OZARK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Ozark County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Charles G. Cornelison, 52, El Reno, Oklahoma, was eastbound on private property on County road 142 in Rockbridge.

The motorcycle traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected. EMS transported Cornelison to Ozark Health in West Plains where he was pronounced deceased. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

OZARK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Ozark County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Charles G. Cornelison, 52, El Reno, Oklahoma, was eastbound on private property on County road 142 in Rockbridge.The motorcycle traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected. EMS transported Cornelison to Ozark Health in West Plains where he was pronounced deceased. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Man dies after motorcycle crash on private property in Missouri

CLAY COUNTY—The driver accused in a fatal DUI crash that occurred just after 7a.m. Thursday in Clay County has been moved from the hospital to jail.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Jacob Tyler&nbsp;Zelinski, 27, Beloit, was&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 24 one mile east of Clay Center.

The pickup crossed the westbound lane, entered the north ditch and struck a 2001 Buick Park Avenue driven by Dale Hammond, 82, Clay Center, who was northbound on a driveway just North of U.S. 24.

Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the collision Zelinski fled the scene on foot. He was located and placed under arrest a short time later and transported to the Clay County Hospital. 

He is being held on requested charges that include Involuntary Manslaughter, Fail to stop at crash resulting in death, DUI, Expired registration, Fail to maintain a lane and Failure to wear seatbelt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683318828558.png" alt="Zelinski from an earlier arrest in Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Zelinski from an earlier arrest in Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>CLAY COUNTY—The driver accused in a fatal DUI crash that occurred just after 7a.m. Thursday in Clay County has been moved from the hospital to jail.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp; Jacob Tyler&nbsp;Zelinski, 27, Beloit, was&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 24 one mile east of Clay Center.The pickup crossed the westbound lane, entered the north ditch and struck a 2001 Buick Park Avenue driven by Dale Hammond, 82, Clay Center, who was northbound on a driveway just North of U.S. 24.Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene.After the collision Zelinski fled the scene on foot. He was located and placed under arrest a short time later and transported to the Clay County Hospital. He is being held on requested charges that include Involuntary Manslaughter, Fail to stop at crash resulting in death, DUI, Expired registration, Fail to maintain a lane and Failure to wear seatbelt, according to the KHP.

Suspect in fatal Kan. hit-and-run moved from hospital to jail

NEW YORK (AP) — A video recording of former President Donald Trump being questioned about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-trial-carroll-columnist-2024-b3c1a4b254b8d16d76e2ce39342d9856">rape allegations against him</a>&nbsp;was made public for the first time Friday, providing a glimpse of the Republican's emphatic, often colorful denials.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?527931-1/president-trump-deposition-e-jean-carroll-civil-case">CLICK here to watch </a>the deposition&nbsp;

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-trial-carroll-columnist-7e4d44c7e8f65c1bd4ebde27ea3b7d7f">Jurors got to see the video</a>&nbsp;of Trump's October 2022 deposition over the past few days at the trial over a lawsuit filed against him by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Written transcripts of Trump's testimony had also previously been made public, but not the recording itself.

The video was made available Friday to news organizations covering the proceedings.

The video shows Trump answering questions in his trademark navy suit and a bright blue tie. He called Carroll's claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store "a false, disgusting lie.”

“It’s a disgrace. Frankly it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said.

Trump reiterated his assertion that Carroll is “not my type,” but also mistook her for his second wife, Marla Maples, when shown a photo of him meeting Carroll and her then-husband at an event in the 1980s.

Trump was also asked about the infamous “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump bragged about grabbing women’s genitals. He said, as he has previously, that he was was engaging in “locker room talk.” Trump justified his comments about famous people being able to have their way with women, saying: “Historically that’s true with stars.”

All planned testimony in the trial concluded Thursday, clearing the way for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-accuser-carroll-golf-ireland-765e105fb21896b147ef9bf380487af7">closing arguments</a>&nbsp;by the lawyers to happen Monday barring a last-minute decision by Trump to testify.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683335527038.png" alt="Image from the video that was made available Friday to news organizations covering the proceedings." />
 <figcaption>Image from the video that was made available Friday to news organizations covering the proceedings.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A video recording of former President Donald Trump being questioned about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-trial-carroll-columnist-2024-b3c1a4b254b8d16d76e2ce39342d9856">rape allegations against him</a>&nbsp;was made public for the first time Friday, providing a glimpse of the Republican's emphatic, often colorful denials.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?527931-1/president-trump-deposition-e-jean-carroll-civil-case">CLICK here to watch </a>the deposition&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-trial-carroll-columnist-7e4d44c7e8f65c1bd4ebde27ea3b7d7f">Jurors got to see the video</a>&nbsp;of Trump's October 2022 deposition over the past few days at the trial over a lawsuit filed against him by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Written transcripts of Trump's testimony had also previously been made public, but not the recording itself.The video was made available Friday to news organizations covering the proceedings.The video shows Trump answering questions in his trademark navy suit and a bright blue tie. He called Carroll's claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store "a false, disgusting lie.”“It’s a disgrace. Frankly it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said.Trump reiterated his assertion that Carroll is “not my type,” but also mistook her for his second wife, Marla Maples, when shown a photo of him meeting Carroll and her then-husband at an event in the 1980s.Trump was also asked about the infamous “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump bragged about grabbing women’s genitals. He said, as he has previously, that he was was engaging in “locker room talk.” Trump justified his comments about famous people being able to have their way with women, saying: “Historically that’s true with stars.”All planned testimony in the trial concluded Thursday, clearing the way for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-accuser-carroll-golf-ireland-765e105fb21896b147ef9bf380487af7">closing arguments</a>&nbsp;by the lawyers to happen Monday barring a last-minute decision by Trump to testify.

🎥Trump's video deposition in rape lawsuit made public

LABETTE COUNTY _ The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office continue their search for Dakota A. Patton, the 23-year-old man who was last seen the evening of April 25, in Parsons, Kansas. Foul play is suspected in Patton’s disappearance, according to a media release from the KBI.

The Labette County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance on April 27, after Patton’s vehicle was located abandoned in a field in rural Labette County. Patton was also reported missing on April 27.

Patton is a white male. He is 5 ft. 11 in. tall and weighs around 230 lbs. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and facial hair. Patton was likely wearing blue jeans, a grey sweatshirt and boots.

