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

WASHINGTON — A U.S. default on its debt would have a significantly broader impact on federal operations, financial markets and the global economy than recent government shutdowns that have left ordinary Americans largely untouched.

While the two have been confused frequently during debate over the debt limit, the federal government has had considerable practice with partial government shutdowns during the past decade — unlike a default on the debt, which would be uncharted territory. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned default could come as soon as June 1 without an agreement between Congress and President Joe Biden.

Government shutdowns don’t hit payments for Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, since Congress places those programs in the mandatory category that’s exempt from the annual government funding process and therefore predominantly exempt from funding lapses.

A default would potentially reduce payments that keep millions of households afloat, as well as payments to states and providers for health care for elderly and low-income Americans.

Government shutdowns don’t affect the financial markets that much anymore, meaning Americans’ retirement accounts typically don’t start shrinking the longer a lapse in government operations extends.

Economists expect that would be much different in an unprecedented debt default.

William Galston, Ezra K. Zilkha chair and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said partial government shutdowns and a default on the debt are “almost like mirror images of each other.”

“In the first case, there’s money available but no plan to authorize and appropriate expenditures of that money. That’s when the government shuts down,” explained Galston, who served as a top domestic official in the Clinton administration.

“When you reach the debt limit, the government has already enacted programs — some of which are permanent programs, like Social Security and Medicare — but it no longer has the money to pay for them, because it can’t borrow what it needs to fill the gap between what it’s taking in and what it would have to put out,” he added.

That even includes the military. The Pentagon is bracing for a series of “severe” and unknown consequences for troops and national security should lawmakers fail to address the debt ceiling, officials told States Newsroom.

“Because there is no precedent for a default, it is difficult to know the precise impacts on specific federal programs. But what’s clear is that, without the ability for the federal government to borrow funds, there is a very real potential that any government program or payment would be halted or severely delayed,” a Pentagon spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Here are more of the specific ways a default could roll across America:

Social Security:&nbsp;If the U.S. government defaults, payments to the estimated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/basicfact-alt.pdf">67 million</a>&nbsp;people who are relying on Social Security this year could be delayed.

Social Security is the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11615">largest</a>&nbsp;government program in terms of how many Americans are affected by it, including retired workers and dependents, people with disabilities and surviving dependents of deceased workers who count on Social Security payments as a major source of income.

A temporary disruption in payments to those who depend on Social Security income to pay their own bills could result in “impacts that would ripple through the economy at-large,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/default-would-have-a-catastrophic-impact-on-the-economy/">wrote</a>&nbsp;Jean Ross, a senior fellow for economic policy at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress.

At the end of 2022, roughly 48.6 million retired workers along with 2.7 million of their dependents relied on Social Security checks that averaged $1,825 a month, according to the Social Security Agency.

The U.S.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4a3.html">spent</a>&nbsp;$1.2 trillion on Social Security benefits in 2022.

“The short story here is that U.S. taxpayers owe people money because of legislation enacted in the past. We can talk about what kinds of recent legislation have pushed up federal borrowing means, but in fact some of this legislation was passed 90 years ago,” said Wendy Edelberg,&nbsp;director of The Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in economic studies at the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution, on a call Thursday with a group of economists.

“We owe interest to those who have lent to the U.S. by purchasing Treasury securities. We owe (money to) doctors and hospitals who have treated Medicare and Medicaid patients, and millions of people are entitled to benefits,” said Edelberg.

The Social Security Administration referred all questions about a possible default to the U.S. Treasury. Treasury did not respond to an inquiry for more information.

Veterans benefits:&nbsp;Veterans Administration Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said he does not have a “blueprint for what happens to the VA” if lawmakers do not strike a deal in the coming days. The Treasury Department will soon exhaust all special accounting maneuvers it has been using since January when the U.S. hit its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.

“Because there is no precedent for a default, it is difficult to know the precise impacts on specific federal programs. But what is clear is that, without the ability for the federal government to borrow funds, there is a very real potential that any government program or payment would be halted or severely delayed,” Hayes said in an emailed statement to States Newsroom.

The Treasury makes payments totaling $25 billion on behalf of the VA each month, according to the agency.

“There are 4 million disabled veterans whose payments are scheduled for June 1, and those payments are now uncertain,” Edelberg, citing recent estimates.

A more detailed list of those payments, according to the VA’s figures, include:

Hayes also said there is a risk that the VA’s vendors could decide “to reduce or completely cease providing goods and services to VA if payment was uncertain.”

“As President Biden has made clear, a default would be catastrophic for the American people and for our nation’s Veterans,” he said.

Medicare and Medicaid:&nbsp;Government payments to physicians, skilled nursing homes, hospitals and insurance companies could lag behind if lawmakers do not raise the U.S. borrowing limit so that the government can pay its bills on time.

As of September 2022, more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/pillar/expand-access">65 million</a>&nbsp;Americans were enrolled in Medicare, the federal program that pays for health care for Americans age 65 and up and certain younger people with disabilities.

Medicare plans are categorized into four options — parts A, B, C and D — that range from inpatient hospital stay coverage to prescription drug benefits and various medical services in between. As of 2022, 49 million Americans relied on Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage.

“Private practices, hospitals, and community health centers, many of which run on tight budgets and rely on timely payments for providing services, would be in the unprecedented situation of being unsure of whether they will be paid for providing care to patients covered by Medicaid and Medicare,” said Antoinette Kraus, spokesperson for the advocacy group Pennsylvania Health Access Network.

“A default would create tremendous uncertainty for doctors and patients alike. Patients who are receiving treatment for a serious health condition or who require regular care for a disability or chronic condition could find themselves unable to get the care they need,” Kraus said.

Low-income individuals, including children, disabled or pregnant persons, and seniors, can receive health care coverage under Medicaid, a joint federal-state program that provides medical and long-term care.

