JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Democrats on Monday called for the removal of the leader of the state's Human Rights Commission after he testified last week against a bill for LGBTQ+ rights.

Timothy Faber, chairman of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, has “lost the trust of elected leaders," Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed the fellow Republican to the commission in 2021. The commission handles cases of alleged discrimination in the state.

The bill in question, brought by the state’s only openly gay senator, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would offer protections against landlords refusing to rent to LGBTQ+ people or employers firing them.

Faber testified against it last week, telling Senate committee members that “this bill cannot be separated from religion, and particularly religious liberty.”

“The U.S. Constitution and the Missouri Constitution both guarantee the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech,” he continued. “This bill sets up a host of conflicts against such freedoms.”

Faber spoke against the legislation as part of his other job as a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, which he accepted in January. Faber confirmed his role as the human rights chairman to lawmakers after being questioned by a Democratic senator, which Democrats said came across as an attempt to conceal his work on the commission.

“While Mr. Faber has a right to express his personal views or the views of other organizations with which he may be affiliated, his decision to place these roles before his duties as chairman makes it clear he can no longer continue in this capacity,” Democrats wrote.

Faber said Monday that he was not trying to hide his position on the commission and he will continue to advocate for the Baptist Convention. He argued that there is no conflict in him serving in both roles, including lobbying on legislation that would impact his work on the commission.

“If every private citizen is not allowed to speak on issues in other capacities, or even as a private citizen, without jeopardizing their position on a board or commission that they serve on, we’re never going to get anybody to serve in these positions,” Faber said.

Faber also testified previously in favor of a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-sports-missouri-d4297eebf904ef58c0fb1dabed93e331">ban gender-affirming care for minors</a>&nbsp;during a February committee hearing.

Parson's spokeswoman and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights executive director did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Only four of the commission's 11 seats are currently filled, and Faber said the body has not had enough members to do business since August. He said the commission currently faces a backlog of cases.

Efforts to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender have failed for years in the Missouri Legislature. Even receiving a hearing, as the legislation did this year, is a notable departure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680568193904.png" alt="Timothy Faber-photo courtesy Missouri Commission of Human RIghts" />
 <figcaption>Timothy Faber-photo courtesy Missouri Commission of Human RIghts</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Democrats on Monday called for the removal of the leader of the state's Human Rights Commission after he testified last week against a bill for LGBTQ+ rights.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680567953030.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Timothy Faber, chairman of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, has “lost the trust of elected leaders," Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed the fellow Republican to the commission in 2021. The commission handles cases of alleged discrimination in the state.The bill in question, brought by the state’s only openly gay senator, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would offer protections against landlords refusing to rent to LGBTQ+ people or employers firing them.Faber testified against it last week, telling Senate committee members that “this bill cannot be separated from religion, and particularly religious liberty.”“The U.S. Constitution and the Missouri Constitution both guarantee the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech,” he continued. “This bill sets up a host of conflicts against such freedoms.”Faber spoke against the legislation as part of his other job as a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, which he accepted in January. Faber confirmed his role as the human rights chairman to lawmakers after being questioned by a Democratic senator, which Democrats said came across as an attempt to conceal his work on the commission.“While Mr. Faber has a right to express his personal views or the views of other organizations with which he may be affiliated, his decision to place these roles before his duties as chairman makes it clear he can no longer continue in this capacity,” Democrats wrote.Faber said Monday that he was not trying to hide his position on the commission and he will continue to advocate for the Baptist Convention. He argued that there is no conflict in him serving in both roles, including lobbying on legislation that would impact his work on the commission.“If every private citizen is not allowed to speak on issues in other capacities, or even as a private citizen, without jeopardizing their position on a board or commission that they serve on, we’re never going to get anybody to serve in these positions,” Faber said.Faber also testified previously in favor of a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-sports-missouri-d4297eebf904ef58c0fb1dabed93e331">ban gender-affirming care for minors</a>&nbsp;during a February committee hearing.Parson's spokeswoman and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights executive director did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Only four of the commission's 11 seats are currently filled, and Faber said the body has not had enough members to do business since August. He said the commission currently faces a backlog of cases.Efforts to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender have failed for years in the Missouri Legislature. Even receiving a hearing, as the legislation did this year, is a notable departure.

Missouri official under fire for opposing LGBTQ+ protections

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal shooting on March 13, 2023, inside a south Kansas City residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jaylen E. McDaniel, 31,&nbsp; faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

According to court records, on March 13, 2023, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 11500 block of Food Lane on a reported shooting. Officers found the victim, Trianna Tisdale inside the residence. She was transported to a hospital and later died. A juvenile witness was located who told police the victim and the defendant had been arguing. The witness saw the defendant shoot the victim then flee the scene in the victim's car. Police collected evidence at the scene and a computer check showed the defendant was a convicted felon.

The defendant was taken into custody in southern Missouri earlier in the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680440301325.png" alt="McDaniels-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>McDaniels-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal shooting on March 13, 2023, inside a south Kansas City residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jaylen E. McDaniel, 31,&nbsp; faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.According to court records, on March 13, 2023, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 11500 block of Food Lane on a reported shooting. Officers found the victim, Trianna Tisdale inside the residence. She was transported to a hospital and later died. A juvenile witness was located who told police the victim and the defendant had been arguing. The witness saw the defendant shoot the victim then flee the scene in the victim's car. Police collected evidence at the scene and a computer check showed the defendant was a convicted felon.The defendant was taken into custody in southern Missouri earlier in the week.

Juvenile witness IDs KC man in woman's murder

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas man is back in jail after his third arrest in less than a year.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;In June of 2022,&nbsp; David Boeschling, 24, Minneapolis was accused of taking $500 in cash from a video game at The Alley, 115 E. Ash Street, in Salina. Police arrested him on theft and drug charges.&nbsp; 

In October, Boeschling was in jail on a warrant for failure to appear and requested drug and weapons charges, after police found him with&nbsp; a 9mm Canik in the parking lot of a Salina mote.

Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police responded to multiple alarms in a storage building at 1007 W. North Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Officers observed a white male wearing a blue hooded jacket, hat, and backpack running through the building. When the officers went around the building, they saw the man later identified as Boeschling standing in a tree line west of the building.

Police arrested him on requested charges of Trespassing, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680523824074.jpeg" alt="Boeschling&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Boeschling&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —A Kansas man is back in jail after his third arrest in less than a year.&nbsp; &nbsp;In June of 2022,&nbsp; David Boeschling, 24, Minneapolis was accused of taking $500 in cash from a video game at The Alley, 115 E. Ash Street, in Salina. Police arrested him on theft and drug charges.&nbsp; In October, Boeschling was in jail on a warrant for failure to appear and requested drug and weapons charges, after police found him with&nbsp; a 9mm Canik in the parking lot of a Salina mote.Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police responded to multiple alarms in a storage building at 1007 W. North Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Officers observed a white male wearing a blue hooded jacket, hat, and backpack running through the building. When the officers went around the building, they saw the man later identified as Boeschling standing in a tree line west of the building.Police arrested him on requested charges of Trespassing, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kan. man who allegedly took $500 from video game is back in jail

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 3:30p.m. March 31 in Pottawatomie County

According to the sheriff's office, a motorcycle driven by Abbott Mumaw, 17, of Louisville, Kansas, was westbound on Gerard Road, rural Belvue. The driver&nbsp; lost control and crashed. 

 Abbott was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the sheriff.

The Pottawatomie County EMS, Belvue Fire Department, Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office responded to the accident.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 3:30p.m. March 31 in Pottawatomie CountyAccording to the sheriff's office, a motorcycle driven by Abbott Mumaw, 17, of Louisville, Kansas, was westbound on Gerard Road, rural Belvue. The driver&nbsp; lost control and crashed. Abbott was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the sheriff.The Pottawatomie County EMS, Belvue Fire Department, Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office responded to the accident.