KBI agents believe Patton may have last been in an area along the Neosho River,&nbsp; between 20th Road and Wallace Road and 60th Road and Wallace Road. 

Investigators ask fisherman, hunters, farmers, and hikers who frequent this area to report anything suspicious they encounter that may be connected to Patton’s disappearance.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Dakota Patton, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565. Anonymous tips can be made online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683326201347.png" alt="Image KBI" />
 <figcaption>Image KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY _ The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office continue their search for Dakota A. Patton, the 23-year-old man who was last seen the evening of April 25, in Parsons, Kansas. Foul play is suspected in Patton’s disappearance, according to a media release from the KBI.The Labette County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance on April 27, after Patton’s vehicle was located abandoned in a field in rural Labette County. Patton was also reported missing on April 27.Patton is a white male. He is 5 ft. 11 in. tall and weighs around 230 lbs. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and facial hair. Patton was likely wearing blue jeans, a grey sweatshirt and boots.KBI agents believe Patton may have last been in an area along the Neosho River,&nbsp; between 20th Road and Wallace Road and 60th Road and Wallace Road. Investigators ask fisherman, hunters, farmers, and hikers who frequent this area to report anything suspicious they encounter that may be connected to Patton’s disappearance.If you have any information about the disappearance of Dakota Patton, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565. Anonymous tips can be made online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

KBI: Foul play suspected in disappearance of Kan. man

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities continue searching for 21-year-old Jae’veon Marquice Mitchell-Locke, a suspect in the April 5, shooting of three Kansas police officers during an undercover fentanyl trafficking investigation, according&nbsp; to the Platte County Sheriff's office.

Officials at the Platte County, Missouri Detention Center released him inadvertently on April 20.

Mitchell-Locke and two other suspects in the gunfight are charged in Wyandotte County with attempted murder, aggravated battery against law enforcement, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building or vehicle, aggravated endangering a child, aggravated assault of law enforcement officers and distribution or possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682111930463.png" alt="Mitchell-Locke-photo Platte County" />
 <figcaption>Mitchell-Locke-photo Platte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities continue searching for 21-year-old Jae’veon Marquice Mitchell-Locke, a suspect in the April 5, shooting of three Kansas police officers during an undercover fentanyl trafficking investigation, according&nbsp; to the Platte County Sheriff's office.Officials at the Platte County, Missouri Detention Center released him inadvertently on April 20.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681993393030.png" alt="Scene of the shooting investigation on April 5 -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the shooting investigation on April 5 -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Mitchell-Locke and two other suspects in the gunfight are charged in Wyandotte County with attempted murder, aggravated battery against law enforcement, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building or vehicle, aggravated endangering a child, aggravated assault of law enforcement officers and distribution or possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to online jail records.

Suspect in Kan. officer shooting released by mistake is still missing

CDC's Rochelle Walensky resigns, citing pandemic transition

NEW YORK (AP) — Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, submitted her resignation Friday, saying the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to make a transition.

Walensky's last day will be June 30, CDC officials said, and an interim director wasn't immediately named. She sent a resignation letter to President Joe Biden and announced the decision at a CDC staff meeting.

Walensky, 54, has been the agency's director for a little over two years, and the announcement took many health experts by surprise. In her letter to Biden, she expressed "mixed feelings" about the decision and didn't explain exactly why she was stepping down, but said the nation is at a moment of transition as emergency declarations come to an end.

"I have never been prouder of anything I have done in my professional career," she wrote.

The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, and the U.S. public health emergency will expire next week. Deaths in the U.S. are at their lowest point since the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020.

The CDC, with a $12 billion budget and more than 12,000 employees. is an Atlanta-based federal agency charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

Walensky, previously an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, had no experience running a government health agency when she was sworn in on the first day of the Biden administration.

She came with a reputation as a prominent voice on the pandemic, sometimes criticizing how the government was responding. She was brought in to raise morale at the CDC, to rebuild public trust in the agency and to improve its sometimes-bumbling response to the pandemic.

At the time of her arrival, more than 400,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths had been reported, and states were scrambling to get supplies of new vaccines. Morale at the CDC was abysmal. The Trump administration had marginalized the agency, with the White House taking over the government's messaging about the pandemic and sometimes opposing or undermining what the CDC wanted to do.

"No CDC director in history inherited the set of challenges she faced coming into the job," said Jason Schwartz, a health policy expert at the Yale School of Public Health.

The CDC regained prominence in government messaging — although even under Biden, the White House remained at center stage in the handling of the response, Schwartz said.

She leaves at a time when the national COVID-19 death toll stands at about 1.1 million. Reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all been trending down for months.

At CDC, Walensky started a center for forecasting and outbreak analytics and took steps to modernize data collection and analysis. Last year, she began a reorganization designed to make the agency more nimble and to improve its communications with the public.

Biden, in a statement, said Walensky "leaves CDC a stronger institution, better positioned to confront health threats and protect Americans."

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients applauded her performance.

"Her creativity, skill and expertise, and pure grit were essential to our effective response and an historic recovery that made life better for Americans across the country," Zients said in a statement.

There were stumbles during her tenure too.

In the spring of 2021, Walensky said fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks in many settings, only to reverse course as the then-new delta variant spread. In December 2021, the agency's decision to shorten isolation and quarantine caught many by surprise and caused confusion.

Also, Walensky and other U.S. officials were criticized last year for not being aggressive enough against an emerging mpox outbreak that faded in the late summer and fall.

Jennifer Nuzzo, a pandemic expert at the Brown University School of Public Health, is worried that the proposed reforms won't happen without Walensky there to drive them.

"CDC is exhausted. They have been working around the clock, nonstop, for three years with little gratitude," she said. "To have a leadership change in the midst of all that ... I can't imagine that doesn't take the wind out of the sails of change."

