TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Doctors accused of not providing enough care to infants delivered alive during certain kinds of abortion procedures in Kansas could face lawsuits and criminal charges under a bill that won final approval Tuesday in the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.

The legislation faces an uncertain fate in a legal and political climate that's made Kansas an outlier on abortion policy among states with GOP-led legislatures. The bill applies not only to “botched” or “unsuccessful” abortions but also when doctors induce labor to deliver a fetus that is expected to die within minutes or even seconds outside the womb, which often occurs because of a severe medical issue.

The Kansas House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230404113519_012438/">voted 86-36</a>&nbsp;to approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4e">a proposed “born-alive infants protection” law</a>&nbsp;similar to a proposed law that Montana voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November.</a>&nbsp;The Senate approved the measure last week and it goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who vetoed such a bill in 2019.

The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230329125930_969124/">31-9</a>&nbsp;for the bill last week, meaning it passed both chambers with more than the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a potential veto from Kelly.

“We can have differing views on abortion and still agree on the need for this legislation as a humanitarian issue,” the Kansas House's three top Republicans said in a joint statement.

Even if abortion opponents succeed in overriding any veto, the measure could still be challenged in court and not enforced. Lawsuits have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-lawsuits-kansas-3eb09cbcdfb18e06aee024e557f9814c">prevented Kansas from enforcing</a>&nbsp;a 2015 ban on a common second-trimester abortion procedure and a 2011 law imposing extra health and safety rules for abortion providers.

Kansas abortion opponents haven’t pushed to ban abortion outright despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">decision in June 2022</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. Constitution allows it. The Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">ruled in 2019</a>&nbsp;that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right under the state constitution, and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to strip away protections for abortion rights.

The “born alive” measure is premised on a claim that abortion providers leave newborns to die if they're delivered alive during an abortion procedure. Critics of the bill said the state would be intervening in difficult medical and ethical decisions between doctors and parents. They also said parents could be forced to accept futile and expensive care.

“If the infant is born alive and only has minutes to live, the mother, the father, the family, have the right to ask for palliative care and embrace the infant until it is no longer breathing,” said state Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Kansas City-area Democrat.

The Kansas measure is similar to laws in 18 other states requiring infants delivered alive during labor and delivery abortions to go to a hospital and imposing criminal penalties for doctors who don’t provide the same care "a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births.

In Kansas, failing to provide reasonable care for such a newborn would be a felony, punishable by a year’s probation for a first-time offender. Also, the newborn's parents and the parents or guardians of minors seeking abortions could sue providers.

Like most states, Kansas doesn’t collect data on births during induced abortion procedures, or other abortion procedures. The bill would require annual reports to the state.

Anti-abortion groups argue that there are likely hundreds of infants delivered alive during abortion procedures each year in the U.S. The argument is based on extrapolating data from the handful of states requiring reports of such live births, as well as from data from most Canadian provinces.

“One important aspect of the bill is that it would require that reporting on abortion survivors,” said Kelsey Pritchard, spokesperson for the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Abortion rights supporters argue that the Kansas measure and laws in other states are designed to paint a misleading picture of abortion care.

In Kansas, no abortions after the 21st week have been reported since at least 2016, and, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of the more than 600,000 abortions a year occur after the 21st week of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says almost no fetuses are viable before the 23rd week of pregnancy.

Critics of the measure also argue that existing laws against homicide are sufficient to deal with what they see as a rare issue. They also argue that passing the measure defies the statewide vote in August affirming abortion rights.

“This bill is absolutely unecessary,” Democratic state Sen. Pat Pettey, of Kansas City, said during a debate last week. “This bill will traumatize mothers who desperately want to be mothers, who already are dealing with the heart-breaking moments of loss imaginable.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Doctors accused of not providing enough care to infants delivered alive during certain kinds of abortion procedures in Kansas could face lawsuits and criminal charges under a bill that won final approval Tuesday in the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.The legislation faces an uncertain fate in a legal and political climate that's made Kansas an outlier on abortion policy among states with GOP-led legislatures. The bill applies not only to “botched” or “unsuccessful” abortions but also when doctors induce labor to deliver a fetus that is expected to die within minutes or even seconds outside the womb, which often occurs because of a severe medical issue.The Kansas House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230404113519_012438/">voted 86-36</a>&nbsp;to approve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4e">a proposed “born-alive infants protection” law</a>&nbsp;similar to a proposed law that Montana voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November.</a>&nbsp;The Senate approved the measure last week and it goes next to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who vetoed such a bill in 2019.The Senate voted&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230329125930_969124/">31-9</a>&nbsp;for the bill last week, meaning it passed both chambers with more than the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a potential veto from Kelly.“We can have differing views on abortion and still agree on the need for this legislation as a humanitarian issue,” the Kansas House's three top Republicans said in a joint statement.Even if abortion opponents succeed in overriding any veto, the measure could still be challenged in court and not enforced. Lawsuits have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-lawsuits-kansas-3eb09cbcdfb18e06aee024e557f9814c">prevented Kansas from enforcing</a>&nbsp;a 2015 ban on a common second-trimester abortion procedure and a 2011 law imposing extra health and safety rules for abortion providers.Kansas abortion opponents haven’t pushed to ban abortion outright despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">decision in June 2022</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. Constitution allows it. The Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">ruled in 2019</a>&nbsp;that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right under the state constitution, and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to strip away protections for abortion rights.The “born alive” measure is premised on a claim that abortion providers leave newborns to die if they're delivered alive during an abortion procedure. Critics of the bill said the state would be intervening in difficult medical and ethical decisions between doctors and parents. They also said parents could be forced to accept futile and expensive care.“If the infant is born alive and only has minutes to live, the mother, the father, the family, have the right to ask for palliative care and embrace the infant until it is no longer breathing,” said state Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Kansas City-area Democrat.The Kansas measure is similar to laws in 18 other states requiring infants delivered alive during labor and delivery abortions to go to a hospital and imposing criminal penalties for doctors who don’t provide the same care "a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births.In Kansas, failing to provide reasonable care for such a newborn would be a felony, punishable by a year’s probation for a first-time offender. Also, the newborn's parents and the parents or guardians of minors seeking abortions could sue providers.Like most states, Kansas doesn’t collect data on births during induced abortion procedures, or other abortion procedures. The bill would require annual reports to the state.Anti-abortion groups argue that there are likely hundreds of infants delivered alive during abortion procedures each year in the U.S. The argument is based on extrapolating data from the handful of states requiring reports of such live births, as well as from data from most Canadian provinces.“One important aspect of the bill is that it would require that reporting on abortion survivors,” said Kelsey Pritchard, spokesperson for the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.Abortion rights supporters argue that the Kansas measure and laws in other states are designed to paint a misleading picture of abortion care.In Kansas, no abortions after the 21st week have been reported since at least 2016, and, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of the more than 600,000 abortions a year occur after the 21st week of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says almost no fetuses are viable before the 23rd week of pregnancy.Critics of the measure also argue that existing laws against homicide are sufficient to deal with what they see as a rare issue. They also argue that passing the measure defies the statewide vote in August affirming abortion rights.“This bill is absolutely unecessary,” Democratic state Sen. Pat Pettey, of Kansas City, said during a debate last week. “This bill will traumatize mothers who desperately want to be mothers, who already are dealing with the heart-breaking moments of loss imaginable.”

Kansas OKs bill that penalizes doctors for some abortions

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a theft and asking for help to identify suspects.

Just after 8p.m. March 30, suspects took high-end Legos from a retail store in the 12200 block of Blue Valley Parkway, according to Overland Park Police. 

On Tuesday, police released security camera images of the suspects who were last seen leaving in what was described as a red colored Toyota Camry with an unknown Missouri license plate.