Sheriff IDs Kansas teen who died in motorcycle crash

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas House rejected legislation Monday authorizing a 2024 presidential primary approved by the Kansas Senate with opponents objecting to the minimum $4 million price tag and the new state filing fee or petition signature requirements of candidates.

The House voted 56-64 to sideline House Bill 2053, which was approved by a bipartisan majority of 28-12 in the Senate. It would have given the Republican and Democratic political parties the option of participating in a preference primary March 19, 2024, rather than continue the traditional caucus system whereby Kansans convene across the state to pick partisan winners.

“Vote no on this,” said Rep. Trevor Jacobs, a Fort Scott Republican. “This is a one-time spend just for junk.”

The Republican or Democratic parties could choose to skip the chance to have presidential aspirants visit Kansas, but all candidates entering the Kansas showdowns would pay a $10,000 filing fee or obtain the signature of 5,000 registered voters to be eligible. Analysts predicted county and state election officials would require $4 million to $5 million to administer the one-issue, one-ballot primary next year.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, made a motion for the House to concur with the Senate on the bill. The Senate measure would enable independent registered voters to participate in the primary election by declaring a party affiliation as late as the primary date.

“We’re actually in a minority of states,” Proctor said. “(In) 43 states the government runs to some degree the presidential preference primaries.”

Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, said the Legislature had for years chosen to stay out of the wild presidential primary business due to cost and likelihood voting in other states would make decisions in Kansas irrelevant to the nominations. There was no compelling reason for Kansas to change course, she said.

“The size of the fiscal (cost) was large enough that it was better to spend that money elsewhere,” Landwehr said. “If the parties want to have them, they can organize them and have their vote.”

Kansas conducted presidential primaries in 1980 and 1992. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kansas GOP opted not to conduct a caucus in 2020 due to popularity of Republican President Donald Trump. He went on to carry Kansas in the general election. Kansas Democrats conducted a mail-in primary in 2020 won by former Vice President Joe Biden, who later prevailed against Trump in the national election for president.

The Senate’s bill rejected by the House would have applied only to a primary in 2024, meaning the Legislature would have to take further action to host primaries in 2028 and beyond.

Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said he supported the legislation and would prefer Kansas permanently employ the primary approach.

“I think primaries encourage more people to be involved,” he said. “I wish that this would go on beyond just the 2024 election.

In the Senate, Republican Mike Thompson of Shawnee said he also was convinced partisan primaries would increase participation of voters. Some people cannot attend the Sunday caucuses, he said, but would be available for a Tuesday vote or engage in the advance voting process.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PB161862-1024x614.jpg" alt="- Rep. Trevor Jacobs, R-Fort Scott, successfully persuaded the Kansas House to vote down a bill approved by the Kansas Senate to authorize a presidential preference primary for both major political parties in March 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>- Rep. Trevor Jacobs, R-Fort Scott, successfully persuaded the Kansas House to vote down a bill approved by the Kansas Senate to authorize a presidential preference primary for both major political parties in March 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/house-passes-kansas-bill-creating-method-of-anonymously-surrendering-an-infant/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House rejected legislation Monday authorizing a 2024 presidential primary approved by the Kansas Senate with opponents objecting to the minimum $4 million price tag and the new state filing fee or petition signature requirements of candidates.The House voted 56-64 to sideline House Bill 2053, which was approved by a bipartisan majority of 28-12 in the Senate. It would have given the Republican and Democratic political parties the option of participating in a preference primary March 19, 2024, rather than continue the traditional caucus system whereby Kansans convene across the state to pick partisan winners.“Vote no on this,” said Rep. Trevor Jacobs, a Fort Scott Republican. “This is a one-time spend just for junk.”The Republican or Democratic parties could choose to skip the chance to have presidential aspirants visit Kansas, but all candidates entering the Kansas showdowns would pay a $10,000 filing fee or obtain the signature of 5,000 registered voters to be eligible. Analysts predicted county and state election officials would require $4 million to $5 million to administer the one-issue, one-ballot primary next year.Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, made a motion for the House to concur with the Senate on the bill. The Senate measure would enable independent registered voters to participate in the primary election by declaring a party affiliation as late as the primary date.“We’re actually in a minority of states,” Proctor said. “(In) 43 states the government runs to some degree the presidential preference primaries.”Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, said the Legislature had for years chosen to stay out of the wild presidential primary business due to cost and likelihood voting in other states would make decisions in Kansas irrelevant to the nominations. There was no compelling reason for Kansas to change course, she said.“The size of the fiscal (cost) was large enough that it was better to spend that money elsewhere,” Landwehr said. “If the parties want to have them, they can organize them and have their vote.”Kansas conducted presidential primaries in 1980 and 1992. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kansas GOP opted not to conduct a caucus in 2020 due to popularity of Republican President Donald Trump. He went on to carry Kansas in the general election. Kansas Democrats conducted a mail-in primary in 2020 won by former Vice President Joe Biden, who later prevailed against Trump in the national election for president.The Senate’s bill rejected by the House would have applied only to a primary in 2024, meaning the Legislature would have to take further action to host primaries in 2028 and beyond.Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said he supported the legislation and would prefer Kansas permanently employ the primary approach.“I think primaries encourage more people to be involved,” he said. “I wish that this would go on beyond just the 2024 election.In the Senate, Republican Mike Thompson of Shawnee said he also was convinced partisan primaries would increase participation of voters. Some people cannot attend the Sunday caucuses, he said, but would be available for a Tuesday vote or engage in the advance voting process.

Kan. House rejects Senate plan for presidential preference primary

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire and have taken a registered Kansas sex offender into custody.

Just before 9:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to 3910 Cedar Park Place Apt. 8A in Great Bend in reference to smoke entering the apartment.

Police and fire crews discovered the smoke was entering apartment 8A from the wall conjoined with apartment 8B. The Great Bend Fire Department made entry into apartment 8B and was able to extinguish the fire inside the residence.

Fire crews reported to officers on scene of signs of arson inside the residence. An officer also observed an individual walking away from the complex that he has taken multiple calls about during the weekend. The officer identified the man as 27-year-old&nbsp; Michael Leeper.

Police found Leeper at a residence in Great Bend and he was detained pending investigation.

During the investigation, officers and firefighters located a broken glass and blood throughout the crime scene. When officers located Leeper, he had injuries to his hands and arms, consistent with burns and cuts. 

The Great Bend Fire Department treated Leeper and placed. him under arrest and transported him to the Barton County Jail where he was booked on requested charges of aggravated arson. He has a previous conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and has been registered as a sex offender since 2017, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680552601164.png" alt="Leeper-photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Leeper-photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire and have taken a registered Kansas sex offender into custody.Just before 9:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to 3910 Cedar Park Place Apt. 8A in Great Bend in reference to smoke entering the apartment.Police and fire crews discovered the smoke was entering apartment 8A from the wall conjoined with apartment 8B. The Great Bend Fire Department made entry into apartment 8B and was able to extinguish the fire inside the residence.Fire crews reported to officers on scene of signs of arson inside the residence. An officer also observed an individual walking away from the complex that he has taken multiple calls about during the weekend. The officer identified the man as 27-year-old&nbsp; Michael Leeper.Police found Leeper at a residence in Great Bend and he was detained pending investigation.During the investigation, officers and firefighters located a broken glass and blood throughout the crime scene. When officers located Leeper, he had injuries to his hands and arms, consistent with burns and cuts. The Great Bend Fire Department treated Leeper and placed. him under arrest and transported him to the Barton County Jail where he was booked on requested charges of aggravated arson. He has a previous conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and has been registered as a sex offender since 2017, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Kansas sex offender jailed for alleged arson

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022, according to a statement from the governor's office.

“Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.

Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, or 279.9%, more than the estimate and $74.9 million, or 271.1%, more than March 2022.

Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $275.4 million, which is $422,000 more than the estimate and $4.9 million, or 1.7%, less than March 2022. The reduced year-over-year receipts for March from these tax sources are due in part to the reduction of state sales tax on food and food ingredients.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet on April 20. The Group will review the fall estimate and make any revisions it may consider necessary.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022, according to a statement from the governor's office.“Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly.Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, or 279.9%, more than the estimate and $74.9 million, or 271.1%, more than March 2022.Combined sales and compensating use tax receipts were $275.4 million, which is $422,000 more than the estimate and $4.9 million, or 1.7%, less than March 2022. The reduced year-over-year receipts for March from these tax sources are due in part to the reduction of state sales tax on food and food ingredients.The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet on April 20. The Group will review the fall estimate and make any revisions it may consider necessary.

Kansas continues to exceed estimated tax collections

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl that occurred at a home on North Kuney Street in Abilene.

The investigation began January 16, according to a media release from police. An autopsy determined the girl died from fentanyl intoxication.

On Monday, police arrested 18-year-old Daisy L. Skilling on an outstanding warrant from Dickinson County District Court charging her with&nbsp;distribution of a controlled substance causing death, use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, according to online jail records. She is being held on $150,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680547193087.png" alt="Skilling-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Skilling-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl that occurred at a home on North Kuney Street in Abilene.The investigation began January 16, according to a media release from police. An autopsy determined the girl died from fentanyl intoxication.On Monday, police arrested 18-year-old Daisy L. Skilling on an outstanding warrant from Dickinson County District Court charging her with&nbsp;distribution of a controlled substance causing death, use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, according to online jail records. She is being held on $150,000 bond.

Kansas woman accused in fentanyl death of 17-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina has used it to explain the complex fight over raising the debt limit. Rep. Robert Garcia of California has used it to engage with members of the LGBTQ+ community. And Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania has used it to give an overview of Election Day results.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">pressure against TikTok mounts</a>&nbsp;in Washington, the more than two dozen members of Congress — all Democrats — who are active on the social media platform are being pushed by their colleagues to stop using it. Many defend their presence on the platform, saying they have a responsibility as public officials to meet Americans where they are — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-congress-hearing-bytedance-china-biden-ceo-a92f048762d6657f291affb7a0ce6386">more than 150 million are on TikTok</a>.

“I’m sensitive to the ban and recognize some of the security implications. But there is no more robust and expeditious way to reach young people in the United States of America than TikTok,” Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota told The Associated Press.

Yet the lawmakers active on TikTok remain a distinct minority. Most in Congress are in favor of limiting the app, forcing a sale to remove connections to China or even banning it outright. The U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">already banned the app</a>&nbsp;from official devices, as has the federal government. Similar bans have been imposed in Denmark, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, as well as the European Union.

Criticism of TikTok reached a new level last week as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-shou-zi-chew-testify-7927b1915db270aac67ca6f4ca31d6f3">CEO Shou Zi Chew testified</a>&nbsp;for more than six hours at a contentious hearing in the House. Lawmakers grilled Chew about the implications of the app for America's national security and the effect on the mental health of its users. And the tough questions came from both sides of the aisle, as Republicans and Democrats alike pressed Chew about TikTok’s content moderation practices, its ability to shield American data from Beijing and its spying on journalists.

“I've got to hand it to you," said Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, as members questioned Chew over data security and harmful content. “You’ve actually done something that in the last three to four years has not happened except for the exception of maybe (Russian President) Vladimir Putin. You have unified Republicans and Democrats.”

While the hearing made plain that lawmakers view TikTok as a threat, their lack of first-hand experience with the app was apparent at times. Some made inaccurate and head-scratching comments, seemingly not understanding how TikTok connects to a home Wi-Fi router or how it moderates illicit content.

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., who is active on the app and opposes a nationwide ban, called the hearing “cringeworthy."

“It was just so painful to watch,” he told the AP on Friday. “And it just shows the real problem is Congress doesn’t have a lot of expertise, whether it be social media or, for that matter, more importantly, technology.”

Garcia, who said he uses TikTok more as a consumer, said most of his colleagues who are proposing a nationwide ban told him they had never used the app. “It gets hard to understand if you’re not actually on it,” the freshman Democrat said. “And at the end of the day, a lot of TikTok is harmless people dancing and funny videos.”

“It’s also incredibly rich educational content, and learning how to bake and learning about the political process,” he said.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who has more than 180,000 followers on the app, held a news conference with TikTok influencers before the hearing. He accused Republicans of pushing a ban on TikTok for political reasons.

“There are 150 million people on TikTok and we are more connected to them than Republicans are,” Bowman said. “So for them, it’s all about fear-mongering and power. It’s not TikTok, because, again, we’ve looked the other way and allowed Facebook and other platforms to do similar things.”

Critics of TikTok in Congress say their opposition is rooted in national security, not politics. TikTok is a wholly owned subsidiary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.</a>, which appoints its executives. They worry Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok data on American users, effectively turning the app into a data-mining operation for a foreign power. The company insists it is taking steps to make sure that can never happen.

“The basic approach that we’re following is to make it physically impossible for any government, including the Chinese government, to get access to U.S. user data,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-china-biden-bytedance-data-misinformation-02b59e4a6611ce97c775da19de31d7ad">general counsel Erich Andersen</a>&nbsp;said during an interview with the AP on Friday at a cybersecurity conference in California.

TikTok has been emphasizing a $1.5 billion proposal to store all U.S. user data on servers owned and maintained by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-us-news-business-ap-top-news-hong-kong-4eab38c608901de16e92facc1ed5debd">the software giant Oracle</a>. Access to U.S. data would be managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity run independently of ByteDance and monitored by outside observers.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina took the unusual step of releasing a public statement urging all members of Congress to stop using TikTok, including from his home state — seemingly a jab at Jackson, who is one of the more active members with more than 1.8 million followers.

“I was just saying if we’re having a discussion about TikTok then I think we ought to at least reduce the pull factor by elected officials who can simply come off of it,” Tillis said this week, when asked about his statement. “I don’t have a TikTok account. So that was an easy separation for me.”

Loud warnings about TikTok have also been coming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-united-states-government-ap-top-news-business-95491774cf8f0fe3e2b9634658a22e56">from President Joe Biden's administration</a>. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and FBI Director Christopher Wray have told Congress in recent weeks that TikTok is a national security threat. Blinken told lawmakers the threat “should be ended one way or another."

“It’s like turning your cell phone off on an airplane. You’re supposed to do. And if it was super dangerous, I don’t think we will be allowed to have the phone on the plane,” Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, said Wednesday, “So if it was super dangerous for members of Congress to have this app on their phone, you have to imagine the administration or our government would say absolutely not, you can’t have it on a government phone.”

Concerns about what kind of content Americans encounter online, or how their data is collected by technology companies, also aren’t new. Congress has been wanting to curtail the amount of data tech companies collect on consumers through a national privacy law, but those efforts have stalled repeatedly over the years.

Supporters of TikTok on Capitol Hill are urging their colleagues to educate themselves about social media as a whole so Congress can pass legislation that deals with broader issues of data privacy, instead of hyper-focusing on a ban of TikTok, which could risk political backlash and a court fight over the reach of the First Amendment.

