CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A visible crack in the support beam of a North Carolina roller coaster served as a reminder of the risks that sometimes arise with amusement park rides, particularly as families and adrenaline junkies flock to the attractions in summer.

Video footage of the Charlotte-based Carowinds' popular Fury 325 — known as a “Giga coaster” due to its dramatic height of 325 feet (99 meters) — showed a key support beam bending with the top visibly detached as cars packed with unsuspecting passengers whirled by at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).

The park, which straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina line, closed the ride late last week as questions swirled about how the crack occurred. Those answers remained largely unknown as state investigators were on site in Monday morning.

Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, confirmed investigators “already came and went” from Carowinds on Monday but declined to share details about their findings. Meanwhile, Carowinds said in a statement that all of its rides, including Fury 325, are inspected daily “to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”

Several Carowinds visitors said they were aware that the ride had been closed for repairs, but they were not deterred from enjoying the park's other attractions.

Greg Bledsoe, a 22-year-old season pass holder, visited the park Monday despite having watched the viral video of the Fury 325 track separating from its support beam mid-ride.

“I’m just glad I wasn’t on it because I don’t want to fall off. I’m glad nobody fell off,” he said.

While Bledsoe said the video was “a bit of a shock,” he remains confident in the park’s overall safety and plans to make good use of his season pass.

“Hopefully they get it fixed before the season’s over so I can ride it some more,” he said of the broken coaster. “It’s like the main thing here.”

Industry experts have been quick to counter that millions of Americans hop on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, water slides and many other rides without ever experiencing issues. They note injury rates are extremely low.

A 2021 survey compiled on behalf of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions found “0.9 injuries per million rides,” said Caitlin Dineen, the group's spokesperson. That year, more than 1,200 ride-related injuries were reported out of the typical 1.7 billion rides that take place each year across 400 locations in North America.

“Safety is the top priority for the global attractions industry,” Dineen said. “An excellent safety record is in the best interest of the industry, and leaders within it are committed to providing safe and secure attractions for all their guests and visitors.”

For Steven Powers, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina who visited Carowinds Monday with friends, the positive atmosphere of the park outweighs any worries.

“As far as any other safety concerns, I don’t believe there are any,” Powers said. “I think always subconsciously we think something might happen in the back of our minds, but I also know that they do have people's lives in their hands so they're going to make sure that they do what they're supposed to do on their end.”

Even when amusement park mishaps don't result in injuries, they can still upend vacations and cause headaches for summer fun-seekers.

Shortly after footage was released of the crack inside Fury 325's support structure, riders on a roller coaster in northeastern Wisconsin were trapped upside down for three hours before emergency responders arrived to rescue them.

<a href="https://www.nbc15.com/2023/07/03/roller-coaster-riders-trapped-upside-down-hours/">WJFW reports</a>&nbsp;the ride had been inspected recently when a mechanical failure occurred, halting the coaster mid-ride, according to Capt. Brennan Cook of the Crandon Fire Department.

But sometimes deaths do occur on an amusement park ride.

In 2022, Orlando's International Drive district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-accidents-missouri-8d1dbb7541cfb7b0dc5c3496fcde48d7">removed a towering 400-foot (122-meter) ride</a>&nbsp;after it was directly linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orlando-florida-missouri-obituaries-6dcc0a65607f5038f5044c6d1d485826">the death</a>&nbsp;of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson — a Missouri teen who fell to his death while on the ride the year prior.

Sampson, who lived near St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Orlando during spring break when he died.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">initial report</a>&nbsp;from outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in the teen not being properly secured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688473561332.png" alt="People ride a roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)" />
 <figcaption>People ride a roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A visible crack in the support beam of a North Carolina roller coaster served as a reminder of the risks that sometimes arise with amusement park rides, particularly as families and adrenaline junkies flock to the attractions in summer.Video footage of the Charlotte-based Carowinds' popular Fury 325 — known as a “Giga coaster” due to its dramatic height of 325 feet (99 meters) — showed a key support beam bending with the top visibly detached as cars packed with unsuspecting passengers whirled by at speeds of up to 95 mph (150 kph).The park, which straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina line, closed the ride late last week as questions swirled about how the crack occurred. Those answers remained largely unknown as state investigators were on site in Monday morning.Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, confirmed investigators “already came and went” from Carowinds on Monday but declined to share details about their findings. Meanwhile, Carowinds said in a statement that all of its rides, including Fury 325, are inspected daily “to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”Several Carowinds visitors said they were aware that the ride had been closed for repairs, but they were not deterred from enjoying the park's other attractions.Greg Bledsoe, a 22-year-old season pass holder, visited the park Monday despite having watched the viral video of the Fury 325 track separating from its support beam mid-ride.“I’m just glad I wasn’t on it because I don’t want to fall off. I’m glad nobody fell off,” he said.While Bledsoe said the video was “a bit of a shock,” he remains confident in the park’s overall safety and plans to make good use of his season pass.“Hopefully they get it fixed before the season’s over so I can ride it some more,” he said of the broken coaster. “It’s like the main thing here.”Industry experts have been quick to counter that millions of Americans hop on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, water slides and many other rides without ever experiencing issues. They note injury rates are extremely low.A 2021 survey compiled on behalf of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions found “0.9 injuries per million rides,” said Caitlin Dineen, the group's spokesperson. That year, more than 1,200 ride-related injuries were reported out of the typical 1.7 billion rides that take place each year across 400 locations in North America.“Safety is the top priority for the global attractions industry,” Dineen said. “An excellent safety record is in the best interest of the industry, and leaders within it are committed to providing safe and secure attractions for all their guests and visitors.”For Steven Powers, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina who visited Carowinds Monday with friends, the positive atmosphere of the park outweighs any worries.“As far as any other safety concerns, I don’t believe there are any,” Powers said. “I think always subconsciously we think something might happen in the back of our minds, but I also know that they do have people's lives in their hands so they're going to make sure that they do what they're supposed to do on their end.”Even when amusement park mishaps don't result in injuries, they can still upend vacations and cause headaches for summer fun-seekers.Shortly after footage was released of the crack inside Fury 325's support structure, riders on a roller coaster in northeastern Wisconsin were trapped upside down for three hours before emergency responders arrived to rescue them.<a href="https://www.nbc15.com/2023/07/03/roller-coaster-riders-trapped-upside-down-hours/">WJFW reports</a>&nbsp;the ride had been inspected recently when a mechanical failure occurred, halting the coaster mid-ride, according to Capt. Brennan Cook of the Crandon Fire Department.But sometimes deaths do occur on an amusement park ride.In 2022, Orlando's International Drive district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-accidents-missouri-8d1dbb7541cfb7b0dc5c3496fcde48d7">removed a towering 400-foot (122-meter) ride</a>&nbsp;after it was directly linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orlando-florida-missouri-obituaries-6dcc0a65607f5038f5044c6d1d485826">the death</a>&nbsp;of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson — a Missouri teen who fell to his death while on the ride the year prior.Sampson, who lived near St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Orlando during spring break when he died.An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-orlando-e9470b0e84a8c59e1bdb1fb06314f170">initial report</a>&nbsp;from outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in the teen not being properly secured.

Fright over crack on roller coaster serves as reminder of risks at amusement parks

FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas soldier who died in World War II arrived at his final resting place over the weekend.

