Focus to be on student safety, college prep, teacher training, community ties

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

TOPEKA — Kansas State Board of Education member Betty Arnold endorsed the goal of expanding the number and quality of educators working in K-12 public school classrooms.

“One of the things that really sticks with me are the obstacles … that tend to decrease the interest in that profession. This is an area where I have some concern,” said Arnold, a Democrat who would have to seek reelection next year in a district gerrymandered by the Kansas Legislature.

Increasing enrollment in university teacher education programs and subsequent leadership development opportunities were among four objectives adopted this month by the state Board of Education for the 18-month period concluding in January 2025.

“Every one of these is a huge challenge,” said Republican Jim McNeice of Wichita. “What’s the plan to do this? How do we evaluate success?”

In 2024, the August primary and November general elections determine control of five of the 10 positions on the state Board of Education. Members with terms expiring Jan. 14, 2025, include Democrat Ann Mah of Topeka, Republican Deena Horst of Salina, Democrat Melanie Haas of Overland Park, McNeice and Arnold. Seven state Board of Education members are Republicans, and all three Democrats would be on the ballot in 2024.

“Five of you will be up for reelection,” said Randy Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas. “Either there will be a change in the board that happens in January again or it will be the same people. I don’t think any of us know that.”

Watson said expanding the pool of new teacher candidates and enhancing instructional skills of those individuals could involve reform of licensure standards and apprenticeship offerings. Graduate programs to develop superintendents and principals should be strengthened, he said.

“What we’re seeing in education right now … is: ‘How short can I condense the time and how inexpensive can I provide that environment,'” Watson said. “I’m not sure that always gives us the best quality.”

The state Board of Education agreed to devoted themselves to enhancing each public school student’s chance of success at a post-secondary institution, whether that was a private or public university, college or trade school. High schools in Kansas excel in helping students earn technical certificates and prepare them for college or the military, Watson said, but a problem existed in the student pipeline at middle schools.

“We have too many students who arrive at high school with too low of academics,” the state commissioner said.

Watson said the state Board of Education would strive to shift more students into the higher levels of achievement on state assessments, move the Kansas high school graduation rate closer to 95% and assist districts with aligning budgets to maximize student success.

State board member Cathy Hopkins, a Hays Republican elected in 2022, said regulatory mandates and associated paperwork were a burden on school districts with modest staffing.

“It seems like there could be a way to streamline that a bit more so they are not so overwhelmed with what these requirements are,” Hopkins said.

A third area of attention for the state Board of Education would be creation of stronger partnerships with families, communities, businesses and local, regional or state policymakers.

“We’re not doing a good enough job there,” Watson said. “So many of our families feel school is not necessarily a good place for them.”

The final category centered on improving safety for people working and learning in schools, which have served as a magnet for individuals intent on perpetrating violence.

The state Board of Education and the Kansas Department of Education ought to develop a better response to cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks, Watson said. Two districts in Kansas, including the Hays district in 2022, experienced ransomware incidents and more were likely, he said.

Danny Zeck, a Republican from Leavenworth elected last year, was the lone vote in opposition to the state Board of Education’s priority list.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684838887954.png" alt=" Betty Arnold, a Wichita member of the Kansas State Board of Education, said work on the goal of increasing the number and quality of educators in public schools should involve examination of impediments to being part of the profession. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Betty Arnold, a Wichita member of the Kansas State Board of Education, said work on the goal of increasing the number and quality of educators in public schools should involve examination of impediments to being part of the profession. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Focus to be on student safety, college prep, teacher training, community ties</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas State Board of Education member Betty Arnold endorsed the goal of expanding the number and quality of educators working in K-12 public school classrooms.“One of the things that really sticks with me are the obstacles … that tend to decrease the interest in that profession. This is an area where I have some concern,” said Arnold, a Democrat who would have to seek reelection next year in a district gerrymandered by the Kansas Legislature.Increasing enrollment in university teacher education programs and subsequent leadership development opportunities were among four objectives adopted this month by the state Board of Education for the 18-month period concluding in January 2025.“Every one of these is a huge challenge,” said Republican Jim McNeice of Wichita. “What’s the plan to do this? How do we evaluate success?”In 2024, the August primary and November general elections determine control of five of the 10 positions on the state Board of Education. Members with terms expiring Jan. 14, 2025, include Democrat Ann Mah of Topeka, Republican Deena Horst of Salina, Democrat Melanie Haas of Overland Park, McNeice and Arnold. Seven state Board of Education members are Republicans, and all three Democrats would be on the ballot in 2024.“Five of you will be up for reelection,” said Randy Watson, commissioner of education in Kansas. “Either there will be a change in the board that happens in January again or it will be the same people. I don’t think any of us know that.”Watson said expanding the pool of new teacher candidates and enhancing instructional skills of those individuals could involve reform of licensure standards and apprenticeship offerings. Graduate programs to develop superintendents and principals should be strengthened, he said.“What we’re seeing in education right now … is: ‘How short can I condense the time and how inexpensive can I provide that environment,'” Watson said. “I’m not sure that always gives us the best quality.”The state Board of Education agreed to devoted themselves to enhancing each public school student’s chance of success at a post-secondary institution, whether that was a private or public university, college or trade school. High schools in Kansas excel in helping students earn technical certificates and prepare them for college or the military, Watson said, but a problem existed in the student pipeline at middle schools.“We have too many students who arrive at high school with too low of academics,” the state commissioner said.Watson said the state Board of Education would strive to shift more students into the higher levels of achievement on state assessments, move the Kansas high school graduation rate closer to 95% and assist districts with aligning budgets to maximize student success.State board member Cathy Hopkins, a Hays Republican elected in 2022, said regulatory mandates and associated paperwork were a burden on school districts with modest staffing.“It seems like there could be a way to streamline that a bit more so they are not so overwhelmed with what these requirements are,” Hopkins said.A third area of attention for the state Board of Education would be creation of stronger partnerships with families, communities, businesses and local, regional or state policymakers.“We’re not doing a good enough job there,” Watson said. “So many of our families feel school is not necessarily a good place for them.”The final category centered on improving safety for people working and learning in schools, which have served as a magnet for individuals intent on perpetrating violence.The state Board of Education and the Kansas Department of Education ought to develop a better response to cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks, Watson said. Two districts in Kansas, including the Hays district in 2022, experienced ransomware incidents and more were likely, he said.Danny Zeck, a Republican from Leavenworth elected last year, was the lone vote in opposition to the state Board of Education’s priority list.

Kansas Board of Ed establishes priorities heading into 2024 election cycle

LYON COUNTY—The Emporia Police Department partnered with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) Monday during an investigation into illegal gambling devices inside an Emporia convenience store.

Police and Gaming Commission enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the BP, 2102 W. 6th Avenue in Emporia. They seized five illegal gaming machines along with an ATM and cash from the business, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

The investigation began several weeks ago, after police received information about the gambling devices.

Kansas law, K.S.A. 21-6403(e)(1)(B) defines a “gambling device” as a machine that is “designed, manufactured or altered primarily for use in connection with gambling…(i) [w]hich when operated may deliver, as the result of chance, any money or property; or (ii) by the operation of which a person may become entitled to receive, as the result of chance, any money or property….”

<a href="https://www.krgc.ks.gov/">Click here for more</a> information about Kansas gambling on the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission website.

