive experience in transportation and aviation, an understanding of the role the FAA plays in consumer safety and knowledge of the business models by which aviation works in the U.S. and around the world. I urge the president to put forward an experienced nominee so the FAA can reduce disruptions for air travelers, ensure the safety of our skies and guide us into the next era of aviation.

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran – ranking member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation&nbsp; wrote the following op-ed for&nbsp;<a href="https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/opinion-faa-safety-starts-top" target="_blank">Aviation Week</a>&nbsp;urging President Biden to put forward an experienced nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).&nbsp; The full op-ed is reprinted below.Every flight in the U.S., whether of a FedEx cargo aircraft or an American Airlines passenger airliner, requires a network of experts to load, taxi, take off, navigate and land safely. Every link in the chain must perform its duty skillfully for safe and efficient air travel. America has excelled at this process for a century, resulting in the U.S. aviation industry comprising 5% of the country’s GDP and sustaining more than 2 million jobs. Aviation is a valuable sector of our economy, and the entire industry rests on the authority of the FAA to set the rules and policies that govern the skies. The FAA is responsible for the safety of travelers and is vital to our nation’s economy, which is why it is deeply concerning that the agency has not had a permanent, Senate-approved leader—the FAA administrator—for more than 450 days. This vacancy is having a ripple effect not just in aviation but across multiple sectors and industries. The FAA stands at an important juncture as it navigates an evolving environment. Demand for air travel has returned at an unprecedented pace following the COVID-19 pandemic, and new and evolving aircraft are rapidly being introduced into our National Airspace System. Severe and sometimes chaotic and dangerous disruptions continue to face Americans attempting to fly during holidays. A record number of air travelers and consumers dealt with thousands of canceled flights and tens of thousands of flight delays nationwide over this Fourth of July long weekend. We have also seen near collisions on the runway and emergency landings. To meet these current challenges, the FAA requires modernization and good leadership throughout the agency. The current FAA Reauthorization Act is set to expire this fall. I have worked with my colleagues to write the legislation to reauthorize the FAA while also using my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development and related agencies to provide the FAA with the right resources. We must conduct proper oversight of the FAA and provide the agency with the tools it needs to evolve and excel. However, even with new resources and modernized authorities, these are just words on paper without an FAA administrator. The agency is too critical to be guided by interim leaders. We need a confirmed administrator. The U.S. has long been a leader in aerospace by leaning into challenges and opportunities. Innovation, fostered with appropriate safety oversight by the government, can help cement the U.S. as a competitor on the global scale. While Congress can help ensure resources, craft authorizing language and provide the FAA with most of the tools it needs to succeed, the agency must have a leader with a steady hand at the helm. The White House must act to nominate an individual with extensive experience in transportation and aviation, an understanding of the role the FAA plays in consumer safety and knowledge of the business models by which aviation works in the U.S. and around the world. I urge the president to put forward an experienced nominee so the FAA can reduce disruptions for air travelers, ensure the safety of our skies and guide us into the next era of aviation.

Moran: The U.S. needs a confirmed FAA administrator

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the July 2, mass shooting at the City Nightz Club in Wichita's Old Town have arrested 23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; This is the fourth arrest of a shooter from this incident. Five days ago police asked the public for help to locate Thomas. Police have not released details of the arrest. He is being held on requested charges of attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

On Friday police arrested 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram and booked him into the Sedgwick County jail for his role in the shooting.

Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze for the shooting&nbsp; as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.

A Missouri man arrested in the case was not charged after the district attorney determined he was acting in self defense.

Just before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.

The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.

The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.

On Tuesday King-Ingram was charged with aggravated battery, 6 counts of aggravated assault, 3 counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. \  His bond is $500,000.&nbsp;

Houze was charged on Tuesday with 6 counts of aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city. His bond is $500,000. King-ingram and Houze are due back in court July 24.

The facts of Thomas’ involvement will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for a charging decision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162087966.png" alt="Thomas-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the July 2, mass shooting at the City Nightz Club in Wichita's Old Town have arrested 23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; This is the fourth arrest of a shooter from this incident. Five days ago police asked the public for help to locate Thomas. Police have not released details of the arrest. He is being held on requested charges of attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.On Friday police arrested 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram and booked him into the Sedgwick County jail for his role in the shooting.Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze for the shooting&nbsp; as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>A Missouri man arrested in the case was not charged after the district attorney determined he was acting in self defense.Just before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.On Tuesday King-Ingram was charged with aggravated battery, 6 counts of aggravated assault, 3 counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. \ His bond is $500,000.&nbsp;Houze was charged on Tuesday with 6 counts of aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city. His bond is $500,000. King-ingram and Houze are due back in court July 24.The facts of Thomas’ involvement will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for a charging decision.

Police capture another suspect wanted for Wichita mass shooting

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man and teen in connection with an abduction and high-speed chase.

Just after 10p.m. July 9, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office of a woman reporting that her daughter was being held against her will and taken from the Kansas City area and had sent a text message to her mother identifying the two males and the vehicle. 

  Cass County Sheriffs Office initially advised the last known location was on Interstate 49 North of Archie.

 A short time later they advised the vehicle would be around the Adrian area on Interstate 49.  At approximately 10:20pm a State Trooper and a Sheriff's&nbsp; Deputy observed the suspect vehicle in the Passaic area as it traveled into the construction zone on Interstate 49. 

 The Trooper and Deputy coordinated together on determining the safest location to initiate a traffic stop.  The Trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle at 52 Highway and Interstate 49.  The vehicle failed to pull over and the pursuit traveled west on 52 Highway from Butler. 

 The vehicle then traveled north on County Road 2001.   A deputy then took over the pursuit with the intent to utilize the Grappler on the vehicle when it was at a safe place to do so. 

 Because of the road condition and visibility the deputy did not deploy the Grappler.   The pursuit continued northbound until it reached TT Highway where it traveled eastbound back toward Business 49. 

 The Sheriff and several other deputies were called from home to assist in the pursuit.  Sheriff Chad Anderson was able to successfully deploy spike strips on TT Highway just before Business 49. 

  The vehicle traveled northbound on Business 49 toward Passaic where its tires began to lose tread.   Just south of Passaic two deputies utilized their vehicles to pin the vehicle in and brought it to a stop. 

 The vehicle then broke free and attempted to continue to flee the stop.  As Sheriff Anderson was approaching the stop he observed the vehicle break free at which point the Sheriff utilized his patrol truck and performed a PIT maneuver pushing the vehicle to the side of the road where all three patrol vehicles could box it in and bring the vehicle to a permanent stop. 

 Two male occupants later identified as&nbsp;20-year-old Jose Gonzalez of Kansas, Kansas and a 17-year-old&nbsp; were extracted from the front of the vehicle and the woman was rescued from the rear. 

The 17-year-old and was turned over to the Juvenile Office. Gonzalez was taken to the Sheriff’s Office pending formal charges.