Anyone with information regarding this incident, please contact the lead Detective at 913-344-8729 or the TIPS HOTLINE at 816-474-TIPS.Officer J. Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680658524218.png" alt="Security camera photos Overland Park PD" />
 <figcaption>Security camera photos Overland Park PD</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a theft and asking for help to identify suspects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680658508200.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8p.m. March 30, suspects took high-end Legos from a retail store in the 12200 block of Blue Valley Parkway, according to Overland Park Police. On Tuesday, police released security camera images of the suspects who were last seen leaving in what was described as a red colored Toyota Camry with an unknown Missouri license plate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680658563967.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Anyone with information regarding this incident, please contact the lead Detective at 913-344-8729 or the TIPS HOTLINE at 816-474-TIPS.Officer J. Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

Police: Suspects took high-end Legos from store in Kansas

PALM BEACH (AP) — Flanked by American flags, former President Donald Trump delivered a campaign-style speech to cheering supporters at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night.

Trump was defiant, referring, among other things, to his two impeachment trials during his presidency and an ongoing probe into alleged attempts to interfere in that state’s 2020 presidential election. He called the New York indictment the latest in an "onslaught of fraudulent investigations.”

“This fake case was brought only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election and it should be dropped immediately," Trump said.

He also lashed out at the prosecutor and the judge presiding over the New York case — despite being warned hours earlier by the judge to refrain from rhetoric that could cause civil unrest.

Trump waved goodbye as he made his way out of the ballroom thronged by people recording the moment with their smartphones.

The crowd included supporters like failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and longtime ally Roger Stone.

In a social media post from his plane on his flight home from New York, former President Donald Trump said that Tuesday's court hearing "was shocking to many in that they had no ‘surprises,’ and therefore, no case. Virtually every legal pundit has said that there is no case here. There was nothing done illegally!”

Trump's plane has landed in Florida, and his motorcade headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort where hundreds of supporters, many in red MAGA hats, awaited him in a grand ballroom. Trump was expected to speak there in a campaign-like setting.

One man wore a jacket patterned with star-shaped American flags, and another man wore a red tie with the message “No Crime!” Members of a motorcycle club sported black leather vests that read on the back “Born To Ride for 45 Donald Trump.” Trump was the 45th U.S. president.

Alex Gonzalez, a motorcycle club member, said he supports Trump in his 2024 presidential bid.

“If he did something wrong, like anybody else, he should be held liable for it, but at the same time this is a witch hunt. This is not a real case,” said Gonzalez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680655057816.png" alt="photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH (AP) — Flanked by American flags, former President Donald Trump delivered a campaign-style speech to cheering supporters at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;I never thought anything like this could happen in America...the only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/cgrftoXHH8">pic.twitter.com/cgrftoXHH8</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1643411610701053952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump was defiant, referring, among other things, to his two impeachment trials during his presidency and an ongoing probe into alleged attempts to interfere in that state’s 2020 presidential election. He called the New York indictment the latest in an "onslaught of fraudulent investigations.”“This fake case was brought only to interfere with the upcoming 2024 election and it should be dropped immediately," Trump said.He also lashed out at the prosecutor and the judge presiding over the New York case — despite being warned hours earlier by the judge to refrain from rhetoric that could cause civil unrest.Trump waved goodbye as he made his way out of the ballroom thronged by people recording the moment with their smartphones.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;There is no case....The criminal is the District Attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information for which he should be prosecuted.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6RfYpsNyBb">pic.twitter.com/6RfYpsNyBb</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1643418060659859461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The crowd included supporters like failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and longtime ally Roger Stone.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680658900981.png" alt="Donald Trump boards his plane for the flight back to Florida following his appearance in a New York courtroom -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Donald Trump boards his plane for the flight back to Florida following his appearance in a New York courtroom -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>In a social media post from his plane on his flight home from New York, former President Donald Trump said that Tuesday's court hearing "was shocking to many in that they had no ‘surprises,’ and therefore, no case. Virtually every legal pundit has said that there is no case here. There was nothing done illegally!”Trump's plane has landed in Florida, and his motorcade headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort where hundreds of supporters, many in red MAGA hats, awaited him in a grand ballroom. Trump was expected to speak there in a campaign-like setting.One man wore a jacket patterned with star-shaped American flags, and another man wore a red tie with the message “No Crime!” Members of a motorcycle club sported black leather vests that read on the back “Born To Ride for 45 Donald Trump.” Trump was the 45th U.S. president.Alex Gonzalez, a motorcycle club member, said he supports Trump in his 2024 presidential bid.“If he did something wrong, like anybody else, he should be held liable for it, but at the same time this is a witch hunt. This is not a real case,” said Gonzalez.

🎥 Trump defiant in speech following day in New York courtroom

OSAGE COUNTY–Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.

Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a house on fire at 15092 S. Shawnee Heights Road, just north of Overbrook, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

First responders found the house fully engulfed in flames. The residents were not home at the time of the fire. Several dogs and puppies did not make it out.

Additional assistance was provided by the American Red Cross and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.&nbsp; The sheriff's office has not released the cause of the fire or a damage estimate.

Osage County Fire Districts #4-Overbrook/Michigan Valley and #1-Carbondale, Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Osage County EMS responded to the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional mutual aid was requested from Osage County Fire District #5-Lyndon/Vassar and Shawnee Heights Fire District.

OSAGE COUNTY–Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.Just before 1p.m. Tuesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a house on fire at 15092 S. Shawnee Heights Road, just north of Overbrook, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.First responders found the house fully engulfed in flames. The residents were not home at the time of the fire. Several dogs and puppies did not make it out.Additional assistance was provided by the American Red Cross and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.&nbsp; The sheriff's office has not released the cause of the fire or a damage estimate.Osage County Fire Districts #4-Overbrook/Michigan Valley and #1-Carbondale, Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Osage County EMS responded to the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional mutual aid was requested from Osage County Fire District #5-Lyndon/Vassar and Shawnee Heights Fire District.

Sheriff: Pets die in rural Kansas house fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a&nbsp; wanted Kansas sex offender who surrendered after a standoff with police.

Just after 1a.m., Monday, police were dispatched to the 900 block of South Topeka in Wichita for an Assault with a weapon call, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

At the scene, police contacted a 28-year-old woman&nbsp;who stated she was battered and assaulted with a weapon by 51-year-old Jesse Camacho.

The investigation revealed that a physical disturbance occurred in the residence between Camacho and the victim. The victim was able to escape the residence and contact Police.

Officers learned that Camacho was absconding from Parole and attempted to contact him. He refused to exit the residence. Contact was made over the phone with Camacho by Police Supervisor who spoke to Camacho for several hours to have Camacho surrender peacefully. 

Camacho would eventually disconnect the call, but prior to hanging up, he informed the supervisor to not have officers come in because he had rigged the residence with explosives.

At this point, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was activated as well as the Wichita Police Dept. Crisis Negotiators. The residents around the home were notified of the danger and recommended they evacuate the area.