Police made no arrests Monday as they continue their investigation, according to Hayes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684801505152.png" alt="Police and Gaming Commission enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the BP in Emporia -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Police and Gaming Commission enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the BP in Emporia -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—The Emporia Police Department partnered with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) Monday during an investigation into illegal gambling devices inside an Emporia convenience store.Police and Gaming Commission enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the BP, 2102 W. 6th Avenue in Emporia. They seized five illegal gaming machines along with an ATM and cash from the business, according to Police Captain Lisa Hayes.The investigation began several weeks ago, after police received information about the gambling devices.Kansas law, K.S.A. 21-6403(e)(1)(B) defines a “gambling device” as a machine that is “designed, manufactured or altered primarily for use in connection with gambling…(i) [w]hich when operated may deliver, as the result of chance, any money or property; or (ii) by the operation of which a person may become entitled to receive, as the result of chance, any money or property….”<a href="https://www.krgc.ks.gov/">Click here for more</a> information about Kansas gambling on the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission website.Police made no arrests Monday as they continue their investigation, according to Hayes.

Police seize illegal gambling devices at Kan. convenience store

By CASEY QUINLAN <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a>

Congressional Republicans’ efforts to slash federal spending by tying work requirements to Medicaid and SNAP would have far-reaching consequences for people with mental health issues, chronic health problems, and some people with disabilities if enacted, policy experts on anti-poverty programs say.&nbsp;

They say the work requirements as laid out by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023” — the Republican plan to raise the country’s debt ceiling —&nbsp; would be devastating for many Americans and hard for states to implement, especially in the thick of the pandemic public health emergency ending. The bill narrowly passed the House in April,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023199">217 to 211 with four Republicans joining Democrats</a>&nbsp;in voting against it. If a deal isn’t reached, the U.S. will default on its debt as early as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-default-could-begin-june-8-without-agreement-top-economist-tells-congress">June 1</a>.

Democrats have pushed back on the work requirements, but McCarthy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4006319-mccarthy-says-work-requirements-a-red-line-in-debt-ceiling-talks/">has said</a>&nbsp;they are non-negotiable. Reports that Biden is showing some flexibility on the issue have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/19/1176938636/debt-limit-14th-amendment">upset</a>&nbsp;some Democrats. The House Freedom Caucus has also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/18/republicans-debt-ceiling-negotiations/">pushed</a>&nbsp;for McCarthy to stop the discussions with the White House until the Senate passes the bill.

Ten million Medicaid expansion enrollees are at risk under the bill,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/mccarthy-medicaid-proposal-puts-millions-of-people-in-expansion-states-at-risk-of">according to</a>&nbsp;the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The Health and Human Services Department estimated that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/25/new-hhs-analysis-congressional-republicans-medicaid-red-tape-would-jeopardize-health-coverage-access-care-21-million-americans-if-implemented.html#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of,by%20Congressional%20Republicans%20were%20implemented.">21 million</a>&nbsp;people are vulnerable to the work reporting requirements. The Congressional Budget Office found that 1.5 million people would lose coverage and 600,000 would become uninsured. It’s possible that the CBO could be&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/04/27/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-cbo-estimates-of-speaker-mccarthys-damaging-medicaid-work-reporting-requirement/">underestimating</a>&nbsp;how many people would lose their coverage, some experts say. Although the requirements apply to every state, the CBPP explained in its analysis of the bill that “it would heavily impact people covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion.”

“People with mental health issues, people with substance use disorders, people with chronic health conditions and even forms of disability could be encompassed within the expansion population and would need to navigate an entirely new system that’s really not well-specified in the bill to get an exemption and we know that that sets up a massive coverage loss potential,” Allison Orris, senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, told States Newsroom.

The bill includes work-reporting requirements for Medicaid that are even more severe than a 2018&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00538#:~:text=In%20June%202018%20Arkansas%20became,an%20exemption%20to%20maintain%20coverage.">Arkansas law</a>that has since been blocked by the courts, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Unlike other work requirement proposals, the bill would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/05/01/mccarthy-bill-would-radically-change-disability-standards-for-medicaid-and-reduce-coverage-for-persons-with-disabilities/">not exempt</a>&nbsp;people during their pregnancy and into their postpartum period and there isn’t an automatic exemption for people receiving Supplemental Security Income because they have a disability or Social Security Disability Insurance. It would undercut gains made by Medicaid expansion because even people eligible could lose coverage because of the complexity of the “red tape” they would be forced to navigate, Park said. The unwinding of pandemic policies adds to the potential complications.

“You have all the coverage losses where some people are going to be inappropriately disenrolled, particularly for procedural reasons. They won’t return in the mail. They never got their renewal packet. … And then you have on top of that, this onerous work-reporting requirement with red tape and because states are so overwhelmed with unwinding over the next year or so, it’s hard to see how they could implement a work-reporting requirement that implements the exemptions,” he said.

Park added that House Republicans who characterize this provision of the bill, which requires recipients to work 80 hours per month, do community service or be involved in an employment program, as only affecting able-bodied adults without children is inaccurate.

“… Based on how this proposal has been designed, you know, it’s not targeted to that group at all,” he said.

He explained, “We know that many people who are disabled who are receiving disability benefits do work to a limited extent and they aren’t necessarily unfit for employment. There’s limits on how much they can work to maintain their benefits. But federal policy, up to this point, has been encouraging those with disabilities to work to increase their employment hours while being able to maintain their health coverage.”

The SNAP work requirements are equally concerning to advocates. Currently 18- to 49-year-olds without children at home can only receive benefits for three months in any three-year-period unless they prove they’ve worked a 20-hour week. Under McCarthy’s bill, those work requirements would be expanded to include people up to age 55.

Craig Gundersen, an economics professor at Baylor University whose research focuses on food insecurity and food assistance, said it may look like that the work requirements are successful because cases will fall, but the reality will be different.

“What’s going to happen is if you impose work requirements you’re going to have an increase in food insecurity in our country,” he said.

He said the bill’s provision on SNAP doesn’t make sense.

“SNAP doesn’t discourage work. So why would you want to impose work requirements? The second thing is that SNAP is an anti-hunger program full stop,” he said. “That’s what it was designed to do. If that’s its main goal, why would we ever want to say to people that you have to work to get these benefits.”

Nine-hundred thousand people in the U.S. aged 50 to 55 are at risk of losing SNAP,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/blog/speaker-mccarthys-snap-proposal-would-take-food-away-from-older-adults-for-not-meeting-work">according to</a>&nbsp;CBPP.

The SNAP restrictions also make it harder for states to provide support for SNAP recipients dealing with unique circumstances that would exempt them from the three-month time limit to receive benefits. The number of exemptions states can use are currently tied to their caseloads and if they aren’t used, states can roll them over into the next year. McCarthy’s bill wouldn’t let states carry over unused exemptions.

​​Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) would also be affected by the stricter work requirements in the House debt ceiling legislation. Families subject to work requirements — 540,000 families — could potentially lose their cash benefits, the CBPP&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/income-security/tanf-provisions-in-house-republicans-debt-ceiling-and-cuts-bill-would-harm">estimated</a>, worsening child poverty.

Housing assistance, student loan forgiveness targeted

In addition to these effects on anti-poverty programs, many other services and benefits in housing and education would likely suffer from the huge cuts proposed in the bill. The CBPP’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/how-house-republicans-harsh-funding-caps-would-affect-different-vital">analysis</a>&nbsp;of this bill shows average cuts of 13% in 2024 even if cuts were evenly spread across discretionary programs.

The legislation would also kill Biden’s student loan forgiveness plans regardless of the outcome in the courts and nix student loan repayment plans that were designed to be more affordable for people with student debt. It would “likely eliminate Pell Grants altogether for 80,000 students,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-house-republican-proposals-hurt-children-students-and-borrowers-and-undermine-education">according to</a>&nbsp;the Department of Education.

“Here you are cutting one of the premier programs that serves low-income students who are trying to access this level of education, who have long been marginalized in the labor market,” said Katherine Gallagher Robbins, senior fellow at the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families. “And what you’re saying to them is, ‘Oh, hey, by the way, we’re not even going to give you the support that will pay dividends for years to come in your own earnings.”