The victim was transported to the Hospital where she was met by the Bates County Victim Advocate and reunited with her family.  A search of the vehicle revealed that the suspects were armed with a loaded Draco Ak47 Pistol. 

 The suspect vehicle was towed from the scene.  One patrol vehicle received moderate damage but was driven away from the scene. 

&nbsp;Gonzalez and the 17-year-old are being held on requested charges of kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only. Additional charges are being reviewed by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689039758887.png" alt="Gonzalez-photo Bates Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Gonzalez-photo Bates Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man and teen in connection with an abduction and high-speed chase.Just after 10p.m. July 9, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office of a woman reporting that her daughter was being held against her will and taken from the Kansas City area and had sent a text message to her mother identifying the two males and the vehicle. Cass County Sheriffs Office initially advised the last known location was on Interstate 49 North of Archie. A short time later they advised the vehicle would be around the Adrian area on Interstate 49. At approximately 10:20pm a State Trooper and a Sheriff's&nbsp; Deputy observed the suspect vehicle in the Passaic area as it traveled into the construction zone on Interstate 49. The Trooper and Deputy coordinated together on determining the safest location to initiate a traffic stop. The Trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle at 52 Highway and Interstate 49. The vehicle failed to pull over and the pursuit traveled west on 52 Highway from Butler. The vehicle then traveled north on County Road 2001. A deputy then took over the pursuit with the intent to utilize the Grappler on the vehicle when it was at a safe place to do so. Because of the road condition and visibility the deputy did not deploy the Grappler. The pursuit continued northbound until it reached TT Highway where it traveled eastbound back toward Business 49. The Sheriff and several other deputies were called from home to assist in the pursuit. Sheriff Chad Anderson was able to successfully deploy spike strips on TT Highway just before Business 49. The vehicle traveled northbound on Business 49 toward Passaic where its tires began to lose tread. Just south of Passaic two deputies utilized their vehicles to pin the vehicle in and brought it to a stop. The vehicle then broke free and attempted to continue to flee the stop. As Sheriff Anderson was approaching the stop he observed the vehicle break free at which point the Sheriff utilized his patrol truck and performed a PIT maneuver pushing the vehicle to the side of the road where all three patrol vehicles could box it in and bring the vehicle to a permanent stop. Two male occupants later identified as&nbsp;20-year-old Jose Gonzalez of Kansas, Kansas and a 17-year-old&nbsp; were extracted from the front of the vehicle and the woman was rescued from the rear. The 17-year-old and was turned over to the Juvenile Office. Gonzalez was taken to the Sheriff’s Office pending formal charges.The victim was transported to the Hospital where she was met by the Bates County Victim Advocate and reunited with her family. A search of the vehicle revealed that the suspects were armed with a loaded Draco Ak47 Pistol. The suspect vehicle was towed from the scene. One patrol vehicle received moderate damage but was driven away from the scene. &nbsp;Gonzalez and the 17-year-old are being held on requested charges of kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only. Additional charges are being reviewed by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Kan. man, teen jailed for allegedly holding woman against her will

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, recently completed a three-month sex offender operation “Operation New Day," according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.

Beginning April 1, and continuing through June 30, deputies with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Offender Registration Unit and deputies of the United States Marshals Service conducted 1,015 compliance checks on registered sex offenders in Sedgwick County.&nbsp; 

There were 31 offenders found to be non-compliant and 18 were arrested for Violation of the Offender Registration Act.&nbsp; The operation was conducted during regular duty hours as well as after hours and utilized over 350 man-hours of Sheriff’s Office personnel.

The USMS Sex Offender Investigations Branch (SOIB) was created following the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA), which became law on July 27, 2006. 

The SOIB carries out the USMS’s three principal responsibilities under the AWA: &nbsp;assist state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigate violations of the act for federal prosecution; and assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated as a result of a major disaster. To ensure the safety of communities and children across the country, the USMS has implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy for its responsibilities under the AWA

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689082327438.png" alt="On June 7, deputies arrested 31-year-old Brandon True for a third violation of the offender registration act, according to the Sedgwick County daily booking records. He has been listed as a registered sex offender since 2012 after a felony conviction for attempted criminal sodomy involving a child under the age of 16 in 2009, according to the KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>On June 7, deputies arrested 31-year-old Brandon True for a third violation of the offender registration act, according to the Sedgwick County daily booking records. He has been listed as a registered sex offender since 2012 after a felony conviction for attempted criminal sodomy involving a child under the age of 16 in 2009, according to the KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, recently completed a three-month sex offender operation “Operation New Day," according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.Beginning April 1, and continuing through June 30, deputies with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Offender Registration Unit and deputies of the United States Marshals Service conducted 1,015 compliance checks on registered sex offenders in Sedgwick County.&nbsp; There were 31 offenders found to be non-compliant and 18 were arrested for Violation of the Offender Registration Act.&nbsp; The operation was conducted during regular duty hours as well as after hours and utilized over 350 man-hours of Sheriff’s Office personnel.The USMS Sex Offender Investigations Branch (SOIB) was created following the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA), which became law on July 27, 2006. The SOIB carries out the USMS’s three principal responsibilities under the AWA: &nbsp;assist state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigate violations of the act for federal prosecution; and assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated as a result of a major disaster. To ensure the safety of communities and children across the country, the USMS has implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy for its responsibilities under the AWA

18 sex offenders arrested in months-long Kansas operation 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten walked out of a California prison Tuesday after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for her participation in two infamous murders.

Van Houten “was released to parole supervision,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement.

She left the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, in the early morning hours and was driven to transitional housing, her attorney Nancy Tetreault said.

“She’s still trying to get used to the idea that this real,” Tetreault told The Associated Press.

Days earlier Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would not fight a state appeals court ruling that Van Houten should be granted parole. He said it was unlikely the state Supreme Court would consider an appeal.

Van Houten, now in her 70s, received a life sentence for helping Manson’s followers carry out the August 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary.

The LaBiancas were killed in their home, and their blood was smeared on the walls afterward. Van Houten later described holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her. Then, ordered by Manson follower Charles “Tex” Watson to “do something,” Van Houten said, she picked up a knife and stabbed the woman more than a dozen times.

The slayings happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten, who was 19 at the time, did not participate in the Tate killings.

Van Houten is expected to spend about a year at a halfway house, learning basic skills such as how to drive a car, go to the grocery store and get a debit card, according to her attorney.

“She has to learn to use to use the internet. She has to learn to buy things without cash,” Tetreault said. “It's a very different world than when she went in.”

Van Houten, who will likely be on parole for about three years, hopes to get a job as soon as possible, Tetreault said. She earned a bachelors and a masters degree in counseling while in prison and worked as a tutor for other incarcerated people.

Van Houten was found suitable for parole after a July 2020 hearing, but her release was blocked by Newsom, who maintained she was still a threat to society.

She filed an appeal with a trial court, which rejected it, and then turned to the appellate courts. The Second District Court of Appeal in May reversed Newsom's rejection of her parole.

Newsom was disappointed by the appeals court decision, his office said.

