DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that

Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center (911) received several calls reporting smoke and fire from a wooded area near the Kansas River levy, according to a media release.

 The initial call to 911 reported dogs fighting and shots fired in a wooded area near the levy. A short time later, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) was dispatched after black smoke was seen coming from the area. One of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles was in the area with a training team and reported the smoke. 

Fire crews found a tent shelter that was consumed by fire.&nbsp; First responders used&nbsp; an off-road utility vehicle with a water tank and hose&nbsp; to extinguish the flames, which were ultimately found just south of the 700 block of Ash in the woods off the riverbank. 

Two dogs perished during the fire. A third dog escaped and was transported to a veterinary office for evaluation. No people were harmed. 

LDCFM is working this ongoing investigation to find the person or people responsible. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685047344069.png" alt="Photo Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities and fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire thatJust after 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center (911) received several calls reporting smoke and fire from a wooded area near the Kansas River levy, according to a media release. The initial call to 911 reported dogs fighting and shots fired in a wooded area near the levy. A short time later, Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) was dispatched after black smoke was seen coming from the area. One of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles was in the area with a training team and reported the smoke. Fire crews found a tent shelter that was consumed by fire.&nbsp; First responders used&nbsp; an off-road utility vehicle with a water tank and hose&nbsp; to extinguish the flames, which were ultimately found just south of the 700 block of Ash in the woods off the riverbank. Two dogs perished during the fire. A third dog escaped and was transported to a veterinary office for evaluation. No people were harmed. LDCFM is working this ongoing investigation to find the person or people responsible.

Arson investigation: Dogs die in rural fire near Kansas River

WASHINGTON (AP) — Days from a deadline, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are narrowing in on a two-year budget deal aiming to curb federal deficits in exchange for lifting the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;and staving off an economically devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">government default</a>.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1?utm_source=ForYou&amp;utm_medium=HomePage&amp;utm_id=Taboola">Democratic president and Republican speaker</a>&nbsp;hope to strike a budget compromise this weekend. With Republicans driving for steep cuts, the two sides have been unable to agree to spending levels for 2024 and 2025. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress.

But the budget flow isn't the only hang-up.

A person familiar with the talks said the two sides are “dug in” on whether or not to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-work-requirements-snap-medicaid-biden-66270829cfc0009ddb5f59eb12a6ba7a">work requirements</a>&nbsp;on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and health care aid, some of the most vulnerable Americans.

Yet both Biden and McCarthy expressed optimism heading into the weekend that the gulf between their positions could be bridged. A two-year deal would raise the debt limit for that time, past the 2024 presidential election.

“We knew this would not be easy," McCarthy, R-Calif., said as he left the Capitol for the evening Thursday.

McCarthy said, "It’s hard, but we’re working and we’re going to continue to work until we get this done.”

House Republicans have pushed the issue to the brink, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the Memorial Day holiday. The U.S. could face an unprecedented default as soon as June 1, hurling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.

In remarks at the White House, Biden said, “It’s about competing versions of America.”

“The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement,” Biden said Thursday. “And I believe we’ll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country.”

Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from the early June deadline when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a federal default.

Biden will also be away this weekend, departing Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will be until after Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-credit-rating-downgrade-warning-default-b906c014ed2b8124917f4a107a543964">“ratings watch negative,”</a>&nbsp;warning of a possible downgrade.

Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country's full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.

The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels and restrict 2025 spending, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.

“We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point,” said McCarthy.

One idea is to set those topline budget numbers but then add a “snap-back” provision that enforces the cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals.

On work requirements for the aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that would drive Americans into poverty or take their health care, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions.

On the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, it's still an “open issue” whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed back into other domestic programs, the person said.

Pressure is bearing down on McCarthy from the House's right flank not to give in to any deal, even if it means blowing past the June 1 deadline.

“Let’s hold the line,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a Freedom Caucus member.

McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, “Make sure you get a good agreement.”

Failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, to pay America's already incurred bills would risk a potentially chaotic federal default. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">making default contingency</a>&nbsp;plans.

Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting — now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Biden’s desk, right before next Thursday's possible deadline.

In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to another person familiar with the talks.

The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., that would facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid, according to a person familiar with that draft. Those two people were also granted anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.

The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table.

While Biden has ruled out, for now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14th-amendment-biden-debt-ceiling-explained-92ebc0db703d49eab2c91d4d4a354cdf">invoking the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative “discharge” process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward.

They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-coronavirus-relief-funds-9c60de5ad51a922bae1c2cf2fa284be3">unspent COVID-19 funds</a>&nbsp;now that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39">pandemic emergency has officially been lifted</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling talks</a>&nbsp;to the brink Thursday, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default hurling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.

At the Capitol, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said “every hour matters” in talks with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;team as they try to work out a budget agreement. Republican are demanding spending cuts the Democrats oppose as their price for raising the legal debt limit.

“We’ve been taking to the White House all day,” McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters as he left the Capitol for the evening, with his top negotiators soon to follow. “We're working hard to make it happen.”

In remarks at the White House, Biden said, “It’s about competing versions of America.” Yet both men expressed optimism that the gulf between their positions could be bridged.

The White House said discussions with the Republicans have been productive, including by video conference Thursday, though serious disagreements remained as the president fights for his priorities.

“The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement,” Biden said. “And I believe we’ll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country.”

As the deadline nears, it's clear the Republican speaker — who leads a Donald Trump-aligned party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power, and who spoke to the former president this week — is now staring down a potential crisis.

Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a federal default. Biden will also be away, departing Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will be until after Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on “ratings watch negative,” warning of a possible downgrade.

Democratic lawmakers lined up on the House floor as the workday ended to blame “extreme” Republicans for the risky potential default. “Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown,” said House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration has resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country's full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.

McCarthy is holding out for steep spending cuts that Republicans are demanding in exchange for their vote to raise the nation's borrowing limit. The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels and restrict 2025 spending, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.

“Don’t take an exit ramp five exits too early,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a Freedom Caucus member. “Let’s hold the line.”

Trump, the former president who is again running for office, has encouraged Republicans to “do a default” if they don’t get the deal they want from the White House.

McCarthy said Trump told him, “Make sure you get a good agreement.”

Pushing a debt ceiling increase to the last minute is not uncommon for Congress, but it leaves little room for error in a volatile political environment. Both Democrats and Republicans will be needed to pass the final package in the split Congress.

“We still have a ways to go,” said top Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana as he juggled leading a Capitol tour for players and supporters of the championship Louisiana State University women's basketball team.

The contours of a deal have been within reach for days, but Republicans are unsatisfied as they press the White House team for more.

In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to one person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.

The Republicans may achieve their goal of of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to instead allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said.

The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., that would facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid, according to a person familiar with the draft.

Other issues remain unresolved. Republicans also want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that Democrats say are a nonstarter. It remains an issue where both sides have "dug in,” according to another person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.