“We are uninformed and misinformed. We don’t even understand how social media works. We don’t know anything about data brokers and how data brokers sell our data to foreign countries and foreign companies right now,” Bowman said. “So ban TikTok tomorrow, this stuff is still going to be happening.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680519366694.png" alt="Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D NY) said during a March 22 rally, "Instead of banning TikTok we need comprehensive legislation to ensure social media users' data is safe and secure."&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D NY) said during a March 22 rally, "Instead of banning TikTok we need comprehensive legislation to ensure social media users' data is safe and secure."&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina has used it to explain the complex fight over raising the debt limit. Rep. Robert Garcia of California has used it to engage with members of the LGBTQ+ community. And Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania has used it to give an overview of Election Day results.As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">pressure against TikTok mounts</a>&nbsp;in Washington, the more than two dozen members of Congress — all Democrats — who are active on the social media platform are being pushed by their colleagues to stop using it. Many defend their presence on the platform, saying they have a responsibility as public officials to meet Americans where they are — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-congress-hearing-bytedance-china-biden-ceo-a92f048762d6657f291affb7a0ce6386">more than 150 million are on TikTok</a>.“I’m sensitive to the ban and recognize some of the security implications. But there is no more robust and expeditious way to reach young people in the United States of America than TikTok,” Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota told The Associated Press.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Again I say: Ban TikTok. This is the disturbing content the CCP algorithm feeds to American youth. <a href="https://t.co/jvkkAqf2aI">https://t.co/jvkkAqf2aI</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1639283964568301571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Yet the lawmakers active on TikTok remain a distinct minority. Most in Congress are in favor of limiting the app, forcing a sale to remove connections to China or even banning it outright. The U.S. armed forces and more than half of U.S. states have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">already banned the app</a>&nbsp;from official devices, as has the federal government. Similar bans have been imposed in Denmark, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, as well as the European Union.Criticism of TikTok reached a new level last week as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-shou-zi-chew-testify-7927b1915db270aac67ca6f4ca31d6f3">CEO Shou Zi Chew testified</a>&nbsp;for more than six hours at a contentious hearing in the House. Lawmakers grilled Chew about the implications of the app for America's national security and the effect on the mental health of its users. And the tough questions came from both sides of the aisle, as Republicans and Democrats alike pressed Chew about TikTok’s content moderation practices, its ability to shield American data from Beijing and its spying on journalists.“I've got to hand it to you," said Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, as members questioned Chew over data security and harmful content. “You’ve actually done something that in the last three to four years has not happened except for the exception of maybe (Russian President) Vladimir Putin. You have unified Republicans and Democrats.”While the hearing made plain that lawmakers view TikTok as a threat, their lack of first-hand experience with the app was apparent at times. Some made inaccurate and head-scratching comments, seemingly not understanding how TikTok connects to a home Wi-Fi router or how it moderates illicit content.Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., who is active on the app and opposes a nationwide ban, called the hearing “cringeworthy."“It was just so painful to watch,” he told the AP on Friday. “And it just shows the real problem is Congress doesn’t have a lot of expertise, whether it be social media or, for that matter, more importantly, technology.”Garcia, who said he uses TikTok more as a consumer, said most of his colleagues who are proposing a nationwide ban told him they had never used the app. “It gets hard to understand if you’re not actually on it,” the freshman Democrat said. “And at the end of the day, a lot of TikTok is harmless people dancing and funny videos.”“It’s also incredibly rich educational content, and learning how to bake and learning about the political process,” he said.Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., who has more than 180,000 followers on the app, held a news conference with TikTok influencers before the hearing. He accused Republicans of pushing a ban on TikTok for political reasons.“There are 150 million people on TikTok and we are more connected to them than Republicans are,” Bowman said. “So for them, it’s all about fear-mongering and power. It’s not TikTok, because, again, we’ve looked the other way and allowed Facebook and other platforms to do similar things.”Critics of TikTok in Congress say their opposition is rooted in national security, not politics. TikTok is a wholly owned subsidiary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-bytedance-china-biden-administration-14ef5f93dc2114e4ade110b2e85433fd">Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd.</a>, which appoints its executives. They worry Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over TikTok data on American users, effectively turning the app into a data-mining operation for a foreign power. The company insists it is taking steps to make sure that can never happen.“The basic approach that we’re following is to make it physically impossible for any government, including the Chinese government, to get access to U.S. user data,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-china-biden-bytedance-data-misinformation-02b59e4a6611ce97c775da19de31d7ad">general counsel Erich Andersen</a>&nbsp;said during an interview with the AP on Friday at a cybersecurity conference in California.TikTok has been emphasizing a $1.5 billion proposal to store all U.S. user data on servers owned and maintained by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-us-news-business-ap-top-news-hong-kong-4eab38c608901de16e92facc1ed5debd">the software giant Oracle</a>. Access to U.S. data would be managed by U.S. employees through a separate entity run independently of ByteDance and monitored by outside observers.Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina took the unusual step of releasing a public statement urging all members of Congress to stop using TikTok, including from his home state — seemingly a jab at Jackson, who is one of the more active members with more than 1.8 million followers.“I was just saying if we’re having a discussion about TikTok then I think we ought to at least reduce the pull factor by elected officials who can simply come off of it,” Tillis said this week, when asked about his statement. “I don’t have a TikTok account. So that was an easy separation for me.”Loud warnings about TikTok have also been coming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-united-states-government-ap-top-news-business-95491774cf8f0fe3e2b9634658a22e56">from President Joe Biden's administration</a>. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and FBI Director Christopher Wray have told Congress in recent weeks that TikTok is a national security threat. Blinken told lawmakers the threat “should be ended one way or another."But some members are unconvinced.“It’s like turning your cell phone off on an airplane. You’re supposed to do. And if it was super dangerous, I don’t think we will be allowed to have the phone on the plane,” Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, said Wednesday, “So if it was super dangerous for members of Congress to have this app on their phone, you have to imagine the administration or our government would say absolutely not, you can’t have it on a government phone.”Concerns about what kind of content Americans encounter online, or how their data is collected by technology companies, also aren’t new. Congress has been wanting to curtail the amount of data tech companies collect on consumers through a national privacy law, but those efforts have stalled repeatedly over the years.Supporters of TikTok on Capitol Hill are urging their colleagues to educate themselves about social media as a whole so Congress can pass legislation that deals with broader issues of data privacy, instead of hyper-focusing on a ban of TikTok, which could risk political backlash and a court fight over the reach of the First Amendment.“We are uninformed and misinformed. We don’t even understand how social media works. We don’t know anything about data brokers and how data brokers sell our data to foreign countries and foreign companies right now,” Bowman said. “So ban TikTok tomorrow, this stuff is still going to be happening.”___

Members of Congress on TikTok defend app's reach to voters

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a robbery, domestic violence incident and have made an arrest.

Just before 9:20 pm, Friday, police dispatched to a Domestic Violence with weapon call in the 6700 block of West Par Lane in Wichita involving 41-year-old Pearl James Haynes IV of and a 34-year-old woman, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Officers arrived on the scene and spoke to the woman who stated Haynes showed up at her house intoxicated and began breaking several items in her apartment. Officers saw Haynes flee from the front of the apartment and they gave chase on foot. Haynes jumped a privacy fence. 

Once he got over that fence officers heard eight gunshots coming from where he landed placing the officers in fear. They immediately took cover and waited for more officers to arrive.

A short time later officers began to provide security around the area where Haynes was last seen. An abundance of precaution was being utilized due to Haynes firing several rounds. Other law enforcement agencies arrived to provide assistance as well.

At approximately 11:15 pm, a resident in the 1300 block of South Westfield called 911 stating Haynes was at their residence banging on the door saying he was on the run from the police.

Officers made their way to the Westfield location. Unmarked units were in the area when they witnessed Haynes flee on an ATV.

A brief pursuit would occur, and Haynes attempted to turn the ATV in the 200 block of South Byron Court when the vehicle tipped on its side and Haynes fled on foot. Police eventually took into custody in the 300 block of South Keith Street. He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault LEO, criminal damage to property/Domestic Violence robbery, evade and elude, DUI, resisting arrest, and battery of a law enforcement officer. Police don't know if he was firing at officers or firing in the air while officers were chasing him in attempts to make officers fall back., according to Ditch.

