HUTCHINSON — Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas sees the price at the pump going up, but it's still not what last year was.

"Over the last few weeks, we've seen an increase in gas prices," Steward said Friday. "Crude oil rose pretty significantly after OPEC announced its production cut plans. Right now, in Kansas, we're at $3.42 a gallon. That's up 10 cents from a week ago."

"We're up 38 cents from where we were a month ago," Steward said. "Putting it in perspective, we're 26 cents less than the $3.68 per gallon national average and the Sunflower State currently is the 11th lowest average in the nation."

Warmer weather traditionally puts upward pressure on prices.

"The indicators have really been all over the map," Steward said. "Typically, we're starting to get into a more high demand period, but in the last week, we saw a dip in demand. We also saw a dip in oil prices, that fell back into the upper seventies per barrel. They had been above 80. Right now, there's still some concerns on the global crude oil market about interest rate increases and a recession."

It's also the time of the year when refineries finish the transition between refining winter and summer blend gasoline. The summer blend is a little more expensive to make and that cost is passed all along the line and eventually to the consumer at the pump.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON — Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas sees the price at the pump going up, but it's still not what last year was."Over the last few weeks, we've seen an increase in gas prices," Steward said Friday. "Crude oil rose pretty significantly after OPEC announced its production cut plans. Right now, in Kansas, we're at $3.42 a gallon. That's up 10 cents from a week ago.""We're up 38 cents from where we were a month ago," Steward said. "Putting it in perspective, we're 26 cents less than the $3.68 per gallon national average and the Sunflower State currently is the 11th lowest average in the nation."Warmer weather traditionally puts upward pressure on prices."The indicators have really been all over the map," Steward said. "Typically, we're starting to get into a more high demand period, but in the last week, we saw a dip in demand. We also saw a dip in oil prices, that fell back into the upper seventies per barrel. They had been above 80. Right now, there's still some concerns on the global crude oil market about interest rate increases and a recession."It's also the time of the year when refineries finish the transition between refining winter and summer blend gasoline. The summer blend is a little more expensive to make and that cost is passed all along the line and eventually to the consumer at the pump.

AAA: Gas prices going up again

KINGMAN – A California man has been sentenced to serve more than 20 years for his conviction of attempted second-degree murder, according to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.

Robert John Escarcega, 50, a transient from California, was sentenced by Kingman County District Court Judge Francis R. Meisenheimer to serve 247 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility. He was also sentenced to register as a violent offender for 15 years. Escarcega was found guilty by a jury on February 7, 2023.

The crime took place on October 2, 2021, during a domestic incident in rural Kingman County. The case was investigated by the Kingman County Sheriff’s Office, Kingman Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Wichita Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682023597390.png" alt="Escarcega-photo Kingman Co." />
 <figcaption>Escarcega-photo Kingman Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KINGMAN – A California man has been sentenced to serve more than 20 years for his conviction of attempted second-degree murder, according to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.Robert John Escarcega, 50, a transient from California, was sentenced by Kingman County District Court Judge Francis R. Meisenheimer to serve 247 months in a Kansas Department of Corrections facility. He was also sentenced to register as a violent offender for 15 years. Escarcega was found guilty by a jury on February 7, 2023.The crime took place on October 2, 2021, during a domestic incident in rural Kingman County. The case was investigated by the Kingman County Sheriff’s Office, Kingman Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Wichita Police Department.

Kan. judge rules Calif. man must register as a violent offender 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested after a standoff last weekend made his first court appearance in the case this week.

Markel Henderson, 20, Wichita, is charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of criminal threat, and a misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Just before 5:30p.m. on April 16, police responded to a domestic violence disturbance with a weapon at a home in the 7000 block of West Freeman in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.&nbsp;

 A 911 caller reported a man identified as Henderson was inside a home and threatened multiple people with a firearm. The 911 caller and another victim reported leaving the house, but Henderson was still inside.

Officers arrived at the&nbsp; home and established a perimeter as the Wichita Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was assembled. Officers were able to make contact with the suspect, who exited the home and was taken into custody shortly before 8:00 p.m.

Henderson is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office. Attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss future dates on May 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681770126430.png" alt="Henderson-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Henderson-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested after a standoff last weekend made his first court appearance in the case this week.Markel Henderson, 20, Wichita, is charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of criminal threat, and a misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.Just before 5:30p.m. on April 16, police responded to a domestic violence disturbance with a weapon at a home in the 7000 block of West Freeman in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.&nbsp; A 911 caller reported a man identified as Henderson was inside a home and threatened multiple people with a firearm. The 911 caller and another victim reported leaving the house, but Henderson was still inside.Officers arrived at the&nbsp; home and established a perimeter as the Wichita Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was assembled. Officers were able to make contact with the suspect, who exited the home and was taken into custody shortly before 8:00 p.m.Henderson is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office. Attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss future dates on May 1.

Kansas man charged for weekend SWAT team standoff

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to hold a presidential primary in March 2024 rather than leave it to political parties to decide whether they want to have more exclusive caucuses or state conventions instead.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday signed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2053_enrolled.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;into law that schedules the election for March 19, 2024, for the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties. The measure had bipartisan support when the Republican-controlled Legislature approved it this month.

County officials will oversee the voting and the state is likely to cover the costs, which could be several million dollars. Far more voters are expected to participate than the tens of thousands who usually do in caucuses or the dozens who would attend a party convention.

The new law does not schedule presidential primaries after 2024, however.

Kansas last held a state presidential primary in 1992, and about 373,000 voters participated. In canceling later primaries, legislators often cited the potential cost and left it to the parties to decide what to do, at their own expense.

In 2020, Democrats funded and ran their own primary by mail ballot only, while Republican leaders committed to supporting then-President Donald Trump without a vote or any caucuses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603417995976.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas plans to hold a presidential primary in March 2024 rather than leave it to political parties to decide whether they want to have more exclusive caucuses or state conventions instead.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday signed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2053_enrolled.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;into law that schedules the election for March 19, 2024, for the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties. The measure had bipartisan support when the Republican-controlled Legislature approved it this month.County officials will oversee the voting and the state is likely to cover the costs, which could be several million dollars. Far more voters are expected to participate than the tens of thousands who usually do in caucuses or the dozens who would attend a party convention.The new law does not schedule presidential primaries after 2024, however.Kansas last held a state presidential primary in 1992, and about 373,000 voters participated. In canceling later primaries, legislators often cited the potential cost and left it to the parties to decide what to do, at their own expense.In 2020, Democrats funded and ran their own primary by mail ballot only, while Republican leaders committed to supporting then-President Donald Trump without a vote or any caucuses.

Kansas will hold state presidential primary in March 2024

FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A passenger in a car was killed and three people aboard a Missouri school bus were treated for minor injuries after the vehicles collided, authorities say.

The car slid into the Fulton Public School bus Friday afternoon, KMIZ-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/fulton/2023/04/22/one-person-dead-after-car-crashes-into-school-bus-in-fulton-friday-afternoon/">reported</a>.

The driver of the car was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, Fulton police said.

The name of the victim wasn't immediately released. Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A passenger in a car was killed and three people aboard a Missouri school bus were treated for minor injuries after the vehicles collided, authorities say.The car slid into the Fulton Public School bus Friday afternoon, KMIZ-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/fulton/2023/04/22/one-person-dead-after-car-crashes-into-school-bus-in-fulton-friday-afternoon/">reported</a>.The driver of the car was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, Fulton police said.The name of the victim wasn't immediately released. Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Passenger in car dies after collision with Missouri school bus

CHASE COUNTY—The National Weather survey team reported they found tracks from eight tornadoes in the Chase County storm on Wednesday and two were rated EF-2 intensity, 125 miles per hour, according to the weather service in Wichita.

Survey team found EF-2 damage one mile east of Elmdale, 3 miles southwest of Strong City and 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap.&nbsp;

The storm damaged homes and businesses, downed power lines, trees and knocked out power to much of the county, according to the Chase County Sheriff's Department.