The White House has countered by proposing to keep defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685061622873.png" alt="President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event at the White House Thursday- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden during a Rose Garden event at the White House Thursday- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Days from a deadline, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are narrowing in on a two-year budget deal aiming to curb federal deficits in exchange for lifting the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;and staving off an economically devastating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">government default</a>.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1?utm_source=ForYou&amp;utm_medium=HomePage&amp;utm_id=Taboola">Democratic president and Republican speaker</a>&nbsp;hope to strike a budget compromise this weekend. With Republicans driving for steep cuts, the two sides have been unable to agree to spending levels for 2024 and 2025. Any deal would need to be a political compromise, with support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass the divided Congress.But the budget flow isn't the only hang-up.A person familiar with the talks said the two sides are “dug in” on whether or not to agree to Republican demands to impose stiffer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-work-requirements-snap-medicaid-biden-66270829cfc0009ddb5f59eb12a6ba7a">work requirements</a>&nbsp;on people who receive government food stamps, cash assistance and health care aid, some of the most vulnerable Americans.Yet both Biden and McCarthy expressed optimism heading into the weekend that the gulf between their positions could be bridged. A two-year deal would raise the debt limit for that time, past the 2024 presidential election.“We knew this would not be easy," McCarthy, R-Calif., said as he left the Capitol for the evening Thursday.McCarthy said, "It’s hard, but we’re working and we’re going to continue to work until we get this done.”House Republicans have pushed the issue to the brink, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the Memorial Day holiday. The U.S. could face an unprecedented default as soon as June 1, hurling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m staying in DC to fight for an agreement that’s worthy of the American people—for as long as it takes. I will continue the fight to curb inflation, stop reckless spending, make our economy stronger, and end our dependence on China.&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1661896460839837697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In remarks at the White House, Biden said, “It’s about competing versions of America.”“The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement,” Biden said Thursday. “And I believe we’ll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country.”Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from the early June deadline when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a federal default.Biden will also be away this weekend, departing Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will be until after Memorial Day.Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-credit-rating-downgrade-warning-default-b906c014ed2b8124917f4a107a543964">“ratings watch negative,”</a>&nbsp;warning of a possible downgrade.Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country's full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels and restrict 2025 spending, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.“We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point,” said McCarthy.One idea is to set those topline budget numbers but then add a “snap-back” provision that enforces the cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals.On work requirements for the aid recipients, the White House is particularly resisting measures that would drive Americans into poverty or take their health care, said the person familiar with the talks, who was granted anonymity to describe behind-closed-door discussions.On the Republican demand to rescind money for the Internal Revenue Service, it's still an “open issue” whether the sides will compromise by allowing the funding to be pushed back into other domestic programs, the person said.Pressure is bearing down on McCarthy from the House's right flank not to give in to any deal, even if it means blowing past the June 1 deadline.“Let’s hold the line,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a Freedom Caucus member.McCarthy said Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, told him, “Make sure you get a good agreement.”Failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, to pay America's already incurred bills would risk a potentially chaotic federal default. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">making default contingency</a>&nbsp;plans.Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting — now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Biden’s desk, right before next Thursday's possible deadline.In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to another person familiar with the talks.The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., that would facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid, according to a person familiar with that draft. Those two people were also granted anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table.While Biden has ruled out, for now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14th-amendment-biden-debt-ceiling-explained-92ebc0db703d49eab2c91d4d4a354cdf">invoking the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative “discharge” process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward.They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-coronavirus-relief-funds-9c60de5ad51a922bae1c2cf2fa284be3">unspent COVID-19 funds</a>&nbsp;now that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39">pandemic emergency has officially been lifted</a>.___WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans pushed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling talks</a>&nbsp;to the brink Thursday, displaying risky political bravado in leaving town for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default hurling the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.At the Capitol, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said “every hour matters” in talks with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-limit-fac74a8804c619f8db69bf3a8a4a69b1">President Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;team as they try to work out a budget agreement. Republican are demanding spending cuts the Democrats oppose as their price for raising the legal debt limit.“We’ve been taking to the White House all day,” McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters as he left the Capitol for the evening, with his top negotiators soon to follow. “We're working hard to make it happen.”In remarks at the White House, Biden said, “It’s about competing versions of America.” Yet both men expressed optimism that the gulf between their positions could be bridged.The White House said discussions with the Republicans have been productive, including by video conference Thursday, though serious disagreements remained as the president fights for his priorities.“The only way to move forward is with a bipartisan agreement,” Biden said. “And I believe we’ll come to an agreement that allows us to move forward and protects the hardworking Americans of this country.”As the deadline nears, it's clear the Republican speaker — who leads a Donald Trump-aligned party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power, and who spoke to the former president this week — is now staring down a potential crisis.Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a federal default. Biden will also be away, departing Friday for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and Sunday for his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The Senate is on recess and will be until after Memorial Day.Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on “ratings watch negative,” warning of a possible downgrade.Democratic lawmakers lined up on the House floor as the workday ended to blame “extreme” Republicans for the risky potential default. “Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown,” said House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration has resisted negotiating with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing that the country's full faith and credit should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.McCarthy is holding out for steep spending cuts that Republicans are demanding in exchange for their vote to raise the nation's borrowing limit. The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels and restrict 2025 spending, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.One idea is to set those topline budget numbers but then add a “snap-back” provision that enforces the cuts if Congress is unable during its annual appropriations process to meet the new goals.“We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point,” said McCarthy.Pressure is bearing down on McCarthy from the House's right flank not to give in to any deal, even if it means blowing past the June 1 deadline.“Don’t take an exit ramp five exits too early,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a Freedom Caucus member. “Let’s hold the line.”Trump, the former president who is again running for office, has encouraged Republicans to “do a default” if they don’t get the deal they want from the White House.McCarthy said Trump told him, “Make sure you get a good agreement.”Failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, to pay America's already incurred bills would risk a potentially chaotic federal default. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">making default contingency</a>&nbsp;plans.Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting — now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Democratic-held Senate has vowed to move quickly to send the package to Biden’s desk, right before next Thursday's possible deadline.Pushing a debt ceiling increase to the last minute is not uncommon for Congress, but it leaves little room for error in a volatile political environment. Both Democrats and Republicans will be needed to pass the final package in the split Congress.“We still have a ways to go,” said top Republican negotiator Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana as he juggled leading a Capitol tour for players and supporters of the championship Louisiana State University women's basketball team.The contours of a deal have been within reach for days, but Republicans are unsatisfied as they press the White House team for more.In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to one person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.The Republicans may achieve their goal of of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to instead allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said.The teams are also eyeing a proposal to boost energy transmission line development from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., that would facilitate the buildout of an interregional power grid, according to a person familiar with the draft.The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table.While Biden has ruled out, for now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14th-amendment-biden-debt-ceiling-explained-92ebc0db703d49eab2c91d4d4a354cdf">invoking the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative “discharge” process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward.Other issues remain unresolved. Republicans also want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that Democrats say are a nonstarter. It remains an issue where both sides have "dug in,” according to another person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-coronavirus-relief-funds-9c60de5ad51a922bae1c2cf2fa284be3">unspent COVID-19 funds</a>&nbsp;now that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39">pandemic emergency has officially been lifted</a>.The White House has countered by proposing to keep defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years.

Debt ceiling talks drag on; lawmakers take holiday weekend break

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash have identified the victim as&nbsp; 19-year-old Jonathan McPherson-Pickett from Wichita. 