Haynes knew both the victim at Par Lane and the Westfield location, according to Ditch. He has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, robbery, aggravated escape from custody and for drug possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680378669885.png" alt="Haynes has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, robbery, aggravated escape from custody and for drug possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Haynes has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, robbery, aggravated escape from custody and for drug possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a robbery, domestic violence incident and have made an arrest.Just before 9:20 pm, Friday, police dispatched to a Domestic Violence with weapon call in the 6700 block of West Par Lane in Wichita involving 41-year-old Pearl James Haynes IV of and a 34-year-old woman, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Officers arrived on the scene and spoke to the woman who stated Haynes showed up at her house intoxicated and began breaking several items in her apartment. Officers saw Haynes flee from the front of the apartment and they gave chase on foot. Haynes jumped a privacy fence. Once he got over that fence officers heard eight gunshots coming from where he landed placing the officers in fear. They immediately took cover and waited for more officers to arrive.A short time later officers began to provide security around the area where Haynes was last seen. An abundance of precaution was being utilized due to Haynes firing several rounds. Other law enforcement agencies arrived to provide assistance as well.At approximately 11:15 pm, a resident in the 1300 block of South Westfield called 911 stating Haynes was at their residence banging on the door saying he was on the run from the police.Officers made their way to the Westfield location. Unmarked units were in the area when they witnessed Haynes flee on an ATV.A brief pursuit would occur, and Haynes attempted to turn the ATV in the 200 block of South Byron Court when the vehicle tipped on its side and Haynes fled on foot. Police eventually took into custody in the 300 block of South Keith Street. He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault LEO, criminal damage to property/Domestic Violence robbery, evade and elude, DUI, resisting arrest, and battery of a law enforcement officer. Police don't know if he was firing at officers or firing in the air while officers were chasing him in attempts to make officers fall back., according to Ditch.Haynes knew both the victim at Par Lane and the Westfield location, according to Ditch. He has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, robbery, aggravated escape from custody and for drug possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

Kan. felon with over a dozen convictions fired gun during pursuit

NASA on Monday named the four astronauts who will fly to the moon by the end of next year, including one woman and three men.

The three Americans and one Canadian were introduced during a ceremony in Houston, home to the nation's astronauts as well as Mission Control.

“This is humanity's crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The four astronauts will be the first to fly NASA's Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no earlier than late 2024. They will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth, a prelude to a lunar landing by two others a year later.

The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, will be joined by Victor Glover, an African American naval aviator; Christina Koch, who holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman; and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. All are space veterans except Hansen.

“This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate and it’s so much more than the four names that have been announced," said Glover.

This is the first moon crew to include a woman and someone not from the U.S. — and the first crew in NASA's new moon program named Artemis. Late last year, an empty Orion capsule flew to the moon and back in a long-awaited dress rehearsal.

During Apollo, NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon from 1968 through 1972. Twelve of them landed. All were military-trained test pilots except for Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt, a geologist who closed out that moonlanding era alongside the late Gene Cernan.

Provided this next 10-day moonshot goes well, NASA aims to land two astronauts on the moon by 2025 or so.

NASA picked from 41 active astronauts for its first Artemis crew. Canada had four candidates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680538101123.png" alt="The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right):NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen-&nbsp;Credits: NASA" />
 <figcaption>The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right):NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen-&nbsp;Credits: NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARCIA DUNN&nbsp;NASA on Monday named the four astronauts who will fly to the moon by the end of next year, including one woman and three men.The three Americans and one Canadian were introduced during a ceremony in Houston, home to the nation's astronauts as well as Mission Control.“This is humanity's crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.The four astronauts will be the first to fly NASA's Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center no earlier than late 2024. They will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth, a prelude to a lunar landing by two others a year later.The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, will be joined by Victor Glover, an African American naval aviator; Christina Koch, who holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman; and Canada's Jeremy Hansen. All are space veterans except Hansen.“This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate and it’s so much more than the four names that have been announced," said Glover.This is the first moon crew to include a woman and someone not from the U.S. — and the first crew in NASA's new moon program named Artemis. Late last year, an empty Orion capsule flew to the moon and back in a long-awaited dress rehearsal.During Apollo, NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon from 1968 through 1972. Twelve of them landed. All were military-trained test pilots except for Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt, a geologist who closed out that moonlanding era alongside the late Gene Cernan.Provided this next 10-day moonshot goes well, NASA aims to land two astronauts on the moon by 2025 or so.NASA picked from 41 active astronauts for its first Artemis crew. Canada had four candidates.

NASA's 1st moon crew in 50 years includes 1 woman, 3 men

TECUMSEH, Mo. (AP) — A 2-year-old boy who followed his dog into the woods near his Missouri Ozarks home is safe, after one of the nearly 100 people searching for him heard a faint whimper and found the child just before the sunset.

<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2023/04/03/over-100-people-help-find-missing-ozark-county-mo-2-year-old/">KYTV-TV</a>&nbsp;reports that Waylon Loftis was supposed to be napping Friday afternoon at his family's home in Tecumseh, near Norfolk Lake. Instead, he lmade his way out of the house despite safety devices on the doors, Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin said.

Among the scores of volunteers who joined in the search was Jonathan Belt, a veteran and now a paramedic, who headed to a wooded area. Hours after Waylon disappeared, with sunset fast approaching, Belt heard a noise.

“The wind calmed just a little bit, and I heard like a whimper, or definitely in my mind it registered automatically as a kid,” Belt told the TV station.

Waylon's mother, Marinda Loftis, was grateful to Belt and all of the volunteers.

“He’s a hero, everyone who showed up was a hero," she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680534307612.png" alt="Photo scourtesy Ozark Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo scourtesy Ozark Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>TECUMSEH, Mo. (AP) — A 2-year-old boy who followed his dog into the woods near his Missouri Ozarks home is safe, after one of the nearly 100 people searching for him heard a faint whimper and found the child just before the sunset.<a href="https://www.ky3.com/2023/04/03/over-100-people-help-find-missing-ozark-county-mo-2-year-old/">KYTV-TV</a>&nbsp;reports that Waylon Loftis was supposed to be napping Friday afternoon at his family's home in Tecumseh, near Norfolk Lake. Instead, he lmade his way out of the house despite safety devices on the doors, Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin said.Among the scores of volunteers who joined in the search was Jonathan Belt, a veteran and now a paramedic, who headed to a wooded area. Hours after Waylon disappeared, with sunset fast approaching, Belt heard a noise.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680534267712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“The wind calmed just a little bit, and I heard like a whimper, or definitely in my mind it registered automatically as a kid,” Belt told the TV station.Waylon's mother, Marinda Loftis, was grateful to Belt and all of the volunteers.“He’s a hero, everyone who showed up was a hero," she said.

Volunteer searcher finds 2-year-old safe in Missouri woods

SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. authorities said they arrested a Washington state man who made more than 20 “swatting” calls around the country and in Canada, prompting real emergency responses to his fake reports of bombs, shootings or other threats.

Ashton Connor Garcia, 20, of Bremerton, used voice-over-internet technology to conceal his identity as he placed the calls last year — and he treated them as entertainment, broadcasting them on the social media platform Discord, federal prosecutors said.

He faces 10 felony counts filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, that could bring up to a decade in prison. Court records did not immediately indicate if Garcia had an attorney who might speak on his behalf.

“Every time Mr. Garcia is alleged to have made one of his false reports to law enforcement, he triggered a potentially deadly event — sending heavily armed police officers to an address where they mistakenly believed they would confront someone who was armed and dangerous,” Seattle U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said in a news release. “Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the unpredictable and terrifying dynamic these calls created for Mr. Garcia’s alleged victims cannot be overstated."

Garcia's arrest came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hoax-school-shootings-explainer-swatting-439046152b9c3db45bfbfd8c10321c28">a spate of threats and false reports of shooters</a>&nbsp;have been pouring into schools and colleges across the country, unnerving officials, parents and students who are already on edge about actual school shootings — including at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">a private Christian school in Nashville</a>, Tennessee, this week.