Of the more than 93 million Americans enrolled in some form of Medicaid, 46.2% were children, according to January&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.html#:~:text=93%2C008%2C246%20individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in,individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in%20CHIP.">data</a>&nbsp;released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

“It is very likely that federal Medicaid payments to states would, along with many other obligations of the federal government, be delayed,” said Kate McEvoy, head of the National Association of Medicaid Directors. “Default is a very different scenario from an impasse in settling the federal budget, in which case payments for Medicaid and other entitlements continue to be made.”

Most nursing home residents&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10343">rely</a>&nbsp;on Medicaid and Medicare to cover their care, meaning a potential default is especially alarming to the industry.

“With the long term care industry already experiencing a historic workforce crisis and recovering from the pandemic, any disruption of lifeline reimbursements will result in devastating consequences for our nation’s most vulnerable individuals who need access to care. However, we remain optimistic that policymakers will come to a solution,” said a spokesperson for the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, which identifies itself as the largest association in the U.S. representing long-term care facilities.

Federal employees:&nbsp;During a partial government shutdown, exempt federal employees report to work without pay, while non-exempt federal workers are sent home without pay — a situation Congress remedies once they reach a funding agreement. The exempt employees keep the government functioning.

American Federation of Government Employees Public Policy Director Jacqueline Simon said a default on the debt that lasts long enough for federal employees to miss a paycheck would be a vastly different experience than what they’ve dealt with during past shutdowns.

The union, which represents 750,000 workers within the federal government and the District of Columbia’s local government, hasn’t sent any guidance to its members about what to do if they don’t get paid during a default.

“This is an unprecedented situation and operations will be in uncharted waters,” Simon said. “And there’s no way to make guidance based on law.”

Public safety employees, Simon said, have worked without pay during past partial government shutdowns with a promise they’d get paid eventually when a bipartisan agreement was struck — something she expects they would do after a debt default is resolved.

“In previous shutdowns, public safety employees have been called into work, expected to show up to work with the promise that they’d get paid eventually when the appropriations bills pass,” Simon said.

“I assume there’d be a similar kind of situation where you don’t even need appropriations bills to pass, you just need the default to end,” she said, later adding that because the United States has never defaulted, “nobody really knows.”

Substance use prevention and recovery, mental health:&nbsp;The U.S. is facing a staggering drug overdose epidemic, and many states and local governments rely on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46426">federal grants</a>&nbsp;for prevention and treatment efforts.

Drug overdose rates in the U.S. have risen fivefold in the past two decades, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db457.htm#:~:text=Drug%20overdose%20deaths%20have%20risen,increased%20from%2017.1%20to%2019.6.">study</a>&nbsp;published in December. In 2021

the CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/202205.htm">tracked</a>&nbsp;a record 107,622 overdose deaths — 71,238 of them were due to man-made, illegal fentanyl substances, an issue in the crosshairs of both Democrats and Republicans.

Illicit fentanyl ending up in other drugs — for example, counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine and heroin — has been the target of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dea.gov/onepill">federal agencies</a>&nbsp;and the subject of multiple congressional hearings and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/01/26/u-s-house-gop-takes-aim-at-fake-pills-containing-deadly-fentanyl-sold-on-social-media/">roundtables</a>.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, administers two major grant programs: one for substance abuse prevention and treatment services, the other for mental health services.

The agency, housed under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46426">devoted</a>&nbsp;65% of its 5.89 billion program budget in 2020 to treatment programs.

Facilities that receive federal dollars could be in limbo if the government defaults.

“It’s a little hard to tell. I don’t know if the publicly funded facilities would stop accepting patients or if they would assume that it’s going to be paid at a later date. And, you know, it’s just so unclear and up in the air because this is such an unusual situation,” said Mark Dunn, director of public policy for the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.

SAMHSA did not respond to requests for comment.

National defense:&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2024-budget-request-for-the-department-of-defense">told</a>&nbsp;Senate appropriators on May 11 that a potential default brings uncertainty for the over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://demographics.militaryonesource.mil/chapter-1-total-military-force">3.4 million</a>&nbsp;military personnel and the U.S. military’s global presence and commitments.

“There is substantial risk to our reputation,” Austin testified. “Again, we are viewed as being a source of stability globally. And we always pay our debts, and there’s just a number of things that we’re working with allies and partners on and that would come into question as to whether or not we’ll be able to execute programs.

“But most importantly, this will affect the livelihood of our troops and our civilians. We won’t be able to pay people like we should and, and I think that’s something that China and everybody else can exploit,” he continued.

USDA food assistance:&nbsp;One in four Americans, from infants to seniors, participate in one of the 15 food and nutrition assistance programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Many of those programs offer monthly assistance, such as the&nbsp;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and&nbsp;the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, referred to as WIC.

If the government defaults, monthly payments to more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/34SNAPmonthly-5.pdf">42.5 million Americans on&nbsp;</a>SNAP, and monthly payments to the more than 6 million families on WIC, could be delayed.

The recent bill that House Republicans barely&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2023/04/26/u-s-house-gop-pushes-through-debt-ceiling-increase-coupled-with-massive-spending-cuts/">passed</a>&nbsp;that would&nbsp;temporarily raise the U.S. borrowing limit also tightened access to food and assistance for low-income Americans by&nbsp;expediting the effective dates for safety net work requirements — from 2025 to 2024 for SNAP.

SNAP already has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/work-requirements">two sets of work requirements.</a>

Another program that could be affected if there are delays in payments is the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, where each month USDA sends packed foods to about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/fdpir-program-fact-sheet-2020-for%20website.pdf">84,000 individuals on Native American reservations.</a>

A USDA spokesperson said in an email that the exact impact of certain federal programs can depend on uncertain factors.

“But what’s clear is that, without the ability for the federal government to borrow funds, there is a very real potential that any government program or payment would be halted or severely delayed,” the spokesperson said.

S<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=104891#:~:text=The%20USDA%27s%20National%20School%20Lunch,schools%20and%20residential%20childcare%20institutions.">chool lunches</a>, which USDA provides for more than 30 million children each day, could also be affected.

Other child nutrition programs that could get wrapped up in payment delays include the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program and the Special Milk Program.