Just before noon Monday, police responded to an injury accident in the 700 block of E Murdock Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

 On arrival, Officers located a white Kia Sorento that had rolled over after colliding with a blue Ford Escape driven by a 35-year-old woman.

EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to both drivers and their passengers. All victims were transported to local hospitals with injuries ranging from critical to minor. 

A passenger in Kia identified as&nbsp; McPherson-Pickett did not regain consciousness after the impact and was later pronounced deceased by medical staff, according to Rebolledo.

Investigators learned that the driver of the Kia Sorento was eastbound on Murdock Ave when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and collided with the westbound Ford Escape.

Currently, speed is believed to be a contributing factor to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685050652494.png" alt="Currently, speed is believed to be a contributing factor to the accident, according to Rebolledo. photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Currently, speed is believed to be a contributing factor to the accident, according to Rebolledo. photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash have identified the victim as&nbsp; 19-year-old Jonathan McPherson-Pickett from Wichita. Just before noon Monday, police responded to an injury accident in the 700 block of E Murdock Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. On arrival, Officers located a white Kia Sorento that had rolled over after colliding with a blue Ford Escape driven by a 35-year-old woman.EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to both drivers and their passengers. All victims were transported to local hospitals with injuries ranging from critical to minor. A passenger in Kia identified as&nbsp; McPherson-Pickett did not regain consciousness after the impact and was later pronounced deceased by medical staff, according to Rebolledo.Investigators learned that the driver of the Kia Sorento was eastbound on Murdock Ave when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and collided with the westbound Ford Escape.Currently, speed is believed to be a contributing factor to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

Police: Speed a factor in crash that killed Kansas teen

IOLA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas paramedic has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman while she was taking a cocktail of painkillers and sedatives.

Adam Ferguson, 42, of Iola, is free on a $20,000 bond after he was charged Monday with three counts of aggravated sexual battery. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

The complaint alleged the assault happened on Dec. 21, 2022, while the woman was incapable of giving consent because of the effect of morphine; Tylenol; Toradol, an anti-inflammatory drug that frequently is used as a post-surgical painkiller; the sedative Ativan; the narcotic painkilling drug Dilaudid; and Versed, an anti-anxiety drug that causes drowsiness.

Ferguson was working as a paramedic with Iola EMS at the time of the reported assault, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release. Ferguson was put on administrative leave on Dec. 23, 2022, and terminated on Tuesday morning, according to city administrator Matt Rehder.

The KBI said the case remains under investigation and asked anyone with information to contact law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685034727134.png" alt="Ferguson-photo Allen County" />
 <figcaption>Ferguson-photo Allen County</figcaption>
 </figure>IOLA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas paramedic has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman while she was taking a cocktail of painkillers and sedatives.Adam Ferguson, 42, of Iola, is free on a $20,000 bond after he was charged Monday with three counts of aggravated sexual battery. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.The complaint alleged the assault happened on Dec. 21, 2022, while the woman was incapable of giving consent because of the effect of morphine; Tylenol; Toradol, an anti-inflammatory drug that frequently is used as a post-surgical painkiller; the sedative Ativan; the narcotic painkilling drug Dilaudid; and Versed, an anti-anxiety drug that causes drowsiness.Ferguson was working as a paramedic with Iola EMS at the time of the reported assault, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release. Ferguson was put on administrative leave on Dec. 23, 2022, and terminated on Tuesday morning, according to city administrator Matt Rehder.The KBI said the case remains under investigation and asked anyone with information to contact law enforcement.

KBI: Kan. paramedic sexually assaulted heavily drugged woman

JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Jackson County.

The Missouri State Highway patrol reported a 2018 Kia Sorrento driven by Patrick V. Dye, 57, Independence, was northbound on Interstate 470 at Woods Chapel.

The SUV traveled off the right side of the road, struck a bridge support and caught fire. EMS transported Dye to Centerpoint Hospital where he was pronounced deceased and released to the medical examiner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685065052319.png" alt="Traffic backed up due to the crash- image KC Scout" />
 <figcaption>Traffic backed up due to the crash- image KC Scout</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Jackson County.The Missouri State Highway patrol reported a 2018 Kia Sorrento driven by Patrick V. Dye, 57, Independence, was northbound on Interstate 470 at Woods Chapel.The SUV traveled off the right side of the road, struck a bridge support and caught fire. EMS transported Dye to Centerpoint Hospital where he was pronounced deceased and released to the medical examiner..

Missouri man dies after SUV crash, fire

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a gunfight near a bar early on Mother's Day that sent a victim to the hospital and have made an additional arresdt.

On Thursday the sheriff's office reported the arrest&nbsp; of 31-year-old Brandon M. Gehrke of Topeka.&nbsp; He is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Just after 2:15a.m. May 14, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of multiple gunshots in the parking lot of Victoria’s Bar, 5011 SW Topeka Boulevard.

When law enforcement arrived, it was discovered that a 41-year-old man&nbsp; had engaged in a verbal altercation in the parking lot with a group of individuals associated with the Hell’s Lovers Motorcycle Club. Several shots were fired.&nbsp;

During the shooting, a vehicle that was arriving at the business to pick up an employee of the business was also fired upon. The driver of the vehicle, a 35-year-old man, was struck multiple times by gunfire, but managed to flee the scene. The vehicle was located a short time later in the 4500 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

In addition, at the time of the shooting, a separate individual that had not been inside the bar and not involved in the original altercation, was sitting in his vehicle in the business parking lot when the shooting began. That individual then exited his vehicle with a firearm and also began shooting at the vehicle that was ultimately located by law enforcement in the 4500 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. That individual was also taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm.

On Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported four arrests.

Leon D. Smith-Love I., 28, of Topeka, is being held for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm.

Kathryn R. Hazelwood, 26, of Topeka is being held on requested charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles D. Wheat, 42, of Topeka, is in custody on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm.

Jason M. Blenden Sr., 49, of Topeka, was booked in on an arrest warrant and could face additional charges.

On Thursday the sheriff's office reported the arrest of Storm M. Morgan, 30, of Meriden, on requested charges of criminal discharge of a firearm.