The weather service reported the first tornado at 8:13p.m. approximately&nbsp; 6 miles southwest of Emdale. It was rated&nbsp; EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 99mph, a path of .006 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended 5 miles southwest of Elmdale.

The second tornado occurred at 8:15 p.m. approximately 1 mile southwest of Emdale. It was rated  EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 75mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted four minutes and and ended at Elmdale. There was one minor injury in this tornado from a semi that rolled near the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 150.

The third tornado appeared 8:22p.m. one half mile southeast of Emdale. It was rated  EF2 with an estimated peak wind of 125mph, a path of 11.7 miles and a width of 880yards. It lasted thirty minutes and ended six miles northeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged a metal building one mile east of Elmdale and to farm outbuildings three miles southwest of Strong City.

The fourth tornado was reported a 8:31p.m. two and one half miles east of Elmdale. It was rated  EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 200 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended one mile south, southeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged areas north of Chase County Fishing Lake including trees and a small outbuilding.

The weather service reported the fifth tornado at 8:31p.m. approximately 2.3 miles southwest of Strong City. It was rated  EF0&nbsp; with an estimated peak wind of 74mph, a path of 2.7 miles and a width of 175 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended .2 miles north of Strong City.

The sixth tornado occurred&nbsp;at 8:35p.m. just east of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated  EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.1 miles and a width of 50 yards. It lasted four minutes and ended .7 miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls.

The seventh tornado occurred at 8:47p.m. and started four miles east, northeast of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 85mph, a path of 3.2 miles and a width of 150 yards. It lasted ten minutes and ended seven miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls. The sheriff's office reported one minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.

The final tornado that night occurred at 8:55p.m. and started eight miles northeast of Strong City. It was rated EF2 with peak winds of 118mph, a path of 5.5 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted twelve minutes and ended&nbsp;3.7 miles south of Dunlap. The sheriff's office reported on minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.

This tornado damaged a transmission power structure around 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap near the Chase, Morris county line. 

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph, EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph, EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph, EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph, EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph and EF5...Violent...&gt;200 mph

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682086187705.png" alt="Photo NWS Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo NWS Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>CHASE COUNTY—The National Weather survey team reported they found tracks from eight tornadoes in the Chase County storm on Wednesday and two were rated EF-2 intensity, 125 miles per hour, according to the weather service in Wichita.Survey team found EF-2 damage one mile east of Elmdale, 3 miles southwest of Strong City and 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap.&nbsp;The storm damaged homes and businesses, downed power lines, trees and knocked out power to much of the county, according to the Chase County Sheriff's Department.The weather service reported the first tornado at 8:13p.m. approximately&nbsp; 6 miles southwest of Emdale. It was rated&nbsp; EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 99mph, a path of .006 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended 5 miles southwest of Elmdale.The second tornado occurred at 8:15 p.m. approximately 1 mile southwest of Emdale. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 75mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted four minutes and and ended at Elmdale. There was one minor injury in this tornado from a semi that rolled near the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 150.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682086162663.png" alt="Photo National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The third tornado appeared 8:22p.m. one half mile southeast of Emdale. It was rated EF2 with an estimated peak wind of 125mph, a path of 11.7 miles and a width of 880yards. It lasted thirty minutes and ended six miles northeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged a metal building one mile east of Elmdale and to farm outbuildings three miles southwest of Strong City.The fourth tornado was reported a 8:31p.m. two and one half miles east of Elmdale. It was rated EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.3 miles and a width of 200 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended one mile south, southeast of Strong City. This tornado damaged areas north of Chase County Fishing Lake including trees and a small outbuilding.The weather service reported the fifth tornado at 8:31p.m. approximately 2.3 miles southwest of Strong City. It was rated EF0&nbsp; with an estimated peak wind of 74mph, a path of 2.7 miles and a width of 175 yards. It lasted two minutes and ended .2 miles north of Strong City.The sixth tornado occurred&nbsp;at 8:35p.m. just east of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated EF1 with an estimated peak wind of 94mph, a path of 1.1 miles and a width of 50 yards. It lasted four minutes and ended .7 miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls.The seventh tornado occurred at 8:47p.m. and started four miles east, northeast of Cottonwood Falls. It was rated EF0 with an estimated peak wind of 85mph, a path of 3.2 miles and a width of 150 yards. It lasted ten minutes and ended seven miles northeast of Cottonwood Falls. The sheriff's office reported one minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.The final tornado that night occurred at 8:55p.m. and started eight miles northeast of Strong City. It was rated EF2 with peak winds of 118mph, a path of 5.5 miles and a width of 100 yards. It lasted twelve minutes and ended&nbsp;3.7 miles south of Dunlap. The sheriff's office reported on minor injury from a car that was picked up with glass breaking.This tornado damaged a transmission power structure around 3 and one half miles south of Dunlap near the Chase, Morris county line. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph, EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph, EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph, EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph, EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph and EF5...Violent...&gt;200 mph

NWS confirmed 8 tornadoes in Kansas on Wednesday

CLAY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; following a large brawl at a Kansas City-area high school.

Just after 1p.m. Friday, a School Resource Deputy had to request assistance to break up a large fight at Winnetonka High School, 5815 NE 48th Street in Kansas City, according to the Clay County Sheriff.

The deputy asked for any nearby law enforcement to come to the high school due to a disturbance on the second floor. What started as a fight between two teens grew to eight teens with a crowd of approximately 40 to 50 students gathered around. As the School Resource Deputy on scene and school staff tried to break up the altercation, staff members were assaulted.

Deputies from multiple units, as well as members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Kansas City Missouri Police Department, came to the school to restore order. The school was placed on lock-and-teach during the incident. It took less than 10 minutes to get the situation under control, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies took four juvenile students into custody. One student was transported to the hospital with a minor injury as the result of the fight. &nbsp;

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office will turn their findings over to the Clay County Juvenile Office for determination of charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682177557410.png" alt="One student was transported to the hospital for treatment as the result of the fight. Google image" />
 <figcaption>One student was transported to the hospital for treatment as the result of the fight. Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>CLAY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; following a large brawl at a Kansas City-area high school.Just after 1p.m. Friday, a School Resource Deputy had to request assistance to break up a large fight at Winnetonka High School, 5815 NE 48th Street in Kansas City, according to the Clay County Sheriff.The deputy asked for any nearby law enforcement to come to the high school due to a disturbance on the second floor. What started as a fight between two teens grew to eight teens with a crowd of approximately 40 to 50 students gathered around. As the School Resource Deputy on scene and school staff tried to break up the altercation, staff members were assaulted.Deputies from multiple units, as well as members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Kansas City Missouri Police Department, came to the school to restore order. The school was placed on lock-and-teach during the incident. It took less than 10 minutes to get the situation under control, according to the sheriff's department.Deputies took four juvenile students into custody. One student was transported to the hospital with a minor injury as the result of the fight. &nbsp;The Clay County Sheriff’s Office will turn their findings over to the Clay County Juvenile Office for determination of charges.

Police break up large fight at Kansas City high school

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/kansas-hospital-officials-say-new-criminal-penalties-needed-to-deter-patient-visitor-violence/">Kansas Reflector</a>

OVERLAND PARK — Hospital administrator Alan Verrill recalled the 
horror of a patient delivering a knock-out punch to a nurse who 
fractured her skull falling to the floor.

The nurse was wheeled directly from the offending patient’s room to 
the hospital’s intensive care unit. She went through six months of 
rehabilitation, but didn’t return to bedside nursing.

Verrill, chief executive officer of Advent Health South in Overland 
Park, also recalled working in a Colorado hospital when someone pulled 
the trigger on a gun while inside the emergency department. The bullet 
lodged in the ceiling and no one was injured.

Both examples, he said, pointed to precarious challenges of human 
interaction in medical facilities that at times led to violence by 
patients and visitors targeting health professionals. The problem has 
escalated in recent years, he said, despite introduction of staff 
training in de-escalation strategies, key-coded entrances, panic 
buttons, bulletproof glass, metal detectors, deployment of additional 
security personnel and adoption of zero-tolerance policies for 
misconduct.