The Finney County Sheriff's Office shared on social media, "we had the honor of assisting in the escort of U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Knoll who was brought home after going missing 79 years ago during World War II."

"Sgt. Knoll was killed in action in the battle of the Hurtgen Forest in November 1944. " "It’s good to have this hero home."

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that 22-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. Knoll was accounted for earlier this year.

In November 1944, Knoll was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. His battalion had been tasked with capturing the town of Schmidt, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest. A heavy German counterattack overran his unit and forces survivors to withdraw to Kommerscheidt where they fought against additional enemy attacks. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 7., while fighting enemy forces at Kommerscheidt. His remains could not be recovered after the attack.

Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command was tasked with investigating and recovering missing American personnel in Europe. They conducted several investigations in the Hürtgen area between 1946 and 1950 but were unable to recover or identify Knoll’s remains. He was declared non-recoverable in November 1951. While studying unresolved American losses in the Hürtgen area, a DPAA historian determined that one set of unidentified remains, designated X-2519 Neuville, recovered at Kommerscheidt in April 1946, possibly belonged to Knoll. The remains, which had been buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, in 1949, were disinterred in July 2021 and sent to the DPAA laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for identification. To identify Knoll’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/AFMES#:~:text=AFMES%20provides%20the%20DOD%20and,the%20entire%20U.S.%20federal%20government.">Armed Forces Medical Examiner System</a>&nbsp;used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Knoll’s name was recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, an<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">&nbsp;American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Plombières, Belgium, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685366097921.png" alt="Gregory Knoll&nbsp; photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Gregory Knoll&nbsp; photo courtesy&nbsp;Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—A Kansas soldier who died in World War II arrived at his final resting place over the weekend.The Finney County Sheriff's Office shared on social media, "we had the honor of assisting in the escort of U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory Knoll who was brought home after going missing 79 years ago during World War II."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688385272607.png" alt="Photo Finney Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Finney Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>"Sgt. Knoll was killed in action in the battle of the Hurtgen Forest in November 1944. " "It’s good to have this hero home."The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that 22-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. Knoll was accounted for earlier this year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688385248023.png" alt="Photo Finney Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Finney Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>In November 1944, Knoll was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. His battalion had been tasked with capturing the town of Schmidt, Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest. A heavy German counterattack overran his unit and forces survivors to withdraw to Kommerscheidt where they fought against additional enemy attacks. He was reported killed in action on Nov. 7., while fighting enemy forces at Kommerscheidt. His remains could not be recovered after the attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685366310826.png" alt="Image courtesy Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Defense MIA/POW Accounting Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>Following the end of the war, the American Graves Registration Command was tasked with investigating and recovering missing American personnel in Europe. They conducted several investigations in the Hürtgen area between 1946 and 1950 but were unable to recover or identify Knoll’s remains. He was declared non-recoverable in November 1951. While studying unresolved American losses in the Hürtgen area, a DPAA historian determined that one set of unidentified remains, designated X-2519 Neuville, recovered at Kommerscheidt in April 1946, possibly belonged to Knoll. The remains, which had been buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, in 1949, were disinterred in July 2021 and sent to the DPAA laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for identification. To identify Knoll’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/AFMES#:~:text=AFMES%20provides%20the%20DOD%20and,the%20entire%20U.S.%20federal%20government.">Armed Forces Medical Examiner System</a>&nbsp;used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis. Knoll’s name was recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, an<a href="http://www.abmc.gov/">&nbsp;American Battle Monuments Commission</a>&nbsp;site in Plombières, Belgium, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

A final resting place in Kansas for soldier who died in WWII

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on drug distribution allegations.

Last week, the Wichita Police Department Special Investigations Community Response Team, Violent Crimes Response Team, and Investigations executed a search warrant in the 1100 block of S. Briarcliff in Wichita, according to a media release.

Officers took 29-year-old Diego Briceno of Wichita into custody after he left the residence.

They also seized 164 packages of retail THC products (approximately 227 grams), a gun case, and $14,074 in cash.

Briceno was on pre-trial release for felony murder which took place at the 21st and Maize Dillons in February of 2022. At that time he was accused of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of hallucinogens, according to officer Trevor Macy.

He is being held on requested charges of Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688411508270.png" alt="Briceno-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Briceno-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on drug distribution allegations.Last week, the Wichita Police Department Special Investigations Community Response Team, Violent Crimes Response Team, and Investigations executed a search warrant in the 1100 block of S. Briarcliff in Wichita, according to a media release.Officers took 29-year-old Diego Briceno of Wichita into custody after he left the residence.They also seized 164 packages of retail THC products (approximately 227 grams), a gun case, and $14,074 in cash.Briceno was on pre-trial release for felony murder which took place at the 21st and Maize Dillons in February of 2022. At that time he was accused of aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and distribution of hallucinogens, according to officer Trevor Macy.He is being held on requested charges of Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and criminal threat.

Suspect in Kansas murder accused of selling marijuana

WASHINGTON&nbsp; — The State Department failed to do enough planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, according to a Biden administration review of the department’s performance during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.

<a href="https://www.state.gov/after-action-review-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read </a>the Pentagon's review

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was very clear with his statement on the failure highlighted in the report. “The State Department’s Afghanistan After Action Review offers a damning account of the mismanagement during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The inherent difficulties of an evacuation were clearly exacerbated by a void in leadership, which resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.

“As a supporter of establishing the bipartisan Afghanistan War Commission, our two decades of fighting in Afghanistan must be studied to learn from the mistakes made and make certain they are not repeated for the sake of our military men and women who serve valiantly. In addition, we must continue to assist the Afghans who stood by our service members. As a sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act, I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to provide safety and certainty for our allies and friends who risked their lives and their families’ lives to support our troops in Afghanistan.”

(Watch President Biden's response to the report)

Biden was defiant when asked Friday if he would admit the U.S. made mistakes before and during its withdrawal.

“Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there,” Biden said. “I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.”

The U.S. in July 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-ayman-al-zawahri-qaida-biden-united-states-171556fce4719d012726fb979a14cc81" target="_blank">killed</a>&nbsp;al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike at his Kabul home, part of what the Biden administration calls an “over the horizon” capacity to target the group after the withdrawal. But a United Nations monitoring team&nbsp;<a href="https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/125/36/PDF/N2312536.pdf?OpenElement" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;in May that al-Qaida considers Afghanistan “a safe haven” and that the Taliban had not met previous commitments on counterterrorism.

“Al-Qaida maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability,” the monitors said in their report.

According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal. They were eligible for processing under a special U.S. visa program for Afghans.

But State “failed to establish a broader task force as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated,” the report says.

And as the military planned for an evacuation of American civilians and Afghan allies, “it was unclear who in the Department had the lead,” it says.

“The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” the review says. “Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow.”

As the Taliban took key cities far faster than most U.S. officials expected and the fate of Kabul became unclear, the report says, State Department personnel began receiving an “overwhelming volume of incoming calls and messages” from lawmakers, other government agencies, and the public pleading for help saving people trapped in the country.

Staff working to facilitate the evacuation also faced confusing guidance that wasn’t attuned to real-world conditions at the time, according to the report.

State has taken lessons from the failures of Afghanistan into account when evacuating people before and during the subsequent war in Ukraine and as a crisis developed in Sudan, according to a senior State Department official who briefed reporters Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the department.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to employees that the review was “vital to building a stronger Department that is better prepared to respond to future challenges and to fulfill our missions around the world.”