Computer-generated calls on Wednesday made hoax claims about active shooters in Pennsylvania, and a day earlier, nearly 30 Massachusetts schools received fake threats.

Garcia is not accused of having sent SWAT teams to schools. Instead, prosecutors say, in several cases he collected personal information about his victims and threatened to send emergency responses to their homes unless they turned over money, credit card information or sexually explicit images.

Law enforcement entered some of the homes with guns drawn and detained people inside, authorities said.

In other cases, he called in fake bomb scares for the Fox News station in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 28 and for a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles on Aug. 23. In another instance, he is accused of threating to bomb an airport in Los Angeles unless he received $200,000 in Bitcoin.

The indictment does not indicate how investigators identified Garcia as a suspect.

Garcia placed the calls to agencies in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oho, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada, the indictment said.

Authorities have warned that such hoaxes can prove deadly. In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call. This month, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swat-wichita-police-killing-settlement-8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">city agreed to pay $5 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592601982960.png" alt="In 2017, a police officer in Wichita shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.-image from Wichita Police body camera on the night Andrew Finch died" />
 <figcaption>In 2017, a police officer in Wichita shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.-image from Wichita Police body camera on the night Andrew Finch died</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. authorities said they arrested a Washington state man who made more than 20 “swatting” calls around the country and in Canada, prompting real emergency responses to his fake reports of bombs, shootings or other threats.Ashton Connor Garcia, 20, of Bremerton, used voice-over-internet technology to conceal his identity as he placed the calls last year — and he treated them as entertainment, broadcasting them on the social media platform Discord, federal prosecutors said.He faces 10 felony counts filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, that could bring up to a decade in prison. Court records did not immediately indicate if Garcia had an attorney who might speak on his behalf.“Every time Mr. Garcia is alleged to have made one of his false reports to law enforcement, he triggered a potentially deadly event — sending heavily armed police officers to an address where they mistakenly believed they would confront someone who was armed and dangerous,” Seattle U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said in a news release. “Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the unpredictable and terrifying dynamic these calls created for Mr. Garcia’s alleged victims cannot be overstated."Garcia's arrest came as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hoax-school-shootings-explainer-swatting-439046152b9c3db45bfbfd8c10321c28">a spate of threats and false reports of shooters</a>&nbsp;have been pouring into schools and colleges across the country, unnerving officials, parents and students who are already on edge about actual school shootings — including at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">a private Christian school in Nashville</a>, Tennessee, this week.Computer-generated calls on Wednesday made hoax claims about active shooters in Pennsylvania, and a day earlier, nearly 30 Massachusetts schools received fake threats.Garcia is not accused of having sent SWAT teams to schools. Instead, prosecutors say, in several cases he collected personal information about his victims and threatened to send emergency responses to their homes unless they turned over money, credit card information or sexually explicit images.Law enforcement entered some of the homes with guns drawn and detained people inside, authorities said.In other cases, he called in fake bomb scares for the Fox News station in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 28 and for a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles on Aug. 23. In another instance, he is accused of threating to bomb an airport in Los Angeles unless he received $200,000 in Bitcoin.The indictment does not indicate how investigators identified Garcia as a suspect.Garcia placed the calls to agencies in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oho, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada, the indictment said.Authorities have warned that such hoaxes can prove deadly. In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call. This month, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swat-wichita-police-killing-settlement-8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">city agreed to pay $5 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

Man charged in 20-plus calls of false threats in US

Massive ranch is for sale for $16.7 million

By CINDIY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — It’s a $16.7 million ranch story sure to stir some nostalgic memories in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

But even if you’re not from the area, a property called Dumbbell has got to pique curiosity.

The Dumbbell Ranch, which spans a 
whopping 15,500 acres, mostly in Cherry County, is attracting attention 
as it now is up for sale&nbsp; — poised to separate from the family that has 
owned it for more than a century.&nbsp;

The rationale behind that break may 
sound familiar: The younger generation has more pressing interests than 
to oversee the Hyannis area operation.&nbsp;

“They don’t want to ranch, and I’m 
really grateful they were honest with me,” Anne Anderson Bennett said of
 her daughters Margaret and Leatha, who are in their 20s.

Bennett’s only sibling, Gordon 
Anderson, is a “computer guru” who loves his life in Colorado. Their 
parents have passed. At 57, Bennett, divorced for 17 years, is preparing
 to get married again.

“It just really was the right time,” she said of selling.

A less common occurrence, says 
Valentine area broker Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall, is a place like the
 Dumbbell hitting the market.

Johnson, whose business is selling 
ranches, said the property stands out for various reasons, including a 
precious natural resource, water. It sits atop the Ogallala Aquifer, 
which creates shallow lakes and sub-irrigated meadows that he said are 
known to be the headwaters for the Middle Loup River.

“This one has a deeper stamp,” 
Johnson said, noting the ranch’s storied past, its artesian wells, 27 
windmills, eight solar wells, rangeland and watering sites for 
livestock.

He called the Dumbbell — historically
 a 900-head cow/calf operation that’s in the nation’s “top cow county”— 
one of the founding ranches of the Nebraska Sandhills.

Anne’s great-grandfather Gustaf Anderson, an orphaned Swedish immigrant, acquired the area in 1913.

As the history goes, pieced together 
from family and various other sources, the Dumbbell headquarters was 
established in 1887 by Dr. A.J. Plumer, who had hoped the railroad would
 be built through the valley.

He and his wife, Anna, a nurse, constructed a “white mansion” structure to serve as a maternity hospital.&nbsp;

Lore has it that Plumer accidentally 
slammed a hammer on his thumb while building the hospital, exclaiming 
“Only a dumbbell would do that.”

Plumer expanded a cattle operation 
before moving and selling the ranch in 1906. In 1913, Gustaf Anderson 
became sole owner of a property that would grow to about 52,000 acres.

Anderson would make the trip from Red
 Oak, Iowa, to the Dumbbell Ranch at least a dozen times a year by train
 or vehicle —&nbsp; a trip that each generation of Andersons has made over 
the decades.

Three children of Gustaf and his 
wife, Janie, later split the ranch into sections and called them 
Pitchfork, 3 Circles and Dumbbell.&nbsp;

Son Gordon got the Dumbbell and eventually passed it to son Gerald, who then left it to Anne and her brother.

Anne said she has worked the past 
three decades with her dad on the business, traveling as often as she 
could to the ranch. “We love it so much, we’ve been able to make it 
work.”

She lauded the lineup of managers who
 over the generations lived at the site, maintained the operation and 
became engaged in the community.&nbsp;

“They are the ones that live there and have boots on the ground,” she said.

Her dad died in 2016; her mom passed in 2021.

The ranch has received local suitors, as well as interest and visitors from other states, since Johnson<a target="_blank" href="https://hallhall.com/property-for-sale/nebraska/dumbbell-ranch/a095d00002U10JQ/"> started marketing</a> it about a week ago, he said.

Anne said her family is proud to have
 diversified the operation, which includes the Flying A Cattle Company, 
without forsaking the native rangeland. The family feels blessed, she 
said, to “be a small part of the unique Sandhills ecosystem and 
community.”