Several hours later Camacho was taken into custody on requested charges of Aggravated Assault/Domestic Violence, Battery/Domestic Violence and obstruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;Camacho has been registered as a sex offender for a 1997 conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He also has previous convictions for arson, making a false writing and failure to register as an offender, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

Police found no explosives during the sweep of the residence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680624930971.png" alt="Camacho has been registered as a sex offender for a 1997 conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He also has previous convictions for arson, making a false writing and failure to register as an offender, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-&nbsp; photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Camacho has been registered as a sex offender for a 1997 conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He also has previous convictions for arson, making a false writing and failure to register as an offender, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-&nbsp; photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a&nbsp; wanted Kansas sex offender who surrendered after a standoff with police.Just after 1a.m., Monday, police were dispatched to the 900 block of South Topeka in Wichita for an Assault with a weapon call, according to Officer Chad Ditch.At the scene, police contacted a 28-year-old woman&nbsp;who stated she was battered and assaulted with a weapon by 51-year-old Jesse Camacho.The investigation revealed that a physical disturbance occurred in the residence between Camacho and the victim. The victim was able to escape the residence and contact Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680555828191.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff Monday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff Monday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers learned that Camacho was absconding from Parole and attempted to contact him. He refused to exit the residence. Contact was made over the phone with Camacho by Police Supervisor who spoke to Camacho for several hours to have Camacho surrender peacefully. Camacho would eventually disconnect the call, but prior to hanging up, he informed the supervisor to not have officers come in because he had rigged the residence with explosives.At this point, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was activated as well as the Wichita Police Dept. Crisis Negotiators. The residents around the home were notified of the danger and recommended they evacuate the area.Several hours later Camacho was taken into custody on requested charges of Aggravated Assault/Domestic Violence, Battery/Domestic Violence and obstruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;Camacho has been registered as a sex offender for a 1997 conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He also has previous convictions for arson, making a false writing and failure to register as an offender, according to the Kansas Dept. of CorrectionsPolice found no explosives during the sweep of the residence.

Standoff arrest: Kan. sex offender claimed house had explosives

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody

On March 26, 2023, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a home burglary in southwest Shawnee County that had occurred sometime during the previous week while the owner was out of the state, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were reported stolen. During the investigation, detectives discovered information regarding possible suspects.

On March 30, a detective and a deputy arrived at a residence in the 1700 block of SW Green Acres Avenue and arrested Bryan T. Gerety, 34, of Topeka. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

Later that day, the same detective and deputy arrived at a residence in the 3600 block of SE 9th Street and arrested Bren M. Cowles, 36, of Topeka on requested charges with possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy, burglary and theft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680635171313.png" alt="Gerety-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Gerety-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custodyOn March 26, 2023, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a home burglary in southwest Shawnee County that had occurred sometime during the previous week while the owner was out of the state, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were reported stolen. During the investigation, detectives discovered information regarding possible suspects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680635018929.png" alt="Cowles-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cowles-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On March 30, a detective and a deputy arrived at a residence in the 1700 block of SW Green Acres Avenue and arrested Bryan T. Gerety, 34, of Topeka. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.Later that day, the same detective and deputy arrived at a residence in the 3600 block of SE 9th Street and arrested Bren M. Cowles, 36, of Topeka on requested charges with possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy, burglary and theft.

Sheriff investigating 2 Kansas men for an alleged rural burglary

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through a series of hush money payments designed to stifle claims that could be harmful to his candidacy, prosecutors said Tuesday in unsealing a historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-full-document-640043319549?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">34-count felony indictment</a>&nbsp;against the former president.

<a href="https://www.manhattanda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Donald-J.-Trump-SOF.pdf">CLICK here to read </a>the indictment

The payments, said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, were part of “an unlawful plan to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president.”

Trump, stone-faced and silent as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom, said “not guilty” in a firm voice while facing a judge who warned him to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.

The next court date is December 4, though it is not clear if he will be required to appear.

The broad contours of the case have long been known, but indictment contains new details about a scheme that prosecutors say involved payoffs to two women, including a porn star, who said they had extramarital sexual encounters with him years earlier, as well as to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he alleged the former president had out of of wedlock.

The arraignment, though largely procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.

Trump, his lips pursed in apparent anger, entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. He left court about an hour later, also without commenting. All told, the typically verbose Trump spoke only about 10 words during the entire proceeding.

Before the arraignment, he narrated his feelings in real time, describing the experience as “SURREAL” as he traveled from Trump Tower to lower Manhattan to face a judge.

The day's schedule, with its striking blend of legal and political events, represents the new split-screen reality for Trump as he submits to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events.

Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed. He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade from Trump Tower, communicating in real time his anger at the process.

“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse," he posted on his Truth Social platform. "Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

Afterward, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told reporters that it was a “sad day for the country.”

“You don’t expect this to happen to somebody who was president of the United States," he said.

Trump, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">impeached twice</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. House but was never convicted in the U.S. Senate, is the first former president to face criminal charges. The nation's 45th commander in chief was escorted from Trump Tower to the courthouse by the Secret Service.

“He is strong and ready to go,” Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told The Associated Press. Earlier, Tacopina said in a TV interview that the former president wouldn't plead guilty to lesser charges, even if it might resolve the case. He also said he didn't think the case would make it to a jury.

New York police said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">his bid to retake the White House</a>&nbsp;in 2024. Journalists often outnumbered protesters, though.

Trump, a former reality TV star, has been hyping that narrative to his political advantage, saying he raised more than $8 million in the days since the indictment on claims of a “witch hunt.” His campaign released a fundraising request titled “My last email before arrest” and he has repeatedly assailed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, egged on supporters to protest and claimed without evidence that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-judge-merchan-arraignment-032a097661c259709a948ce0e70a872a">the judge presiding over the case</a>&nbsp;“hates me” — something his own lawyer has said is not true.

Trump was scheduled to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-ap-top-news-politics-993263aaefab49a7988bb4ccb808791d">Mar-a-Lago</a>, on Tuesday evening to give remarks. At least 500 prominent supporters have been invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.

A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024.

The investigation is scrutinizing six-figure payments made to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cohen-stormy-daniels-grand-jury-d48153fc2d3fe7a656e8a24ad1acd082">porn actor Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-lawsuits-d8f22980841e44939399ae7179a4d583">former Playboy model Karen McDougal</a>. Both say they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he got into politics. Trump denies having sexual liaisons with either woman and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.

The arraignment unfolded against the backdrop of heavy security in New York, coming more than two years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-stormed-us-34417ac51a765e297faf53eb0ad15517">Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in a failed bid to halt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win.

Trump was defiant ahead of his arraignment. He used his social media network to complain that he was going to court in a heavily Democratic area, declaring, “KANGAROO COURT” and “THIS IS NOT WHAT AMERICA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!” He and his campaign have repeatedly assailed Bragg and even trained scrutiny on members of Bragg's family.

Despite that, the scenes around Trump Tower and the courthouse where Trump will stand before a judge did not feature major unrest. Police tried to keep apart protesters supporting the former president and those opposing him by confining them to separate sides of a park near the courthouse using metal barricades.

Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in Congress, staged a brief rally at the park, but the scene was so chaotic that it was hard to hear her over the crush of reporters and protesters.

“We’re the party of peace,” Greene said, thanking those Trump supporters present. “Democrats are communists.”

Embattled Republican New York Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-ethics-republicans-congress-898cc3e7e6af8659f9c6249f187362d4">George Santos</a>&nbsp;also showed up in solidarity with Trump, saying, “I want to support the president."

“I think this is unprecedented and it’s a bad day for democracy,” Santos said, suggesting that future prosecutors could target Biden and other presidents with other cases, which “cheapens the judicial system.”