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662076170437.png" alt="Walensky's last day will be June 30, CDC officials said. -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Walensky's last day will be June 30, CDC officials said. -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CDC's Rochelle Walensky resigns, citing pandemic transitionBy MIKE STOBBE AP Medical WriterNEW YORK (AP) — Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, submitted her resignation Friday, saying the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to make a transition.Walensky's last day will be June 30, CDC officials said, and an interim director wasn't immediately named. She sent a resignation letter to President Joe Biden and announced the decision at a CDC staff meeting.Walensky, 54, has been the agency's director for a little over two years, and the announcement took many health experts by surprise. In her letter to Biden, she expressed "mixed feelings" about the decision and didn't explain exactly why she was stepping down, but said the nation is at a moment of transition as emergency declarations come to an end."I have never been prouder of anything I have done in my professional career," she wrote.The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, and the U.S. public health emergency will expire next week. Deaths in the U.S. are at their lowest point since the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020.The CDC, with a $12 billion budget and more than 12,000 employees. is an Atlanta-based federal agency charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats.Walensky, previously an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, had no experience running a government health agency when she was sworn in on the first day of the Biden administration.She came with a reputation as a prominent voice on the pandemic, sometimes criticizing how the government was responding. She was brought in to raise morale at the CDC, to rebuild public trust in the agency and to improve its sometimes-bumbling response to the pandemic.At the time of her arrival, more than 400,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths had been reported, and states were scrambling to get supplies of new vaccines. Morale at the CDC was abysmal. The Trump administration had marginalized the agency, with the White House taking over the government's messaging about the pandemic and sometimes opposing or undermining what the CDC wanted to do."No CDC director in history inherited the set of challenges she faced coming into the job," said Jason Schwartz, a health policy expert at the Yale School of Public Health.The CDC regained prominence in government messaging — although even under Biden, the White House remained at center stage in the handling of the response, Schwartz said.She leaves at a time when the national COVID-19 death toll stands at about 1.1 million. Reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all been trending down for months.At CDC, Walensky started a center for forecasting and outbreak analytics and took steps to modernize data collection and analysis. Last year, she began a reorganization designed to make the agency more nimble and to improve its communications with the public.Biden, in a statement, said Walensky "leaves CDC a stronger institution, better positioned to confront health threats and protect Americans."White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients applauded her performance."Her creativity, skill and expertise, and pure grit were essential to our effective response and an historic recovery that made life better for Americans across the country," Zients said in a statement.There were stumbles during her tenure too.In the spring of 2021, Walensky said fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks in many settings, only to reverse course as the then-new delta variant spread. In December 2021, the agency's decision to shorten isolation and quarantine caught many by surprise and caused confusion.Also, Walensky and other U.S. officials were criticized last year for not being aggressive enough against an emerging mpox outbreak that faded in the late summer and fall.Jennifer Nuzzo, a pandemic expert at the Brown University School of Public Health, is worried that the proposed reforms won't happen without Walensky there to drive them."CDC is exhausted. They have been working around the clock, nonstop, for three years with little gratitude," she said. "To have a leadership change in the midst of all that ... I can't imagine that doesn't take the wind out of the sails of change."___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.---------

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky is stepping down from agency

SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Thursday in Sedgwick County.

A moped driven by a 69-year-old man was eastbound on Walker Street when he collided with a Subaru Forrester driven by a 72-year-old who was southbound on Mclean, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located the moped rider who had been ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp;EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to the rider and transported him to a local hospital with critical injuries. The rider did not regain consciousness after the impact, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp; He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.

Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Thursday in Sedgwick County.A moped driven by a 69-year-old man was eastbound on Walker Street when he collided with a Subaru Forrester driven by a 72-year-old who was southbound on Mclean, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders located the moped rider who had been ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp;EMS and Wichita Fire rendered emergency medical aid to the rider and transported him to a local hospital with critical injuries. The rider did not regain consciousness after the impact, according to Rebolledo.&nbsp; He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

Police: Kansas man dies after moped crash into SUV

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

TOPEKA — The leaders of Kansas State University and the University of Kansas endorsed legislation overturning a federal ban on collection of student-level data on higher education enrollment rates, degree completion and post-college success across institutions and majors.

Support from KU chancellor Doug Girod and KSU president Richard Linton coincided with a commitment from U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, to advocate for approval by Congress of a measure expanding availability of practical information for use by individuals deciding where to enroll in college.

The U.S. House approved a version of the College Transparency Act in 2022, but the U.S. Senate didn’t concur. On Monday, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill aimed at closing gaps in U.S. college data reporting.

“Families and students should have access to all relevant information as they consider their higher education opportunities,” Girod said. “The understanding of student success at universities and a comparison between the cost to attend a university and potential job placement and lifetime earnings are important factors in the value of a degree.”

Linton said the proposal enabling the National Center for Education Statistics to securely report privacy-protected, student-level data would be helpful to students and their families.

“As a land-grant university,” Linton said, “K-State strives to be accessible to all Kansans and the data this bill provides to students, families, universities and others will help tell a complete story of student outcomes.”

Marshall said the objective was to package and deliver information that wasn’t distorted by colleges or universities in a quest to attract students. He said distribution of skewed statistics in the recruiting process would be “immoral and unfair.”

The senator said it made sense to create a central repository of comparative information on graduation rates, average student debt and starting salaries for graduates of every college or university in the nation.

“Deciding whether to attend college or not is one of the biggest choices students will make in their lifetimes, and they should know what they’re getting into before making that choice,” Marshall said. “I’m proud to support this bill and help empower students to make the best possible choice to meet their career goals after high school and beyond.”

Under the new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the National Center for Education Statistics would be responsible for securely storing student information, working with other federal agencies to generate post-college outcomes reports and presenting summary information on a public user-friendly website.

Information shared by NCES, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education, would allow students to compare colleges and academic programs while also aiding lawmakers attempting to improve U.S. higher education and support businesses searching for sources of potential employees.

Congress has weighed legislation for a half-dozen years that would remove a ban on implementation of a federal data system to track&nbsp; movement through higher education and into the workforce.

Some private colleges have opposed a federal mandate on disclosure of information on a national scale and some federal lawmakers have been skeptical of government prying into the lives of Americans. More than 150 higher education organizations and other groups have endorsed some form of a college transparency law.

In 2022, the U.S. House — not the U.S. Senate — attached a higher education transparency amendment to an economic development measure. The House sought to require systematic reporting of student enrollment, persistence, transfer and completion for all programs and degree levels. Data would have been disaggregated by demographics, including race and ethnicity, gender and age.