The Biden administration released sections of the long-awaited State report, which was completed in March 2022, on the Friday before the July 4 holiday weekend, though it withheld most of the report from public release. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-war-5ff87c14ffd4f7daaa6675e52d3bba1c" target="_blank">had released</a>&nbsp;a National Security Council review of the withdrawal on the day before Good Friday and the Easter weekend but declined to release internal Pentagon and State Department assessments. The Pentagon’s report is still classified as secret.

Officials declined to say why they had released the report just before a holiday weekend.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the administration to release the full report. “This is another blatant attempt to hide the Biden administration’s culpability in the chaotic and deadly evacuation from Afghanistan,” he said in a statement.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report or McCaul’s statement, but noted that administration officials have responded to bipartisan inquiries and provided “thousands of pages of information.”

“That’s being transparent,” she said. “That’s being there, answering and taking those tough questions.”

the Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629986318422.png" alt="According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal-Photo&nbsp; U.S. Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal-Photo&nbsp; U.S. Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp; — The State Department failed to do enough planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, according to a Biden administration review of the department’s performance during the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies.<a href="https://www.state.gov/after-action-review-on-afghanistan/">Click here to read </a>the Pentagon's reviewU.S. Senator Jerry Moran was very clear with his statement on the failure highlighted in the report. “The State Department’s Afghanistan After Action Review offers a damning account of the mismanagement during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The inherent difficulties of an evacuation were clearly exacerbated by a void in leadership, which resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.“As a supporter of establishing the bipartisan Afghanistan War Commission, our two decades of fighting in Afghanistan must be studied to learn from the mistakes made and make certain they are not repeated for the sake of our military men and women who serve valiantly. In addition, we must continue to assist the Afghans who stood by our service members. As a sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act, I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to provide safety and certainty for our allies and friends who risked their lives and their families’ lives to support our troops in Afghanistan.”(Watch President Biden's response to the report)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCQAaoyrOgk?start=642" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden was defiant when asked Friday if he would admit the U.S. made mistakes before and during its withdrawal.“Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there,” Biden said. “I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.”The U.S. in July 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-ayman-al-zawahri-qaida-biden-united-states-171556fce4719d012726fb979a14cc81" target="_blank">killed</a>&nbsp;al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike at his Kabul home, part of what the Biden administration calls an “over the horizon” capacity to target the group after the withdrawal. But a United Nations monitoring team&nbsp;<a href="https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N23/125/36/PDF/N2312536.pdf?OpenElement" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;in May that al-Qaida considers Afghanistan “a safe haven” and that the Taliban had not met previous commitments on counterterrorism.“Al-Qaida maintains a low profile, focusing on using the country as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilize and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability,” the monitors said in their report.According to Friday’s report, a State Department task force helped bring out nearly 2,000 Afghan citizens in July and early August 2021, weeks before the Aug. 31, 2021, deadline the U.S. set for withdrawal. They were eligible for processing under a special U.S. visa program for Afghans.But State “failed to establish a broader task force as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated,” the report says.And as the military planned for an evacuation of American civilians and Afghan allies, “it was unclear who in the Department had the lead,” it says.“The decisions of both President Trump and President Biden to end the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan had serious consequences for the viability of the Afghan government and its security,” the review says. “Those decisions are beyond the scope of this review, but the (review) team found that during both administrations there was insufficient senior-level consideration of worst-case scenarios and how quickly those might follow.”As the Taliban took key cities far faster than most U.S. officials expected and the fate of Kabul became unclear, the report says, State Department personnel began receiving an “overwhelming volume of incoming calls and messages” from lawmakers, other government agencies, and the public pleading for help saving people trapped in the country.Staff working to facilitate the evacuation also faced confusing guidance that wasn’t attuned to real-world conditions at the time, according to the report.State has taken lessons from the failures of Afghanistan into account when evacuating people before and during the subsequent war in Ukraine and as a crisis developed in Sudan, according to a senior State Department official who briefed reporters Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the department.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to employees that the review was “vital to building a stronger Department that is better prepared to respond to future challenges and to fulfill our missions around the world.”The Biden administration released sections of the long-awaited State report, which was completed in March 2022, on the Friday before the July 4 holiday weekend, though it withheld most of the report from public release. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-war-5ff87c14ffd4f7daaa6675e52d3bba1c" target="_blank">had released</a>&nbsp;a National Security Council review of the withdrawal on the day before Good Friday and the Easter weekend but declined to release internal Pentagon and State Department assessments. The Pentagon’s report is still classified as secret.Officials declined to say why they had released the report just before a holiday weekend.Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the administration to release the full report. “This is another blatant attempt to hide the Biden administration’s culpability in the chaotic and deadly evacuation from Afghanistan,” he said in a statement.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the report or McCaul’s statement, but noted that administration officials have responded to bipartisan inquiries and provided “thousands of pages of information.”“That’s being transparent,” she said. “That’s being there, answering and taking those tough questions.”the Associated Press contributed to this report.<h2>__</h2>

🎥Read gov't report of chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, Moran's response

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting and have identified the victim as 26-year-old&nbsp;Theophlius Johnson III, according to&nbsp;Captain Corey Carlisle.

Just before 5 pm Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2000 block of Oakley. Upon arrival, officers located Johnson lying out front of a residence unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared Johnson deceased, according to Carlisle. A person of interest in the case is still at large.&nbsp; There is not an immediate threat to the public at this time.&nbsp; The circumstances surrounding the homicide appear to be the result of an argument. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel processed the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting and have identified the victim as 26-year-old&nbsp;Theophlius Johnson III, according to&nbsp;Captain Corey Carlisle.Just before 5 pm Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2000 block of Oakley. Upon arrival, officers located Johnson lying out front of a residence unresponsive and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.&nbsp; EMS arrived on scene and declared Johnson deceased, according to Carlisle. A person of interest in the case is still at large.&nbsp; There is not an immediate threat to the public at this time.&nbsp; The circumstances surrounding the homicide appear to be the result of an argument. Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel processed the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses. Police released no additional details.

Police ID victim in deadly weekend Kansas City shooting 

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.

No specific cases were cited, but<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html"> the advisory</a> came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd" target="_blank">78-year-old U.S. citizen</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.

It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.

China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.

The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”

It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.

Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.

Similar advisories were issued for the semi-autonomous Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday and emailed to journalists on Monday.

The U.S. had issued similar advisories to its citizens in the past, but those in recent years had mainly warned of the dangers of being caught in strict and lengthy lockdowns while China closed its borders for three years under its draconian “zero-COVID” policy.

China generally responds angrily to what it considers U.S. efforts to impugn its authoritarian Communist Party-led system. It has issued its own travel advisories concerning the U.S., warning of the dangers of crime, anti-Asian discrimination and the high cost of emergency medical assistance.

China had no immediate response to the travel advisory on Monday.

Details of the accusations against the accused spy John Shing-Wan Leung are not available, given China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters. Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in the southeastern city of Suzhou on April 15, 2021 — a time when China had closed its borders and tightly restricted movement of people domestically to control the spread of COVID-19.