“Yes, we’re having it happen here,” Verrill said. “Even the most 
state-of-art security that you can put into a building, it doesn’t 
mitigate. Decisively, this is not a new problem. We’ve seen a 
significant acceleration both in the amount of violence … and then the 
degree of violence.”

Verrill and representatives of Saint Luke’s Health System, the 
University of Kansas Health System, Children’s Mercy Hospital and three 
Kansas law enforcement organizations came together Wednesday to urge the
 Kansas Legislature to approve a bill creating new crimes of interfering
 with a health care worker. It would be modeled on comparable law 
protecting on-the-job emergency medical service employees, law 
enforcement officers and firefighters.

The informal coalition also requested Kansas lawmakers increase the 
sentence for battery of a health care provider, a concept House and 
Senate negotiators appear to have accepted. It’s not clear the 
interference measure has enough traction to survive final days of the 
2023 session, which resumes next Wednesday.

“Legislation sends a strong signal that we take this seriously,” 
Verrill said. “If we choose not to, what signal does that send?”

The group of health professionals agreed violence in hospitals 
against nurses, doctors and other staff had risen over the past decade. 
The result has been a rise in physical and mental harm to employees and 
disruption of patient medical care. It has exacerbated hiring and 
retention issues as health professionals changed career paths.

“This is something very near and dear to me because I see staff 
members every day struggling with trying to provide excellent care in an
 atmosphere they shouldn’t have to work in,” said Kristi McGowin, senior
 director of emergency services at Children’s Mercy. “We’ve got to show 
these nurses and physicians that we care about their safety.”

The U.S. Occupational and Safety and Health Administration says 
health care workers account for 50% of all victims of workplace 
violence. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said violent attacks 
against medical professionals grew 67% from 2011 to 2018, while health 
care personnel were five times more likely to experience workplace 
violence than people in other industries.

The American Nurses Association indicated one in four nurses had been
 assaulted at work. A Kansas Hospital Association survey indicated 13% 
of hospitals in the state reported physical violence multiple times each
 week, 21% reported incidents multiple times each month and 46% reported
 more than one incident per year.

Putting a finer point on the issue, Ascension Via Christi in Wichita 
reported 378 episodes of violence from January 2022 to November 2022. 
Advent Health in Shawnee Mission said the hospital experienced nine 
intentional, non-medical workplace violence incidents per month. KU 
Health System facilities in the Kansas City area documented 353 physical
 assaults in the 2022 fiscal year and 292 physical assaults in the 
fiscal year 2023.

At NMC Health in Newton, a gun was flashed at employees while a nurse
 was securing an infant car seat in the family’s vehicle. Stormont Vail 
Health in Topeka said an assailant who violently attacked a nurse was 
charged with a misdemeanor and released 17 hours after the assault.

Elijah Thompson, director of physical security at Saint Luke’s Health
 System, said violent episodes in 2023 would outpace transgressions in 
2020, 2021 and 2022.

“Hospitals are complicated environments,” Thompson said. “They’re 
already filled with a lot of emotions. We always say some of the best 
parts of life and some of the worst parts of life all happen under our 
roof, and we’re looking at the best way to manage all of that.”

He said health professionals understood the obligation to examine and
 treat appropriately people walking through hospital doors. There was a 
high level of empathy and commitment for individuals admitted or 
visiting a hospital who could be dealing with dementia, mental illness, 
substance abuse, trauma and anger issues, he said.

Meanwhile, he said, Saint Luke’s employees had recently suffered 
concussions, cuts, dislocations and bite wounds performing those duties.

“We’re very sensitive to the fact that we want to be able to provide 
for these patients in a safe environment,” Thompson said. “The same 
time, you know, we need some level of protection for our staff as well. 
This is absolutely the right thing to do for our staff in the health 
care industry. I can also make a very strong argument this is the best 
thing to do for patient care.”

Ed Klumpp, a retired chief of the Topeka Police Department and a 
Statehouse lobbyist for three law enforcement organizations, said 
proposals to amplify criminal penalties for violence against Kansas 
health workers had been proposed as early as 2015.

“Everybody thinks our problems are COVID related, and they really 
were happening way before that,” Klumpp said. “This has been going 
around for quite some time. It’s time something happened.”

The issue of violence in hospitals contributed to burnout among staff
 who struggle against disruptive patients and visitors, said Heidi 
Boehm, program manager for enterprise initiatives at KU Health Systems. 
There is a public interest in putting in place a criminal statute to 
deter improper behavior in hospitals, she said.

“I do agree that this legislation would send a message to our staff 
that they’re cared about, they matter, they’re seen and that we as a 
state want to keep them safe,” Boehm said. “We just want these 
additional protections. We’ve been asking for them for years now. This 
is taking a tremendous toll on our health care workers. They’re leaving 
the profession.”

There are more than 1,000 vacant nursing jobs in the Kansas City 
market, and instances in which employees were harmed don’t contribute to
 a sense of security for existing and prospective employees.

Boehm said statistics on violence against hospital staff were likely 
underreported because there were times nurses and other health care 
workers decided not to file a complaint. Some conclude the injury wasn’t
 serious enough or that some level of violence was part of the job, she 
said.

“We’re really trying to shift the culture away from that,” Boehm said.

Klumpp, who works on behalf of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of 
Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association and the Kansas Sheriffs’ 
Association, said pending legislation at the Capitol would require 
charges filed in a case of battery against health workers to be 
documented separately from other battery cases.

He urged hospital administrators to meet with sheriffs, police chiefs
 and prosecutors to use data to make them aware of the severity of the 
problem in health facilities.