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-republicans-pass-disastrous-budget-proposal-gutting-hud-affordable-housing-and-0">estimated</a>&nbsp;that nearly 1 million people could lose housing assistance and that nearly 120,000 people may be cut off from homelessness services.

“Stable housing is such an essential part of any family’s economic security,” Gallagher Robbins said. “ … The cuts that they’re talking about here …, you’re going to end up eliminating almost 300,000 families’ support for their housing. Not all of those families will end up being unhoused, but some of them will. It creates this downward spiral that is very challenging to recover from, especially as other benefits are cut …”

The ending of the pandemic public health emergency has already resulted in the loss of financial support for some families, and now with these potential cuts, the people who benefited most from the recovery would be hurt the most from this bill, Gallagher Robbins said.

“We’re already seeing things like less access to school lunch, less access to the child tax credit,” she said. “So families are already struggling with what that looks like and that has been mitigated to an extent, obviously not fully, by the current strength of the economy. Everything is up for grabs here, basically, in terms of harming families who are already absorbing this most recent kind of cut in support.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684802104463.png" alt="President Biden met with Speaker McCarthy&nbsp; Monday night on the Debt Limit. Republicans want work requirements on the Medicaid health care program, though the Biden administration has countered that millions of people could lose coverage. The GOP additionally introduced new cuts to food aid by restricting states’ ability to waive work requirements in places with high joblessness. But Democrats have said any changes to work requirements for government aid recipients are nonstarters.- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden met with Speaker McCarthy&nbsp; Monday night on the Debt Limit. Republicans want work requirements on the Medicaid health care program, though the Biden administration has countered that millions of people could lose coverage. The GOP additionally introduced new cuts to food aid by restricting states’ ability to waive work requirements in places with high joblessness. But Democrats have said any changes to work requirements for government aid recipients are nonstarters.- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By CASEY QUINLAN <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/19/rural-hospitals-gird-for-unwinding-of-pandemic-medicaid-coverage/">States Newsroom</a> Congressional Republicans’ efforts to slash federal spending by tying work requirements to Medicaid and SNAP would have far-reaching consequences for people with mental health issues, chronic health problems, and some people with disabilities if enacted, policy experts on anti-poverty programs say.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just finished meeting with President Biden at the White House. <a href="https://t.co/5P4LTLvbVG">https://t.co/5P4LTLvbVG</a>&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1660783402700935169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684800636031.png" alt="Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress in a letter Monday" />
 <figcaption>Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress in a letter Monday</figcaption>
 </figure>They say the work requirements as laid out by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023” — the Republican plan to raise the country’s debt ceiling —&nbsp; would be devastating for many Americans and hard for states to implement, especially in the thick of the pandemic public health emergency ending. The bill narrowly passed the House in April,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023199">217 to 211 with four Republicans joining Democrats</a>&nbsp;in voting against it. If a deal isn’t reached, the U.S. will default on its debt as early as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-default-could-begin-june-8-without-agreement-top-economist-tells-congress">June 1</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just concluded a productive meeting with Speaker McCarthy about the need to prevent default and avoid a catastrophe for our economy. We reiterated once again that default is off the table and the only way to move forward is in good faith toward a bipartisan agreement. While…&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1660798439171538945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democrats have pushed back on the work requirements, but McCarthy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4006319-mccarthy-says-work-requirements-a-red-line-in-debt-ceiling-talks/">has said</a>&nbsp;they are non-negotiable. Reports that Biden is showing some flexibility on the issue have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/19/1176938636/debt-limit-14th-amendment">upset</a>&nbsp;some Democrats. The House Freedom Caucus has also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/18/republicans-debt-ceiling-negotiations/">pushed</a>&nbsp;for McCarthy to stop the discussions with the White House until the Senate passes the bill.Ten million Medicaid expansion enrollees are at risk under the bill,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/mccarthy-medicaid-proposal-puts-millions-of-people-in-expansion-states-at-risk-of">according to</a>&nbsp;the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The Health and Human Services Department estimated that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/25/new-hhs-analysis-congressional-republicans-medicaid-red-tape-would-jeopardize-health-coverage-access-care-21-million-americans-if-implemented.html#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of,by%20Congressional%20Republicans%20were%20implemented.">21 million</a>&nbsp;people are vulnerable to the work reporting requirements. The Congressional Budget Office found that 1.5 million people would lose coverage and 600,000 would become uninsured. It’s possible that the CBO could be&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/04/27/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-cbo-estimates-of-speaker-mccarthys-damaging-medicaid-work-reporting-requirement/">underestimating</a>&nbsp;how many people would lose their coverage, some experts say. Although the requirements apply to every state, the CBPP explained in its analysis of the bill that “it would heavily impact people covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion.”“People with mental health issues, people with substance use disorders, people with chronic health conditions and even forms of disability could be encompassed within the expansion population and would need to navigate an entirely new system that’s really not well-specified in the bill to get an exemption and we know that that sets up a massive coverage loss potential,” Allison Orris, senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, told States Newsroom.The bill includes work-reporting requirements for Medicaid that are even more severe than a 2018&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00538#:~:text=In%20June%202018%20Arkansas%20became,an%20exemption%20to%20maintain%20coverage.">Arkansas law</a>that has since been blocked by the courts, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Unlike other work requirement proposals, the bill would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/05/01/mccarthy-bill-would-radically-change-disability-standards-for-medicaid-and-reduce-coverage-for-persons-with-disabilities/">not exempt</a>&nbsp;people during their pregnancy and into their postpartum period and there isn’t an automatic exemption for people receiving Supplemental Security Income because they have a disability or Social Security Disability Insurance. It would undercut gains made by Medicaid expansion because even people eligible could lose coverage because of the complexity of the “red tape” they would be forced to navigate, Park said. The unwinding of pandemic policies adds to the potential complications.“You have all the coverage losses where some people are going to be inappropriately disenrolled, particularly for procedural reasons. They won’t return in the mail. They never got their renewal packet. … And then you have on top of that, this onerous work-reporting requirement with red tape and because states are so overwhelmed with unwinding over the next year or so, it’s hard to see how they could implement a work-reporting requirement that implements the exemptions,” he said.Park added that House Republicans who characterize this provision of the bill, which requires recipients to work 80 hours per month, do community service or be involved in an employment program, as only affecting able-bodied adults without children is inaccurate.“… Based on how this proposal has been designed, you know, it’s not targeted to that group at all,” he said.He explained, “We know that many people who are disabled who are receiving disability benefits do work to a limited extent and they aren’t necessarily unfit for employment. There’s limits on how much they can work to maintain their benefits. But federal policy, up to this point, has been encouraging those with disabilities to work to increase their employment hours while being able to maintain their health coverage.”<h2>Expanding SNAP work requirements</h2>The SNAP work requirements are equally concerning to advocates. Currently 18- to 49-year-olds without children at home can only receive benefits for three months in any three-year-period unless they prove they’ve worked a 20-hour week. Under McCarthy’s bill, those work requirements would be expanded to include people up to age 55.Craig Gundersen, an economics professor at Baylor University whose research focuses on food insecurity and food assistance, said it may look like that the work requirements are successful because cases will fall, but the reality will be different.“What’s going to happen is if you impose work requirements you’re going to have an increase in food insecurity in our country,” he said.He said the bill’s provision on SNAP doesn’t make sense.“SNAP doesn’t discourage work. So why would you want to impose work requirements? The second thing is that SNAP is an anti-hunger program full stop,” he said. “That’s what it was designed to do. If that’s its main goal, why would we ever want to say to people that you have to work to get these benefits.”Nine-hundred thousand people in the U.S. aged 50 to 55 are at risk of losing SNAP,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/blog/speaker-mccarthys-snap-proposal-would-take-food-away-from-older-adults-for-not-meeting-work">according to</a>&nbsp;CBPP.The SNAP restrictions also make it harder for states to provide support for SNAP recipients dealing with unique circumstances that would exempt them from the three-month time limit to receive benefits. The number of exemptions states can use are currently tied to their caseloads and if they aren’t used, states can roll them over into the next year. McCarthy’s bill wouldn’t let states carry over unused exemptions.​​Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) would also be affected by the stricter work requirements in the House debt ceiling legislation. Families subject to work requirements — 540,000 families — could potentially lose their cash benefits, the CBPP&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/income-security/tanf-provisions-in-house-republicans-debt-ceiling-and-cuts-bill-would-harm">estimated</a>, worsening child poverty.<h2>Housing assistance, student loan forgiveness targeted</h2>In addition to these effects on anti-poverty programs, many other services and benefits in housing and education would likely suffer from the huge cuts proposed in the bill. The CBPP’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/how-house-republicans-harsh-funding-caps-would-affect-different-vital">analysis</a>&nbsp;of this bill shows average cuts of 13% in 2024 even if cuts were evenly spread across discretionary programs.The legislation would also kill Biden’s student loan forgiveness plans regardless of the outcome in the courts and nix student loan repayment plans that were designed to be more affordable for people with student debt. It would “likely eliminate Pell Grants altogether for 80,000 students,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/fact-sheet-house-republican-proposals-hurt-children-students-and-borrowers-and-undermine-education">according to</a>&nbsp;the Department of Education.“Here you are cutting one of the premier programs that serves low-income students who are trying to access this level of education, who have long been marginalized in the labor market,” said Katherine Gallagher Robbins, senior fellow at the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families. “And what you’re saying to them is, ‘Oh, hey, by the way, we’re not even going to give you the support that will pay dividends for years to come in your own earnings.”Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-republicans-pass-disastrous-budget-proposal-gutting-hud-affordable-housing-and-0">estimated</a>&nbsp;that nearly 1 million people could lose housing assistance and that nearly 120,000 people may be cut off from homelessness services.“Stable housing is such an essential part of any family’s economic security,” Gallagher Robbins said. “ … The cuts that they’re talking about here …, you’re going to end up eliminating almost 300,000 families’ support for their housing. Not all of those families will end up being unhoused, but some of them will. It creates this downward spiral that is very challenging to recover from, especially as other benefits are cut …”The ending of the pandemic public health emergency has already resulted in the loss of financial support for some families, and now with these potential cuts, the people who benefited most from the recovery would be hurt the most from this bill, Gallagher Robbins said.“We’re already seeing things like less access to school lunch, less access to the child tax credit,” she said. “So families are already struggling with what that looks like and that has been mitigated to an extent, obviously not fully, by the current strength of the economy. Everything is up for grabs here, basically, in terms of harming families who are already absorbing this most recent kind of cut in support.”