“It’s dear to our hearts,” said Anne. “We love the Sandhills. Our family loves ranching. It’s time to move on.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554659570.png" alt="The Dumbbell Ranch spans about 15,500 acres, mostly in Nebraska’s Cherry County, known as the nation’s “top cow county.” It is for sale, which means it will have owners outside the Anderson family for first time in over a century. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)" />
 <figcaption>The Dumbbell Ranch spans about 15,500 acres, mostly in Nebraska’s Cherry County, known as the nation’s “top cow county.” It is for sale, which means it will have owners outside the Anderson family for first time in over a century. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Massive ranch is for sale for $16.7 million</h2>By CINDIY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — It’s a $16.7 million ranch story sure to stir some nostalgic memories in the Sandhills of Nebraska.But even if you’re not from the area, a property called Dumbbell has got to pique curiosity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554762652.jpeg" alt="Native range and meadows used by livestock and wildlife habitat cover the ranch. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)" />
 <figcaption>Native range and meadows used by livestock and wildlife habitat cover the ranch. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Dumbbell Ranch, which spans a 
whopping 15,500 acres, mostly in Cherry County, is attracting attention 
as it now is up for sale&nbsp; — poised to separate from the family that has 
owned it for more than a century.&nbsp;The rationale behind that break may 
sound familiar: The younger generation has more pressing interests than 
to oversee the Hyannis area operation.&nbsp;“They don’t want to ranch, and I’m 
really grateful they were honest with me,” Anne Anderson Bennett said of
 her daughters Margaret and Leatha, who are in their 20s.Bennett’s only sibling, Gordon 
Anderson, is a “computer guru” who loves his life in Colorado. Their 
parents have passed. At 57, Bennett, divorced for 17 years, is preparing
 to get married again.“It just really was the right time,” she said of selling.A less common occurrence, says 
Valentine area broker Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall, is a place like the
 Dumbbell hitting the market.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554815794.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Johnson, whose business is selling 
ranches, said the property stands out for various reasons, including a 
precious natural resource, water. It sits atop the Ogallala Aquifer, 
which creates shallow lakes and sub-irrigated meadows that he said are 
known to be the headwaters for the Middle Loup River.“This one has a deeper stamp,” 
Johnson said, noting the ranch’s storied past, its artesian wells, 27 
windmills, eight solar wells, rangeland and watering sites for 
livestock.He called the Dumbbell — historically
 a 900-head cow/calf operation that’s in the nation’s “top cow county”— 
one of the founding ranches of the Nebraska Sandhills.Anne’s great-grandfather Gustaf Anderson, an orphaned Swedish immigrant, acquired the area in 1913.As the history goes, pieced together 
from family and various other sources, the Dumbbell headquarters was 
established in 1887 by Dr. A.J. Plumer, who had hoped the railroad would
 be built through the valley.He and his wife, Anna, a nurse, constructed a “white mansion” structure to serve as a maternity hospital.&nbsp;Lore has it that Plumer accidentally 
slammed a hammer on his thumb while building the hospital, exclaiming 
“Only a dumbbell would do that.”Hence, the Dumbbell name.Plumer expanded a cattle operation 
before moving and selling the ranch in 1906. In 1913, Gustaf Anderson 
became sole owner of a property that would grow to about 52,000 acres.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554852926.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Anderson would make the trip from Red
 Oak, Iowa, to the Dumbbell Ranch at least a dozen times a year by train
 or vehicle —&nbsp; a trip that each generation of Andersons has made over 
the decades.Three children of Gustaf and his 
wife, Janie, later split the ranch into sections and called them 
Pitchfork, 3 Circles and Dumbbell.&nbsp;Son Gordon got the Dumbbell and eventually passed it to son Gerald, who then left it to Anne and her brother.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554880289.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy of Hall and Hall, Anderson family)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy of Hall and Hall, Anderson family)</figcaption>
 </figure>Anne said she has worked the past 
three decades with her dad on the business, traveling as often as she 
could to the ranch. “We love it so much, we’ve been able to make it 
work.”She lauded the lineup of managers who
 over the generations lived at the site, maintained the operation and 
became engaged in the community.&nbsp;“They are the ones that live there and have boots on the ground,” she said.Her dad died in 2016; her mom passed in 2021.The ranch has received local suitors, as well as interest and visitors from other states, since Johnson<a target="_blank" href="https://hallhall.com/property-for-sale/nebraska/dumbbell-ranch/a095d00002U10JQ/"> started marketing</a> it about a week ago, he said.Anne said her family is proud to have
 diversified the operation, which includes the Flying A Cattle Company, 
without forsaking the native rangeland. The family feels blessed, she 
said, to “be a small part of the unique Sandhills ecosystem and 
community.”“It’s dear to our hearts,” said Anne. “We love the Sandhills. Our family loves ranching. It’s time to move on.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554917938.png" alt="The Dumbbell Ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)" />
 <figcaption>The Dumbbell Ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)</figcaption>
 </figure>

‘Dumbbell’ in Nebraska Sandhills gains spotlight with sheer size, storied past

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are headed Monday into four intense days ahead of an annual “Drop Dead Day” deadline that could see them wrap up their work on rolling back transgender rights, imposing new abortion restrictions and cutting taxes.

Most policy bills and the bulk of the next state budget are supposed to clear the Republican-controlled Legislature by the close of business Thursday. Lawmakers then plan to take their annual spring break to give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly time to sign or veto the bills they've approved before they reconvene April 26 to finish the last of their business for the year.

While lawmakers often have a few big bills that they can't finish by Drop Dead Day, their goal is to clear their agenda as much as possible so that the late-April wrapup lasts a week or less and focuses on completing the budget and possibly overriding vetoes.

Here's a look at where major issues stand.

The House has until Thursday to try to override&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-athletes-ban-kansas-711e121ea0ab00653d61f9dadf9b9c0e">Kelly's veto</a>&nbsp;of a bill that would ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's school and club sports, starting in kindergarten.

Supporters need a two-thirds majority, 84 of 125 votes, and GOP leaders expect the vote to be close enough that they have been waiting until no more than one of the 85 Republicans is absent. If the House votes to override, a vote could follow quickly in the Senate, where an override appears likely.

Both chambers have passed versions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-arkansas-health-8f2edaa40b962e5642e108b83bc14246">a bill</a>&nbsp;to prevent transgender people from using restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities in line with their current gender identifies and to block them from changing their driver's licenses to reflect their current identities. Senators passed it first and must decide whether to accept House changes or demand negotations.

A bill aimed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb233_00_0000.pdf">ending gender-affirming care for minors</a>&nbsp;has passed the Senate but has not cleared a committee in the House. However, the Legislature's rules would allow senators and House members negotiating on the bathroom bill or another health measure to slip in language on gender-affirming care.

During a recent rally at the Statehouse, Kelly told LGBTQ-rights advocates and LGBTQ youth, “I will continue to stand up for you, protect your rights and call out and condemn any speech or behavior or veto any bill that aims to harm or discriminate against you.”

Republican lawmakers are pushing for new anti-abortion laws, though their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">options were limited</a>&nbsp;after voters in August&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively affirmed</a>&nbsp;that the state constitution protects abortion rights.

Both chambers have approved a version of a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4e">dealing with live births during abortion procedures,</a>&nbsp;similar to a proposed law that Montana voters rejected in November. It would require a doctor to immediately transport a newborn to a hospital, even if the doctor expected it to die quickly.

The House approved the measure first and must consider Senate amendments. The two chambers' differences are minor, so the House could approve the Senate version to send it to Kelly.

Yet the House also could demand negotiations with the Senate because of a second anti-abortion bill.

It's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2439_00_0000.pdf">a House-passed bill</a>&nbsp;to require abortion providers to tell patients that they might be able to reverse a medication abortion after taking the first of the usual two drugs, something experts dispute. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says there is no scientific evidence that the “reversal” method, involving using the hormone progesterone in place of the second abortion medication, is safe or effective.

While the Senate hasn't considered the measure, it has moved quickly in the past on anti-abortion measures. But passage could go even more quickly if lawmakers slipped the “reversal” language into the bill on live births during negotiations.

Kelly is a strong abortion rights supporter and is expected to veto both proposals. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/us/2019/05/01/kansas-senate-overrides-governors-abortion-reversal-veto.html">vetoed a version</a>&nbsp;of the medication “reversal” bill in 2019.