New York’s ability to carry out safe and drama-free courthouse proceedings in a case involving a polarizing ex-president could be an important test case as prosecutors in Atlanta and Washington conduct their own investigations of Trump that could also result in charges. Those investigations concern efforts to undo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;as well as the possible mishandling of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-indiana-donald-trump-laptops-91b5b16807b533b3ff27e9303aef38ae">classified documents</a>&nbsp;at Mar-a-Lago.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680634153416.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. Trump is set to appear in a New York City courtroom on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation, the first president ever to be charged with a crime. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. Trump is set to appear in a New York City courtroom on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation, the first president ever to be charged with a crime. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through a series of hush money payments designed to stifle claims that could be harmful to his candidacy, prosecutors said Tuesday in unsealing a historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-full-document-640043319549?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">34-count felony indictment</a>&nbsp;against the former president.<a href="https://www.manhattanda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Donald-J.-Trump-SOF.pdf">CLICK here to read </a>the indictmentThe payments, said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, were part of “an unlawful plan to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president.”Trump, stone-faced and silent as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom, said “not guilty” in a firm voice while facing a judge who warned him to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680641882182.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg news conference on the arraignment of former President Donald Trump. <a href="https://t.co/DNhXRbLbvU">https://t.co/DNhXRbLbvU</a> <a href="https://t.co/QIxbtqsNcC">pic.twitter.com/QIxbtqsNcC</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1643370653209305092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The next court date is December 4, though it is not clear if he will be required to appear.The broad contours of the case have long been known, but indictment contains new details about a scheme that prosecutors say involved payoffs to two women, including a porn star, who said they had extramarital sexual encounters with him years earlier, as well as to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he alleged the former president had out of of wedlock.The arraignment, though largely procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.Trump, his lips pursed in apparent anger, entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. He left court about an hour later, also without commenting. All told, the typically verbose Trump spoke only about 10 words during the entire proceeding.Before the arraignment, he narrated his feelings in real time, describing the experience as “SURREAL” as he traveled from Trump Tower to lower Manhattan to face a judge.The day's schedule, with its striking blend of legal and political events, represents the new split-screen reality for Trump as he submits to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events.Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed. He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade from Trump Tower, communicating in real time his anger at the process.“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse," he posted on his Truth Social platform. "Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”Afterward, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told reporters that it was a “sad day for the country.”“You don’t expect this to happen to somebody who was president of the United States," he said.Trump, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">impeached twice</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. House but was never convicted in the U.S. Senate, is the first former president to face criminal charges. The nation's 45th commander in chief was escorted from Trump Tower to the courthouse by the Secret Service.“He is strong and ready to go,” Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told The Associated Press. Earlier, Tacopina said in a TV interview that the former president wouldn't plead guilty to lesser charges, even if it might resolve the case. He also said he didn't think the case would make it to a jury.New York police said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">his bid to retake the White House</a>&nbsp;in 2024. Journalists often outnumbered protesters, though.Trump, a former reality TV star, has been hyping that narrative to his political advantage, saying he raised more than $8 million in the days since the indictment on claims of a “witch hunt.” His campaign released a fundraising request titled “My last email before arrest” and he has repeatedly assailed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, egged on supporters to protest and claimed without evidence that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-judge-merchan-arraignment-032a097661c259709a948ce0e70a872a">the judge presiding over the case</a>&nbsp;“hates me” — something his own lawyer has said is not true.Trump was scheduled to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-ap-top-news-politics-993263aaefab49a7988bb4ccb808791d">Mar-a-Lago</a>, on Tuesday evening to give remarks. At least 500 prominent supporters have been invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024.The investigation is scrutinizing six-figure payments made to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cohen-stormy-daniels-grand-jury-d48153fc2d3fe7a656e8a24ad1acd082">porn actor Stormy Daniels</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-lawsuits-d8f22980841e44939399ae7179a4d583">former Playboy model Karen McDougal</a>. Both say they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he got into politics. Trump denies having sexual liaisons with either woman and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.The arraignment unfolded against the backdrop of heavy security in New York, coming more than two years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-stormed-us-34417ac51a765e297faf53eb0ad15517">Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in a failed bid to halt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win.Trump was defiant ahead of his arraignment. He used his social media network to complain that he was going to court in a heavily Democratic area, declaring, “KANGAROO COURT” and “THIS IS NOT WHAT AMERICA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!” He and his campaign have repeatedly assailed Bragg and even trained scrutiny on members of Bragg's family.Despite that, the scenes around Trump Tower and the courthouse where Trump will stand before a judge did not feature major unrest. Police tried to keep apart protesters supporting the former president and those opposing him by confining them to separate sides of a park near the courthouse using metal barricades.Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in Congress, staged a brief rally at the park, but the scene was so chaotic that it was hard to hear her over the crush of reporters and protesters.“We’re the party of peace,” Greene said, thanking those Trump supporters present. “Democrats are communists.”Embattled Republican New York Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-ethics-republicans-congress-898cc3e7e6af8659f9c6249f187362d4">George Santos</a>&nbsp;also showed up in solidarity with Trump, saying, “I want to support the president."“I think this is unprecedented and it’s a bad day for democracy,” Santos said, suggesting that future prosecutors could target Biden and other presidents with other cases, which “cheapens the judicial system.”New York’s ability to carry out safe and drama-free courthouse proceedings in a case involving a polarizing ex-president could be an important test case as prosecutors in Atlanta and Washington conduct their own investigations of Trump that could also result in charges. Those investigations concern efforts to undo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;as well as the possible mishandling of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-indiana-donald-trump-laptops-91b5b16807b533b3ff27e9303aef38ae">classified documents</a>&nbsp;at Mar-a-Lago.___

🎥Read the full indictment against the former President 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas bill that would bar transgender people from using public bathrooms or changing their name or gender on their driver's license cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday by margins suggesting backers could override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s expected veto.

The state Senate voted 28-12 with one vote more than a two-thirds majority that would be needed to overturn any veto, giving final passage to an earlier House-passed version of the legislation and sending it to the governor.

The measure deals with bathrooms, locker rooms and other facilities, and defines “sex” as “either male or female, at birth,” a move LGBTQ+-rights advocates said would legally erase transgender people and deny recognition to non-binary, gender fluid and gender non-conforming people.

The sweeping transgender bill, one of the broadest of its kind in the nation, is among several hundred measures aimed at rolling back LGBTQ rights pursued by Republicans this year across the United States.

Seven states elsewhere have enacted laws banning transgender students from using school bathrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender identities, most recently Kentucky. However, the Kansas measure also covers prisons, jails, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and other spaces “where biology, safety or privacy” prompt separate facilities for men and women. It defines male and female based on a person’s physical anatomy at birth.

“I am what they are scared of,” Ian Benalcazar, a 13-year-old transgender boy from Lawrence in northeast Kansas said at a recent LGBTQ-rights rally outside the Statehouse. “I am a human being and I deserve to be treated as such, and I deserve to be happy. I shouldn’t have to argue for this."

The Kansas bill's supporters framed their measure as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-arkansas-health-8f2edaa40b962e5642e108b83bc14246">a proposed “Women's Bill of Rights,”</a>&nbsp;similar to measures introduced in Congress and at least five other states. It was based on language circulated by several national anti-trans groups.

Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said lawmakers are trying to protect families amid what people see as a small but growing number of cases of transgender girls or women using facilities with cisgendered girls or women.

“People are starting to pay attention,” Masterson said. “There have been enough problems that several members of our body are interested in finding solutions.”

The state Senate vote on Tuesday approved a version of the bill passed by the House last week, advancing it to the governor's desk.

House members included provisions requiring accommodations for some intersex people, who are born with chromosomes, genitalia, or reproductive organs not associated with typical definitions for males or females.

The House vote last month&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230329110115_832522/">was 83-41,</a>&nbsp;one vote shy of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto, but one conservative Republican who is likely to support the bill was absent.

Kelly vetoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-athletes-ban-kansas-711e121ea0ab00653d61f9dadf9b9c0e">a proposed ban on transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;in girls' and women's sports this year for the third year in a row. Republican lawmakers in Kansas also are pursuing a bill aimed at stopping gender-affirming care for minors, something at least 11 states have done.

The governor promised LGBTQ youth lobbying lawmakers last week that she would “protect your rights” and "veto any bill that aims to harm or discriminate against you.”

The measure now headed to Kelly would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”

The measure says having separate spaces for men and women, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, is justified by “the important governmental objectives of protecting the health, safety and privacy.”