GOP work requirements for federal aid holding up debt limit deal

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a crime scene that sent three people to the hospital have confirmed a second victim has died.

Penny Smith, 50, a resident of the home, died Sunday, May 21, at an area hospital, according to polce.

Her daughter, 29-year-old, Kristy C. Thow, of Shawnee, died from her injuries at an area hospital shortly after the shooting. 

A third victim was treated at an area hospital and has now been released. The suspect, Christopher Smith, 52, a resident of the home and husband of victim Penny Smith, was pronounced deceased on scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Just before 11p.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a shooting at a home in the 2700 block of North 123rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

First responders found three adult women outside with critical injuries. EMS transported them to a local hospital where Thow and Smith died&nbsp;&nbsp;

Inside the home, officers found the body of Christopher Smith.&nbsp;This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a crime scene that sent three people to the hospital have confirmed a second victim has died.Penny Smith, 50, a resident of the home, died Sunday, May 21, at an area hospital, according to polce.Her daughter, 29-year-old, Kristy C. Thow, of Shawnee, died from her injuries at an area hospital shortly after the shooting. A third victim was treated at an area hospital and has now been released. The suspect, Christopher Smith, 52, a resident of the home and husband of victim Penny Smith, was pronounced deceased on scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.Just before 11p.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a shooting at a home in the 2700 block of North 123rd Street in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.First responders found three adult women outside with critical injuries. EMS transported them to a local hospital where Thow and Smith died&nbsp;&nbsp;Inside the home, officers found the body of Christopher Smith.&nbsp;This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.

Police: 2nd woman has died from shooting at Kansas home 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who&nbsp;threatening to kidnap and kill the mayor of Wichita because he was upset about the city’s mask ordinance has been sentenced.

On Monday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced 62-year-old Meredith Dowty to two years on probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office

On Friday Dowty plead no contest to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

According to court records, the retired firefighter was upset about the city’s mask ordinance and had been texting an acquaintance on the city council for more than a month before his arrest.

&nbsp;James Clendenin, at the time a member of the city council, started receiving texts from Dowty and wanted to know where the mayor eats, sleeps and buys food and gas.

Clendenin, who in 2020 voted against the mask mandate, said Dowty might have felt they were “kindred spirits” because of his stance.

Court documents say Dowty also texted about people needing to be “hung by their necks”&nbsp; and then described the mayor as “traitorous” in another message. Clendenin said he didn’t feel the conversation went beyond “venting” until Dowty allegedly wrote that the “Mayor and all those who bankrupt us” are “viable targets for elimination.”

That’s when he reported the messages to police. Dowty said Clendenin is his friend and that he didn’t mean the texts as threats, court document say. -The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602897809399.png" alt="Dowty-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Dowty-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who&nbsp;threatening to kidnap and kill the mayor of Wichita because he was upset about the city’s mask ordinance has been sentenced.On Monday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced 62-year-old Meredith Dowty to two years on probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's officeOn Friday Dowty plead no contest to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.According to court records, the retired firefighter was upset about the city’s mask ordinance and had been texting an acquaintance on the city council for more than a month before his arrest.&nbsp;James Clendenin, at the time a member of the city council, started receiving texts from Dowty and wanted to know where the mayor eats, sleeps and buys food and gas.Clendenin, who in 2020 voted against the mask mandate, said Dowty might have felt they were “kindred spirits” because of his stance.Court documents say Dowty also texted about people needing to be “hung by their necks”&nbsp; and then described the mayor as “traitorous” in another message. Clendenin said he didn’t feel the conversation went beyond “venting” until Dowty allegedly wrote that the “Mayor and all those who bankrupt us” are “viable targets for elimination.”That’s when he reported the messages to police. Dowty said Clendenin is his friend and that he didn’t mean the texts as threats, court document say. -The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kan. man who threatened mayor over mask mandate is sentenced

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

Just before 10p.m. May 19, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in the 2700 block of SE Adams Street on a silver 2004 Buick LeSabre with a license plate that did not belong to that vehicle, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, a K9 Unit was utilized and illegal narcotics were located.

Sara J. O’Brien, 46, of Hiawatha was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is not longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684786521078.png" alt="O'Brien photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>O'Brien photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 10p.m. May 19, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in the 2700 block of SE Adams Street on a silver 2004 Buick LeSabre with a license plate that did not belong to that vehicle, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, a K9 Unit was utilized and illegal narcotics were located.Sara J. O’Brien, 46, of Hiawatha was arrested, booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is not longer in custody, according to online jail records.

NE Kansas woman caught transporting meth

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A judge entered not guilty pleas Monday for a man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-kohberger-e7be2c178c315d0d8307ae5180558153">charged in the stabbing deaths</a>&nbsp;of four University of Idaho students, setting the stage for a trial in which he could potentially face the death penalty.

The Nov. 13, 2022, killings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-spokane-university-of-fdbabdb55c38409cd567a7332db4dae5">stunned the rural community of Moscow, Idaho,</a>&nbsp;and prompted many students to leave campus early, switching to remote learning for the remainder of the semester.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.