Lisa Davis, the senior vice president of the No Kid Hungry campaign at Share Our Strength, said in an email that a default would have a devastating impact on families and individuals who rely on food assistance programs such as SNAP. Share Our Strength is a national organization that aims to end child hunger and poverty in the U.S.

“Not only is SNAP being used as a bargaining chip in these negotiations, but the people who benefit from this critical program will be some of the individuals hit hardest if a government default becomes reality,” she said.

Farmers could also run into problems if there are delays to any USDA payments, ranging from crop insurance payouts to new loans for expanding farming operations.

USDA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/05/01/usda-providing-130-million-assistance-help-farmers-facing-financial">announced</a>&nbsp;in early May an additional $130 million in&nbsp;automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. For those who qualify, they will receive automatic payments from the Farm Service Agency, but those funds could be delayed if the country were to default on its debt.

Homeland security:&nbsp;If the U.S. government were to default, it would mean the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would have to delay payments to various private contractors such as those that run&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement&nbsp;detention facilities, and even delays in grants to nonprofits that provide aid and transportation to migrants seeking asylum.

It would also mean that the more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/tsa-glance">50,000&nbsp;Transportation Security Administration&nbsp;employee</a>s across more than 440 airports could have their paychecks delayed.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to States Newsroom’s request for comment.

Court proceedings before immigration judges would also be delayed. There is already a more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/us-immigration-backlogs-mounting-undermine-biden">1.6 million backlog of cases</a>.

The Department of Justice, which handles immigration court proceedings, did not respond to State Newsroom’s request for comment.

Highways and transit:&nbsp;The Highway Trust Fund, which sends money from federal gas and diesel taxes to states for road and transit maintenance and construction, could also see a rare disruption in outlays.

On paper, the trust fund has a healthy balance — it was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwaytrustfund/">$94.2 billion</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of April.

But if Treasury doesn’t have the money to actually spend, that could mean payments from the trust fund would be delayed, said Jeff Davis, a transportation spending expert and senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation, a nonpartisan think tank.

After making debt service payments, there’s no clear indication what already-obligated spending would take priority, putting highway and transit funds on par with scores of other programs, Davis said, cautioning that his analysis was provisional because it was not backed by precedent or Treasury Department guidance.

“I think they’re going to have to wait in line with everybody else,” Davis said of Highway Trust Fund payments if the debt limit is hit. “Just because there’s theoretically that much money in the trust fund doesn’t make a difference if there’s actually no dollars in the Treasury.”

Conservation:&nbsp;Conservation advocates won a huge legislative victory in 2020 when Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act that provided $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and removed the fund from the annual appropriations process by classifying it as mandatory spending.

Prior to 2020, the fund, which is filled by fees on offshore oil and gas development and used to protect national parks and forests, wildlife refuges, coasts and other natural areas and provides matching grants for state and local recreation projects, was subject to periodic fights over its funding levels and — at times — its continued existence.

Proponents considered the 2020 law approving the fund in perpetuity a once-in-a-generation victory. Montana Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a leading proponent of the measure, thanked then-President Donald Trump “for signing the most important piece of conservation legislation in over 50 years.”

But a default could reintroduce the uncertainty proponents thought they’d erased with the 2020 law.

“A default would be an economic disaster across the board — even in ways we don’t know yet,” U.S. House Natural Resources ranking member Raúl Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, said in a written statement. “The Treasury would likely have to make tough calls about extraordinary measures to redirect mandatory funds to pay our debt, so even widely beloved programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund could be at-risk.”

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Interior Department, which manages the fund, declined to comment on what would happen in a potential default.

“We can’t speculate on unforeseen circumstances,” the spokeswoman, Melissa Schwartz, wrote in an email.

Similarly, Daines spokeswoman Rachel Dumke declined to entertain the possibility of default

“Senator Daines does not see a default on the national debt as an option and he is calling on President Biden to make a deal with Speaker McCarthy as soon as possible to avoid a crisis,” she wrote in an email.

Housing assistance:&nbsp;A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said in an email that “without the ability for the federal government to borrow funds, there is a very real potential that any government program or payment would be halted or severely delayed.”

HUD handles rental assistance, housing vouchers, claims of unfair housing practices, obtaining affordable loans and public housing among other things.

“Some of HUD’s key agency programs and initiatives, which play a vital role for Americans across the country, could be halted or severely delayed … which would impact our nation’s most vulnerable communities,” the spokesperson said.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_23_045">Earlier this year</a>, the agency announced more than 2,400 grants totaling $5.6 billion in funding for 1,200 communities across the U.S. for community development, homeless assistance and affordable housing. Payments to those programs could be delayed if the government defaults.

How default on the U.S. debt would be far worse than a gov't shutdown

WASHINGTON —President Biden and President&nbsp;Zelenskyy&nbsp;met Sunday at the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan to reaffirm that that the United States will continue to stand with our Ukrainian partners as they defend themselves from Russia’s war of aggression.

Pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken authorized the 38th drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine.

The $375 million security assistance package&nbsp; includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, armored medical treatment vehicles, trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment, spare parts and other field equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield.

In addition, President Biden told leaders in Japan over the weekend that the U.S. will participate in the F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots, and that decisions on providing the jets will come later.

Officials said it's still not clear if the U.S. will simply allow other nations to send F-16s to Ukraine, or if the U.S. will also send some. And there are no estimates on how many of the jets will be provided or when. Officials acknowledge that it will not be in time for the anticipated spring offensive.