The warnings come as U.S.-China relations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-relations-ambassador-b599541d7af42fff9fa2783030c7c824" target="_blank">at their lowest in years</a>, over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the sides are taking some steps to improve the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a long-delayed visit to Beijing last week and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-yellen-biden-xi-economics-867a9a92427386ded2076ba8e342c6e2" target="_blank">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a>&nbsp;is making a much-anticipated trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Other incidents, however, have also pointed to the testiness in the relationship. China formally protested last month after Biden called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator,” days after Blinken’s visit.

Biden brushed off the protest, saying his words would have no negative impact on U.S.-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Biden has also drawn rebukes from Beijing by explicitly saying the U.S. would defend self-governing Taiwan if China, which claims the island as its own territory, were to attack it.

Biden said his blunt statements regarding China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”

The administration is also under pressure from both parties to take a tough line on China, making it one of the few issues on which most Democrats and Republicans agree.

Along with several detained Americans,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/detained-australians-in-china-will-have-to-wait-longer-to-learn-their-fate-20230118-p5cdht.html" target="_blank">Two Chinese-Australians,</a>&nbsp;Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for China’s state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.

Perhaps the most notorious case of arbitrary detention involved two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-canada-china-arrests-washington-2b6e0977ae93557ad1265869d57838ed" target="_blank">Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,</a>&nbsp;who were detained in China in 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer and the daughter of the tech powerhouse’s founder, on a U.S. extradition request.

They were charged with national security crimes that were never explained and released three years later after the U.S. settled fraud charges against Meng. Many countries labeled China’s action “hostage politics.”

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.No specific cases were cited, but<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html"> the advisory</a> came after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-charged-spying-china-prison-2de86767bbc828ec4362af23fb271afd" target="_blank">78-year-old U.S. citizen</a>&nbsp;was sentenced to life in prison on spying charges in May.It also followed the passage last week of a sweeping Foreign Relations Law that threatens countermeasures against those seen as harming China’s interests.China also recently passed a broadly written counterespionage law that has sent a chill through the foreign business community, with offices being raided, as well as a law to sanction foreign critics.“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law,” the U.S. advisory said.“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime,” it warned.The advisory also said that Chinese authorities “appear to have broad discretion to deem a wide range of documents, data, statistics, or materials as state secrets and to detain and prosecute foreign nationals for alleged espionage.”It listed a wide range of potential offenses from taking part in demonstrations to sending electronic messages critical of Chinese policies or even simply conducting research into areas deemed sensitive.Exit bans could be used to compel individuals to participate in Chinese government investigations, pressure family members to return from abroad, resolve civil disputes in favor of Chinese citizens and “gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments,” the advisory said.Similar advisories were issued for the semi-autonomous Chinese regions of Hong Kong and Macao. They were dated Friday and emailed to journalists on Monday.The U.S. had issued similar advisories to its citizens in the past, but those in recent years had mainly warned of the dangers of being caught in strict and lengthy lockdowns while China closed its borders for three years under its draconian “zero-COVID” policy.China generally responds angrily to what it considers U.S. efforts to impugn its authoritarian Communist Party-led system. It has issued its own travel advisories concerning the U.S., warning of the dangers of crime, anti-Asian discrimination and the high cost of emergency medical assistance.China had no immediate response to the travel advisory on Monday.Details of the accusations against the accused spy John Shing-Wan Leung are not available, given China’s authoritarian political system and the ruling Communist Party’s absolute control over legal matters. Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, was detained in the southeastern city of Suzhou on April 15, 2021 — a time when China had closed its borders and tightly restricted movement of people domestically to control the spread of COVID-19.The warnings come as U.S.-China relations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-relations-ambassador-b599541d7af42fff9fa2783030c7c824" target="_blank">at their lowest in years</a>, over trade, technology, Taiwan and human rights, although the sides are taking some steps to improve the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a long-delayed visit to Beijing last week and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-yellen-biden-xi-economics-867a9a92427386ded2076ba8e342c6e2" target="_blank">Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen</a>&nbsp;is making a much-anticipated trip to Beijing this week. China also recently appointed a new ambassador to Washington, who presented his credentials in a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.Other incidents, however, have also pointed to the testiness in the relationship. China formally protested last month after Biden called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a “dictator,” days after Blinken’s visit.Biden brushed off the protest, saying his words would have no negative impact on U.S.-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Biden has also drawn rebukes from Beijing by explicitly saying the U.S. would defend self-governing Taiwan if China, which claims the island as its own territory, were to attack it.Biden said his blunt statements regarding China are “just not something I’m going to change very much.”The administration is also under pressure from both parties to take a tough line on China, making it one of the few issues on which most Democrats and Republicans agree.Along with several detained Americans,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/detained-australians-in-china-will-have-to-wait-longer-to-learn-their-fate-20230118-p5cdht.html" target="_blank">Two Chinese-Australians,</a>&nbsp;Cheng Lei, who formerly worked for China’s state broadcaster, and writer Yang Jun, have been held since 2020 and 2019 respectively without word on their sentencing.Perhaps the most notorious case of arbitrary detention involved two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-canada-china-arrests-washington-2b6e0977ae93557ad1265869d57838ed" target="_blank">Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,</a>&nbsp;who were detained in China in 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies’ chief financial officer and the daughter of the tech powerhouse’s founder, on a U.S. extradition request.They were charged with national security crimes that were never explained and released three years later after the U.S. settled fraud charges against Meng. Many countries labeled China’s action “hostage politics.”

US warns Americans: Don't travel to China 

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for the fatal shooting in March 2022 of Anthony Villareal in the northeast area of Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

A Jackson County judge sentenced 24-year-old Gerald R. Robinson II to 26 years on a Murder 2nd Degree conviction and three years on a conviction of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

According to court records, Kansas City police responded on March 25, 2022, to the area of 24th and Quincy. They found the victim suffering from numerous gunshot wounds nearby. 

Surveillance video showed victim walking in the area of 24th and Denver when a maroon vehicle is shown on video chasing him until the suspect leaves the vehicle and chases victim, shooting him several times. 

Police identified the vehicle as registered to the defendant. A search of the vehicle revealed clothing in it that matched the clothing that the suspect shooter was wearing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687700878480.png" alt="Robinson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Robinson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for the fatal shooting in March 2022 of Anthony Villareal in the northeast area of Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.A Jackson County judge sentenced 24-year-old Gerald R. Robinson II to 26 years on a Murder 2nd Degree conviction and three years on a conviction of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;According to court records, Kansas City police responded on March 25, 2022, to the area of 24th and Quincy. They found the victim suffering from numerous gunshot wounds nearby. Surveillance video showed victim walking in the area of 24th and Denver when a maroon vehicle is shown on video chasing him until the suspect leaves the vehicle and chases victim, shooting him several times. Police identified the vehicle as registered to the defendant. A search of the vehicle revealed clothing in it that matched the clothing that the suspect shooter was wearing.

Kansas City man chased murder victim with his car

PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man found guilty of child sex crimes is headed to prison.

On Friday, District Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced&nbsp; Justin W. Hammond, 39 of Larned, to 59 months with an additional 37 month consecutive sentence on the additional counts for a total sentence of 96 months in the department of corrections, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

Hammond will also be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.

In March, a Pawnee County Jury found Hammond Guilty of four counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberty with a Child; sexual intercourse with a child 14 or 15 years of age, and one count of Indecent Liberties with a Child; lewd fondling of child 14 or 15 years of age, following a five-day trial.