“More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims’ families still feel the impact,” the governor’s office said in a July 7 statement.

In all, Van Houten had been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were denied by either Newsom or former Gov. Jerry Brown.

Cory LaBianca, Leno LaBianca’s daughter, said last week that her family was heartbroken by the possibility that Van Houten could be released.

Van Houten, a former high school cheerleader and homecoming princess, saw her life spiral out of control at 14 following her parents’ divorce. She turned to drugs and became pregnant but said her mother forced her to abort the fetus and bury it in the family’s backyard.

Van Houten met Manson at an old movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles where he had established his so-called family of followers.

Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689111766612.png" alt="Leslie Van Houten photo California Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Leslie Van Houten photo California Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten walked out of a California prison Tuesday after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for her participation in two infamous murders.Van Houten “was released to parole supervision,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement.She left the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, in the early morning hours and was driven to transitional housing, her attorney Nancy Tetreault said.“She’s still trying to get used to the idea that this real,” Tetreault told The Associated Press.Days earlier Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would not fight a state appeals court ruling that Van Houten should be granted parole. He said it was unlikely the state Supreme Court would consider an appeal.Van Houten, now in her 70s, received a life sentence for helping Manson’s followers carry out the August 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary.The LaBiancas were killed in their home, and their blood was smeared on the walls afterward. Van Houten later described holding Rosemary LaBianca down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her. Then, ordered by Manson follower Charles “Tex” Watson to “do something,” Van Houten said, she picked up a knife and stabbed the woman more than a dozen times.The slayings happened the day after Manson followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others. Van Houten, who was 19 at the time, did not participate in the Tate killings.Van Houten is expected to spend about a year at a halfway house, learning basic skills such as how to drive a car, go to the grocery store and get a debit card, according to her attorney.“She has to learn to use to use the internet. She has to learn to buy things without cash,” Tetreault said. “It's a very different world than when she went in.”Van Houten, who will likely be on parole for about three years, hopes to get a job as soon as possible, Tetreault said. She earned a bachelors and a masters degree in counseling while in prison and worked as a tutor for other incarcerated people.Van Houten was found suitable for parole after a July 2020 hearing, but her release was blocked by Newsom, who maintained she was still a threat to society.She filed an appeal with a trial court, which rejected it, and then turned to the appellate courts. The Second District Court of Appeal in May reversed Newsom's rejection of her parole.Newsom was disappointed by the appeals court decision, his office said.“More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal killings, the victims’ families still feel the impact,” the governor’s office said in a July 7 statement.In all, Van Houten had been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were denied by either Newsom or former Gov. Jerry Brown.Cory LaBianca, Leno LaBianca’s daughter, said last week that her family was heartbroken by the possibility that Van Houten could be released.Van Houten, a former high school cheerleader and homecoming princess, saw her life spiral out of control at 14 following her parents’ divorce. She turned to drugs and became pregnant but said her mother forced her to abort the fetus and bury it in the family’s backyard.Van Houten met Manson at an old movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles where he had established his so-called family of followers.Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars.

Charles Manson follower released from prison 53-years after grisly killings

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on&nbsp;

Just before 4 p.m. July 8, a Sheriff’s Deputy observed a red Ford Focus that turned into an address east of 75 Highway on 134th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy believed the actions of the driver appeared to be suspicious in nature. Deputies contacted the driver and individuals in the vehicle. A Jackson County Sheriff K-9 alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illegal drugs.

The driver, 36-year-old Alisha Dawn Swiger, of Independence, Missouri was arrested for felony contributing to a childs misconduct, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, making false information, criminal trespass, driving while suspended and no insurance.

A passenger, Tanisha Liane Flournoy, 38, of Kansas City, Kansas was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, felony interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hallucinogenic drug. The Hoyt Police Department assisted deputies with the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688992997003.png" alt="Flournoy-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Flournoy-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect on&nbsp;Just before 4 p.m. July 8, a Sheriff’s Deputy observed a red Ford Focus that turned into an address east of 75 Highway on 134th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy believed the actions of the driver appeared to be suspicious in nature. Deputies contacted the driver and individuals in the vehicle. A Jackson County Sheriff K-9 alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illegal drugs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688992937485.png" alt="Swiger-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Swiger-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, 36-year-old Alisha Dawn Swiger, of Independence, Missouri was arrested for felony contributing to a childs misconduct, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, making false information, criminal trespass, driving while suspended and no insurance.A passenger, Tanisha Liane Flournoy, 38, of Kansas City, Kansas was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, felony interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hallucinogenic drug. The Hoyt Police Department assisted deputies with the incident.

Kan. deputies catch two women transporting drugs

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating two&nbsp; shooting incidents have arrested 71-year-old Kansas felon Samuel L. Neal.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police had asked the public for help to locate him.

Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.

Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162169452.png" alt="Neal-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Neal-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating two&nbsp; shooting incidents have arrested 71-year-old Kansas felon Samuel L. Neal.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police had asked the public for help to locate him.Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 Kan. man who spent 40-years in prison is back in jail for shooting

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — Archeologists resumed digging Tuesday at the remote site of a former Native American boarding school in central Nebraska, searching for the remains of children who died there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-health-education-native-americans-86e005cc1f631fe1f3e52592af60aa52">decades ago</a>.

The search for a hidden cemetery near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska gained renewed interest after the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-456d8b4077bf2b86b5ed1d608bf97b63">hundreds of children’s remains</a>&nbsp;at other Native American boarding school sites across the U.S. and Canada since 2021, said Dave Williams, the state's archeologist whose team is digging at the site.

The team hasn't found human remains yet, Williams said, but the dig only began on Monday and is expected to last through the week.

Birds called into the sun- and wind-filled space as excavators worked within the confines of an orange fence and yellow caution tape. They sifted steadily through dirt and tossed water away while Native American leaders and community members watched intently from the sidelines.

“I came today to witness the dig because I had an aunt who died here, Mildred Lowe, in 1930, and she never came home. So I’m here to find out if they find any bones and how we’re going to go about identifying and all of that,” said Carolyn Fiscus, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

Fiscus added: “As a tribal member and elder and grandma, I’m interested. I’ve got a lot of spiritual and emotional investment in this. And my mom too, who’s now passed away. That’s why I’m here.”

The school was part of a national system of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-native-americans-cbd724ae4e423c788089ef98cec4315a">400 Native American boarding schools</a>&nbsp;that attempted to assimilate Indigenous people into white culture by separating children from their families, cutting them off from their heritage and inflicting physical and emotional abuse.

Newspaper clippings, records and a student’s letter indicate at least 86 students died at the school in Genoa, most due to diseases such as tuberculosis and typhoid. At least one death was blamed on an accidental shooting.

Researchers identified 49 of the children killed but have not been able to find names for 37 students. The bodies of some of those children were returned to their homes but others are believed to have been buried on the school grounds at a location long forgotten.

Judi Gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s, has been involved in efforts to find the cemetery for years. She said it’s difficult to spend time in the community where many Native Americans suffered, but that the search can help to heal and bring the children’s voices to the surface.