The state began the year flush with bulging revenues and that prompted high, bipartisan interest in cutting taxes. Tax cuts appear likely to top $1.4 billion over three years.

Kelly and other Democrats want to immediately eliminate the state's sales tax on groceries, now 4% and set to go to zero at the start of 2025. The House has a plan to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb169_02_0000.pdf">go to zero on July 1,</a>&nbsp;while the Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb248_01_0000.pdf">would wait until Jan. 1, 2024.</a>

The governor also proposed exempting more of retirees' Social Security income from state income taxes, but the Senate voted to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb33_01_0000.pdf">zero them out.</a>

Republicans are pushing to collapse the state's three individual income tax brackets into one. The House's proposal is a tax rate of 5.25%, while the Senate's plan is&nbsp;<a>a rate of 4.75%.</a>&nbsp;The top rate now is 5.7%.

Republicans continue to pursue “school choice” proposals despite Kelly's lack of enthusiasm for them. But the House and Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-choice-funding-kansas-a4e59ff5713915e28d86362144fd72d1">are far apart</a>&nbsp;on a bill, and they're negotiating over the final version.

The Senate approved an expansion of an existing program that gives an income tax credit to people and companies donating to scholarship funds that help at-risk students leave public schools for private ones. The House narrowly approved a bill that would move state education dollars into savings accounts for parents who want private or home schooling for their children.

The House and Senate also are negotiating over the final version of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2236_02_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow parents of public school students to object to a lesson or activity that “impairs the parent’s sincerely held beliefs, values or principles,” and to remove the student from the classroom.

Both the separate House and Senate versions of the next annual state budget include a provision barring higher education institutions from requiring job applicants to express support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs or to base hiring decisions on a candidate's views on the subject.

<figure>
 <img src="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/P3311692-1024x576.jpg" alt="-A crowd passes Friday in front of the Kansas Statehouse as part of the National March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>-A crowd passes Friday in front of the Kansas Statehouse as part of the National March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are headed Monday into four intense days ahead of an annual “Drop Dead Day” deadline that could see them wrap up their work on rolling back transgender rights, imposing new abortion restrictions and cutting taxes.Most policy bills and the bulk of the next state budget are supposed to clear the Republican-controlled Legislature by the close of business Thursday. Lawmakers then plan to take their annual spring break to give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly time to sign or veto the bills they've approved before they reconvene April 26 to finish the last of their business for the year.While lawmakers often have a few big bills that they can't finish by Drop Dead Day, their goal is to clear their agenda as much as possible so that the late-April wrapup lasts a week or less and focuses on completing the budget and possibly overriding vetoes.Here's a look at where major issues stand.TRANSGENDER RIGHTSThe House has until Thursday to try to override&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-athletes-ban-kansas-711e121ea0ab00653d61f9dadf9b9c0e">Kelly's veto</a>&nbsp;of a bill that would ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's school and club sports, starting in kindergarten.Supporters need a two-thirds majority, 84 of 125 votes, and GOP leaders expect the vote to be close enough that they have been waiting until no more than one of the 85 Republicans is absent. If the House votes to override, a vote could follow quickly in the Senate, where an override appears likely.Both chambers have passed versions of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-arkansas-health-8f2edaa40b962e5642e108b83bc14246">a bill</a>&nbsp;to prevent transgender people from using restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities in line with their current gender identifies and to block them from changing their driver's licenses to reflect their current identities. Senators passed it first and must decide whether to accept House changes or demand negotations.A bill aimed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb233_00_0000.pdf">ending gender-affirming care for minors</a>&nbsp;has passed the Senate but has not cleared a committee in the House. However, the Legislature's rules would allow senators and House members negotiating on the bathroom bill or another health measure to slip in language on gender-affirming care.During a recent rally at the Statehouse, Kelly told LGBTQ-rights advocates and LGBTQ youth, “I will continue to stand up for you, protect your rights and call out and condemn any speech or behavior or veto any bill that aims to harm or discriminate against you.”ABORTION RESTRICTIONSRepublican lawmakers are pushing for new anti-abortion laws, though their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">options were limited</a>&nbsp;after voters in August&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">decisively affirmed</a>&nbsp;that the state constitution protects abortion rights.Both chambers have approved a version of a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4e">dealing with live births during abortion procedures,</a>&nbsp;similar to a proposed law that Montana voters rejected in November. It would require a doctor to immediately transport a newborn to a hospital, even if the doctor expected it to die quickly.The House approved the measure first and must consider Senate amendments. The two chambers' differences are minor, so the House could approve the Senate version to send it to Kelly.Yet the House also could demand negotiations with the Senate because of a second anti-abortion bill.It's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2439_00_0000.pdf">a House-passed bill</a>&nbsp;to require abortion providers to tell patients that they might be able to reverse a medication abortion after taking the first of the usual two drugs, something experts dispute. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says there is no scientific evidence that the “reversal” method, involving using the hormone progesterone in place of the second abortion medication, is safe or effective.While the Senate hasn't considered the measure, it has moved quickly in the past on anti-abortion measures. But passage could go even more quickly if lawmakers slipped the “reversal” language into the bill on live births during negotiations.Kelly is a strong abortion rights supporter and is expected to veto both proposals. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/us/2019/05/01/kansas-senate-overrides-governors-abortion-reversal-veto.html">vetoed a version</a>&nbsp;of the medication “reversal” bill in 2019.TAX CUTSThe state began the year flush with bulging revenues and that prompted high, bipartisan interest in cutting taxes. Tax cuts appear likely to top $1.4 billion over three years.Kelly and other Democrats want to immediately eliminate the state's sales tax on groceries, now 4% and set to go to zero at the start of 2025. The House has a plan to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb169_02_0000.pdf">go to zero on July 1,</a>&nbsp;while the Senate&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb248_01_0000.pdf">would wait until Jan. 1, 2024.</a>The governor also proposed exempting more of retirees' Social Security income from state income taxes, but the Senate voted to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb33_01_0000.pdf">zero them out.</a>Republicans are pushing to collapse the state's three individual income tax brackets into one. The House's proposal is a tax rate of 5.25%, while the Senate's plan is&nbsp;<a>a rate of 4.75%.</a>&nbsp;The top rate now is 5.7%.EDUCATION POLICYRepublicans continue to pursue “school choice” proposals despite Kelly's lack of enthusiasm for them. But the House and Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-choice-funding-kansas-a4e59ff5713915e28d86362144fd72d1">are far apart</a>&nbsp;on a bill, and they're negotiating over the final version.The Senate approved an expansion of an existing program that gives an income tax credit to people and companies donating to scholarship funds that help at-risk students leave public schools for private ones. The House narrowly approved a bill that would move state education dollars into savings accounts for parents who want private or home schooling for their children.The House and Senate also are negotiating over the final version of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2236_02_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow parents of public school students to object to a lesson or activity that “impairs the parent’s sincerely held beliefs, values or principles,” and to remove the student from the classroom.Both the separate House and Senate versions of the next annual state budget include a provision barring higher education institutions from requiring job applicants to express support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs or to base hiring decisions on a candidate's views on the subject.

Taxes, abortion, trans rights hot as Kansas deadline looms

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 72-year-old woman.

Just after 7 pm, Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 200 block of South Minneapolis in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. First responders found a 72-year-old woman inside a residence with a gunshot wound to her face. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680453431004.png" alt="Police investigating the incident on Saturday night -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police investigating the incident on Saturday night -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 72-year-old woman.Just after 7 pm, Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 200 block of South Minneapolis in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. First responders found a 72-year-old woman inside a residence with a gunshot wound to her face. Police found the firearm used in the home. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment.The investigation revealed that the woman was inside the residence with her 11-year-old great-nephew. The boy showed her a gun and the gun went off striking her in the face. The boy left the scene and police later found him at his home in the 1800 block of East English Street in Wichita. Police took him into custody without incident. The firearm found was reported stolen.