&nbsp;The Pentagon also announce Friday it overestimated the value of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-funding-security-war-russia-d27594b9b26beff6bcee4b7a2ec8424b">weapons it has sent to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;by at least $3 billion — an accounting error that could be a boon for the war effort because it will allow the Defense Department to send more weapons now without asking Congress for more money.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684687231879.png" alt="President Zelensky met with President Biden at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Sunday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>President Zelensky met with President Biden at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Sunday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —President Biden and President&nbsp;Zelenskyy&nbsp;met Sunday at the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan to reaffirm that that the United States will continue to stand with our Ukrainian partners as they defend themselves from Russia’s war of aggression.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The world hears our position. Protection and security guarantees, the return of all our territories, all our people, justice, the implementation of our Peace Formula... We have an understanding with the world majority on every important point for 🇺🇦. And together we will increase… <a href="https://t.co/AIP7ik2URK">pic.twitter.com/AIP7ik2URK</a>&mdash; Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1660346374578135041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pursuant to a delegation of authority from President Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken authorized the 38th drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine.The $375 million security assistance package&nbsp; includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, armored medical treatment vehicles, trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment, spare parts and other field equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield.In addition, President Biden told leaders in Japan over the weekend that the U.S. will participate in the F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots, and that decisions on providing the jets will come later.Officials said it's still not clear if the U.S. will simply allow other nations to send F-16s to Ukraine, or if the U.S. will also send some. And there are no estimates on how many of the jets will be provided or when. Officials acknowledge that it will not be in time for the anticipated spring offensive.&nbsp;The Pentagon also announce Friday it overestimated the value of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-funding-security-war-russia-d27594b9b26beff6bcee4b7a2ec8424b">weapons it has sent to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;by at least $3 billion — an accounting error that could be a boon for the war effort because it will allow the Defense Department to send more weapons now without asking Congress for more money.

U.S. sending Ukraine another $375 million in additional military aid

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a 19-year-old from Wichita.

Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located a woman with two gunshot wounds to her upper body. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed that the victim was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and the&nbsp; suspect identified as 19-year-old La’Niha Banks in a parking lot. 

After the victim managed to stop the fight, she started to drive away, but the Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.

During the investigation, detectives were able to confirm Banks as the suspect. She was last seen fleeing in a red 2014 Buick Lacrosse with a paper 60-day tag.

Detectives are working on locating Banks. She is wanted requested charges of aggravated battery, five counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and one count of attempted murder. She is considered armed and dangerous. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684684649459.png" alt="Banks-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Banks-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a 19-year-old from Wichita.Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders located a woman with two gunshot wounds to her upper body. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed that the victim was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and the&nbsp; suspect identified as 19-year-old La’Niha Banks in a parking lot. After the victim managed to stop the fight, she started to drive away, but the Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684688157483.png" alt="photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>During the investigation, detectives were able to confirm Banks as the suspect. She was last seen fleeing in a red 2014 Buick Lacrosse with a paper 60-day tag.Detectives are working on locating Banks. She is wanted requested charges of aggravated battery, five counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and one count of attempted murder. She is considered armed and dangerous.

Search continues for armed, dangerous Kansas shooting suspect

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide at a Kansas Home.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to assist the fire department after a body was found inside a house fire in the 700 Block of Broadview Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

The death is being investigated as a homicide. Police reported no additional details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide at a Kansas Home.Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to assist the fire department after a body was found inside a house fire in the 700 Block of Broadview Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.The death is being investigated as a homicide. Police reported no additional details.

Homicide investigation: Body found in Kan. house fire

LINCOLN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Lincoln County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1975 Chevy Silverado driven by Justin L. Riffle, 43, Elsberry, was westbound on Highway E just east of Lincoln Lane Road.

The pickup traveled off the left side of the road, returned to the road, traveled off the right side of the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.&nbsp; Riffle was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LINCOLN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Lincoln County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1975 Chevy Silverado driven by Justin L. Riffle, 43, Elsberry, was westbound on Highway E just east of Lincoln Lane Road.The pickup traveled off the left side of the road, returned to the road, traveled off the right side of the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.&nbsp; Riffle was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after ejected when pickup overturns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A security guard was one of the three people killed in a shooting at a Kansas City bar early Sunday that also wounded two others, including one critically wounded, according to family members.

Police haven't yet identified the victims, and they didn't release many details Sunday about what led to the shooting just before the Klymax Lounge's 1:30 a.m. closing time. And no one answered the phone at the bar Sunday afternoon after it was scheduled to open.

Honystye Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275640031.html">told the Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that her stepfather, 41-year-old Jason McConnell, was killed in the shooting while working security at the door of the bar. After she rushed to the bar, Chancellor said, people in the crowd told her that the shooting happened just as the local rapper who was performing at the club was leaving.

The rapper who performs under the name “Nutty Still Gassin” had posted a live video from the club earlier in the night before the shooting happened on his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/clarence.henderson.7982">Facebook page</a>.

Kansas City police said that when multiple officers arrived at the bar, they found five victims and began providing medical aid.

Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital. Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately available, and it wasn’t immediately clear where the victims were when they were shot.

Police said the victims were all adults, but their ages and identities were not immediately available.

Chancellor told the newspaper that McConnell was well known at the club because he was friendly and could talk to anyone. He also worked at a diner and managed a wireless communications store in the area, she said.

Chancellor said that McConnell encouraged her to turn away from violence after she got into fights often as a kid, and he was “good and nice and always trying to keep us on the right path.”

She said McConnell was a sneakerhead who likely owned over 100 pairs of shoes and had a 15-year-old son. Chancellor said she and her brother spent the night curled up in bed together with their mother after she returned from Klymax after they got the news.