Shawn M. Ray, 39, of Topeka, is in custody on requested charges of criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685030687572.png" alt="Gehrke-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gehrke-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a gunfight near a bar early on Mother's Day that sent a victim to the hospital and have made an additional arresdt.On Thursday the sheriff's office reported the arrest&nbsp; of 31-year-old Brandon M. Gehrke of Topeka.&nbsp; He is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684358381569.png" alt="Blenden-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Blenden-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 2:15a.m. May 14, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of multiple gunshots in the parking lot of Victoria’s Bar, 5011 SW Topeka Boulevard.When law enforcement arrived, it was discovered that a 41-year-old man&nbsp; had engaged in a verbal altercation in the parking lot with a group of individuals associated with the Hell’s Lovers Motorcycle Club. Several shots were fired.&nbsp;During the shooting, a vehicle that was arriving at the business to pick up an employee of the business was also fired upon. The driver of the vehicle, a 35-year-old man, was struck multiple times by gunfire, but managed to flee the scene. The vehicle was located a short time later in the 4500 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.In addition, at the time of the shooting, a separate individual that had not been inside the bar and not involved in the original altercation, was sitting in his vehicle in the business parking lot when the shooting began. That individual then exited his vehicle with a firearm and also began shooting at the vehicle that was ultimately located by law enforcement in the 4500 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. That individual was also taken into custody on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684358461475.png" alt="Smith-Love-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-Love-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported four arrests.Leon D. Smith-Love I., 28, of Topeka, is being held for aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684358501058.png" alt="Hazelwood-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hazelwood-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kathryn R. Hazelwood, 26, of Topeka is being held on requested charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684358303852.png" alt="Wheat-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wheat-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Charles D. Wheat, 42, of Topeka, is in custody on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm.Jason M. Blenden Sr., 49, of Topeka, was booked in on an arrest warrant and could face additional charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684428008780.png" alt="Morgan-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Morgan-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday the sheriff's office reported the arrest of Storm M. Morgan, 30, of Meriden, on requested charges of criminal discharge of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684428093932.png" alt="Ray-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawn M. Ray, 39, of Topeka, is in custody on requested charges of criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement.

Another arrest in motorcycle club gun fight at Kansas bar

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations in connection with arson and theft.

Just before 5:30a.m. Wednesday, police and fire crews responded to a house fire in the 300 block of NE Eighth Street in Abilene, according to a media release.

Moments later, police and fire were dispatched to a second house fire in the 500 block of SE Sixth Street in Abilene. Investigators have determined both fires were intentionally set.

Just before 6a.m. that same morning deputies responded to a burglary at Liberty Store, 601 S. Buckeye Avenue.

Officers determined the two fires and burglary were connected and committed by the same suspect. Just before 8a.m., officer located and arrested 25-year-old&nbsp;Dai’Reese M. Gelinas of Abilene a home in the 100 block of S. Cedar Street.

He is being held on requested charges of aggravated arson, burglary, theft, criminal threat and criminal damage to property.

 The fires caused. approximately $100,000 in damage. The burglary loss is estimated in excess of $500. The Kansas Highway Patrol and State Fire Marshal assisted with the investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685049172807.png" alt="Gelinas-photo&nbsp; Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gelinas-photo&nbsp; Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations in connection with arson and theft.Just before 5:30a.m. Wednesday, police and fire crews responded to a house fire in the 300 block of NE Eighth Street in Abilene, according to a media release.Moments later, police and fire were dispatched to a second house fire in the 500 block of SE Sixth Street in Abilene. Investigators have determined both fires were intentionally set.Just before 6a.m. that same morning deputies responded to a burglary at Liberty Store, 601 S. Buckeye Avenue.Officers determined the two fires and burglary were connected and committed by the same suspect. Just before 8a.m., officer located and arrested 25-year-old&nbsp;Dai’Reese M. Gelinas of Abilene a home in the 100 block of S. Cedar Street.He is being held on requested charges of aggravated arson, burglary, theft, criminal threat and criminal damage to property. The fires caused. approximately $100,000 in damage. The burglary loss is estimated in excess of $500. The Kansas Highway Patrol and State Fire Marshal assisted with the investigation.&nbsp;

Kansas man accused of $100,000 arson fire, burglary

BOSTON (AP) — State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday.

The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said.

Hostile activity in cyberspace — from espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attacks — has become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry.

Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/">said in a blog post</a>&nbsp;that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hacking — which seeks persistent access — are in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors.

Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-144a">published a joint advisory</a>&nbsp;sharing technical details on “the recently discovered cluster of activity.”

A Microsoft spokesman would not say why the software giant was making the announcement now or whether it had recently seen an uptick in targeting of critical infrastructure in Guam or at adjacent U.S. military facilities there, which include a major air base.

John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsoft's announcement “potentially a really important finding."

“We don’t see a lot of this sort of probing from China. It’s rare,” Hultquist said. “We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this.” China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed, not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict, he added.

Microsoft said the intrusion campaign placed a “strong emphasis on stealth” and sought to blend into normal network activity by hacking small-office network equipment, including routers. It said the intruders gained initial access through internet-facing Fortiguard devices, which are engineered to use machine-learning to detect malware.

The maker of Fortiguard devuces, Fortinet, did not immediately respond to an email seeking further details.

“For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly, urging mitigation of affected networks to prevent possible disruption. Bryan Vorndran, the FBI cyber division assistant director, called the intrusions “unacceptable tactics” in the same statement.

Tensions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-relations-ambassador-b599541d7af42fff9fa2783030c7c824">between Washington and Beijing</a>&nbsp;— which the U.S. national security establishment considers its main military, economic and strategic rival — have been on the rise in recent months.

Those tensions spiked last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-beijing-congress-8857910a1e44cefa70bc4dfd184ef880">visit to democratically governed Taiwan</a>, leading China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan.

U.S.-China relations became further strained earlier this year after the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-wang-yi-china-beijing-0f726ea0cd24731658412da3cae9adbf">shot down a Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;that had crossed the United States.

BOSTON (AP) — State-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises, Microsoft said Wednesday.The targets include sites in Guam, where the U.S. has a major military presence, the company said.Hostile activity in cyberspace — from espionage to the advanced positioning of malware for potential future attacks — has become a hallmark of modern geopolitical rivalry.Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/">said in a blog post</a>&nbsp;that the state-sponsored group of hackers, which it calls Volt Typhoon, has been active since mid-2021. It said organizations affected by the hacking — which seeks persistent access — are in the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, information technology and education sectors.Separately, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and their counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-144a">published a joint advisory</a>&nbsp;sharing technical details on “the recently discovered cluster of activity.”A Microsoft spokesman would not say why the software giant was making the announcement now or whether it had recently seen an uptick in targeting of critical infrastructure in Guam or at adjacent U.S. military facilities there, which include a major air base.John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's Mandiant cybersecurity intelligence operation, called Microsoft's announcement “potentially a really important finding."“We don’t see a lot of this sort of probing from China. It’s rare,” Hultquist said. “We know a lot about Russian and North Korean and Iranian cyber-capabilities because they have regularly done this.” China has generally withheld use of the kinds of tools that could be used to seed, not just intelligence-gathering capabilities, but also malware for disruptive attacks in an armed conflict, he added.Microsoft said the intrusion campaign placed a “strong emphasis on stealth” and sought to blend into normal network activity by hacking small-office network equipment, including routers. It said the intruders gained initial access through internet-facing Fortiguard devices, which are engineered to use machine-learning to detect malware.The maker of Fortiguard devuces, Fortinet, did not immediately respond to an email seeking further details.“For years, China has conducted aggressive cyber operations to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from organizations around the globe,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly, urging mitigation of affected networks to prevent possible disruption. Bryan Vorndran, the FBI cyber division assistant director, called the intrusions “unacceptable tactics” in the same statement.Tensions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-relations-ambassador-b599541d7af42fff9fa2783030c7c824">between Washington and Beijing</a>&nbsp;— which the U.S. national security establishment considers its main military, economic and strategic rival — have been on the rise in recent months.Those tensions spiked last year after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-beijing-congress-8857910a1e44cefa70bc4dfd184ef880">visit to democratically governed Taiwan</a>, leading China, which claims the island as its territory, to launch military exercises around Taiwan.U.S.-China relations became further strained earlier this year after the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-wang-yi-china-beijing-0f726ea0cd24731658412da3cae9adbf">shot down a Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;that had crossed the United States.