Bryan Kohberger, 28, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">arrested late last year</a>&nbsp;and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.

Kohberger declined to enter pleas in Latah County District Court, with his defense attorney Anne Taylor telling the judge that they were going to “stand silent” at this time. In response, 2nd District Judge John Judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf.

It's uncommon but not unheard of for defendants to “stand silent” in criminal cases. Sometimes it is done because defendants and their attorneys feel they need more time to weigh the ramifications of entering a plea of guilty or not guilty; other times it can be part of a broader legal strategy or simply a defendant's personal choice.

Kohberger declined to waive his right to a speedy trial, so the judge scheduled it to begin Oct. 2. It's still possible that the trial, expected to last six weeks, could be delayed or moved to a different location.

Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at nearby Washington State University when the University of Idaho students were killed, but prosecutors have not released any information about how they believe he may have chosen the victims or whether he had met any of them previously.

Police released few details about the investigation until after Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in eastern Pennsylvania early Dec. 30, 2022. Court documents detailed how police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video that they say links Kohberger to the slayings.

Investigators said traces of DNA found on a knife sheath inside the home where the students were killed matches Kohberger, and that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings. A white sedan allegedly matching one owned by Kohberger was caught on surveillance footage repeatedly cruising past the rental home around the time of the killings.

Kernodle, Chapin, Mogen and Goncalves were friends and members of the university’s Greek system, and the three women lived together in the rental home just across the street from campus. Chapin — Kernodle’s boyfriend — was there visiting on the night of the attack.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson now has 60 days to inform the court whether he will seek the death penalty in the case.

The small courtroom was packed for the arraignment, with some members of the news media and other onlookers lining up outside three hours before the proceeding was set to begin, Boise television station KTVB reported. Family members of Goncalves were among those who attended, one of them weeping as the charges were read.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924870681.png" alt="Kohberger" />
 <figcaption>Kohberger</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A judge entered not guilty pleas Monday for a man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-kohberger-e7be2c178c315d0d8307ae5180558153">charged in the stabbing deaths</a>&nbsp;of four University of Idaho students, setting the stage for a trial in which he could potentially face the death penalty.The Nov. 13, 2022, killings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-spokane-university-of-fdbabdb55c38409cd567a7332db4dae5">stunned the rural community of Moscow, Idaho,</a>&nbsp;and prompted many students to leave campus early, switching to remote learning for the remainder of the semester.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.Bryan Kohberger, 28, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">arrested late last year</a>&nbsp;and charged with burglary and four counts of first-degree murder in connection with with the slayings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.Kohberger declined to enter pleas in Latah County District Court, with his defense attorney Anne Taylor telling the judge that they were going to “stand silent” at this time. In response, 2nd District Judge John Judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf.It's uncommon but not unheard of for defendants to “stand silent” in criminal cases. Sometimes it is done because defendants and their attorneys feel they need more time to weigh the ramifications of entering a plea of guilty or not guilty; other times it can be part of a broader legal strategy or simply a defendant's personal choice.Kohberger declined to waive his right to a speedy trial, so the judge scheduled it to begin Oct. 2. It's still possible that the trial, expected to last six weeks, could be delayed or moved to a different location.Kohberger was a graduate student studying criminology at nearby Washington State University when the University of Idaho students were killed, but prosecutors have not released any information about how they believe he may have chosen the victims or whether he had met any of them previously.Police released few details about the investigation until after Kohberger was arrested at his parents’ home in eastern Pennsylvania early Dec. 30, 2022. Court documents detailed how police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video that they say links Kohberger to the slayings.Investigators said traces of DNA found on a knife sheath inside the home where the students were killed matches Kohberger, and that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings. A white sedan allegedly matching one owned by Kohberger was caught on surveillance footage repeatedly cruising past the rental home around the time of the killings.Kernodle, Chapin, Mogen and Goncalves were friends and members of the university’s Greek system, and the three women lived together in the rental home just across the street from campus. Chapin — Kernodle’s boyfriend — was there visiting on the night of the attack.Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson now has 60 days to inform the court whether he will seek the death penalty in the case.The small courtroom was packed for the arraignment, with some members of the news media and other onlookers lining up outside three hours before the proceeding was set to begin, Boise television station KTVB reported. Family members of Goncalves were among those who attended, one of them weeping as the charges were read.

Suspect in murder of 4 Univ. of Idaho students declines to enter plea

MADISON, Mo. (AP) — The driver of a semi died when his vehicle struck a train in rural northeastern Missouri.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon near the town of Madison in Monroe County, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of St. Louis. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Russell Minnis, 65, of Higbee, Missouri, was traveling on U.S. 24 and failed to stop at a train track that was equipped with a crossbar, warning light and bell.

The truck struck a Norfolk Southern locomotive that was already crossing the highway, causing several containers to derail, a Norfolk Southern spokesman said. No hazardous material was involved.

The accident forced closure of a section of the highway. It wasn't immediately clear when it would reopen.

MADISON, Mo. (AP) — The driver of a semi died when his vehicle struck a train in rural northeastern Missouri.The accident happened Sunday afternoon near the town of Madison in Monroe County, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of St. Louis. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Russell Minnis, 65, of Higbee, Missouri, was traveling on U.S. 24 and failed to stop at a train track that was equipped with a crossbar, warning light and bell.Minnis was pronounced dead at the scene.The truck struck a Norfolk Southern locomotive that was already crossing the highway, causing several containers to derail, a Norfolk Southern spokesman said. No hazardous material was involved.The accident forced closure of a section of the highway. It wasn't immediately clear when it would reopen.

Driver killed after semi strikes train in rural Missouri

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man is going to prison for the&nbsp;shooting a shooting death last summer in Wichita.

Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 21-year-old Christopher Dyas has been sentenced to 18-years in prison for second-degree murder and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

Just after 1:30a.m. August 15, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.

Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.

First responders attempted lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.

Investigators learned that Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.

Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch, a system&nbsp; that captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.

A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660522989997.png" alt="Dyas-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dyas-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man is going to prison for the&nbsp;shooting a shooting death last summer in Wichita.Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 21-year-old Christopher Dyas has been sentenced to 18-years in prison for second-degree murder and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.Just after 1:30a.m. August 15, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.First responders attempted lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660522964880.png" alt="Sweeney-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sweeney-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned that Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch, a system&nbsp; that captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.&nbsp;--------

Kan. man captured utilizing FLOCK plate reader sentenced for murder

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the shooting&nbsp;at a Kansas City bar early Sunday have identified the victims as 41-year-old Jason McConnell; 33-year-old Clarence Henderson and 25-year-old&nbsp;Antoinette Brenson, according to a release from KCPD.

Honystye Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275640031.html">told the Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that her stepfather Jason McConnell, was killed in the shooting while working security at the door of the bar.

After she rushed to the bar, Chancellor said, people in the crowd told her that the shooting happened just as the local rapper who was performing at the club was leaving.

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

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

Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital.&nbsp;

Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital. The other two victims remained in critical condition, according to police.

 Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting are still under investigation.