On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684708013628.png" alt="On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A security guard was one of the three people killed in a shooting at a Kansas City bar early Sunday that also wounded two others, including one critically wounded, according to family members.Police haven't yet identified the victims, and they didn't release many details Sunday about what led to the shooting just before the Klymax Lounge's 1:30 a.m. closing time. And no one answered the phone at the bar Sunday afternoon after it was scheduled to open.Honystye Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275640031.html">told the Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that her stepfather, 41-year-old Jason McConnell, was killed in the shooting while working security at the door of the bar. After she rushed to the bar, Chancellor said, people in the crowd told her that the shooting happened just as the local rapper who was performing at the club was leaving.The rapper who performs under the name “Nutty Still Gassin” had posted a live video from the club earlier in the night before the shooting happened on his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/clarence.henderson.7982">Facebook page</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684669834332.png" alt="Two of the victims died at the scene, according to Police -Photo Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Two of the victims died at the scene, according to Police -Photo Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City police said that when multiple officers arrived at the bar, they found five victims and began providing medical aid.Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital. Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately available, and it wasn’t immediately clear where the victims were when they were shot.Police said the victims were all adults, but their ages and identities were not immediately available.Chancellor told the newspaper that McConnell was well known at the club because he was friendly and could talk to anyone. He also worked at a diner and managed a wireless communications store in the area, she said.Chancellor said that McConnell encouraged her to turn away from violence after she got into fights often as a kid, and he was “good and nice and always trying to keep us on the right path.”She said McConnell was a sneakerhead who likely owned over 100 pairs of shoes and had a 15-year-old son. Chancellor said she and her brother spent the night curled up in bed together with their mother after she returned from Klymax after they got the news.On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.

Security guard among 3 dead in shooting at Kansas City bar

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, Andrew X. Hernandez, 46, of Tulsa, OK, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of weapons, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Driving while license suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684673704072.png" alt="Hernandez-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 1a.m. Saturday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found methamphetamine.The driver of the vehicle, Andrew X. Hernandez, 46, of Tulsa, OK, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of weapons, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Driving while license suspended.

Oklahoma man accused of trying to sell meth in Kansas

KANSAS CITY—&nbsp; A Kansas City&nbsp; man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for the armed robbery of a pizza delivery driver, after a suspect involved in the robbery was killed during a shootout with police officers.

Samuel M. David, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 12 years and three months in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.

On Aug. 4, 2022, David pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.

His sister and co-defendant, Rochelle E. David, 24, was sentenced in January to 14 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to the same crimes.

Rochelle David placed an order for pizza to a Pizza Hut restaurant on Oct. 19, 2020, in order to lure a Pizza Hut employee to her address to conduct an armed robbery with the assistance of Samuel David and Ennice Ross. When the delivery driver arrived at about 10:18 p.m., Samuel David and Ross confronted him in the parking lot. Ross displayed a firearm in his waistband and Samuel David demanded the driver’s money. Samuel David went through the driver’s pockets, taking a wallet and knife from him. They also took $100 in cash from the driver’s vehicle.

Ross ordered the delivery driver to take them to an ATM to withdraw more money from the driver’s bank account. The driver took them to a gas station, where Samuel David attempted to use the driver’s bank card to withdraw money from an ATM. Samuel David returned to the car and told Ross he wasn’t able to withdraw any money. Samuel David stabbed the driver in the hand with the driver’s knife.

Samuel David ordered the delivery driver to take them to his residence in Gladstone, Mo., where he lived with his parents, while Rochelle David followed in a separate vehicle. Samuel David and Ross accompanied the driver into his residence, where they encountered the driver’s parents. Ross stayed with the driver’s parents while Samuel David walked the driver to his bedroom, where the driver opened a safe that contained approximately $2,000. Samuel David took the safe, and he and Ross left the residence.

On Oct. 23, 2020, police officers were conducting surveillance in the area where the armed robberies occurred in an effort to locate Rochelle David in connection with an unrelated homicide investigation. She was seen leaving the apartment building in a vehicle with Samuel David and Ross. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in the area of Admiral and Tracy. Samuel David and another person got out of the vehicle, but Rochelle David and Ross stayed in the vehicle. Rochelle David told Ross that one of the officers who stopped them was the one who recently chased her. Shortly before she got out of the vehicle, she told Ross, “Shoot the one with the red hair first.” Rochelle David then got out of the vehicle, after which Ross opened his door and fired on officers with his gun. The officers returned fire, which resulted in his death.

After being arrested, Rochelle David was questioned about the homicide. She admitted that Ross wanted to kill a homeless person and she was with him when they picked up a homeless man in Kansas City on Oct. 21, 2020. They drove around for a time with the victim, then Ross got out of the vehicle and she saw him shoot the victim.

KANSAS CITY—&nbsp; A Kansas City&nbsp; man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for the armed robbery of a pizza delivery driver, after a suspect involved in the robbery was killed during a shootout with police officers.Samuel M. David, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 12 years and three months in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.On Aug. 4, 2022, David pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.His sister and co-defendant, Rochelle E. David, 24, was sentenced in January to 14 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to the same crimes.Rochelle David placed an order for pizza to a Pizza Hut restaurant on Oct. 19, 2020, in order to lure a Pizza Hut employee to her address to conduct an armed robbery with the assistance of Samuel David and Ennice Ross. When the delivery driver arrived at about 10:18 p.m., Samuel David and Ross confronted him in the parking lot. Ross displayed a firearm in his waistband and Samuel David demanded the driver’s money. Samuel David went through the driver’s pockets, taking a wallet and knife from him. They also took $100 in cash from the driver’s vehicle.Ross ordered the delivery driver to take them to an ATM to withdraw more money from the driver’s bank account. The driver took them to a gas station, where Samuel David attempted to use the driver’s bank card to withdraw money from an ATM. Samuel David returned to the car and told Ross he wasn’t able to withdraw any money. Samuel David stabbed the driver in the hand with the driver’s knife.Samuel David ordered the delivery driver to take them to his residence in Gladstone, Mo., where he lived with his parents, while Rochelle David followed in a separate vehicle. Samuel David and Ross accompanied the driver into his residence, where they encountered the driver’s parents. Ross stayed with the driver’s parents while Samuel David walked the driver to his bedroom, where the driver opened a safe that contained approximately $2,000. Samuel David took the safe, and he and Ross left the residence.On Oct. 23, 2020, police officers were conducting surveillance in the area where the armed robberies occurred in an effort to locate Rochelle David in connection with an unrelated homicide investigation. She was seen leaving the apartment building in a vehicle with Samuel David and Ross. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in the area of Admiral and Tracy. Samuel David and another person got out of the vehicle, but Rochelle David and Ross stayed in the vehicle. Rochelle David told Ross that one of the officers who stopped them was the one who recently chased her. Shortly before she got out of the vehicle, she told Ross, “Shoot the one with the red hair first.” Rochelle David then got out of the vehicle, after which Ross opened his door and fired on officers with his gun. The officers returned fire, which resulted in his death.After being arrested, Rochelle David was questioned about the homicide. She admitted that Ross wanted to kill a homeless person and she was with him when they picked up a homeless man in Kansas City on Oct. 21, 2020. They drove around for a time with the victim, then Ross got out of the vehicle and she saw him shoot the victim.