In addition, the House’s version would have enabled the Department of Education to share limited data with the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration to calculate postgraduate outcomes, including income and career prospects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/KU_KSTATE_PREZ_16x9-1024x576.jpg" alt="University of Kansas chancellor Doug Girod, left, and Kansas State University president Richard Linton urged passage of federal legislation expanding access to higher education data helpful to people deciding where to attend college. U.S.S Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, also supports the latest version of the bipartisan College Transparency Act. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>University of Kansas chancellor Doug Girod, left, and Kansas State University president Richard Linton urged passage of federal legislation expanding access to higher education data helpful to people deciding where to attend college. U.S.S Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, also supports the latest version of the bipartisan College Transparency Act. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The leaders of Kansas State University and the University of Kansas endorsed legislation overturning a federal ban on collection of student-level data on higher education enrollment rates, degree completion and post-college success across institutions and majors.Support from KU chancellor Doug Girod and KSU president Richard Linton coincided with a commitment from U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, to advocate for approval by Congress of a measure expanding availability of practical information for use by individuals deciding where to enroll in college.The U.S. House approved a version of the College Transparency Act in 2022, but the U.S. Senate didn’t concur. On Monday, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill aimed at closing gaps in U.S. college data reporting.“Families and students should have access to all relevant information as they consider their higher education opportunities,” Girod said. “The understanding of student success at universities and a comparison between the cost to attend a university and potential job placement and lifetime earnings are important factors in the value of a degree.”Linton said the proposal enabling the National Center for Education Statistics to securely report privacy-protected, student-level data would be helpful to students and their families.“As a land-grant university,” Linton said, “K-State strives to be accessible to all Kansans and the data this bill provides to students, families, universities and others will help tell a complete story of student outcomes.”Marshall said the objective was to package and deliver information that wasn’t distorted by colleges or universities in a quest to attract students. He said distribution of skewed statistics in the recruiting process would be “immoral and unfair.”The senator said it made sense to create a central repository of comparative information on graduation rates, average student debt and starting salaries for graduates of every college or university in the nation.“Deciding whether to attend college or not is one of the biggest choices students will make in their lifetimes, and they should know what they’re getting into before making that choice,” Marshall said. “I’m proud to support this bill and help empower students to make the best possible choice to meet their career goals after high school and beyond.”Under the new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the National Center for Education Statistics would be responsible for securely storing student information, working with other federal agencies to generate post-college outcomes reports and presenting summary information on a public user-friendly website.Information shared by NCES, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education, would allow students to compare colleges and academic programs while also aiding lawmakers attempting to improve U.S. higher education and support businesses searching for sources of potential employees.Congress has weighed legislation for a half-dozen years that would remove a ban on implementation of a federal data system to track&nbsp; movement through higher education and into the workforce.Some private colleges have opposed a federal mandate on disclosure of information on a national scale and some federal lawmakers have been skeptical of government prying into the lives of Americans. More than 150 higher education organizations and other groups have endorsed some form of a college transparency law.In 2022, the U.S. House — not the U.S. Senate — attached a higher education transparency amendment to an economic development measure. The House sought to require systematic reporting of student enrollment, persistence, transfer and completion for all programs and degree levels. Data would have been disaggregated by demographics, including race and ethnicity, gender and age.In addition, the House’s version would have enabled the Department of Education to share limited data with the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration to calculate postgraduate outcomes, including income and career prospects.

KU, KSU leaders endorse broader federal reporting on post-college success data

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Thieves used a stolen pickup to break into an ATM at a south Salina financial institution and in the process also damaged the wall of a neighboring office building early Friday morning.

&nbsp;Just after 4 a.m. Friday, the Saline County dispatch center received a notification that an alarm had been activated at Great Plains Federal Credit Union, 2061 S. Ohio Street in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.

Officers arrived at 4:17 a.m. and discovered a red 2000 Ford F250 pickup on the south side of the credit union. The pickup also was lodged in the north wall of Salina Family Vision, 2069 S. Ohio Street.

Hanus said the ATM had been ripped open with the hook and chains attached to the pickup and the ATM. The cash box, which contained an undisclosed amount of money, was missing.

The ATM was destroyed. A replacement will cost approximately $45,000, according to Hanus.

Although there was no damage estimate for the wall at Salina Family Vision, Hanus said it was expected to be in the thousands of dollars. He also said that a City of Salina Building inspector did declare the building safe.

Using license plate registration information, officers made contact with the owner of the pickup, who didn't know his pickup had been stolen until the officers showed up at his door. The pickup, valued at $5,000, had been parked in the 2100 block of Linden Drive, a few blocks away from the credit union.

Hanus said officers were canvassing the area and had found a witness who reported seeing two to three shorter stature males at the scene of the theft.

Officers have checked surveillance video from the credit union and are checking the Salina Police Department's Flock traffic cameras for possible leads.

Hanus encouraged anyone in the area with surveillance cameras to check their video for suspicious persons or activity. If anyone has alerts or sees suspicious activity on their surveillance videos, they are asked to contact the Salina Police Department's Detective Division.

Hanus said the Salina Police Department has been in contact with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation concerning this incident.

He noted that while the department is not able at this time to definitively say who committed the theft, one possibility detectives are checking into is that an organized crime group was involved.