On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684788898802.png" alt="On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident.-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the shooting&nbsp;at a Kansas City bar early Sunday have identified the victims as 41-year-old Jason McConnell; 33-year-old Clarence Henderson and 25-year-old&nbsp;Antoinette Brenson, according to a release from KCPD.Honystye Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275640031.html">told the Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;that her stepfather Jason McConnell, was killed in the shooting while working security at the door of the bar. After she rushed to the bar, Chancellor said, people in the crowd told her that the shooting happened just as the local rapper who was performing at the club was leaving.The rapper who performs under the name “Nutty Still Gassin” had posted a live video from the club earlier in the night before the shooting happened on his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/clarence.henderson.7982">Facebook page</a>.Kansas City police said that when multiple officers arrived at the bar, they found five victims and began providing medical aid.Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital.&nbsp;Kansas City police said that when multiple officers arrived at the bar, they found five victims and began providing medical aid.Police said two of the victims died at the scene — one was found inside the bar and the other was outside the building in Kansas City, Missouri. A third victim died at the hospital. The other two victims remained in critical condition, according to police. Details about the circumstances that led to the shooting are still under investigation.On the sidewalk outside the bar, a small memorial with flowers and chalk writing featuring the victims’ names popped up in the hours following the incident. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Victims in deadly Kansas City bar shooting identified

JUDD WEIL&nbsp; Hutch Post&nbsp;

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Hutchinson Police Department (HPD) officer Todd W. Allen was sentenced before Judge Keith Schroeder on May 22.&nbsp;

Allen pled guilty to 12 felony charges related to sex crimes and five misdemeanors related to breach of privacy on April 10 in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;

Allen will receive 282 months in prison, according to the plea agreement.&nbsp;

The plea hearing in April was before Judge Jeff Newsum.&nbsp;

Allen agreed to the plea deal, earning him a 23-1/2 year sentence. Under the conditions of the plea deal, he can get out early for good behavior however must serve 20 years of the sentence, minimum. &nbsp;

Allen will be required to register as a sex offender and reimburse the court for related fees.&nbsp;

The formal charges originally filed against Allen included 17 felonies and seven misdemeanors, totaling 24 counts. &nbsp;

The charges were two counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery, and indecent liberties with a minor involving a 14 or 15-year-old. &nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d6da7f11-fb3b-4d3d-ae8a-a4039b6e92bd" target="_blank">Allen was arrested Aug. 17, 2022&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for crimes that stretched back as far as 2012.&nbsp;

Per the filed complaints, Allen is said&nbsp;to have sexually assaulted 10 victims. &nbsp;&nbsp;

All the assaults took place in either Rice Park, Carey Park, or Fun Valley Sports Complex, all in Hutchinson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Supporting documents filed in court say that&nbsp;Allen's victims were never unaccompanied, be it a boyfriend, friend, or brother.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Under the guise of an on-duty cop or park security, and while dressed in dark clothing and a mask or face-covering, Allen would shine a flashlight at the victims' eyes to further disguise himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The victims would believe him and comply with his demands to exit their vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As he would take his victims, one including a 15-year-old girl, behind the vehicle, he would tell whoever was with them to stay where they were.&nbsp;&nbsp;

From behind the car, Allen would interrogate them about illicit activities such as drugs. At the same time, he would assault them with unwanted sexual acts.&nbsp;

When each victim, all females, realized Allen might not be who he claimed, they would scream or alert their company, causing him to run. Allen made his getaways with either a bicycle or another vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The last reported sexual battery and kidnapping charge was in August 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition to his park assaults, on several occasions Allen peeped through the windows of private residences. In one instance, he used the aid of a stepstool from behind someone's property to try and look in a window.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Allen was finally caught when security camera footage spotted him peering over a fence.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Reno County District Attorney Thomas Stanton, while employed with the Hutchinson Police Department, Allen looked up records of his assaults during the investigations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The five breach-of-privacy charges were filed after he left the HPD on Jan. 9, 2019, and took a security job with Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He is reported to have said the assaults were sexually motivated. &nbsp;

Stanton said Allen&nbsp;was not on duty as a police officer when committing his crimes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prior to sentencing Allen was free on $250,000 bond. His&nbsp;bond conditions included wearing a GPS ankle monitor and not having any alcohol, drugs or contact with victims.&nbsp;

Todd W. Allen was with the Hutchinson Police Department from the 1990s, until resigning in 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684780534731.jpeg" alt="Todd W. Allen seated with legal counsel at sentencing on Monday-Photo by Judd Weil" />
 <figcaption>Todd W. Allen seated with legal counsel at sentencing on Monday-Photo by Judd Weil</figcaption>
 </figure>JUDD WEIL&nbsp; Hutch Post&nbsp;HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Hutchinson Police Department (HPD) officer Todd W. Allen was sentenced before Judge Keith Schroeder on May 22.&nbsp;Allen pled guilty to 12 felony charges related to sex crimes and five misdemeanors related to breach of privacy on April 10 in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;Allen will receive 282 months in prison, according to the plea agreement.&nbsp;The plea hearing in April was before Judge Jeff Newsum.&nbsp;Allen agreed to the plea deal, earning him a 23-1/2 year sentence. Under the conditions of the plea deal, he can get out early for good behavior however must serve 20 years of the sentence, minimum. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684789370913.png" alt="Allen-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>Allen will be required to register as a sex offender and reimburse the court for related fees.&nbsp;The formal charges originally filed against Allen included 17 felonies and seven misdemeanors, totaling 24 counts. &nbsp;The charges were two counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery, and indecent liberties with a minor involving a 14 or 15-year-old. &nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d6da7f11-fb3b-4d3d-ae8a-a4039b6e92bd" target="_blank">Allen was arrested Aug. 17, 2022&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for crimes that stretched back as far as 2012.&nbsp;Per the filed complaints, Allen is said&nbsp;to have sexually assaulted 10 victims. &nbsp;&nbsp;All the assaults took place in either Rice Park, Carey Park, or Fun Valley Sports Complex, all in Hutchinson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Supporting documents filed in court say that&nbsp;Allen's victims were never unaccompanied, be it a boyfriend, friend, or brother.&nbsp;&nbsp;Under the guise of an on-duty cop or park security, and while dressed in dark clothing and a mask or face-covering, Allen would shine a flashlight at the victims' eyes to further disguise himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;The victims would believe him and comply with his demands to exit their vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;As he would take his victims, one including a 15-year-old girl, behind the vehicle, he would tell whoever was with them to stay where they were.&nbsp;&nbsp;From behind the car, Allen would interrogate them about illicit activities such as drugs. At the same time, he would assault them with unwanted sexual acts.&nbsp;When each victim, all females, realized Allen might not be who he claimed, they would scream or alert their company, causing him to run. Allen made his getaways with either a bicycle or another vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;The last reported sexual battery and kidnapping charge was in August 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to his park assaults, on several occasions Allen peeped through the windows of private residences. In one instance, he used the aid of a stepstool from behind someone's property to try and look in a window.&nbsp;&nbsp;Allen was finally caught when security camera footage spotted him peering over a fence.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Reno County District Attorney Thomas Stanton, while employed with the Hutchinson Police Department, Allen looked up records of his assaults during the investigations.&nbsp;&nbsp;The five breach-of-privacy charges were filed after he left the HPD on Jan. 9, 2019, and took a security job with Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is reported to have said the assaults were sexually motivated. &nbsp;Stanton said Allen&nbsp;was not on duty as a police officer when committing his crimes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prior to sentencing Allen was free on $250,000 bond. His&nbsp;bond conditions included wearing a GPS ankle monitor and not having any alcohol, drugs or contact with victims.&nbsp;Todd W. Allen was with the Hutchinson Police Department from the 1990s, until resigning in 2019.

Ex-Kansas cop sentenced for serial sex crimes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed a bill Monday that bans abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy and restricts gender-affirming medical care for people younger than 19.

The abortion ban takes effect immediately, while the ban on gender-affirming care takes effect on Oct. 1.

Nebraska’s conservative-led, unicameral Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">passed the bill</a>&nbsp;with the two contentious issues on Friday after hours of heated debate. Conservative lawmakers wrangled just enough votes to end a filibuster and approve it. Opponents have promised to sue to try and block the law.

The proposal restricting gender-affirming care was the flashpoint of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">an epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;led by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh. She and a handful of progressive allies slowed the business of passing laws to a crawl by introducing amendment after amendment to every bill that made it to the Senate floor. That sent leadership scrambling to prioritize which bills to push through.