The crimes were alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County between July 8, 2018, and December 15, 2018. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation following a referral by the Pawnee County Sheriff.

Hammond declined the opportunity to make a statement to the Court due to pending similar charges in Wyandotte County. 

Following sentencing, the Court denied the defense request to stay the sentence pending appeal. Hammond was immediately remanded into the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff for his eventual delivery to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Prior to sentencing, the Court denied the defense motion for a new trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688158843330.png" alt="Hammond-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hammond-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man found guilty of child sex crimes is headed to prison.On Friday, District Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced&nbsp; Justin W. Hammond, 39 of Larned, to 59 months with an additional 37 month consecutive sentence on the additional counts for a total sentence of 96 months in the department of corrections, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.Hammond will also be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.In March, a Pawnee County Jury found Hammond Guilty of four counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberty with a Child; sexual intercourse with a child 14 or 15 years of age, and one count of Indecent Liberties with a Child; lewd fondling of child 14 or 15 years of age, following a five-day trial.The crimes were alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County between July 8, 2018, and December 15, 2018. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation following a referral by the Pawnee County Sheriff.Hammond declined the opportunity to make a statement to the Court due to pending similar charges in Wyandotte County. Following sentencing, the Court denied the defense request to stay the sentence pending appeal. Hammond was immediately remanded into the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff for his eventual delivery to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Prior to sentencing, the Court denied the defense motion for a new trial.-----------

Kansas man sentenced for sex crimes involving teen

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly gunfight that left a teen dead have made an arrest.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 block of North Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers arrived on the scene and located 17-year-old Jaron Reed unconscious and not breathing with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived.

The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene.

While officers were processing the scene a 21-year-old male victim arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. The 21-year-old victim had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 21- year-old victim was treated by medical staff and dismissed from the hospital and transported to investigations for further questioning.

Detectives learned that Reed and Love met to conduct a drug transaction before multiple shots were fired. Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

Love is being held on a requested charge of first-degree murder, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688386566244.png" alt="Blurry booking photo of Love-Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Blurry booking photo of Love-Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly gunfight that left a teen dead have made an arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688315722286.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>At approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 block of North Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers arrived on the scene and located 17-year-old Jaron Reed unconscious and not breathing with several gunshot wounds to his upper body. Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived.The teen was pronounced deceased at the scene.While officers were processing the scene a 21-year-old male victim arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. The 21-year-old victim had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The 21- year-old victim was treated by medical staff and dismissed from the hospital and transported to investigations for further questioning.Detectives learned that Reed and Love met to conduct a drug transaction before multiple shots were fired. Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.Love is being held on a requested charge of first-degree murder, according to Rebolledo.

Suspect jailed for gunfight that left 17-year-old Kan. boy dead

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

OLATHE — Standing at the site of a future mental health hospital, Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday emphasized the benefits Medicaid expansion would have for low-income families struggling with mental health challenges.

The Democratic governor has pushed Medicaid expansion for years, but Republican leaders in the Legislature have blocked legislation from moving forward. By expanding eligibility for health insurance coverage, the governor said, thousands of Kansans could receive mental health treatment.

“The North Star of my second term is making Kansas the best state in the country to live, to work, to raise a family,” Kelly said. “Improving mental health in every community is critical to that goal.”

Kelly appeared with Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids to emphasize the need to prioritize mental health during a groundbreaking ceremony for a 72-bed Olathe mental health hospital.

The&nbsp;Olathe facility, which will be jointly operated by KVC Health Systems and Children’s Mercy Hospital, will have the capacity to treat more than 3,400 patients annually. The project is supported in part by&nbsp;$12.7 million in funding from federal COVID-19 relief dollars.

The hospital construction comes at a crucial time for Kansas mental health treatment, with the state’s mental health needs far outstripping available mental health beds and psychiatric hospitals.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/2023-State-of-Mental-Health-in-America-Report.pdf?eType=ActivityDefinitionInstance&amp;eId=5768b343-b128-4de9-a180-20ed43f570d4">2023 Mental Health America</a>&nbsp;report ranked Kansas last in terms of meeting overall mental health needs, and with the unwinding of&nbsp; pandemic-era health care protections, numbers are expected to worsen.

“I’ve seen the anguish, I’ve seen the fear of families that are struggling to find services and access services for their loved ones. That ultimately is what brings us here,” said Jason Hooper, KVC Health Systems president and CEO.

In Kansas, Medicaid is provided through KanCare and limited to low-income people who have disabilities or children.&nbsp;Medicaid expansion would increase eligibility to adults under the age of 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. If the state broadened enrollment of uninsured adults in KanCare, thousands of lower-income families would be provided with health care options.

Kelly estimated that Medicaid expansion would give 150,000 Kansans access to affordable health care and that&nbsp;nearly one-third of those Kansans currently struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse disorders.

Expanding Medicaid would unlock an estimated billion dollars in annual federal aid. Kansas is one of 10 remaining states that hasn’t adopted expansion.

With the expiration of the federal pandemic emergency declaration, 120,000 Kansans who are already enrolled in Medicaid must re-apply for benefits and are at risk of losing coverage.

“I refuse to give up on this issue,” Kelly said. “I’m going to propose Medicaid expansion for the sixth time when the Legislature reconvenes in January and I hope legislative leadership will do the right thing.”

Her speech comes after another legislative session in which Republican leaders refused to consider a vote on Medicaid expansion.

“Every year, I have tailored the proposal to address concerns expressed by legislative leadership,” Kelly said. “Every year, they’ve moved the goalpost. That can’t keep happening.”

Lawmakers attending the groundbreaking event had mixed views on the matter.

“It’s really neglectful not to be doing it,” said Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, D-Leawood. “And I would use a stronger word, but let’s leave it at that because we’re talking about working together.”

With little Democratic input in the GOP-controlled agenda, the fight may be futile.

“I don’t know that it’s a long-term good thing,” said Rep. Carl Turner, R-Leawood, who didn’t elaborate.

Moran and Davids both called for unity at a federal level.

Moran took a little time in his speech to correct Kelly’s usage of the term “federal money” — he prefers to call it “taxpayers’ money” and “money that’s being borrowed.” While he voted against the American Rescue Act, the source of the hospital’s $12.7 million in federal funding, Moran said he approved of the money being used on the hospital.

“I’m celebrating, I hope, with all of you, the recognition that we have the capacity of coming together,” Moran said. “And perhaps as a side note, it would be useful and wouldn’t it be great for the country if Congress and the political climate could reach the same conclusion that working together gets results.”