 Hanus explained that information shared amongst law enforcement agencies indicates that such organized crime groups are targeting ATMs across the United States, including in Kansas. "Part of the groups' modus operandi, or MO, is to steal early 2000s Ford F250s to use in such heists."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683303642486.jpeg" alt="A tarp covers part of the north wall at&nbsp;Salina Family Vision, right, after thieves rammed a stolen pickup into the building while stealing the cash box from the ATM at neighboring Great Plains Federal Credit Union, left.&nbsp;Photo by Leslie Eikleberry/Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>A tarp covers part of the north wall at&nbsp;Salina Family Vision, right, after thieves rammed a stolen pickup into the building while stealing the cash box from the ATM at neighboring Great Plains Federal Credit Union, left.&nbsp;Photo by Leslie Eikleberry/Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThieves used a stolen pickup to break into an ATM at a south Salina financial institution and in the process also damaged the wall of a neighboring office building early Friday morning.&nbsp;Just after 4 a.m. Friday, the Saline County dispatch center received a notification that an alarm had been activated at Great Plains Federal Credit Union, 2061 S. Ohio Street in Salina, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.Officers arrived at 4:17 a.m. and discovered a red 2000 Ford F250 pickup on the south side of the credit union. The pickup also was lodged in the north wall of Salina Family Vision, 2069 S. Ohio Street.Hanus said the ATM had been ripped open with the hook and chains attached to the pickup and the ATM. The cash box, which contained an undisclosed amount of money, was missing.The ATM was destroyed. A replacement will cost approximately $45,000, according to Hanus.Although there was no damage estimate for the wall at Salina Family Vision, Hanus said it was expected to be in the thousands of dollars. He also said that a City of Salina Building inspector did declare the building safe.Using license plate registration information, officers made contact with the owner of the pickup, who didn't know his pickup had been stolen until the officers showed up at his door. The pickup, valued at $5,000, had been parked in the 2100 block of Linden Drive, a few blocks away from the credit union.Hanus said officers were canvassing the area and had found a witness who reported seeing two to three shorter stature males at the scene of the theft.Officers have checked surveillance video from the credit union and are checking the Salina Police Department's Flock traffic cameras for possible leads.Hanus encouraged anyone in the area with surveillance cameras to check their video for suspicious persons or activity. If anyone has alerts or sees suspicious activity on their surveillance videos, they are asked to contact the Salina Police Department's Detective Division.Hanus said the Salina Police Department has been in contact with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation concerning this incident.He noted that while the department is not able at this time to definitively say who committed the theft, one possibility detectives are checking into is that an organized crime group was involved. Hanus explained that information shared amongst law enforcement agencies indicates that such organized crime groups are targeting ATMs across the United States, including in Kansas. "Part of the groups' modus operandi, or MO, is to steal early 2000s Ford F250s to use in such heists."

Police: Cash box stolen from Kansas credit union ATM 

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred just after 6:30a.m. Friday near Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The incident involved a driver of a brown Peterbilt semi pulling a grain hauler and the driver of a black GMC Denali. 

 The incident is believed to have started on U.S. Highway 75 north of Holton and continued thru the City of Holton, according to Morse.

It is believed that multiple shots were fired during the incident. Investigators were questioning the driver who were involved.

  The Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public. If anyone has any information regarding this early morning incident, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251.

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred just after 6:30a.m. Friday near Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The incident involved a driver of a brown Peterbilt semi pulling a grain hauler and the driver of a black GMC Denali. The incident is believed to have started on U.S. Highway 75 north of Holton and continued thru the City of Holton, according to Morse.It is believed that multiple shots were fired during the incident. Investigators were questioning the driver who were involved. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public. If anyone has any information regarding this early morning incident, they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251.

Sheriff investigates multiple shots fired on Kansas highway

Detroit (AP) —Ford Motor Co. is recalling certain 2004 to 2006 Ranger vehicles because replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that the recall includes 231,942 vehicles.

The vehicles had received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The NHTSA said that an incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, if needed, for free.

Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners of the impacted vehicles on May 22.

Vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA at vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

A day earlier, BMW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bmw-takata-air-bag-inflator-explode-killed-0167b6f727a20595a3c9a710faf1f660">warned</a>&nbsp;the owners of about 90,000 older vehicles in the U.S. not to drive them due to an increasing threat that the air bags might explode in a crash.

The warning covers vehicles from the 2000 through 2006 model years that previously had been recalled to replace faulty and dangerous air bag inflators made by Takata.

The company used volatile ammonium nitrate to inflate the air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to heat and humidity and blow apart a metal canister, hurling shrapnel that can injure or kill drivers and passengers.

Since 2009, the exploding air bags made by Takata have killed at least 33 people worldwide, including 24 in the United States. Most of the deaths and about 400 injuries have happened in U.S., but they also have occurred in Australia and Malaysia.

Detroit (AP) —Ford Motor Co. is recalling certain 2004 to 2006 Ranger vehicles because replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that the recall includes 231,942 vehicles.The vehicles had received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The NHTSA said that an incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, if needed, for free.Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners of the impacted vehicles on May 22.Vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA at vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).A day earlier, BMW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bmw-takata-air-bag-inflator-explode-killed-0167b6f727a20595a3c9a710faf1f660">warned</a>&nbsp;the owners of about 90,000 older vehicles in the U.S. not to drive them due to an increasing threat that the air bags might explode in a crash.The warning covers vehicles from the 2000 through 2006 model years that previously had been recalled to replace faulty and dangerous air bag inflators made by Takata.The company used volatile ammonium nitrate to inflate the air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to heat and humidity and blow apart a metal canister, hurling shrapnel that can injure or kill drivers and passengers.Since 2009, the exploding air bags made by Takata have killed at least 33 people worldwide, including 24 in the United States. Most of the deaths and about 400 injuries have happened in U.S., but they also have occurred in Australia and Malaysia.

Ford recalls some vehicles for air bag inflator installation

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies worldwide and killed at least 7 million people worldwide.

WHO said that even though the emergency phase was over, the pandemic hasn't come to an end, noting recent spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The U.N. health agency says that thousands of people are still dying from the virus every week.

“It’s with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“That does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat,” he said, adding he wouldn't hesitate to reconvene experts to reassess the situation should COVID-19 “put our world in peril.”

Tedros said the pandemic had been on a downward trend for more than a year, acknowledging that most countries have already returned to life before COVID-19. He bemoaned the damage that COVID-19 had done to the global community, saying the virus had shattered businesses and plunged millions into poverty.

“COVID has changed our world and it has changed us,” he said, warning that the risk of new variants still remained.

When the U.N. health agency first declared the coronavirus to be an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-japan-france-south-korea-virus-outbreak-0f0f07b30c8cdd2b0f30c6081acc7599">international crisis</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 30, 2020, it hadn't yet been named COVID-19 and there were no major outbreaks beyond China.

More than three years later, the virus has caused an estimated 764 million cases globally and about 5 billion people have received at least one dose of vaccine.

In the U.S., the public health emergency declaration made regarding COVID-19 is set to expire on May 11, when wide-ranging measures to support the pandemic response, including vaccine mandates, will end. Many other countries, including Germany, France and Britain, dropped many of their provisions against the pandemic last year.

When Tedros declared COVID-19 to be an emergency in 2020, he said his greatest fear was the virus’ potential to spread in countries with weak health systems he described as “ill-prepared.”

In fact, some of the countries that suffered the worst COVID-19 death tolls were previously judged to be the best-prepared for a pandemic, including the U.S. and Britain. According to WHO data, the number of deaths reported in Africa account for just 3% of the global total.