“This will protect women's spaces currently reserved for women and and men's spaces currently reserved for men,” House Health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said in explaining her “yes” vote for the bill last week.

Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.

Carson Rapp, a Wichita-area 15-year-old who identifies as bigender or embracing “both more masculine and more feminine traits," said people expressing their gender identities don't harm others.

“Why stop people from doing it if they’re just being themselves and having fun and expressing themselves?” Carson said during last week's LGBTQ-youth lobbying day.

LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver’s license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person’s identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. The bill’s language would prevent transgender people from changing both driver's licenses and birth certificates, but Kansas is under a 2019 federal court order to allow birth certificate changes.

Carson's father, Will Rapp, the Kansas managing director for GLSEN, a group advocating for LGBTQ youth, said it's discouraging to see lawmakers pursue what he sees as “pretty awful” legislation.

But he added: “I would like to think that if they were to get to know these young people, that would change their hearts, and we will always have hope for that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680642960114.png" alt="Ian Benalcazar, a 13-year-old transgender boy from Lawrence, Kan., speaks outside the Kansas Statehouse during a rally on Transgender Day of Visibility, Friday(Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Ian Benalcazar, a 13-year-old transgender boy from Lawrence, Kan., speaks outside the Kansas Statehouse during a rally on Transgender Day of Visibility, Friday(Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas bill that would bar transgender people from using public bathrooms or changing their name or gender on their driver's license cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday by margins suggesting backers could override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s expected veto.The state Senate voted 28-12 with one vote more than a two-thirds majority that would be needed to overturn any veto, giving final passage to an earlier House-passed version of the legislation and sending it to the governor.The measure deals with bathrooms, locker rooms and other facilities, and defines “sex” as “either male or female, at birth,” a move LGBTQ+-rights advocates said would legally erase transgender people and deny recognition to non-binary, gender fluid and gender non-conforming people.The sweeping transgender bill, one of the broadest of its kind in the nation, is among several hundred measures aimed at rolling back LGBTQ rights pursued by Republicans this year across the United States.Seven states elsewhere have enacted laws banning transgender students from using school bathrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender identities, most recently Kentucky. However, the Kansas measure also covers prisons, jails, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and other spaces “where biology, safety or privacy” prompt separate facilities for men and women. It defines male and female based on a person’s physical anatomy at birth.“I am what they are scared of,” Ian Benalcazar, a 13-year-old transgender boy from Lawrence in northeast Kansas said at a recent LGBTQ-rights rally outside the Statehouse. “I am a human being and I deserve to be treated as such, and I deserve to be happy. I shouldn’t have to argue for this."The Kansas bill's supporters framed their measure as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-arkansas-health-8f2edaa40b962e5642e108b83bc14246">a proposed “Women's Bill of Rights,”</a>&nbsp;similar to measures introduced in Congress and at least five other states. It was based on language circulated by several national anti-trans groups.Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, said lawmakers are trying to protect families amid what people see as a small but growing number of cases of transgender girls or women using facilities with cisgendered girls or women.“People are starting to pay attention,” Masterson said. “There have been enough problems that several members of our body are interested in finding solutions.”The state Senate vote on Tuesday approved a version of the bill passed by the House last week, advancing it to the governor's desk.House members included provisions requiring accommodations for some intersex people, who are born with chromosomes, genitalia, or reproductive organs not associated with typical definitions for males or females.The House vote last month&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230329110115_832522/">was 83-41,</a>&nbsp;one vote shy of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto, but one conservative Republican who is likely to support the bill was absent.Kelly vetoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-athletes-ban-kansas-711e121ea0ab00653d61f9dadf9b9c0e">a proposed ban on transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;in girls' and women's sports this year for the third year in a row. Republican lawmakers in Kansas also are pursuing a bill aimed at stopping gender-affirming care for minors, something at least 11 states have done.The governor promised LGBTQ youth lobbying lawmakers last week that she would “protect your rights” and "veto any bill that aims to harm or discriminate against you.”The measure now headed to Kelly would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”The measure says having separate spaces for men and women, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, is justified by “the important governmental objectives of protecting the health, safety and privacy.”“This will protect women's spaces currently reserved for women and and men's spaces currently reserved for men,” House Health Committee Chair Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said in explaining her “yes” vote for the bill last week.Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.Carson Rapp, a Wichita-area 15-year-old who identifies as bigender or embracing “both more masculine and more feminine traits," said people expressing their gender identities don't harm others.“Why stop people from doing it if they’re just being themselves and having fun and expressing themselves?” Carson said during last week's LGBTQ-youth lobbying day.LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver’s license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person’s identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. The bill’s language would prevent transgender people from changing both driver's licenses and birth certificates, but Kansas is under a 2019 federal court order to allow birth certificate changes.Carson's father, Will Rapp, the Kansas managing director for GLSEN, a group advocating for LGBTQ youth, said it's discouraging to see lawmakers pursue what he sees as “pretty awful” legislation.But he added: “I would like to think that if they were to get to know these young people, that would change their hearts, and we will always have hope for that.”___

Transgender bathroom bill approved in Kansas; veto expected

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

CLAY COUNTY - USD 379 Clay County Schools Superintendent, Brett Nelson posted a message to the community on the district's Facebook page, stating a member of the school board received an email stating they had "planted bombs on the inside and also requested bitcoins.”

Nelson said officials at KDHE were aware of the message which had been sent to not only Clay County schools, but other schools, hospitals and businesses nationwide.

Local law enforcement will be present at all schools within USD 379 district, following a thorough inspection of the buildings, checking for open doors/window, or anything unusual.

RILEY COUNTY - USD 378 Riley County Schools Superintendent Cliff Williams also released a statement to parents saying the Riley County Police Department and SRO Officer Sheldon confirmed USD 378 school district had not been directly threatened.

According to Williams, RCPD has been at both schools out of an abundance of caution.

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostCLAY COUNTY - USD 379 Clay County Schools Superintendent, Brett Nelson posted a message to the community on the district's Facebook page, stating a member of the school board received an email stating they had "planted bombs on the inside and also requested bitcoins.”Nelson said officials at KDHE were aware of the message which had been sent to not only Clay County schools, but other schools, hospitals and businesses nationwide.Local law enforcement will be present at all schools within USD 379 district, following a thorough inspection of the buildings, checking for open doors/window, or anything unusual.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSD379%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02PAy4KpUuRyEKAeFquievUzRwAmXpLVNQw287vgcUj13ioocREtkH9AtmpJxPTbGNl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="310" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>RILEY COUNTY - USD 378 Riley County Schools Superintendent Cliff Williams also released a statement to parents saying the Riley County Police Department and SRO Officer Sheldon confirmed USD 378 school district had not been directly threatened.According to Williams, RCPD has been at both schools out of an abundance of caution.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680635900492.jpeg" alt="submitted screenshot" />
 <figcaption>submitted screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure>

Schools in Kansas, across nation receive bomb threats

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Two Kansas women died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

According to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs, a Kia Rondo driven by Patricia Boor 67, Wellington was northbound in the 9100 block of South Broadway and struck a southbound semi driven by&nbsp;Richard Wicker 57, of Gastonia, North Carolina.

Boor and her passenger Tonya Acosta-Abernathy 62, Wellington both died on scene. 

EMS transported Wicker to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to Gibbs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680640111114.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Two Kansas women died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.According to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs, a Kia Rondo driven by Patricia Boor 67, Wellington was northbound in the 9100 block of South Broadway and struck a southbound semi driven by&nbsp;Richard Wicker 57, of Gastonia, North Carolina.Boor and her passenger Tonya Acosta-Abernathy 62, Wellington both died on scene. EMS transported Wicker to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to Gibbs.