The hybrid measure tied together restrictions that Republicans have pursued across the U.S.

North Carolina also recently passed a 12-week abortion ban, among a slew of restrictions enacted in states after the U.S. Supreme Court last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling</a>&nbsp;that established a nationwide right to abortion. Fourteen states have approved an abortion ban throughout pregnancy.

Nebraska had not passed a new ban since it became the first state to limit abortions around 20 weeks of pregnancy in 2010. The new 12-week ban includes exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

The law also will prevent transgender people under 19 from receiving any gender-confirming surgery. It also restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers in minors, putting the state’s chief medical officer — a political appointee who is an ear, nose and throat doctor — in charge of setting the rules for those therapies. In Nebraska, people younger than 19 are considered minors.

At least 17 states had already enacted laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/restrictions-targeting-transgender-people-legislative-updates-df66b5a86be47b03dd5a50449d239275">restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care</a>&nbsp;for minors before Monday, and proposals are pending before the governors of Texas and Missouri. Medical groups and advocates say such restrictions are further marginalizing transgender youth and threatening their health.

One Nebraska lawmaker, Omaha state Sen. Megan Hunt, disclosed in March that her teenage son is transgender and said Friday that she now plans to leave the state.

Supporters said they are trying to protect children from making decisions they might come to regret.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684778881211.png" alt="Protesters face off with the State Patrol on Friday at the Nebraska State Capitol during the debate on abortion and gender care-image Nebraska State Patrol.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Protesters face off with the State Patrol on Friday at the Nebraska State Capitol during the debate on abortion and gender care-image Nebraska State Patrol.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGERY A. BECK and JOSH FUNKLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Republican Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed a bill Monday that bans abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy and restricts gender-affirming medical care for people younger than 19.The abortion ban takes effect immediately, while the ban on gender-affirming care takes effect on Oct. 1.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Troopers arrested six people at the Nebraska State Capitol building today for various offenses, including this incident caught on a security camera in which a person punched a Trooper. No injuries to anyone involved. Details: <a href="https://t.co/QMzTjpAt6u">https://t.co/QMzTjpAt6u</a> <a href="https://t.co/6ceBTA3UGz">pic.twitter.com/6ceBTA3UGz</a>&mdash; Nebraska State Patrol (@NEStatePatrol) <a href="https://twitter.com/NEStatePatrol/status/1659719584734146561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nebraska’s conservative-led, unicameral Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">passed the bill</a>&nbsp;with the two contentious issues on Friday after hours of heated debate. Conservative lawmakers wrangled just enough votes to end a filibuster and approve it. Opponents have promised to sue to try and block the law.The proposal restricting gender-affirming care was the flashpoint of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">an epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;led by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh. She and a handful of progressive allies slowed the business of passing laws to a crawl by introducing amendment after amendment to every bill that made it to the Senate floor. That sent leadership scrambling to prioritize which bills to push through.The hybrid measure tied together restrictions that Republicans have pursued across the U.S.North Carolina also recently passed a 12-week abortion ban, among a slew of restrictions enacted in states after the U.S. Supreme Court last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling</a>&nbsp;that established a nationwide right to abortion. Fourteen states have approved an abortion ban throughout pregnancy.Nebraska had not passed a new ban since it became the first state to limit abortions around 20 weeks of pregnancy in 2010. The new 12-week ban includes exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.The law also will prevent transgender people under 19 from receiving any gender-confirming surgery. It also restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers in minors, putting the state’s chief medical officer — a political appointee who is an ear, nose and throat doctor — in charge of setting the rules for those therapies. In Nebraska, people younger than 19 are considered minors.At least 17 states had already enacted laws&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/restrictions-targeting-transgender-people-legislative-updates-df66b5a86be47b03dd5a50449d239275">restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care</a>&nbsp;for minors before Monday, and proposals are pending before the governors of Texas and Missouri. Medical groups and advocates say such restrictions are further marginalizing transgender youth and threatening their health.One Nebraska lawmaker, Omaha state Sen. Megan Hunt, disclosed in March that her teenage son is transgender and said Friday that she now plans to leave the state.Supporters said they are trying to protect children from making decisions they might come to regret.

Nebraska gov. signs 12-week abortion ban, limits on gender care

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

Owners of the Keystone pipeline knew a defect had formed years before the strain finally caused the pipeline to burst and flood a Kansas creek with oil last year.&nbsp;

The Keystone pipeline, owned by TC Energy, burst near the Kansas-Nebraska border late last year, spilling almost 13,000 barrels of oil onto adjacent farmland and into Mill Creek.&nbsp;

It was the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">largest spill since the pipeline started operating a decade ago</a>&nbsp;and larger than all the others combined. While the December spill was the most severe, it was caused by a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/09/keystone-pipeline-owner-blames-kansas-spill-on-faulty-weld-estimates-480m-remediation-cost/">manufacturing defect that worsened under stress</a>, like most earlier breaches.

Bill Caram, executive director of Pipeline Safety Trust, said any failure that affects the environment is alarming.&nbsp;

“But the fact that we have a history of these construction issues on this pipeline and we have another failure because of that — I think it calls into question the condition of the pipeline itself,” Caram said.&nbsp;

Following the December spill, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ordered the section of the pipeline shut down and issued TC Energy a corrective action order that required the company to have the pipeline analyzed and study the root causes of the failure.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2023-05/MP14-Confidential-RCFA-FINAL-April-21-2023-Redacted.pdf">The resulting study</a>, quietly posted to the administration’s website, painted a picture of a company that overlooked warning signs and lacked appropriate safety controls. It determined a faulty weld, which was further strained by bending and a misshapen section of pipe, failed and caused the rupture.

“This root cause analysis…points to inadequate oversight in TC Energy’s policies and procedures. The fact that they had to replace this piece of the pipeline a couple times and it still went in defective speaks a lot to that,” Caram said.&nbsp;

TC Energy didn’t respond directly to the findings of the study.&nbsp;

“As part of our commitment to learning and action, we are evaluating how we will implement the recommendations from the root cause failure analysis into our practices and standards,” TC Energy said in an unsigned statement.

According to the study, prepared by RSI Pipeline Solutions on TC Energy’s behalf, operators discovered in 2013 that the Keystone pipeline had become somewhat oval-shaped instead of round near the point where it burst 10 years later.&nbsp;

That and stress of the bend in the pipe strained the faulty weld. But it’s not uncommon for pipelines to become oval-shaped, so “the severity of the threat was underestimated,” the report says.

That decision not to address the ovality is one of four causal factors in the pipeline failure outlined in the report.&nbsp;

The report says the company failed to run an inspection tool back through the pipeline after making modifications. It also failed to properly oversee construction and quality control, which allowed for construction techniques that caused the bending stress. It also followed design policies that didn’t account for the impact of stress on welds at elbows and joints.

TC Energy noted its design was “compliant with applicable codes and standards.”&nbsp;

“However, as part of the ongoing incorporation of our learnings … we will examine how we can further our overall safety and integrity and continue to work with industry to share these actions more broadly,” the company said.&nbsp;

The company has started an investigation to identify other parts of the pipeline that may have similar attributes to the section that failed. It hasn’t found any so far but anticipates the work to continue into next year, the company said.&nbsp;

Caram said federal regulations largely defer to pipeline operators through “performance-based” rather than “prescriptive” regulations. That’s been the case for about 20 years, and he said there hasn’t been a decline in pipeline incidents. He said a better balance between the two regulatory schemes could help.&nbsp;

A prescriptive regulation, Caram said, is like a speed limit. If someone drives over the speed limit, they broke the law and can get a ticket.&nbsp;

“A (performance-based) regulation would just be, ‘Drive safely,’ and it’s kind of up to the driver to determine what ‘drive safely’ means,’” he said. “And that makes it really hard for the regulator to hold that driver accountable.”