Microsoft: Chinese hackers could be laying groundwork for disruption

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Darryl L. Coleman, 63, of Topeka.

Just after 10p.m. Wednesday, were dispatched to the area of SW 21st Street and SW Seabrook Avenue on a report of a dark colored passenger struck a pedestrian later identified as Coleman and fled, according to Police Kerry Connell

Coleman was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries and died. Police released no additional details

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Darryl L. Coleman, 63, of Topeka.Just after 10p.m. Wednesday, were dispatched to the area of SW 21st Street and SW Seabrook Avenue on a report of a dark colored passenger struck a pedestrian later identified as Coleman and fled, according to Police Kerry ConnellColeman was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries and died. Police released no additional details

Hit-and-run: Kansas man struck by vehicle has died

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday sharply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf">limited the federal government's authority to police water pollution</a>&nbsp;into certain wetlands, the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority narrowed the reach of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">environmental regulations</a>.

The outcome could threaten efforts to control flooding on the Mississippi River and protect the Chesapeake Bay, among many projects, wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh, breaking with the other five conservatives.

The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-environment-lakes-pollution-water-pollution-31034c1d9df1a63cc0841b29ac7a3fe1">Idaho couple</a>&nbsp;who sought to build a house near Priest Lake in the state’s panhandle. Chantell and Michael Sackett objected when federal officials identified a soggy portion of the property as a wetlands that required them to get a permit before filling it with rocks and soil.

By a 5-4 vote, the court said in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that wetlands can only be regulated under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act">Clean Water Act</a>&nbsp;if they have a “continuous surface connection” to larger, regulated bodies of water. There is no such connection on the Sacketts’ property.

The court jettisoned the 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, allowing regulation of what can be discharged into wetlands that could affect the health of the larger waterways.

Kennedy's opinion covering wetlands that have a “significant nexus” to larger bodies of water had been the standard for evaluating whether permits were required for discharges under the 1972 landmark environmental law. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable.

Kansas First District Rep. Tracey Mann also praised the decision. In a statement from his office Mann wrote, " The U.S. Supreme Court decision is a big win for farmers, ranchers, and producers. This ruling will protect landowners' rights and limit government overreach under President Biden's Waters of the U.S. rule."

Environmental advocates said the new standard would strip protections from millions of acres of the wetlands across the country.

Reacting to the decision, Manish Bapna, the chief executive of the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, called on Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to restore wetlands protections and on states to strengthen their own laws.

“The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands. The majority chose to protect polluters at the expense of healthy wetlands and waterways. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price,” Bapna said in a statement.

The outcome almost certainly will affect ongoing court battles over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">new wetlands regulations</a>&nbsp;that the Biden administration put in place in December. Two federal judges have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clean-water-act-epa-wotus-89ec06b09016564b0d721a6de9a9efb0">temporarily blocked those rules</a>&nbsp;from being enforced in 26 states.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a state that the Clean Water Act has been responsible for “transformational progress” in cleaning up the nation's waterways. “I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections,” Regan said in a statement.

Damien Schiff, who represented the Sacketts at the Supreme Court, said the decision appropriately narrowed the reach of the law. “Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Today’s ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers,” Schiff said in a statement issued by the property rights-focused Pacific Legal Foundation.

In Thursday's ruling, all nine justices agreed that the wetlands on the Sacketts’ property are not covered by the act.

But only five justices joined in the opinion that imposed a new test for evaluating when wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alito would have adopted the narrower standard in 2006, in the last big wetlands case at the Supreme Court. They were joined Thursday by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.

Kavanaugh and the court’s three liberal justices charged that their colleagues had rewritten that law.

Kavanaugh wrote that the court’s “new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies’ regulatory authority.”

Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority’s rewriting of the act was “an effort to cabin the anti-pollution actions Congress thought appropriate.” Kagan referenced last year's decision limiting the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

In both cases, she noted, the court had appointed “itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy.” Kagan was joined in what she wrote by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The Sacketts paid $23,000 for a 0.63-acre lot near Priest Lake in 2005 and started building a three-bedroom home two years later.

They had filled part of the property, described in an appellate ruling as a “soggy residential lot,” with rocks and soil in preparation for construction, when officials with the Environmental Protection Agency showed up and ordered a halt in the work.

They also won an earlier round in their legal fight at the Supreme Court.

The federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the EPA’s determination in 2021, finding that part of the property, 300 feet from the lake and 30 feet from an unnamed waterway that flows into the lake, was wetlands.

The Sacketts’ own consultant had similarly advised them years ago that their property contained wetlands.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday sharply&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf">limited the federal government's authority to police water pollution</a>&nbsp;into certain wetlands, the second decision in as many years in which a conservative majority narrowed the reach of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">environmental regulations</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good news coming from the Supreme Court today rejecting the idea that a WOTUS can be every ditch, puddle, pond, and dry creek bed in America. Hopefully the EPA will heed this decision, and farmers and ranchers can have the predictability of regulations they deserve.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1661750001750642690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The outcome could threaten efforts to control flooding on the Mississippi River and protect the Chesapeake Bay, among many projects, wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh, breaking with the other five conservatives.The justices boosted property rights over concerns about clean water in a ruling in favor of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-environment-lakes-pollution-water-pollution-31034c1d9df1a63cc0841b29ac7a3fe1">Idaho couple</a>&nbsp;who sought to build a house near Priest Lake in the state’s panhandle. Chantell and Michael Sackett objected when federal officials identified a soggy portion of the property as a wetlands that required them to get a permit before filling it with rocks and soil.By a 5-4 vote, the court said in an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that wetlands can only be regulated under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act">Clean Water Act</a>&nbsp;if they have a “continuous surface connection” to larger, regulated bodies of water. There is no such connection on the Sacketts’ property.The court jettisoned the 17-year-old opinion by their former colleague, Anthony Kennedy, allowing regulation of what can be discharged into wetlands that could affect the health of the larger waterways.Kennedy's opinion covering wetlands that have a “significant nexus” to larger bodies of water had been the standard for evaluating whether permits were required for discharges under the 1972 landmark environmental law. Opponents had objected that the standard was vague and unworkable.Kansas First District Rep. Tracey Mann also praised the decision. In a statement from his office Mann wrote, " The U.S. Supreme Court decision is a big win for farmers, ranchers, and producers. This ruling will protect landowners' rights and limit government overreach under President Biden's Waters of the U.S. rule."Environmental advocates said the new standard would strip protections from millions of acres of the wetlands across the country.Reacting to the decision, Manish Bapna, the chief executive of the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, called on Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to restore wetlands protections and on states to strengthen their own laws.“The Supreme Court ripped the heart out of the law we depend on to protect American waters and wetlands. The majority chose to protect polluters at the expense of healthy wetlands and waterways. This decision will cause incalculable harm. Communities across the country will pay the price,” Bapna said in a statement.The outcome almost certainly will affect ongoing court battles over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-arizona-state-government-donald-trump-8d46b14c20cb0effcb52ace48220dcce">new wetlands regulations</a>&nbsp;that the Biden administration put in place in December. Two federal judges have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clean-water-act-epa-wotus-89ec06b09016564b0d721a6de9a9efb0">temporarily blocked those rules</a>&nbsp;from being enforced in 26 states.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a state that the Clean Water Act has been responsible for “transformational progress” in cleaning up the nation's waterways. “I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections,” Regan said in a statement.Damien Schiff, who represented the Sacketts at the Supreme Court, said the decision appropriately narrowed the reach of the law. “Courts now have a clear measuring stick for fairness and consistency by federal regulators. Today’s ruling is a profound win for property rights and the constitutional separation of powers,” Schiff said in a statement issued by the property rights-focused Pacific Legal Foundation.In Thursday's ruling, all nine justices agreed that the wetlands on the Sacketts’ property are not covered by the act.But only five justices joined in the opinion that imposed a new test for evaluating when wetlands are covered by the Clean Water Act. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Clarence Thomas and Alito would have adopted the narrower standard in 2006, in the last big wetlands case at the Supreme Court. They were joined Thursday by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.Kavanaugh and the court’s three liberal justices charged that their colleagues had rewritten that law.Kavanaugh wrote that the court’s “new and overly narrow test may leave long-regulated and long-accepted-to-be regulable wetlands suddenly beyond the scope of the agencies’ regulatory authority.”Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority’s rewriting of the act was “an effort to cabin the anti-pollution actions Congress thought appropriate.” Kagan referenced last year's decision limiting the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.In both cases, she noted, the court had appointed “itself as the national decision-maker on environmental policy.” Kagan was joined in what she wrote by her liberal colleagues Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.The Sacketts paid $23,000 for a 0.63-acre lot near Priest Lake in 2005 and started building a three-bedroom home two years later.They had filled part of the property, described in an appellate ruling as a “soggy residential lot,” with rocks and soil in preparation for construction, when officials with the Environmental Protection Agency showed up and ordered a halt in the work.They also won an earlier round in their legal fight at the Supreme Court.The federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the EPA’s determination in 2021, finding that part of the property, 300 feet from the lake and 30 feet from an unnamed waterway that flows into the lake, was wetlands.The Sacketts’ own consultant had similarly advised them years ago that their property contained wetlands.