“Above all,” Klumpp said, “they (incidents) need to be reported, and 
we encourage that. That is the first step in the process. If you don’t 
report it to police, it isn’t going anywhere.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682016603412.png" alt="Alan Verrill, a physician and chief executive officer of Advent Health South in Overland Park, said Kansas lawmakers should establish a new crime of interfering with health care personnel and elevate the criminal penalty for battery of a health care worker in response to rising violence at hospitals and clinics. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Refector)" />
 <figcaption>Alan Verrill, a physician and chief executive officer of Advent Health South in Overland Park, said Kansas lawmakers should establish a new crime of interfering with health care personnel and elevate the criminal penalty for battery of a health care worker in response to rising violence at hospitals and clinics. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Refector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/kansas-hospital-officials-say-new-criminal-penalties-needed-to-deter-patient-visitor-violence/">Kansas Reflector</a>OVERLAND PARK — Hospital administrator Alan Verrill recalled the 
horror of a patient delivering a knock-out punch to a nurse who 
fractured her skull falling to the floor.The nurse was wheeled directly from the offending patient’s room to 
the hospital’s intensive care unit. She went through six months of 
rehabilitation, but didn’t return to bedside nursing.Verrill, chief executive officer of Advent Health South in Overland 
Park, also recalled working in a Colorado hospital when someone pulled 
the trigger on a gun while inside the emergency department. The bullet 
lodged in the ceiling and no one was injured.Both examples, he said, pointed to precarious challenges of human 
interaction in medical facilities that at times led to violence by 
patients and visitors targeting health professionals. The problem has 
escalated in recent years, he said, despite introduction of staff 
training in de-escalation strategies, key-coded entrances, panic 
buttons, bulletproof glass, metal detectors, deployment of additional 
security personnel and adoption of zero-tolerance policies for 
misconduct.“Yes, we’re having it happen here,” Verrill said. “Even the most 
state-of-art security that you can put into a building, it doesn’t 
mitigate. Decisively, this is not a new problem. We’ve seen a 
significant acceleration both in the amount of violence … and then the 
degree of violence.”Verrill and representatives of Saint Luke’s Health System, the 
University of Kansas Health System, Children’s Mercy Hospital and three 
Kansas law enforcement organizations came together Wednesday to urge the
 Kansas Legislature to approve a bill creating new crimes of interfering
 with a health care worker. It would be modeled on comparable law 
protecting on-the-job emergency medical service employees, law 
enforcement officers and firefighters.The informal coalition also requested Kansas lawmakers increase the 
sentence for battery of a health care provider, a concept House and 
Senate negotiators appear to have accepted. It’s not clear the 
interference measure has enough traction to survive final days of the 
2023 session, which resumes next Wednesday.“Legislation sends a strong signal that we take this seriously,” 
Verrill said. “If we choose not to, what signal does that send?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682016675232.png" alt="Kristi McGowin, senior director of emergency services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and Heidi Boehm, program manager of enterprise initiatives at University of Kansas Health Systems, support enactment of proposed laws crafted to deter people from attacking health workers. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kristi McGowin, senior director of emergency services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and Heidi Boehm, program manager of enterprise initiatives at University of Kansas Health Systems, support enactment of proposed laws crafted to deter people from attacking health workers. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Inside the numbers</h2>The group of health professionals agreed violence in hospitals 
against nurses, doctors and other staff had risen over the past decade. 
The result has been a rise in physical and mental harm to employees and 
disruption of patient medical care. It has exacerbated hiring and 
retention issues as health professionals changed career paths.“This is something very near and dear to me because I see staff 
members every day struggling with trying to provide excellent care in an
 atmosphere they shouldn’t have to work in,” said Kristi McGowin, senior
 director of emergency services at Children’s Mercy. “We’ve got to show 
these nurses and physicians that we care about their safety.”The U.S. Occupational and Safety and Health Administration says 
health care workers account for 50% of all victims of workplace 
violence. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said violent attacks 
against medical professionals grew 67% from 2011 to 2018, while health 
care personnel were five times more likely to experience workplace 
violence than people in other industries.The American Nurses Association indicated one in four nurses had been
 assaulted at work. A Kansas Hospital Association survey indicated 13% 
of hospitals in the state reported physical violence multiple times each
 week, 21% reported incidents multiple times each month and 46% reported
 more than one incident per year.Putting a finer point on the issue, Ascension Via Christi in Wichita 
reported 378 episodes of violence from January 2022 to November 2022. 
Advent Health in Shawnee Mission said the hospital experienced nine 
intentional, non-medical workplace violence incidents per month. KU 
Health System facilities in the Kansas City area documented 353 physical
 assaults in the 2022 fiscal year and 292 physical assaults in the 
fiscal year 2023.At NMC Health in Newton, a gun was flashed at employees while a nurse
 was securing an infant car seat in the family’s vehicle. Stormont Vail 
Health in Topeka said an assailant who violently attacked a nurse was 
charged with a misdemeanor and released 17 hours after the assault.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682016723399.png" alt=" Elijah Thompson, director of physical security at Saint Luke’s Health System, said health care professionals were sensitive to the necessity of treating patients with complex conditions but also supported stronger criminal sanctions for patients or visitors engaging in violence. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Elijah Thompson, director of physical security at Saint Luke’s Health System, said health care professionals were sensitive to the necessity of treating patients with complex conditions but also supported stronger criminal sanctions for patients or visitors engaging in violence. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Complicated environments’</h2>Elijah Thompson, director of physical security at Saint Luke’s Health
 System, said violent episodes in 2023 would outpace transgressions in 
2020, 2021 and 2022.“Hospitals are complicated environments,” Thompson said. “They’re 
already filled with a lot of emotions. We always say some of the best 
parts of life and some of the worst parts of life all happen under our 
roof, and we’re looking at the best way to manage all of that.”He said health professionals understood the obligation to examine and
 treat appropriately people walking through hospital doors. There was a 
high level of empathy and commitment for individuals admitted or 
visiting a hospital who could be dealing with dementia, mental illness, 
substance abuse, trauma and anger issues, he said.Meanwhile, he said, Saint Luke’s employees had recently suffered 
concussions, cuts, dislocations and bite wounds performing those duties.“We’re very sensitive to the fact that we want to be able to provide 
for these patients in a safe environment,” Thompson said. “The same 
time, you know, we need some level of protection for our staff as well. 
This is absolutely the right thing to do for our staff in the health 
care industry. I can also make a very strong argument this is the best 
thing to do for patient care.”Ed Klumpp, a retired chief of the Topeka Police Department and a 
Statehouse lobbyist for three law enforcement organizations, said 
proposals to amplify criminal penalties for violence against Kansas 
health workers had been proposed as early as 2015.“Everybody thinks our problems are COVID related, and they really 
were happening way before that,” Klumpp said. “This has been going 
around for quite some time. It’s time something happened.”<h2>Aggravating staff shortages</h2>The issue of violence in hospitals contributed to burnout among staff
 who struggle against disruptive patients and visitors, said Heidi 
Boehm, program manager for enterprise initiatives at KU Health Systems. 
There is a public interest in putting in place a criminal statute to 
deter improper behavior in hospitals, she said.“I do agree that this legislation would send a message to our staff 
that they’re cared about, they matter, they’re seen and that we as a 
state want to keep them safe,” Boehm said. “We just want these 
additional protections. We’ve been asking for them for years now. This 
is taking a tremendous toll on our health care workers. They’re leaving 
the profession.”There are more than 1,000 vacant nursing jobs in the Kansas City 
market, and instances in which employees were harmed don’t contribute to
 a sense of security for existing and prospective employees.Boehm said statistics on violence against hospital staff were likely 
underreported because there were times nurses and other health care 
workers decided not to file a complaint. Some conclude the injury wasn’t
 serious enough or that some level of violence was part of the job, she 
said.“We’re really trying to shift the culture away from that,” Boehm said.Klumpp, who works on behalf of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of 
Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association and the Kansas Sheriffs’ 
Association, said pending legislation at the Capitol would require 
charges filed in a case of battery against health workers to be 
documented separately from other battery cases.He urged hospital administrators to meet with sheriffs, police chiefs
 and prosecutors to use data to make them aware of the severity of the 
problem in health facilities.“Above all,” Klumpp said, “they (incidents) need to be reported, and 
we encourage that. That is the first step in the process. If you don’t 
report it to police, it isn’t going anywhere.”

Kan. hospital officials urge action to deter patient, visitor violence

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the April 14 shooting at 13th and Washington Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas reported on the Friday the victim died from her injuries.

Just after 3:30p.m. April 14, 0fficers responded to a 911 call of a shooting.

When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a woman later identified as 21-year-old Jadah M. Clark inside a residence, the victim of apparent gunfire.

 She was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries and died this week. Detectives believe she was not the intended target, but rather an innocent victim of an exchange of gunfire. 

As of Friday evening&nbsp; police reported there were no suspects in custody.&nbsp; The KCKPD Major Case Unit continues to investigate.

 Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and you may qualify for a cash reward.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the April 14 shooting at 13th and Washington Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas reported on the Friday the victim died from her injuries.Just after 3:30p.m. April 14, 0fficers responded to a 911 call of a shooting.When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a woman later identified as 21-year-old Jadah M. Clark inside a residence, the victim of apparent gunfire. She was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries and died this week. Detectives believe she was not the intended target, but rather an innocent victim of an exchange of gunfire. As of Friday evening&nbsp; police reported there were no suspects in custody.&nbsp; The KCKPD Major Case Unit continues to investigate. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and you may qualify for a cash reward.

Police: Kan. woman killed in shooting was innocent victim 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday preserved women’s access to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">drug used in the most common method of abortion</a>, rejecting lower-court restrictions while a lawsuit continues.

The justices granted emergency requests from the Biden administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, maker of the drug mifepristone. They are appealing a lower court ruling that would roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone.

President Biden in a statement from his office said, "the Supreme Court granted the Department of Justice’s emergency stay application in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, preventing a lower court decision from going into effect that would have undermined FDA’s medical judgment and put women’s health at risk."

"As a result of the Supreme Court’s stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while we continue this fight in the courts. I continue to stand by FDA’s evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my Administration will continue to defend FDA’s independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs."

"The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically-driven attacks on women’s health. But let’s be clear – the American people must continue to use their vote as their voice, and elect a Congress who will pass a law restoring the protections of&nbsp;Roe v Wade."