Williams, the archeologist, said finding the cemetery could provide some peace and comfort to people who have suffered for years, not knowing what happened to their relatives who were sent to boarding schools but never came home.

The school, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha, opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students from more than 40 tribes across the country. It closed in 1931 and most buildings were demolished long ago.

In an effort to find the cemetery, dogs trained to detect the odor of decaying remains searched the area last summer and indicated there could be a burial site in a narrow piece of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks and a canal. In November, ground-penetrating radar showed an area that was consistent with graves, but there will be no guarantees until researchers finish digging, Williams said.

If the dig reveals human remains, the State Archeology Office will continue to work with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to decide on next steps. They could rebury the remains in the field and create a memorial or exhume and return the bodies to tribes.

Last year, the U.S. Interior Department — led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary — released a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-native-americans-cultures-congress-1052724fc31b28f7addae7f5b2e50830">first-of-its-kind report</a>&nbsp;that named hundreds of schools the federal government supported to strip Native Americans of their cultures and identities.

At least 500 children died at some of the schools, but that number is expected to reach into the thousands or tens of thousands as research continues.

“I hope they find the cemetery so that we can do ceremony and lay our spiritual relatives to rest. So they know we know they’re here, and they’re ok,” Fiscus, of the Winnebago Tribe, said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689103801901.jpeg" alt="Archeological technician Makenzie Coufal clears soil away as workers dig for the suspected remains of children who once attended the Genoa Indian Industrial School, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Genoa, Neb. The mystery of where the bodies of more than 80 children are buried could be solved this week as archeologists dig in a Nebraska field that a century ago was part of a sprawling Native American boarding school. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)" />
 <figcaption>Archeological technician Makenzie Coufal clears soil away as workers dig for the suspected remains of children who once attended the Genoa Indian Industrial School, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Genoa, Neb. The mystery of where the bodies of more than 80 children are buried could be solved this week as archeologists dig in a Nebraska field that a century ago was part of a sprawling Native American boarding school. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)</figcaption>
 </figure>GENOA, Neb. (AP) — Archeologists resumed digging Tuesday at the remote site of a former Native American boarding school in central Nebraska, searching for the remains of children who died there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-health-education-native-americans-86e005cc1f631fe1f3e52592af60aa52">decades ago</a>.The search for a hidden cemetery near the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska gained renewed interest after the discovery of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-456d8b4077bf2b86b5ed1d608bf97b63">hundreds of children’s remains</a>&nbsp;at other Native American boarding school sites across the U.S. and Canada since 2021, said Dave Williams, the state's archeologist whose team is digging at the site.The team hasn't found human remains yet, Williams said, but the dig only began on Monday and is expected to last through the week.Birds called into the sun- and wind-filled space as excavators worked within the confines of an orange fence and yellow caution tape. They sifted steadily through dirt and tossed water away while Native American leaders and community members watched intently from the sidelines.“I came today to witness the dig because I had an aunt who died here, Mildred Lowe, in 1930, and she never came home. So I’m here to find out if they find any bones and how we’re going to go about identifying and all of that,” said Carolyn Fiscus, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.Fiscus added: “As a tribal member and elder and grandma, I’m interested. I’ve got a lot of spiritual and emotional investment in this. And my mom too, who’s now passed away. That’s why I’m here.”The school was part of a national system of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-native-americans-cbd724ae4e423c788089ef98cec4315a">400 Native American boarding schools</a>&nbsp;that attempted to assimilate Indigenous people into white culture by separating children from their families, cutting them off from their heritage and inflicting physical and emotional abuse.Newspaper clippings, records and a student’s letter indicate at least 86 students died at the school in Genoa, most due to diseases such as tuberculosis and typhoid. At least one death was blamed on an accidental shooting.Researchers identified 49 of the children killed but have not been able to find names for 37 students. The bodies of some of those children were returned to their homes but others are believed to have been buried on the school grounds at a location long forgotten.Judi Gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe and the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s, has been involved in efforts to find the cemetery for years. She said it’s difficult to spend time in the community where many Native Americans suffered, but that the search can help to heal and bring the children’s voices to the surface.Williams, the archeologist, said finding the cemetery could provide some peace and comfort to people who have suffered for years, not knowing what happened to their relatives who were sent to boarding schools but never came home.The school, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha, opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students from more than 40 tribes across the country. It closed in 1931 and most buildings were demolished long ago.In an effort to find the cemetery, dogs trained to detect the odor of decaying remains searched the area last summer and indicated there could be a burial site in a narrow piece of land bordered by a farm field, railroad tracks and a canal. In November, ground-penetrating radar showed an area that was consistent with graves, but there will be no guarantees until researchers finish digging, Williams said.The process is expected to take days.If the dig reveals human remains, the State Archeology Office will continue to work with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs to decide on next steps. They could rebury the remains in the field and create a memorial or exhume and return the bodies to tribes.Last year, the U.S. Interior Department — led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary — released a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-native-americans-cultures-congress-1052724fc31b28f7addae7f5b2e50830">first-of-its-kind report</a>&nbsp;that named hundreds of schools the federal government supported to strip Native Americans of their cultures and identities.At least 500 children died at some of the schools, but that number is expected to reach into the thousands or tens of thousands as research continues.“I hope they find the cemetery so that we can do ceremony and lay our spiritual relatives to rest. So they know we know they’re here, and they’re ok,” Fiscus, of the Winnebago Tribe, said.

Dig resumes for children's remains at former Nebraska boarding school 

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Attorneys for the Kansas Department of Revenue requested a hearing to argue for reversal of the temporary restraining order issued by a district court judge to block issuance of driver’s licenses to Kansans seeking to amend their gender marker on the card.

The administration of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly filed the request in response to the 14-day temporary order issued Monday by Judge Teresa Watson, a 2014 appointee of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Watson’s order was based on a request Friday by Attorney General Kris Kobach to enforce his interpretation of Senate Bill 180, which he contended forbid Kansans from modifying the sex marker of Kansas birth certificates, driver’s licenses or other identification documents.

Attorneys in the Kelly administration responded by arguing the law pushed through by Republican majorities in the House and Senate over the governor’s veto exclusively addressed sex determinations recorded on birth certificates controlled by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The statute didn’t deal with gender information recorded on driver’s licenses handled by the Department of Revenue, the administration said.

Since Jan. 1, more than 500 people have sought to alter gender on driver’s licenses in Kansas. That included 172 in June prior to implementation of the law July 1.

Ted Smith, an attorney representing the state Department of Revenue, argued in a filing&nbsp;the temporary restraining order should be dissolved and a full hearing set. He said granting the&nbsp;restraining order without the hearing “should never change the status quo” and undermine a principle that the relative position of both sides in a dispute should be preserved until a decision on merits of the case.

He said quashing the restraining order would enable the Department of Revenue to continue modifying driver’s licenses in terms of gender markers under a process that retained historical information on gender selection, including sex at birth derived from Kansas birth certificates. The Department of Revenue’s process has been in place since 2007 and was backed by administrative changes implemented in 2011.