WHO made its decision to lower its highest level of alert on Friday, after convening an expert group on Thursday. The U.N. agency doesn't “declare” pandemics, but first used the term to describe the outbreak in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-michael-pence-religion-travel-virus-outbreak-52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e">March 2020</a>, when the virus had spread to every continent except Antarctica, long after many other scientists had said a pandemic was already underway.

WHO is the only agency mandated to coordinate the world’s response to acute health threats, but the organization faltered repeatedly as the coronavirus unfolded. In January 2020, WHO publicly applauded China for its supposed speedy and transparent response, even though recordings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-health-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-public-health-3c061794970661042b18d5aeaaed9fae">private meetings obtained by The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;showed top officials were frustrated at the country’s lack of cooperation.

WHO also recommended against members of the public wearing masks to protect against COVID-19 for months, a mistake many health officials say cost lives.

Numerous scientists also slammed WHO’s reluctance to acknowledge that COVID-19 was frequently spread in the air and by people without symptoms, criticizing the agency’s lack of strong guidance to prevent such exposure.

Tedros was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-geneva-5670593f4f3fd55113a9dea64b4bdc9d">vociferous critic</a>&nbsp;of rich countries who hoarded the limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, warning that the world was on the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure” by failing to share shots with poor countries.

Most recently, WHO has been struggling to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, a challenging scientific endeavour that has also become politically fraught.

After a weeks-long visit to China, WHO released a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-report-animals-source-covid-19-coronavirus-8a839c179c330c56fa46a763b7286a7f">report</a>&nbsp;in 2021 concluding that COVID-19 most likely jumped into humans from animals, dismissing the possibility that it originated in a lab as “extremely unlikely.”

But the U.N. agency backtracked the following year, saying “key pieces of data” were still missing and that it was premature to rule out that COVID-19 might have ties to a lab.

A panel commissioned by WHO to review its performance criticized China and other countries for not moving quicker to stop the virus and said the organization was constrained both by its limited finances and inability to compel countries to act.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583945487828.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies worldwide and killed at least 7 million people worldwide.WHO said that even though the emergency phase was over, the pandemic hasn't come to an end, noting recent spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The U.N. health agency says that thousands of people are still dying from the virus every week.“It’s with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.“That does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat,” he said, adding he wouldn't hesitate to reconvene experts to reassess the situation should COVID-19 “put our world in peril.”Tedros said the pandemic had been on a downward trend for more than a year, acknowledging that most countries have already returned to life before COVID-19. He bemoaned the damage that COVID-19 had done to the global community, saying the virus had shattered businesses and plunged millions into poverty.“COVID has changed our world and it has changed us,” he said, warning that the risk of new variants still remained.When the U.N. health agency first declared the coronavirus to be an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-japan-france-south-korea-virus-outbreak-0f0f07b30c8cdd2b0f30c6081acc7599">international crisis</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 30, 2020, it hadn't yet been named COVID-19 and there were no major outbreaks beyond China.More than three years later, the virus has caused an estimated 764 million cases globally and about 5 billion people have received at least one dose of vaccine.In the U.S., the public health emergency declaration made regarding COVID-19 is set to expire on May 11, when wide-ranging measures to support the pandemic response, including vaccine mandates, will end. Many other countries, including Germany, France and Britain, dropped many of their provisions against the pandemic last year.When Tedros declared COVID-19 to be an emergency in 2020, he said his greatest fear was the virus’ potential to spread in countries with weak health systems he described as “ill-prepared.”In fact, some of the countries that suffered the worst COVID-19 death tolls were previously judged to be the best-prepared for a pandemic, including the U.S. and Britain. According to WHO data, the number of deaths reported in Africa account for just 3% of the global total.WHO made its decision to lower its highest level of alert on Friday, after convening an expert group on Thursday. The U.N. agency doesn't “declare” pandemics, but first used the term to describe the outbreak in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-michael-pence-religion-travel-virus-outbreak-52e12ca90c55b6e0c398d134a2cc286e">March 2020</a>, when the virus had spread to every continent except Antarctica, long after many other scientists had said a pandemic was already underway.WHO is the only agency mandated to coordinate the world’s response to acute health threats, but the organization faltered repeatedly as the coronavirus unfolded. In January 2020, WHO publicly applauded China for its supposed speedy and transparent response, even though recordings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-health-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-public-health-3c061794970661042b18d5aeaaed9fae">private meetings obtained by The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;showed top officials were frustrated at the country’s lack of cooperation.WHO also recommended against members of the public wearing masks to protect against COVID-19 for months, a mistake many health officials say cost lives.Numerous scientists also slammed WHO’s reluctance to acknowledge that COVID-19 was frequently spread in the air and by people without symptoms, criticizing the agency’s lack of strong guidance to prevent such exposure.Tedros was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-geneva-5670593f4f3fd55113a9dea64b4bdc9d">vociferous critic</a>&nbsp;of rich countries who hoarded the limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, warning that the world was on the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure” by failing to share shots with poor countries.Most recently, WHO has been struggling to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, a challenging scientific endeavour that has also become politically fraught.After a weeks-long visit to China, WHO released a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-report-animals-source-covid-19-coronavirus-8a839c179c330c56fa46a763b7286a7f">report</a>&nbsp;in 2021 concluding that COVID-19 most likely jumped into humans from animals, dismissing the possibility that it originated in a lab as “extremely unlikely.”But the U.N. agency backtracked the following year, saying “key pieces of data” were still missing and that it was premature to rule out that COVID-19 might have ties to a lab.A panel commissioned by WHO to review its performance criticized China and other countries for not moving quicker to stop the virus and said the organization was constrained both by its limited finances and inability to compel countries to act.

WHO: COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency

VERNON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Friday in Vernon. County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A. Trandrum, 33, Camdenton, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles west of Eldorado Springs.

The vehicle crossed the enter line and struck a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Clinton T. Stacy, 30, Eldorado Springs.

Stacy was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. EMS transported Trandrum to Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

VERNON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Friday in Vernon. County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A. Trandrum, 33, Camdenton, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles west of Eldorado Springs.The vehicle crossed the enter line and struck a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Clinton T. Stacy, 30, Eldorado Springs.Stacy was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. EMS transported Trandrum to Mercy Hospital in Joplin..