The drug has been approved for use in the U.S. since 2000 and more than 5 million people have used it. Mifepristone is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, in more than half of all abortions in the U.S.

The court's action Friday almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court. The next stop for the case is at the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which has set arguments in the case for May 17.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday preserved women’s access to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">drug used in the most common method of abortion</a>, rejecting lower-court restrictions while a lawsuit continues.The justices granted emergency requests from the Biden administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, maker of the drug mifepristone. They are appealing a lower court ruling that would roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone.President Biden in a statement from his office said, "the Supreme Court granted the Department of Justice’s emergency stay application in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, preventing a lower court decision from going into effect that would have undermined FDA’s medical judgment and put women’s health at risk.""As a result of the Supreme Court’s stay, mifepristone remains available and approved for safe and effective use while we continue this fight in the courts. I continue to stand by FDA’s evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my Administration will continue to defend FDA’s independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs.""The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically-driven attacks on women’s health. But let’s be clear – the American people must continue to use their vote as their voice, and elect a Congress who will pass a law restoring the protections of&nbsp;Roe v Wade."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to grant a stay. Access to mifepristone is preserved for now — and our fight to defend reproductive freedom continues. <a href="https://t.co/SkHvBNUpa3">pic.twitter.com/SkHvBNUpa3</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1649568985619341313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The drug has been approved for use in the U.S. since 2000 and more than 5 million people have used it. Mifepristone is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, in more than half of all abortions in the U.S.The court's action Friday almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court. The next stop for the case is at the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which has set arguments in the case for May 17.-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Biden vows to keep fighting after court's abortion pill decision

KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; man has been charged in the fatal 'road rage' shooting of a Kansas City-area man near his home on Interstate 70, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Charles J. Smith, 18, Cape Girardeau, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, State Troopers responded to eastbound Interstate 70 near Oak Grove on Wednesday evening on a reported road rage incident. 

Highway Patrol officers found a green Ford pickup that had crashed into a parked car on the outer road. The driver had been shot once. He later died of his wounds at the hospital. 

Witnesses described a white Hyundai vehicle that had been involved in an incident with the truck. 

Highway Patrol responded to sightings of the vehicle and used stop sticks to disable vehicle. The suspect, later identified as Smith, fled on foot and was eventually apprehended about 9:45 p.m. Smith told police he had been involved in an incident with the Ford that angered him and he fired a shot. He also admitted he tried to get rid of the gun.&nbsp;

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said, "The Highway Patrol worked through the&nbsp;night Wednesday&nbsp;to ensure that the suspect in the shooting on Interstate 70 was apprehended."

"As a result, we have these charges in a totally needless act of violence with the highest range of punishment available under these facts. A family is now without an husband and father who was everything to them. Our roadways are necessary and busy with other travelers getting to their destinations. They must remain safe. Everyone should take note: take a breath, show some restraint, and let everyone get to their destination safely. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682037748124.png" alt="Smith-photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A&nbsp; man has been charged in the fatal 'road rage' shooting of a Kansas City-area man near his home on Interstate 70, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Charles J. Smith, 18, Cape Girardeau, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, State Troopers responded to eastbound Interstate 70 near Oak Grove on Wednesday evening on a reported road rage incident. Highway Patrol officers found a green Ford pickup that had crashed into a parked car on the outer road. The driver had been shot once. He later died of his wounds at the hospital. Witnesses described a white Hyundai vehicle that had been involved in an incident with the truck. Highway Patrol responded to sightings of the vehicle and used stop sticks to disable vehicle. The suspect, later identified as Smith, fled on foot and was eventually apprehended about 9:45 p.m. Smith told police he had been involved in an incident with the Ford that angered him and he fired a shot. He also admitted he tried to get rid of the gun.&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said, "The Highway Patrol worked through the&nbsp;night Wednesday&nbsp;to ensure that the suspect in the shooting on Interstate 70 was apprehended.""As a result, we have these charges in a totally needless act of violence with the highest range of punishment available under these facts. A family is now without an husband and father who was everything to them. Our roadways are necessary and busy with other travelers getting to their destinations. They must remain safe. Everyone should take note: take a breath, show some restraint, and let everyone get to their destination safely. "

Teen charged in fatal 'road rage' shooting on Interstate 70

The court's action Friday almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court.

Justices Samuel Alito, the author of last year’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and Clarence Thomas voted to allow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pill-appeal-fe13d36218f1fb43590aff29b5ba4e9c">restrictions</a>&nbsp;to take effect. No other justices commented.

President Joe Biden praised the high court for keeping mifepristone available while the court fight continues.

“The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically-driven attacks on women’s health. But let’s be clear — the American people must continue to use their vote as their voice, and elect a Congress who will pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade,” Biden said in a statement.

The justices weighed arguments that allowing restrictions contained in lower-court rulings to take effect would severely disrupt the availability of mifepristone.

The Supreme Court had initially said it would decide by Wednesday whether the restrictions could take effect while the case continues. A one-sentence order signed by Alito on Wednesday gave the justices two additional days, without explanation.

The challenge to mifepristone, brought by abortion foes, is the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;controversy to reach the nation's highest court since its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;10 months ago and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.

In his majority opinion last June, Alito said one reason for overturning Roe was to remove federal courts from the abortion fight. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” he wrote.

But even with their court victory,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mifepristone-abortion-drug-3855bb5d5c791e4c0465958bae94519e">abortion opponents</a>&nbsp;returned to federal court with a new target: medication abortions, which make up more than half of all abortions in the United States.

Women seeking to end their pregnancies in the first 10 weeks without more invasive surgical abortion can take mifepristone, along with misoprostol. The FDA has eased the terms of mifepristone's use over the years, including allowing it to be sent through the mail in states that allow access.

The abortion opponents filed suit in Texas in November, asserting that the FDA's original approval of mifepristone 23 years ago and subsequent changes were flawed.

They won a ruling on April 7 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, revoking FDA approval of mifepristone. The judge gave the Biden administration and Danco Laboratories a week to appeal and seek to keep his ruling on hold.

Responding to a quick appeal, two more Trump appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">the FDA's original approval would stand for now</a>. But Judges Andrew Oldham and Kurt Englehardt said most of the rest of Kacsmaryk's ruling could take effect while the case winds through federal courts.

Their ruling would effectively nullify changes made by the FDA starting in 2016, including extending from seven to 10 weeks of pregnancy when mifepristone can be safely used. The court also said that the drug can’t be mailed or dispensed as a generic and that patients who seek it need to make three in-person visits with a doctor. Women also might be required to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-pill-mifepristone-ff152a443d8439e8fa5d9376070822b2">The administration and Danco</a>&nbsp;have said that chaos would ensue if those restrictions were to take effect while the case proceeds. Potentially adding to the confusion, a federal judge in Washington has ordered the FDA to preserve access to mifepristone under the current rules in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia that filed a separate lawsuit.

The Biden administration has said the rulings conflict and create an untenable situation for the FDA.

And a new legal wrinkle threatened even more complications. GenBioPro, which makes the generic version of mifepristone, filed a lawsuit Wednesday to preemptively block the FDA from removing its drug from the market, in the event that the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene.

The Supreme Court was only being asked to block the lower-court rulings through the end of the legal case.

The New Orleans-based 5th circuit already has ordered an accelerated schedule for hearing the case, with arguments set for May 17. The court gave no timetable for a ruling.