Caram continued: “I think the public would say, ‘Well, when you spill hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a creek, that means you weren’t operating the pipeline safely,’ but it’s not always that simple from the regulator’s point of view.”

The section of pipe that burst was a fabricated bend installed in 2010 after a previous construction defect was dug up.&nbsp;

In total, there are 109 similar elbow assemblies, according to the report.&nbsp;

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/14/keystone-oil-pipeline-was-pushed-to-bounds-of-its-permit-before-kansas-spill/">grilled a TC Energy executive in March</a>&nbsp;about the timeline for cleanup of the spill, said he feared if the rupture could happen where it did, it could happen at any of those points.&nbsp;

“Until they can prove this pipeline is safe, properly inspected and doesn’t have similar defects, then it has to be treated as if it’s a potential disaster waiting to happen,” Carmichael said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775580958.png" alt=" Workers clean up at the site of the oil spill from the Keystone pipeline near Washington, Kansas, in December 2022. (Environmental Protection Agency)" />
 <figcaption> Workers clean up at the site of the oil spill from the Keystone pipeline near Washington, Kansas, in December 2022. (Environmental Protection Agency)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>Owners of the Keystone pipeline knew a defect had formed years before the strain finally caused the pipeline to burst and flood a Kansas creek with oil last year.&nbsp;The Keystone pipeline, owned by TC Energy, burst near the Kansas-Nebraska border late last year, spilling almost 13,000 barrels of oil onto adjacent farmland and into Mill Creek.&nbsp;It was the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">largest spill since the pipeline started operating a decade ago</a>&nbsp;and larger than all the others combined. While the December spill was the most severe, it was caused by a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/09/keystone-pipeline-owner-blames-kansas-spill-on-faulty-weld-estimates-480m-remediation-cost/">manufacturing defect that worsened under stress</a>, like most earlier breaches.Bill Caram, executive director of Pipeline Safety Trust, said any failure that affects the environment is alarming.&nbsp;“But the fact that we have a history of these construction issues on this pipeline and we have another failure because of that — I think it calls into question the condition of the pipeline itself,” Caram said.&nbsp;Following the December spill, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ordered the section of the pipeline shut down and issued TC Energy a corrective action order that required the company to have the pipeline analyzed and study the root causes of the failure.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2023-05/MP14-Confidential-RCFA-FINAL-April-21-2023-Redacted.pdf">The resulting study</a>, quietly posted to the administration’s website, painted a picture of a company that overlooked warning signs and lacked appropriate safety controls. It determined a faulty weld, which was further strained by bending and a misshapen section of pipe, failed and caused the rupture.“This root cause analysis…points to inadequate oversight in TC Energy’s policies and procedures. The fact that they had to replace this piece of the pipeline a couple times and it still went in defective speaks a lot to that,” Caram said.&nbsp;TC Energy didn’t respond directly to the findings of the study.&nbsp;“As part of our commitment to learning and action, we are evaluating how we will implement the recommendations from the root cause failure analysis into our practices and standards,” TC Energy said in an unsigned statement.According to the study, prepared by RSI Pipeline Solutions on TC Energy’s behalf, operators discovered in 2013 that the Keystone pipeline had become somewhat oval-shaped instead of round near the point where it burst 10 years later.&nbsp;That and stress of the bend in the pipe strained the faulty weld. But it’s not uncommon for pipelines to become oval-shaped, so “the severity of the threat was underestimated,” the report says.That decision not to address the ovality is one of four causal factors in the pipeline failure outlined in the report.&nbsp;The report says the company failed to run an inspection tool back through the pipeline after making modifications. It also failed to properly oversee construction and quality control, which allowed for construction techniques that caused the bending stress. It also followed design policies that didn’t account for the impact of stress on welds at elbows and joints.TC Energy noted its design was “compliant with applicable codes and standards.”&nbsp;“However, as part of the ongoing incorporation of our learnings … we will examine how we can further our overall safety and integrity and continue to work with industry to share these actions more broadly,” the company said.&nbsp;The company has started an investigation to identify other parts of the pipeline that may have similar attributes to the section that failed. It hasn’t found any so far but anticipates the work to continue into next year, the company said.&nbsp;Caram said federal regulations largely defer to pipeline operators through “performance-based” rather than “prescriptive” regulations. That’s been the case for about 20 years, and he said there hasn’t been a decline in pipeline incidents. He said a better balance between the two regulatory schemes could help.&nbsp;A prescriptive regulation, Caram said, is like a speed limit. If someone drives over the speed limit, they broke the law and can get a ticket.&nbsp;“A (performance-based) regulation would just be, ‘Drive safely,’ and it’s kind of up to the driver to determine what ‘drive safely’ means,’” he said. “And that makes it really hard for the regulator to hold that driver accountable.”Caram continued: “I think the public would say, ‘Well, when you spill hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a creek, that means you weren’t operating the pipeline safely,’ but it’s not always that simple from the regulator’s point of view.”The section of pipe that burst was a fabricated bend installed in 2010 after a previous construction defect was dug up.&nbsp;In total, there are 109 similar elbow assemblies, according to the report.&nbsp;Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/14/keystone-oil-pipeline-was-pushed-to-bounds-of-its-permit-before-kansas-spill/">grilled a TC Energy executive in March</a>&nbsp;about the timeline for cleanup of the spill, said he feared if the rupture could happen where it did, it could happen at any of those points.&nbsp;“Until they can prove this pipeline is safe, properly inspected and doesn’t have similar defects, then it has to be treated as if it’s a potential disaster waiting to happen,” Carmichael said.

Keystone pipeline owners knew of defect years before Kansas spill

DOUGLAS COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities searching for a suspect in connection with a violent attack on a woman is in police custody.&nbsp; 38-year-old Sean Martin Reese came to the Lawrence Police Department late Monday morning and detectives were interviewing him, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

Police asked the public for help locating him and believe he tried to murder a woman late Sunday night.

Just after 11:30p.m. police responded to the 1300 block of Rhode Island in Lawrence and found a woman outside with several stab wounds. She was transported to a trauma center.

Through investigation police learned Reese may have also placed explosives in the home. Police obtained a search warrant and called in the Leavenworth Bomb Squad to assist. Police also notified administrators at nearby Liberty Memorial Central Middle School during the night as a precaution, but the home was cleared before anyone arrived and there is no risk.

The devices found were described by search teams as homemade devices, consistent with larger scale commercial fireworks, and were removed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684759824637.png" alt="Reese is described a 5-foot-9, 215 pounds with brown hair, hazel eyes and wears glasses.-photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Reese is described a 5-foot-9, 215 pounds with brown hair, hazel eyes and wears glasses.-photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities searching for a suspect in connection with a violent attack on a woman is in police custody.&nbsp; 38-year-old Sean Martin Reese came to the Lawrence Police Department late Monday morning and detectives were interviewing him, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.Police asked the public for help locating him and believe he tried to murder a woman late Sunday night.Just after 11:30p.m. police responded to the 1300 block of Rhode Island in Lawrence and found a woman outside with several stab wounds. She was transported to a trauma center.Through investigation police learned Reese may have also placed explosives in the home. Police obtained a search warrant and called in the Leavenworth Bomb Squad to assist. Police also notified administrators at nearby Liberty Memorial Central Middle School during the night as a precaution, but the home was cleared before anyone arrived and there is no risk.The devices found were described by search teams as homemade devices, consistent with larger scale commercial fireworks, and were removed.&nbsp;Reese has previous felony convictions for aggravated assault, DUI, obstruction and flee and or elude law enforcement.&nbsp; If you know where he is or see him, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 785.843.TIPS.