Brother, sister get prison for robbery of KC pizza delivery driver

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

TOPEKA —&nbsp; Tabatha Rosproy grew up in a rural Kansas community, with parents who struggled with having children at an early age and a sister who had behavioral problems. As she grew up, she watched her sister receive punishment both at school and home for conduct issues.

“There just weren’t a lot of chances to do what needed to be done for my sister,” Rosproy said.&nbsp;

Rosproy, who works in early education and was named 2020 National Teacher of the Year, said she used to feel guilt over the differences in her and her sister’s lives, especially in later years, when her sister struggled with bad relationships and addiction.&nbsp;

“Why did I deserve to escape this situation?” Rosproy said. “What about me was different that I got out of this? And what I realized quickly was that it was not my fault, but it was the fault of these holes in our systems, not only in our schools but in the services we provide for families.”&nbsp;

Rosproy was one of several early education officials and lawmakers who gathered Tuesday for one of the state’s first early childhood task force meetings, ready to advocate for improving child care from birth to kindergarten statewide.&nbsp;

Gov. Laura Kelly created the&nbsp;Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force&nbsp;via an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EO-23-01-Signed-Executed.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;in January, shortly after taking office for her second term.

Kansas currently spreads early childhood programs across three state agencies, with the Kansas Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families all housing different resources.&nbsp;

Critics have said this split system leads to children and programs falling through the cracks. A January 2023 Bipartisan Policy Center analysis ranked Kansas 49th in the station in terms of childhood system coordination and efficiency.&nbsp;

“Kansas currently utilizes an inadequately-coordinated system of governance to deliver early childhood services —&nbsp; resulting in inefficiencies, redundancies and structural barriers for families, communities and businesses that obstruct access to state-level support,” Kelly said in the January executive order.&nbsp;

The task force will deliver recommendations in early 2024 on how to create a new state agency focused solely on supporting the state’s children, with the end goal of creating a new cabinet agency that covers all early childhood needs.&nbsp;

Rosproy said the focus needed to remain on building better resources for children and creating long-lasting change.&nbsp;

“We cannot do this work alone, can’t be done in just the classroom,” Rosproy said. “Our communities are places that are going to build our kids up for generations to come.”

Early education officials from other states attended the meeting to provide advice on consolidation. Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner with the Missouri Office of Childhood, said the Missouri model led to greater attention and accountability.&nbsp;

“Early childhood was this little branch over here in the middle of nowhere that leadership didn’t really understand and know,” Thomas said. “They got to do their own thing, nobody really held them accountable for what they were doing because they were just kind of over here.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P5162167-1024x768.jpg" alt="Tabatha Rosproy, who works in early education, said the new task force would help with the future of early childhood services in the state. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Tabatha Rosproy, who works in early education, said the new task force would help with the future of early childhood services in the state. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp; Tabatha Rosproy grew up in a rural Kansas community, with parents who struggled with having children at an early age and a sister who had behavioral problems. As she grew up, she watched her sister receive punishment both at school and home for conduct issues.“There just weren’t a lot of chances to do what needed to be done for my sister,” Rosproy said.&nbsp;Rosproy, who works in early education and was named 2020 National Teacher of the Year, said she used to feel guilt over the differences in her and her sister’s lives, especially in later years, when her sister struggled with bad relationships and addiction.&nbsp;“Why did I deserve to escape this situation?” Rosproy said. “What about me was different that I got out of this? And what I realized quickly was that it was not my fault, but it was the fault of these holes in our systems, not only in our schools but in the services we provide for families.”&nbsp;Rosproy was one of several early education officials and lawmakers who gathered Tuesday for one of the state’s first early childhood task force meetings, ready to advocate for improving child care from birth to kindergarten statewide.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P5162172-scaled.jpg" alt="Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, attended an early education task force meetings on May 16, 2023. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, attended an early education task force meetings on May 16, 2023. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Laura Kelly created the&nbsp;Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force&nbsp;via an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EO-23-01-Signed-Executed.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;in January, shortly after taking office for her second term.Kansas currently spreads early childhood programs across three state agencies, with the Kansas Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families all housing different resources.&nbsp;Critics have said this split system leads to children and programs falling through the cracks. A January 2023 Bipartisan Policy Center analysis ranked Kansas 49th in the station in terms of childhood system coordination and efficiency.&nbsp;“Kansas currently utilizes an inadequately-coordinated system of governance to deliver early childhood services —&nbsp; resulting in inefficiencies, redundancies and structural barriers for families, communities and businesses that obstruct access to state-level support,” Kelly said in the January executive order.&nbsp;The task force will deliver recommendations in early 2024 on how to create a new state agency focused solely on supporting the state’s children, with the end goal of creating a new cabinet agency that covers all early childhood needs.&nbsp;Rosproy said the focus needed to remain on building better resources for children and creating long-lasting change.&nbsp;“We cannot do this work alone, can’t be done in just the classroom,” Rosproy said. “Our communities are places that are going to build our kids up for generations to come.”Early education officials from other states attended the meeting to provide advice on consolidation. Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner with the Missouri Office of Childhood, said the Missouri model led to greater attention and accountability.&nbsp;“Early childhood was this little branch over here in the middle of nowhere that leadership didn’t really understand and know,” Thomas said. “They got to do their own thing, nobody really held them accountable for what they were doing because they were just kind of over here.”

Kansas early childhood task force looks to other states for guidance

WASHINGTON —The Biden administration has launched a new online dashboard to help travelers compare what airlines offer cash compensation, provide travel credits or vouchers, or award frequent flyer miles and cover the costs for other amenities – as well as the airlines that do not.