Any appeal to the Supreme Court would follow within three months of a ruling, but with no deadline for the justices to decide whether to review the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday preserved women’s access to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">drug used in the most common method of abortion</a>, rejecting lower-court restrictions while a lawsuit continues.The justices granted emergency requests from the Biden administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, maker of the drug mifepristone. They are appealing a lower court ruling that would roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone.The drug has been approved for use in the U.S. since 2000 and more than 5 million people have used it. Mifepristone is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, in more than half of all abortions in the U.S.The court's action Friday almost certainly will leave access to mifepristone unchanged at least into next year, as appeals play out, including a potential appeal to the high court.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the Supreme Court stayed a decision that would have undermined FDA’s medical judgment and put women’s health at risk. As a result, mifepristone, an FDA-approved drug for medication abortion, remains available and approved.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1649557287634124802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Justices Samuel Alito, the author of last year’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and Clarence Thomas voted to allow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-pill-appeal-fe13d36218f1fb43590aff29b5ba4e9c">restrictions</a>&nbsp;to take effect. No other justices commented.President Joe Biden praised the high court for keeping mifepristone available while the court fight continues.“The stakes could not be higher for women across America. I will continue to fight politically-driven attacks on women’s health. But let’s be clear — the American people must continue to use their vote as their voice, and elect a Congress who will pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade,” Biden said in a statement.The justices weighed arguments that allowing restrictions contained in lower-court rulings to take effect would severely disrupt the availability of mifepristone.The Supreme Court had initially said it would decide by Wednesday whether the restrictions could take effect while the case continues. A one-sentence order signed by Alito on Wednesday gave the justices two additional days, without explanation.The challenge to mifepristone, brought by abortion foes, is the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;controversy to reach the nation's highest court since its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;10 months ago and allowed more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright.In his majority opinion last June, Alito said one reason for overturning Roe was to remove federal courts from the abortion fight. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives,” he wrote.But even with their court victory,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mifepristone-abortion-drug-3855bb5d5c791e4c0465958bae94519e">abortion opponents</a>&nbsp;returned to federal court with a new target: medication abortions, which make up more than half of all abortions in the United States.Women seeking to end their pregnancies in the first 10 weeks without more invasive surgical abortion can take mifepristone, along with misoprostol. The FDA has eased the terms of mifepristone's use over the years, including allowing it to be sent through the mail in states that allow access.The abortion opponents filed suit in Texas in November, asserting that the FDA's original approval of mifepristone 23 years ago and subsequent changes were flawed.They won a ruling on April 7 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, revoking FDA approval of mifepristone. The judge gave the Biden administration and Danco Laboratories a week to appeal and seek to keep his ruling on hold.Responding to a quick appeal, two more Trump appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774813-5th-circuit-abortion-pill-stay-order">the FDA's original approval would stand for now</a>. But Judges Andrew Oldham and Kurt Englehardt said most of the rest of Kacsmaryk's ruling could take effect while the case winds through federal courts.Their ruling would effectively nullify changes made by the FDA starting in 2016, including extending from seven to 10 weeks of pregnancy when mifepristone can be safely used. The court also said that the drug can’t be mailed or dispensed as a generic and that patients who seek it need to make three in-person visits with a doctor. Women also might be required to take a higher dosage of the drug than the FDA says is necessary.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-pill-mifepristone-ff152a443d8439e8fa5d9376070822b2">The administration and Danco</a>&nbsp;have said that chaos would ensue if those restrictions were to take effect while the case proceeds. Potentially adding to the confusion, a federal judge in Washington has ordered the FDA to preserve access to mifepristone under the current rules in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia that filed a separate lawsuit.The Biden administration has said the rulings conflict and create an untenable situation for the FDA.And a new legal wrinkle threatened even more complications. GenBioPro, which makes the generic version of mifepristone, filed a lawsuit Wednesday to preemptively block the FDA from removing its drug from the market, in the event that the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene.The Supreme Court was only being asked to block the lower-court rulings through the end of the legal case.The New Orleans-based 5th circuit already has ordered an accelerated schedule for hearing the case, with arguments set for May 17. The court gave no timetable for a ruling.Any appeal to the Supreme Court would follow within three months of a ruling, but with no deadline for the justices to decide whether to review the case.

Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill for now

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities are 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 Thursday evening.

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.

Authorities are investigating how Mitchell-Locke was inadvertently released.

<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 are 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 Thursday evening.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.Authorities are investigating how Mitchell-Locke was inadvertently released.

Suspect in shooting of 3 Kan. officers released from jail by mistake

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a school bus accident that occurred just&nbsp;after 7a.m. Friday in Franklin County.

According to Ottawa Police, the USD 290 school bus with 11 students on board and driven by Stephen Arney, 38, Ottawa,&nbsp; turned onto the 100 block of west 12th Street, according to a media release.

The bus left the road and struck a tree.&nbsp; There were minor injuries reported. EMS did not transport anyone for treatment, according to police. Police cited Arney for inattentive driving.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668431796219.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a school bus accident that occurred just&nbsp;after 7a.m. Friday in Franklin County.According to Ottawa Police, the USD 290 school bus with 11 students on board and driven by Stephen Arney, 38, Ottawa,&nbsp; turned onto the 100 block of west 12th Street, according to a media release.The bus left the road and struck a tree.&nbsp; There were minor injuries reported. EMS did not transport anyone for treatment, according to police. Police cited Arney for inattentive driving.

Kansas school bus with 11 students on board struck a tree

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors have formally dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alec-baldwin">Alec Baldwin</a>&nbsp;in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western film&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-f2d4db6806efe59e0de726b8f4860e6e">“Rust,</a>&nbsp;” citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.

In a stunning turnaround for the 65-year-old A-list actor, special prosecutors Kari Morrisey and Jason Lewis filed the notice to dismiss the only charge against Baldwin on Friday in state District Court in Santa Fe. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing.

An involuntary manslaughter charge against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the film, is unchanged.

An online status hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon in state District Court in the case against Gutierrez-Reed. Baldwin's involvement in the hearing was called off with no charge pending against him.

Friday's court filing echoed early statements from prosecutors that new facts had been revealed in the investigation that demand further investigation and forensic analysis, with little time left before evidentiary hearings scheduled to start on May 3.

On Thursday, the special prosecutors said that the “decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.” They have declined further comment.

Los Angeles-based entertainment litigator and defense attorney Kate Mangels, who is not involved in the “Rust” case, said opportunities for further charges against Baldwin are narrowing.

“If they don’t have the evidence now, I don’t see what evidence they could obtain or that could develop. … It looks like they already had 30 people on a witness list, a cooperative (codefendant) witness, investigations done by various law enforcement agencies. It seems like this has already been pretty well investigated. I can’t imagine what would arise to bring new charges.”

Lawyers for Baldwin were first to announce that prosecutors were changing course, in a sharp turnaround for the Hollywood luminary who just a few months ago was confronting the possibility of a yearslong prison sentence.

Baldwin was pointing a pistol at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally and he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have fired unless the trigger was pulled, however.

In March, “Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-movie-set-shooting-rust-c378be51e3c886d099ac08dbd7ddd2f6">pleaded no contest to a conviction for unsafe handling of a firearm</a>&nbsp;and a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in further inquiries into the fatal shooting.

A defense attorney for Halls said Friday that he is happy for Baldwin and also wishes the best for the Hutchins family.

“Mr. Halls never believed Mr. Baldwin should be charged with a crime. It was a tragic accident that is best resolved out of criminal court,” defense attorney Lisa Torraco said in an email.

When the manslaughter charges were announced in January, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said the case was about equal justice under the law and accountability in Hutchins’ death, regardless of the fame or fortune of those involved. She said the Ukrainian-born cinematographer’s death was tragic — and preventable.

A new legal team took over prosecution of Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in late March, after the original special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned.

The dismissal of the charge against Baldwin, also a coproducer on “Rust,” abruptly changes the tenor of the investigation, said John Day, a Santa Fe-based criminal defense attorney who is not involved with the case.

“It does give the impression that the people left holding the bag are the lowest people on that chain,” Day said.

When word of the dismissal came, Baldwin was at Yellowstone Film Ranch on the set of a rebooted “Rust” production, a representative for Rust Movie Productions said. Preparations for filming were underway at the film's new location in Montana, 18 months after the shooting shut it down.

Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys said they fully expect her to be exonerated in the judicial process.

“The truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered,” the lawyers, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion, said in a statement.

Before Friday's dismissal, the case against Baldwin had already been diminishing. In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-legal-proceedings-prop-gun-shooting-santa-fe-e9391bd29426e8ffb839c031517d59e7">a weapons enhancement to the manslaughter charge was dropped</a>, reducing the maximum prison sentence from five years to 18 months.