“If we could get this sort of thing happening in D.C., it would be amazing,” Davids said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688315217544.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly renews her call for Medicaid expansion during a June 29, 2023, appearance in Olathe for a new mental health hospital. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly renews her call for Medicaid expansion during a June 29, 2023, appearance in Olathe for a new mental health hospital. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>OLATHE — Standing at the site of a future mental health hospital, Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday emphasized the benefits Medicaid expansion would have for low-income families struggling with mental health challenges.The Democratic governor has pushed Medicaid expansion for years, but Republican leaders in the Legislature have blocked legislation from moving forward. By expanding eligibility for health insurance coverage, the governor said, thousands of Kansans could receive mental health treatment.“The North Star of my second term is making Kansas the best state in the country to live, to work, to raise a family,” Kelly said. “Improving mental health in every community is critical to that goal.”Kelly appeared with Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids to emphasize the need to prioritize mental health during a groundbreaking ceremony for a 72-bed Olathe mental health hospital.The&nbsp;Olathe facility, which will be jointly operated by KVC Health Systems and Children’s Mercy Hospital, will have the capacity to treat more than 3,400 patients annually. The project is supported in part by&nbsp;$12.7 million in funding from federal COVID-19 relief dollars.The hospital construction comes at a crucial time for Kansas mental health treatment, with the state’s mental health needs far outstripping available mental health beds and psychiatric hospitals.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/2023-State-of-Mental-Health-in-America-Report.pdf?eType=ActivityDefinitionInstance&amp;eId=5768b343-b128-4de9-a180-20ed43f570d4">2023 Mental Health America</a>&nbsp;report ranked Kansas last in terms of meeting overall mental health needs, and with the unwinding of&nbsp; pandemic-era health care protections, numbers are expected to worsen.“I’ve seen the anguish, I’ve seen the fear of families that are struggling to find services and access services for their loved ones. That ultimately is what brings us here,” said Jason Hooper, KVC Health Systems president and CEO.<h2>State of Medicaid</h2>In Kansas, Medicaid is provided through KanCare and limited to low-income people who have disabilities or children.&nbsp;Medicaid expansion would increase eligibility to adults under the age of 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. If the state broadened enrollment of uninsured adults in KanCare, thousands of lower-income families would be provided with health care options.Kelly estimated that Medicaid expansion would give 150,000 Kansans access to affordable health care and that&nbsp;nearly one-third of those Kansans currently struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse disorders.Expanding Medicaid would unlock an estimated billion dollars in annual federal aid. Kansas is one of 10 remaining states that hasn’t adopted expansion.With the expiration of the federal pandemic emergency declaration, 120,000 Kansans who are already enrolled in Medicaid must re-apply for benefits and are at risk of losing coverage.“I refuse to give up on this issue,” Kelly said. “I’m going to propose Medicaid expansion for the sixth time when the Legislature reconvenes in January and I hope legislative leadership will do the right thing.”Her speech comes after another legislative session in which Republican leaders refused to consider a vote on Medicaid expansion.“Every year, I have tailored the proposal to address concerns expressed by legislative leadership,” Kelly said. “Every year, they’ve moved the goalpost. That can’t keep happening.”Lawmakers attending the groundbreaking event had mixed views on the matter.“It’s really neglectful not to be doing it,” said Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, D-Leawood. “And I would use a stronger word, but let’s leave it at that because we’re talking about working together.”With little Democratic input in the GOP-controlled agenda, the fight may be futile.“I don’t know that it’s a long-term good thing,” said Rep. Carl Turner, R-Leawood, who didn’t elaborate.<h2>all for unity</h2>Moran and Davids both called for unity at a federal level.Moran took a little time in his speech to correct Kelly’s usage of the term “federal money” — he prefers to call it “taxpayers’ money” and “money that’s being borrowed.” While he voted against the American Rescue Act, the source of the hospital’s $12.7 million in federal funding, Moran said he approved of the money being used on the hospital.“I’m celebrating, I hope, with all of you, the recognition that we have the capacity of coming together,” Moran said. “And perhaps as a side note, it would be useful and wouldn’t it be great for the country if Congress and the political climate could reach the same conclusion that working together gets results.”Davids said she agreed with Moran.&nbsp;“If we could get this sort of thing happening in D.C., it would be amazing,” Davids said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor’s renewed call for Medicaid expansion emphasizes mental health benefit

ELLIS COUNTY —A Kansas man was arrested last week on fraud charges after an FBI search of his Hays home on June 26, according to a media release from the bureau.

Last week, FBI agents arrested two men who allegedly targeted elderly individuals in a telemarketing scheme by purporting to represent companies who provided advertising and other services to current or former timeshare owners. 

Michael Farole, 44, of West Los Angeles, and Christopher Lang, 42, a resident of Hays, were charged this week in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The defendants allegedly convinced victims to pay advance fees in return for services that involved selling or securing the sale or rental of their timeshares.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Hays police officers provided a support role in the FBI search of Lang's home on June 26.

After the victims paid initial fees for services that were never provided, Farole and Lang continued to contact the victims by phone, text and email in attempts to obtain additional fees.

The investigation revealed at least 370 elderly individuals lost over $4.5 million as a result of the fraud. The victims used funds from their social security income, investment and retirement accounts, as well as their savings, to pay the fraudulent companies.

Despite the recurring fees that each victim paid, often reaching the hundreds of thousands over several years, none received the timeshare-related services or proceeds promised.

Evidence obtained throughout the investigation indicates that the subjects used the proceeds from their scheme to enrich themselves and to pay for personal expenses and luxury items. Farole was ordered detained at his initial court appearance; Lang has a detention hearing set for next week.

The investigation of Farole and Lang is being conducted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which received assistance from the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is raising public awareness about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/elder-fraud">elder fraud schemes</a>, which have increased in recent years, and is announcing charges against two men who were arrested June 28, 2023, for allegedly targeting elderly victims. In 2022, adults over the age 60 reported 88,262 complaints to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/" target="_blank">FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center</a>, with a total loss of $3.1 billion. This represents an 84% increase in losses as compared to losses reported in 2021. The average loss per victim was more than $35,000, and more than 5,000 victims lost over $100,000. California leads the nation in the number of elderly victims of fraud, and the collective amount of reported losses incurred in California was $624,509,520 in 2022.

Elder fraud is a form of older adult exploitation where a perpetrator misuses or steals financial assets, savings, income, or personal identifying information from an adult over the age 60, often without their direct knowledge or consent. Fraudsters often use deception to scam older adults by posing as a person in a position of trust (such as a government official) by claiming to have a romantic interest in the victim or by posing as a shrewd investor promising a financial payout.