Two Kansas women dead, semi driver injured in crash

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records arising from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?527160-1/spectrum-news-ny1-coverage-fmr-pres-trump-arraignment&amp;live">CLICK HERE to watch</a>&nbsp;courtesy CSPAN via Spectrum News New York

The plea came during a history-making arraignment in a lower Manhattan courtroom, with Trump becoming the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal prosecution.

The two officials who confirmed the plea spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because prosecutors had not yet released the indictment publicly.

The arraignment, though procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.

A silent and stone-faced Trump, his lips pursed in apparent anger, entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. He left court about an hour later, also without commenting.

It represents the new split-screen reality for Trump as he submits to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events.

“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse," the voluble ex-president posted on his Truth Social platform. "Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

Trump, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">impeached twice</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. House but was never convicted in the U.S. Senate, is the first former president to face criminal charges. The nation's 45th commander in chief was escorted from Trump Tower to the courthouse by the Secret Service and may have his mug shot taken.

Trump, a former reality TV star, has been hyping that narrative to his political advantage, saying he raised more than $8 million in the days since the indictment on claims of a “witch hunt.” His campaign released a fundraising request titled “My last email before arrest” and he has repeatedly assailed the Manhattan district attorney, egged on supporters to protest and claimed without evidence that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-judge-merchan-arraignment-032a097661c259709a948ce0e70a872a">the judge presiding over the case</a>&nbsp;“hates me” — something his own lawyer has said is not true.

Trump is scheduled to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-ap-top-news-politics-993263aaefab49a7988bb4ccb808791d">Mar-a-Lago</a>, on Tuesday evening to give remarks. At least 500 prominent supporters have been invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-hush-money-election-488c76cf92269e2c258d5203a6e981a1">indictment contains multiple charges</a>&nbsp;of falsifying business records, including at least one felony offense, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press last week.

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;surrendered to authorities Tuesday at a Manhattan courthouse ahead of his arraignment on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-florida-hush-money-election-764309dce49f81a50bf9f610ffd5ceb6">criminal charges</a>&nbsp;stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign.

Trump himself described the experience as “SURREAL” as he traveled from Trump Tower to a lower Manhattan courtroom, where he was to face a judge as the first former president in American history to be criminally prosecuted.

A stone-faced Trump entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. without saying anything.

The arraignment, though expected to be brief and procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings. The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-arrest-process-what-to-know-02a2ce34e03e25ab2fdd0e81dbcc62c7">The booking</a>&nbsp;and appearance before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-new-york-judge-merchan-arraignment-032a097661c259709a948ce0e70a872a">Judge Juan Merchan</a>&nbsp;should be relatively brief — though hardly routine — as Trump learns for the first time the charges against him. Trump will plead not guilty, according to his lawyers, and is expected to enter the plea himself, as is standard in the court.

Merchan has ruled that TV cameras won't be allowed in the courtroom.

Inside the Manhattan courtroom, prosecutors led by New York’s district attorney, Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, are expected to unseal the indictment issued last week by a grand jury. This is when Trump and his defense lawyers will get their first glimpse of the precise allegations against him.

After the arraignment, Trump is expected to be released by authorities because the charges against him don’t require that bail be set.

The arraignment will unfold against the backdrop of heavy security in New York, coming more than two years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-stormed-us-34417ac51a765e297faf53eb0ad15517">Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;in a failed bid to halt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?527160-1/spectrum-news-ny1-coverage-fmr-pres-trump-arraignment&amp;live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;courtesy CSPAN via Spectrum News New York

Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed — a remarkable reckoning after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings and an extraordinary moment in U.S. history.

He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade that took him from Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan through the main north-south highway on the east side of the city, past landmarks such as the United Nations. Along the way, the voluble ex-president posted on his social media platform: “Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”

Trump is scheduled to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-ap-top-news-politics-993263aaefab49a7988bb4ccb808791d">Mar-a-Lago</a>, on Tuesday evening to give remarks, punctuating his new reality: submitting to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events. At least 500 prominent supporters have been invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.

One demonstrator hoisted a sign reading "Trump or death 1776 2024,” but others carried placards showed images of Trump in prison.

The public fascination with the case was evident Monday as national television carried live images of Trump’s motorcade from his Mar-a-Lago club to a private, red, white and blue Boeing 757 stenciled with his name. From there, Trump was flown to New York, where cameras followed his motorcade into Manhattan and he spent the night at Trump Tower as he prepared to turn himself in.

The former president and his aides are embracing the media circus. After initially being caught off guard when news of the indictment broke Thursday evening, Trump and his team are hoping to use the case to his advantage. Still, they asked the judge in a Monday filing to ban photo and video coverage of the arraignment.

Many top Republicans, including some of Trump’s potential rivals in next year’s GOP presidential primary, have criticized the case against him. Biden, who has yet to formally announce that he’s seeking reelection next year, and other leading Democrats have largely had little to say about it.

Prosecutors insist their case against Trump has nothing to do with politics.

🎥Former President pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Missouri —The Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled an Amber Alert Tuesday afternoon after the child taken in a vehicle theft was found.

According to the MSHP, 1-year-old Harvey Cain who was wearing firetruck&nbsp; pajamas, was inside a parked 2019 Dodge Caravan in St. Clair, Missouri, when it was stolen.

Authorities reported just after 12:15p.m. Tuesday the child had been located but the 30-year-old suspect identified as a 30-year-old white male wearing a baseball cap, dark hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants was still at large.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Missouri —The Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled an Amber Alert Tuesday afternoon after the child taken in a vehicle theft was found.According to the MSHP, 1-year-old Harvey Cain who was wearing firetruck&nbsp; pajamas, was inside a parked 2019 Dodge Caravan in St. Clair, Missouri, when it was stolen.Authorities reported just after 12:15p.m. Tuesday the child had been located but the 30-year-old suspect identified as a 30-year-old white male wearing a baseball cap, dark hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants was still at large.

1-year-old in Amber Alert found safe, suspect still at large

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police arrested a suspect Tuesday in a killing at a Kansas City hotel after a shootout.

Officers responded around 5 a.m. to gunfire at the Days Inn &amp; Suites, said Officer Donna Drake, a police spokeswoman. While some of them tried unsuccessfully to save the life of the wounded victim, others chased after the suspect as he ran from the hotel.

Before arresting the suspect, officers exchanged gunfire with him, although no one was wounded, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article273938795.html#storylink=mainstage_lead">reports</a>. The name of the suspect and victim weren't immediately released.

The city is on track for a particularly violent year, with 44 homicides recorded so far, compared to 37 at this point last year, The Star's data shows. This is noteworthy because 2022 was the second deadliest year on record, with 171 killings

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680626757214.png" alt="The Interstate 435 ramp to 87th Street were closed as part of this investigaiton-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The Interstate 435 ramp to 87th Street were closed as part of this investigaiton-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Police arrested a suspect Tuesday in a killing at a Kansas City hotel after a shootout.Officers responded around 5 a.m. to gunfire at the Days Inn &amp; Suites, said Officer Donna Drake, a police spokeswoman. While some of them tried unsuccessfully to save the life of the wounded victim, others chased after the suspect as he ran from the hotel.Before arresting the suspect, officers exchanged gunfire with him, although no one was wounded, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article273938795.html#storylink=mainstage_lead">reports</a>. The name of the suspect and victim weren't immediately released.The city is on track for a particularly violent year, with 44 homicides recorded so far, compared to 37 at this point last year, The Star's data shows. This is noteworthy because 2022 was the second deadliest year on record, with 171 killings

Police: Gunfight with suspect after a killing at KC hotel

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado woman knew what she was doing when she stabbed her young stepson 18 times and then shot him in the head before driving across the country to dump a suitcase with his remains over a bridge in the Florida Panhandle, a prosecutor told jurors Monday at the start of her trial.