Baldwin's 40-year career has included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October” and a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” as well as iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross.” In recent years he was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live."

Baldwin has worked little as an actor since the shooting, but hardly went into hiding. He stayed active on social media,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq_Yp6_sDuP/?hl=en">making Instagram videos</a>, posting podcast interviews and pictures of his wife and seven children.

Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by the cinematographer's widower, Matthew Hutchins, in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer. Souza has said he will return to directing “Rust” to honor the legacy of Halyna Hutchins.

After a scathing safety review by regulators in New Mexico that detailed ignored complaints and misfires before Hutchins' death in October 2021, the production company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674247011938.jpg" alt="-Baldwin thought the gun was loaded with blanks, ammunition that contains powder but not a bullet. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>-Baldwin thought the gun was loaded with blanks, ammunition that contains powder but not a bullet. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Prosecutors have formally dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alec-baldwin">Alec Baldwin</a>&nbsp;in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western film&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-f2d4db6806efe59e0de726b8f4860e6e">“Rust,</a>&nbsp;” citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.In a stunning turnaround for the 65-year-old A-list actor, special prosecutors Kari Morrisey and Jason Lewis filed the notice to dismiss the only charge against Baldwin on Friday in state District Court in Santa Fe. Prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing.An involuntary manslaughter charge against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the film, is unchanged.An online status hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon in state District Court in the case against Gutierrez-Reed. Baldwin's involvement in the hearing was called off with no charge pending against him.Friday's court filing echoed early statements from prosecutors that new facts had been revealed in the investigation that demand further investigation and forensic analysis, with little time left before evidentiary hearings scheduled to start on May 3.On Thursday, the special prosecutors said that the “decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled.” They have declined further comment.Los Angeles-based entertainment litigator and defense attorney Kate Mangels, who is not involved in the “Rust” case, said opportunities for further charges against Baldwin are narrowing.“If they don’t have the evidence now, I don’t see what evidence they could obtain or that could develop. … It looks like they already had 30 people on a witness list, a cooperative (codefendant) witness, investigations done by various law enforcement agencies. It seems like this has already been pretty well investigated. I can’t imagine what would arise to bring new charges.”Lawyers for Baldwin were first to announce that prosecutors were changing course, in a sharp turnaround for the Hollywood luminary who just a few months ago was confronting the possibility of a yearslong prison sentence.Baldwin was pointing a pistol at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.Baldwin has said the gun fired accidentally and he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have fired unless the trigger was pulled, however.In March, “Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alec-baldwin-movie-set-shooting-rust-c378be51e3c886d099ac08dbd7ddd2f6">pleaded no contest to a conviction for unsafe handling of a firearm</a>&nbsp;and a suspended sentence of six months of probation. He agreed to cooperate in further inquiries into the fatal shooting.A defense attorney for Halls said Friday that he is happy for Baldwin and also wishes the best for the Hutchins family.“Mr. Halls never believed Mr. Baldwin should be charged with a crime. It was a tragic accident that is best resolved out of criminal court,” defense attorney Lisa Torraco said in an email.When the manslaughter charges were announced in January, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said the case was about equal justice under the law and accountability in Hutchins’ death, regardless of the fame or fortune of those involved. She said the Ukrainian-born cinematographer’s death was tragic — and preventable.A new legal team took over prosecution of Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed in late March, after the original special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned.The dismissal of the charge against Baldwin, also a coproducer on “Rust,” abruptly changes the tenor of the investigation, said John Day, a Santa Fe-based criminal defense attorney who is not involved with the case.“It does give the impression that the people left holding the bag are the lowest people on that chain,” Day said.When word of the dismissal came, Baldwin was at Yellowstone Film Ranch on the set of a rebooted “Rust” production, a representative for Rust Movie Productions said. Preparations for filming were underway at the film's new location in Montana, 18 months after the shooting shut it down.Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys said they fully expect her to be exonerated in the judicial process.“The truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered,” the lawyers, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion, said in a statement.Before Friday's dismissal, the case against Baldwin had already been diminishing. In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-legal-proceedings-prop-gun-shooting-santa-fe-e9391bd29426e8ffb839c031517d59e7">a weapons enhancement to the manslaughter charge was dropped</a>, reducing the maximum prison sentence from five years to 18 months.Baldwin's 40-year career has included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October” and a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” as well as iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross.” In recent years he was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live."Baldwin has worked little as an actor since the shooting, but hardly went into hiding. He stayed active on social media,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq_Yp6_sDuP/?hl=en">making Instagram videos</a>, posting podcast interviews and pictures of his wife and seven children.Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by the cinematographer's widower, Matthew Hutchins, in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer. Souza has said he will return to directing “Rust” to honor the legacy of Halyna Hutchins.After a scathing safety review by regulators in New Mexico that detailed ignored complaints and misfires before Hutchins' death in October 2021, the production company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.---------------

Charge against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting dismissed

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Friday that the American military has deployed forces and is developing options to assist in the potential evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan, where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sudan-fighting-ceasefire-trapped-civilians-evacuations-foreigners-983cb600ea3f878c5f4907965b4d5d3d">security situation</a>&nbsp;is deteriorating due to fighting between two warring factions.

The aim is "to ensure that we provide as many options as possible, if we are called on to do something. We haven’t been called on to do anything yet,” Austin said at a news conference in Germany, where he and U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, met with defense leaders from other countries to discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrams-tanks-ukraine-training-war-russia-aid-6de94897aad37e6d30e744df0dad07bd">additional support for Ukraine</a>.

According to an American official, a small number of U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-sudan-djibouti-evacuation-2773f4922611aeed462652f178745688">have begun arriving</a>&nbsp;in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, where the U.S. is pre-positioning forces and equipment to assist in any potential evacuation of embassy staff from Sudan. The official said Army soldiers are being tapped for the task.

The U.S. troops are being moved to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Evacuation planning for Sudan got underway in earnest on Monday after a U.S. Embassy convoy was attacked in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

The conflict between Sudan’s military and a rival paramilitary force is worsening. The military has ruled out negotiations and said it would only accept surrender as a temporary cease-fire ended, raising the likelihood of a renewed surge in the nearly weeklong violence that has killed hundreds.

The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations, said Milley discussed the situation with defense officials from Germany, Italy and Canada, among others. One topic was ensuring that any potential evacuation efforts did not conflict.

The U.S. State Department said Friday that an American citizen had died in Sudan, but did not have further details.

“We are in touch with the family and offer our deepest condolences to them on their loss. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add,” the department said in a statement.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Friday that the American military has deployed forces and is developing options to assist in the potential evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan, where the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sudan-fighting-ceasefire-trapped-civilians-evacuations-foreigners-983cb600ea3f878c5f4907965b4d5d3d">security situation</a>&nbsp;is deteriorating due to fighting between two warring factions.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Security Alert The Embassy continues to closely monitor the situation in Khartoum and surrounding areas, where there is ongoing fighting, gunfire, and security forces activity. There have also been reports of assaults, home invasions, and looting. U.S. citizens are strongly… <a href="https://t.co/u6LwySN867">pic.twitter.com/u6LwySN867</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Khartoum (@USEmbassyKRT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKRT/status/1649060263864291329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The aim is "to ensure that we provide as many options as possible, if we are called on to do something. We haven’t been called on to do anything yet,” Austin said at a news conference in Germany, where he and U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, met with defense leaders from other countries to discuss&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrams-tanks-ukraine-training-war-russia-aid-6de94897aad37e6d30e744df0dad07bd">additional support for Ukraine</a>.According to an American official, a small number of U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-sudan-djibouti-evacuation-2773f4922611aeed462652f178745688">have begun arriving</a>&nbsp;in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, where the U.S. is pre-positioning forces and equipment to assist in any potential evacuation of embassy staff from Sudan. The official said Army soldiers are being tapped for the task.The U.S. troops are being moved to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Evacuation planning for Sudan got underway in earnest on Monday after a U.S. Embassy convoy was attacked in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.The conflict between Sudan’s military and a rival paramilitary force is worsening. The military has ruled out negotiations and said it would only accept surrender as a temporary cease-fire ended, raising the likelihood of a renewed surge in the nearly weeklong violence that has killed hundreds.The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations, said Milley discussed the situation with defense officials from Germany, Italy and Canada, among others. One topic was ensuring that any potential evacuation efforts did not conflict.The U.S. State Department said Friday that an American citizen had died in Sudan, but did not have further details.“We are in touch with the family and offer our deepest condolences to them on their loss. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add,” the department said in a statement.