“Petitioner is requesting an affirmative change from the status quo, that KDOR diverge from its current process of relying upon gender for purposes of developing identity,” Smith’s motion said. “There&nbsp;is&nbsp;no&nbsp;established,&nbsp;actual&nbsp;harm&nbsp;shown&nbsp;by&nbsp;the petitioner&nbsp;if&nbsp;KDOR’s&nbsp;processes&nbsp;are&nbsp;maintained —&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;hypothetical&nbsp;cases.”

Kobach, who was elected attorney general in November and lost the 2018 gubernatorial race to Kelly, filed a lawsuit in Shawnee County to compel the Kelly administration to reform processing of driver’s licenses to identify people as either male or female. Those constraints ignored people with chromosomal variations, such as intersex people, or individuals with diverse gender identities, such as transgender or nonbinary people.

Separately, Kobach filed in U.S. District Court to alter a 2019 agreement allowing Kansans to amend gender markers on birth certificates issued by KDHE.

In the driver’s license brief, Smith said accurately recording gender on licenses supported the purpose of checking identity of an individual during a law enforcement traffic stop, when cashing a check or getting on an airplane. The driver’s license would more useful when the appearance of a person matched information contained on the card, he said.

He argued the judge’s reliance on an immediate temporary restraining order was inappropriate unless “there is a clear legal duty attached.” Authority claimed by the attorney general under the new state law wasn’t clearly established by Senate Bill 180, he said.

“Rather it is clear that driver’s licensing specific statutes continue to control and KDOR’s actions are concordant with law. There will be serious harm and public impact to individuals if they must reclassify their gender as requested by the petitioner,” the reply motion said.

The bill approved by the 2023 Legislature was drawn from model legislation advocated by a national organization with a history of opposing women’s rights, including the Equal Rights Amendment and equal pay. It was championed by Independent Women’s Voices, which advocated for the bill in Kansas and other states to counter spread of “transgender ideology.”

The Kelly administration says the two-page bill, also known legislatively in Kansas as the Women’s Bill of Rights, wasn’t tailored to specifics of Kansas law, including the distinct process of dealing with driver’s licenses and birth certificates. The law also didn’t contain an enforcement mechanism, raising questions about how the state would deal with actions viewed as contrary to statute.

Prior to 2007, Kansas law required the Department of Revenue to document an applicant’s sex on the driver’s license. Senate Bill 9, however, change the driver’s license field from sex to gender, which standardized the process of evaluating documentation such as a U.S. passport or birth certificates from another state.

The 2011 administrative policy, crafted by the Brownback administration, enabled the Department of Revenue to address inconsistent processing of requests to adjust gender markers and grapple with potential Americans with Disability Act claims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689093134824.jpeg" alt="The administration of Gov. Laura Kelly filed a rebuttal brief to a Shawnee County District Court judge’s issuance of a temporary restraining order blocking Kansans from altering gender on driver’s licenses. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The administration of Gov. Laura Kelly filed a rebuttal brief to a Shawnee County District Court judge’s issuance of a temporary restraining order blocking Kansans from altering gender on driver’s licenses. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Attorneys for the Kansas Department of Revenue requested a hearing to argue for reversal of the temporary restraining order issued by a district court judge to block issuance of driver’s licenses to Kansans seeking to amend their gender marker on the card.The administration of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly filed the request in response to the 14-day temporary order issued Monday by Judge Teresa Watson, a 2014 appointee of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Watson’s order was based on a request Friday by Attorney General Kris Kobach to enforce his interpretation of Senate Bill 180, which he contended forbid Kansans from modifying the sex marker of Kansas birth certificates, driver’s licenses or other identification documents.Attorneys in the Kelly administration responded by arguing the law pushed through by Republican majorities in the House and Senate over the governor’s veto exclusively addressed sex determinations recorded on birth certificates controlled by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The statute didn’t deal with gender information recorded on driver’s licenses handled by the Department of Revenue, the administration said.Since Jan. 1, more than 500 people have sought to alter gender on driver’s licenses in Kansas. That included 172 in June prior to implementation of the law July 1.<h2>Move to quash</h2>Ted Smith, an attorney representing the state Department of Revenue, argued in a filing&nbsp;the temporary restraining order should be dissolved and a full hearing set. He said granting the&nbsp;restraining order without the hearing “should never change the status quo” and undermine a principle that the relative position of both sides in a dispute should be preserved until a decision on merits of the case.He said quashing the restraining order would enable the Department of Revenue to continue modifying driver’s licenses in terms of gender markers under a process that retained historical information on gender selection, including sex at birth derived from Kansas birth certificates. The Department of Revenue’s process has been in place since 2007 and was backed by administrative changes implemented in 2011.“Petitioner is requesting an affirmative change from the status quo, that KDOR diverge from its current process of relying upon gender for purposes of developing identity,” Smith’s motion said. “There&nbsp;is&nbsp;no&nbsp;established,&nbsp;actual&nbsp;harm&nbsp;shown&nbsp;by&nbsp;the petitioner&nbsp;if&nbsp;KDOR’s&nbsp;processes&nbsp;are&nbsp;maintained —&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;hypothetical&nbsp;cases.”Kobach, who was elected attorney general in November and lost the 2018 gubernatorial race to Kelly, filed a lawsuit in Shawnee County to compel the Kelly administration to reform processing of driver’s licenses to identify people as either male or female. Those constraints ignored people with chromosomal variations, such as intersex people, or individuals with diverse gender identities, such as transgender or nonbinary people.Separately, Kobach filed in U.S. District Court to alter a 2019 agreement allowing Kansans to amend gender markers on birth certificates issued by KDHE.<h2>‘Will be serious harm’</h2>In the driver’s license brief, Smith said accurately recording gender on licenses supported the purpose of checking identity of an individual during a law enforcement traffic stop, when cashing a check or getting on an airplane. The driver’s license would more useful when the appearance of a person matched information contained on the card, he said.He argued the judge’s reliance on an immediate temporary restraining order was inappropriate unless “there is a clear legal duty attached.” Authority claimed by the attorney general under the new state law wasn’t clearly established by Senate Bill 180, he said.“Rather it is clear that driver’s licensing specific statutes continue to control and KDOR’s actions are concordant with law. There will be serious harm and public impact to individuals if they must reclassify their gender as requested by the petitioner,” the reply motion said.The bill approved by the 2023 Legislature was drawn from model legislation advocated by a national organization with a history of opposing women’s rights, including the Equal Rights Amendment and equal pay. It was championed by Independent Women’s Voices, which advocated for the bill in Kansas and other states to counter spread of “transgender ideology.”The Kelly administration says the two-page bill, also known legislatively in Kansas as the Women’s Bill of Rights, wasn’t tailored to specifics of Kansas law, including the distinct process of dealing with driver’s licenses and birth certificates. The law also didn’t contain an enforcement mechanism, raising questions about how the state would deal with actions viewed as contrary to statute.Prior to 2007, Kansas law required the Department of Revenue to document an applicant’s sex on the driver’s license. Senate Bill 9, however, change the driver’s license field from sex to gender, which standardized the process of evaluating documentation such as a U.S. passport or birth certificates from another state.The 2011 administrative policy, crafted by the Brownback administration, enabled the Department of Revenue to address inconsistent processing of requests to adjust gender markers and grapple with potential Americans with Disability Act claims.