Click <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard">here for&nbsp;FlightRights.gov</a>

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called upon airlines to improve their customer service commitments to passengers, which all have done to varying degrees. 

The new dashboard provides information for air travelers on airlines’ commitments to families flying with young children and customers experiencing significant flight disruptions due to circumstances within the airline’s control.

The U.S. Department of Transportation encourages airlines to continue to strengthen their customer commitments. DOT will update and expand these dashboards as needed.

WASHINGTON —The Biden administration has launched a new online dashboard to help travelers compare what airlines offer cash compensation, provide travel credits or vouchers, or award frequent flyer miles and cover the costs for other amenities – as well as the airlines that do not.Click <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard">here for&nbsp;FlightRights.gov</a>U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called upon airlines to improve their customer service commitments to passengers, which all have done to varying degrees. The new dashboard provides information for air travelers on airlines’ commitments to families flying with young children and customers experiencing significant flight disruptions due to circumstances within the airline’s control.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So far this year, we&#39;ve seen real progress in air travel, with cancellation rates below 2 percent. But no matter what, <a href="https://twitter.com/USDOT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USDOT</a> has your back, and we are here to enforce passenger rights and hold airlines accountable. <a href="https://t.co/ZWuTVN9WwY">pic.twitter.com/ZWuTVN9WwY</a>&mdash; TransportationGov (@USDOT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USDOT/status/1657483268688855040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. Department of Transportation encourages airlines to continue to strengthen their customer commitments. DOT will update and expand these dashboards as needed.

New airline dashboard will help you compare cash compensation

With wide-ranging law taking effect in July, activists and advocates explore impact

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

LAWRENCE — A small group of protesters rattled the door of the library auditorium, trying to get in as an LGBTQ rights lawyer informed transgender Kansans what protections and resources they need to lock down before a wide-ranging transgender bathroom ban goes into effect in July.

“We’re trying to do triage care as lawyers right now, as trans rights lawyers,” said attorney&nbsp;Ellen Bertels, with Kansas Legal Services. “We’re doing emergency room care. So that means where is it bleeding, how do we stop the bleeding?”

Bertels&nbsp;advocates for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse folks around the state. She’s felt increased urgency in recent months, after the Legislature debated and passed several bills targeting the transgender community. At the Wednesday night gender marker clinic, her voice was hoarse after days of explaining how to change gender markers.&nbsp;

While the wording of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/">Senate Bill 180</a>, a wide-ranging “bathroom bill” recently made law, is ambiguous, Bertels said&nbsp;transgender Kansans who need to get their gender markers changed on legal documents should act before the state’s new anti-trans laws go into effect July 1.

Bertels said the scope of the bill is unclear, but based on her understanding of its language, she believes it’s likely that the state will no longer change gender markers on state documents after July. Bertels views gender markers as a safety measure; having IDs that don’t reflect a person’s gender identity could lead to unintentional outing, with the person at risk of&nbsp; harassment or discrimination.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We can’t necessarily forecast what each individual agency or county is going to do to respond, but my method has been advising folks on worst case scenarios so they can prepare for that, and if it goes better than that, maybe there’s a bright spot in their day,” Bertels said.&nbsp;

SB 180 also bans individuals who are born without the ability to produce eggs for reproduction from using women’s restrooms, locker rooms and other gender-specific areas.

The legislation applies to athletics, prison facilities, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, locker rooms, restrooms and “other areas where biology, safety or privacy are implicated that result in separate accommodations.”

It is one of several bills targeting transgender Kansans passed by the state Legislature in recent months. Kansas became the 20th state to pass a transgender student athlete ban into law in April, with transgender girls now blocked from playing women’s sports from kindergarten through college.&nbsp; Civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas continue to monitor the legislation.&nbsp;

“We are deeply concerned about the potential harm SB 180 will cause, and while I cannot comment specifically on the potential for the ACLU of Kansas to bring litigation, I can say we are continuing to track developments related to SB 180 and are considering all available avenues for advocacy,” said&nbsp;DC Hiegert, LGBTQ+ Fellow of the ACLU of Kansas.

Marc Veloz, who works with community outreach at the Lawrence Public Library and helped collaborate on the event, said the library was committed to remaining a safe place for members of the LGBTQ community.&nbsp;

“I hope that members of our community know that queer identities are kind of reflected in different facets of the library in our staffing, in our collections and in our programs and events,” Veloz said. “I want folks to know that the library is a space where they can see themselves reflected in all of those different places.”&nbsp;

At the clinic, attorneys and law students passed out forms explaining how to change birth certificates, driver’s licenses and other documents. Grayson Kassius Andersen, a transgender lawyer there to help people make document changes, said this year had been particularly difficult.&nbsp;

“I’m contemplating leaving Kansas every day,” Andersen said. “People don’t realize the implications of legislation is that it iterates the bad opinions and that hatred is okay.”&nbsp;

Halsey Yankey, a clinic attendee who blocked a protester’s sign with her skirt, said she was there because she was worried about the effect SB 180 will have on accessing her gender-affirming care.&nbsp;

“Originally I was really skeptical about it because I figured this is a hunt you down tactic later, but I’m also scared they’ll rip away my HRT if I don’t do it now,” Yankey said.&nbsp;

Seventeen-year-old Gwen Bishop, who is planning to update gender markers as soon as possible, had one message for lawmakers.&nbsp;