Missouri man dies after head-on semi crash

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 — Bowing his head in prayer, Rep. Bill Rhiley asked God to sway journalists into Christian reporting during a Thursday prayer ceremony. He was one of several Statehouse Republicans who attended the ceremony to pray for more Godly influence in society at large.&nbsp;

“On this National Day of Prayer, grant that the people of media, social media and entertainment media may be used for your works and good,” Rhiley said, standing near a large banner that read “Kansas for Jesus.” “These forms of media, TV, radio, movies, email, newspapers and the Internet have betrayed your trust and truth and created turmoil amongst your people. We offer our prayers that you may inspire through your whole spirit, the people of the media to use their gifts that you have given them, to know and respect the truth.”

Rep. Emil Bergquist, a Park City Republican, along with state Treasurer Steven Johnson and Kansas State Board of Education member Danny Zeck, also led prayers at the National Day of Prayer event in the Statehouse,

Prayer topics included politics, family life, news media, government and education.&nbsp;

Bergquist, who said his prayer was for himself and his colleagues, said some House lawmakers had suffered “the persecution that happens when you stand up for truth.”&nbsp;

In an interview after the event, Bergquist said he wasn’t referring to any specific event or legislation when referring to “persecution,” but he knew that lawmakers experienced pushback when standing up for their beliefs.&nbsp;

“There’s a time in every day to take a stand for the Lord,” Bergquist said during his prayer. “There’s a lot of folks in this house who love the Lord.”

The event comes after rising concern from Kansans who believe religion has seeped into the state’s lawmaking process, particularly among Republicans. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, recently offered to convert a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/28/muslim-advocacy-group-asks-kansas-senator-for-equal-representation-after-offer-to-convert/">Muslim woman and also a reporter to Christianity</a>&nbsp;when asked how he represented his non-Christian constituents.&nbsp;

Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican involved in K-12 education budget allocations, has spent the legislative session pushing for a voucher program that would give unregulated private school funding state tax dollars, telling a local forum that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/">“there are some kids that do need Jesus first.</a>”&nbsp;

In his prayer, Zeck asked for more accountability in school communities.&nbsp;

“Please pour your wisdom into each of our administrators, teachers, support staff and local school board members,” Zeck said.&nbsp;

Several members of the audience, who followed along in song and prayer, expressed their support of that message.&nbsp;

Vince Bateman, a Kansan who attended the event wearing biblical garb, said it was difficult to catch people’s attention in the age of social media. Bateman said he used his outfit as a conversation starter in his ministry efforts.&nbsp;

“So many people are caught up in phones, so their attention spans are very short, and to go out and preach the gospel nowadays, it’s so hard to do because you have split seconds,” Bateman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/P5042115-2-1024x576.jpg" alt="Vince Bateman attends a prayer ceremony held Thursday at the Statehouse. He said spreading a Christian message can be difficult. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Vince Bateman attends a prayer ceremony held Thursday at the Statehouse. He said spreading a Christian message can be difficult. (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 — Bowing his head in prayer, Rep. Bill Rhiley asked God to sway journalists into Christian reporting during a Thursday prayer ceremony. He was one of several Statehouse Republicans who attended the ceremony to pray for more Godly influence in society at large.&nbsp;“On this National Day of Prayer, grant that the people of media, social media and entertainment media may be used for your works and good,” Rhiley said, standing near a large banner that read “Kansas for Jesus.” “These forms of media, TV, radio, movies, email, newspapers and the Internet have betrayed your trust and truth and created turmoil amongst your people. We offer our prayers that you may inspire through your whole spirit, the people of the media to use their gifts that you have given them, to know and respect the truth.”Rep. Emil Bergquist, a Park City Republican, along with state Treasurer Steven Johnson and Kansas State Board of Education member Danny Zeck, also led prayers at the National Day of Prayer event in the Statehouse,Prayer topics included politics, family life, news media, government and education.&nbsp;Bergquist, who said his prayer was for himself and his colleagues, said some House lawmakers had suffered “the persecution that happens when you stand up for truth.”&nbsp;In an interview after the event, Bergquist said he wasn’t referring to any specific event or legislation when referring to “persecution,” but he knew that lawmakers experienced pushback when standing up for their beliefs.&nbsp;“There’s a time in every day to take a stand for the Lord,” Bergquist said during his prayer. “There’s a lot of folks in this house who love the Lord.”The event comes after rising concern from Kansans who believe religion has seeped into the state’s lawmaking process, particularly among Republicans. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, recently offered to convert a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/28/muslim-advocacy-group-asks-kansas-senator-for-equal-representation-after-offer-to-convert/">Muslim woman and also a reporter to Christianity</a>&nbsp;when asked how he represented his non-Christian constituents.&nbsp;Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican involved in K-12 education budget allocations, has spent the legislative session pushing for a voucher program that would give unregulated private school funding state tax dollars, telling a local forum that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/20/kansas-lawmaker-tells-concerned-augusta-community-educators-some-kids-do-need-jesus-first/">“there are some kids that do need Jesus first.</a>”&nbsp;In his prayer, Zeck asked for more accountability in school communities.&nbsp;“Please pour your wisdom into each of our administrators, teachers, support staff and local school board members,” Zeck said.&nbsp;Several members of the audience, who followed along in song and prayer, expressed their support of that message.&nbsp;Vince Bateman, a Kansan who attended the event wearing biblical garb, said it was difficult to catch people’s attention in the age of social media. Bateman said he used his outfit as a conversation starter in his ministry efforts.&nbsp;“So many people are caught up in phones, so their attention spans are very short, and to go out and preach the gospel nowadays, it’s so hard to do because you have split seconds,” Bateman said.

Kan. lawmakers ask for Godly influences during Statehouse prayer ceremony

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has extended her order barring the enforcement of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-missouri-4def2189dac9979a00d298efb3baf12a">unique rule</a>&nbsp;pushed by Missouri's Republican attorney general that would require adults and children to undergo more than a year of therapy and fulfill other requirements before they could receive gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgery.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey initially sought to implement the rule effective April 27, prompting a lawsuit on behalf of transgender people. St. Louis County Judge Ellen Ribaudo on Monday granted a temporary restraining order and originally scheduled a May 11 hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-missouri-attorney-general-ef30b41658d95b7206535c5fd67513ae">on the lawsuit</a>.