Kelly admin. rebuts Kan. judge’s order to stop gender changes on driver’s licenses

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;A Kansas man who struck and&nbsp;killed two people who were changing a tire on a highway in November 2022&nbsp;has been sentenced to prison.

On Friday, a judge sentenced 26-year-old Travis Mock of Wichita to seven years in prison and three years probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May, Mock pled guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.&nbsp; He was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ram pickup driven by Mock&nbsp; was northbound on the ramp from Interstate 135 to eastbound Kansas 96 in north central Wichita just after 6:30p.m. Friday, November 11, 2022.

The pickup left the roadway and struck and killed&nbsp; 20-year-old  Christian L. Evans of Elk City, Kansas and 18-year-old Emily M. Stein of Wichita, who were changing a driver side tire on a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668129627770.png" alt="First responders on the scene of fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;A Kansas man who struck and&nbsp;killed two people who were changing a tire on a highway in November 2022&nbsp;has been sentenced to prison.On Friday, a judge sentenced 26-year-old Travis Mock of Wichita to seven years in prison and three years probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In May, Mock pled guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.&nbsp; He was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ram pickup driven by Mock&nbsp; was northbound on the ramp from Interstate 135 to eastbound Kansas 96 in north central Wichita just after 6:30p.m. Friday, November 11, 2022.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668629657672.png" alt="Mock-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Mock-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The pickup left the roadway and struck and killed&nbsp; 20-year-old Christian L. Evans of Elk City, Kansas and 18-year-old Emily M. Stein of Wichita, who were changing a driver side tire on a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Man who struck, killed Kan. couple changing a tire is going to prison

NEW YORK (AP) —Bank of America must reimburse customers more than $100 million and pay $150 million in fines for “double-dipping” on overdraft fees, withholding reward bonuses on credit cards and opening accounts without customer consent.

It is one of the highest financial penalties in years against Bank of America, which has largely spent the last 15 years trying to clean up its reputation and market itself to the public as a bank focused on financial health and not on overdraft fee income.

BofA will need to refund $100 million to customers, pay $90 million in penalties to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and $60 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. “Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a statement. “These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust."

Bank of America had a policy of charging customers $35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account, the CFPB said. The agency determined that the bank double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction.

BofA has been cutting down on its reliance on overdraft fee revenue for more than a decade, and cut how much it charges customers for an overdraft to $15 last year. Brian Moynihan, the bank's CEO and chairman, told The Associated Press in 2022 that under these new policies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brian-moynihan-92e3aa312012c9d4bc54720bb2b5ba60">overdraft fee income was down 90% from 2021</a>. The bank said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year.

Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses.

The CFPB also found that, since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorization. It is a similar charge that was made against Wells Fargo, which paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b5fd960b22a95d5968f6781f786ac754">opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts</a>&nbsp;in order to meet unrealistic sales goals.

In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689083961974.png" alt="Photo courtesy Bank of America" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Bank of America</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —Bank of America must reimburse customers more than $100 million and pay $150 million in fines for “double-dipping” on overdraft fees, withholding reward bonuses on credit cards and opening accounts without customer consent.It is one of the highest financial penalties in years against Bank of America, which has largely spent the last 15 years trying to clean up its reputation and market itself to the public as a bank focused on financial health and not on overdraft fee income.BofA will need to refund $100 million to customers, pay $90 million in penalties to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and $60 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. “Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, in a statement. “These practices are illegal and undermine customer trust."Bank of America had a policy of charging customers $35 after the bank declined a transaction because the customer did not have enough funds in their account, the CFPB said. The agency determined that the bank double-dipped by allowing fees to be repeatedly charged for the same transaction.BofA has been cutting down on its reliance on overdraft fee revenue for more than a decade, and cut how much it charges customers for an overdraft to $15 last year. Brian Moynihan, the bank's CEO and chairman, told The Associated Press in 2022 that under these new policies,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brian-moynihan-92e3aa312012c9d4bc54720bb2b5ba60">overdraft fee income was down 90% from 2021</a>. The bank said that it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all non-sufficient fund fees in the first half of last year.Bank of America also offered people cash rewards and bonus points when signing up for a card, but the CFPB said the bank illegally withheld promised credit card account bonuses.The CFPB also found that, since at least 2012, Bank of America employees illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without their knowledge or authorization. It is a similar charge that was made against Wells Fargo, which paid billions in fines after it was determined that the San Francisco bank&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b5fd960b22a95d5968f6781f786ac754">opened millions of unauthorized bank accounts</a>&nbsp;in order to meet unrealistic sales goals.In 2014 the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million for illegal credit card practices. Last year it was ordered to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments. Also in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.---------

BofA hit with $250M in fines for 'double-dipping' fees, fake accounts

NEWTON COUNTY, Georgia—Law enforcement authorities Georgia&nbsp; investigating a murder and have arrested a Kansas woman.

Last week, deputies in Newton County arrested 35-year-old Danetta Knoblauch of Wichita in connection to the February 23rd missing person case of Melvin Cooksey, according to Sheriff Ezell Brown.

Knoblauch is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and arson.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police Department, Baton Rouge Police Department, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688745084921.png" alt="Knoblauch-photo Newton Co." />
 <figcaption>Knoblauch-photo Newton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEWTON COUNTY, Georgia—Law enforcement authorities Georgia&nbsp; investigating a murder and have arrested a Kansas woman.Last week, deputies in Newton County arrested 35-year-old Danetta Knoblauch of Wichita in connection to the February 23rd missing person case of Melvin Cooksey, according to Sheriff Ezell Brown.Knoblauch is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and arson.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police Department, Baton Rouge Police Department, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.

Kansas woman accused of man's murder in Georgia

By SAM BAILEY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Ottawa Fire Department is working to become one of the first Kansas locations to install a baby drop-off box after implementation of legislation allowing for parents to surrender their infants anonymously.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2024/">House Bill 2024</a>, passed this year, allows an individual with lawful custody of an infant up to 60 days old to be dropped off in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/14/kansas-lawmakers-approve-baby-box-drop-offs-foster-care-bill-of-rights/">established safety device</a>. The law changed the previous requirement that the infant be handed over to a person.

Under the bill, police stations, sheriff’s offices, law enforcement centers, fire stations, city and county health departments, and medical care facilities can now install a safety device. It must be temperature controlled, feature an alarm when a baby is inside and have a lock that makes the baby unreachable from the outside.

During a legislative committee on child welfare oversight June 29, Rep. Timothy Johnson, R-Basehor, said he was proud of the committee and the votes gathered to pass the bill.