Kan. Senator praises Court ruling for landowner in wetlands dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election.

Stewart Rhodes is the first person charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases.

It’s another milestone for the Justice Department’s sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs.

Before handing down the sentence, the judge told a defiant Rhodes that he is a continued threat to the U.S., saying it’s clear Rhodes “wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence.”

“The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government,” U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said.

It was one of the most consequential cases brought by the Justice Department, which has sought to prove that the riot by right-wing extremists like the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Biden’s election victory.

Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, who they say was the architect of a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power that included “quick reaction force” teams at a Virginia hotel to ferry weapons into D.C. if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed.

In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so.

“I’m a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country,” Rhodes said.

In a first for a Jan. 6 case, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for “terrorism,” under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through “intimidation or coercion.” Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Department’s request for the so-called “terrorism enhancement” — which can lead to a longer prison term — but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes’ case.

Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for “regime change,” the prosecutor said.

People “across the political spectrum” want to believe that Jan. 6 was an “outlier,” Rakoczy said. “Not defendant Rhodes.”

A lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes “the face” of January 6. Attorney Phillip Linder told the judge that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol “if he really wanted to” disrupt Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote.

“If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative,” Linder said.

Another Oath Keeper convicted alongside Rhodes in November — Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs — was expected to receive his sentence later Thursday.

Two other Oath Keepers, acquitted of the sedition charge but convicted of other offenses, will be sentenced Friday. And four other members found guilty of seditious conspiracy at a second trial in January are scheduled to be sentenced next week.

The convictions were a major blow for the Oath Keepers, which Rhodes founded in 2009 and grew into one of the largest far-right anti-government militia groups. Recruiting past and present members of the military and police officers, the group promotes the belief that the federal government is out to strip citizens of their civil liberties and paints its followers as defenders against tyranny.

Rhodes’ sentence may forecast what prosecutors will seek for former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside other leaders of his far-right group this month for what prosecutors said was a separate plot to block the transfer of presidential power. The Proud Boys will be sentenced in August and September.

Rhodes, 58, and the other Oath Keepers said there was never any plan to attack the Capitol or stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory. The defense tried to seize on the fact that none of the Oath Keepers’ messages laid out an explicit plan to storm the Capitol. But prosecutors said the Oath Keepers saw an opportunity to further their goal to stop the transfer of power and sprang into action when the mob began storming the building.

Messages, recordings and other evidence presented at trial show Rhodes and his followers growing increasingly enraged after the 2020 election at the prospect of a Biden presidency, which they viewed as a threat to the country and their way of life. In an encrypted chat two days after the election, Rhodes told his followers to prepare their “mind, body, spirit” for “civil war.”

In conference call days later, Rhodes urged his followers to let Trump know they were “willing to die” for the country. One Oath Keeper who was listening was so alarmed that he began recording the call and contacted the FBI, telling jurors “it sounded like we were going to war against the United States government.”

Another man testified that after the riot, Rhodes tried to persuade him to pass along a message to Trump that urged the president not to give up his fight to hold onto power. The intermediary — who told jurors he had an indirect way to reach the president — recorded his meeting with Rhodes and went to the FBI instead of giving the message to Trump. Rhodes told the man during that meeting that the Oath Keepers “should have brought rifles” on Jan. 6.

Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years for a man with a long criminal record who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Just over 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time and the remainder getting sentences such as probation or home detention.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669760612209.png" alt="-Rhodes from his Jan. 2022 arrest-photo Collin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>-Rhodes from his Jan. 2022 arrest-photo Collin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in his followers attacking the U.S. Capitol in a bid to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House after the 2020 election.Stewart Rhodes is the first person charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy, and his sentence is the longest that has been handed down so far in the hundreds of Capitol riot cases.It’s another milestone for the Justice Department’s sprawling Jan. 6 investigation, which has led to seditious conspiracy convictions against the top leaders of two far-right extremist groups authorities say came to Washington prepared to fight to keep President Donald Trump in power at all costs.Before handing down the sentence, the judge told a defiant Rhodes that he is a continued threat to the U.S., saying it’s clear Rhodes “wants democracy in this country to devolve into violence.”“The moment you are released, whenever that may be, you will be ready to take up arms against your government,” U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said.It was one of the most consequential cases brought by the Justice Department, which has sought to prove that the riot by right-wing extremists like the Oath Keepers was not a spur-of-the-moment protest but the culmination of weeks of plotting to overturn Biden’s election victory.Prosecutors had sought 25 years for Rhodes, who they say was the architect of a plot to forcibly disrupt the transfer of presidential power that included “quick reaction force” teams at a Virginia hotel to ferry weapons into D.C. if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed.In remarks shortly before the judge handed down the sentence, Rhodes slammed the prosecution as politically motivated, noted that he never went inside the Capitol and insisted he never told anyone else to do so.“I’m a political prisoner and like President Trump my only crime is opposing those who are destroying our country,” Rhodes said.In a first for a Jan. 6 case, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors to apply enhanced penalties for “terrorism,” under the argument that the Oath Keepers sought to influence the government through “intimidation or coercion.” Judges in previous sentencings had shot down the Justice Department’s request for the so-called “terrorism enhancement” — which can lead to a longer prison term — but Mehta said it fits in Rhodes’ case.Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is necessary to deter future political violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy pointed to interviews and speeches Rhodes has given from jail repeating the lie 2020 election was stolen and saying it would be again in 2024. In remarks just days ago, Rhodes called for “regime change,” the prosecutor said.People “across the political spectrum” want to believe that Jan. 6 was an “outlier,” Rakoczy said. “Not defendant Rhodes.”A lawyer for Rhodes, who plans to appeal his conviction, said prosecutors are unfairly trying to make Rhodes “the face” of January 6. Attorney Phillip Linder told the judge that Rhodes could have had many more Oath Keepers come to the Capitol “if he really wanted to” disrupt Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote.“If you want to put a face on J6 (Jan. 6), you put it on Trump, right-wing media, politicians, all the people who spun that narrative,” Linder said.Another Oath Keeper convicted alongside Rhodes in November — Florida chapter leader Kelly Meggs — was expected to receive his sentence later Thursday.Two other Oath Keepers, acquitted of the sedition charge but convicted of other offenses, will be sentenced Friday. And four other members found guilty of seditious conspiracy at a second trial in January are scheduled to be sentenced next week.The convictions were a major blow for the Oath Keepers, which Rhodes founded in 2009 and grew into one of the largest far-right anti-government militia groups. Recruiting past and present members of the military and police officers, the group promotes the belief that the federal government is out to strip citizens of their civil liberties and paints its followers as defenders against tyranny.Rhodes’ sentence may forecast what prosecutors will seek for former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside other leaders of his far-right group this month for what prosecutors said was a separate plot to block the transfer of presidential power. The Proud Boys will be sentenced in August and September.Rhodes, 58, and the other Oath Keepers said there was never any plan to attack the Capitol or stop Congress from certifying Biden’s victory. The defense tried to seize on the fact that none of the Oath Keepers’ messages laid out an explicit plan to storm the Capitol. But prosecutors said the Oath Keepers saw an opportunity to further their goal to stop the transfer of power and sprang into action when the mob began storming the building.Messages, recordings and other evidence presented at trial show Rhodes and his followers growing increasingly enraged after the 2020 election at the prospect of a Biden presidency, which they viewed as a threat to the country and their way of life. In an encrypted chat two days after the election, Rhodes told his followers to prepare their “mind, body, spirit” for “civil war.”In conference call days later, Rhodes urged his followers to let Trump know they were “willing to die” for the country. One Oath Keeper who was listening was so alarmed that he began recording the call and contacted the FBI, telling jurors “it sounded like we were going to war against the United States government.”Another man testified that after the riot, Rhodes tried to persuade him to pass along a message to Trump that urged the president not to give up his fight to hold onto power. The intermediary — who told jurors he had an indirect way to reach the president — recorded his meeting with Rhodes and went to the FBI instead of giving the message to Trump. Rhodes told the man during that meeting that the Oath Keepers “should have brought rifles” on Jan. 6.Before Thursday, the longest sentence in the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases was 14 years for a man with a long criminal record who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair as he stormed the Capitol. Just over 500 of the defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison time and the remainder getting sentences such as probation or home detention.

Oath Keepers boss sentenced for Jan. 6 riot; ongoing threat

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN - Just after 10am on Thursday morning, Manhattan Fire Department was called out to 1006 Pottawatomie Court on the report of a structure fire.

Upon arrival fire crews found a duplex with smoke coming from the building. After searching the house, the fire was contained within 10 minutes.

The occupant was not home at the time of the fire.&nbsp;

One cat was rescued from the fire and received treatment for smoke inhalation by Manhattan Fire Department firefighters and Riley County EMS personnel.

The residence is a single story duplex, with damage from the fire and smoke estimated at $20,000 to the contents of the home and $15,000 to the sturcture.

The owner of the property is listed as Housing Authority City of Manhattan. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685032438166.jpeg" alt="RCEMS and MFD treat cat rescued from house fire in Manhattan -photo Manhattan Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>RCEMS and MFD treat cat rescued from house fire in Manhattan -photo Manhattan Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - Just after 10am on Thursday morning, Manhattan Fire Department was called out to 1006 Pottawatomie Court on the report of a structure fire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685032757508.jpeg" alt="Firefighters at structure fire at 1006 Pottawatomie Ct, photo by Becky Goff" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters at structure fire at 1006 Pottawatomie Ct, photo by Becky Goff</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival fire crews found a duplex with smoke coming from the building. After searching the house, the fire was contained within 10 minutes.The occupant was not home at the time of the fire.&nbsp;One cat was rescued from the fire and received treatment for smoke inhalation by Manhattan Fire Department firefighters and Riley County EMS personnel.The residence is a single story duplex, with damage from the fire and smoke estimated at $20,000 to the contents of the home and $15,000 to the sturcture.<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/qUlvOuL5-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Fire On Pott Ct 1" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>The owner of the property is listed as Housing Authority City of Manhattan. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

🎥 Firefighters rescue cat in Kansas duplex fire 

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – announced their bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/734257CE-3EA1-4288-B18A-0516B756AA1D" target="_blank">Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law, according to a media release from Moran's office.

This legislation will increase compensation benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military survivors under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and their families, many of whom rely on the VA for financial support,”&nbsp;said Ranking Member Moran. “Ensuring their benefits keep pace with rising costs and inflation will help provide disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses and children with some peace of mind and provide them the stability they deserve. I appreciate my colleagues working to pass this legislation, and I look forward to it being signed into law.” “We’re at the finish line when it comes to delivering a cost of living increase for the 30,000 disabled veterans and survivors in my home state of Montana, giving these folks—and millions more across the country—a little peace of mind as they struggle to keep pace with rising costs,”&nbsp;said Chairman Tester.&nbsp;“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and they deserve certainty when it comes to providing for their families. On behalf of these brave men and women, I urge the President to sign our bipartisan bill into law without delay.”