Authorities allege Letecia Stauch killed 11-year-old Gannon Stauch in his bedroom a few hours before reporting him missing on Jan. 27, 2020, while his father was on a National Guard deployment. They have suggested she was unhappy in her marriage and resentful of being treated like an unpaid babysitter.

Attorneys for Stauch, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, countered that by claiming she suffered a “major psychotic crack” as a result of childhood trauma when she killed Gannon.

The dueling narratives for why Stauch carried out the crime came during opening statements in Colorado Springs for a trial expected to last several weeks.

District Attorney Michael Allen argued in his opening statement that the steps that Stauch took to cover up her actions are proof that she knew what she did was wrong and was therefore sane. She cleaned up blood in Gannon's bedroom, moving his body to various locations to hide it before disposing of it “like garbage” in a river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico in hopes it would never be found, he said.

Stauch also lied to investigators various times to try to hamper their investigation, Allen said, changing her accounts of what happened to Gannon. She claimed two different men had raped her and then abducted Gannon and, later, that one of those men had taken Gannon after he hurt himself in a bike crash.

“All of her actions were purposefully designed by her to distance herself from what she did,” Allen said.

But defense attorney Will Cook said the gruesome details highlighted by Allen, including how Gannon was killed and the lack of a motive, are proof that Stauch was “insane” because it all does not make sense.

“These are all signs and evidence of a mind, a soul, that is broken in a most fundamental and profound way,” he said.

Cook suggested Stauch developed dissociative identify disorder as a result of being physically, emotionally and sexually abused by her absent mother's string of partners during her childhood, sometimes sleeping in a car in the driveway to escape the abuse. When she killed Gannon, she was not, in her mind, killing her stepson, but the “demons” from her childhood and life, he said.

Based on surveys given to potential jurors, many were skeptical of Stauch's mental health defense, Cook said. He urged jurors to put aside their impulse to make someone pay for such a brutal killing and keep an open mind because the judicial system requires Stauch to be presumed innocent.

“I'm not telling you to like it. I'm just telling you that's the way it is," he said.

Initially, authorities said they responded after Stauch said Gannon had not returned from playing with a friend. But she did not provide the names of any friends he may have been with or their parents. Within days, she concocted a variety of stories to mislead them, including that a man she hired to repair a carpet raped her and then abducted Gannon, according to investigators.

Over 200 volunteers conducted searches for the boy in the area around where the family lived near Colorado Springs, as authorities investigated. About two weeks after Gannon disappeared, searchers found a piece of particle board with Gannon's blood on it in a rural area nearby. Presuming the boy to be dead, authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/76fb47d139df286bb42dff1fd3155d4e">arrested Stauch in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 2, 2022</a>. She was held in the Saline County, Kansas jail on her return to Colorado.

Gannon's remains were found later that month in the small city of Pace, on the Florida Panhandle.

Stauch was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Investigators found Gannon’s blood on Stauch’s shoe, found her DNA on a gun linked to his death and learned that she traveled to the Florida Panhandle shortly after he disappeared, prosecutors have said.

Stauch was also accused of trying to escape from jail after her arrest. According to court documents, she asked a fellow inmate to help her get out, explaining that she planned to use a broom handle to break the window in her cell, and that she had already measured herself to make sure she could fit through.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583419148723.jpeg" alt="After her March 2020 arrest in South Carolina, Letecia Stauch was held in the Saline County jail on her return to Colorado -Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>After her March 2020 arrest in South Carolina, Letecia Stauch was held in the Saline County jail on her return to Colorado -Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A Colorado woman knew what she was doing when she stabbed her young stepson 18 times and then shot him in the head before driving across the country to dump a suitcase with his remains over a bridge in the Florida Panhandle, a prosecutor told jurors Monday at the start of her trial.Authorities allege Letecia Stauch killed 11-year-old Gannon Stauch in his bedroom a few hours before reporting him missing on Jan. 27, 2020, while his father was on a National Guard deployment. They have suggested she was unhappy in her marriage and resentful of being treated like an unpaid babysitter.Attorneys for Stauch, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, countered that by claiming she suffered a “major psychotic crack” as a result of childhood trauma when she killed Gannon.The dueling narratives for why Stauch carried out the crime came during opening statements in Colorado Springs for a trial expected to last several weeks.District Attorney Michael Allen argued in his opening statement that the steps that Stauch took to cover up her actions are proof that she knew what she did was wrong and was therefore sane. She cleaned up blood in Gannon's bedroom, moving his body to various locations to hide it before disposing of it “like garbage” in a river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico in hopes it would never be found, he said.Stauch also lied to investigators various times to try to hamper their investigation, Allen said, changing her accounts of what happened to Gannon. She claimed two different men had raped her and then abducted Gannon and, later, that one of those men had taken Gannon after he hurt himself in a bike crash.“All of her actions were purposefully designed by her to distance herself from what she did,” Allen said.But defense attorney Will Cook said the gruesome details highlighted by Allen, including how Gannon was killed and the lack of a motive, are proof that Stauch was “insane” because it all does not make sense.“These are all signs and evidence of a mind, a soul, that is broken in a most fundamental and profound way,” he said.Cook suggested Stauch developed dissociative identify disorder as a result of being physically, emotionally and sexually abused by her absent mother's string of partners during her childhood, sometimes sleeping in a car in the driveway to escape the abuse. When she killed Gannon, she was not, in her mind, killing her stepson, but the “demons” from her childhood and life, he said.Based on surveys given to potential jurors, many were skeptical of Stauch's mental health defense, Cook said. He urged jurors to put aside their impulse to make someone pay for such a brutal killing and keep an open mind because the judicial system requires Stauch to be presumed innocent.“I'm not telling you to like it. I'm just telling you that's the way it is," he said.Initially, authorities said they responded after Stauch said Gannon had not returned from playing with a friend. But she did not provide the names of any friends he may have been with or their parents. Within days, she concocted a variety of stories to mislead them, including that a man she hired to repair a carpet raped her and then abducted Gannon, according to investigators.Over 200 volunteers conducted searches for the boy in the area around where the family lived near Colorado Springs, as authorities investigated. About two weeks after Gannon disappeared, searchers found a piece of particle board with Gannon's blood on it in a rural area nearby. Presuming the boy to be dead, authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/76fb47d139df286bb42dff1fd3155d4e">arrested Stauch in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 2, 2022</a>. She was held in the Saline County, Kansas jail on her return to Colorado.Gannon's remains were found later that month in the small city of Pace, on the Florida Panhandle.Stauch was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.Investigators found Gannon’s blood on Stauch’s shoe, found her DNA on a gun linked to his death and learned that she traveled to the Florida Panhandle shortly after he disappeared, prosecutors have said.Stauch was also accused of trying to escape from jail after her arrest. According to court documents, she asked a fellow inmate to help her get out, explaining that she planned to use a broom handle to break the window in her cell, and that she had already measured herself to make sure she could fit through.

Defense: 'Psychotic crack' led woman, who was held in Kan.,  to kill stepson

WASHINGTON (AP) — Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia said they're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-oil-production-cut-6d34316ce6820c749d2a6cd66a9fffea">cutting supplies of crude</a>&nbsp;— again. This time, the decision was a surprise and is underlining worries about where the global economy might be headed.

Russia is joining in by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-65edbc5ba28370c0face621b7db0ce74">extending its own cuts</a>&nbsp;for the rest of the year. In theory, less oil flowing to refineries should mean higher gasoline prices for drivers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-economy-moscow-prices-9bcc886c4d5f8d341cf8939f88705781">could boost the inflation</a>&nbsp;hitting the U.S. and Europe. And that may also help Russia weather Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine at the expense of the U.S.