Shawn Dillon, Ottawa assistant fire chief, also spoke at the hearing. He said about a year ago, a Franklin County resident contacted the department about creating a memorial for a child they recently lost.

The department is now receiving donations to install a Safe Haven Baby Box.

Johnson announced he and his wife would donate $500 to go toward the installation of the box.

Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said she would be honored to donate beside Johnson.

“I was proud to carry this bill on the Senate floor and that our senators and our House members passed this bill,” Gossage said.

Kevin Albin, social media director for Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said the process to produce and install the boxes typically takes eight to 12 weeks. Training, safety tests and other processes begin after installation.

Based in Woodburn, Indiana, Safe Haven Baby Boxes manufactures the boxes and ships them to the drop-off location, where people at the site can hire local companies to install the boxes, Albin said.

Multiple towns in Kansas are in the early stages of installation, and while Safe Haven can’t guarantee timelines, Albin said the company hopes there will be multiple fully operational boxes by the end of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688866190234.png" alt=" Shawn Dillon, Ottawa assistant fire chief, speaks during a legislative committee on child welfare oversight on June 30. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Shawn Dillon, Ottawa assistant fire chief, speaks during a legislative committee on child welfare oversight on June 30. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SAM BAILEY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Ottawa Fire Department is working to become one of the first Kansas locations to install a baby drop-off box after implementation of legislation allowing for parents to surrender their infants anonymously.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2024/">House Bill 2024</a>, passed this year, allows an individual with lawful custody of an infant up to 60 days old to be dropped off in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/14/kansas-lawmakers-approve-baby-box-drop-offs-foster-care-bill-of-rights/">established safety device</a>. The law changed the previous requirement that the infant be handed over to a person.Under the bill, police stations, sheriff’s offices, law enforcement centers, fire stations, city and county health departments, and medical care facilities can now install a safety device. It must be temperature controlled, feature an alarm when a baby is inside and have a lock that makes the baby unreachable from the outside.During a legislative committee on child welfare oversight June 29, Rep. Timothy Johnson, R-Basehor, said he was proud of the committee and the votes gathered to pass the bill.Shawn Dillon, Ottawa assistant fire chief, also spoke at the hearing. He said about a year ago, a Franklin County resident contacted the department about creating a memorial for a child they recently lost.The department is now receiving donations to install a Safe Haven Baby Box.Johnson announced he and his wife would donate $500 to go toward the installation of the box.Sen. Beverly Gossage, R-Eudora, said she would be honored to donate beside Johnson.“I was proud to carry this bill on the Senate floor and that our senators and our House members passed this bill,” Gossage said.Kevin Albin, social media director for Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said the process to produce and install the boxes typically takes eight to 12 weeks. Training, safety tests and other processes begin after installation.Based in Woodburn, Indiana, Safe Haven Baby Boxes manufactures the boxes and ships them to the drop-off location, where people at the site can hire local companies to install the boxes, Albin said.Multiple towns in Kansas are in the early stages of installation, and while Safe Haven can’t guarantee timelines, Albin said the company hopes there will be multiple fully operational boxes by the end of the year.

Donations begin for baby drop-off boxes allowed by new Kansas law

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the July 2, mass shooting at the City Nightz club in Wichita's Old Town are asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita for questioning in connection to the incident.

Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze on requested charges of of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.

King-Ingram is being held on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688849063007.png" alt="Thomas-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Thomas-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the July 2, mass shooting at the City Nightz club in Wichita's Old Town are asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita for questioning in connection to the incident.On Friday police arrested 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram and booked him into the Sedgwick County jail for his role in the shooting.Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze on requested charges of of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.King-Ingram is being held on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Kansas mass shooting suspect still hiding from police

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court Monday to temporarily block a lower court's order limiting executive branch officials' discussions with social media companies about controversial online posts.

The request for an emergency stay was filed at the 5th U.S. District Court of Appeals shortly after U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty rejected an administration motion that he put his own July 4 order on hold. The order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.

The lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by using threats of regulatory action or protection while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit.

Doughty was nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump. His&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-protected-speech-lawsuit-injunction-148c1cd43f88a0284d5a3c53fd333727">injunction</a>&nbsp;blocked the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from meeting with or contacting social media companies for the purpose of “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”

Administration attorneys said in the motion filed at the 5th Circuit that Doughty's ruling was too broad and vague, and had the potential to chill government officials' speech on important matters. And they said Doughty failed to point to any evidence that the administration had made threats against social media companies to coerce them to take down posts.

"The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content. Indeed, the order denying the stay — presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence — referred to 'a series of public media statements,'" the administration said.

They asked that the 5th Circuit block Doughty's order while the case is pursued at the appeals court in New Orleans or, at minimum, grant a 10-day block of the order so the administration could prepare to go to the Supreme Court to seek a longer stay.

Earlier Monday, Doughty rejected administration requests that he stay his own order pending appeal.

“In essence," Doughty's Monday order said, "Defendants argue that the injunction should be stayed because it might interfere with the Government’s ability to continue working with social-media companies to censor Americans’ core political speech on the basis of viewpoint. In other words, the Government seeks a stay of the injunction so that it can continue violating the First Amendment.”

Government lawyers have argued that the companies control their own policies regarding misinformation and that the lawsuit casts officials' comments on issues and policy as threats. The administration said Doughty's July 4 order was unclear about who in the executive branch it covers and what they can or cannot say about important topics discussed on social media platforms.

The order could cause “grave harm” by preventing the government from “engaging in a vast range of lawful and responsible conduct,” government lawyers said in requesting the stay Thursday night.

Doughty order said the administration “seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’” The order, which was to remain in effect pending further arguments in Doughty's court, was hailed by conservatives as a victory for free speech and a blow to censorship. But critics said the order and accompanying reasons, covering more than 160 pages, were broad, unclear and could chill government efforts to fight misinformation on important topics.

The criticisms were echoed in the government's Thursday night request for a stay. “The potential breadth of the entities and employees covered by the injunction combined with the injunction’s sweeping substantive scope will chill a wide range of lawful government conduct relating to Defendants’ law enforcement responsibilities, obligations to protect the national security, and prerogative to speak on matters of public concern,” the government's motion said.

The lawsuit's plaintiffs countered with a weekend filing opposing a stay. Among the arguments are that the July 4 injunction carves out exemptions allowing officials to contact social media companies about postings involving criminal activity or public safety threats; national security threats; election-related issues including voter suppression attempts, voting infrastructure threats and illegal campaign contributions; and saying officials can continue "exercising permissible public government speech promoting government policies or views on matters of public concern.”

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge in Louisiana refused Monday to put a temporary hold on his own order limiting Biden administration officials contacts with social media companies.

Biden administration attorneys had asked U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe to stay his own order, which was issued last Tuesday, while they pursue an appeal. That order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.