The senators’&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;would increase certain VA benefits including disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children to reflect increases in the cost of living. It will directly benefit millions of disabled veterans and military survivors nationwide. The cost-of-living adjustment will be determined by the annual COLA adjustment to social security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration, and would go into effect December 1, 2023. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;is supported by the nation’s leading veterans and survivor groups, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives, TAPS, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661736234251.png" alt="Senator Moran with troops at Fort Riley in August-file phoeo" />
 <figcaption>Senator Moran with troops at Fort Riley in August-file phoeo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – announced their bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/734257CE-3EA1-4288-B18A-0516B756AA1D" target="_blank">Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law, according to a media release from Moran's office.This legislation will increase compensation benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military survivors under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).“We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and their families, many of whom rely on the VA for financial support,”&nbsp;said Ranking Member Moran. “Ensuring their benefits keep pace with rising costs and inflation will help provide disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses and children with some peace of mind and provide them the stability they deserve. I appreciate my colleagues working to pass this legislation, and I look forward to it being signed into law.” “We’re at the finish line when it comes to delivering a cost of living increase for the 30,000 disabled veterans and survivors in my home state of Montana, giving these folks—and millions more across the country—a little peace of mind as they struggle to keep pace with rising costs,”&nbsp;said Chairman Tester.&nbsp;“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and they deserve certainty when it comes to providing for their families. On behalf of these brave men and women, I urge the President to sign our bipartisan bill into law without delay.” The senators’&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;would increase certain VA benefits including disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children to reflect increases in the cost of living. It will directly benefit millions of disabled veterans and military survivors nationwide. The cost-of-living adjustment will be determined by the annual COLA adjustment to social security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration, and would go into effect December 1, 2023. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;is supported by the nation’s leading veterans and survivor groups, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives, TAPS, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Moran's bill on cost-of-living increase for vets heads to President’s desk

By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over whether two single mothers should have been sentenced to jail time because their children missed more days of school than the local district allowed.

The case centers on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=167.031">Missouri’s compulsory school attendance law</a>, which states that a parent must ensure their child attends “the academic program on a regular basis.”

Assistant Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang, representing the state, argued that the definition of “a regular basis” means attending school every day on the district’s schedule.

“Do I have to go to school everyday? The answer is yes,” he told six Supreme Court judges Wednesday morning. “You have to go to school every day that the school is in session.”

Ellen Flottman, a public defender representing Caitlyn Williams and Tamarae LaRue, argued the law is unconstitutionally vague and inconsistently applied.

“The state’s position is anti-parent. Most of the school districts are not prosecuting these parents,” Flottman said Wednesday. “Schools have to work with parents; they have to have policies because they want the kids to go to school.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1563804474455.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over whether two single mothers should have been sentenced to jail time because their children missed more days of school than the local district allowed.The case centers on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=167.031">Missouri’s compulsory school attendance law</a>, which states that a parent must ensure their child attends “the academic program on a regular basis.”Assistant Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang, representing the state, argued that the definition of “a regular basis” means attending school every day on the district’s schedule.“Do I have to go to school everyday? The answer is yes,” he told six Supreme Court judges Wednesday morning. “You have to go to school every day that the school is in session.”Ellen Flottman, a public defender representing Caitlyn Williams and Tamarae LaRue, argued the law is unconstitutionally vague and inconsistently applied.“The state’s position is anti-parent. Most of the school districts are not prosecuting these parents,” Flottman said Wednesday. “Schools have to work with parents; they have to have policies because they want the kids to go to school.”“But this is a kindergartener and a first grader. Is missing one day in November and one day in December going to hurt this kindergartener’s education that much?”<h2>Case Background</h2>Williams and LaRue’s children attended school in the Lebanon R-III School District, about an hour outside of Springfield.The district has a 16.1% poverty rate,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://data.census.gov/profile/Lebanon_R-III_School_District,_Missouri?g=9700000US2918270">according to U.S. Census Bureau data</a>, compared to Missouri’s 12.7% poverty rate.During the 2021-2022 school year, Williams’ six-year-old daughter missed 16 days of school before the district filed a probable cause statement. A Laclede County Circuit Court judge charged Williams with a misdemeanor and sentenced her to seven days in jail.Williams called her daughter out from school sick for six of the absences, but the school counts these as “verified” but not “excused” and tallies the hours and minutes of missed instructional time toward her percentage.The district’s handbook, which parents check a box that they have read when they register online, says parents must notify the school of absences but it does not clarify the difference between “verified” and “excused” absences, such as those with a doctor’s note.“My clients were not acting knowingly…. They’re being misled by the school handbook and the school administrators,” Flottman said Wednesday.The handbook also says: “The state mandates that students maintain 90% or higher attendance each year in school and that continued and valuable learning cannot take place without regular attendance.”State statute does not mandate a 90% attendance rate, though students who maintain this level of attendance contribute greater to school accreditation, Mackelprang said Wednesday.Mackelprang argued in a filing in the case that high attendance contributes toward a school’s funding.“Daily attendance, even down to the hour, has important consequences for schools and, by extension, all of the students at a given school,” Mackelprang wrote.LaRue’s six-year-old son was absent 13 days, according to Flottman, and LaRue called the school with explanation for six of those absences. The district says his attendance, based on the number of hours present, is just under 80%.Court documents say LaRue gave the following reasons for her son’s absence: Doctor appointment, fever, at dad’s in Iowa, another appointment, overslept and sick. Documents mention siblings and that the family contracted COVID-19 during the school year.LaRue was sentenced to 15 days in jail by a different Laclede County Circuit Court judge than Williams, but the sentence was changed to two years of probation.<h2>Arguments</h2>Flottman’s argument was three-pronged: The parents didn’t know that they were violating the rules because the handbook didn’t state that absences without doctor’s notes are unexcused; the circuit court failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the children’s absences were beyond regular attendance; and the state statute is “unconstitutionally vague” by failing to define what “regular” attendance means.She opened the arguments by saying she attends church “on a regular basis,” although she missed a service recently and has a vacation planned.“The state has argued that regular means every day,” she said as Judge W. Brent Powell interrupted her.Powell said he liked her church analogy but asked if the nonattendance rules were like the speed limit, where not everyone that gets caught breaking the law gets a ticket but officers have discretion on what is too far.Flottman responded by using an example introduced in Mackelprang’s brief,&nbsp;the Wisconsin compulsory school attendance law which says children should attend school “regularly.” The Wisconsin Court of Appeals defined “regularly” as “constantly and uniformly,” Mackelprang wrote.Flottman said the state’s argument also helped her clients, for Wisconsin’s law has a “specific schema,” she said Wednesday.“Missouri doesn’t give that kind of guidance to parents,” she said.Judge Mary R. Russell inquired Mackelprang about why Missouri lawmakers didn’t include more specificity in the attendance law.“Why would the legislature choose to write it this way instead of in a way that is more articulate?” she asked.“They just have to write it in a way that is adequate,” Mackelprang said.“So, is the legislature leaving it up to local school districts how to enforce this word?” Russell asked, inquiring about the definition of “regular attendance.” “How to interpret this word?”“There probably is some discretion of when they are going to go to the prosecutor with it,” Mackelprang said.Flottman said she was worried about this leniency allowing schools to apply different standards to students.“The students that take a day off to go deer hunting or their parents who take their children out of school for a week to go to Disney World are not being prosecuted for this. So there’s a difference between prosecutorial discretion and arbitrary enforcement,” she said.Judge Robin Ransom asked if she would make the same argument if it were not a criminal case.“I do think the criminalization of this certainly has to do with it. We’re talking about the liberty of people who are just trying to do the best they can,” Flottman said.She said she would argue that the state should get involved to provide services to get the children to school.Mackelprang said the statute is not “anti-parent.” He said parents are in control of young children and have options to homeschool or enroll them in private school.“Women make the decision to enroll them in a public school, like the parents did in this case,” he said. “They’re subject to the terms of this statute.”The judges can’t base their decision on violations of the school handbook, for the state’s case is that Williams and LaRue broke state law.