The decision by oil producers, many of them in the OPEC oil cartel, to cut production by more than 1 million barrels a day comes after prices for international benchmark crude slumped amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-economic-impact-ef6e4c4443743ccbf7740892fb0b4f3b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">slowing global economy</a>&nbsp;that needs less fuel for travel and industry.

It adds to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-germany-elections-d873521f8b165774de3902439dd5a6ee">cut of 2 million barrels per day</a>&nbsp;announced in October. Between the two cuts, that's about 3% of the world's oil supply.

Here are key things to know about the cutbacks:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654949375429.png" alt="The White House response to the cuts was milder than in October, when cuts came on the eve of U.S. midterm elections where soaring gas prices were a major issue. President Joe Biden vowed at the time that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-saudi-arabia-middle-east-ea75287315c4e8a78014a4eccb114abe">there would be “consequences,”</a>&nbsp;and Democratic lawmakers called for freezing cooperation with the Saudis." />
 <figcaption>The White House response to the cuts was milder than in October, when cuts came on the eve of U.S. midterm elections where soaring gas prices were a major issue. President Joe Biden vowed at the time that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-saudi-arabia-middle-east-ea75287315c4e8a78014a4eccb114abe">there would be “consequences,”</a>&nbsp;and Democratic lawmakers called for freezing cooperation with the Saudis.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia said they're&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-oil-production-cut-6d34316ce6820c749d2a6cd66a9fffea">cutting supplies of crude</a>&nbsp;— again. This time, the decision was a surprise and is underlining worries about where the global economy might be headed.Russia is joining in by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-65edbc5ba28370c0face621b7db0ce74">extending its own cuts</a>&nbsp;for the rest of the year. In theory, less oil flowing to refineries should mean higher gasoline prices for drivers and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-economy-moscow-prices-9bcc886c4d5f8d341cf8939f88705781">could boost the inflation</a>&nbsp;hitting the U.S. and Europe. And that may also help Russia weather Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine at the expense of the U.S.The decision by oil producers, many of them in the OPEC oil cartel, to cut production by more than 1 million barrels a day comes after prices for international benchmark crude slumped amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-economic-impact-ef6e4c4443743ccbf7740892fb0b4f3b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">slowing global economy</a>&nbsp;that needs less fuel for travel and industry.It adds to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-inflation-health-germany-elections-d873521f8b165774de3902439dd5a6ee">cut of 2 million barrels per day</a>&nbsp;announced in October. Between the two cuts, that's about 3% of the world's oil supply.Here are key things to know about the cutbacks:WHY ARE OIL PRODUCERS CUTTING BACK?Saudi Arabia, OPEC's dominant member, said Sunday that the move is “precautionary” to avoid a deeper slide in oil prices.Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman has consistently taken a cautious approach to future demand and favored being proactive in adjusting supply ahead of a possible downturn in oil needs.That stance seemed to be borne out as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-5f010ed0b66fb71e8d46040419a70203">oil prices fell from highs</a>&nbsp;of over $120 per barrel last summer to $73 last month. Prices jumped after Sunday's announcement, with international benchmark Brent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/03d9d1bfb51e2ce4a42bf7744bf1bafa">crude trading at about $85</a>&nbsp;on Monday, up 6%.With fears of a U.S. recession exacerbated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/banks-federal-reserve-silicon-valley-lending-rescue-a04875a164165b50e971ff4576bf4e27">bank collapses</a>, a lack of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-inflation-economic-growth-5fa7942504507e3ca708c8e4591ed8d8">European economic growth</a>&nbsp;and China’s rebound from COVID-19 taking longer than many expected, oil producers are wary of a sudden collapse in prices like during the pandemic and the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.Capital markets analyst Mohammed Ali Yasin said most people had been waiting for the June 4 meeting of the OPEC+ alliance of OPEC members and allied producers, most prominently Russia. The decision underlined the urgency felt by producers.“It was a surprise to all, I think, watchers and the market followers,” he said. “The swiftness of the move, the timing of the move and the size of the move were all significant.”The aim now is to ward off "a continous slide of the oil price” to levels below $70 per barrel, which would be “very negative” for producer economies, Yasin said.Part of the October cut of 2 millions barrels per day was on paper only as some OPEC+ countries aren’t able to produce their share. The new cut of 1.15 million barrels per day is distributed among countries that are hitting their quotas — so it amounts to roughly the same size cut as in October.Governments announced the decision outside the usual OPEC+ framework. The Saudis are taking the lead with 500,000 barrels per day, with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Algeria and Kazakhstan contributing smaller cuts.WILL THE PRODUCTION CUT MAKE INFLATION WORSE?It certainly could. Analysts say supply and demand are relatively well balanced, which means production cuts could push prices higher in coming months.The refineries that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russian-diesel-fuel-embargo-explainer-28b9043593c7cb92e032aa451c837b39">turn crude into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel</a>&nbsp;are getting ready for their summer production surge to meet the annual increase in travel demand.In the U.S., gasoline prices are highly dependent on crude, which makes up about half of the price per gallon. Lower oil prices have meant U.S. drivers have seen the average price fall from records of over $5 per gallon in mid-2022 to $3.50 per gallon this week, according to motor club AAA.The cuts, if fully implemented, “would further tighten an already fundamentally tight oil market,” Jorge Leon, senior vice president at Rystad Energy, said in a research note. The cut could boost oil prices by around $10 per barrel and push international Brent to around $110 per barrel by this summer.Those higher prices could fuel global inflation in a cycle that forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-inflation-banks-interest-rates-jobs-91a9185ebce972bbf5ab1f46654f1a53">central banks to keep hiking interest rates</a>, which crimp economic growth, he said.Given the fears about the overall economy, “the market may interpret the cuts as a vote of no confidence in the recovery of oil demand and could even carry a downside price risk — but that will only be for the very short term,” Leon said.WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR RUSSIA?Moscow says it will extend a cut of 500,000 barrels per day through the rest of the year. It needs oil revenue to support its economy and state budget hit by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-union-russia-government-moscow-europe-china-a855facf78132a8805c9ba52dd0fab60">wide-ranging sanctions</a>&nbsp;from the U.S., European Union and other allies of Ukraine.Analysts think, however, that Russia's cut may simply be putting the best face on reduced demand for its oil. The West shunned Russian barrels even before sanctions were imposed, with Moscow managing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-business-china-middle-east-b6a90423ee7e2245e3eafc713083896f">reroute much of its oil to India, China</a>&nbsp;and Turkey.But the Group of Seven major democracies imposed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-moscow-europe-european-union-825506b6a349cce7e5971c0ac550aeaa">price cap of $60 per barrel</a>&nbsp;on Russian shipments, enforced by bans on Western companies that dominate shipping or insurance. Russia is selling oil at a discount, with revenue sagging at the start of this year.WHAT DOES THE WHITE HOUSE SAY?President Joe Biden addressed the OPEC+ cut on Monday before returning to the White House from a trip to Minnesota, predicting, “It’s not going to be as bad as you think.”Earlier, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed U.S. opposition to the move, saying, “We don’t think that production cuts are advisable at this moment given market uncertainty, and we made that clear.”But he insisted that the oil market is in a different place from last year when prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.“We’re focused on prices, we’re not focused on barrels,” he told reporters Monday, adding that the U.S. was given a heads-up before the announcement.The White House response was milder than in October, when cuts came on the eve of U.S. midterm elections in which soaring gas prices were a major issue. Biden vowed at the time that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-saudi-arabia-middle-east-ea75287315c4e8a78014a4eccb114abe">there would be “consequences,”</a>&nbsp;and Democratic lawmakers called for freezing cooperation with the Saudis.Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics, said the cutback shows "the group's support for Russia and flies in the face of the Biden administration’s efforts to lower oil prices.”___