In 2022, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received almost 10,000 complaints from victims over the age of 60 involving the use of some type of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or Ripple. Losses incurred by these victims totaled over $1 billion. Cryptocurrency is becoming a preferred payment method for all types of scams. Last year, William Webster, a former Director of the FBI and of the CIA, was a victim of elder fraud and worked with the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/webster-elder-fraud-psa-040722.mp4/view">to make a public service</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/webster-elder-fraud-psa-040722.mp4/view">announcement</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688408367149.png" alt="Christopher Lang was booked into the Shawnee Co. Jail June 28. He is currently being held in Jackson County, according to online jail records." />
 <figcaption>Christopher Lang was booked into the Shawnee Co. Jail June 28. He is currently being held in Jackson County, according to online jail records.</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —A Kansas man was arrested last week on fraud charges after an FBI search of his Hays home on June 26, according to a media release from the bureau.Last week, FBI agents arrested two men who allegedly targeted elderly individuals in a telemarketing scheme by purporting to represent companies who provided advertising and other services to current or former timeshare owners. Michael Farole, 44, of West Los Angeles, and Christopher Lang, 42, a resident of Hays, were charged this week in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The defendants allegedly convinced victims to pay advance fees in return for services that involved selling or securing the sale or rental of their timeshares.Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Hays police officers provided a support role in the FBI search of Lang's home on June 26.After the victims paid initial fees for services that were never provided, Farole and Lang continued to contact the victims by phone, text and email in attempts to obtain additional fees.The investigation revealed at least 370 elderly individuals lost over $4.5 million as a result of the fraud. The victims used funds from their social security income, investment and retirement accounts, as well as their savings, to pay the fraudulent companies.Despite the recurring fees that each victim paid, often reaching the hundreds of thousands over several years, none received the timeshare-related services or proceeds promised.Evidence obtained throughout the investigation indicates that the subjects used the proceeds from their scheme to enrich themselves and to pay for personal expenses and luxury items. Farole was ordered detained at his initial court appearance; Lang has a detention hearing set for next week.The investigation of Farole and Lang is being conducted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which received assistance from the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. <h2>FBI tries to increase fraud awareness</h2>The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is raising public awareness about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/elder-fraud">elder fraud schemes</a>, which have increased in recent years, and is announcing charges against two men who were arrested June 28, 2023, for allegedly targeting elderly victims. In 2022, adults over the age 60 reported 88,262 complaints to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/" target="_blank">FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center</a>, with a total loss of $3.1 billion. This represents an 84% increase in losses as compared to losses reported in 2021. The average loss per victim was more than $35,000, and more than 5,000 victims lost over $100,000. California leads the nation in the number of elderly victims of fraud, and the collective amount of reported losses incurred in California was $624,509,520 in 2022.Elder fraud is a form of older adult exploitation where a perpetrator misuses or steals financial assets, savings, income, or personal identifying information from an adult over the age 60, often without their direct knowledge or consent. Fraudsters often use deception to scam older adults by posing as a person in a position of trust (such as a government official) by claiming to have a romantic interest in the victim or by posing as a shrewd investor promising a financial payout.In 2022, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received almost 10,000 complaints from victims over the age of 60 involving the use of some type of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or Ripple. Losses incurred by these victims totaled over $1 billion. Cryptocurrency is becoming a preferred payment method for all types of scams. Last year, William Webster, a former Director of the FBI and of the CIA, was a victim of elder fraud and worked with the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/webster-elder-fraud-psa-040722.mp4/view">to make a public service</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/webster-elder-fraud-psa-040722.mp4/view">announcement</a>.

FBI: Kan. man arrested in $4.5 million fraud scheme targeting elderly

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 6p..m. Saturday in Wabaunsee County.

A UTV occupied by Chase William Deever of Harveyville and William Jai Mason Holman of Alma and riding in the Independence Holiday Parade at Lake Wabaunsee, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office.

The vehicle traveled off the dam and rolled. One of the men was airlifted to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; America Medical Response transported the other to Stormont Vail.

The accident remains under investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688402707396.png" alt="Photo Wabaunsee Co. sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wabaunsee Co. sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 6p..m. Saturday in Wabaunsee County.A UTV occupied by Chase William Deever of Harveyville and William Jai Mason Holman of Alma and riding in the Independence Holiday Parade at Lake Wabaunsee, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office.The vehicle traveled off the dam and rolled. One of the men was airlifted to Stormont Vail.&nbsp; America Medical Response transported the other to Stormont Vail.The accident remains under investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

2 Kan. men injured after UTV travels off dam during parade

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Kansas City man drowned just after 11p.m. Sunday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 56-year-old James D. Roy of Kansas City, was last seen near a moored vessel at the 43 mile mark of the main channel at Bollinger Creek Cove.

It is unknown how Roy entered the water. He did not resurface and was pronounced deceased at Mimosa Beach by the Camden County Medical Examiner.

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Kansas City man drowned just after 11p.m. Sunday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 56-year-old James D. Roy of Kansas City, was last seen near a moored vessel at the 43 mile mark of the main channel at Bollinger Creek Cove.It is unknown how Roy entered the water. He did not resurface and was pronounced deceased at Mimosa Beach by the Camden County Medical Examiner.

Patrol: Kansas City man drowns at Lake of the Ozarks

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fire started by fireworks that injured four people over the weekend.

Just after 10p.m. Saturday crews responded to a building fire at 127 Street and Gardner Road, according to the Northwest Consolidated Fire District Chief Todd Maxton.

When crews arrived, they observed a detached building on fire and fireworks were actively exploding while victims were laying on the ground. 

Firefighters, Johnson County Med Act, Johnson County Park Police and other responding personnel got the victims to safety and provided aid.

Johnson County Med Act transported four people to local hospitals. Two had serious injuries.

The outbuilding was a total loss. The Kansas State Fire Marshal and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation, according to Maxton.

Possessing and using fireworks in unincorporated Johnson County is not allowed except for public displays.

Northwest Consolidated Fire District serves DeSoto and northwest Johnson County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688380811889.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo courtesy Northwest Consolidated Fire District" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy Northwest Consolidated Fire District</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fire started by fireworks that injured four people over the weekend.Just after 10p.m. Saturday crews responded to a building fire at 127 Street and Gardner Road, according to the Northwest Consolidated Fire District Chief Todd Maxton.When crews arrived, they observed a detached building on fire and fireworks were actively exploding while victims were laying on the ground. Firefighters, Johnson County Med Act, Johnson County Park Police and other responding personnel got the victims to safety and provided aid.Johnson County Med Act transported four people to local hospitals. Two had serious injuries.The outbuilding was a total loss. The Kansas State Fire Marshal and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation, according to Maxton.Possessing and using fireworks in unincorporated Johnson County is not allowed except for public displays.Northwest Consolidated Fire District serves DeSoto and northwest Johnson County.

Four hospitalized, building totaled in Kansas fireworks fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a mass shooting at a Wichita nightclub have arrested a Missouri man.

Brandon Lee Young, 31, Florissant, Missouri is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740905">on requested charges </a>of aggravated battery; knowingly use a weapon to cause great bodily harm, according to the Sedgwick County booking report.

Just before 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to the City Nightz club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita's Old Town, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

There were eleven 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. Police took Young into custody.

The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police have 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, according to Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple.

Sedgwick County EMS transported five of the victims to area hospitals. Private vehicles transported two others to the hospital.

Police have been called to the nightclub about a dozen times this year for various incidents, including a report of aggravated battery and a drive-by shooting on May 21, according to Police Detective Chris Merceau

He said police met with the club's owner after that incident and discussed the importance of using electronic wands to detect weapons on patrons and surveillance cameras. He said investigators will work to determine if any of those recommendations were followed.

Wichita Police requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688386727947.png" alt="Young-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a mass shooting at a Wichita nightclub have arrested a Missouri man.Brandon Lee Young, 31, Florissant, Missouri is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740905">on requested charges </a>of aggravated battery; knowingly use a weapon to cause great bodily harm, according to the Sedgwick County booking report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation early Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation early Sunday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to the City Nightz club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita's Old Town, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.There were eleven 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. Police took Young into custody.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police have 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, according to Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple.Sedgwick County EMS transported five of the victims to area hospitals. Private vehicles transported two others to the hospital.Police have been called to the nightclub about a dozen times this year for various incidents, including a report of aggravated battery and a drive-by shooting on May 21, according to Police Detective Chris MerceauHe said police met with the club's owner after that incident and discussed the importance of using electronic wands to detect weapons on patrons and surveillance cameras. He said investigators will work to determine if any of those recommendations were followed.Wichita Police requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist with the investigation.