A posting Thursday on Missouri's online court system shows that Ribaudo pushed back the hearing to July 20, following a joint request from both sides. The posting said the order will remain in effect until July 24 or until the judge rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction.

A spokeswoman for Bailey confirmed the date change, saying the July hearing date was the one that worked best for all parties in the case.

Ribaudo's ruling granting the temporary restraining order noted that patients are at “high risk” of having their medical care interrupted indefinitely and losing care through their current providers if the rule takes effect.

Legal experts and transgender advocates say that implementation of the rule would make Missouri the first state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults and the first to enact such restrictions through emergency rule-making instead of through a new law.

On Thursday, the Kansas City Council introduced a resolution making Missouri's largest city a “sanctuary city” for transgender people receiving gender-affirming care. The resolution now goes to a committee, which will receive public input before deciding on further action.

The lawsuit argues that Bailey sidestepped the Republican-led Legislature and exceeded his authority by attempting to regulate the health care through Missouri’s consumer-protection law.

Bailey said the rule would shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments, though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades and the rule would also apply to adults.

The attorney general’s office has said there are 12,400 Missourians who identify as transgender. The office has estimated that 600 to 700 Missourians would begin intervention in the next year.

The rule would require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before they could receive treatment. Prospective patients also would be required to be screened for autism, and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.

Minors, but not adults, also would have to be screened for “social media addiction” before treatments could begin.

Bailey issued the restrictions after launching an investigation in February into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The probe was prompted by a former employee who alleged that the center was providing children with gender-affirming care without informed consent, a sufficient individualized case review and wraparound mental health services.

The university’s internal review found no misconduct, determining the claims were unsubstantiated.

Bailey’s emergency rule on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-laws-states-gender-affirming-zephyr-fc2528326823c8232cb0aaa7ece0beab">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;comes amid a push by Republicans throughout the country to pass laws aimed at transgender people. More than a dozen states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681466878038.png" alt="On Thursday, the Kansas City Council introduced a resolution making Missouri's largest city a “sanctuary city” for transgender people receiving gender-affirming care. -Missouri AG Andrew Bailey -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>On Thursday, the Kansas City Council introduced a resolution making Missouri's largest city a “sanctuary city” for transgender people receiving gender-affirming care. -Missouri AG Andrew Bailey -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has extended her order barring the enforcement of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-missouri-4def2189dac9979a00d298efb3baf12a">unique rule</a>&nbsp;pushed by Missouri's Republican attorney general that would require adults and children to undergo more than a year of therapy and fulfill other requirements before they could receive gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgery.Attorney General Andrew Bailey initially sought to implement the rule effective April 27, prompting a lawsuit on behalf of transgender people. St. Louis County Judge Ellen Ribaudo on Monday granted a temporary restraining order and originally scheduled a May 11 hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-missouri-attorney-general-ef30b41658d95b7206535c5fd67513ae">on the lawsuit</a>.A posting Thursday on Missouri's online court system shows that Ribaudo pushed back the hearing to July 20, following a joint request from both sides. The posting said the order will remain in effect until July 24 or until the judge rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction.A spokeswoman for Bailey confirmed the date change, saying the July hearing date was the one that worked best for all parties in the case.Ribaudo's ruling granting the temporary restraining order noted that patients are at “high risk” of having their medical care interrupted indefinitely and losing care through their current providers if the rule takes effect.Legal experts and transgender advocates say that implementation of the rule would make Missouri the first state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults and the first to enact such restrictions through emergency rule-making instead of through a new law.On Thursday, the Kansas City Council introduced a resolution making Missouri's largest city a “sanctuary city” for transgender people receiving gender-affirming care. The resolution now goes to a committee, which will receive public input before deciding on further action.The lawsuit argues that Bailey sidestepped the Republican-led Legislature and exceeded his authority by attempting to regulate the health care through Missouri’s consumer-protection law.Bailey said the rule would shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments, though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades and the rule would also apply to adults.The attorney general’s office has said there are 12,400 Missourians who identify as transgender. The office has estimated that 600 to 700 Missourians would begin intervention in the next year.The rule would require people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before they could receive treatment. Prospective patients also would be required to be screened for autism, and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.Minors, but not adults, also would have to be screened for “social media addiction” before treatments could begin.Bailey issued the restrictions after launching an investigation in February into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The probe was prompted by a former employee who alleged that the center was providing children with gender-affirming care without informed consent, a sufficient individualized case review and wraparound mental health services.The university’s internal review found no misconduct, determining the claims were unsubstantiated.Bailey’s emergency rule on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-laws-states-gender-affirming-zephyr-fc2528326823c8232cb0aaa7ece0beab">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;comes amid a push by Republicans throughout the country to pass laws aimed at transgender people. More than a dozen states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors.

Kansas City could be “sanctuary city” for transgender care

OSAGE COUNTY—Crews working a grass fire that started as prescribed burn in Osage County found the body of a man.

Just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a grass fire out of control in the 3100 block of E K-68 Highway, near Quenemo, Kansas, according Sheriff Chris Wells.

Osage County Fire Districts #7—Quenemo, #3—Melvern, and #5—Lyndon responded. During their efforts to fight the fire, they found the body of a man later identified as 84-year-old Leo O. Williams of Osage City.

Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, Investigators and Osage County EMS responded to the scene. An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisting with the investigation, according to

OSAGE COUNTY—Crews working a grass fire that started as prescribed burn in Osage County found the body of a man.Just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a grass fire out of control in the 3100 block of E K-68 Highway, near Quenemo, Kansas, according Sheriff Chris Wells.Osage County Fire Districts #7—Quenemo, #3—Melvern, and #5—Lyndon responded. During their efforts to fight the fire, they found the body of a man later identified as 84-year-old Leo O. Williams of Osage City.Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, Investigators and Osage County EMS responded to the scene. An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisting with the investigation, according to

Kan. man found dead after prescribed burn gets out of control

WYANDOTTE —The search continues for a suspect in the shooting&nbsp; in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard.

On Thursday, police confirmed they had located the vehicle involved.

The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp;

 Anyone with info should call  TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.

The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195620849.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE —The search continues for a suspect in the shooting&nbsp; in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard.On Thursday, police confirmed they had located the vehicle involved.The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp; Anyone with info should call TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.--------------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.