“Please,” Bishop said. “Stop making it harder.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P5172186-1024x768.jpg" alt="Halsey Yankey stands in front of a protester at a gender marker clinic held at the Lawrence Public Library on May 17, blocking his transphobic sign from view. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Halsey Yankey stands in front of a protester at a gender marker clinic held at the Lawrence Public Library on May 17, blocking his transphobic sign from view. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>With wide-ranging law taking effect in July, activists and advocates explore impact</h2>By RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — A small group of protesters rattled the door of the library auditorium, trying to get in as an LGBTQ rights lawyer informed transgender Kansans what protections and resources they need to lock down before a wide-ranging transgender bathroom ban goes into effect in July.“We’re trying to do triage care as lawyers right now, as trans rights lawyers,” said attorney&nbsp;Ellen Bertels, with Kansas Legal Services. “We’re doing emergency room care. So that means where is it bleeding, how do we stop the bleeding?”Bertels&nbsp;advocates for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse folks around the state. She’s felt increased urgency in recent months, after the Legislature debated and passed several bills targeting the transgender community. At the Wednesday night gender marker clinic, her voice was hoarse after days of explaining how to change gender markers.&nbsp;While the wording of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/">Senate Bill 180</a>, a wide-ranging “bathroom bill” recently made law, is ambiguous, Bertels said&nbsp;transgender Kansans who need to get their gender markers changed on legal documents should act before the state’s new anti-trans laws go into effect July 1.Bertels said the scope of the bill is unclear, but based on her understanding of its language, she believes it’s likely that the state will no longer change gender markers on state documents after July. Bertels views gender markers as a safety measure; having IDs that don’t reflect a person’s gender identity could lead to unintentional outing, with the person at risk of&nbsp; harassment or discrimination.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We can’t necessarily forecast what each individual agency or county is going to do to respond, but my method has been advising folks on worst case scenarios so they can prepare for that, and if it goes better than that, maybe there’s a bright spot in their day,” Bertels said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P5172194-scaled.jpg" alt="Packets explaining the gender marker change process were set out for transgender Kansans during a May 17, 2023 gender marker clinic. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Packets explaining the gender marker change process were set out for transgender Kansans during a May 17, 2023 gender marker clinic. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>SB 180 also bans individuals who are born without the ability to produce eggs for reproduction from using women’s restrooms, locker rooms and other gender-specific areas.The legislation applies to athletics, prison facilities, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, locker rooms, restrooms and “other areas where biology, safety or privacy are implicated that result in separate accommodations.”It is one of several bills targeting transgender Kansans passed by the state Legislature in recent months. Kansas became the 20th state to pass a transgender student athlete ban into law in April, with transgender girls now blocked from playing women’s sports from kindergarten through college.&nbsp; Civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas continue to monitor the legislation.&nbsp;“We are deeply concerned about the potential harm SB 180 will cause, and while I cannot comment specifically on the potential for the ACLU of Kansas to bring litigation, I can say we are continuing to track developments related to SB 180 and are considering all available avenues for advocacy,” said&nbsp;DC Hiegert, LGBTQ+ Fellow of the ACLU of Kansas.Marc Veloz, who works with community outreach at the Lawrence Public Library and helped collaborate on the event, said the library was committed to remaining a safe place for members of the LGBTQ community.&nbsp;“I hope that members of our community know that queer identities are kind of reflected in different facets of the library in our staffing, in our collections and in our programs and events,” Veloz said. “I want folks to know that the library is a space where they can see themselves reflected in all of those different places.”&nbsp;At the clinic, attorneys and law students passed out forms explaining how to change birth certificates, driver’s licenses and other documents. Grayson Kassius Andersen, a transgender lawyer there to help people make document changes, said this year had been particularly difficult.&nbsp;“I’m contemplating leaving Kansas every day,” Andersen said. “People don’t realize the implications of legislation is that it iterates the bad opinions and that hatred is okay.”&nbsp;Halsey Yankey, a clinic attendee who blocked a protester’s sign with her skirt, said she was there because she was worried about the effect SB 180 will have on accessing her gender-affirming care.&nbsp;“Originally I was really skeptical about it because I figured this is a hunt you down tactic later, but I’m also scared they’ll rip away my HRT if I don’t do it now,” Yankey said.&nbsp;Seventeen-year-old Gwen Bishop, who is planning to update gender markers as soon as possible, had one message for lawmakers.&nbsp;“Please,” Bishop said. “Stop making it harder.”&nbsp;

Before ban goes into effect, lawyer urges trans Kansans to change gender markers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three people were killed and two others wounded — including one critically — in a shooting at a Kansas City bar early Sunday, police said.

Multiple officers responded to the shooting at Klymax Lounge that was reported just before the bar's 1:30 a.m. closing time to find multiple victims and immediately began providing medical aid, Kansas City police said in an email.

Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building. A third victim died at the hospital. Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately available, and it wasn't immediately clear where the victims were when they were shot.

The bar was advertising a rap night Saturday night on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kc.klymax">Facebook page</a>&nbsp;featuring live rap battles, but it wasn't immediately clear who was performing at the club. No one answered the phone at the bar Sunday morning two hours before it was scheduled to open.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684669834332.png" alt="Photo Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Three people were killed and two others wounded — including one critically — in a shooting at a Kansas City bar early Sunday, police said.Multiple officers responded to the shooting at Klymax Lounge that was reported just before the bar's 1:30 a.m. closing time to find multiple victims and immediately began providing medical aid, Kansas City police said in an email.Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building. A third victim died at the hospital. Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately available, and it wasn't immediately clear where the victims were when they were shot.Police said the victims were all adults, but their ages and identities were not immediately available.The bar was advertising a rap night Saturday night on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kc.klymax">Facebook page</a>&nbsp;featuring live rap battles, but it wasn't immediately clear who was performing at the club. No one answered the phone at the bar Sunday morning two hours before it was scheduled to open.Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators were at the scene early Sunday, gathering evidence and talking to potential witnesses, police said.-------------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two people were killed at the scene and a third victim died at a hospital following a shooting at a Kansas City bar early Sunday, police said.Two other victims were wounded and transported to a hospital, including one who was in critical condition and another who was in stable condition, Kansas City Police Department Officer Donna Drake said in an email.Multiple officers responded to the Klymax Lounge on Indiana Avenue at 1:25 a.m.One of the victims who was killed at the scene was inside the bar, while the second was outside the building, Drake said.The victims were all adults, police said, but their ages and identities were not immediately available. Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators were at the scene early Sunday, police said.