“Defendants do not identify any specific conduct that they claim is lawful but prevented by the injunction,” Doughty said in Monday's ruling. He refused to block is own order while it is appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The administration can also ask the appeals court for a stay.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667963892129.png" alt="Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court Monday to temporarily block a lower court's order limiting executive branch officials' discussions with social media companies about controversial online posts.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Today, a federal court denied the Biden Administration&#39;s motions to stay the injunction in Missouri v. Biden. This is a big victory, and continues to ensure that the Biden Administration can&#39;t censor speech online. Here are a few notable quotes from the order -&gt;&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1678484492976046080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The request for an emergency stay was filed at the 5th U.S. District Court of Appeals shortly after U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty rejected an administration motion that he put his own July 4 order on hold. The order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.The lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by using threats of regulatory action or protection while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit.Doughty was nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump. His&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-protected-speech-lawsuit-injunction-148c1cd43f88a0284d5a3c53fd333727">injunction</a>&nbsp;blocked the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from meeting with or contacting social media companies for the purpose of “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”Administration attorneys said in the motion filed at the 5th Circuit that Doughty's ruling was too broad and vague, and had the potential to chill government officials' speech on important matters. And they said Doughty failed to point to any evidence that the administration had made threats against social media companies to coerce them to take down posts."The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content. Indeed, the order denying the stay — presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence — referred to 'a series of public media statements,'" the administration said.They asked that the 5th Circuit block Doughty's order while the case is pursued at the appeals court in New Orleans or, at minimum, grant a 10-day block of the order so the administration could prepare to go to the Supreme Court to seek a longer stay.Earlier Monday, Doughty rejected administration requests that he stay his own order pending appeal.“In essence," Doughty's Monday order said, "Defendants argue that the injunction should be stayed because it might interfere with the Government’s ability to continue working with social-media companies to censor Americans’ core political speech on the basis of viewpoint. In other words, the Government seeks a stay of the injunction so that it can continue violating the First Amendment.”Government lawyers have argued that the companies control their own policies regarding misinformation and that the lawsuit casts officials' comments on issues and policy as threats. The administration said Doughty's July 4 order was unclear about who in the executive branch it covers and what they can or cannot say about important topics discussed on social media platforms.The order could cause “grave harm” by preventing the government from “engaging in a vast range of lawful and responsible conduct,” government lawyers said in requesting the stay Thursday night.Doughty order said the administration “seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’” The order, which was to remain in effect pending further arguments in Doughty's court, was hailed by conservatives as a victory for free speech and a blow to censorship. But critics said the order and accompanying reasons, covering more than 160 pages, were broad, unclear and could chill government efforts to fight misinformation on important topics.The criticisms were echoed in the government's Thursday night request for a stay. “The potential breadth of the entities and employees covered by the injunction combined with the injunction’s sweeping substantive scope will chill a wide range of lawful government conduct relating to Defendants’ law enforcement responsibilities, obligations to protect the national security, and prerogative to speak on matters of public concern,” the government's motion said.The lawsuit's plaintiffs countered with a weekend filing opposing a stay. Among the arguments are that the July 4 injunction carves out exemptions allowing officials to contact social media companies about postings involving criminal activity or public safety threats; national security threats; election-related issues including voter suppression attempts, voting infrastructure threats and illegal campaign contributions; and saying officials can continue "exercising permissible public government speech promoting government policies or views on matters of public concern.”----------------NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge in Louisiana refused Monday to put a temporary hold on his own order limiting Biden administration officials contacts with social media companies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Today, a federal court denied the Biden Administration&#39;s motions to stay the injunction in Missouri v. Biden. This is a big victory, and continues to ensure that the Biden Administration can&#39;t censor speech online. Here are a few notable quotes from the order -&gt;&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1678484492976046080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden administration attorneys had asked U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Monroe to stay his own order, which was issued last Tuesday, while they pursue an appeal. That order came in a lawsuit filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, as well as a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667963892129.png" alt="Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed, said on Twitter that the ruling was “a huge win for the First Amendment and a blow to censorship.”-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed, said on Twitter that the ruling was “a huge win for the First Amendment and a blow to censorship.”-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by using threats of regulatory action or protection while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit.Doughty was nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump. His&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-protected-speech-lawsuit-injunction-148c1cd43f88a0284d5a3c53fd333727">injunction</a>&nbsp;blocked the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from meeting with or contacting social media companies for the purpose of “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”“Defendants do not identify any specific conduct that they claim is lawful but prevented by the injunction,” Doughty said in Monday's ruling. He refused to block is own order while it is appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The administration can also ask the appeals court for a stay.Government lawyers have argued that the companies control their own policies regarding misinformation and that the lawsuit casts officials' comments on issues and policy as threats. The administration said Doughty's July 4 order was unclear about who in the executive branch it covers and what they can or cannot say about important topics discussed on social media platforms.The order could cause “grave harm” by preventing the government from “engaging in a vast range of lawful and responsible conduct,” government lawyers said in requesting the stay Thursday night.Doughty order said the administration “seems to have assumed a role similar to an Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth.’” The order, which was to remain in effect pending further arguments in Doughty's court, was hailed by conservatives as a victory for free speech and a blow to censorship. But critics said the order and accompanying reasons, covering more than 160 pages, were broad, unclear and could chill government efforts to fight misinformation on important topics.The criticisms were echoed in the government's Thursday night request for a stay. “The potential breadth of the entities and employees covered by the injunction combined with the injunction’s sweeping substantive scope will chill a wide range of lawful government conduct relating to Defendants’ law enforcement responsibilities, obligations to protect the national security, and prerogative to speak on matters of public concern,” the government's motion said.The lawsuit's plaintiffs countered with a weekend filing opposing a stay. Among the arguments are that the July 4 injunction carves out exemptions allowing officials to contact social media companies about postings involving criminal activity or public safety threats; national security threats; election-related issues including voter suppression attempts, voting infrastructure threats and illegal campaign contributions; and saying officials can continue "exercising permissible public government speech promoting government policies or views on matters of public concern.”

Biden continues court fight on interference in social media content

SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.

The whereabouts of 74-year-old George C. Smith are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

George is likely driving a black 2002 Ford F150 bearing Kansas tag 881PKK. He was last seen in the 7700 block of East Kellogg in Wichita, Friday June 30, at approximately 9:30 a.m. He may have traveled southbound on I-35 toward Oklahoma.

George is described as a black male who is 5-feet-5 inches tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark blue button-down shirt and blue shorts. George requires dialysis several times a week and missed his appointment. He is also diabetic and doesn't have necessary medication.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688258232709.png" alt="George Smith -photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>George Smith -photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.The whereabouts of 74-year-old George C. Smith are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.George is likely driving a black 2002 Ford F150 bearing Kansas tag 881PKK. He was last seen in the 7700 block of East Kellogg in Wichita, Friday June 30, at approximately 9:30 a.m. He may have traveled southbound on I-35 toward Oklahoma.George is described as a black male who is 5-feet-5 inches tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark blue button-down shirt and blue shorts. George requires dialysis several times a week and missed his appointment. He is also diabetic and doesn't have necessary medication.If you see George Smith or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at 316-268-4111.