Missouri man accused in mass shooting at Kansas nightclub

WASHINGTON&nbsp; — President Joe Biden vowed to push ahead with a new plan providing student loan relief for millions of borrowers, while blaming Republican “hypocrisy” for triggering Friday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;that wiped out his original effort.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-506_nmip.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the decision

(click below to watch the President discuss the plan)

Biden said his administration had already begun the process of working under the authority of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which he called "the best path that remains to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">as many borrowers as possible</a>&nbsp;with debt relief.”

According to a statement from the White House,&nbsp;President Biden and his Administration&nbsp;have took two steps Friday afternoon aimed at providing debt relief for as many borrowers as possible, as fast as possible, and supporting student loan borrowers:

In addition, to protect the most vulnerable borrowers from the worst consequences of missed payments following the payment restart,&nbsp;the Department is instituting a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, so that financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.

These actions reflect the President’s belief that an education beyond high school should be a ticket to the middle class. It also builds on the unprecedented steps President Biden and his Administration have taken to make college more affordable for working and middle-class families and make federal student loans more manageable. The Biden-Harris Administration has:

Debt Relief for As Many Borrowers as Possible, as Fast as Possible The President remains committed to providing relief to low- and middle-income borrowers. For too many Americans, a ticket to the middle-class remains out of reach because of unmanageable student loan debt. COVID-19 exacerbated that challenge – risking tens of millions of borrowers’ financial security and futures because of the economic harms brought on by a once-in-a-century pandemic. Today, the Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2023/negregpublichearingannouncement.pdf">initiated rulemaking</a>&nbsp;aimed at opening an alternative path to debt relief for as many borrowers as possible, using the Secretary of Education’s authority under the Higher Education Act. The Department issued a notice, which is the first step in the process of issuing new regulations under this so-called “negotiated rulemaking” process. The notice announces a virtual public hearing on July 18th and solicits written comments from stakeholders on topics to consider. Following the public hearing, the Department will finalize the issues to be addressed through rulemaking and begin the negotiated rulemaking sessions this fall. The Department will complete this rulemaking as quickly as possible.

WASHINGTON&nbsp; — President Joe Biden vowed to push ahead with a new plan providing student loan relief for millions of borrowers, while blaming Republican “hypocrisy” for triggering Friday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;that wiped out his original effort.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/22-506_nmip.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the decision(click below to watch the President discuss the plan)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCQAaoyrOgk?start=387" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden said his administration had already begun the process of working under the authority of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which he called "the best path that remains to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">as many borrowers as possible</a>&nbsp;with debt relief.”According to a statement from the White House,&nbsp;President Biden and his Administration&nbsp;have took two steps Friday afternoon aimed at providing debt relief for as many borrowers as possible, as fast as possible, and supporting student loan borrowers:<ul>
 <li>The Secretary of Education initiated a rulemaking process aimed at opening an alternative path to debt relief for as many working and middle-class borrowers as possible, using the Secretary’s authority under the Higher Education Act. &nbsp;</li><li>The Department of Education (Department) finalized the most affordable repayment plan ever created, ensuring that borrowers will be able to take advantage of this plan this summer—before loan payments are due.&nbsp;Many borrowers will not have to make monthly payments under this plan. Those that do will save more than $1,000 a year.</li>
 </ul>In addition, to protect the most vulnerable borrowers from the worst consequences of missed payments following the payment restart,&nbsp;the Department is instituting a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, so that financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Biden-Harris Administration’s student debt relief program would have been good for the American economy. Republican elected officials who sued this Administration blocked all of it. <a href="https://t.co/rKWBqDq6fr">pic.twitter.com/rKWBqDq6fr</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1674961017283936258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>These actions reflect the President’s belief that an education beyond high school should be a ticket to the middle class. It also builds on the unprecedented steps President Biden and his Administration have taken to make college more affordable for working and middle-class families and make federal student loans more manageable. The Biden-Harris Administration has:<ul>
 <li>Secured the largest increases to Pell Grants in a decade. &nbsp;</li><li>Fixed broken student loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, so borrowers actually get the relief they deserve. &nbsp;</li><li>Approved more than $66 billion in loan cancellation for 2.2 million borrowers across the country, including public service workers and those who have been defrauded by their colleges. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Debt Relief for As Many Borrowers as Possible, as Fast as Possible The President remains committed to providing relief to low- and middle-income borrowers. For too many Americans, a ticket to the middle-class remains out of reach because of unmanageable student loan debt. COVID-19 exacerbated that challenge – risking tens of millions of borrowers’ financial security and futures because of the economic harms brought on by a once-in-a-century pandemic. Today, the Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2023/negregpublichearingannouncement.pdf">initiated rulemaking</a>&nbsp;aimed at opening an alternative path to debt relief for as many borrowers as possible, using the Secretary of Education’s authority under the Higher Education Act. The Department issued a notice, which is the first step in the process of issuing new regulations under this so-called “negotiated rulemaking” process. The notice announces a virtual public hearing on July 18th and solicits written comments from stakeholders on topics to consider. Following the public hearing, the Department will finalize the issues to be addressed through rulemaking and begin the negotiated rulemaking sessions this fall. The Department will complete this rulemaking as quickly as possible.Lowering Monthly Payments The Biden-Harris Administration today also finalized the most affordable repayment plan ever created, called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. This income-driven repayment plan will cut borrowers’ monthly payments in half, allow many borrowers to make $0 monthly payments, save all other borrowers at least $1,000 per year, and ensure borrowers don’t see their balances grow from unpaid interest. Specifically, the plan will:<ul>
 <li>For undergraduate loans, cut in half the amount that borrowers have to pay each month from 10% to 5% of discretionary income.</li><li>Raise the amount of income that is considered non-discretionary income and therefore is protected from repayment, guaranteeing that no borrower earning under 225% of the federal poverty level—about the annual equivalent of a $15 minimum wage for a single borrower—will have to make a monthly payment under this plan.</li><li>Forgive loan balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years, for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less. The Department estimates that this reform will allow nearly all community college borrowers to be debt-free within 10 years.</li><li>Not charge borrowers with unpaid monthly interest, so that unlike other existing income-driven repayment plans, no borrower’s loan balance will grow as long as they make their monthly payments—even when that monthly payment is $0 because their income is low.</li>
 </ul>All student borrowers in repayment will be eligible to enroll in the SAVE plan. They will be able to enroll later this summer, before any monthly payments are due. Borrowers who sign up or are already signed up for the current Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE) plan will be automatically enrolled in SAVE once the new plan is implemented. To learn more about the new SAVE plan, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2021/idrfactsheetfinal.pdf">the Department of Education’s website.</a>Ensuring Support for Borrowers Most at Risk To protect the most vulnerable borrowers, the Department is creating a temporary “on-ramp” to protect borrowers from the harshest consequences of late, missed, or partial payments for up to 12 months. While payments will be due and interest will accrue during this period, interest will not capitalize at the end of the on-ramp period. Additionally, borrowers will not be reported to credit bureaus, be considered in default, or referred to collection agencies for late, missed, or partial payments during the on-ramp period. Future monthly bills for borrowers not enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan will be automatically adjusted to reflect the accrued interest during those months. Borrowers who can pay should do so, but this on-ramp period gives borrowers who cannot make payments right away the necessary time to adjust, enabling them to ultimately make their monthly payments and meet their financial obligations on their loans. Borrowers do not need to take any action to qualify for this on-ramp.