Pentagon: US troops ready to support possible Sudan evacuation

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly signed the state’s budget,&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMTg0LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjEuNzU1ODIwNDEifQ.zb3Hhsrt61V_eujwzvVn6e5fQaf5DMUH7RLFjLATR8Y/s/1303160919/br/161270430125-l" target="_blank">House Bill 2184</a>, which allocates funding for Fiscal Year 2023, Fiscal Year 2024, and Fiscal Year 2025. The budget allows the state to continue its path of economic growth through targeted investments in workforce development, health care, and affordable housing, according to a media release from her office.

Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed aspects of the budget. Find more information and her veto messages&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNC9MaW5lLUl0ZW0tVmV0by1NZXNzYWdlLTIxODQtQnVkZ2V0LnBkZiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjEuNzU1ODIwNDEifQ.eKfeTj6pjdy7ol24O4LFzG8n0JC5Pk0uVFtvJMue09Q/s/1303160919/br/161270430125-l" target="_blank">click here</a>.

“This budget advances the mission of my administration, to make Kansas the best place to raise a family,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to our laser-sharp focus on growing the economy, we have a record surplus that we can use to make critical investments in health care, affordable housing, our foster care system, and other essential services everyday Kansans rely on.”

TOPEKA&nbsp;– On Friday, Governor Laura Kelly signed the state’s budget,&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMTg0LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjEuNzU1ODIwNDEifQ.zb3Hhsrt61V_eujwzvVn6e5fQaf5DMUH7RLFjLATR8Y/s/1303160919/br/161270430125-l" target="_blank">House Bill 2184</a>, which allocates funding for Fiscal Year 2023, Fiscal Year 2024, and Fiscal Year 2025. The budget allows the state to continue its path of economic growth through targeted investments in workforce development, health care, and affordable housing, according to a media release from her office.Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed aspects of the budget. Find more information and her veto messages&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMy8wNC9MaW5lLUl0ZW0tVmV0by1NZXNzYWdlLTIxODQtQnVkZ2V0LnBkZiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjEuNzU1ODIwNDEifQ.eKfeTj6pjdy7ol24O4LFzG8n0JC5Pk0uVFtvJMue09Q/s/1303160919/br/161270430125-l" target="_blank">click here</a>.“This budget advances the mission of my administration, to make Kansas the best place to raise a family,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Thanks to our laser-sharp focus on growing the economy, we have a record surplus that we can use to make critical investments in health care, affordable housing, our foster care system, and other essential services everyday Kansans rely on.”The budget:<ul>
 <li>Prepares Kansas for the future:&nbsp;Adds $600 million to the Rainy Day Fund, putting the balance at a record $1.6 billion. When Governor Kelly first came into office, the Rainy Day Fund was empty. Now Kansas is in a much better position to weather future economic storms. </li><li>Saves taxpayers money by paying off debt:&nbsp;Sets aside funds to pay off the remaining $53 million for reservoir debt at Milford and Perry Lakes, Governor Kelly’s budget will save taxpayers nearly $30 million in future interest payments. The budget also pays in cash for the state’s share of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAxMTIuNjk2ODc1NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3YvZ292ZXJub3Ita2VsbHktYW5ub3VuY2VzLXByb3Bvc2VkLW5ldy1rYW5zYXMtdmV0ZXJhbnMtaG9tZS10by1iZS1idWlsdC1pbi10b3Bla2EvIn0.x_y1rYBEoXNiPI2PU3oqL8_GV6eKwLkq8liDl4z643E/s/2168166703/br/152422881836-l" target="_blank">proposed new veterans home</a>&nbsp;in Topeka – saving close to $10 million in interest. </li><li>Invests in Kansas workers:&nbsp;Ramps up funding for the recently formed&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzAxMTIuNjk2ODc1NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3YvZ292ZXJub3ItbGF1cmEta2VsbHktZXN0YWJsaXNoZXMtb2ZmaWNlLW9mLXJlZ2lzdGVyZWQtYXBwcmVudGljZXNoaXAvIn0.H-2fLJ1kDrfK3IkM5KQSQ-nLVoyCTH4mVb5kwsOnT68/s/2168166703/br/152422881836-l" target="_blank">Office of Registered Apprenticeship</a>&nbsp;and invests in a college internship program to encourage the next generation of Kansans to stay in the state post-graduation. </li><li>Grows the Kansas workforce by investing in higher education:&nbsp;Provides over $20 million in new funding for need-based scholarships, allowing more Kansas kids to affordably attend college. The Governor’s budget also makes historic investments in our community colleges by appropriating $14 million to advance technical education and grow partnerships between business and education. It also provides over $150 million in new funding for our state universities to advance initiatives critical to the Kansas economy and workforce—including developing new manufacturing training facilities at Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University, providing cybersecurity and teacher training at Emporia State, and funding the joint Wichita Biomedical Campus at Wichita State University and the University of Kansas. </li><li>Restores Kansas’ historic downtowns and attracts business to the state:&nbsp;Assists communities in rehabilitating downtown buildings to attract local businesses and restore pride in historic downtown. </li><li>Expands affordable housing:&nbsp;Provides $20 million to the Housing Revolving Loan Program to expand housing stock across the state, especially in rural Kansas. </li><li>Continues to repair Kansas’ foster care system:&nbsp;Invests over $17 million to increase placement rates for foster homes and prepare foster kids to be successful adults, for family preservation services, for after-school club activities, and for driving lessons for youth in foster care. The Governor’s budget also makes investments in training foster homes and parents to be able to accommodate youth with high acuity needs and funding for evidence-based programing for juvenile youth. </li><li>Expands mental and physical health care and increases reimbursements for providers:&nbsp;Lowers out-of-pocket health care costs for KanCare recipients for certain procedures. It also includes over $100 million to the current KanCare program to eliminate disparities in services for low-income Kansans, adds funding for mental health, improves care for the elderly, and supports network capacity by filling in gaps currently not covered by Medicaid. It also provides millions of dollars for uninsured individuals in need of substance use disorder treatments. </li><li>Invests in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity:&nbsp;Modernizes IT systems across state government and provides additional cybersecurity measures at state agencies, including funding to update the state’s antiquated unemployment system.</li>
 </ul>

Governor Kelly signs the state's budget

ALLEN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an accident Thursday in Allen County.

According to the Allen County Sheriff, the 30-year-old driver of a Ford Ranger told the investigating deputy he was driving with his knees and lost control as he was trying to light his (marijuana) as he drove home after work on U.S. Highway 54 just west of Gas, Kansas just before 5:30 p.m. 

The driver didn't hit any vehicles as he crossed over 3 lanes, traveled into the ditch and was stopped by a cement culvert, a large fence corner-post, a telephone junction box and a utility pole. 

The driver also was not wearing a seat belt and was tossed around inside the cab and received minor injuries. 

The deputy took the driver into custody for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The sheriff's department did not release his name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682089612348.png" alt="photo Allen County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo Allen County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an accident Thursday in Allen County.According to the Allen County Sheriff, the 30-year-old driver of a Ford Ranger told the investigating deputy he was driving with his knees and lost control as he was trying to light his (marijuana) as he drove home after work on U.S. Highway 54 just west of Gas, Kansas just before 5:30 p.m. The driver didn't hit any vehicles as he crossed over 3 lanes, traveled into the ditch and was stopped by a cement culvert, a large fence corner-post, a telephone junction box and a utility pole. The driver also was not wearing a seat belt and was tossed around inside the cab and received minor injuries. The deputy took the driver into custody for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The sheriff's department did not release his name.